dog days of summer

Been away from my computer for a few days while I dog-sit the ever-sweet Livy. 

hmmm

note to self

When the heat index is hovering around 115, use the hem of one's shorts or shirt to pick up coins from the pavement.   

Nothing else to add to the cacophony of the world right now.  Time for long walks and deep naps.

beauty

I am not going to add to the verbiage that is out in the world right now~these were the good moments of yesterday.  The Austin Symphony is doing free Sunday evening concerts in June and while it was a tad too hot/humid to sit and listen, it was nice to hear wafts of classical music as I did a lake loop.  (While the waters are slowly receding, some of the trail is still submerged.)

And Trader's June theme is mango!  I already have their seasonal pumpkin and pomegranate lotions, so was happy to add this to my collection.

because

On a day where the news is filled with vapid and toxic blathering of politicians and another senseless body count story, one needs a cute little girl twirling in her new dress.

a little giggle

Somewhat along the lines of 'walk a mile in my shoes' and then you'll be far, far away from me.

summer livin'

EVERYthing is in bloom right now~the air is heavy with sweetness of flowers.

Am part of a summer reading chain and just got my first book in the mail today~that, plus a shiny new penny made for a delightful afternoon.

That and finding this beautiful quote in Trader's:

"So long as you have food in your mouth, 

you have solved all questions for the time being."

 ~Franz Kafka

uh-huh

planted & blooming?

Admiring all the happy wildflowers while out walking today, it was impossible to ignore the adage of blooming where one is planted.

My favourite Texas flower

As July approaches, I set a new life record~five consecutive years in the same town.  While it is true that my jobs have morphed and my street addresses have changed, Austin is the town where I seem to have put down roots.  While it is mind-boggling that Texas is the place where my patterns have changed, it is nice to sit still.  

This doesn't preclude up and going at any moment, but for now?  I am here.

I call this the Cello Plant

turtles in a tree

The Rowing Club is closed...due to water.  How richly ironic. 

It is a little startling how high the water still is after two full days of sunny dryness.

Also hard to believe that they had to rope off the path when it is clearly under about 8 feet of water.

Haven't seen turtles actually climb trees before. 

Never though I'd see white-water outside Long Center (symphony hall). 

As I am safely high/dry, it is easy for me to say how gorgeous this all is.

whimsical fun

Delicious falafel lunch~both for the menu and for catching up with a friend. 

Day two of the purple hairs~they are creating fun interactions with people as I'm out/about. 

Hallelujah bars (as they are known to some of my readers!) and a glow stick to match my hair.  Am surprised that we haven't lost power with the massive storms, but I am prepared now for darkness!

The Dollar Store can be a dangerous place.

wet. oh so much wet.

Yesterday afternoon was supposed to be all about getting these fun purple hairs. 

And then having an Indian feast with some former colleagues.  That much went as planned.  After dinner, we decided to walk to Central Market for gelato (as we often do) and hear whatever live music there was.  Also went per usual.  Then, one of those Texas storms you've seen on your TV screens for the past few weeks hit.

We started dashing back to their home, but really?  You cannot move swiftly in this volume of water~both because shoes become slippery and clothing wraps around your legs.  We stopped under an office overhand to remove our shoes.  I found that someone had nicely left flattened cardboard boxes for recycling, so we made tents out of them and waded the rest of the way back to their place.   It was too wet to take photos, but we were laughing at our verrrry damp kick-off to summer break!!

This was the scene of Friday morning commute (usually, this is a placid canoe pond)~they just opened all the gates to release the water.  And even as I'm typing this?  It is pouring.  If I see any animals starting to queue up, I am ordering a boat from Amazon.

Blessings

occur.

Some days I find myself
putting my foot in
the same stream twice;
leading a horse to water
and making him drink.
I have a clue.
I can see the forest
for the trees.

All around me people
are making silk purses
out of sows’ ears,
getting blood from turnips,
building Rome in a day.
There’s a business
like show business.
There’s something new
under the sun.

Some days misery
no longer loves company;
it puts itself out of its.
There’s rest for the weary.
There’s turning back.
There are guarantees.
I can be serious.
I can mean that.
You can quite
put your finger on it.

Some days I know
I am long for this world.
I can go home again.
And when I go
I can
take it with me.

"Blessings" by Ronald Wallace from Long for This World. © University of Pittsburgh Press, 2003.

There is business like show business, but for the next few weeks the curtains are closed and teachers everywhere will be rejuvenating their spirits and their creativity.   Saying good-bye to 2015-16 by quoting myself (said to my students at the end of any good singing):  "You make my heart happy."

Time for respite and swimming and long lake walks and ravelling up that which has been frayed in the past few months.   

Happy summer 2016 all y'all!