"Supremely, meticulously created"

"The creation is not a study, a roughed-in sketch; it is supremely, meticulously created … even on the perfectly ordinary and clearly visible level, creation carries on with an intricacy unfathomable and apparently uncalled for."

-  Annie Dillard, from Pilgrim at Tinker's Creek

Sunflowers and zinnias, hot summer faithfuls, are sometimes viewed as ordinary and commonplace.  Yet, like all creation they are "supremely, meticulously created".  

The heat is not the only thing taking my breath away 

when I'm in the garden on these hot summer days.

I am in awe.

A place of solace

Last Monday my husband and I buried our sweet Bear under the big oak tree in the back yard.  Little Bear was a rescued dog and we loved her dearly.  (I wrote about her last year in a post to my Blessing Bowl blog and my husband wrote a wonderful eulogy on his blog last week.)

It was a sad week - it seemed that everywhere I looked there was a reminder that she was gone.

But the weekend brought sunshine in the form of visiting children and grandchildren who helped me celebrate my birthday.

A Happy Birthday serenade from the children's table

And then yesterday, I saw my first swallowtail butterfly.  

It was on the neighbor's side of the driveway, but I'm claiming it as my own.

A walk through the garden this morning brought more cheer.

What a wonderful place of solace the garden is - a place to work away the stress, put things in perspective,  and marvel at the miracle of life.  

Some of you may have read my post in February on my brother's brain cancer diagnosis.  Good news came today - his latest MRI was clear of tumor growth.  He continues treatment and is doing well.  All your thoughts and prayers are appreciated more than you can know.