I appreciate the spring and summer weather. I love being outside when things are green. Even if I'm just walking around de-stressing from the work I do. I work from home and spend hours at the computer. If I'm stressing, I just walk outside.

I appreciate the quiet so I can hear the things I often miss. I like listening for the bugs and other critters. The chipmunk makes the most awesome sounds to tell me to stay away!! "Okay, I'm staying away already!!" The littlest one was in the usual spot, on top of the fence. I watched him after he made just enough noise to get my attention, then he preened and cleaned and looked like he would be perfect in the palm of my hand. I swear I could hear his heart beating! I really couldn't.

The breeze, as it starts up, is the most amazing thing when it hits the aspens. Makes me stop my dirt digging and look up to watch the leaves floating around their stems.

I can't seem to keep up with the weeds this year so I've decided to enjoy them. the noxious ones get priority and get removed but the dandelions (so, so very sorry neighbor!!) are not getting pulled as much. They are very pretty!

I hope you're feeling better!!

J.

I appreciate the fact that I'm able to stay home, not only to be there for my children, but to be able to spend the time in the garden. If I had to work an 8 hour day, there wouldn't be any time left for gardening, once I cooked, did laundry, bathed children, etc.

For the past few weeks, I've been getting up before DH goes to work, and the kids are still sleeping, and walking around the neighborhood. It's nice to see what others are growing, which you really don't notice when you're driving by in a car. I really appreciate this time, since it's the only time I have to myself the entire day!

July is the month that I have the most things blooming in the garden. Even though there are lots of weeds to pull, and grasshoppers to squish, this is the month that I just enjoy walking around the garden, and taking in the beauty of the things that I have planted (and making mental notes of things that need to be moved in the fall, LOL).

Bonnie

I appreciate that I can still do things.

Since you noted a few of your limitations, Azura, here are a few of mine: My back is just terrible. I was telling DW this morning that I'm not sure if I will be able to walk many more months. But, I've felt this way often for quite a few years . . . !

Hearing the chipmunks, J? I told DD yesterday that I usually don't know what is an actual sound from what I image is a sound. Usually, I'm in this state of perpetual confusion and don't really know what's going on around me. Sometimes, I like it that way.

I doubt if my sense of smell somehow compensates for my loss of hearing and touch. This is the time of year when I reach the "overload" stage with the pollen and every other darn thing out there . . . koff. But, the snapdragons are in bloom and their gentle fragrance is one of the pleasures of having a cutting garden. And, I can smell them - DW can't.

The last trip to the eye doctor was a revealing experience. I knew that my eyesight had changed over the previous year but I didn't expect to be told that it had improved! I can now see about as well to drive without glasses, as with. It is amazing but the MD assured me that it's not all that uncommon.

One thing that I was just enjoying was the color of the delphiniums. They are various shades and hues of purple and, of course, that soft, cool, heavenly blue - azure. Let's see, we can spell that another way or two, can't we?

And, I appreciate words and thoughts to share.

Steve

I found a new appreciation in life: A working laptop! Mine got hit with an ugly virus that migrated to my memory key and has made the normally simple process of rebuilding my laptop into a weekend-long project. I am finally back online altho I'm crossing my fingers about getting all my files back.
I'm also grateful that most of my gardens are irrigated but Im truly grateful for the rain here in the Denver area, my water bill is the absolute lowest since we moved here 6 years ago.

Blooming Amaryllis - walking around soaking in the green is awesome. I wish I had learned the beauty of it before my back injury but I suppose its one of those lessons I had to learn the hard way. My mom always said I was hard-headed. :) I admire the fact that you work from home, Im certain I lack the self discipline to do that.

J - I miss the chipmunks in my parents yard back home in the Seattle area. They live in the crown of the maple tree that the driveway circles and have babies every year. I was out early in the spring at my house, "admiring" the vole, bunny and pocket gopher damage when I noticed a squirrel sitting on the fence across the greenbelt eyeballing my garden. I couldnt help but smile at him and wish him good luck in locating the bulbs the other rodents have not absconded with yet. Do squirrels make cute noises like chipmunks?

Bonnie - Your sheer number of posts and growing gardening prowess is an inspiration. I admit that the todo list hasnt gone away completely... it is now cross-indexed with the "what shovel-wielding buddy can I ask for a favor?" list. Now that a good number of my perennials have been in the ground for several years, its really time to seperate them. Oooof. I've got to start racking up some favors with prospective shovel-wielders.

Steve - One of the first things I thought of with my gardening after my back gave out on me, was you. I am blown away by your garden excersions, I feel a sweat coming on just thinking about your daily workout. Have you mentioned back pain before? If you are still out there day after day, you are an inspiration.
Have you ever seen a physical therapist? Ive learned how to use the natural "girdle" muscles to protect my back but I really wonder how many longterm problems I may have and how much these exercises they teach will help. I do know that Ive had lower back pain for years now and I encourage anyone with back pain to ice their back whenever they can. I would do anything to keep from injuring my back again, it was worse than childbirth!
I am also sorry that I cant write about my successes and failures with asian veggies even though I did buy the seeds. There is always next year!
Ive been having some neurological problems and Ive lost most of my sense of taste. I'm choosing to look at it as another way to focus on the things I still have but it took me a while to focus on the positive. My husband is deaf in one ear but I sometimes wonder how much he can or cant hear, lol. Does your wife wonder the same about you? ;)
I cant believe that about your eyes, thats awesome. Id like for that to happen before I spend another $200 on glasses in the coming year. Maybe Im due for a miracle?

Azura, pain that can deteriorate into that "squirm away from it" kind of pain is constant. Spasm is constant as well but it has been some time since I had anything I might have imagined as "worse than childbirth" (!, Good Heavens!).

I've propped myself in a doorway, allowing one leg to hang to keep all weight off of it, with tears running down my cheeks. There have been other positions and times, nights, days, weeks, months.

Physical therapy has been wonderful (oh, give me traction). With just moving around, compensating for the back and for the lack of strength in the legs has been my modus operandi for years. For a number of reasons, there isn't much in the way of viable nerves, especially in my left leg.

I think there's a fairly broad definition of a "tin ear." One is that we may hear what we want and not much otherwise. I ignore a lot of what MIGHT be sound/words. DW gets rather frustrated with me, at times. I am quite undeserving of anything that could resemble a miracle.

Steve