#NewThisDay Writing From My Photo Stream

Light of the morning brook

I am requested, before school, on an outing to the garden with Wave. We look for turtles, find none. There is a vine growing up a tree we pass that I try to pull, but it’s too tough. “We need the strongest man in the world,” says Wave. “And who is that?” I ask. “Papa!” he says. The rabbits are eating my potted pansies, and I get an idea to thwart them. After Wave goes off to school, and before my walk, I take to plant stands outdoors. Simple as that. Put them high up off the ground. Problem solved. I work on a poem revision for my manuscript today. I have tried to get to it for weeks. Now, one more, and the manuscript is going to be sent off. I so enjoyed my time outdoors today, trimming shrubs, a massive amount of work. Frank compliments me. He is grateful. I realize how much he has grown, over the years, in this house and land to be a nature lover. He did not grow up in nature, and he did not grow up in a family where somebody had a garden and passion for growing things, as I did. My father is always with me when I am in the garden or landscaping. The peonies are lushly budding and blooming. Yesterday I had Wave put his face in one to feel the soft and smell the perfume. My father loved his peonies, and I bring some indoors, as he always did. Frank tells me, “I saw the first monarch.” A few nights ago he said, “I saw the first lightning bug.” Well, this is a man who has learned from me to love these blessings of the natural world, and to work to draw them forth on our property. The heron who lives on the Charles flew over the garden this morning. I usually startle her from the muddy edge of the river where she is fishing. Frank said a couple of days ago, “We have so many bluebirds.” Yes, because he helped me erect the bird boxes! After dinner, Wave helps me water the garden with the new hose and nozzle Frank attached. It takes me a lot of patience as he wants so much to keep turning the water on and off as I hold the hose over the thirsty plants. We have the evening. There is not hurry. Then he wants the outdoor shower. He has worn no clothes to the garden tonight, so he is ready. I show him all the white flowers on the prickly vines across from the shower: one of your favorites, I say. Blackberries. He will share them with the deer.