Slowly waking up...

Happy October!

In most parts of the US people are getting ready to slow down, close up shop and recuperate after a busy summer outdoors. Not here. Nope. In Southern Arizona we're opening our doors and windows, shutting off our A/C's, making our Honey-Do list, taking out our shovels, hoes and weeders, planting our seeds, starting our outdoor projects, getting on our roofs, cleaning the gutters, cleaning up the BBQ, hanging our hammocks up in our trees, dusting off the bikes, running shoes, hiking boots and camping gear, filling the bird feeders, throwing the wildflower seeds into the dirt, and sitting back...watching life around us wake up and shake the sleep of the summer from our eyes. Good morning, Autumn.

Part of waking up is opening myself up to newness; shedding my old skin and coming anew...old habits, old memories, old tapes that used to run my life, old hurts that I couldn't let go of. Fall is a time for renewal

My list is long, but doable, now that I have a renewed energy (and an extra pair of hands) to get me through it all. We'll call him Mr. C. We have lots of work to do, Mr. C. Let's get started:

Fall Projects ~
Build chicken coop
Buy little baby chickens
Garden stuff - repair fence, plant fall crops, throw wildflower seed
Mural my wall
Finish rain harvest barrels
Fix roof...shingle repair, new tin roof on porch
Remove/reduce my pond
Remove grass...bye-bye Bermuda!
Plantings - Xeriscape front yard, fix irrigation
Top/trim big trees
Paint picnic table and benches
Walk the dogs
Go to the park
Take trips
Sleep in the hammock
Read
Write
Have picnics

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

To Nerina, with love

Image
Dear Nerina, I want to take this time to tell you how much you have meant to me these past (almost) 15 years.   Knowing you has been a gift that I will cherish forever.  It seems you came into my life knowing that I needed you alongside me - guiding me, supporting me, giving me love and loyalty, showing me strength and compassion, and just being a true companion each and every day.  From the beginning, I knew we were meant to be together, and that you chose me as your life partner... Sunday, April 14, 1996 - the eve of your arrival -  I had just returned from living in Ann Arbor for 2 years, studying and living in an incredible place.  I remember being pretty depressed after finding out that I couldn't move out of my parents house and my partner decided not to follow me to Arizona.  My depression kept me in bed for days, not able to eat, with no energy.  That afternoon, I remember looking in the classified ads for puppies.  I thought that was just what I needed to distrac
Read more

My Wedding Day...

Image
I suppose most brides would say their wedding day was the most amazing day of their lives.  But, for me, I mean it .  This day came not without stress, anxiety, tears and disappointment; but despite all of it, it was the most remarkable gathering of people in one place.  It couldn't have been more perfect.  I couldn't have imagined it would turn out better than I thought.  I should start from the beginning.  Well, the beginning of the week, at least. It started with a phone call from my grandmother saying she couldn't come to my wedding, despite the fact that she was visiting from Chicago.  It appears that my father has more influence and can invoke more fear in people than I thought.   My mom also confirmed that she, too, could not make it.  My aunt from Chicago had also planned to visit, along with her 3 children, but soon discovered what it means to be on my father's bad side.  Turns out, he found out she was coming and threatened her (and anyone else even thinkin
Read more

Summer Vacation 2008

Image
Even though it's only mid-July, my summer is officially over. I went back to work this week after having the past 6 weeks off. For those of you who work in schools, this is just way too short. For everyone else, don't be jealous! The first 3 weeks was spent in the desert in Southern Arizona and in Tucson. I spent half of my time at the desert aid camp, helping to coordinate the volunteers coming down to help with the humanitarian aid work. Here's an e-mail I sent to a friend when I came back from the desert: "Just got back yesterday from being in Arivaca this week. It's hot! And also incredibly sad and tiring stuff. I feel good about being out there, though. It makes all that we do worthwhile knowing that the work is reaching people. I met a man from Guatemala who was lost for a week, just wandering and walking North, separated from his group by Border Patrol. The only thing that kept him walking all week was his 2 year old daughter currently living
Read more