thank goodness it's this day

 When do you decompress, let go, muse, breathe?

Lately, I haven't big chunks of time to use for a soul detox, but I do have wee breaks and intervals and I use them for this, oh, do I use them!

You'll have guessed that a walk through the gardens is good for the heart and mind.






As a commenter noted yesterday, there is a conversation that takes place between the flowers and their gardener and though it is a quiet conversation, it's full of meaning.






For me, of course, breakfast always puts me on a good path. Take your spa day, your massage, your retreat into the Himalayas! I'll stay with my meal on the porch (or sun room in winter) anytime.






After that, well, there's a lot of stuff that needs to be accomplished on a Friday. Ed, of course, goes to his work meetings. Me -- I take care of prosaic stuff. Haircut. I'm back on a four month hair care schedule. Indulgent, I know. Ed did a good job with the scissors, but the young woman at her own small Bang salon does it better.

And there is grocery shopping.

And after -- Snowdrop play.






Today, we mess with the camera. She really quite enjoys this, for a few minutes anyway. The best part -- looking together at the resulting photo.






And now comes another set of meditative minutes: a walk with Snowdrop. I do understand her expression, her retreat behind some secret door.





I feel the same way.


In the evening, I take her to the farmette...






I feed her. Is there a grandma out there who does not enjoy feeding her grandchild the freshest of fresh fruits and veggies? And today the little girl is on board! Bananas and squash!






Evening. Ed comes home from the office, my daughter comes over as well. She and Snowdrop will be spending the night with us -- call it a farmhouse retreat of sorts (Snowdrop's daddy is away at a conference).

Snowdrop naps (so considerate of her!) while the three of us eat dinner...






But then she joins us for our porch moment.






Here I have to tell you about this crazy love I had for a movie when I was a young ten year old (title: Summer Magic). You'd think I'd be too old for fantasies about making do with very little when your life crashes -- a parent dies, income disappears, there's just you and the frightening world out there (this is the general theme of this Disney movie with Haley Mills). But no! I loved it. And of course, I sang all the songs to my girls as they were growing up and  now here I am, feeling very much like this evening fits well into that vision of cricket sounds and rocking chairs -- all a part of that improbable movie fantasy. 

There is a special song that I am quite fond of --  about sitting on the porch of an old farmhouse. And watching the fireflies.






We have a huge number of fireflies outside.





I sang this song to my daughters for many many years as they struggled to fall asleep.

All I want to do
When the day is through
Is linger here on the front porch
With you
From the wicker swing
While the night birds sing
We'll watch the fireflies sparkin'
Do some sparkin' too
How the hours fly
As the moon drifts by...

Yeah.