We have this beautiful thistle that grows wild around here and this is what it looks like after the spent bloom bursts open.
You can see a lot of the milkweed in this photo. And it’s in other places as well. I keep reminding myself to thin it out next year. It takes up too much real estate.
I mowed the front lawn on Monday and then had to take yesterday to recover. Here’s the story about why Don fell asleep on the front porch while waiting for me to arrive. The day before, he realized he had run out of coffee. He had no car. I happened to call him and when he answered, I could tell he was walking. When I asked where, he said “You don’t want to know.” He fessed up, however. He was walking into town (and beyond) to buy some coffee. Why didn’t you ask our neighbor if they could take you to buy some, I asked? He didn’t want to. So he walked three miles to the corner store. He only had one choice, an overpriced small can of Chock Full of Nuts. He bought it and rested for a bit. Then he headed back. Six miles in all. WAY too much for a guy who doesn’t go on many walks and is 74. It has taken him a while to recover. His legs are sore and he is really tired.
And that’s why he fell asleep sitting on the glider.
Another view of the house and the huge maple on the right.
Our neighbor who was in the motorcycle accident – a head on collision with an SUV – is home recuperating. It will be a long haul. To quote from his sister’s post on FB:
“On June 8th, my brother was airlifted to a Level 1 Trauma Center in Albany after a bad motorcycle accident involving a head on collision with an SUV. He had severe pelvic ring fractures (to the extent that his spine was no longer connected to his pelvis), a hip fracture, open femur and tibia fractures, many broken ribs, a separated shoulder, a collapsed lung, and lacerations to his liver and both kidneys. The doctors feared he wouldn’t make it through the night. He was put in skeletal traction to stabilize his femur and pelvis while awaiting orthopedic surgery. But he developed acute kidney failure due to hemorrhagic shock and severe breakdown of muscle tissue, which then caused a seizure. He therefore had to be sedated and intubated because he had stopped breathing. A variety of complications ensued which resulted in his remaining sedated and intubated for 6 weeks. During that time, some of his doctors didn’t think he was going to make it. But Emile is tenacious! After many sessions of dialysis, his kidneys began to heal and made a full recovery. To the great surprise of some of his doctors, Emile came out of that medically induced coma with his memory and all brain function completely intact. He was eventually cleared for surgery, which thankfully went great! They put a rod in his femur and a few massive screws in his pelvis. A week later, he was transferred to an acute rehab facility in Schenectady. It was a rough transition, but he began to stand within a week! After just 2 and a half weeks of rehab, he was discharged. His physical therapists were blown away by his rapid progress.”
Two terrible car/motorcycle accidents this year – our friend, Margaret, and Emile. Please stay safe, everyone.
The light has changed and the temperatures have cooled. I’m sensing that Fall is on the horizon. The light is golden and beautiful. I’m going to resume walking at our library, and, if Don is feeling better, he will join me.
Stay safe.
Happy Wednesday.
