Water in the Pond!

No, I haven't fallen off the edge of the Earth.  Just so many things happening that I'm neglecting the most fun thing I do - writing these posts!  Big NEWS! Yesterday and last night we had 3 inches of rain!  So, here's the Pond now, first from the side of the cottage and second from the dam (Note deep grass on the dam).  The labyrinth is in the distance in both photos

New Home

Now in the process of moving over to the Guest House and leaving my cottage.  Here's a photo taken from the pond basin a few weeks ago, before the dock was removed and more earth moved up to the house.  Much fun settling in to  more room and setting up in a different place.  It's hard to believe but I've been in the cottage almost nine years now so it was becoming a bit tiresome.  One thing I do enjoy is change - so a big one now moving stuff back and forth between the two buildings.  Actually, if I keep it simple, it will work much better for two adults than the smaller cottage.  And, Frank and I are spending most of our time together either here or in his house in NC.  Living in the new place will also give us a chance to overcome the mouse brigade that has moved in!  First it was fleas, and now mice.  Living in the country during a drought has presented us with all kinds of new critters moving in - looking in part for water I suspect.  If all else fails, I guess I'll have to get a cat.   Oh well, we won the battle of the fleas so I bet we'll win the battle with the mice!

Sara's Shoes and Beamer in the Pond

See something strange about Sara's shoes?  She packed in a hurry when leaving Wilmington but despite the difficulty, she walked completely around the Pond with me.  What a kick to be able to do that - walk all the way around the Pond.  It is possible now because the renovation created a "bank" all the way around.  Now, if we can just get a lot of rain……Here's Nancy's dog Beamer enjoying the small puddle near the new peninsula at the northwest end of the Pond.  The grassy area in the center is left to create fish habitat.

Butterflies at The Pond

Butterflies here at the Pond too!  This is the same one with underside first and upper side the other one. This one rode around on Frank's finger for a long time while he walked around the yard!

Seeing vs. Looking

This weekend in NC has been a totally relaxing one - very little actual work been done.  Mostly just sitting on the porch and watching butterflies on the butterfly bush.
 None there this morning yet, but as soon as the sun pops over the trees I'll bet they will show up  Yes - I see them in the sunlight on the other side of the yard.  At one point yesterday there were 6 of them  all on the same bush right next to the porch - bright yellow and some brown/black ones I don't recall seeing before.  I am still working on SEEING instead of just looking!

Yoga - And, Clearing and Cleaning

Goodness!  Time does fly.  Here it is already Thursday and my first week back at work is over!  What a great one it was.  FOURTEEN students showed up Monday evening - a record!  And still they came Tuesday morning, Wednesday evening, and again this morning.  I am so humbled by all of this eagerness!  AND, one or two students have come more than once this week!!!  It brings tears to my eyes.  My sincerest thanks to each and every one of you for your love and companionship on this beautiful trip!!!! Here's my latest favorite yoga photo - Granddaughter Sydney in Pigeon Pose at Hilton Head
……..Once again, I'm in NC with Frank watching today as a couple guys are loading up lawn tractors, saws and tables, HUGE removal operation going on!  Fortunately these two men are in the habit of doing this as a sideline job - selling tools -  for a commission, of course, but they even do the cleanup, etc.  What a find!  So, before we know it, we can even clean up the two garages and the woodworking shop…….This is one of the most fun projects I've been in on in a long while.  Cleaning and Clearing is so FREEING!  I'm finding myself doing some of the same stuff at the Pond.  What a trip to see empty shelves!  Why is it we collect?  I can assure you, it's much more fun to de-collect.  It's a joy to imagine someone else actually USING our stuff, much of which hasn't been used in a very long time.  I heartily recommend clearing and cleaning.

Fried Clemson Spineless Okra

Today is a play day.  The photo is of fried okra from my garden.

 Believe it or not, never before in my life have I fried okra but it was irresistible.   It is a super appetizer with a cold beer!  This is actually Clemson spineless okra dipped in egg, then buttermilk- corn meal- flour mix to which I added salt, pepper, garlic powder, and chili powder, and fried in coconut oil.  First of all, I NEVER fry foods.  But, this I will continue.  It did seem a bit strange to taste the coconut flavor, but not offensive.  My family will be most surprised since cooking is truly a new hobby for me.  We lived on easy-to-prepare foods with very little exploring going on except perhaps for a different tomato sauce on the Quaker Oats meatloaf I made almost weekly for fifty years.