Helping others as others help me out

The other day I offered a ride to a friend who's recently had knee surgery. It also gave me a chance to do a couple of errands of my own. Then, after she repaid me in coffee, I drove around the neighborhood a bit. I admit I should have gone right home, because when I finally did I was pretty exhausted. It takes many more days to recover from being sick for me now.

I had to pull over to see that there were actually people out on the Croquet Court playing, in nice white clothes no less, so they looked quite official!

This is the season that Lake Tomahawk has been drained. I don't know why, but it does stop it from having a season of new ducklings and goslings. I kind of liked seeing them following their parents around the lake. But I know they often were food for other critters unfortunately.

Again, the dogwoods are a bit sparse this season of high daytime temperatures.

I've been quite fortunate in having friends help me out as I recuperated from my mysterious (pneumonia or flu?) disease.

Today's quote:

Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.

CARL GUSTAV JUNG

Wood balls for a game anyone?

I remember hours of fun (summertime probably) as a teen paying croquet.  It was more fun when friends came over and I was among equals in skill (more or less.) When I played with my family it was pretty easy to beat a younger sister, but not my parents.  I think at some time I tried to replicate this fun when I was a parent. And it must have made some impression, because I was asked to join in as a grandparent with the little ones.

So when doing research to find a nice older picture of croquet, which I understand is quite ancient, I found this great blog already giving great art and information about croquet...19C American Women, croquet-in-garden.

I'll share one of my favorite artists' renditions of Croquet.

Winslow Homer (American artist, 1836-1910) Croquet Players

Another link for me is the active croquet court (is that the correct term?) that exists next to the Black Mountain Golf Course right here in town.  I admit to never trying it out...but in the 11 years I've lived here, I have seen some players as I drove by occasionally.

From the web I found this: "Black Mountain Croquet Club || (828) 669-2281 || Two courts, one full and one 1/2. Contact: Jim Seward - mgseward@aol.com"

Players at the Black Mountain Croquet Court

Our illustrious Sepia Saturday host introduces this week's meme by saying...

Our Sepia Saturday theme image this week is - like all the ones this month - from my own collection. It features that grand old north country game - crown green bowling; in which wooden balls (or bowls) are rolled across a grass lawn (or green) in an attempt to get nearest the target ball (or jack).  If that wasn't complicated enough, the bowls have an additional weight on one side so they don't run in a straight line, and the green has a slight hump in the middle (a crown) so even if the bowls could travel in a straight line it wouldn't do them much good! So if you thought that Sepia Saturday was difficult - just have a go at crown green bowling."

Thanks Alan.  Come see what others have to offer HERE.