The picture to the left is of Virginia City, Nevada in the spring, taken from "Boot Hill." I took this picture in 1989, early in the morning.A sky void of clouds is a rare thing in these parts, so you got to enjoy them when you can. Today was such a day. This afternoon, I had a hammock calling my name. I have three hammocks in my backyard, strung between maples and an elm. Two are from Central America. They’re colorful and one is short, so that you sit instead of lay in it, with your feet hanging over the side. My other hammock is an "Outer Banks" model, woven out of soft white cotton rope not far from salt water, in the great state of North Carolina. It’s my largest hammock, and the ropes run through oak slats on each end, spreading the hammock apart. This is my favorite one to nap in, the others I more frequently use when I want to read.
The day is warm, upper 60s, and there’s a slight breeze. The leaves have not completely opened, allowing me to look through the canopy into the heavens. The clear sky reminds me of the Intermountain West, where one might go days without seeing a cloud. I drift off, listening to the songs of birds and dreaming of desert skies.
This evening, I notice that my throat is a bit scratchy and my head stuffy. It’s still spring and there’s still things in the air with which my nasal passages have yet to make peace. The sky obviously wasn't as clear at it appeared. Even the dog comes over and begs for me to stratch his nose. Let's pray for a rainy day and Monday to clear the air.
Rainy and cold here in VA. I can't wait for the weekend to be over. Having so much fun can be hard work. The hammock is next.
ReplyDeleteWe're had hail storms yesterday! I'm not a hammock type person anyway, I'd be too scared it would break when I laid on it & that would be extremely embarassing ;)
ReplyDelete'boot hill'...
ReplyDelete...isn't that where all the bad cowboys hang...er, out?
Colleen--maybe you better put a hammock up inside so you can enjoy it when it's rainy and cold. But it'll be hot enough soon (and mosquitoes will be out).
ReplyDeleteDaydreamer and Murf, you both have fears of hammocks? The Outer Banks type is more stable, it that'd help. And they shouldn't break. As far a a bug in your mouth, we'll spit it out.
Karen, Boot Hill is an euphemism for a graveyard.
Sigh, I miss having a hammock. Right now, the two trees that are big enough to support a hammock are separated by my house. Neither of my three decks has a roof by which to hang one either. My two biggest peeves about living in town are that people don't plant near enough trees and nobody has covered porches anymore. When I build my house someday, both of those will be mandatory... along with a hammock or two.
ReplyDeletewe have a hammock on our balcony! when i had the railings done when we moved in i made them put some extra supports to hang a hammock. its lovely in the summer. and the lets got it out yesterday. though it rained all day today!
ReplyDeletei loved this post! so calm and peaceful. thank you*
Ed, when I was in Utah and there were no trees for hammocks (there were trees but I wouldn't want my hammock under a pinion pine or juniper and get all that gunk on it), I put in 4x4 post to hold a hammock.
ReplyDeleteMurf, under my porch (and behind screen for mosquito season) I have a hammock style swing that's from Peru. It's nice to read in early in the morning in the summer.
Keda, my daughter often climbs un in the hammock with me, my Outer Banks one is a double, so there'd be plenty of room!
I'm beginning to suspect that Murf is my long lost twin :)
ReplyDeleteThat is the reason I'm scared of hammocks as well! Wouldn't mind the swing though.
Great picture.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who isn't 'outdoorsy' I do like hammocks. I guess that just means I'm lazy and don't mind laying down.
Hope rain comes your way.
Break out the Flonase and the Claritin!
ReplyDeleteSage you really gotta put word verification back....spam comments suck :(
ReplyDeleteoh nasty spammers! evil!
ReplyDeletenow what was i really going to say... oh, i always think i would love hammock but every time i've tried one they've been so hard to get in and out of and i just don't think my laying down needs to be so much work, ya know?
Daydreamer and Murf, the two of you could be dangerous together... God must have had something to do with you being at opposite continents--as a way to protect the rest of us. Murf, I ain't touching your comment!
ReplyDeleteV, it seems that hammocks is mostly a guy thing! THey're my favorite part of the summer--'cept for when the mosquitoes are out.
Kenju, I don't like taking drugs and always wait till it's too late--but the drugs make me sleepy. The congrestion makes me sleepy too.
Shawn, I could say, take your spam and fry it... but can I really get a PhD in 2 weeks? ANd an MBA to boot. Why did I waste all those years in academica? Daydreamer, why do you need an accounting degree when you can get an MBA in 14 days? After all, as Shawn says, "you owe it to your future."
Honestyrain, maybe I should do a post on how to get in and out of a hammock without making a fool of thyself, and how to sleep in one without falling out. Yesterday afternoon, I slept laid down to read in my hammock, got through 2 pages and feel asleep, waking up 30 minutes later.
Looks like we might get rain tomorrow.
Daydreamer and Murf, the two of you could be dangerous together... God must have had something to do with you being at opposite continents--as a way to protect the rest of us. Murf, I ain't touching your comment!
ReplyDeleteV, it seems that hammocks is mostly a guy thing! THey're my favorite part of the summer--'cept for when the mosquitoes are out.
Kenju, I don't like taking drugs and always wait till it's too late--but the drugs make me sleepy. The congrestion makes me sleepy too.
Shawn, I could say, take your spam and fry it... but can I really get a PhD in 2 weeks? ANd an MBA to boot. Why did I waste all those years in academica? Daydreamer, why do you need an accounting degree when you can get an MBA in 14 days? After all, as Shawn says, "you owe it to your future."
Honestyrain, maybe I should do a post on how to get in and out of a hammock without making a fool of thyself, and how to sleep in one without falling out. Yesterday afternoon, I slept laid down to read in my hammock, got through 2 pages and fell asleep, waking up 30 minutes later.
Looks like we might get rain tomorrow.
Who thinks hammocks is mainly a guy thing? Love them
ReplyDeleteIt's very much the worst part of spring here and I have lost all ambition, and coherent thought
Beautiful picture, and description
Sounds like an enjoyable, lazy kind of day except perhaps for the excess pollen in the air.
ReplyDelete