Butt Branch, But of Course

I am grateful for mushrooms that moonlight as acorns. For dry roads on icicle days. For washable and reusable mopheads on long handles with squirty-trigger mopping action. I am grateful for hugs that hold and houses that let hands help. I am grateful for the time and space to care for my love when he hurts, and that he creates the time and space to be cared for. I am grateful that my seemingly simple offerings count as a “really great birthday” and I am grateful for lovely teenagers. I am grateful the “butt branch” is still up there in Cottonwood. I am grateful for the days full of energy and focus and pleasure in mundanity. I am grateful mundanity isn’t a real word - it makes me like it more. And I am grateful that somewhere through this reconditioning of my mind and my life, not doing this every day wasn’t a Let Down, a Broken Promise, a Failure, a Laze. It was a Just-Right and a What’s Needed Now and a But of Course. And I am grateful there is further to go down this path of Yes.

For those gardening followers, I learned two years ago that Paperwhites really stink. Like really stink. So forcing them to bloom indoors in winter seemed odd to do twice. I planted them outside after that first winter. Last year, they bloomed in December. This year, they’re tall and awaiting buds as December begins. We shall see how they fair. I may just underplant my entire raspberry patch in stinky white winter blossoms for some snow-on-snow wonder along the driveway. Who else has tried (or wants to try) outdoor winter Paperwhites?