I’m sorry that I haven’t been blogging much. Frankly, I just haven’t felt inspired to do much of anything. I can’t seem to climb out of the funk that seems to surround me like the green muck in the pond above. I go about my day doing all my usual things with some fun outings with neighbor Kim sprinkled in, but I feel like I am just surviving and not really taking full advantage of life. I am living a monotone/monochromatic existence right now. Even Johnny needed a jump to get him going this morning for yard duty. Don’t worry about me; I’m okay, just blah and kind of numb.

Just when we thought Vaughn had started on the road to recovery, we got a call from Rick’s Mom this morning telling us that he had taken a turn for the worse last night and is now back in ICU. She was a bit muddled about what exactly the problem was, but it seems that the pneumonia is back in his lungs. Not good news at all. We just talked to him last night on the phone and he couldn’t really get enough breath to talk much to us, but at least it was something. They haven’t been able to get him up and moving much which is probably not helping things. I don’t know what the future has in store for him, but right now he could use all your positive thoughts and healing energy directed his way. Just send them in the direction of St. Luke’s Hospital in Houston, Texas.

To update on some things, we did see Doris (the bear) a week ago Saturday when my Mom was still visiting. Sailor alerted us to her presence in the yard by doing his alarm barking. Sure enough, there she was in the woods inside the fence. Rick and I stood in the yard and watched her for a few minutes. At first she did her little huffing noise at us and we took a few more steps backward, but she quickly resumed her foraging without paying us the least bit of mind. I went back into the house to get my camera and Mom, certain that she would be gone when I returned, but no. She was still there. We stood and watched as she ate and rolled around on the ground with her legs in the air for about 15 minutes. Mom couldn’t believe we were standing in the yard watching a bear so calmly! When she was finished with her dinner she went over to the fence and cllmbed back over into the woods. I did take a few fuzzy pics and I’ll include them. It was just too dark to get in-focus photos. You decide: are fuzzy photos of Doris better than none at all? When she was gone Rick went down to see what she was eating and it was the roots of the swamp cabbage. Very tasty.

There hasn’t been any more news of our local runaway cow. Either she just hasn’t been spotted or they are too embarrassed to tell us that they’ve attempted a capture and failed yet again. I hope she and the bear are getting along alright. It would seem that she’s eluded her captors rather successfully. I’ll keep you posted if I hear anything new.

My cherry tomatoes are all coming ripe now. I like to pick them right off the vine and pop them right into my mouth. They are warm from the sun and still smell like the vine that way and at their luscious best. There are too many to eat all at once though so some have to wait to be eaten later on a salad.

We did manage to have a night in the city on Thursday. I plan to blog about the premiere of Slow Dancing at the Lincoln Center within the next few days. In the meantime check out their web site. The camera that was used to take all the slow motion was of course from the company Rick works for. We went to the party for everyone involved in the project, from dancers to cameramen: special invitation only!

So now you’re caught up with the latest news. Thank you for all your support through these difficult weeks — it’s meant a great deal to me to know that you care!

The Doris shots make me smile and think of all the Big Foot pics that have been taken through the years.

Sending good, healing thoughts…

Grieving and worry are exhausting. No wonder you feel monochromatic. Lettuce Eating in the U.K. calls it blank. Blue Poppy and I call it ennui. Whatever you want to say about it, this summer sucks.

Thinking of you with so much love, Lynne. Take good care.

Your tomatoes are beautiful!

Hugs and more hugs! Things seem pretty tough in your corner of the world right now. I am so happy that you have had a few joys to brighten your days.
Loved the fuzzy shot of Doris rolling in the greens…what a great feeling that she trusts you enough to be so carefree while you are in the vicinity.
Glad your tomatos are doing so well. I can’t grow anything, even my silk plants seem to wilt! Enjoy the warm toasty-ness of the fresh ‘maters off the vine! Truly one of life’s little treasures.

PS Congrats!! Check out Susan’s blog (“A Slice of Life”)...she has a surprise for you.

Susan, yes the pics of Doris are rather BIg-Foot-ish! Thanks for the healing thoughts.

Reya, yes it’s very exhausting. Thanks so much!

Krista, Thanks for the hugs. I like it too that Doris has trust in us. It’s a good thing! My tomatoes are in pots on the deck; the ones planted in the ground are not faring as well.