The Art of Zen Living

We had a nice little storm yesterday afternoon.  Nothing too unusual for South West Florida in monsoon season - lots of heavy rain, high winds gusting to 50 miles per hour or so, scattered hail.  We get late afternoon thunderstorms all the time around here in the summer.  This one was perhaps a big stronger than usual, and it was the first really strong one of the season.  Tucked away safe and sound in my house, I enjoyed listening to it.  I was grateful that it had let up a bit by the time I needed to go drive in it.  I enjoyed the drive in the light rain, nice and cool and pleasant.

Today, I went out to assess the damage to the garden.  With the clay soil underneath it, the garden was swimming in water.  No problem, really - the worst of it was the area I’d just dug out and added garden soil to.  I’ll need to dig that good dirt back out, throw some of the older dirt back into the bottom to build it up a little, and that should take care of the problem.  It also made it quite clear to me that I really shouldn’t plant anything out there until fall planting season.  I’ll plant some flowers to get bees used to the area, and then plow them under when the time comes, but as far as food crops, I don’t think it would be a good idea.  I’ll just get frustrated if I lose them to the rain.

While I was out there, I was pulling some of the larger rocks I’d thrown over into a pile and spreading them out to hose off.  I was snagging them with a 4 prong cultivator, yanking them off the pile and then pushing them around with it.  For some reason, when I got to the third rock I was going to pull out, I didn’t use the cultivator.  Instead, I leaned down. to grab it.  As I reached for this rock, it lifted it’s head and looked up at me.

I realized that the storm had not been pleasant for everyone.

UPDATE: As of this afternoon, the little storm tossed bird is doing much better. I called the C.R.O.W. and they said that as long as she was able to move around and strong enough to call, the best thing to do is put her back out where mom and dad can find her. Looks like all she needed was a few hours out of the sun, a little water, and a chance to get some rest!

I’ve kept and eye out this afternoon, and mom and dad did find her, and have been (I assume) bringing her goodies to snack on.  She’d been making her way across the yard, but I can’t find her anywhere now.  Mom and dad are still around, so I’m sure she’s safe.  Most cool.

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