Where does the time go?

I still remember long boring summer days of my youth not knowing what to do with myself. I think, if only I’d had some discipline or focus I could have learned a language or how to play a musical instrument. Now in my autumnal days, time seems to be slipping away at an alarming rate. 

Just what have I been doing since my last update in July? I had to look through my photos to remember!  I find lots of pictures of creatures who visited, glorious sky shows, ususual natural findings, and some shots of weird lighting effects I’ve noticed. No grand tours or achievements documented; instead a collection of everyday things that delight me in my wanderings about The Number Nine.

In an effort to further process all the stuff Ric left, I began work in September on what started off as a time capsule containing boxes of Ric’s papers and memorabilia that I couldn’t throw away but had to move out of the studio. Packed into weather and rodent proof boxes and wrapped in palm fronds they cover an ugly pile of concrete leavings that I didn’t know how else to get rid of. Since the Day of the Dead was on its way, this time capsule morphed into an Ofrenda for Ric but soon included our other recently departed family members.

I took clues from the movie Coco and found it comforting to build a little party for the dead with treats I knew they liked like sugared ginger, butterscotch, cigars, coffee, and licorice. Much to my surprise the licorice flavored Twizzles I put out in the evening were all gone the next day! I can’t think of any animal that could have so cleanly picked these out of there without disturbing a thing. The next day all the red vines were gone just as cleanly. A true mystery but it tickles me to think that the Ricster played that trick on me especially since he would have been disgusted by the low grade licorice I had offered.

Simultaneously, the Pest Cemetery had been taking on some new enhancements. The name cracks me up because it started off being the area along the south fence where I buried the remains of the rodents I have trapped. Besides an occassional morsel I might leave out for the roadrunners and raptors, I found I needed to bury the bodies to discourage flies. Now they reside under crosses made from palm fronds and shielding my view of the neighboring property. I like to think they also have an energetic aspect that protects me from the neighbors.

I was compelled to construct concentric circles around the trees in the front garden using natural objects such as acacia pods and crushed oleander leaves. The configurations serve to remind me of the ripple effect of each action for good or evil. 

I think I have definitely moved into the realm of eccentric old woman. I am recently drawn to dead flowers and fruiting bodies of plants. The dead bracts from the palm trees and dried oleander branches fascinate me and I’ve begun to collect them in arrangements in various places of the property. I am amused to thumb my nose at my inner judge and do what pleases me.