Dear Sunday Letter readers,
Praise be! In the past few days we’ve experienced a reprieve from this summer’s horribly hot and dry weather. Yes, finally, much-needed rain moved across the state; the rumble of thunder has never been so welcome to my ears.
This morning, there’s a chance for more rain.
Not gonna lie—the past week two weeks have been extra tough. No matter how much water we gave our plants, many remained parched and stressed. It had become so dry and hot the tree frogs had stopped singing at night. And we humans pretending to be in charge of things? The balance of our good humor had long evaporated with summer’s dew.
One decent rain sure makes all the difference.
Cool Moth!
While watering at Momma’s house last week, this unusual moth landed on the side of the house right in front of me. At first I thought it was a dry leaf or a thin shaving of peeling bark.
Based on my iNaturalist research, I believe it’s an Obtuse Euchlaena Moth (Euchlaena obtusaria), which is a twig mimic that lives in woodland habitat throughout North America. And what timing! This sweet little guy showed up for me to photograph during National Moth Week.
Honestly, I didn’t know National Moth Week was a thing. (I should have known because most everything has a dedicated week.)
I’m a moth-er and didn’t know it. Ha.
You know, beauty doesn’t always mean brilliant color and hey-look-at-me radiance. Often, beauty comes in quiet and unassuming packaging.
Nature’s magic never disappoints. And often it presents itself just when I most need it.
Peach Season
I almost missed peach season altogether. Oh, I bought peaches a few times, but they were never very good, either unripe or mealy, making them more trouble to peel than they were worth. But last week, my friend, Trudy, brought me a bag of peaches from a local peach stand. Finally, I enjoyed a few yummy ones.
Goodness, this summer has evaporated into a blaze of heat, and now it’s nearly over. If there’s something you plan to do, you best get on with it. Your window to eat peaches is rapidly closing.
Have you enjoyed delicious peaches this summer?
Today is Surgery Eve…
I think I upset some folks with my cryptic surgery reference on a prior Sunday Letter.
No, upset isn’t the right word—worried is probably better. Since I pretty much lay everything out here anyway, I may as well clarify.
I’m having a hysterectomy tomorrow. This has all come about because of a routine pap smear with abnormal results, followed by several tests and biopsies revealing level 3 pre-cancer cells. (Ladies {and men}, don’t neglect your wellness checks. Level 3 is the worst level before full-blown Cancer. I went from normal to abnormal in one year.)
Thank goodness for great medical care and insurance…lots of folks don’t have either.
A hysterectomy is not an uncommon surgery, and I have 100% faith in my surgeon. But with any surgery comes a bit of apprehension, right? I mean, organs are being removed. Organs that have served me well through the first 59 years of my life.
Happy 60th, you need a hysterectomy. 😂
If you’ve been through this, maybe you have advice with respect to recovery? I sure appreciate the prayers and good vibes already sent my way.
Summer Goal
I’ve had several goals this summer, but one that has been most important to me has been keeping my friend’s side garden alive while she is out of the country for two months. I walk over to her house every day to check on her plants and to do a little deadheading. During the past month, her hydrangeas (everyone’s hydrangeas!) have really been suffering, so I give them an extra drink. And I’m determined to keep the beautiful peace lily on her back porch alive!
I tell you this not to pat myself on the back. Not at all.
The best part for me has been the quiet time I’ve spent there.
Her little garden has become my favorite escape this summer. I look forward to spending a few minutes every day deadheading spent blooms and pulling a few weeds. Rocket arugula grows wild in her backyard garden plot, along with the largest fennel I’ve ever seen. With her permission (of course), I planted squash and pole beans there, and I check their growth everyday.
Yes, her garden has been a gift to me. It’s my place to slip away from energetic schnauzers who want to go for walks, and bird feeders that need cleaning and refilling, and a book publishing to-do list that’s always circulating in my mind.
Because of my surgery, today will be my last day to tend her garden. She will be home in eight days or so. I’m crossing my fingers the weather will be accommodating between now and then. So much can happen in eight garden days, especially this time of year.
Things Momma Says
Seems like I’ve got something missing in my body.
(I think she was talking about a vitamin deficiency? But this seemed especially appropriate for me today…)
***
Thanks for being here, friends. I appreciate everyone who took the time last week to add Bernice Runs Away to their Goodreads ‘Want to Read’ shelf. If you forgot or never got around to doing it, there’s no deadline.😉
Before I go, I would love to hear your book recommendations, as well as Netflix binge-watching suggestions. I imagine I’ll be needing them in the next few weeks.
I’ll be back with a new Sunday Letter when I can. 💕
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.
Take care, rest, follow recommended recovery protocols. Maybe you’ll have a few more rainy days to read as you recover. Reading during rainy days seems to go hand in hand. Lately I have been reading about the Enneagram personality profile…but that leads to a lot of introspection and sometimes I like that other times I don’t. I took the free online test two years ago and then recently and came out with two different profiles…I’ll just pick points from each one that serve me best perhaps. A Netflix show I enjoyed was the Kominsky Method. Stars Michael Douglass and is about relationships, mostly with people over 60.
Rain! Need we say more? I think everyone is rejoicing!
Yes to rain!!! I agree reading and rain go hand in hand.
Praying for a quick recovery. Have you purchased peaches from the Georgia Peach Truck? They deliver to Conway a couple of times during the summer. Delicious, almost as good as the peaches from Swihart’s Orchard in Leachville.
I have not, but I’ll keep a look out for it!
I have found that patience is essential for healing from surgery. It is so hard to let yourself slow down but it is essential. Will be sending good vibes your way.
Yes, resting is hard work.
Good luck, Talya, heal quickly, and get on home as soon as possible. All of Maine is pulling for you!
Good luck, Talya, heal quickly, and get on home. All of Maine is pulling for you!
You are going to do great! I had this surgery when I was 39. I didn’t realize I was not up to par until it was all over and I had healed. The difference in how I felt afterward was like night and day! My energy level just soared! I’m almost sure you’ll get at least a great article out of this!!
Thanks June! Congrats on your precious great-granddaughter!
Good morning Talya! You are blessed that your OB-GYN found this early. I’ll always remember how Anita stressed the fact of annual checkups this past year during her ordeal, and I’m so glad she did. Thank you for stressing that fact as well. I’ll be praying for you and your medical team; and, after surgery, take time to recover properly and watch lots of Netflix. You can never go wrong watching Virgin River or Heartland. Oh yeah, please let Ms. BAT know that I have a lot of things missing from my body too! Love to all of you <3
Hi Muffett! Yes, annual checkups are so important. I’ve just started the new season of Virgin River. Not tried Heartland yet. Thanks!
Wishing you a quick and pain free recovery. I was only 40 when I had mine (big difference) but I was outside raking a few leaves on my 10th day out. We Mississippi County girls are tough. But let them pamper you, especially the early, rougher days.
Thanks, Annette. Good to know!
What a blessed rain we have had. Praise be, indeed. (I did think that moth was a leaf.) Your neighbor has been blessed to have you as a neighbor. Her little garden has been good for you, good for your soul. I am praying that all goes well tomorrow, and I am sure it will. My yard thanks you for all your tender love and care. ❤️❤️😄
An elderly neighbor told me to listen to my body and take care of myself however long it took to recover from my hysterectomy during the summer break from teaching. I heeded her good advice. Don’t rush your recovery.
Listen to your body is great advice!
Good luck, Talya, heal quickly, and get on back home. All of Maine is pulling for you!
Thanks, Don!
Sending prayers, positive vibes, and healing thoughts. Be kind to yourself.
The rain was such a gift. Prayers for you and the medical staff. Don’t hurry your recovery, rest and be well.
Thank you so much!
Take care and rest it will be fine will miss Sunday letter and beautiful picture’s
Thank you!
Will be praying for you Talya during surgery an as you recover. Postmenopausal bleeding was the reason for my robotic hysterectomy last July at age 69..Only precancerous found anywhere, praise God. Just follow Dr’s advice. That moth color looks like a pecan shell to me. Pretty amazing. Best wishes. (I watched a ton of journal making videos.)
Well, those journal making videos really paid off. I love mine!
Prayers for you and your medical team! Will miss your Sunday letters! Take care of yourself. Rest and read! ❤️
So far, that’s exactly what I’m doing. Thanks!
Will be praying for you! I had my Hysterectomy at 36. Probably would not necessary by todays standard but it’s in the past and all is well. Just be patient with your healing and depend on the Lord! ❤️🙏🙏🙏
Medical advances move fast, don’t they!?
Take care and enjoy the getters. (Friends & family who want to get/do ‘stuff’ for ya!) Praying for you.
Getters. I love that!
All best wishes for you, rest well…maybe the good Lord thinks you need a rest too…can’t wait until your next letter…you are a strong lady..in word and life.
Thank you!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the peaches. Had I been sure of their juicey sweetness, I’d have gotten us a peck or two. Peaches for a cobbler, peaches on ice cream, peaches in Cheerios…apples just aren’t that versatile. I’ll be sending all sorts of positive energy your way tomorrow!
Yes, they were delish!! Thank you so much.
Hoping and praying for the best for you today and in following days, Talya. My book recommendation is Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris. A short, perfect, happy book for your recuperation days. Not deep, nothing to analyze. Just a happy story with a charming character. I plan to read the other three books about her adventures. (When I’m not reading Bernice Runs Away in October!)
I saw that Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is now a show on Netflix (or somewhere). But now that I know about the book, I’ll read it first. Thanks so much!!!
I’ve been concerned about you Talya so I’m glad you revealed your condition. I was only 29 when I had a hysterectomy but oh my how things have changed. Today I would probably have been advised differently but all is well. I know someone who had a hysterectomy in outpatient surgery last year. She went home the same day and was back to work in record time. I’m confident that you will do fine. We can get along fine without some of our parts. Take care!
I can’t imagine having an outpatient hysterectomy. That first night was tough! But I’m doing well now and glad to be home.