2012-09-03

Midsummer Eve

She knows something we don't.  Something was there, is there.  She crouches by the chain-link fence and barks with determination at my bed of daylilies which lie sheltered under a sumac tree.

Her owner shoos her away but she returns immediately to continue her determined barking.

We've been through this before, just yesterday and the day before - the same persistent barking at the bed of lilies.  I showed her then, and I show her again.

I reach my hand down to brush aside the bladed leaves.  I know there is nothing there, yet my breath is tight with fear of jumping toads, slithering snakes, and scurrying mice.

"Look, Libby," I say as I move aside the leaves, "There's nothing there. See?"

And there is nothing there. Nothing. There are no toads nor snakes nor birds nor mice. There are no cats, no squirrels, no rabbits nor raccoon.  There are no critters what-so-ever, large or small, dead or alive.  There is just lilies and soil, soil and lilies. Yet she continues to bark until finally her frustrated owner takes her inside.

I think she sees something I don't see, senses something I can't sense.  I sit on my back porch with a glass of Beaujolais and I ponder the possibilities as I savour my favourite time of day - the blue hour. I watch as the twilight deepens and stars appear in the velvety ink. Fireflies alight and flit across the garden as the dewy evening air draws forth the fragrance of honeysuckle and rose.

It is a magical evening, ripe with potential. My mind fills with possibilities and my imagination flows from the ordinary to the extraordinary until I am without a doubt certain that I have solved the mystery.  I have fairies in my flower bed!

Midsummer Eve by Edward Robert Hughes




16 comments:

  1. Fairies indeed! I've been reading Kim Harrison's Hollow series and completely believe. Could be pixies you think?
    I'm sure something was there. Perhaps a rabbit spent the night and she smells the residual oil.
    Your description of your garden during the 'blue hour' is gorgeous. I love how you write- it ebbs and flows perfectly.

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    1. Thank you, Pam.

      It was probably a rabbit - but I like the thought of pixies better.

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    1. Well...that was mid-summer. Now, after a record-breaking drought, I just have brown grass and withered plants! At least weeds stay green!

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  3. I love that painting! And I love even more the idea that she knows there is something (someone?) there we can't see. Magic!

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    1. I love that painting too - and a good prop to help create the mood when I'm afraid my writing is lacking doesn't harm either! ;)

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  4. Fairies! Titania? Oberon? Puck? All of them?!?!

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    1. Oh! I hope it's not that Puck - he's a trouble maker!

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  5. I love this one! Wonderful mystery mixed with whimsy. Aren't nights like that amazing? I definitely believe in magic. Lovely post, Kara.

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    1. Nights like that are amazing, but unfortunately here, they're also too short-lived. I feel Fall approaching already!

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  6. Glad you're finally back young one. Your imagery was quite engaging. I thought everyone knew that dogs could always see fairies.

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    1. Thanks, Michele! It's good to be back.

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  7. Nah, couldn't have been Puck..he would have played a trick on your poor dog. But I like the idea that something is there. I just hope it's not like my neighbours who hollered at their dumb barking dog to come inside - then found a dead skunk in their backyard in the morning.
    actually, the whole neighbourhood "found" it.

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    1. A skunk! I never even thought of a skunk! *shudder*

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  8. Nice! My daughter would love to have fairies around us.

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