Yesterday, I mowed our front yard. This strange patch of land consists of various grasses, weeds, and wildflowers. I believe we are the only ones in the canyon that actually have a green "lawn." I would rather have something else, some sort of groundcover or just plain red dirt/sand like everyone else. Half of this will die by June, the other half I will water all summer long, but it will never look good. Since we have no neighbors that might be bothered by the way our "lawn" looks, I just do the best I can with it and let it go at that.
I checked the lilac bush and saw that the flower buds have grown since the last photo. I worried about the storm that I knew was on the way. Snow promised to 4,000 ft, and that's us.
As I sat down to rest on our front porch, I noticed the sunlight playing on the hills across the way. As the clouds rushed by, the pattern changed and it was truly beautiful. It felt peaceful to sit there and watch. I thought about my friend Jane who just went to NYC. I thought about the city that I have only seen from Newark airport the last few times I flew to Sweden and haven't visited since the 1970s. Then I realized that this coming weekend, it will be a year since I spent a day with Jane and her husband at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at UCLA. That was the last time I was in LA and it is only 100 miles away!
Thinking about cities, it crossed my mind that while I miss both Stockholm and London often, I don't think about LA or New York at all. I sort of wondered why, but let it go, glad I'm happy with where I live now in this rough and strangely beautiful canyon. You get to musing about all kinds of stuff while sitting on your porch, that's for sure. But all I wanted to blog about was springtime in the canyon yesterday and then this came overnight:
I'm tired today from all that work yesterday and glad the weather is so crummy not even the dogs want to go outside. I always feel slightly guilty when I don't take them for a walk, but today we'll stay home, close to the fireplace.
Thanks for your visit and kind words. You and I share the same feelings about living away from city life and a love for animals and nature ( it just makes it hard when we get in trouble and need medical help!) We live at 7,000 ft here in a high mountain valley and I love it so much! :D
ReplyDeleteYou live in a truly beautiful place. I never realized that the high desert could be so changeable, so, thank you so much for showing me the wonderful land that you live on.
ReplyDeleteNYC is the closest large city to me, and I haven't been there in about 35 years. Don't miss it a bit. So, I understand why you say that you don't think about LA or NYC much.
I've never been to Stockholm, but, the one time I was in London, I was enthralled. It's so unlike American cities. You can really feel the history that surrounds you at every step. Still wouldn't want to live there, though. I've gotta have that green around me.
With all your many friends commenting on your blog, I am honored you found the time to comment here. Thank you so much. What you went through was really, really scary. For me, living here makes up for all the scary what ifs: From encounters with bears or mountain lions, to serious illness, requiring immediate medical response. I hope you will continue to feel better each day. -- Inger
ReplyDeleteLouise: Stockhom is a very pretty city, I know you would love it. It's very green with much water all around. I'm glad you like this canyon I'm trying to blog about. The summers here are the same for the most part, hot and dry, something I don't like at all. But the rest of the year is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteLoved the photos of Spring - but how quickly the weather did an about face this week - ours too but just from sunny and warm to cold and wet... lots of rain and more on the way.. but the Growers in the Valley are thrilled especially after last years federal water cut-off... We will both appreciate thinking about these cold and blustery days this summer after a week of triple digit days... enjoy it for a little while longer...
ReplyDeleteSounds to me like you need a trip to Stockholm!
ReplyDeleteThe desert is such an amazing place.
And you got snow! Snow!
The grass is growing here so fast and with the next couple of days suppose to be warming, it really is going to start shooting up.
Better get the longeared mowers out!! lol