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Sublime, Surreal, So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish

The morning is mellow, Cooper's at my side expecting more than the bite of my breakfast he just had. The music is a bit of a cheat with a Youtube link to Reina del Sid. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aqq9yXmgils I was listening to her this morning courtesy of her Sunday morning connection she sends out to her Youtube subscribers.  Youtube morphed that over to a young Emmylou Harris and a beautiful Cajun riff and then on to a duet between Emmylou and Dwight Yoakam.  Country music should be required (Department of Country Music - DoCM anyone!) to have either a peddle steel guitar, a fiddle, or a distinctive voice like Dwight's.
 The path Youtube lead me down was so pleasant I had a hard time breaking away to walk the dogs. I'm glad I did as the quiet of the morning was even better than the music. I even stopped myself from whistling to enjoy it. I don't know if the quiet was a real thing with our cold snap causing my neighbors to stay snuggled under the covers on this Sunday morning. Perhaps it was the low cloud cover which was damping the ambient noise and promising more rain today. No matter, there is something quite wonderful about the 1st Autumn morning - the cool, the rain (we needed it), the dogs, and the quiet - sublime! (thanks for the word Dunc!)
  This evening portends a visit to the surreal - Casa Bonita. My oldest brother Daryl his wife Sam and my grand niece Acadia are in town. Cadi is 3 thus the laws of the universe require we have dinner one night (and only one!) at Casa Bonita just up the street. For those of you who have never visited it was best described by my niece as Tijuana meets Disneyland. The food is horrible, vaguely Tex-Mex, and all you can eat. The entertainment is a high school drama teachers idea of a talent show to entertain the 12 and under crowd.  Weirdly it all works.
  Yesterday's rain held off long enough to enjoy the Zoo. Denver has a very nice zoo but really it acted as a tableau upon which we each laid our own character. My father had a good walk and insisted that we see "the cats".  My mother along with Sam snuck a few seeds from their landscaping. Daryl played Grandpa and made sure Cadi was entertained and gently kept on track (including a literal track with a ride for all of us on the little train). Cadi enjoyed climbing big rocks and benches. Me I had a spectacular conversation with Sam as we strolled along. I couldn't tell you most of it but recall talking about how tough it is to 'be in the moment'.  Perhaps my psyche heard the call and gave me this morning's walk.
 I've switched over to Emmylou https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bbaz_T6BN3g
  This is 'spossed to be a blog on my small garden with some sneaking over to small government so as to cleverly get you all to become libertarians. This last week the garden was mostly ignored (as government should mostly be!) I did put some Thyme, which was having a hard time drying out in pots, out as an edge to one of the raised beds.  Picked and ate some more of the corn. (roasted in the oven with butter and chipolte salt good but not great - I'll have to keep searching for a colorful sweet corn!) Clipped the ripe butternut squash, and even got some of the garlic in.  I'm behind in a thousand little things that 'should' be done by now but the weatherlady says next week will be nice and I can catch up.
  Fact is it is Fall and the garden season is coming to and end and with it I'll end my little experiment in writing this week.  Oh there will be another garden come spring and I'll enjoy planting it all winter in my mind. Perhaps I'll write about it I honestly don't know.  Maybe I'll figure out a way to do garden based comedy - "Hey what's the deal with those peppers?" I want especially to thank each of you for taking your time to read along.  Without you reading I could be just pushing a shopping cart talking to myself. Self exploration is useful and words help that exploration but ya add in a cart full of tin cans (or zucchinis) and it just not pretty!
  I'll end with the most appropriate words I can think of. (and clip;~) These words were spoken by my Father at Daryl and Sam's wedding 2 generations back. My Father's idea of church was the Sunday paper, football, and a six pack of Black Label beer so they stuck with me when I heard him speak them. Kris Kristofferson is singing Bobbie McGee https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EACg8GoSm_4 so gotta listen. Don't forget to enjoy your garden. - Doug A.

Ecclesiastes 3King James Version (KJV)

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.
16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
22 Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?
King James Version (KJV)


Comments

  1. Thanks, Doug, I enjoy your writing style a lot. Small gardens and small government are my kind of thing, but I don't have the musical side.

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  2. Thanks Doug... I'm sad... I've finally figured out how to read the blogs before the next one is published, and now I come to find that my inbox shall be abandoned... it's akin to binge watching a tv series only to come to the "end" and discover that the show has not in fact been cancelled, but rather one must wait until "next season" - OH THE HUMANITY!!!! I have thoroughly enjoyed your missives, and yours is the only blog that I have read that comes with a sound track. I anxiously await the first buds of spring.

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