The antidote to feeling blue is doing something constructive. Around about noon, I went outside to do some weed-whacking. As I went to the porch to get what I needed, I saw this. And gasped.

There are flowers and there are flowers. All beautiful, of course, but this?

Spectacular.

One poppy had opened up and the splash of orange among the green of the garden was gorgeous.

It’s planted in the midst of the purple catmint and I love the purple/orange combination. The petals are like tissue paper.

It’s raining today – so far, a gentle rain – and I hope it stays gentle so the flower can hang in there.

After dealing with the weeds, I decided to mow the rest of the front lawn as I knew we had two days of rain ahead and the grass would be much harder to cut if I waited. The day eventually turned sunny and I was in my happy place: garden, property, porch, watering plants, sitting on the glider, sitting on the funky patio. The birdsong was everywhere and I felt a deep gratitude for this house, this property. I waited a long, long time to have a house and a garden I could call my own.

I never, never take it for granted.

Hijinks in the birdbath:

He was shaking himself and the movement caused my camera to focus on the plants rather than him, but I think you can get a sense of his happiness at getting a bath!

Emerging from the bath, ready to shake the water off.

But the most moving and life-affirming thing to happen yesterday involved my Little Z. He had his  ‘moving up’ ceremony at his school. He’s moving on to kindergarten in the fall. I told Mere to shoot some video (which she would have done anyway, of course) and send me whatever she could. I won’t speak too much of this because she should tell the story and she will.

The kids had little graduation gowns on and mortarboards and when it came time for Little Z to get up from his chair and cross the room to get his certificate, he stood up, using his canes, and started walking toward the teacher. He looked up at the crowd and proudly said “I’m walking up!” whereupon the crowd cheered and laughed and fell in love with him as everyone who meets him does. Seeing him walk with his canes, justly proud of himself, brought tears to my eyes. He is my hero. I forwarded the video to Don who watched it and also cried.

This magical child, who blesses everyone he meets, who has taught us so much – oh my, how much I love him! His mom and dad and his big brothers were there to cheer him on.

I’m sure Mere will post pictures when she has time to write a post.

Heroes can come in small packages. So can angels.

Happy Thursday.