I'd count this Friday as belonging to the ridiculous, absurd, stunningly beautiful, unsettling, sublime, delightful, tiring. Which do you want to read about first?
On confusing days, it's best to go with chronology. Which in this case begins early. Very early. I am up many hours before dawn, thinking about a meeting I am to attend first thing in the morning. And I mean first thing: it is scheduled for 7:30, clear on the other side of town. This means that I have to get myself up by 5:30, get Millie walked, fed, and walked again...
(wet snout from the early morning dew)
... and I just have to have some breakfast because there will be no room for this meal at any other decent hour.

Millie doesn't mind the early wake-up. In fact, I'd say she'd like this to be part of her everyday.
("I like all pillows!")
("...and especially the Luxembourg Gardens one! My new favorite!")
Early mornings? Forget it, little one. Just today.
And then I drop her off at doggie daycare at 7:15. That's right! I am so grateful that the place opens early! She, of course, is happy to trot in, though I notice that she does not like car rides before fully digesting her meal. Guess how I can tell?!
My meeting? Well, I was invited to attend one that had to do with an aspect of the public school curriculum. This turned out to be the worst part of the day. I could not believe the rigidity of institutional thinking! Back in the day when I was actively involved in my daughters' education (did I say this already? I was elected PTA chair for four years, or was it five? Not in a row. And I set up several programs for the kids that unfortunately closed down once I left, but still, they were grand for a few years!) -- back in those days, I worked with school administrators who showed some flexible thinking and valued input, not always agreeing with it, but keeping an open mind.
Not so in today's setting. When I entered the meeting room and saw the person leading the group, I knew we were all wasting time. Rare to see someone so ill suited for such discussions. Now, I no longer have kids in school, so I could just walk away from all of it, but of course, I'm good and mad at the stubbornness of those who chose to be belligerent and unmoving. So I'm itching for a fight. Even as I know that in the end, institutional thinking will prevail. But I do not believe they should be given an easy pass!
From there, I go to my daughter's house to help with her travel plans. I am a bit of an expert on changing flights and harassing airlines and so this is what I did for her for a good hour until things are resolved to her satisfaction.
Next? Grocery shopping. I have to fit this in while Millie is at daycare. And I do fit it in. I run into a friend whom I haven't seen for a long time. He has kept up with Ocean -- so, the winter of three dogs? I ask him if he has a pup himself. No, she died recently. And her last years were something else! First she went blind. That was okay. She could sniff her way around and still manage to get through the day. But then she went deaf and that was just too much! Well, Millie and I should be going blind and deaf at around the same time. Maybe we could both hope for a quick exit!
I pick the girl up at noon. It was her longest stay at daycare for her and I am happy to say that she did just fine, though the person who is such a good dog caregiver told me that she bounds in ready to play with even the biggest dogs and is slowly learning that not all the big ones want to pay with her. Poor girl, rejected for her size! But this is what puppy socialization is all about: the dogs learn signals now, so that they can better interpret them as they get older.
And now to the farmette!
(old orchard pear, with violets and dandelions at her roots)

I drop off some groceries for Ed and he hops into the car for a trip to Oasis for lunch. We eat outside, and Millie stays in my lap and again, I have this feeling of utter peace. Sunshine, spring colors, coffee, a biscotti, Ed, Millie... Such a grand combination!

Back to the farmette now. Ed resumes his invasive bush whacking. I tell him that he now does four things on repeat: pickel ball, sleep, work, and whack away at the buckthorn. He agrees.
Millie enjoys her own moment of bliss.
I look around me. This is one of the best moments here: there are the daffodils of course, and the emerging tulips...
But the centerpiece of all this is the crab apple. Usually it flowers in the first days of May. This year? It's starting now!
I haven't left this place. I just wake up somewhere else now. But I still know every bush, every plant, every sapling that grows here. It's all still with me. And I am so glad that I'm not missing this annual rebirth of stuff that I planted. So very glad.
Back in the car! And she and I go to Kopke's Greenhouses. So much for not buying many plants this year! Another basket of flowers to block the construction view to the east. And as long as we are here, maybe a few strawberries for a pot? Maybe they'll bear fruit. Maybe.
At first, I keep Millie in the cart...

.... but she really hates this and the Kopke's staff people tell me that she is free to move around on her own four feet. They are dog friendly! Oh, are they ever dog friendly! She must have had a dozen people approach her for an ear rub. So many complements. Slowly, the pup relaxes.
("tell me when you're done choosing already...")
Home now -- to do some planting and transplanting. Oh what a difference flowers make! I can suddenly see myself really enjoying the porch in the next coupe of months. Before I move again!
Millie is completely wiped from her day of adventures. In the best of ways. Me? Well, I could do with some sleep as well! We'll see how that goes!
with so much love...




















































