Monday, May 3, 2010

Fill me up, buttercup

I hope your weekend was a pleasant one. Sunday nights for me, as I’m sure they are for most, are bittersweet. Tomorrow begins the work week all over again, and then it will be another weekend that I’m longing for.

My husband had the Number 2 horse for the Derby on Saturday. And that’s where it came in: number 2. He didn’t bet real money on it though, so that’s good. He’s always been a pretty good handicapper, though.

A good friend moved this weekend and I remember telling her last week that I’d be around on Sunday to see if she needed help setting stuff up. It wasn’t until around 2:30 in the afternoon on Sunday that I remembered however, and I was driving home from the hospital in Philly. I hate it when I forget stuff like that.

I think it comes with age, though so I’ll cut myself some slack lest I begin to feel like a total loser.

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After visiting my brother in the hospital, I came home and rolled around in the grass on the lawn for awhile.

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The grass needs cutting again and I wanted to capture the buttercups.

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And maybe a few spent dandelions.

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And you know what?

I’ll tell you what. It made me feel a little better.

When I take pictures from the ground like this, I bring out a blanket and a pillow. I put the Joby gorillapod on the camera (it’s a little flexible tripod) and I sometimes use the pillow for extra height if I need it.

So now you see how terribly scientific it all is.

Tonight we watched 60 Minutes. They had a segment devoted to the oil slick that’s heading directly for the coastline where our friends live, where we just visited a month ago. It’s shocking and depressing and like my brother’s illness, I am completely helpless to do anything about it. Except hate it.

And that’s all I have to say about that.

Until tomorrow, my friends . .

40 comments:

Kerri Farley said...

I do hope your brother is doing better! So glad you were able to spend time with him.

And I LOVE your buttercup shots! Thanks for the tip on the little gorillapod - I'm going to look into that.

A roll in the grass always makes me feel better too :)

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry....my brother was here for dinner last night and he leaves next Tuesday for Iraq.....hate that too.
Buttercups make me feel better too....smiles.

Low Tide High Style said...

I know what you mean about forgetting things! Right now I must have 12 sticky notes dangling precariously from my computer monitor! And today I spilled a full glass of water all across my keyboard and desk, drenching my daytimer where I keep all of my appointments and important dates...thankfully it dried out!

I'm so sad to hear about the oil spill and I do hope that your brother is improving with each passing day!

Wow, I type as much as I talk, and that my friend is NOT a good thing! Have a great week!

Kat :)

deborah said...

Love that buttercups grow in your grass, and the pictures are great! A roll in the grass always helps my lab, so I'll try it one day soon. No housework for me this weekend either, my hubby was in the hospital. Hope your brother is better!

Char said...

the oil slick makes me ill too.

beautiful shots

Cheryl said...

My prayers are with your brother.
Have not rolled in the grass in 40 year, may have to try it soon.

Marla said...

These pictures are awesome.. Really.

I hope your brother gets better soon. Watching a love one struggle with an illness is the worst.

Marla @ www.asthefarmturns.wordpress.com

Deb said...

great shots...hope your brother is improving...it is sad about the oil spill...

Anonymous said...

I have dear old friends in Alabama and they are extremely fearful of what this oil is going to do to their area and the wildlife there. It's almost too sad to think about.

Buttercups. *sigh* if only they could be the answer to all that goes wrong in this world. Love the shots today!

Di

beth said...

oh cripes....that oil slick....it just breaks my heart !

and i'm glad playing in the grass made you feel better...your yellow flowers made me feel better, too

Caroline said...

You had quite a weekend! Lovely photos. I watched the last part of 60 minutes with the Chef...holy cow....amazing stuff! Hope your week goes by quickly!

Mary Lou said...

Kate, I so wish I could make your brother well..I really truly do.
I love the idea of rolling in the grass and I love the dandelion.. Always a pleasure.

Gayle said...

Wonderful buttercups. I hope your brother is gaining strength and and mending. In San Diego, our 60 Min. had three stores and NO Andy Rooney (miss him when he is not on). Anyhow, we had the chef, Conan and the All American Canal, no oil slick story. Hmmmmmm!

Julie Harward said...

Well, at least the weekend gives you something to look forward too. Too bad they don't last longer.
Love your butter cups, I have loved them since childhood but rarely see them anymore. Yes, cut yourself some slack...going out to be with the buttercups...a good idea! Have a good week and come say hi :D

Sweetpea said...

Ahh CG, thanks for bringing me down to ground level...I needed that. Nothing like an in-my-face dandelion to make me grateful for the ways of nature.

It's been a tough day for many of us here in blogosphere, evidence on our posts. I am beginning to think there is a planetary alignment that's messing with us - but I don't really believe in that stuff much. Some days just suck. That's all.

Tomorrow is a new day. Forward we shall go.

My name is Riet said...

Beautiful buttercup shots, I love them. We hear everything about the oil spill here. So sad. Have a great working week.

Stickhorsecowgirls said...

Love the buttercups and dandelions! They signal that winter is OVER!! I used to roll in the grass as a child even though it made me itch like crazy! Maybe I should try it again!
Hope your brother is improving! I'm dreading this week - too short of a weekend! I'm still tired from last week! V.

BB said...

Oh that is SO something I would do - forgetting things. And using whatever is handy to lean on to take photos! Thanks for visiting (and joining) today... and hugs for your brother.
♥ BB

The Weaver of Grass said...

Yes - that oil slick is absolutely awful - so sorry for you all. But balanced by the absolutely lovely buttercups -what can beat them for a splash of gold.

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

Thoughts and prayers for your brother, and just complete admiration for your photographs!

Did you make a wish?.....

Mental P Mama said...

Beautiful. I hope your brother gets better soon.

Hilary said...

Sending best thoughts for your brother, Kate. I hate that for you.

Love the grassy flowery shots. I can picture you out there with your blankie and pillow, forgetting to set up the camera and catching a nap instead.

The JR said...

Don't beat yourself up too much. You had your bother on your mind.

The oil spill is going to affect a lot of stuff. Really stinks.

Deb said...

I love the yard full of buttercups. One would hate to mow and kill them all.

Jo said...

I adore buttercups. I remember when I was about five years old, we had a big field of buttercups near our house. I remember one summer afternoon lying in the field of buttercups thinking, "I had better enjoy these now, because once school starts in September, my life begins, and I won't have time to life in a field of buttercups anymore." I think about that every time I see buttercups, isn't that funny?

I hope your brother feels better soon. Please send him my best wishes -- and to you too...!

Jo said...

I meant "lie" in a field of buttercups ... but you knew that. :-)

Jon said...

We may have to contend ourselves with seeing so much of our beautiful marine lives on TVs and books from now on!!

Daryl said...

LOVE those buttercups ... and see now you know why George loves to roll around in/on the grass ...

Cut yourself a lot of slack ...

Big Hair Envy said...

Do you ever hold a buttercup under your chin to see if you like butter? Ah! Those pictures bring back so many good childhood memories!!

Hope your brother will be better soon.

Mary said...

Oh, I'm sorry, Kate. I don't know if it's our age, but suddenly there seem to be a lot more things that we can't control... I don't know what I expected middle age to be, but surely it wasn't this constant reminder of of my own frailty... I think maybe I somehow expected to come out the other side of the child caring years exactly the same as I went in... Doh!

And that's really cheerful now, isn't it? Sorry! Your buttercups are beautiful! Ours will be another week or two... Hope your week is sweet! :)

Unknown said...

Kate, I love your pictures. I know what you mean about not being able to do a thing about something....and just hate it....I know...it really is a helpless feeling huh. I so hope you are feeling the prayers that are going out to you and your family....

Donalyn said...

Love the buttercups - every year I am amazed all over again by how far ahead of us you are in the growing season. Every year - obviously, I am easy to entertain. Praying for your bro, in casze I didn't mention that before.

Donalyn said...

Love the buttercups - every year I am amazed all over again by how far ahead of us you are in the growing season. Every year - obviously, I am easy to entertain. Praying for your bro, in case I didn't mention that before.

mrs mediocrity said...

I feel so much the same today. Different circumstances, same feelings. You are not at all a loser, you are human, and you have a lot going on. I'm sure your friend will understand, and I hope your brother is doing better, and giggling a little.

Gail said...

Rolling around is good, look how the dogs enjoy it.

My thoughts are with you.

abb said...

Sending hugs from CT...


WV: afert. "She definitely felt afert coming on."

GailO said...

Watching the news...watching that oil slick is making me sickI keep hoping against hope that something can slow it down...and my heart breaks for the people and habitats it is going to affect...

Love your buttercup! and point of view:)

Unknown said...

Hope your brother is doing better and healing well.

Loving your pictures today!

Merisi said...

What a wonderful idea to use gorilla and pillows when you are taking pictures down below! The buttercups look lovely.

K said...

I love the pictures of the buttercups but I must say I REALLY enjoy the composition of the first one you posted of them. The blur of the black and white of the house with the blue of the sky...it's such a peaceful capture. :)