Random Download

Night before last, the cows in the pasture by my bedroom window were lowing. Loudly. And often. Enough that I thought maybe something was wrong; a wild animal was threatening, a cow was calving, one was lost and they were trying to find it.

I thought about getting up with a flashlight and going to the rescue. Then I fell asleep.

They were still at it in the morning. Not just random moos, but moo moo moo moo moo, over and over and over. Looking out over the pasture, I saw nothing amiss. Eventually, they stopped. (Randy said simply, "it's springtime". Ahh. I'm slow, but get the drift.)

This morning, I sat with my tea on the back steps to listen to the birds. They're moving back, moving in, building nests. I saw them mostly in silhouette, in the cloudy-morning light. Some of the tiniest birds make the biggest noises.

There's a family of blue jays. A pair of titmice building a nest in the photina. Canadian Geese flew over, headed west, so I'm guessing they're taking up residence for the summer. I did not see my precious mockingbird. But the red-headed woodpecker was about.

Yesterday was a warm, sunny day, so I drove Betty with her top down to Dahlonega to pick up the banner for the office. I grabbed lunch at Chic-Fil-A, and bypassed my sign guy for a drive on a side road to eat.

North Georgia is greening and flowering, becoming more beautiful by the day. I got so caught up in the lovely sights, I almost forgot to turn around for my sign.

The daffodils are in full gloriosity, the yellowbells are in mid-bloom. I saw a quince, cherry trees, plums and saucer magnolias, all in early stages of blossom. The pear trees are just beginning to tip.

I passed a tiny airport with an enormous flag billowing in the lazy wind.

And an old, abandoned house surrounded by woods and daffodils.

On the way to Dawsonville to hang the banner, I stopped by The Sage Brush, a little shop I'd found the day before. I needed a hat to shield my eyes (remember, I'm running around top-down) and found one for $2.50 on consignment! A cutie that I would never have paid full price for, but at $2.50, I'm lovin' it.

To top off the day, I went to the 6 o'clock meeting, where I was asked to be discussion leader. Ha. Me. The new kid in town. I am grateful for this meeting and its people, and have decided to make it my home group. I even got a sponsor. (I haven't had either in years).

I am loved. Already. And I've only been around a short time.

To wrap it up, today is my AA anniversary. Nineteen years ago, I stopped drinking and drugging. Coming from a family with alcoholics on both sides of the family tree, that's saying a lot. Alcoholism killed my father at 49, my brother at 33, and my mother at 74. I am grateful I made it into recovery.

There is a noon meeting in Dahlonega. I think I'll go meet some new friends today. I will pick up a blue chip to celebrate sobriety. And to mark a new day in the life that I am choosing to live.

Photographs from top to bottom: Red-headed woodpecker caught in rare still moment (moves constantly!), field of daffodils in full bloom, flag billowing in the lazy wind, daffodils surrounding an old, abandoned house