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.
Reading this brought tears to my eyes, Little Z is a treasure. And your breathtaking poppy.
He is a true treasure, Deb!
Love your post today. Little Z is such a blessing to your family. And the poppy – natures beauty!
It’s now getting smashed because it’s raining so hard!
Reading your story about Little Z just brought tears to my eyes and I have goosebumps all over my arms. I’m sure I’ll cry when I see the video. That little guy is such a blessing.
Your poppy is stunning. I love how there’s just one – right in the middle of all that green.
I am just itching to get back out into my gardens and plant more flowers. They are all still just sitting on my porch. This cold and wet weather really stinks!
It’s very rainy here today and the forecast doesn’t hold many rain-free days. I think I’m in for the same thing you’ve been going through!
Congratulations, Little Z! My, how times have changed—gowns and mortarboards and kindergarten graduation ceremonies were not a thing for me or my kids. A friend of mine just posted photos of her granddaughter’s kindergarten diploma, too! The world has moved on. But that poppy is amazing!
I know! No such thing when we were kids! But they’re awfully cute in them, I have to say – especially when Z tries to adjust his mortarboard – it makes me laugh out loud!
Congrats, Little Z! He not only has the spunk that will get him through, but a top notch cheering section in Mom, Dad, two older brothers, Uncle Don and Aunt Claudia. I know how it is to have a child who has to work so much harder than other children. My daughter’s disability is not physically visible, but there were struggles, tears and a sense of isolation. She’s now a successful sophomore in college, and every day I have affirmation that her Dad and I took the right course. She was just elected again as President of the college’s Diverabilities organization, and this academic year, organized a campus-wide Autism Awareness event that was nominated as Student Event of the Year. Even though she didn’t win, she’s still proud of her accomplishment. I wish her Dad were with us to share her successes.
Congratulations on the course you took with your daughter. Amazing and wonderful, Wendy!
Little Z is full of surprises…what a delight he is! Yes…our gardens/yards are our antidotes for the ills that surround us….and the blues that often strike us for different reasons. I’ve often found therapy in gardening…pulling weeds gets the anger and frustration out of me. (Like deep cleaning my home.). Good for the soul, too. That poppy is spectacular…I hope you have more in waiting. Enjoy your day! ;)
I’m cleaning now because it’s raining very hard outside! Have to do something! (I have at least two more buds waiting to open.)
The story of Little Z has me weeping tears of joy!!! Absolute tears of joy!!! I have a background of working with children with challenges. The celebration of EVERY achievement is such a gratifying experience!!!! That young man OOZES personality and I have no doubt he is here to “set the world on fire”!!!! He will go far in life and do many great things along the path!!! Thank you so much for sharing his story with us!
The birdbath photo caused me to feel compelled to share a moment from my past gardening adventures. We had a naughty orange kitty our daughter felt the need to name after one of her favorite teachers. The teacher lived around the corner from us and I was out scolding the cat one morning for attempting to over turn the bowl of the birdbath…screeching Mr. so and so stop it at once, stop it I said, and such! Unbeknownst to me, Mr. “So and So” was walking by and the expression on his face was priceless…he didn’t know at the time we had a cat by his name, but after a quick chat with our daughter the truth was revealed! We all had a good laugh about that one. And at the time, I had beautiful poppies blooming right beside the birdbath, thus my fear that naughty feline would topple the saucer and snap them! Still absolutely no idea how they got there, as I didn’t plant them…always attribute it to poppy fairies sprinkling them at night while I slept! Thanks for the beautiful photos that caused me to relive a happy memory :-)
He will go far, for sure. He’s feisty and loving and funny and really, really smart.
Love the story about the cat and the teacher!
Tears of joy for that so sweet boy!! And for the entire family. So many accomplishments in a short time. He makes sense of the craziness in this world.
The poppy is beautiful. I have always thought they look like crepe paper…. so beautiful that they don’t even look “real”. I am amazed that all of my plants are still sitting in their little containers outside just waiting…… if only the rain would stop and the sun would come out. We actually have a chance of sun later this afternoon. Yahoo!! I want to get to Home Depot as they have their hanging baskets at 2 for $10. I can at least hang those up and make it look like some gardening has taken place. We had 4 yards of mulch delivered last week and it is still in a pile…. so much to get done.
Have a good Thursday, Claudia!!
He is the reason we fight, Chris. Trump would love to cut the medicaid that is essential to his therapy. Not on my watch!
Congratulations Little Z! Does he have any idea of his ever growing fan club?
You poppy is stunning, as is the photo of the bird bath with the flowers in focus. It’s funny when a picture just grabs you and stands out from all the rest. Though your photos are beautiful.
Our poppies were weed whacked by someone who was trying to be helpful. So sad because the poppies are so very special.
Oh no! I’m so sorry! Will they grow back?
Little Z is my hero as well!!
Melanie M
He’s an amazing being, Melanie!
Hi Claudia, Your poppy brought back a flood of memories. Several years ago, my family and I were blessed with the opportunity to select a few items from my grandmothers home. She had spent the last three years in the nursing home and passed away at 106 years of age. I had many of her items that she had shared with and given me over the years, but this was a last opportunity, as the house was to be emptied and listed to be sold. I picked a few items from the house but I captured many more pictures that meant even more to me, of her flowers. Everything was in full bloom. And she had several varieties of peonies that were opening, but the poppies were unbelievable. They had self sown for so many years. One of the pictures I took was so perfect, that I had it framed for my Dad. (this was his childhood home) Thank you for the memory recall – I love your poppy and the birds in the birdbath and of course, your sweet little nephew. Take care – Ranee (MN)
Oh, what a lovely memory! I’m so happy that the post reminded you of your beloved grandmother!
Love the color of poppies. Meredith is an amazing woman. Bless her.
She sure is.
Another reader weeping here! Thanks for keeping us up to date on that terrific boy. Annette in Northern CA
You’re welcome!
Purple and orange are my favorite combo as well and I love how you captured it. Isn’t it great when the garden you know so well surprises you? It’s raining her in CT as well which is to be expected as the peonies are about to bloom. It always seems to pour just in time to knock the heck out of them!
Congratulations to Little Z!
I know. Peonies (and my delicate poppies) always bloom when there’s lots of rain in the forecast!
Little Z inspires me! What a great gift to us all. Your garden is looking so pretty and that pop of orange just makes everything alright! I had a long day of shopping with my Mom but in for the night now and enjoying the cooler weather. I think tomorrow will be sunny and warmer and I hope to get some yard work done. Hugs!
Hugs to you, too!
I love that Poppy and those bird birth photos
Thank you, Marilyn!
It’s so wonderful to see a child with courage…and that has everything to do with his spunk but also his champions. Your nephew clearly has so much love and support.
I have a lot of medical appointments (sigh) and today was only ‘the eye doctor’ but I happened to be sitting next to yet again another young mother whose child has challenges. I see this too much; it’s an epidemic. I don’t know what all the problems are…cancer, autism, etc. But at this doctor’s office today, I was there in the afternoon, after schools were out for the day, so I found myself among some highschool kids as well as the little ones, anywhere from around age 5 to age 10 and, curiously, all boys (maybe 8 or 9 of them; it’s a big clinic and a big waiting room). I watched them size up the little boy next to me in the wheelchair; they wouldn’t stop looking at him but he seemed to be oblivious; so quiet, so still, bless his sweet soul. I really do think they wanted to go up to him and talk. I didn’t sense anything negative about it. No meanness; no prejudice. They were all so squirmy and animated, as little guys tend to be; but the child next to me was quite passive. Such a study in opposites; just made me feel forlorn. And it made me think what it must be for a child who’s confined, to be around other kids who aren’t…whose legs and arms and brains work better than his…
…so I found myself saying a little prayer for all the kids who want to, but can’t run and jump right now the way they should, and whenever I see healthy kids climbing around on store shelves or seats in a restaurant, instead of getting momentarily annoyed, I’m just going to be thankful they can be active when so many other children do their best, but just can’t play the way other kids can…
Little Z is spunky and brave and funny and smart and if anyone can handle these challenges, he can.
And it sounds like from the very beginning, your soulful sister recognized his ‘specialness’ – a perfect meeting, a perfect set of events; life’s serendipity of bringing people together who need to be together, sharing life. giving one to the other. It’s a really beautiful thing. I’m so glad you’ve shared their story with us.
She worked on him when he was a newborn. He was dead when he was born – I know that sounds strange, but he was technically dead. Everything about Z is a miracle. I just had some face time with him. Makes my day!
A beautiful post! What a life your young nephew has because of all of your love. This ‘picture’ of Z brought a tear to my eye.
Thank you so much, Gayle!
Such a gorgeous poppy. They grow wild in Jordan and are such a pretty sight to see in the Spring. The miracles of nature that bring us such joy and the miraculous being that is Little Buddy … blessings abound.
Yes indeed, Tammy!
Have been trying to get poppys going at my house, with not much luck. Love them
This one is pretty dependable, but as I recall, it took a while to get going. I think it was a few years before it started to bloom.