Idle Minutes

Up in the mountains of North Georgia we have a dinky little cabin. By my observation, it’s the smallest one up there and also the least expensive. That’s how we were able to swing getting it a few years ago. It has no air conditioning so when we go during summer weekends, we pretty much stay outside until sundown.

That’s a good thing because my wife spends her outdoor time tinkering with flower beds, birdhouses, shrubs, and even a black bear she met picking blackberries.

He didn’t like her I don’t think because all she saw was the pads on his feet kicking up dust trying to get away from her.

Note: She only saw that for a split second because she was kicking up dust likewise, headed in the opposite direction. I know this because that is about all the detail she remembered about the bear…the pads of his feet kickin’ up dust.

Ten minutes I think it took for her to get that small tidbit of information to my ears as I tried to interpret her story amidst the deep gasps for air, flailing hands, and eyes big as quarters…all while standing upright briefly, then bending over gasping with hands on knees…up, down…up, down…yep, it was at least ten minutes before I understood the magnitude of that bear’s feet kicking up dust.

I shall pass along here too that I know her. I’m certain she said a bad word when she saw the bear. But only one bad word…I’m certain of that as well.

But I digress…
As I said, being forced to spend most daylight summer hours outdoors at the cabin is a good thing because of all the stuff she does to keep the plantings going. Case in point…the Daylilies at the end of the drive. This year they were really nice and bloomy. They get plenty of sun and she is really proud of how well they did after all her care late last summer and fall. I’m proud too. She is a true gardener.

So, once again, the Garden Queen provides subject matter for a sketch. She hasn’t seen this one yet because it’s after 4 a.m. and I just finished it…(couldn’t sleep). So, she’ll see it later and I think It’ll get the official “teehee” of approval.

By the way, not all my sketches get the “teehee” of approval. Sometimes my sketches get the “hmmmmmm”.

I haven’t figured out yet if that’s the equivalent of a disapproval.

I do know that the “Oh Gol” is definitely a disapproval though.

FYI, in the South, “Oh Gol” can mean two things:

Shock and sympathetic disbelief as in…”Oh Gol! I can’t believe all your ink pens leaked into your shirt pocket while you were on the plane! How frustrating! I’m so sorry.”

or…

Disapproval as in…”Oh Gol. You might ought to practice a little more on those flowers sweety.”

I think I’ll get the “teehee” on this sketch though.