note: as promised my brother john wrote about his weekly date with spouse pam to the Fredrick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, in grand rapids where we all grew up and where, of the six of us, he still lives. this week they went to chicago so no garden visit, and last week i didn't post his note because i was sick so here it is now:
We have had beautiful weather of late and today it's supposed to reach 73 degrees. On Monday night we had the most magnificent "Harvest Moon" although being spring I'm not sure that's what it's called. It was huge and aglow and sitting low on the horizon. Was hoping to see it again last night but it must have grown so large it fell from the sky. Maybe it will be back shortly.
The gardens were full of life - from the families who came to see the butterflies in the Tropical Conservatory to the muskrats busily motoring around the large pond to the geese and ducks fending for their nests - it was quite exhilarating. It was also interesting to see the "controlled burn" areas designed to clear the old ground growth while adding nutrients and new opportunities for healthy new growth. They explained it much better than I can.
"It was a wonderful visit - exciting to see so many signs of spring. I really enjoy reading duckdreams and have shared it with others. Can't wait to experience the river and marsh first hand. Love, John
Life on the Salt Marsh is a journal of what i am learning and experiencing in this breathtakingly beautiful place, where the Dyer and Sheepscot, both tidal rivers, meet and merge.
Sweet Last Days of Summer
Author
- Rev. Mary
- Midcoast Maine
- Rev. Mary is a Unitarian Universalist minister who served congregations in San Francisco, Sonoma County, Houston, Marblehead and Winchester MA, and New Orleans, in a variety of ways. She is President and co-founder of Gulf Coast Volunteers for the Long Haul and has led 14 service trips to Louisiana and Mississippi since a few weeks post-Katrina. She has 3 children, Sam, 22, Julia, 26, and Jason, 41, and the best spouse in the universe, Marty. She was diagnosed with ALS/Lou Gehrig's disease in 2006. Rev. Mary can be reached at duckdreams at gmail.com. Due to her illness her ability to reply is unlikely but she would enjoy hearing from you if that's OK.
From Mary's Journal in December
after simple surgery turned into a nightmare: "the pain has been excruciating and for 3 days was unrelenting, even breathing was an agony. i tried to picture our mallard in maine who i studied one day when it was freezing cold, windy, pouring down rain and he was in his spot in the grass all tucked up and i tried to imagine how he could handle the elements. i decided he must go very deep inside and have duck dreams. so i tried to emulate him."