Road trips and Space

We took ourselves on a Saturday day trip to Anacortes yesterday. The town of Anacortes was having its Farmers' Market Opening, and we planned to meet a good friend who has recently returned from a year's stint in Guatemala (Peace Corp). 

Relaxing under the Madrona Forest at Depot Park, sitting on long grass sparkling with tiny fuchsia-colored wildflowers Pete and I enjoyed the company of drums, children laughing and playing, the shadows of tree limbs; and time with space and each other and strangers. We arrived early at the Farmers' Market and had time to wander the vendor booths, dance to the intoxicating beat of African drums, and ate a breakfast style gallette (a crepe with egg, ham and mushrooms) along with other yummy things. We dodged the many fragrances of things that smell, and even made room to be at peace with the Scotch Broom -- not allowing them to spoil the wonderfulness of the day. 

Just after noon we chatted for hours with our old friend, Liz, learned of her adventures and revelations of life in a Guatemalan community; and shared our own. 

We returned to the Prairie Front in the late afternoon. There'd been lawn cutting, more than we had anticipated. Freshly cut grass is difficult for me that's why we plan these road trips. 

The vardo was prepped for the mowing before we left -- with the air filter on high and windows taped against the cutting. While I climbed onto the futon and settled into an early bedtime and slipped into blissful recuperative sleep, Pete took the pictures below.

I didn't get to see that red rainbow, or the contrast of a orange sky with the incredible white blooms that are covering the limbs of Crabapple Trees, and the beautiful combination of Apple and Crabapple (in the last photo above). Looking at the photos Pete had taken while I slept ... wow. 

Life is full of surprises, the trick is to be resilient and flexible with choices and responses in relationships ... that's big, not always easy, and not necessarily without messiness. We practice that resilience and flexibility and pray for the wisdom to know the difference between what we can change, and, what we can't. And turn the rest over! Whew. Surely there is a Power greater than myself who creates a red rainbow.