It’s another splendid morning and I’m pondering in the swing eating my bagel and drinking my coffee. A bucolic breeze is blowing making the tender tintinnabulations of the wind chimes produce a pleasant subtle symphony. Lots of birds singing this morning, doves and finches and the crimson cardinals, flitting around with their dark grayish, brownish mates, so pretty with their black masks and red-orange beaks. When I opened the front door to walk on the porch, I heard the squeaking of the doves’ wings as I startled them away. Counted eight that flew over to the power lines. They never fail to take a few seconds to get their balance on the power lines. So funny to watch them rock back and forth and flick their tails.

I’ve watered all the flowers and the pitiful tomatoes and peppers that are clinging to life in this heat. The zinnias are loving the heat and are blooming in a weed bed that’s keeping them cool. I need to pull up the grass and weeds around them but I know it would disturb the zinnias’ roots. All blooms in the flowers pots and wheelbarrow are holding their blossoms straight up worshipping the sun before she beats them back down in the heat. Maybe their blooms are raised in prayers for rain.

I saw two cerulean butterflies today. So beautifully colored, acrobatically flying around the edge of the bamboo forest. I was so intrigued I looked up Alabama butterflies and found them to be Summer Azures. What a perfect name for these little flying creatures.

I was looking towards the horizon down the street and thought about a quote I had read earlier today. “Nature is the purest-portal to inner piece,” by Angie Weiland Crosby. I think this is so true for my life. Just sitting down in the swing makes me happy and heals my soul and brings me joy. Looking up at the blue sky canvas of a bright sunny day or watching the thunderhead clouds gather before a storm puts me at peace.

The sky, over the roof tops down the street, is full of clouds and for a few moments it looks like a mountain range far off in the distance. The clouds are dark mountain shaped on their bottoms, capped with the snow of brilliant white clouds. So pretty but as usual the sky quickly changes as the clouds move and morph into each other. Next time I looked that way it was a school of fish clouds slowly swimming in the wind toward the sun.

All the wonders of Mother Nature and Father Sky and the Lord are all free for our enjoyment. We never notice these things till we take the time to sit and be still. We can take a walk and watch the world unfold. Being out in nature, or enjoying the view from a porch swing for me, reduces stress and lowers blood pressure. At best, it allows us a few free moments from our cell phones. It just makes us feel better.

Mother Nature is the perfect inspiration for the day.

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as log as life lasts,” — Rachel Carson.