The place we are renting has a gorgeous yard, like a slow fireworks show. The early spring had catmint, lavender, and a flowering fruit tree. Through the whole summer we had pink coneflowers and assorted daisies. Now in early fall the grasses, pampas, Karl Foerster, and switchgrass shine. Purple aster enthusiastically colors the wilder parts of the yard. I’m inspired.

Taking in the whole starry sky is wondrous. And it inspires deeper exploration. Almost immediately after moving to Santa Fe we purchased a 10 inch Dobsonian telescope. On clear nights we haul it out onto our deck and search the sky for interesting targets.

Bees give me hope and a measure of determination. One summer in grad school I watched wasps build a hive on the other side of my office window. Their diligent persistence demonstrated that with a little bit of work each hour they could do something noticeable in a few days. Encouraged, I wrote a next sentence. 

We’ve bought a house in northern Santa Fe.