Just what I needed.

It was kind of a rough week this week. Too much work, too many boxes still waiting to be unpacked, too much clutter everywhere, too many things on my to-do list… it just felt like TOO MUCH. 

Yesterday, I decided to forego the farmer’s market and stay home and tackle more of the chaos. It was actually a very productive day, although I’m still struggling with too much stuff and not enough places to put it. It ended with take-out fish and chips and an episode of Candice Renoir on Acorn tv, so all in all a pretty good day. 

This morning, my plan was to get to the grocery store and hardware store (conveniently located in the same shopping area) early, then return and make some more progress on setting up my sewing room. But on the way home, while I was waiting to turn left at the traffic light to head home, I realized that I’d never gone straight across that intersection to see what was down that road.

Another spontaneous meander. And reader, I am so glad I meandered.

Remember I said there is water in every direction? (I guess that’s what living on an island means, now that I think about it…) There it was. This turned out to be Mutiny Bay, on the west side of the island.

So beautiful. There was a tangle of blackberry bushes on the side of the road with a sign marked “private” so I left them alone.

I went a bit further and found a public beach. There were a few meandering people — it was early, still — but it’s hot this weekend I expect there will be a lot of people later. There are a lot of driftwood on these beaches and I often see casual wood sculptures. They make me happy. 

Heading back in the general direction of home, I was struck(as I often am) by how much I love just driving on these tree-lined roads.  And while I was cruising along, I saw a sign for an art and craft fair down a small road. It was the same road that led to the pick-your-own dahlias garden I discovered last week, so I figured that was a good omen.

A bumpy road led to a big mown field/ parking area, which led me to a pretty garden with tents and umbrellas  and artists scattered among the trees.  

It was early enough to be cool and pleasant, and it felt like I’d stumbled into a magical market. You know, the sort that in a children’s book everyone would later deny ever existed.

The flowers were lush with just the right sort of overgrown-ness to them. Kind of how I’d like my own garden to be some day. 

Around a corner was a charming house — oh my, will you look at that perfect porch. One of the artists told me that the grounds used to be a nursery, and that the owner maybe closed it down but still lived on the premises. 

I wandered around, admiring the art, chatting with the artists, and falling in love with the garden.

There were hidden delights at almost every turn.  Look at this screened cabin. I could picture what a perfect reading hideaway that would make for lazy summer afternoons, or even rainy spring and fall days. 

There were inviting seating areas. That’d be a good place to sit and do a quick sketch, don’t you think? (If I could find my sketching supplies. I haven’t found that box yet.) 

A metal cricket, guarding the flowers… 

I think I need some old rusty tubs to hang on a wall. And a Bluey-pink hydrangea just like this.

I don’t have an anvil but if I did, I wouldn’t have thought of doing this. Now I need an anvil. 

I gasped when I turned the corner and came upon these hydrangeas. Have you ever seen such a deep, rich blue? 

So many delightful touches tucked in the bushes. This sweet bird bath.

As I headed back to the car, I peeked inside a greenhouse that looked like a very happy house for tomatoes. None for sale, but I was able to get some local ones at the market earlier, and seeing this made me decide that we’ll be having BLTs for dinner. Oh, and now that I think of it, there is a ripe avocado ready. Make that BLATs for dinner.

But I digress. Bumping back down the road from the art fair, I passed the “U-Pick Dahlias” sign. I could not resist. 

This time, I just meandered and enjoyed the peaceful garden. I wonder if the owners would mind if I brought a picnic blanket and camped under the trees for an afternoon?

I thought I was the only one there, and then I spotted this guy. Turns out he and his friends were busy enjoying the flowers too. 

I wandered around, taking pictures of the flowers, wishing idly that I’d thought to put my big Nikon in the car when I go on these errands… and thinking how, after a kind of crummy week, the morning had been exactly what I needed.  

And then the most magical thing happened. 

Can you see them?

A flock of some sort of sea bird went overhead, bright white and black against the blue sky. 

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Some sort of tern, perhaps? 

They did two big circles over my head, and then drifted into formation and flew out of sight.

There are times when I feel the presence of my brother, who died 4 years ago, very strongly. I am sure my brother sent those today to say hello. Thank you, Gregg. 

Here’s the thing I keep finding about this magical island. Over and over, and in ways that surprise me, it keeps giving me what I need. 

I hope you find the little surprises in your world that give you what you need, dear readers.