Nope

I'm skipping this day.

Meanwhile at the tree

Here is another shot of my Christmas Chair and tree. 

It is the light that I really love. Oh and of course all of the toys that are running about.

These are carousel horses that were given to me years ago. Funny that three different people purchased these and gave them to me. The horses match. I've always thought that was amazing. 

The horses were on the chair and I guess that made them vulnerable to the Star Wars Storm Troopers who thought they'd go for a joy ride. I don't mind, it looks like they were having a great time.

I hope my 'chair shenanigans' don't bore anyone. After all, I do it for me and not really anyone else. 

During those cold, damp, dreary, and grey December days with longer nights and shorter days...I generally need something to distract me.

On the chair. Miss LaFleur and Yvette rearrange ribbons and add an ornament to the tree. They are so happy that the chair allows them access to the branches!

Oh my! It looks like the Dinosaurs are back giving Santa a hard time. 

I wouldn't worry too much. Santa usually has these things under control. He just keeps some of Charlie's dog treats handy....

I've heard this year that the dragons wanted in on having fun at Christmas.  I also heard that they took over the space under the chair.

I understand that they are not exactly happy about the color of the string of beads.

I heard one grumble:

I thought you said there'd be gold under this place! I want gold!

Behind the scenes, the Lego elves are getting involved. This one is busy feeding one of the unicorns who jumped off the tree for a treat.

....

and not on the chair we find Rabbit and Bear. Rabbit is always kind to Bear trying to find ways to cheer him up and make him feel better.

Rabbit to Bear:

Here you go Bear, this small box represents all my love and caring for you. 

this time of the year is not easy

for everyone

remember kindness

and

love....

Early Mornings

Friday morning was incredible. Although I wish everyone had planted soybeans instead of corn. Corn gets to be sOOOO tall! And I am SOOOO short! Getting a good shot of the ridge is hard.

This was pre dawn. 

Charlie and I wandered up our gravel road and pretty much did a daydream walk. I dreamt about life, possibilities and ...well, how hot is was and how many skeeters wanted to EAT me even on the road.

I'd lie if I said that Covid B*tch Delta wasn't on my mind and how would IT affect us through this next fall and winter. Last year it was a challenge to be met and to be dealt with. This year, it feels like a real drag. 

Having a spouse that would be negatively affected by any virus or bacteria makes things feel a bit more concerning.

But on to other things. Fog.
It is that time of year.

I missed getting out for the full moon rise but managed to grab a not so interesting shot of it on Saturday night.

I couldn't sleep past 3:30 am, so I got up made some coffee, filled a bottle of water, and headed off into the night by 4:30. 

The drive was super foggy and a few times I stopped for deer in the road. The drive during the day is about 30 minutes. Add night time fog and there is another dimension of s..l..o..w... . But it was actually better to drive that twisted river road on a Sunday morning because there was absolutely no traffic to contend with.

The hike and climb take about 15 minutes in the dark. Slowing down for the deer put me behind schedule and I just about missed the moon setting over the bluff to the west. 

The view from the bluff was amazing. 

Yes, I brought coffee and Rabbit and Bear.

Sometimes you just have to share these magical moments.

Remember Bear

I am always 

Here for you

And then the magic happened all at once.

I made it home before the other half woke up. 

I really cherish those few hours in the morning I have to myself. It seems like it is the only time I get to regroup and face the oncoming challenges of the day.

 

Be Like Bears

 

The Bears gather in the Forest Garden for Tea and Conversation. 

The Bears like each other despite their differences. They don't judge each other on looks, color, style, or where they are from.

I like Bears.

They are smart and full of warmth.

They are not stupid or ignorant. 

They are always full of love and compassion.

Some days I prefer them over the human aspect of the world.

Of course there is also Rabbit.

Rabbit loves unconditionally.

Be like Rabbit.

Grow up?

Rabbit to Bear:

It's hard, I know. But together we can get through these tough spots.

Unicorns, dragons, teddy bears, and dinosaurs. I really enjoy them. If they are really small, I like them even better. They are easier to carry in a pocket or section of a backpack.

Toys sent to me by
a childhood friend

Some of my garden
'toys'

I mean come on, don't we adults need to play once in a while too?

I did have toys as a kid and I wasn't a disadvantaged kid at all. I think we did pretty well. We had those funky hard plastic and brittle legos. We had little soldiers, we had erasers that we used as toys instead of erasers. I had a dragon, my sister had a pink kitty, and I don't recall what my brother had. We always were 'setting' up battles on the ping pong table in the basement with the soldiers. We made the Kitty Motel out of legos. 

We did horrible things to our Barbie Dolls and once hung our GI Joes from the iron beams in the basement with clothesline rope. 

In the summer at the cottage we had wooden blocks that had come from construction of the tiny place we lived in. 

We had marbles we had decks of cards.
We had the outdoors. My sister and I had trolls.

Summers were spent with no phones and no TV. Play time was what we could make of it when not working in the garden with our grandparents or helping with the processing of vegetables.

Oh well, I digress. 
I like toys. I like to take them out and use them for Still Life or stories. I used to do that with Morris and his collection of toys. 

I asked my childhood friend if she thought I was nuts and she said "No, I just love that you still find time to play and keep your mind creative."

As a kid I always made up stories to go with the things I was playing with. We'd set up toys be it the rubber erasers or perhaps our stuffed animals and we'd dictate what we imagined they were saying.

Bones to Unicorn...

Wow I thought you all 

were extinct too!

I love unicorns and mythical creatures. I have forest critters too and for a couple of years, my neighbor kids adored the adventures of The Doe Story. I took photos of a deer figurine I had and she had wonderful adventures in my woodlands with unlikely characters.

Dino to Doe: No worries!

I'm a vegetarian now!

I shared those online for her kids. 

It morphed into other stories too.

I'm glad to know that that kid that is still inside likes to come out to play once in a while.

After all, who can resist neat little toys? 

So many of those toys were donated.

Cast off soldiers find their way often into my pockets:

Halt!

The Creek Bears

at the Desk

The toys entertain me when I am at loss as to what I might want to photograph. I like taking them out into the forest and finding places to pose them.

Rabbit to Bear:

I'll sit with you.

Maybe I will never fully grow up. I guess that is okay too. 

Wait until you see my new Dragons!

Idle day

Rich didn't feel great in the morning, so I hung around close by. I told him that he had 'morning sickness'.
His eyes got wide and he gave me a strange look then said, "I'm not pregnant!" It got him to laugh and I like it when he laughs.
I explained that I thought he was allergic to mornings.

Well.
He doesn't like them. And Friday morning he said he just couldn't do Pulmonary Therapy and he went back to bed. Fighting with depression is tiring and we may be dipping or plateauing right now.
I do what I can.

So, Rabbit and Bear are on my mind again.

So are little things.
Bugs, flowers, seeds...and whatnot.
In our photography group we are playing a game of 'Guess What?'

We post a photo of something close up or a part of something and then take guesses as to what it is.

And I thought I'd pick some spices and sun dry them along with some sunflower heads...

I will open a jar of this thyme and oregano this winter....and smell summer!

Tomorrow is Sunday and I am going to take on some trails at Kickapoo Valley Reserve, that was the plan for Saturday. But since Rich didn't feel well in the morning [he feels better now], I thought I'd stay at home.

I helped the neighbors pick rocks out of the space they are creating to make a soccer practice area.

I took a walk and found Indian Pipes but didn't stay long in the woods. The mosquitoes were vicious.

And if I say they are bad, they are really bad.
I was severely disappointed in our mail system this afternoon. I'd been tracking my converted camera's progress back to me.
That was another reason I waited until Sunday to go to KVR.

My Infrared converted camera was to be returned today. I watched and waited for the postal carrier on the porch.
I checked my email and text messages at 4pm wondering where it was.

The tracking number revealed that the carrier tried to deliver it at 3:07pm but no one was there to sign for it.
This is the 3rd time this year that this carrier simply skips coming to the house. Twice with meds and now this.

I get excuses from the post master. She explained that the carrier had a problem with goats in the road. However she was still able to write a unable to deliver note and drop it in the box. Once it was a cow on the ridge.
I was nice to the post master and simply asked if the rural carrier knew she was in a Rural Area.

Goodness. The UPS guy never has any issues with deliveries. All Rich's overnighted meds now come by UPS as USPS is not very dependable.

I notified the local post office that I'd be in on Monday to get my package. I'm sure IF I let her try again, she'd leave another note.

Well.
Off I go with my Tremor Bright Green Helmet and speedy mountain bike for a new adventure.
Unless my bike spooks, I should be just fine.

Seriously, I can't wait!

Best of Friends

Life can be rough...

It has challenges that are seemingly are insurmountable.

Things get lonely and you feel that no one is at your side.
Depression works that way.
The path of the future is not clear and you have no idea how to approach the obstacles.

You don't always know where to turn for help or even if you can be helped.
And you sometimes you just need for someone to sit by your side.

That's all,
no more,
no less.

Just for them to be there when you need them...

They don't judge, they don't turn away.
They just are there for you in
every way.

"Thank you Rabbit," says Bear.
"You are welcome," replies Rabbit, "always...welcome."

Rabbit and Bear

For a while Rabbit and Bear had disappeared from my photography.

Rabbit and Bear have returned.

[It is how I help deal with what is happening to Rich.]

Depression is an ongoing thing. It takes the smile away from the person I have laughed with and shared jokes with. The prankster has gone away, I haven't seen him in such a long time. Smiles are rare.

My sweet love is encased in something intangible, untouchable. There is no way to reach through that barrier and pull him through.

So I sit with him in the morning while he has his coffee and watch him look out the window. I ask him what he sees and he blinks slowly and looks at me as if I just appeared from another dimension.

He answers: I am Nowhere.

As if Nowhere is a place.

His mind and body aches and hurts. He walks as though there is a crushing weight on him. 

This is how it is. 

I can't make him better. 

This is the story behind Rabbit and Bear.

Rabbit to Bear

Rabbit to Bear: "I see Hope down there. Shall we jump in and grab some?"


Bear: "Yes, please!"

Hope is a wonderful thing.

Bear and Rabbit

Hello Bear, I am Rabbit.

Rabbit to Bear: Don't be so sad. I will always be here for you.

Rabbit to Bear: I wish I could fix it.

Rabbit to Bear: Isn't it nice being outside?