Wednesday, May 14, 2014

inch by inch

It wasn't your run of the mill work-in-the-yard day. I left the farmette in the morning and didn't return until evening. For me, that's a rarity. But it's good sometimes to take a break, even from activities you love. Especially when you replace these with things you also love!

So, first, let's start with the unchangeable tasks: good morning chickens!


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(coop door open!)


Sorry about the cooler days ahead. Though I dare say, you like cool. And damp. It brings out the worms.


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Breakfast. Not too early, not too late.


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And then I go over to my daughter's. I help her with planting and I bring over some raspberry canes and catnip too. I mean, if anyone needs raspberries or catnip, please let me know! We grow both in huge quantities!


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And here's where I remember the song that I used to play for my girls when they were very very small. And as I sing it to my daughter and she finds it on her playlist, I am flooded with memories of what it was like to watch them grow up. It's rare that I have such vivid flashbacks and yet I am not surprised that this should be the case. These are months of progressions and changes for them. As they move forward in their lives, I sit back and consider it all.


Afterwards, my girl takes me out for a lunch downtown. I tell her -- it's hard to dress right for garden work followed by a special lunch!

And it is rare, very rare that I have lunch in town. And during the meal, I open Mother's Day presents from both daughters and once again I am so awed by their generosity and good taste!


The rest of the downtown chores are just a tad less memorable: a visit to the Apple store to make computer adjustments (I walk away with a new phone! who knew that I could get top dollar for my old phone from them, so that on balance, I owe nearly nothing? Ed rolls his eyes: what was wrong with your old phone? well, not a whole lot, but think of the learning possibilities on the new one!). And finally, a visit to the eye doctor (so, when was it that you changed your glasses? Five years ago? Huh. Well, just to reassure you, things aren't that bad. I know he wanted to add -- for your age, but he generously refrained from it at the last minute).

Then home. Where my chicks are, as always, thrilled to see me.


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(the run)



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(the wait at the doorstep)


And I give them their treats and I study the list of things that need to be done in the next few days and I note the cool front passing through this week and I hum the song from this morning, because, well, it's a catchy little song. With very farmette-type lyrics. I'll end with John Denver singing it for you and a photo of our old orchard to look at, now in bloom, from top to bottom.







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