Good afternoon all. It's almost noon here and I haven't really started much. I need to get going. I've been up since 7 just kind of rambling around. That's ok though as some days are meant for such things. There I stopped and cleaned the kitchen, dressed, and now I'll go on.

Our hike started later than expected yesterday. I fell asleep waiting for P and took a late nap. We started out down the tracks, the hills lined with purple clover and bees. There were some stray blackberries here and there and a cool breeze kept the heat from shriveling us. We continued down the path to the first turn into the blanket of yellow ground cover flowers and flowering shrubs that formed an arch as we walked on. We reached the turn to the creek and the "hill" he'd been telling me about. It was a bit worse than I'd expected, the hill being more of a straight down incline before it led to winding paths. The dog made it down the hill, making it look like nothing, Bassets of course being good hiking dogs. My son followed easily. I on the other hand finally made it, inching my way down all the while worried about falling and finishing off what was left of my knee. My fear of heights, intense since childhood, accompanied me all the way as well. Once I made it to the winding paths I was fine, but realized I need some jeans and a pair of hiking shoes. My tennis shoes are about 4 years old at least and have little traction. They are deceivingly intact and do not give away their many inadequacies.

The creek bed was mud and ground cover and was serene and lovely the only sounds being the wind in the trees and the beat of my heart settling down. We saw some lovely dragonflies and a beautiful damselfly pictured below. He has seen deer and other things as well. It was truly a sanctuary of nature not meant for the comforts of we who had discovered it, but only for the enjoyment of the beauty it provided. As evening had already rolled in and the descent of the mosquito was near, we headed out not long after.

After making my way down I thought the climb out would be easier. I was wrong. I made my way up until the hill once again formed a vertical incline and the struggle was one. I will not highlight my ascent but will say I reached the top pretty much covered in dirt. We walked home through the beautiful landscape, a lovely breeze cooling my much overheated person, and after we arrived home, we headed out once more for late supper and a bit of this and that. It was a late evening and after a shower fell asleep with my laptop in hand all plans of writing and sitting with the moon lost in dreams.

Today I have picked three ticks of myself the last one almost warranting a scream as I am unsure where they are coming from.."coughs"..Peter.. and had my daughter pick through my clean hair just now. He was up terribly late and has fallen asleep. I was hoping to take him to the barber for his much anticipated hair cut. They, like most old barbershops have terrible hours so it will be off to the salon at the corner later today. I hope one of them knows what clippers are and how to use them. His hair grows like well nourished grass and a short cut must be short indeed.

Tonight perhaps I will start writing the story that has been swimming in my head for over a month and the clear sunny skies bode well for some time with the moon.
Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly