Bee balm & bumble bee

I've done nary a thing, garden-wise, in a year. But the bee balm I moved to the front yard is in full blaze!

Through more doors

I just got back from a week of training in OKC. The weather was beautiful while I was there, and I got to meet scissor tailed flycatchers and burr oaks and great tailed grackles (who whistled magnificently at me each morning as I walked to my car.) I took a nice walk in a park last night, and a complete stranger gave me a flower. I've been reading The Overstory by Richard Powers (and it's hard to put down). class went well.

The last year has been the worst year of my life. But that year is now over (maybe it's ending right this second. Maybe it ended yesterday, or last week. I'm not sure. But I'm saying it's over.)  Today I got to come back home to the two people who matter more to me than anyone else in the world. They met me at the airport, and they are the solid bottom of all that is good in my life. Even if everything else good in my life melted away, everything about them would be enough.  But I do have plenty more than that.  The past couple of months have felt pretty good. I came back to my house to find the bee balm blooming vigorously by the porch and my friends and family are the best anyone could hope for.

Sketching by the Oklahoma River last night

I drew until it was too dark to see what I was doing. Also this week I saw scissor tailed flycatchers and great tailed grackles.

Martin Park

Martin Park

Hawk on the fence

From yesterday. It sat there in the rain looking pensive until a pair of bluejays  came by. The jays took turns hitting it in the back, ruffling its  feathers, until it flew off with the bluejays in pursuit.