Dead Flowers.

      Sometimes there is so much to do, a to-do list that seems never-ending, but always being added to, and dealing with typical Murphy's Law mishaps and disasters, it becomes difficult to focus on any one task from beginning to end.  I was supposed to be up super early this morning to hit the swim lanes for a few laps (my latest form of exercise), continue sorting, packing, labeling, and preparing all the goods we are donating to a local charity this Saturday, hopefully get some more reading of my latest summer list Water for Elephants (so far, an excellent read), clean the pet cages, bathe the furry little demon dog, schedule my car repairs with my nephew's step-father, and plant red and orange sunflowers and similar coloured alstromeria.  So far, I have 90% of one box packed full of bed linens and clothing, planted the flowers, cleaned the parakeet cage (which I found something the female absolutely LOVES--being outside--unfortunately, her partner is terrified of it so after finishing their cage, changing their food, water, and fruit, my mother and I spent the afternoon listening to her yell and scream), walked the dog, set up my car's appointment, did the dishes (again), and read two chapters.  

     Lately, I have been slowly losing weight again, making sure I get at least an hour of exercise a day, and will spend between 30-60 minutes at minimum just sitting on my deck or the beach in the sun while reading to help bring up excessively low vitamin D levels.  I have noticed for the first time in many years I am actually developing a real tan--not my usual lobster red to pink sunburn followed by hundreds of freckles while maintaining my Casper-like paleness once the sunburn fades.  I have also noticed an overall lessening of my severe joint and muscular pain.  While I still deal with it every day, it's finally down to a level I can tolerate without having to rely on pain medication.  Well, all except my feet--think the author from the novel Misery having his ankles and feet smashed with a sledgehammer.  Yeah... it's been that bad.  

     In the midst of all of this, I was throwing more "stuff" into a garden I turned into a compost area.  I could neither miss nor believe what I found.  Out of over 200 Tiger Lily plants along the pathway, less than half are still alive.  The rest looked as if someone went sledding down the hill directly over them!  They are crushed, bent, dying, and I have no idea what (or who) could have caused it!  Having picked up a beautiful Star Hydrangea plant the other day, I am almost afraid to plant it for fear it too will suffer a similar fate.  Last month's hail storm tore apart the leaves of my Pink and White Hydrangea, my Lilies, and all of the Hostas.  They look like they have been chewed apart by insects, but are slowly recovering. 

     And just like my poor, hail attacked plants, things are slowly recovering.