Photo-a-Day Challenge
Opening Up and Moving On
My week in photos
My grandson plays soccer every opportunity he gets. At his home, he plays for his high school, a community team, and an indoor winter team. Fortunately, I kept a couple of his soccer balls when he moved away. Not long after arriving on Friday, he pumped up his Messi ball, and it went everywhere he went while they were visiting. In the above photo, he had his ball while he watched a soccer game with Captain Argentina.
For Mother’s Day, my oldest granddaughter prepared a brunch of French toast, veggie sausages, and Mimosas (champagne and orange juice for the adults). She loves to bake and in the late evening, she and I made a blueberry cake that I used to make often when she and her brother lived with us (see below). It was such a joy to bake with her, although she’s a more accomplished baker than I am. She makes extraordinary cakes decorated as well if not better than professional bakery cakes. I don’t decorate or even frost the cakes that I make.
In the afternoon, the older grandkids and I took my 10-month-old granddaughter for a ride around the neighborhood in her stroller. Of course, the soccer ball came with us!
The baby was fascinated with this Monarch butterfly.
What would a visit to Gainesville be without a visit to the UF Campus? Fortunately, graduation was the last weekend and there were very few people around. We visited the UF Bookstore at the Reitz Union so they could replace their old Gator clothing with new merchandise.
On Monday, My older granddaughter spent 15 minutes saying goodbye to the cats! Then, we all said goodbye with lots of hugs and tears.
Life returned to normal on Tuesday with walks and squirrels and hungry ducks.
On our noon Wednesday walk, Syau and I came across a gardenia bush with one lone bloom.
After a week off, I returned to work Wednesday evening. There was a pile waiting for me but my progress was steady with few problems.
Thursday evening I went out to feed the Whistlers but only had two. I spread a little corn and returned to the patio to find this squirrel, that we’ve named Messi, peeking at me wistfully from my Starburst Clerodendrum. He was hoping I would give him a couple of pre-bedtime peanuts and, of course, I did. His name is a nod to the famous soccer player Lionel Messi as well as a description of the empty peanut shells he leaves scattered all around the patio. He certainly is a messy squirrel!
Rarely do our cats make good models for pictures. As soon as they see a camera or my phone, they move. Thursday night was an exception.
When my daughter and grandchildren lived with us in a different neighborhood, I often made a blueberry cake that everyone loved. Working 50+ hours a week and helping to raise 2 children left little time for baking. That recipe was easy and fast and something I could make with the children when they were little. The recipe disappeared during our move five years ago. I searched everywhere for it and, unfortunately, could not remember the recipe details.
As I was preparing for my daughter and her family to visit, I rearranged a few items in my kitchen and an old cookbook fell on the floor, opening up to a page where my printed-out blueberry cake recipe was hiding. My granddaughter and I made the cake Sunday night, but I forgot to take a photo. Since they took most of the cake with them when they left, I made another for Ben and me. It’s just as delicious as it was years ago.
Saturday dawned with a light mist over our lake — a result of a storm front that passed through late Friday, cooling down our summery air but not giving us the much-needed rain I was hoping for.
In the evening, this storm passed us by. We were so hoping for rain. But, I got a fabulous photo of storm clouds and the full moon!
It was an odd week. One of joy, sadness, and a little fear. Having so many people in such close contact was a bit scary and disorienting after 2.5 years of isolation.
Saying goodbye was difficult but not as bad as when my daughter and grandchildren left after pre-Covid visits. I miss everyone so much but also know they are where they should be. The children are getting a better education and have opportunities they’d never have here. Their schools are some of the highest-rated in the country, while Florida schools are some of the lowest and getting steadily worse. Even though my grandchildren attended a private parochial school here, it can’t compare with the public education they receive now. I am happy for them and a little sad for me. But, maybe, just maybe, we won’t have to wait another 3 years to visit.
© Dennett 2022
In July 2020, I started the Photo-a-Day Challenge on Snapshots to help combat the virus blues. I take photos every day and choose one (maybe, two or three) to represent the day. Then add a one-or-two-word descriptor and some narrative. A simple way to observe and preserve.
However, the Snapshot Editors have decided to replace the Photo-a-Day Challenge with a monthly one, so Weeds & Wildflowers is now the official home of this challenge. If you want to participate and are not a writer for W&W, leave a response below, and I’ll add you.
Please note that Weeds & Wildflowers does not have the same word and photo limits as Snapshots.
Want to join the fun? It’s all about noticing and appreciating your environment and sharing it with us, as these photographers and story-tellers have:
Erika Burkhalter / Eileen Vorbach Collins / Anne Bonfert / Sasha Meyer / Tracy Aston/ Lisa Bolin / Juan O. Aguilera / David Wade Chambers / June Nguyen / Mia Verita / Susan Alison / LensAfield / Barbara Radisavljevic / Diana Lotti / Barbara Dalton / Kim Zuch / K. Barrett / Sandra Barrett / Shruthi Sundaram / Gustavo Mendez / Olive Wilson / Jane Frost (Jane Grows Garden Rooms) / Jillian Amatt / Scott Younkin / Penny Grubb
(If you participated in the Photo-A-Day Challenge and your name isn’t listed above, please let me know.)
Thanks!
