Day 90 Gumbo Day

Straight from Louisiana...

Day 89 Relief!

A miracle drug.



She lives, she breathes, she's not clawing her eyes.



The pollen count is 5768, Atlanta cars are all yellow, Every surface in my yard (plants, deck, chair, car, recycling bin....) was covered with pollen this morning, looking eerily like movies of nuclear fall-out. But I am amazingly, miraculously better.

Day 88 YUCK!!

What is this?! The second photo will give you a better look, with an explanation below that.





I was so excited to buy two kinds of friut I'd never heard of before. Earlier this week I had the first one, which was a nice texture but sort of bland. Today's adventure was horned melon. Looked intriguing. We cut this thing open at work, with the green goo oozing out before we could really see the interior. We could not even figure out a way to eat it, but did mangage to discover it was fairly tart. It was good for photos and a laugh, but not for eating.

[Sidenote from cnn.com: Atlanta's pollen count hit 5,499 particles per cubic meter of air Monday, the highest so far this season and the fourth highest in the 12 years that the Atlanta Allergy and Asthma Clinic has been keeping records.]

Day 87 Groan!

Pollen count is considered severe at 120.

Today's count: 3905
Today's main culprits: Pine, oak, sweetgum, sycamore and birch

I'm allergic to oak, hickory, and pecan. I live on a street named for its oak trees.

New allergy meds will take several days for insurance to approve. It's not been a good day.

Day 86 Flowers again

It's either that or photos of pollen.

The wisteria is suddenly all over the place, and the dogwood are amazing. I checked out the Tipsey Tangerine today, and they are not quite ready for a follow-up photo.

Day 85 So we zipped through Spring

And it is hot.

Time to break out the flops. I wish I could remember when I bought these. I'd guess they are at least 20 years old, and still doing the job. We are comfortable friends.

Day 84 Farmers' Market

I took my son to the Farmers' Market before returning him to Athens. He says the prices are about half of what he'd pay there.

Jonathan and I both bought one of these melons to try.



Neither of us had ever seen these miniature eggplant before!



Help me! Help me!

Day 83 My son!

I spent part of today at the Athens botanical gardens. Here is my son, the photographer!



We saw this interesting creature along the path.



These trees were awesome! The gorgeous flowers just pop out directly from the bark. Fascinating.



Notes: My alleries were better in Athens. Hmmmm.
I got my first little sunburn of the season!
The trees in my neighborhood that I've thought were white oaks are beeches.

Day 82 Tipsey Tangerine (Friday)

I don't ever remember seeing this flower before, and certainly have never heard of "Tipsey Tangerine" azaleas. There is a whole row by the lake in the park (with a nice tag declaring the name!), so I'll be keeping an eye out to see how they progress.

Day 81 Flowers again!

I don't have a clue what any of these are, but they sure were pretty! I walked past a gorgeous dogwood in full bloom (don't ask about THAT photo!).

Day 80 This is Atlanta

While scurrying to the library at lunchtime, I snapped this photo. The sky is still an amazing blue and the variety of buildings intrigues me. Of course there is the omnipresent crane for some sort of construction. Atlanta is always working on something!

Day 79 Morning view

I'll take a break from flower photos, even though I drove up today to discover I had flowers blooming in my very own yard!! Hooray!

I took this one through my front windshield as I sat at a light on my way to work. The sky was an incredible blue, and the windows of some of the buildings reflected it perfectly. I missed the best shot when the light changed and I had to move, but (sigh) I didn't make it through the light so got another (although closer) chance.

Day 78 Garden Reloaded

I'm not quite ready to leave the garden yet, so indulge me one more day (please).

If you want to browse through the rest of the garden photos (warning: there are lots!), click on Botanical Garden.

Day 77 Back to the Garden

So much beauty; so little time.



From a second trip to the botanical gardens.

Day 76 St. Patrick's Day

IMG_4869.JPG, originally uploaded by LauraLizzie.

Orchid Daze with Fräbel: Glass Impressions

Today (Saturday--I'm posting after midnight) I visited a special exhibit at the botanical gardens. An internationally acclaimed artist (glassblower) who lives in Atlanta had displays throughout the garden. In addition to pieces such as this one, he created glass orchids.

Sometime Sunday I will get my "garden set" posted on Flickr, for those interested in the wide variety of orchids, more glass artwork, and the garden in general.

Day 75 Both lead somewhere....

Two tracks, originally uploaded by LauraLizzie.

Although not the prettiest, or even best photo of today, this one fits where I am right now. In several areas of my life, I'm feeling the paths pulling apart. Until now I've been able to maintain the tension of hanging on to all the options, but the time is coming to commit to one path. The tracks both go somewhere....but where? And how much does it matter? Usually I enjoy the journey at least as much as the destination.

Day 74 The Magic Place

Magic Place, originally uploaded by LauraLizzie.

I'm cheating. I did not take even one photo today, but will post more from my trip to Alabama.

Saturday morning I hiked around the homeplace, amazed at how everything has grown and been overgrown! Along the front pasture fence, I fought my way through the underbrush, wondering if I'd remembered correctly.....and stepped into the magic place. Years ago it was fun (we rode the low branches like horses), but now it is pure magic.

This huge oak tree has branches as big as tree trunks, growing down to the ground, running along the earth, curving back up a bit....I stood under the canopy, surrounded by huge branches all around me--and cried. The photos don't begin to convey the feel. Maybe it was the misty morning, but it was such a secret place, so earthy, so real, so old. It was a bit disorienting, as if I'd stepped through one of L'Engle's wrinkles in time.

Click on The Magic Place for more (inadequate) photos. I went back another day with my brother and his wife, so some of the photos are misty and some are sunny.

Day 73 Patterns

Patterns, originally uploaded by LauraLizzie.

I'm caught up!! I know you are all just panting to see the photos from the last few days, so make sure you scroll down!

Day 72 Tuesday, March 13

Iris, originally uploaded by LauraLizzie.

Today would have been Grandma's 96th birthday. Wow.

Day 71 Monday

What is this?, originally uploaded by LauraLizzie.

The trees sporting these pods (?) are in the park, but I don't remember seeing them last year. I have no idea what they are, but they are a gorgeous color!

Day 70 Sunday

IMG_4175.JPG, originally uploaded by LauraLizzie.

So I didn't really see this on Sunday, but it is a church, so....

I was riding along with my nephew when I happened to see what was left of this church. He humored me as I whipped into a dirt road for a better look. Oh, my!

I didn't know I was being watched, but before I could drive off a teenager appeared to say that if I was interested, his grandfather had the wooden benches that came out of the church. Be still my heart!! No way to transport them, nowhere to store them for later retrieval...but boy howdy was I tempted! Can you imagine what all those benches have witnessed through the years?

Day 69 (March 10) Saturday

IMG_4457.JPG, originally uploaded by LauraLizzie.

I took a long hike around the homeplace this morning. It's early enough that the underbrush is not a solid wall, so I was able to get to the old barn, chicken coop, and The Magic Place. Once I get my photos organized, I plan a special presentation of the Magic Place.

Day 68 (March 9) Grandma's front yard

IMG_4401.JPG, originally uploaded by LauraLizzie.

The tree was incredible when I was a teenager. Now it takes my breath away! This is the view from Grandma's front porch, where so many of my memories of her are centered.

Today was Grandma's funeral. Among other things, we read Paul's words about fighting the good fight. The pastor said Grandma would want to know if we were fighting the good fight. Am I involved in things of eternal value? Am I focused on what is good and right and pure...and true? She'd want to know if I was finishing the race. Am I tired of well doing? Am I persevering?

On the way to the cemetery I realized how far I've gotten from home. I've lived "away" long enough to forget how the world stops in lower Alabama when someone takes that last ride. As vehicles pulled off the road for the entire procession, I lost it. Even realizing that some people sat there fuming at the delay, I was overwhelmed by how it said "honor" to me. All along the entire route, strangers put their lives on hold to show respect to a saint going home. My grandmother. And pulling out my camera never entered my head.

Day 67 March 8 (Thursday)

IMG_4290.JPG, originally uploaded by LauraLizzie.

I am having trouble posting photos, and am trying a work around. This is a test.

Hey! It worked! This isn't the photo I intended, but the other was not on Flickr yet, and I blogged this straight from there.

Well, I am several day's behind, due to the travel associated with my grandmother's death and blogger woes since I've returned. This photo is a glimpse of my Alabama roots.

Day 66 Wednesday

Yesterday I saw something interesting, causing me to make a detour on the way to the park, and I came upon this tiny park, full of the first tulips I've seen this year! I went back today and took more photos. It was very hard to choose! Each flower is so beautiful!

The beginning of life and the end (the unopened flower looks like something from Little Shop of Horrors----"Feed me!!")

Day 65 Grandma

My grandmother passed away tonight; she would have been 96 later this month.

She was ready to go. She walked peacefully into eternity. I'm grateful. But I feel a little like this flower...just let me hide my head on a rock for a few minutes until I can stand tall and face the sun again.



I am from Grandma.
I am from incredible biscuits, gumbo on holidays, and talks on the porch while she opened oysters (and slurped as she went).
I am from a fierce love, and "step-grandmother" without the step.
I am from smiling blue eyes. kisses on the mouth, and hard hugs.
I am from her solid faith, her unwavering devotion, her unceasing prayers.
I am from the fount of all local knowledge, the postmistress of our country community.
I am from her yard, the huge old oaks, the giant azaleas, the pink running roses.
I am from the wringer washing machine, the pump house, the cow lot, and Easter egg hunts.
I am from talking to dogs and calling the cows.
I am from her garden, the terrible heat, the never ending rows.
I am from shelling peas and snapping beans.
I am from her trusting spirit, her giving heart, her life lived for others.
I am from Grandma.

Day 64 Dentist again

Today was the permanent crown day...except that it could not be forced to fit. Now I will have to make two more trips to the dentist. ARGH!!

But...across the street from the dentist's is a church. In the churchyard is...whatever these are! I have no idea what the story is, but was early enough for my appointment to swing in and take some shots.

Day 63 (Happy Birthday, Mama!)

It was a tree day. The white oak in my back yard was glorious in the sun, but while walking around the lake in the park, I stopped short at this one. The sun and shadows, the bark and leaves, the messages...just a lovely tree!



My imagination takes over when I look at this tree, full of character. What all has it witnessed? What's happened to it through the years?

And in the "just because" category, we have this interesting roadside find!

Day 62 Happy Birthday, Lauren!

We are celebrating Lauren's 22nd birthday this weekend. Amazing. We spent part of the day at the mall (I really am a good mother), and had Chinese for lunch. Her boyfriend joined us this afternoon for chocolate mint ice cream and Pirates of the Carribean (Dead Man's Chest).

Twenty two. I'm not sure how we got here!


We didn't buy any of the shoes, but they looked so cheerful!

Day 61 Friday (after midnight, but still...)

Today started off on a somber note, with our interstate shut down for miles due to a bus crash. Incomprehensibly, a charter bus transporting a college baseball team fell from an overpass. I know tragedies happen every day, but somehow it seems more real when it is my front yard, so to speak (within 5 miles or so from my house). I've thought all day about the suddeness, the statistical improbability, the finality.

In direct contrast to that backdrop of the day, our sky was bright blue, the sun warm and lovely, and the flowers just bursting forth.




Then this evening my daughter came home. We attended a winterguard competition, where we got to watch one of her best friends from high school compete. He really is incredible. For several years he was almost like another son, and I don't get to see him often. Good for the heart.

Day 60 Rain, rain, rain

Well this was different. The powers that be sent out an email late this afternoon explaining how bad the weather was supposed to be and encouraging non-essential personnel to leave work well before the 5 PM rush hour. We were all astonishment, especially since the weather didn't look particularly threatening (miserable, ugly, depressing....but not threatening). That didn't stop the stampede, however. It was amazing to see who all considered themselves non-essential as the building quickly emptied.

The tornado watch is expected to expire in a few minutes, and we've seen heavy rains but no dangerous weather. The neighboring state was hit pretty hard, with fatalities at a school. Strange weather.



Even dripping wet and battered, the few forsythia blooms shone forth their splendor.