..it helps you cope with the loss you feel.
Two years ago, I travelled back home in mid June and stayed there for about 2.5 months..a journey like that I always dread to do, knowing someone was sick and may eventually be the last time to be together. But it was what it was..and two years ago, it was for my Dad.
A bittersweet occurrence that was painful... for losing him, and sweet because we know he will finally be at peace, no more physical pain, no more struggles, finally letting go on the first of August.
I distinctly remember dreaming about him two days before I headed back to the US, saw him in my dream clad in white, smiling. I suddenly woke up, and for awhile thought deeply if it was just imagination or not. But I chose to see it like his way of saying everything is fine now, and all is well.
I talked about it to my sister and my nephew..and they did have instances too of sensing him around them..a smell..a vision...coincidence..who knows..all we knew, and believed, Dad just wanted to reassure us everything was okay.
Have been pouring over old photos, looking at how my Dad was..trying to remember his voice, laughter, his expressions, his idiosyncracies..memories held in our hearts..to tide us through on days like this.
So for our Dad, in memoriam with all our love.
There are weekends when we just do not have any specific plans to do..just heading this way and that way, trying to enjoy summer..when temps are bearably warm and being outdoors seems to be the way to go. So last week, heading to the Bay Area, and as we drove around..just some pics to share:
The bare mountains as you pass by Altamont Pass, brown and dry..at least no traffic, cars speeding by:
going along a little more..the brown landscape now has this black, charcoal burns..it is just so dry, and a grass fire may have erupted here a few weeks back..summer being wild fire season..up on the hill are the wind turbines that line up Altamont Pass, this is wind farm area.
Well, this photo was taken last Thursday, just have to squeeze it in..been early for my doctor's appointment, and it is just so nice to see greenery and flowers:
Okay, back to the weekend photos..I was not really dressed up for hiking but my hubby decided to drive by Sunol Regional Wilderness Park. Much as I want to give it a try, just not ready for it, am wearing slips ons, and we do not have any water with us. Just not the time to do it..but it would be something to consider maybe next Spring. But I took some photos around as well in our very brief visit:
Very dry vegetation, which is as expected this time of the year, but if you look closely..I would think these trees are like squirrel/chipmunk condos, with those deep holes on the tree trunks:
And before we leave, just have to locate the short foot bridge..found it.at least now we know where to find it next time:
Woke up to another cool morning and we are now just in the mid-80's! Such an awesome day to be in the garden.
This swallowtail hovering once more by its favorite tropical milkweed. I never get tired seeing this one, fluttering from flower to flower, finding its fill from each bloom:
I have this tiny piny opal eucomis that I really loved when I got it first last year. Have seen it bloom during summer and was hoping to see it again this year.
But it is already almost the end of July this year, and still no growth above the soil line. Have peeked below a couple of weeks before and raised the bulb a bit..still no go.
A timely discussion in the forum threads and a very informative feedback from fellow ATP member jmorth revealed my mistake..aha..the bulbs are still planted way too deep in my container..so removing some more soil last 27July2013, looks promising the tips look pale but alive.
And a follow-up today, 29July2013..woohoo! What a remarkable difference! Plant is maturing fast, getting greener and more defined leaf growths..glad that our temps are amiably nice..sunny and warm enough..just giving it some more watering..and things should still catch up with its blooming phase.
It is a nice cool Sunday morning earlier today, 28July2013, seeing the temps at a cool 62F is heaven at this time of the year.
As I head out to the garden, a mantid was resting by our screened sliding door. Okay, it is nice to see it, but I do not like it standing guard by the door handle area..so after my first cup of coffee, carefully opened the door, took a twig and gently moved the mantid to the glass table. Some photos as I lay it there, observing where it will decide to go:
So maybe it does not want to be too exposed, it has decided to climb up and find its hiding spot by the epiphyllum cutting:
a soft hiding spot for this exploring little one, well, not too little but still small enough and easy to overlook once on the underside of a plant.
