autumn weekend

It hardly seems possible that it's now autumn. Summer has been and gone. Actually, it really never settled in long enough to call it summer. I vowed after the worst drought in many years that I would not complain abut the rain. we still need more and many places would just like some. However, it's been great to see the sun again for two days in a row. We've been out in the garden here this weekend and it's been beautiful. Son decided to mow the lawns which were very long after the rain. After much frustration with two mowers he had just about given up when his brother and family arrived. #2 son went back home and brought over two mowers of his own and the two boys mowed for hours. This is a very big block and there was lots to do.

DIL and I kept the children amused, fed and watered. It's lovely to see them and to get acceptance and unsolicited cuddles. They grow so quickly and not just physically either. These three were very lively yesterday but it was good to have them around. They diverted my mind from dwelling on much more unpleasant things.

The eldest, now nine, is learning some hard things. He now has a new saying to remember. "Do what you have to do, so you can do what you want to do. After "forgetting" to do his homework on two afternoons, he found he was unable to do what he wanted to do which was to go to soccer practice. He's a very talented young sportsman and plays several games very well. This year he is concentrating on soccer, so missing out was most unpleasant. I look at my nephew who is in his mid-teens and who has never had to learn this. It's not a pleasant contrast, although there are other circumstances which have also influenced him.

I was thinking about how this applies to me. I find myself in a situation where I really have to do what Ihave to do. there's no way around or out, just through. I'm not really sure what "do what i want to do" means for me, but I imagine I will eventually find out as my mind begins to clear. There are several ideas floating around but first I have to go through.

As I read what I have just written, I see how muddled my thinking has become. It certainly shows in my writing.

The photos? Just because I can. The first is a picture of some trunks on the large crepe myrtle here. It has not really flowered much this summer as it has been wet and crepe myrtle like dry summers. However, teh trunks are beautiful. Smooth and variegated. The lavender was much bigger than this picture shows. i chopped it back as it hung halfway over what are already dangerous steps. I wasn't sure how it would go after a very drastic prune, but it's thriving despite chopping and the wet weather.

The children were intrigued by the many holes in the grass all around the house. My feeling is that they are made by bandicoots. I think the weather has cut down on their normal diet and they are looking and digging for roots etc. They are known to live in this area. We used to have them where I grew up, but they are somewhat threatened by increasing building and feral cats. However we have a very large golf course only two doors away and another just down the street. There is lots of bush around here for them to live in.

Working with the children who were eager to help in the garden was happy. They dragged and carried and waved sticks at the many spider webs around this year. The sun shone, the kookaburras cackled and all was well. All in all, a good day and much was accomplished as well.