Transition: Oh what a beautiful morning……………!

I had pressing business in Houston this week. That gave me an opportunity to relive, for a day at least, what used to be called generically the rat race.

No offense to Houston, of course.

It was a good place to call home for sixteen years. Driving past former residences, restaurants, places of employment and event venues was like saying hello to old friends.

And since it was only a day trip it was easy for me to remain calm despite the maxed-out, claustrophobic traffic.

Having Ernie as a road buddy was a real help too.

Back home in Fayetteville early the next morning Ernie sits by the sliding doors waiting with tail wagging like a metronome. He is anxious for me to push the drapes aside so he can survey his domain.

After his taking that first peek we head outside where wildflowers are beginning to bloom. We walk briskly through thick patches of Texas bluebonnets, pink evening primrose and the occasional red exclamation called scarlet paint brush.

Wow!

Continuing, Ernie stops and sniffs warily at a prodigious patch of burgeoning dewberries.  He is onto something, but wisely avoids diving into the thicket to face the unknown. It could be peligrosa:  a snake.

Then it is my turn for observation: I spy a mockingbird airlifting a large piece of twig making a nest within a nearby tree. And my resident non-denominational cardinal is at the top of another tree chanting for a mate.

Meandering our way back to the shack we stop at the garden cage to see how the seedlings and transplants are doing: so far so good.

Radish planted just a few days ago is already emerging.  The celery looks like they have overcome transplant shock and are settling in for the long haul: so are lettuce and Swiss chard. The same with potted cucumber and string beans I bought and planted as insurance: just in case my own seedlings don’t make it.

As Ernie runs with abandon towards the door and breakfast there is no doubt he loves it here. I too am thankful and appreciative being out of the city, experiencing instead the freedom, natural environment and good people of Fayette County and Texas.

The former life is seen increasingly farther off in the rear view mirror where it belongs.