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Mere hours before Little Man took himself off to go walkabout, I’d been melancholic about un-fulfiled buds on the roses of Sharon.
More, probably, than actual flowers we’d seen on them in most previous years. It seemed sad.
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The ensuing days saw me wandering the length of the property hoping to catch sight of our wicked kitten.
It seems likely he was nearby, but he was not yet hungry or cold enough to abandon his adventure, so all I got was an image of: trichaptum.
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And resin oozing from a pine tree.
Very sticky.
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“I wos jus’ checking things out!”
Hmm.
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Life having returned to some semblance of normal, Monday saw us once more off to Clifton Park.
via…Greenwich, of course.
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As we started out, the land was lit up as can only happen at such times of year.
Even a rusty old truck gained character.
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The Old Station Inn.
Now closed, sadly.
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How different the wraparound looked.
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On my last visit to the pain clinic, I’d found myself talking to someone new, without explanation.
So I wondered…
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Drought or no, the fountains had been activated.
It was only recently that I read about the shortage of water in some NY counties.
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Then, over the weekend I’d got a air quality warning on my phone and sure enough, there was smoke.
Some complete lunatic had been firing tracer bullets and set fire to dead leaves, down in New Jersey, with dire consequences.
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The fire is not yet contained and in fact there are numerous fires up and down the east coast now, due to very dry conditions that are likely to continue.
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There are only so many things you can worry about at once.
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When doctors began pressuring me to give up anti-anxiety medication, the question that troubled me most was how I might cope in a particularly stressful situation if I had no medication to fall back on.
Having managed to wean the wretched stuff out of my system, I’d come to the conclusion that my nerves were in better shape than at any time prior to those meds, but had I been properly tested yet?
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It is safe to say, I think, that the events of last week amounted to a test.
In a drawer somewhere I still have a bottle of those pills which naturally I remembered. They did not tempt me.
They would only have made matters worse.
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Approaching the Hudson.
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Low-angle morning light.
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On a summer’s morning, the river is marked by a bank of mist above it.
Now it is clearly visible once more.
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Lovely willows.
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The sun would soon disappear above that bank of cloud.
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Though looking south it was quite clear.
New England will always keep you guessing!
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Stately Stillwater homes.
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Schuyler Mansion was the home of Rensselaer Schuyler, son of Revolutionary General Philip Schuyler.
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Soft palate.
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Near the clinic.
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Carpets of leaves.
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As beautiful as these trees were a fortnight ago, I like this image more, especially against that dark sky.
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The sun chose this very moment to disappear above the dark cloud, so I left Grant with instructions to capture these bushes if it came back out while I was at my appointment.
But it didn’t.
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As usual, we were early, so I was prepared to wait and did, for almost an hour beyond the time I’d been given, which is not usual, especially early in the day.
There have been changes, which always involves adjustments, which one may understand, as long as one is kept informed.
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Only because I asked, I was advised that the wonderful lady who had been helping me so much for nearly four years has left the practice, which was rather a blow.
Last time I’d not much cared for the new person, but then she had had a trainee in tow and this time things went much better, so maybe it will be alright.
One can only hope.
Such a shame when a well trusted professional moves on!
Beautiful photo of the resin oozing from the pine tree. I’m glad you passed the stress test (without any help from medication) and I’m sure it should be a good boost for your morale. It’s always a shame when people, who you are familiar with and have worked well with, leave. But I trust that you will also find happiness with the new person. Your photos are beautiful today – there’s a tranquility that radiates from them.
If I didn’t know what country you lived in, reading the line ‘Firing tracer bullets’ would have identified your location as America immediately.
Best wishes, Pete.