Sitting on the Beloved Back Deck under a deep blue cloudless sky, Fran's thousand shades of green glisten in the sunshine, dripping dew from the night.
Goddess lays under my bare feet and I rub her white golden fur.
Squirrels play in the trees, the pungent aroma of the Marsh ... the smell of sex in the Tropics ... fills the air and, in the distance, waves are the kissing the beach.
Golden rays flood the yard, illuminating the yellow, purple and red blooms of the plants I tenderly care for.
A door slams causing the birds to cease and the stopping the Squirrels dead in their tracks.
Turning I spy Cassidy, the 8 year old, wrapped in her blanket, blond hair askew in every direction, stumble into the kitchen looking for me.
Goddess' tail wags as she jumps up and paws the sliding screen door.
Following her inside, I pick Cass up and she rests her head on my shoulder.
"Are the Cinnamon Rolls ready?" she sleepily asks.
"It's too early," I whisper because everyone else is still asleep.
"Aw," she sighs.
The birds resume their Hymns.
"Why don't you get back in bed and I'll get you when it's time to put on the icing."
The girls fight to lick the plastic container and the knife once the rolls have icing.
"Don't lick a knife!" I scold. "You're going to cut your tongue off."
They lick it anyway.
I place Cass back in bed and return to the kitchen ... where Laurel the 10 year old waits ... blond hair askew in every direction.
"Are the Cinnamon Rolls ready?" she asks.
"Not yet," I reply. "Go back to bed."
"Call me when you put the icing on," she yawns.
"Sure."
Strolling outside I thank the Heavens, the birds, Squirrels and the rising sun for a prayerful, peaceful beginning to this day.
Turning I make my way to oven because if I don't get these babies baking ... all Hell's going to break lose and ruin a beautiful day that the Lord has made.
