65 and Medicare

 I turn 65 today, how did I get here? I should not be this old, should I?  It snuck up on me for sure.  However there is nothing I can do but realize I start Medicare now and I am on the downhill third of my life, so I best make sure I use every minute to get all things done I want to.  I was trying to come up with a post for today and one of my friends posted this on FB and I think it is perfect for today.

Thank you Lord for the rain this morning, it is much needed and a great birthday gift.  I don't want to do anything today as it is the first birthday without my dad, so I will go visit him later and sit a while and talk and come home and just veg, clean off the DVR, go through some pics of my dad and I and knit.  I don't care to celebrate just spend a quiet day at home remembering all the great birthdays before with my dad.  There was always a package of fig newtons, maybe I will go to the store after visiting him and get some fig newtons.

Barely the day started and... it's already six in the evening.

Barely arrived on Monday and it's already Friday.

... and the month is already over.

... and the year is almost over.

... and already 40, 50 or 60 years of our lives have passed.

... and we realize that we lost our parents, friends.

and we realize it's too late to go back...

So... Let's try, despite everything, to enjoy the remaining time...

Let's keep looking for activities that we like...

Let's put some color in our grey...

Let's smile at the little things in life that put balm in our hearts.

And despite everything, we must continue to enjoy with serenity this time we have left. Let's try to eliminate the afters...

I'm doing it after...

I'll say after...

I'll think about it after...

We leave everything for later like ′′ after ′′ is ours.

Because what we don't understand is that:

Afterwards, the coffee gets cold...

afterwards, priorities change...

Afterwards, the charm is broken...

afterwards, health passes...

Afterwards, the kids grow up...

Afterwards parents get old...

Afterwards, promises are forgotten...

afterwards, the day becomes the night...

afterwards life ends...

And then it's often too late....

So... Let's leave nothing for later...

Because still waiting see you later, we can lose the best moments,

the best experiences,

best friends,

the best family...

The day is today... The moment is now...

We are no longer at the age where we can afford to postpone what needs to be done right away.

So let's see if you have time to read this message and then share it.

Or maybe you'll leave it for... ′′ later "...

And you'll never share it....

Sit Quietly

 

Around the Yard

 Flowers are kind of on their last life, beginning to die back.  The Zinnias are turning and seed will be dropped in the pots hopefully to come up next year.  I brought in a small sunflower head to seed and plant next year in a new spot and the milkweek pods are being collected to be buried later this Fall and hopefully produce even more milkweed plants next year.  I have yet to have caterpillars again this year but I am still hopeful.

I love marigolds, i have some vibrant oranges as well and the seed is being dropped in the post hopefully to have new plants next year. 

One of the neighbors trees is starting to turn. It is too early does that mean early Fall and then early Winter? I hope not.

I always seem to have 2 sunflower plants here that come up volunteerly probably from the gold finches dropping seeds.

The Naked Ladies were gorgeous this year.

This will be the 3rd summer for these Vinca, bringing them in again this Winter to see if they survive only to be set out again next year.

The portulaca (aka moss rose) is all abloom this morning, seeds brought from Powell Garden.

This lavender is for a friend building a new house, part of her House Welcoming gift.

This beautiful moth had a nap on the porch behind the Naked Ladies. He was here for several hours.

My female feral, Smudgey, sleeping in the asparagus barrel

The hummingbirds have been large in number this year, this one is quite chubby.

More like the Locusts singing

And from the hot field's farthest edge

The cricket's soft refrain

With mellow accent tells the tale

That August's here again.

–Helen Maria Winslow (1851–1938)

Summer is on the downhill side

Summer declines and roses have grown rare,

But cottage crofts are gay with hollyhocks,

And in old garden walks you breathe an air

Fragrant of pinks and August-smelling stocks.

–John Todhunter (1839–1916)