The sun is shining, which is a delight, seeing how much rain fell in
this area during the past week and a half. Lots of folks were
flooded. Lots of bridges were washed away. None of it really
affected me directly, however. We are on high enough ground that
the waters flowed away from our house, down to the lake below us,
which I could watch rising through my living room window. It did
affect some of my friends. Some of their homes were flooded. Some
bridges they usually take to get to stores, work, etc. disappeared,
and they are traveling much longer distances to get anywhere. I
know some of you receiving this were also flooded by those rains,
which extended through much of the middle Atlantic section of the
USA. To each of you, I offer my deepest sympathy.

The up side of all this rain: everything is wonderfully lush and
green. The black-eyed susans are in bloom everywhere; and many
fields I drive by are crowned with a yellow icing. The roses are
scrumptious, and I can smell them (and the honeysuckles) as I drive,
with open windows, past houses and forests and fields.

The children are on summer holiday at this time of year in this
section of the world; and seeing them kicking soccer balls in parks
and backyards is also a delight. I am finding children to be every
bit as lovely this year, and every bit as precious, as the riots of
flowers and berries and sweet corn.

I have gathered my first blueberries of the season, and have feasted
on home made blueberry and yogurt drinks, whipped with bits of ice
to make them cold and frothy.

And, of course, the July 2006 issue of Autumn leaves is in
cyberspace, which is a totally different type of feast. You can
enjoy these latest poems at http://www.sondra.net/al/

sondra
http://www.sondra.net/al/