The day Mother Nature stopped by!

 It was a quiet Saturday morning in June of 2023. Viva and I had come in from the backyard and were getting ready for our morning walk. It was 8:30, the sun was out and there was no wind. As we were ready to go out the front door there was a loud, very loud CRASH out back. I went out the back door to see if I could tell where the noise came from. I could not believe my eyes as the picture shows a larg limb dropped from the tree and landed on my simple shed...CRASH!

My spirit was as crushed as my poor shed! Never having experienced this type of situation I called my insurance company. The agent was wonderful! I felt bad that I was feeling so sad at really a minor incident. So many difficult disasters around the world and I am feeling sad about my little problem. The agent shared she understood and I needed to be ok with my feelings as this was/is my personal "crash"!

It has been just about a year since this very large limb fell. I have removed all the broken pieces and have begun to move my exsisting plants around . 

To the left is a picture of my shady yard before the tree decided to give me more sun light! 

the shed is in the background. 

Below is the same view but looking like a hurricane passed through! The orginal 8x8 shed weather the fall and I have sinced made it usable. I had all the tree canopy cut off as it was difficult to tell how far the disease had spead.

I just love this tree and instructed the men to leave what you see in the picture, it contnues to give praise!

That Saturday morning I was overwhelmed. How was I ever going to find the energy to put the yard back together! No shade! The hot summer sun full blast on my yard and house!

I don't know how I do it, but I am doing it! I have rearange the stone 

walls and paths, dug up my existing sun plants, divided and replanted

them in new gardens. I am excited about the new adventure and am

making the tree the focal point of my back yard once again!

Below a more recent picture of the journey.

 Well as "they" say this is my story and that is that!

I still haven't found spell check and need to learn how to arrange my photos better. I am not a pro just someone out there sharing about simple living. No politics. No AI, obvious!

Keep it simple and keep looking up to the stars!

the City Cottager

I'm Back!

 Well here I am again! I'm like the elf on the self, you never know when I will show up again!

Oh my. To quote Katheren H. ( I think); life,life,life! Life feels good right now, of course a sip of wine which I have given up for three years doesn't hurt! As I go forward with my "woordiness" let me be clear that my heart is still a problem. Enough said on that. 

My neighborhood is host to a wonderful small elementary school. On March 2,2024 they held a 5K fun run. Now the last 5K I did was in 1996 and I don't think I had a heart problem but Sat. I said "self go for it". I can't say for sure but I think my time of 55min. was as good as any in the past. 

It was a fun time and I got to speak with a lot of wonderful, young people! I think I have forgotten all the energy children possess. Back in the day I was an elementary teacher and later a principal so I am surprised at how surprised I was at all the energy they showed. Just goes to show age does slow us down not only physically but mentally.  

I feel the world is a bit of a mess right now. My little "bubble" is peaceful and very simple. Everything outside my "bubble" seems to be going so very fast and with little purpose. The electronic world is taking over and soon we will not be able to know the truth about anything! The other element that is fast taking over is pharmaceuticals. The TV is full of advertisements about the medication that will sovle all our health problems. Life,life,life!

I am not sure what I want to share on my blog. I have many ideas in my head. Many thoughts about nature, chronic illness, heart failure, aphasia and my dog Viva!

Since January 2020 I have spent much time dealing with my heart issue. Doctors, proceedures and hospital visits. Now it is time to move on and live. But I don't want to forget about the journey of these last three years as it has shaped my views about life and how it is lived. I am also one of the very many elderly people who live on Soc.Sec. I was not bright enough, lucky enough or what ever enough to have money in the stock market! That too shapes my views on life and my journey. 

So I need to find spell check! When I do I will write again. I am going to try and discipline myself to write at least once a week! I hope someone will stumble upon my blog and find a good feeling and maybe some insight to life.....until the next time look up to the stars!

The City Cottager