I love the moon. That little after thought in space that shines with the reflected light of the sun. It comes out when the buzz of the day is done, and Apollo is off being a star on the other side of the world.

I no longer remember when I started this project. But somewhere along the way I decided to put in a new flower bed along the north fence of the front yard.

A torrential deluge gifted us with a half inch of rain yesterday afternoon. It fell so hard and fast, however, that most of it probably ran off.

Went for a walk with the butterflies yesterday. The American Snout butterfly is migrating and the park next door to my house is full of them, particularly along the path and brush beside Town Creek.

I labored on Labor Day. Mowed the back lots, mowed the front, and had a good ole time. I pulled weeds. Got my hands dirty. Got down on my knees. Raised a sweat.

It is cool outside this morning. There is a heavy dew. Days of rain are starting to pay dividends. The coral sage is standing tall with tons of red blooms. The pink Turks caps are full of flowers. The little persimmon tree is putting on leaves. Even the tiff grass yard has returned from dormancy with sprigs of green. There is life in the fields.

I have three little crape myrtles, black diamonds. They once lived in the southeast corner of the yard. They failed to thrive. I moved them to more fertile soil on the back lots by the pool. They failed to thrive.

The sage is in bloom. I’ve waited all summer. But the sage likes rain to bloom. None came. Now it has. Rain has fallen. Two of my three plants are resplendent in their glory of purple and gray.

The rains came. The grass is greening. The sage is in bloom. I am rested. My spirit feels full, and I still find it hard to believe I am not lying in bed today recovering from surgery.

Gatekeepers. They’re important. And you can’t really get anywhere without going through one. Last week I encountered two of them.

Two days later and I’m still stunned at my Friday turn of events. For an entire week I had worked non-stop to schedule what I thought was a life saving surgery and make sure I had the best hands possible doing the work.

A bit of good fortune came my way. During yesterday’s video consolation with a Houston doctor, I was told I didn’t require surgery.

Here we are at the end of what has proven to be a long week. One more consultation this morning with another doctor. This one in Houston. Then it’s decision time.

Walked outside this morning to the sweet smell of wet earth. It’s been a long time, my love. But there it was and with it came all the promise that rain brings.

I once worked for a man who liked the concept of what he called the bigger brain. He felt his team of people working together could solve any problem.

Well, the CT of my little abdominal aortic aneurysm has ratcheted up the complication level. It appears there are also aneurysms on the iliac arteries. Some deal.

I had a lazy day yesterday. Mostly it involved food. Hooked up with old friends from Houston. Drove to a fine Italian restaurant down by canyon lake. Ate a long leisurely lunch with dessert because every great meal needs to be topped off.

My power washer and I spent the day outside yesterday. We cleaned lawn chairs on the driveway, wiping away grime and swallow poop. Then we went to the back porch and did the same.

There was thunder, lightning, and rain yesterday. I measured .20 of an inch. Hardly record setting but a good start to what might prove a rainy week. We need it.

My geology books have started to arrive. Got a small one on volcanoes and another on how our continent was formed. I really want to know the story of the terrain from Fort Davis to Study Butte.