Summer in the Ozarks

Late July in the Ozarks of SWMO is going to be hot and usually pretty humid. It appears that we will get a break on the humid part as the temperature pushes the 100 degree mark (38 C). 
Although it is going to be hot and I don't spend as much time outside as I used to in the summertime, I don't think we've had a 100 degree day yet this summer. While I am a believer in man made climate change, sometimes it's just hot because that is the nature of summer in the Ozarks.

I've been a bit lazy this past week and put off some yard work that needs to be done. It's not that I've been entirely lazy; I've managed to do some less strenuous things, but the yard work hasn't done itself, so...
I guess today will be the day.
The plan is to begin before it gets too hot.
Work until I've had enough.
Cool off by relaxing in the pool.

Yeah, it's a tough life.

Motivation to get started is often my greatest challenge. Admittedly, I am a slow starter in the day. Sitting and sipping coffee is a simple, slow start that I greatly enjoy. The sedentary inertia requires great effort to overcome. I often allow myself the distractions of reading one more chapter, solving one more puzzle, or playing one more game before getting started. Before I know it -- it is late in the morning and getting hot enough to discourage much outside work.

As I said, the past week wasn't entirely unproductive. I did manage to make a couple of adjustments to our screen doors, re-pot several succulents and some cone flowers, re-organize our freezer to make room for some frozen meat that we bought, and unpack some new nightstands -- the first pieces of some new bedroom furniture to arrive.
In addition to the normal home owner stuff, it looks like I have a couple of people engagements on the schedule for the coming week. I might need some extra pool time to keep things in balance.

Stay cool,
John

Home

It feels both weird and comforting to be back on the deck for my morning coffee and quiet time after spending a few days away. I pulled out the Chromebook just once on my short trip and didn't spend much time on it. I need to get used to spending less time on both the Chromebook and cell phone. I do realize that I will be spending some time on my phone over the next few days as I get to explore and get used to my new one. It came in while I was gone and I'll get it activated today.

Although I haven't actually spent any time watching any of the World Cup play, I am very grateful for the reminders of just how wonderful this country can be. It is a little distressing to be in the position that it took a bunch of visitors to point out our abundance and wonder. It is just too easy to focus on the distressing stuff -- and God knows we have plenty of that too!

I brought back a couple of new potted plants for the deck. My Mom's peace lilies  had become root bound and needed to be re-potted. She wanted to keep the original planters she had, so I divided them and made three new pots plus two reduced sized plants for her original pots. These flowers are from my Dad's funeral from February of 2020.
I chose small pots as peace lilies tend to do well in smaller pots and slightly root bound. I am a little concerned about having divided them rather than just moving them to a little bit larger pot. I am afraid that dividing the root system will be too traumatic.  I left the original two pots with Mom, brought two home, and left one for my younger sister. I hope they all survive. 

I also added a couple of outdoor plants for Mom and took care of her hummingbird feeders. 
I'm not sure how I got to be the gardener guy. I'm mostly just faking it and learning as I go. I am happy that Mom enjoys sitting outside and looking at her hostas and flowers.

Although I have plenty of gardening work to do at home today, it will need to be pushed back to another day. An unexpected trip to the dentist this morning and taking care of phones and other stuff this afternoon will take a significant portion of the day. It is nice to be retired and have lots of time to do whatever needs to be done -- including morning coffee and quiet time.

Remember -- Spend 20 minutes a day in nature, unless you're too busy. In that case, spend an hour.

John

More for me and less for thee is a lousy way to live

I have noticed that being more contemplative leads to some unexpected sadness.
I truly feel sad for humanity as it seems that so many people are unhappy with their lives. 

Why do we feel the need to compete with each other?
Why do we think it is acceptable to tear someone down to get ahead of them?

I understand the survival instincts that are primitive and an innate part of our being, but we are able to reason beyond our most primitive instincts. Getting more for me doesn't always have to mean less for others. Communities build together to make more or better situations for everyone. 
We (in the US) have become so capitalistic that we would prosper by taking away from those in need and celebrating our success while ignoring the great suffering that we have caused.
What is wrong with us?

It is ironic that people use the word "woke" to put down a segment of the population that is aware of suffering and injustice.
Indeed, we are "woke."
We see the things that they do not. To see and be aware of such things is not a bad thing. To call out evil and injustice is a good thing. I think their anger comes from knowing that there are people that are aware of the evil deeds that they are doing or supporting through political actions. They are the ones that need to wake up!

This morning I am happily sitting on the deck. Groucho the cat is dozing on a sunny spot on the deck rug. I have finished my coffee and a small sparrow is chirping loudly from the top of the post that holds its bird house full of babies. I think he is waiting for mama to exit the nest so he can feed the little ones what he has gathered for them. 
Life is pretty good here. The only stress I have comes from the weeds that need to be pulled or needing to mow (again), or deciding if I'm going to brave the exposure to people at the baseball game on any given home stand evening.

Competing for more has never really been my thing. That's why I ended my career at a small level airport at the lower end of the ATC pay scale. I have enough. 
Ours is a simple life. We have a nice home in a semi-rural area. We can afford to travel to visit the kids. We don't worry about having food to eat.

I'm going to run some errands this morning, meet someone for lunch, mow this afternoon, smoke a cigar and sip bourbon this evening. The most stressful thing I have to do today is leave the house and encounter people that are in competition with each other. 
I will end the day in the same way I begin the day -- sitting on the deck enjoying the sounds of nature.

Just another day in the life of...

John

Do you have a hobby?

Maybe I just think of a hobby as more than it is.
Is a hobby just something you do to bring you pleasure?
Is reading a hobby?
Is enjoying a cigar a hobby?
Or does a hobby need to be an activity?

If you were to ask me what my hobbies are, I would probably say that I don't have any hobbies.
And yet --
I do enjoy reading and have finished 27 books in the first five months of the year.

Enjoying a good cigar is more than just sitting and smoking.
I want to know my cigar. I want to know its origin. I want to taste the cigar and note the subtle changes during a smoke. I want to value the time that it takes to smoke a good cigar and honor the skilled craftsmen (or women) that rolled it. 
It's weird, but I find there is purpose to smoking a good cigar.

Maybe it is more like the practice of meditation, and less like a hobby.
I know -- it's not a healthy choice. 
That is something to consider.

Taking care of the yard and flower gardens is just something I do -- often a bit reluctantly and not very well.. I enjoy the results more than I enjoy the work that goes into it. The work part often feels like -- well, work! 
I suppose it is the closest thing to having a hobby that I can think of.

What are your hobbies?
What activities or projects have you made a regular part of your life and who you are?
Do hobbies serve a valuable function or are they overrated and unnecessary?

John

Retirement does not suck -- or does it?

I've had a few conversations with soon-to-be retirees, and a few questions and comments about how I have adjusted to retired life. I found this article to be an interesting one, although I'm not sure that it applies to me in a significant way.  

While I very much enjoyed my career as an air traffic controller, I don't think that I ever really made that my identity. The same can be said about being an evangelist, except I would say that my identity was more tied to that than to the full-time gig.
I also very much enjoyed the magic hobby while never really identifying as a magician.

Oddly enough, perhaps the common thing of the three is teaching. 
I don't think I would do well as a classroom teacher where students are forced to be there. College level courses that students choose might be different. 
I think preaching and teaching have many similarities and the magic was really just a tool I used in sharing lessons from the bible.
I think I would still enjoy sharing information in a similar way, but it isn't something that is a part of how I see myself or necessary for my well being.

I think I am mostly quiet because most people aren't really listening and talking is just a waste of time. People want to hear themselves speak. They don't really want to listen. Some people will engage in conversation by asking questions and then interrupt your answer to continue to dominate the conversation. 

I am glad that I truly enjoy my retirement. I'm happy that the transition was an easy one for me. I can certainly see how it might be more difficult for others of my generation.

Perhaps the most striking statement from the article is -- "The CDC, incidentally, reports that men over sixty-five have the highest suicide rate of any demographic in the United States."
If you are nearing retirement or already facing the breakdown of losing your purpose or identity, maybe it is time to reach out for some help.

Personally, I'm content with the old, retired guy identity.

John

Retirement does not suck.

It's just another day.
It has been some time that coming to Mexico doesn't really feel like vacation. In fact, any travel since I retired just feels like being retired someplace other than at home. I don't feel like I have a life that I need to get away from, so being away from home isn't like a necessary escape.

I managed to talk myself out of a 2+ mile walk this morning. I had an iced Americano at the coffee shop around the corner from the kids and read a chapter or two in my new Kindle book. I had initially planned a walk to A Page in the Sun bookstore/Cafe but decided to Uber here instead.

I'll enjoy a second Americano, this one hot, and spend some time on the Chromebook. I'll check out some of the shops here in the Romantic Zone and then meet a couple of friends for lunch. I have a late afternoon follow up appointment with my dentist and then Aaron has an evening softball game. If I am going to keep my pool day streak alive, it will have to be a nighttime swim -- and that is actually quite likely.

It is a little weird that I am thinking about the gardening work at home that isn't getting done. If my dental appointment goes as well as I am expecting it to, I may consider cutting my time here a little short and returning to the comfortable routine of home a few days early. I am sure that sounds a little weird, but I truly am a homebody and cherish my quiet and peaceful life. I will need to research getting a pool, though. A daily swim throughout the hot summer will be something to look forward to.

It's not quite the hot, humid rainy season just yet, but it is getting close. The tourist season is dying down and the local shops are gearing down for the "low" season.
We have hot and humid in SWMO but without the ocean. We do have lakes and rivers and plenty of humidity adding trees. I need to make use of my inflatable kayak this year. That would be a decent summer activity.

It's time to enjoy the sun and enjoy my day.
I hope yours is wonderful.

John

April 1st -- No foolin'!

Perhaps the wisest thing I can do on April Fool's Day is to admit that I lack enough wisdom to share it regularly from this little read blog. Sharing the thoughts, quotes, and clever memes of others is the best I can do. 

The best I can offer is to encourage you to pause occasionally to embrace the moment and appreciate the good things in life. 

I have never been a big goal setter or big dream kind of person. I don't know that I have ever set a goal to be something or do something that required a real plan of action or steady commitment. Chris wanting a white picket fence and flowers in front of the house might have been the source of my biggest challenge and accomplishment -- and I'm okay with that.
Simply appreciating what I have and not competing in the societal game of doing more or having more than the next person is enough for me. 

There are days when I think I should have pursued a college degree of some kind -- mostly because I admire those that did, but I don't know how that would have made my life better. I still enjoy reading and learning about new things. I realize that a degree would give me credibility in certain fields, but I don't really need the credibility boost since I honestly don't care if most people believe me or not.

Today I get to do what I do.
I start the day listening to the birds and sipping good coffee.
I'll get my hands dirty by digging in the soil and working on restoring that large flowerbed.
I'll relax afterwards with a good Nicaraguan cigar.
And then Chris and I will meet some friends for dinner.
I'll finish the day reading a book on the deck with the night sounds of crickets, peeper frogs and coyotes in the background.
Just another day in the life of John.

I can't say that this was ever my goal or something that I actively worked for, but life has turned out pretty well.
And I'm not foolin'!

John

Slow Starter

I am terrible about getting work done.
I am a slow starter in the morning -- mostly because I really like to enjoy my coffee and quiet time. 
I am going to have to get back to making the effort to start work earlier. Movement is motivation, right?

I managed a little bit of work each of the past two days, but really need to accomplish more on a regular basis. My boss (me) is too generous with late start times, frequent breaks, and early shoves. It's almost like I spent my career as an air traffic controller. 
It is a grand thing to be able to stop what I am doing and run an errand with Chris and then go out for an unexpected meal. Truly -- retirement does not suck.

I can't even say just how happy these warm, sunny days make me feel.
Beginning and ending yesterday sitting on the deck was glorious.
Having the doors and windows open throughout the day is wonderful. 
Sleeping on the deck is peaceful and restorative.

There are still a few 40 (4-5c) degree nights in the two week forecast, but I am hoping we won't have any more frosty nights. 
Life in the Ozarks is looking like spring and John is a happy boy!

John

No Labels

It has been quite some time since I have done a Monday morning meditation post. Typically, I have been working overnight during the cold-weather shelter season. I have continued with Monday morning breakfasts even on warmer nights when the shelter is closed.
However, this week my breakfast partner had other plans, so I am back to my Monday morning coffee and quiet time.

As a part of my 2026 Lenten observance, I have been examining my spirituality and my overall life as I try to come to grips with who I am and who I am becoming. Initially I was just looking at the spirituality and just where my faith deconstruction has brought me, but I really don't have a spiritual persona that is different from who I really am. I don't think that has always been the case. Recent conversations have helped me to sort that out.

Past identities may have labeled me as an air traffic controller, an evangelist, a preacher, a magician, or a number of other labels. Today I feel like more of an anonymous retired guy -- and I like that the best. I am happy to exist in the world without feeling like I have to be somebody. I do strive to be a good and kind person, but I don't know that it's that important for others to see me that way. It's just important to me as I struggle to live life with the love that Jesus talks about in the gospels.

I've never accepted the "What you see is what you get" or "It's just the way I am" lines as excuses for bad behavior, but they don't sound as bad when they are reasons for kindness. I think that is worth striving for. But that's more of an internal goal. It's who I want to be more than who I want others to think I am. There is a great deal of freedom in not living to please everyone else.

One realization of not really caring what others might think of me is the reciprocal understanding that most people don't care about what I might think of them! There are, of course, exceptions to both sides of that, but I think it holds true in most cases.
Just as I don't want to live to please others, I can't expect that others are going to live or to change how they live to please me. 

"Live, and let live," sounds easier than it is.

Signed,
Anonymous retired guy

A Disturbance in The Force

Okay, maybe not as dramatic as a disturbance in The Force, but it was a disturbance in my normal routine. Hopefully it will become a regular kind of disturbance.

This morning, as I did my typical scroll through the blogs I frequent, I realized that I missed several posts from yesterday.
Oh yeah! I wasn't on my Chromebook yesterday morning because I went out to breakfast instead of sipping coffee and going through my typical morning routine at home.

This winter's shelter schedule has paired me with a guy that has volunteered in past years. We seemed to hit it off well and he generally signs up to volunteer on  Sunday nights, which is one of my scheduled days to work if shelters are open. This year we started going out to breakfast on Monday mornings after our long overnight shift. For the past two weeks, we have met for breakfast even though the shelters were not open.

I do hope that it is a Monday morning habit that we keep throughout the spring and summer. I'll be leaving for a few weeks this spring, so I will have to make sure to reconnect for breakfast when I get back. We both have Red Access Memberships to the Springfield Cardinals games, but have only run into each other at ballgames a few times in the past few years. Maybe we'll see each other at the ballpark this season.

     * * * * * 

An interesting article rolled through my feed yesterday. It was about how men retire without connections outside of their work or careers and often feel lost or lonely in retirement. While it is true that work was the only connection that I had with most of my co-workers and I haven't really kept in touch with anyone in my retirement, I wouldn't say that I ever feel lonely. I have just gotten used to doing things alone and I am okay with that.
Between retiring from work and leaving evangelical christianity (lower case c intentional) I lost most connections outside of family. Very few of those have been replaced along the way and I honestly have not put much effort into developing new friendships along the way. There may come a day that I am a lonely, bitter old man and regret not having made more of an effort to connect with people, but I feel that is unlikely. 
For now, simply having breakfast is as much of a disturbance in The Force as I care to make.

John

 

What is -- Living the good life?

In all honesty -- I have a good life.
It is simple; that is for sure.
I am not wealthy, but I have more than I need.
I have simple pleasures and often spend money on frivolous things like cigars, alcohol (bourbon and tequila), sodas, and candy bars.
We have two (older) cars, a hybrid truck, and a motorcycle.

Although I take some daily meds for high blood pressure, suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, and need to lose 80 pounds (36 kg), I am in otherwise decent health. I often say I'm pretty healthy for a fat guy. 

Being outside -- even just sitting outside -- makes me happy.
Planting flowers, seeing them bloom, watching the birds, bees, and butterflies enjoy them makes me happy.
Watching the sun set makes me happy.
Admiring the night sky and looking for familiar stars and constellations makes me happy.
Sitting on the covered deck and listening to a spring or summer rain shower makes me happy.
Sleeping outside makes me happy.
Seeing the beauty and wisdom of our Creator in all of creation makes me happy and brings joy and peace to my soul.

Like I said -- I have a good life.

What does a good life look like for you?
Seriously. I'd like to know.

John

Eleven Years

Today marks eleven years since the official end of my career as an air traffic controller. 
As much as I enjoyed the ATC gig, being retired from it is way better! I haven't engaged in supplemental income through contract work as an instructor or staff at any facility and don't understand why others have. I am apparently much less driven to have more, do more, or be more than many of my former coworkers. My pension, Social Security, and Thrift Savings Plan are enough to support my simple retirement lifestyle. 

My retirement from the evangelist/gospel magician gig came a few years later when we were unceremoniously invited to leave the church where we had served for a couple of decades because we didn't object to allowing a transgender woman to be a part of the fellowship. 
Wow! Talk about blessings in disguise! 
Admittedly, I kind of miss the magician part -- more than the ATC gig, and definitely more than the church/religious bullshit. In fact, these days I rarely make an appearance in church of any kind, and when I do it is with a small group from church that meets at a brewery!

My life today is much different that what I might have imagined it to be eleven years ago. 
But I am a much different person than I was eleven years ago, so it makes sense. 
Life happens.
People change.
People grow.
Or maybe people stay the same and you (or I) grow.

I am at peace.
I think I've always been able to find the centering peace within me, but it is helpful to be truly aware of oneself and to be able to purposefully find the calming, peaceful, almost magical presence that connects us to everything around us. Perhaps mystical is a better word than magical.
I wish I had been paying attention to that voice rather than allowing myself to be controlled by the church voices and others that speak and teach from outside of myself. 

If I were ever to go back to preaching, that is what I would teach -- that the Spirit of God lives within you. Find that voice.
Nurture that part of your being -- feed it, exercise it, help it to grow.
Learn to recognize that same spirit in others. 
Let the spirit connect us to each other and to the world around us.

Think about the philosophy that we are not bodies with souls, but rather we are souls with bodies. When we begin to view life from a spiritual perspective rather than a physical perspective everything changes.

Earthly status doesn't matter in the spiritual realm.
Wealth doesn't matter in the spiritual realm.
Power  doesn't matter in the spiritual realm.
Skin color doesn't matter in the spiritual realm.
Gender doesn't matter in the spiritual realm.
National borders don't matter in the spiritual realm.
Even the religious beliefs of us humans don't matter in the spiritual realm.

Find and strengthen the God spirit within yourself, then look for and connect with the God spirit in others.

I don't think it is a message that will preach well in our world today. Too many want to cling to the perceived power or control that their current beliefs give them.
Fair warning!!! -- Following Jesus is way harder than worshiping Jesus.

There!
I said what I said.
Now you know why I don't preach anymore.

John

Can We Just Skip Ahead to Spring?

January is finally coming to an end, but it looks like the disturbance in the polar vortex will continue to bring cold weather to the Midwest and beyond into early February.
Sacrebleu!

Although February is really in the very heart of winter, I always feel like spring is getting close. MLB teams are all in spring training camp by the end of week two, so it has to be close, right?

This stretch of cold weather has me a little out of sorts. I haven't even been reading much lately.
Maybe it has to do with the addition of snow cover that lasts for more than a few days. 
Maybe it is the extra nights of working.
Maybe I am getting too old for this cold weather crap and need to move to a warmer climate.
Maybe it's that SADD thing getting to me this season.

I'm not sure what it is, but I am ready for spring!

There is a part of me that wants to be present in the moment and appreciate the winter and what it accomplishes in the cycles of nature. But I am also very much looking forward to planting a garden and watching flowers grow. I don't like spending too much energy on the days ahead. It feels like I am cheating today by doing that. I can tend to my early plants and do things to prepare for the coming weeks rather than just wasting time thinking about it. 
I ordered some containers for tomatoes and have already started my tomato plants. I think I'll also grow peppers (also started) in containers and I bought some larger containers for potatoes and sweet potatoes. I'm wondering how that will go and also wondering how I will do on the crops that require more patience than some of the others.

This weekend marks eleven years since I hung up my headset and retired from the ATC gig. It is hard to believe that it's been that long. 
Talk about privilege! Wow!

Enjoy the remaining moments of January. 
Retirement in any month is better than going to work!

John

It's the weekend! (It is, isn't it?)

Normally, weekends aren't a big deal for us retired folk, but this has been a weird kind of week. Yesterday (Friday) was the first day all week that I didn't have to go somewhere or do something. It was nice to just stay at home all day. I didn't even manage to go down the street to check the mailbox.

Aside from being a busier than normal week, the first week of January was also unseasonably warm. It was nice to spend a couple of days doing some yard work and sitting in the sun. Winter is returning and that means it is back to work at the shelter for a couple of nights.

In a recent conversation with an overnight volunteer we discussed some of the reasons for volunteering or working at the shelter. There was a time when it gave me a sense of accomplishment or made me feel good about myself for doing a service in the community. I'm not certain that still exists for me. Now I feel like I am doing it just because it needs to be done and I don't really get the same sense of personal satisfaction from doing it that I once did. I just do it.
I don't think it's a good thing nor a bad thing. It's just the way it is. And maybe it does keep me from being the absolutely least productive member of society, although not by much.

     * * * * *

In other news -- I finished my first book of the year! It was the historical fiction, The Runes Of Victory about Anglos and Saxons defending against Viking attacks in early 9th century England. Today, I will finish Let Them. 
I've already started a new non-fiction book, Inner Anarchy by deconstructed mega-church pastor Jim Palmer. I believe this is his most recent book. I should probably read some of his earlier works, as well. Fwiw, this is another paper and ink book. I'll figure out what fiction book I'll read from my Kindle library later today.

I may help setup the shelter cots tonight, but otherwise it looks to be another non-productive day in the life of John. If you are doing something to make the world a better place -- thank you. 

John

Too much to do!

Monday -- midday shelter work
Yesterday -- doctor's appointment.
Today -- early car appointment
Tomorrow -- morning shelter work

Whatever happened to my quiet, non-productive retired life?

Actually, the past couple of days have been decent days and I have managed to take advantage of the warm weather by getting a few things done around the house; nothing major, just a few things that needed to be done now are. 
There are plenty of things like that. Yesterday I spent a couple of hours tilling an area for spring planting. I may go over it again today and then once more before planting. Anyone that has tried tilling or plowing land in SWMO understands why there is no crop farming here. The ground is hard, mostly clay, and full of rocks. A couple of hours behind a tiller can beat you up. I'm a bit surprised that my hands and wrists aren't sore today.

Working outside in shorts and a t-shirt was nice for early January. We will have a couple more warm days before winter returns. I am looking forward to spring and planting my Christmas seeds -- pumpkins, sunflowers, and popcorn.
After working yesterday, I sat in the sun and enjoyed a cigar and a tequila and soda. I am looking forward to many similar days. I know that this simple life isn't for everyone, but I do enjoy it.

I hope you have a chance to enjoy whatever today holds for you. 
It's time for me to take a car to the shop.

John

Surrendering

I know it is Thursday (because I just checked to make sure), and I know that "Surrendering" could work for a theology post, but this isn't a theological post. My surrender this morning has to do with accepting that it is fall -- whether I like it or not.
On the bright side -- I think I have mowed the field for the last time this year. I may need to hit the yard one more time, but maybe not.

I am still having coffee on the deck this morning -- even with a wake-up temperature of just 44 (7c) degrees. It is a little early to enclose the deck, but I am thinking about doing it now and making an improvised greenhouse so I don't need to move our deck plants inside. The panels that I've used in the past are easily removable for the warm days that will continue to happen, and shorts and t-shirts are always suitable attire for a warm, sunny deck. 
As you can see, it isn't a complete surrender. I will adapt and resist where I can, but still accept that it is going to be colder than I prefer. 

Anyway you look at it -- I have a pretty good life!
I will be working in the yard again today. It is time to bring in some of the potted plants and time to cut back some of the perennials for overwintering. It doesn't contribute anything to society other than keeping me sane and at home. Maybe that is enough for now.

John

 

Just another day...

Brrrr...
It is another chilly morning in the Ozarks of SWMO. This is the second day in a row of sub 50 (10c) temperatures at wake-up. Although the sun is shining, it is a little cool to be sitting out here with my morning coffee. It's not cold enough for coffee by the fireplace yet, so I am still outside with sweats on and a blanket covering me as I drink my coffee from an insulated travel mug. 
No worries. In just 10 days I will be drinking coffee somewhere in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta!

I need to re-figure my winter enclosure for the deck. I'd like to keep the sunlight coming in, stop the wind from blowing through, and keep it warm enough to keep my plants alive through the winter. I didn't like the translucent plastic I used before and may end up recovering the same panels with a clear marine vinyl for this season.

I spend so much time out here that it feels a little weird sitting inside at night, but it is especially strange in the morning. Coffee on the deck is just how I almost always begin the day.
Coffee by the fireplace is okay, but I think I'd rather be outside, on the deck with a small space heater. There is a different energy about being outside. I don't know, maybe the clear vinyl enclosure will change that. I don't really remember it well from two years ago. (I didn't do anything last year.)

Just in case I haven't already mentioned this -- I am ready for spring!

Fall gardening work continues. I pretty much ignored two large areas this past year and I am now spending quite a bit of time and work to get them ready for next spring/summer. It's a bit of a pain in the butt, but I am sure it will be worth it for the birds, bees, and butterflies next spring.
And for now, it keeps me busy for a few hours each day.
Admittedly, I have a pretty good life.

While I most definitely enjoy late spring and summer the most of all seasons, fall and winter are easily endured from our home in SWMO. Overall, winters are generally mild and even the short bouts of extreme cold and occasionally heavy snowfall are easily managed for a retired couple that doesn't actually have to go out in it. I suppose we could migrate like some birds or animals do, but we are generally content. 
There are always trade-offs.
Shorter, warmer winters usually mean longer, hotter summers.
We may not always get to choose where we live, but we can choose whether or not we are happy for the moment. 

So...
even in my sweats I choose to be happy this morning. I'm ready to grab my work gloves and garden tools and get busy doing what I do. I'll be back here on the deck this afternoon with a good cigar and some extra anejo tequila. 
Life is good and retirement does not suck.

John

It's Another Beautiful Day in the Ozarks

It is another beautiful day in the Ozarks of SWMO.
I was up early (6:45ish) after spending another night sleeping on the deck futon. The neighbor's roosters and chickens were doing their morning thing and the sun was making it's daily appearance in the eastern sky. Wake up temperature was just below 60f (15c) and I slept quite well.

When I went inside to make my morning coffee it almost felt like the heat was on. In spite of the expected warm up this week, I think the nights will remain cool. Sleeping inside with the bedside window open is nice, but it is amazing how much of the night sounds are muted through an open window. I am surprised at how differently it feels to be out on the deck vs next to an open window.
There is such a calming effect from being outside vs inside. I don't know if the walls just block or dampen the energy or if there is some kind of different electrical field or what it is, but daytime or nighttime, I'd rather be sitting outside vs sitting inside.

I think the week ahead will be a typical week for a retired guy in the Ozarks. I have my annual physical this week and expect to hear that I need to lose weight (I do). 
The Springfield Cardinals will be wrapping up their season at home and I will probably be at two or three of their final six regular season games. 
I have more iris tubers to plant. My irises were getting so densely packed that I haven't had very many blossoms this year. I dug them up, thinned them out, and am replanting a bunch along the front of the fence. I am hoping they do well next spring. 
I should probably check my gladiolus for new corms to be spread out, as well. There is quite a bit of work to be done in late summer/early fall in flower gardening. I will also be spreading out my peonies and trying to find a way to contain the Rugosa rose bush that is taking over its space. I'm thinking I may have to cut it back, dig it up, and replant it in a confined area -- something like an in-ground potted plant with an open bottom but deep sides. The runners this beast sends out are pretty amazing.
I've also been re-potting some succulents and indoor plants. I really need a small green house. That may be a winter project. 

If you know me at all, you know I am a summer guy and I am not looking forward to the fall and winter seasons. Having said that, I am determined to enjoy each day for what it is. The dying of annual plants, the dormancy of perennials, and the regeneration on the other side of winter all have their places in the cycle of things. 

Honestly, my days are full of simple pleasures -- butterflies and humming birds feeding on the nectar of my flowers, bluebirds, wrens and finches enjoying the seeds, the sounds of a nearby great horned owl at night, the yipping of coyotes or the occasional deer that find their way through our field -- it's really a pretty good life.

Be present.
Enjoy the moment.
Have a wonderful week.

John



 

The Life of John

There is not much going on in the life of John these days, certainly nothing worth writing about.
However, writing is a nice therapeutic kind of energy flow and I occasionally just feel like I need to clack away on my keyboard. Feel free to scroll on past this post. I am just writing to write.

It has been a nice, quiet, and uneventful week. I managed to go to a couple of ballgames and find it surprising that the summer baseball season is quickly coming to an end. While the MLB St Louis Cardinals are not having a good season, the AA Springfield Cardinals are on their way to completing a record setting most wins in franchise history kind of season. 
I've been fortunate enough to have attended a number of games and will try to catch one or two more before the season actually closes.

Here at home, I have been re-potting a few plants and experimenting with a bit of propagation of some of my outdoor flowers. It is the right season to be dividing some of the plants and the coming week looks like cooler weather with a bit of rain. I am hoping for the motivation to get out and get some good gardening work done this week. 

But that's really all there is to my simple life. 
Throw in an occasional cigar, a sip of bourbon or tequila, a book to read, or just quiet time listening to the birds while sitting on the deck and you have the simple, quiet life of John.
And no -- I don't find it to be boring. I am content. 

Strangely, I find great peace in the simplicity of my life. I have learned to see, feel, or sense the presence of God in all of the quiet around me. It's not in a holy or particularly reverent kind of way; it's more like an awareness of this Universal Force or energy or spirit. I don't really know how to explain it other than to say -- IYKYK (If You Know -- You Know).
The awareness of this Force brings peace when things are not so quiet or the chaos of other lives and forces make their way into my otherwise simple life.

From where I am sitting in Highlandville MO -- life ain't so bad.
I mean -- there's no tropical beach, but -- it's still not so bad.

John

Early Tuesday

It is quite early (for me) on a Tuesday morning. The sun is not yet up and nature is still relatively quiet. I have been sleeping quite well the past few nights. It may be the cooler nights and the open windows next to the bed. It was a cool 56 (13c) degrees at wake-up this morning. I'm sure I could have gone back to bed for another sleep cycle, but I am well rested and awake so I donned some pajama pants and a sweater and am now enjoying my morning coffee on the deck.

It looks to be a beautiful, sunny day today. After quite a string of lazy days, perhaps I'll do a little work today. Right now I am planning to go to the Springfield Cardinals baseball game tonight. It's hard to believe that they only have one more home stand after this one. I have a ticket for Saturday night's game and one for the last home game of the season on Sept 14. I'll use my general admission pass for tonight's game and any others that I attend between now and then.
I have already renewed my Red Access Membership for next season.

I've been working on some potted plants and plant starts. I have a few cuttings that I am trying to start in water -- philodendrons, and several varieties of caladium. I am also attempting to root some hydrangea cuttings. As rewarding as flower gardening and small potted plants are, the necessary patience to wait on nature's time cycle is a little maddening to me. 
I am also trying my hand at growing a few succulents in small pots.

Although I do read quite a bit and follow a few social sites on gardening, I consider most of my gardening work to be experiments -- Let's try this and see what happens. I consider it to be a blessing that nature's will to survive is often greater than my ignorance and incompetence. 

I have books to read, work to do and a baseball game to watch.
I hope your day is as good as mine is shaping up to be.

John