the garden is dried and crisp..
tomatoes continuing to ripen extending the season filling my window sills..
the crock pot filled with pork ribs blanketed in barbecue sauce and sliced onions..
while the oven bakes another batch of cookies to send home with Jaclyn…
a dozen for the freezer for discovery the next time hubby searches for something sweet to eat…
since it's still early morning, the oven temp increased to bake three pizza pie crusts…
each topped for a different person in mind and then tucked deeply inside the deep freeze…
for another day, another time…
while the crusts cooled, I visited the coop and garden for ingredients for a holiday breakfast…
fresh herbs, eggs, and vegetables….
hubby had another type of holiday treat in mind..
the bikes rolled out the garden gate waiting, a trip to the donut shop for a lemon filled glazed….

my hips and better judgement knew my garden basket was the healthier choice to start the day…
but my love of bike riding and pink bakery boxes won…and off we pedaled..
the butterfly crumb pastry and ice water instead of fresh eggs….
the crusts now cooled and topped so heavy that knives and forks will be required while eating…

family time..
phone calls and texts discussing travel plans to bill pay...
cars washed and waxed…
camera shots noting the chocolate bar alongside the diet foods...
magazine pages admired…
sandals and shorts traded for summer dresses and bare feet...
time spent inside sunbaked trailers saying goodbye to one…trying hard to attach to it's replacement..

Ebay decorating for hours….
only to discover the following day…
all the previous day's choices would have been wrong….
new colors, lighter and fresh…
like the feeling of early morning…
avoiding the heavy reds and deep shades once considered...

dogs surrounding my space…
even while I sleep….

the reflection in the mirror…
recognizing someone I haven't seen in years…
my mother commenting but not fully understanding what is different…

my friend of twenty years…commenting but unaware…

I like what I see…
I like how it makes me feel…
I see her again…me….somewhere I got lost...
I'm coming home…