Saturday Meanderings
Welcome to July and an extra-special holiday weekend! Somehow we’ve already turned the calendar page to a brand new month, and while I’ll save my thoughts on the Fourth of July for later in this post, it does seem like the perfect time to pause and appreciate both the joys and challenges that come with everyday life. This has been one of those weeks where it feels like everything is breaking at once-and judging from conversations with friends, we are certainly not alone. Repairs are being made, checks are flying out of the checkbook, and we are all doing our best to roll with it. After all, what else can you do? So grab your favorite beverage, get comfortable, and let’s chat about all the bits and bobbles from this week as we wrap up June and celebrate the beginning of July and our nation’s independence.
My Poor Peach Tree
My poor peach tree. When I left Phoenix to head up to the mountains, my beloved peach tree was green, healthy, and standing proudly in the yard…or so I thought. Fast forward to this past week, and the tree looked as if someone had flash-frozen it into death. Every leaf had turned brown and shriveled, and most were still clinging to the branches. Wait…what? Did it not get enough water? How could a perfectly healthy-looking tree suddenly die?
After a bit of investigating, it appears the culprit is Cytospora canker, a fungal disease that commonly affects stone fruit trees, including peach trees. The frustrating part about Cytospora is that the disease often works quietly beneath the bark for months-or even years- before obvious symptoms appear. A tree can look perfectly healthy one week and then rapidly decline as the disease cuts off the flow of water and nutrients to the trunk and branches.
Unfortunately there is no effective chemical treatment to cure it. Stress factors, such as drought, injury, poor growing conditions, or competition from nearby tree roots, can make a tree more susceptible to infection. In our case, the peach tree was growing in close proximity to our neighbor’s very large ficus tree, which may have contributed to the stress that allowed the disease to take hold.
As heartbreaking as it is, the best course of action is to remove the tree and as much of the root system as possible. Gardening certainly teaches us many lessons, including the difficult one that sometimes, despite our best efforts, nature has other plans.
Adventures with Mr. Duck
During my few days back home in Phoenix, I spent time making life as beautiful as possible for my chickens and Mr. Duck. The hen house was cleaned from top to bottom, fresh rose petal potpourri was sprinkled into the laying boxes, and special treats-like fresh watermelon and green peas-were served.
I always pay extra attention to Mr. Duck. He is blind and, I suspect, mostly deaf too. This visit, his behavior indicated that he was not aware of my presence, nor did he engage in any of the treat-eating festivities. We’ve had Mr. Duck since 2012, and I’m not entirely sure how old he was when he came to us. My best guess is that he is now 15 or 16 years old, well beyond the average lifespan of a runner duck.
As he nears the end of his life, I increasingly fear the day when I no longer hear his distinctive quacking around Bella Terra. I decided it was time for Mr. Duck and me to have a special outing.
When he was younger-and accompanied by the three other ducks we had at the time-there was a daily duck procession to our swimming pool. All four ducks would waddle over together, spend time swimming and splashing, and then return to the hen house in the evening. It’s been years since the other ducks have passed and years since Mr. Duck has been in the water.
So, I filled the bathtub in the well tower (originally installed for washing dogs), picked up Mr. Duch, and gently lowered him into the water. At first, he appeared completely confused about what was happening. But in a few minutes, something magical occurred. His inner duck kicked in.
Mr. Duck began swimming. He dunked his head beneath the water, flapped his feathers, and paddled around with enthusiasm. If ducks could laugh, I am convinced he would have been belly laughing. Watching him rediscover something so deeply ingrained in his nature, brought tears to my eyes.
As I lifted him out and dried him off a bit, he returned to the hen house with what I can only describe as an extra bounce in his step.Two days later, I realized that Mr. Duck deserved a bigger pond. So he and I went swimming in the pool. It brought me tremendous joy to watch this elderly duck behave like a youngster again, reveling in the water as if no time had passed at all. I have no idea how much time Mr. Duck has left, but I do know there, if I have my way, there will be more swimming adventures in our future.
Not a Winning Strategy
Trying to shop for Fourth of July decorations the week of the Fourth is apparently not a winning strategy.
Since we typically spend Independence Day at the cabin, our Phoenix home rarely gets dressed up for this holiday. However, during my brief stay back home this past week, I noticed that many of our neighbors had their homes bedecked with patriotic decorations. Suddenly, our home looks quite bare.
Determined to remedy the situation, I headed out in search of something festive to hang on our front gates. My quest took me to Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Target, and HomeGoods. Surely one of these stores would have something suitable, right? Wrong. What I found was Halloween and Fall decorations at Michaels (really?), nothing at all at Target, and the rest were either sold out, picked over or too tacky for my taste.
So, I did what any determined DIYer would do. I purchased two grapevine wreaths, gathered a few faux flowers, and set to work. Fortunately, I had some red, white, and blue ribbon tucked away at home, along with various bits hiding in my craft boxes.
I didn’t plan on a DIY project that consumed far more hours than I care to admit. But, there was no turning back. In the end though, I’m quite happy with the results. They may not be store-bought, but they are cheerful and patriotic. What do you think?
Movie Recommendations
One of our summer goals this year is to actually get out and see a movie in a real movie theatre. There is something wonderfully nostalgic about buying a ticket, settling into a comfortable seat with a bucket of popcorn, and watching a film from beginning to end without the interruptions that inevitably happen at home.
What I am especially loving about some of these recent releases is their focus on our nation’s history.
We recently saw Pressure, a gripping historical drama that tells a little-known story behind one of the most consequential decisions of World War II. Set during the tense 72 hours leading up to D-Day, the film follows General Dwight D. Eisenhower and his chief meteorologist, James Stagg, as they wrestle with whether weather conditions will permit the largest amphibious invasion in history.
The film captures the enormous weight of leadership and the reality that a single forecast had the power to alter the course of the war. Featuring outstanding performances by Brendan Fraser as Eisenhower and Andrew Scott as Stagg, Pressure is both suspenseful and deeply moving. Everyone should see this one!
Our next movie outing will be Young Washington, which is being released over the Fourth of July weekend. The film explores the formative years of George Washington, long before he became the Father of Our Country. Set during the French and Indian War, it portrays a young Washington as an ambitious and sometimes flawed soldier whose early experiences with war, leadership, and personal failure helped shape the man who would eventually become our nation’s first president. Starring William Franklyn-Miller as Washington, along with Ben Kingsley, Andy Serkis, Mary-Louise Parker, and Kelsey Grammer, the film promises to offer a fascinating look at a chapter in American history that is rarely portrayed on screen.
Perhaps I’m just getting older, but I find myself increasingly drawn to films that not only entertain, but also teach us something about the people and events that shaped our country.
Thoughts on Our Nation’s 250 Birthday
As we celebrate Independence Day and begin the year leading up to our nation’s 250th birthday, I have found myself reflecting more deeply on what America means to me.
One of the unexpected joys of this summer has been watching and listening to the impressions of international visitors attending the FIFA events across the country. In a media environment that often focuses almost exclusively on division, conflict, and bad news, it has been refreshing to hear so many visitors express surprise and delight at what they have actually experienced in America. More than a few have remarked that what they encountered here was very different from what they had been led to believe.
America is not simply what you see on the evening news.
America represents individual freedom, opportunity, and the enduring belief that one can dream, work hard, and build a better life. From sea to shining sea, our country has long been a beacon of hope and promise for people around the world. Yes, we have our problems-as every nation does- and we should never stop striving to improve. But we also have much to celebrate and be grateful for.
Our people are, by and large, kind and generous. Each state possesses its own unique character, traditions, and pride. We are a vast and varied nation, yet many of us share a deep love for this country and an appreciation for the freedoms and opportunities it provides.
As we approach America’s 250th birthday, I have made a personal commitment to speak more highly of our country, to celebrate its people and accomplishments, to prayer for our elected leaders regardless of political affiliation, and to promote goodwill, abundance, and all the blessings that we have.
May we never take for granted the extraordinary privilege of calling America home, and recognizing those who made the ultimate sacrifice so we can be free.
Happy Fourth of July, my dear friends.
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Mary, I love that you swam in the pool with Mr. Duck. Maybe an occasional swim will give him a new lease on life and more years to enjoy. I’m sorry about your peach tree. What an awful loss. We’ve had to replace our lemon trees a couple of times. It takes a year or two before we have lemons with each new one. I agree 100% with everything you said about our beautiful country. I feel so blessed to be an American. It is so sad that some people cannot appreciate the bounty this country offers to all who are willing to work hard and be grateful. Hope your 4th was delightful.
Carol, I hope you had a wonderful Independence Day! Yes, a new peach tree will take a few years to produce, and I will need to choose the new location carefully. I agree, we are the land of opportunity with the operative words being working hard and being grateful. It’s been so refreshing to hear wonderful stories about the USA on social media. Thanks for your comments.
Mary,
I was so happy to read of your adventure with Mr. Duck. I am always anxious to see him when I visit. I will miss him dearly when he has joined his other duck friends in duck heaven, where I am sure he will swim every day in clear cool waters. He certainly has the spirit to keep on living, even escaping the coyote that took so many chickens. I will be visiting my dad tomorrow and will happily share the adventures of Mr. Duck.
I am so sorry to hear about the peach tree! Those peaches were so very sweet and delicious! I recall eating them over the kitchen sink so as not to have the juice dribbling down my front!
All the best to you this coming week!
Chloe, give your Dad a big hug for me! I hope where he is now living paid extra tribute to the veterans. I love your comments about Mr. Duck! He has certainly survived some perils we’ve had in the yard. Yes, our “bend over and eat peaches” tree is gone, but hope to replant soon. Safe travels back to Florida!
Oh, Mary, you always say it so well. We surely are the luckiest people on earth to live in these United States of America! I pray for our country every day.
Mr. Duck is a very lucky duck. He has surpassed the 8 to 12 year lifespan thanks to your care. We should have a lucky duck party to celebrate his longevity!
Those movies look great. I miss the theater. Streaming is so easy, but doesn’t compare.
Sorry about your peach tree. It has been so productive all these years. Are you going to plant another?
We had a very nice quiet Fourth of July. Rick outdid himself with dinner and the PVCC fireworks were great. However, Miss Riley was not happy about the noise.
Thank you, Mary, for your time and dedication to your blog. I look forward to it every Saturday, as does Rick!
Love you
Janie, Thank you so much for your sweet comments! I bet Rick’s Fourth of July dinner was spectacular and glad you got to see fireworks at PVCC. Since we are in a Stage 2 Fire alert here in the mountains, there were no fireworks, but we certainly enjoyed the incredible one in our nation’s capitol. Wow! I don’t think our Finn has ever experienced fireworks, but I’m guessing he wouldn’t be too happy about the noise either. Have a blessed week!
Dear Mary,
I empathize with you about being hit with upkeep expenses of running two homes. Also we tend to be proactive to replace big things before “oh my surprises” happen. We have a small list going, however all of these things are very costly.
Your peach tree passing made me sad. It’s so sad seeing something you enjoy
and is part of your life and garden all of a sudden gone. This has happened to us, and it’s never easy. Just this morning we could not save my potted Valentine plant Barry gifted me. This is why the back tables get mostly get faux. I know not so great. At least I get to see color. Our roses are looking sad even with all the shade and sail up. They get TLC almost daily. Your roses in Pine Top look gorgeous. I did not know you had roses in PT.
The share of Mr. Duck lifted my spirits and brought smiles, however still tugged at my heart. You are the best “Duck Mama” in the whole wide world.
Wowie, knowing your many ever ending artistic talents it’s no surprise that you created a gorgeous patriotic wreath. When your neighbors looked at yours and then theirs they probably started crying in their cocoa.
Every nation has its ups and downs. I do agree with your closing comments. It’s important to live with gratitude. A grateful heart has a way of reminding us how much there is to celebrate.
God Bless America, is the place we call home.
I hope your parade was fun and all the goodies you prepared and displayed turned out well. It’s a labor of love. I did my share of giving back to our community that we lived in for 22 years in Oak Creek Canyon. It was all fun to see the smiles you gave to people.
Have a wonderful week.
Katherine, the rose picture I shared last week was outside a restaurant here in the mountains. I didn’t realize roses grew so well here and I’m trying to determine if I can create a raised bed (forest floor soil) and get a rose garden going. Mine in Phoenix are looking a bit tired from the summer heat, but the shade cloth structure Scott created has helped significantly. Hope you had a fun Independence Day! Wishing you a blessed week!
Happy Fourth of July! This was such a great post. I love your wreaths and swimming w/ Mr. Duck. I’m sorry about your peach tree! My neighbors have one and I will forward your blog to her. Enjoy our holiday and God Bless America!!
Trish, I hope you had a wonderful Fourth. The peach tree did just fine for many years. Our neighbors landscaped that area right over the wall and I didn’t realize that ficus have fast growing and aggressive roots. I’m sure the peach tree struggled for nutrients as a result. We will replant but it will not be in the same location….just need to figure out where. Thanks for weighing in and have yourself a terrific week.
I teared reading about Mr. Duck. You have a heart of gold to give him this pool life because this is ducks nature. Sorry to hear about peach tree but there is a reason for everything. Wreath looks great. Yes!! AMERICA is a great place and all should be THANKFUL. GOD BLESS AMERICA
Nancy, Hope you had a fabulous Independence Day! So love your comments. I am slowly getting back on schedule as we had house guests for the holiday. I agree-God Bless America!!
Happy Birthday America and than you for sharing more inspiration to remind us of how fortunate we are to live in this great country. Very well stated Mary.
I so enjoyed your Mr Duck story and the grace you’re giving him is his senior years.
Sorry to hear about your peach tree but hopefully you will find a good replacement.
Also, thanks for the movie recommendations. We love going to the theaters too but don’t go often. Thinking that might just change with your coaxing.
Have a beautiful weekend!
Melody
Melody, so good to hear from you! I hope you and Sam had a fabulous Fourth. We did get to see Young Washington this past weekend and it was very well done. I love learning more about our history through these movies. I’m hoping we have more of them being released. Thanks for your sweet comments!
Happy Independence Day! I loves this post. Both stories of Mr. Duck and the pride in our beautiful country brought tears to my eyes. A friend shared a beautiful prayer today with me, but I wasn’t sure it was ok to share here so…God Bless America!
Phyllis, you are always welcome to share a beautiful prayer here! Please do! Yes, God Bless America. We are so fortunate to live here and for those who hate it, you can always have the choice to leave. Have a blessed week!
Hello! Loved your post today. I want to tell you about an ‘oleander gall’ we had. A disease that oleanders had and it killed hundreds of the bushes. Even on the side of our freeways. I do not know if it is a similar disease but you must clean your cutting tools as this can spread the disease from plant to plant. We were happy to have this kill our oleanders as they had taken over out yard!
Also, thank you for a happy story about Mr Duck. We had mallards as kids and loved them dearly. We called them ‘pucker-ups’. I also had to get a mother mallard and her six ducklings out of our pool last year. Not easy, I made a ramp and got them out that way. Good tidings to everyone.
Elle, we had a similar oleander disease that wiped out most of them in central Phoenix. It was a virus transmitted by the sharpshooter beetle. On the north side of our property, we had over 300 feet of 30′ tall oleanders….all that died from this virus. I agree, cleaning cutting tools is so important and I try to do that on a regular basis. I think the competition with the adjacent ficus probably did the peach tree in. Have to find another location far from ficus trees. I love your duck/duckling story! Intermittently we get the wild ducks in the pool and a few years ago the little ducklings got in but couldn’t get out. Fortunately, we used a pool float and angled it up to the pool deck. The pool guy wasn’t happy about the duck family, but it was only for a few weeks. Thanks for sharing your stories!
sorry to hear about your peach tree. When in East Greenwich, I loved putting a bottle over the bud and letting the pear grow in the bottle to be immersed in brandy when fully grown!
Say hi to Mr. Duck and have a wonderful July 4th. Celebrating in Providence at Waterfire’s processional tribute to our troops and 250th!
God bless America!
Mike, thanks for the reminder about the glass bottle over the pear! It reminds me to research how to cover the tree (which is full of fruit) before the squirrels eat them all. The pears are on the small side now but wondering if I can find a wider neck bottle to use…I hope the Waterfire’s processional was fun for the Independence Day celebration! Looks fascinating. Yes, God Bless America.
Happy 4th of July, Mary!
You have put my feelings and love of our nation into words perfectly❣️ Thank you…
And your dear, dear Mr Duck is so sweet…here’s to more happy swimming days!
I learned something, as I always do from your posts, but sorry to also learn of the loss of your peach tree.
Your heart and holiday decorations are just beautiful and so welcoming…like your home! Best holiday wishes to you and yours…
Sue, thank you so much for your kind comments. I hope your Independence Day celebrations were fun and exciting. Wishing you a blessed week!