A last blast of Azaleas

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers and all the caregivers of our children. Preschool workers are among the lowest paid people in the American culture. And they take care of our precious children! What a mixed up world we live in.

Though they're brilliant still, those 2 hanging off their stamens tell me these blooms will be on the ground very soon. The next day there were rain showers, which helped them along.

I was trying to catch one of the many bumble bees enjoying the pollen and nectar...

Having a phone call from my youngest for mother's day wishes. His last statement really floored me. He works with lots of high school students, mentoring many of them so they'll go on the college. We talked briefly about his summer schedule. Then he said how he tells his students that he remembers being raised by a single parent (me) and has no idea how I did it. I agreed, I had no idea either. Then we hung up and I cried. It was amazing to have such a loving son through all those trying years...and now he's being a mentor to many other people's children. He didn't want to father children himself, but is making a difference for them.

My kitchen window is above a pretty view, which only my neighbors can see as it's downhill.

I have no idea why these bushes were cut back so drastically. Maybe they'll grow again.

Today's quote:

“Reality is never and nowhere more accessible than in the immediate moment of one’s own life. It’s only there that it can be won or lost.”

Kafka