I could tell you I take a daily walk … but it wouldn’t be accurate.
The truth is that these walks tend to happen only on ‘ordinary’ days. Days when I don’t have anything in particular planned.
When I do walk, there is a simple pleasure in the quiet contemplation. The song of the cicadas, crickets, and various birds all provide the background music, while at the same time the butterflies and dragonflies provide the choreography.
I like this kind of day. Anything is possible … likely because I’m not expecting anything at all and it’s easier to find the ‘extra’ in the ordinary.
Like an imaged crime scene … a dead measuring tape dumped unceremoniously on a utility box while its disembowelled guts were discarded on the ground below.
… or the house I noticed that has a Christmas tree in the front window, decorated in red bows. They are either very late or very early for the holiday season.
… or a party in progress on an otherwise quiet street on a quiet Monday morning.
The gate to the backyard is open and I can see a large white party tent.
The sound of voices in conversation and laughter drifts out from both the backyard and the open front door of the house. I assume this is a farewell brunch to a family reunion that occurred over the weekend.
I continue on walking, taking my stroll through a nearby green space along a culvert. I assume I’m the only person on the narrow pedestrian trail until I’m surprised to see the nose of a truck peaking around the corner ahead.
He stops to let me pass safely before continuing on his way.
The presence of the truck warns me that a city works crew is in the area and ahead the air is filled with the pungent smell of freshly cut grass.
I’m grateful for the shade wherever I find it. It’s still early but it already feels warm and humid.
I breathe a small prayer of thanks to the air conditioner god for what awaits me when I return home.
As I arrive back home, my red puffy eyes – already irritated by some unknown allergen – are starting to itch and twitch again.
It’s just another ordinary day.
My Life Lived Full 
It seems me you made your ordinary day quite special 😉
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I do what I can 🙂
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I tend to walk on my “ordinary” days too – on the trails most of the time, up the big hill behind my house if I feel really energetic, or on the streets of my neighbourhood if it’s very rainy or snowing.
Jude
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Maybe it’s a sign of maturity that I can now enjoy those periods of ‘ordinariness’ without getting restless 🙂
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I thoroughly enjoyed your walk, how you can make an ordinary extraordinary, from nothing to anything can happen. My kind of moments. Thanks for sharing.
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They’re my kind of moments too. Sadly we’re often too busy to notice them.
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We all need more ordinary days, methinks!
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I’ve had several in a row now and can confirm it’s good for the soul 🙂
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Hear hear!
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I am allergic to grass, Joanne, as is most of my family. My husband has terribly itchy eyes after mowing our lawn. You certainly found some interesting things on your walk. Perhaps the Christmas tree was a late Christmas in July celebration?
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I’m pretty sure grass is on the long list of things that aggravate my sinuses 😕
… but that’s not going to stop me from enjoying summer 🙂
I’ve heard of people celebrating Christmas in July because it’s easier to get the family together. Somehow roast turkey and cranberries doesn’t seem appealing to me on a hot July day 😉
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No. Roast Turkey and Cranberries isn’t appealing in the heat! That is what our Christmas is like every year in the southern hemisphere! I think maybe this is where Christmas in July started as it is nice and cool then for all the rich Christmas food. Mind you, it never feels the same in July, even with colder weather. I suppose there is no need to celebrate Xmas in July over your way?
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hahaha!! Nope. We can always count on it being cold in December 🙂 Unfortunately it stays cold much too long after that!
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I rather like the cold! We don’t have too much of it here at all. 70 Degrees F at lunch on a winters day. Today it was so hot we sweated at lunchtime and at my yoga lesson, so I guess I can say that Spring is here already and it not due until September.
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Yikers! 70F on a winter’s day! Technically it’s still summer and we are barely warmer than that right now!
I’m not complaining though. I rather like these moderate temperatures. I personally find the extreme hot and extreme cold rather hard to take.
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I also like the cold. I did feel it but still prefer that to typical heat
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I also like the cold. I do feel it but still prefer cilder temps to tropical heat. This is one Australian that does not want to go to Bali!!! Lol
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🤣
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oh my – this was fun and I also am grateful for the… drum roll – —
air conditioner god
hahah
so grateful
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It seems the older I get, the more gratitude I have for air conditioning 😏
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well for me – it was in 2002 when I declared I needed it.
we were living in San Jose – temporarily living in a very expensive rented condo – that had no AC – really?
I have a picture of me – on the outside stairs (near the garden area at the place) with hubs – and I think my son (kindergartner at the time) took the photo – it was a fun and all – but when I see the picture I know what was really up in the picture. I was out there because it was cooler and I was too hot inside – and that was when I told my hubs AC was a must when we got into our house….
not sure why some places still had “no ac” in northern cal at that time- but a lot of them did not – and “no, no, no…”
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It’s funny how a photo can conjure up so many details of an event – including how hot it was and how we were feeling.
I can’t imagine no AC in the summer in San Jose!!
I come from the north of Canada and no one had AC when I was growing up. It was just so rare to have it hot enough to justify it.
When I first moved to the south (which I’m sure sounds funny to anyone in the US), I knew I wouldn’t survive a summer without AC … we were getting spring time temperatures that were much warmer than I was used to in the dead of summer.
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It is nice to hear the experience of someone in another country and how you still have south and north differences – similar yet different to ours – and on a side note – I am now in Virginia, which is considered the south – the borderline of it- and I am still amazed at how many people love “sweet tea” – up north it is plain cold tea –
Down here – “sweet tea” is so popular
– anyhow – glad you have AC in the southern area you live in… just chatting about it really has reminded me to be grateful
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Your comment about sweet tea reminded me of ordering an ‘ice tea’ in Louisville one day. The tea I got was like dessert in a glass. I have a sweet tooth but this was over the top 😆
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that is exactly what I am talking about….
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Cut grass allergy? Hmm. I’m not surprised that you find interesting things along your walk. It’s a wonderful way to spend part of an ordinary day. 🙂
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With the right attitude we can find extraordinary things all the time 🙂
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They say every day is a blessing 🙂 🙂 12th August wasn’t an ordinary day for me. It was our 30th wedding anniversary and we spent most of it entertaining a 6 year old. Fun and games!
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Wonderful!! Happy Anniversary 🙂 Some ‘ordinary’ days are special.
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Thanks a lot 🙂
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happy 30th anniversary Jo – woo hoo
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Thanks, Yvette 🙂 🙂
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Love an ordinary day 🙂 It amazes me though that you have snow all winter and there are your beautiful hydrangeas in the summer. That’s not ordinary.
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Since I became a blogger and started to become more familiar with the weather patterns in other parts of the world, I’ve come to appreciate how truly extreme our weather is here in Southern Ontario … from -25C in the winter to 35C in the summer. I think of every spring as a miracle.
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Ordinary days leave room for extraordinary surprises! 🙂
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So true!!
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That fancy skull was quite a find. Not sure I want to push that button!
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This is not the kind of thing I would normally notice … and of course I pushed that button 😁
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Hi Joanne, You really make me think on the “ordinary day.” These days are often my best days! The Christmas tree made me smile. Try not to notice the unplugged lights at my house:)
A very beautiful post, Joanne. You remind me I should just head out with my camera on my “ordinary day.”
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Thanks Erica 🙂 On this particular day I had just my phone with me. Turned out, that’s all I needed 🙂
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Oh your walk is a delight. So completely fresh and interesting. I envy you, looks like daily fun– in spite of the allergies.
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I often moan that I live in a suburban desert far from anywhere interesting to walk. Sometimes it’s just a case of changing my attitude 🙂
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It was lovely to take a stroll with you Joanne. The hydrangeas are positively glorious! Yep, I love my desert location, but I wouldn’t be anywhere without an air conditioner! Hugs.
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AC isn’t a huge requirement here – but for those few weeks of the year when it’s needed, I’m grateful for it!
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My kind of day/walk. Thanks for sharing it.
janet
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It’s pretty hard to have a bad walk 🙂
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I agree.
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Your hydrangeas are looking mighty pretty! Yup I have the same feeling about air conditioning these days and I’m not usually a fan. Just too hot and humid in Viet Nam right now. I love the smell of freshly cut grass. And I do enjoy a morning walk before the heat sets in.
Peta
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I prefer gentle breezes blowing in from the windows but when the humidity rises, UGH. Then AC becomes my best friend.
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Thanks for taking us on your stroll. I like to imagine also what people are doing when they get together — you may have gotten that right! – Marty
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Especially relatively early on a Monday morning under a party tent!! A family wedding perhaps? I guess we both have an active imagination 🙂
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I love how you show how easy it can be to find the special in an ordinary day.
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Thanks Su. Some ordinary days are more inspiring than others. I wonder if I can find inspiration in doing laundry, vacuuming, and cleaning the bathroom?
Definitely not dusting though. There will never be anything inspiring about dusting 😉
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😂😂 I feel that way about ironing.
Dusting is interesting because the things that really collect dust are often also the ephemera and memorabilia of life, and I am so easily distracted.
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Ironing?
I can’t remember the last time I used an iron. If it isn’t wash-and-wear, it’s not going to have much of lifespan in my closet 😉
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My closet is a bit the same, but T’s work shirts need ironing. He is very good about doing them himself, but I am so much faster. And I really really like ironed bed linen.
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My Mother liked ironed bed linen too and I remember doing my fair share of ironing as a kid. Now I have a say in the matter 🙂
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My mother actively likes ironing, which is probably how I came to like ironed sheets.
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All our ordinaries should be so beautiful. Perhaps they are, if we just care to look?
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“Seeing with new eyes” … it’s a wonder that never ceases 🙂
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We had pink, blue, and purple blossoms on our hydrangeas that a previous owner planted. I bet this is the reason:
LA Dreamin’ is a modern hydrangea bearing traditional globe-shaped blossoms in shades of pink and blue regardless of soil acidity. With deep green foliage and reliable reblooming, it thrives in shady landscapes and can even be grown in large containers. Hardy and easy to grow, ‘LA Dreamin’ will perform in nearly any part of the country. With blooms this stunning, it’s no surprise that Hydrangea macrophylla is the most popular species of hydrangea in American gardens!
https://www.target.com/p/hydrangea-la-dreamin-3pc-cottage-hill-u-s-d-a-hardiness-zones-5-10/
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Glad you had a chance to share the extra in the ordinary!
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I don’t know what type of hydrangeas these ones are. I only requested plants that were low maintenance and could survive my neglect. Up until a couple of years ago, these little devils wouldn’t bloom at all … until I discovered they needed a lot of water. This year’s soggy spring was really helpful.
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BTW: I finally updated my Blog List on SLTW to include you and several other bloggers. Procrastination = my keynote!
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I was just thinking , if more people took walks and looked at life in an ordinary way, the world would be a lot brighter…love your hydrangeas!
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I agree. There is so much beauty and simple things to enjoy, it baffles me why some people choose to see only the negative.
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I enjoy life too much to allow it to get toxic.
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I really appreciate ordinary days now that I’m retired. Adventures are wonderful but gimme a day with no agenda and I am so happy. We don’t see many hydrangeas around here anymore (since we’ve realized that we actually live in a desert and have been on alert to save water) but I do love them. I was happy to see some beautiful plantings – pink, purple, blue, white – while traveling on Vancouver Island and the northwest US. Thanks for sharing your walk.
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Hydrangeas require an awful lot of water. Having them planted wasn’t my brightest idea but I do love them. I’m only familiar with the pink and white ones but I’m told many people jump through hoops to get theirs to flower blue.
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It reminds me of some of your earlier walking posts, Janis.
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Ordinary days are good! And so are your hydrangeas. BTW the colour depends on the soil PH. Pink / red ones grow in alkaline soil, blue/purple ones in acidic soil and white ones don’t care!
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I’m surprised then that my hydrangeas aren’t blue. They are planted under a pine tree and the soil is too acidic for most anything else to grow. I’m grateful that the hydrangeas are happy there because I didn’t have many other options.
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Don’t be surprised if they change colour over time 😁
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In the meantime, I’ll be happy that they decide to bloom at all 🙂
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Thanks for sharing that. It sounds like a lovely walk. You’ve got me thinking about regular days.
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I’m starting to really appreciate ordinary days. They have their own special vibe 🙂
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Enjoyed this walk and ordinary day, Joanne, though it didn’t feel ordinary, it felt special. Your front garden is delightful. Thanks for this post.
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Even the ordinary can feel special. It’s all in how we want to look at it 🙂
I can’t take any credit for planting the front garden but I consider it a personal achievement that it’s still alive!
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Joanne, thanks for taking me along on your walk today.
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Glad to have you along 🙂
I admit I spent the rest of the day indoors with the AC.
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I had a little ‘episode’ at tennis this morning. Thank goodness I was playing with a sports trainer. She knew exactly what to do. Lots of water and no more sun for me for a few days.
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I still get caught off-guard on occasion and then feel like dirt for a few days while I recover from the dehydration. It’s a bit scary when it happens … not to mention embarrassing when you’re in a public place.
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I like ordinary day walks too. Monday morning is the supermarket run – if it’s not raining I’ve taken to parking the car then going for a canal walk. When I get back, I have a coffee, do the shopping and get home just in time for lunch. Today’s highlight was a heron and a pigeon trying to outstare each other. A very pleasant, ordinary morning!
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My money would have been on the heron 😉
I like the sound of your Monday routine. Sadly, my grocery store is nowhere close to anywhere interesting to take a walk.
Ordinary days are clearly underrated 🙂
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Indeed! Mind you, my routine only works in nice weather. I’m not dedicated enough to my step-count to do it in rain.
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Hi, Joanne – I love ‘ordinary’ days…and your eye for detail, as well as your gift with words!
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Finding the ‘extra in the ordinary’ isn’t always easy .. but I try 🙂 Thanks for your kind words 💕
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Now, that’s a great day. I’m also impressed with your hydrangea – Wow! They are beautiful. We don’t see hardly any pink ones down here except maybe at a nursery, and you say you’re not a gardener. That front yard is looking mighty good. 🙂
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What colour are the hydrangeas there? I assumed pink was the normal ‘default’ colour.
I’ve finally learned that they like a LOT of water. I suspect that’s why they’re so happy this summer. It was a very soggy spring.
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Hydrangeas change color (except for the white ones) based on the pH level of their soil. The more alkaline the soil, the pinker the flowers. To make pink hydrangeas turn blue (or to keep your blue ones from turning pink), increase the acidity of soil.
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I always thought our soil in this section was pretty acidic because of its location under a pine tree. Now I’m starting to think it’s not as bad as I thought.
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it would be a great science experiment! 😀
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Yeaaaaah – too bad science was never my thing 😉
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🤣
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I’d say the majority are white, and a few are blue. But, to get the blue you really have to pour the Holly Tone fertilizer to it in the spring.
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You’re going to turn me into a gardener yet 🙂
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What a lush, green neighborhood. Enjoy the greenery while it lasts.
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This is the time of year when everything starts to get that ultra-lush overgrown look.
I was thinking that it’s starting to look like late summer 😕
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Yep. All green things must come to an end.
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[…] Just An Ordinary Day — Read on mylifelivedfull.wordpress.com/2019/08/12/just-an-ordinary-day/ […]
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Such serenity – until!! The mention of the crime scene set me up to interpret the truck nosing along the path as menacing – and I instantly went into alarm mode Oh no! Run, Joanne! Run!! Phew for the happy ending!
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hehehe!! Great minds think alike! I was actually thinking about how much fun it could be to connect each of these disparate items together into a story … if I was actually a storyteller. Which I’m not 😏
Luckily, no running was required 😜
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You have a talent for making an ordinary day extraordinary! I have a lighted reindeer in my front garden. (no room for it in storage.)
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I won’t judge 🙂
… now if it was in your living room ….
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Great ordinary day. I’ve been walking the dog twice a day and have started noticing those little unusual things too. Thanks for sharing yours!
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Those little things can certainly put a smile on my face 🙂
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What gorgeous hydrangeas! Mine didn’t do so well this year.
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I’m surprised. I assumed everyone’s hydrangeas would be bursting with flowers this year because all the wet spring.
I can’t take any credit for it. The only plants that survive in my world are ones that are resilient and low maintenance.
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It’s been a few years since I had a good bloom. Too much shade or too much cold in the winter.
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I am far from having any talent in gardening to offer any kind of advice 😕
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Love your ordinary day, Joanne. Always something to see for one who looks, and notices!
Your hydrangeas are da bomb.
Deb
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Aren’t they though?! 💕
I credit the rainy miserable spring we had. It’s certainly not my attention to gardening 😏
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Oh, it might have been that freshly mowed lawn that got to you. 😭🤧 The stroll looked lovely, and your Hydrangeas are GORGEOUS! Those are my favorite flowers.
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My eyes have been grouchy for a few days now so it’s not taking much to irritate them more.
Then I catch myself rubbing them because they’re itching, which only makes it worse.
I’m so happy with my hydrangeas this year. I think they liked the endless rain we had this spring.
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Aside from the allergies, it sure seems like a nice relaxing way to start the day.
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A morning walk really is a great way to start a day. I’m trying to be more consistent about it. It just seems to set the right tone for the day.
This is right about the time of year my allergies start to rear their heads again. So far I’m doing pretty well. I haven’t had to resort to antihistamines yet, but the itchy eyes are soooo annoying.
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I like your ordinary days!
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