We had the sweetest recovery day. I never in my life imagined growing flowers and taking photographs of them. Life is full of crisis and mystery.

The water was beautiful, warm but not hot, with a nice breeze. I planned a score of seeds and bulbs in the raised garden bed and experimented with the Leica until I figured out how to brighten the flower photos. I’m learning to navigate the camera; I tried some with broad open exposure. I like the look. I’m getting bolder and more confident.

I was excited by the flowers I planted in my raised beds, from primrose to Nastirtiums to begonias. I know the names of most of them this year, and I’m learning a lot about how to use the camera and the lenses.

I will have to decide to keep one, two, or none in a month or so. The macro lens will certainly be valuable when the garden beds sprout. The Nasturtiums are already blooming, and I planted them just two days ago.

I took Maria out to breakfast to thank her for taking such good care of me, and I slept in our beds for the first time since Wednesday. It felt good. I’m still not sleeping too well, but that is to be expected.

I sat, read, meditated, and worked outdoors. Mariaa started cleaning up her garden, planting vegetables in the vegetable garden, and clearing out the leaves. The first gnats have arrived; more giant bugs will follow, alas.

In the morning, we go to see Dr. Daly and take the first look at my foot since the surgery. The plan is to replace the bandages and, if all is well, return in two weeks to remove the stitches. In the meantime, look at the pictures if you love flowers. They speak for themselves.

I’m getting comfortable with the idea of a new foot. I’m eager to see the wound in the morning.

I’m learning how close I can get with the macro lens. 

I’m experimenting with the exposure settings and figuring out how to use the camera efficiently.

These are the first flowers planted in the raised beds; I like the over-exposed feeling occasionally.

The Pansies are joy flowers; they announce the coming of Spring and fend off the cold to bring us some color and light after a long dark winter. They are helping prepare me for the other flowers coming soon

The intensity of the Pansie colors almost hypnotizes me.

(This photo looks like it might explode with color. The soul of the pansie is loud and enthusiastic.)

My sincere thanks to the Pansies, who are valiantly holding the fort until reinforcements arrive. They are on the way.