her first day of their school

Her mother has thought ahead to the first day of school outfit. For herself and for her daughter. Of course, Snowdrop is not going to school this semester (unless you count music classes and those don't begin until next week and anyway, she is a repeat attendee there). And still, it is an important day.

I start my semester-long schedule of Snowdrop care and as I glance at my notes as to where I am to be and at what time, I see I have a relaxed beginning.

Well, relaxed to a degree. I am up early to take care of the cheepers -- giving myself an opportunity to admire the mists that settle over the dips in the fields to our north and to our east.









(a little less shy and with very hearty appetites)


And then we have breakfast on the porch. Work -- it's lurking there, demanding our attention...






All week long we are to have very warm weather -- it's a beautiful way to begin the month of September. Lingering on the porch, looking out at the various ways the morning light dances across my gardens -- all this is rather magical to me and when Ed gets up from the table too quickly, I ask him to linger. He does. And it's grand.






After, I visit with the cheepers, clip a few spent flowers, admire others...






And I'm off to the Snowdrop home, where the young family is, of course, in a hurry to get the first day of school/work off to a good start. 

Here you go, grandma! Here's your Snowdrop!





Be good, and show grandma how you play the guitar!

Well now, a new skill set! Show me, little one...






Oh, the girl is full of energy! And laughter.






Let her loose and she is everywhere, picking and choosing toys to examine, chew, bang.






And why stay with crawling when you can walk on all fours?






Standing is pretty cool too!





Of course, she wears down. I put her down for her morning nap just before noon. Who knew that this would be the time that the practice tornado sirens go off (once a month)? Snowdrop is very distressed. The nap is rudely interrupted.

Never mind. A little more play, a lot of good spoonfuls of apples and broccoli (plus her usual bottled grub) and it's time for a long walk, with the hope that she rests up for me then.






And for some reason, after a few steps, she turns from somewhat tuned out to totally giddy with  delight!






We walk a long way -- to Vilas Park and back. My granddaughter and me. Like a million granddaughters and grandsons out there, cared for by their nannas and grandpaps while their parents work.






(Here, the grandma brought her kitchen work with her -- plucking buds from plants she'd picked. The boy kept calling to us  -- baby baby! but Snowdrop was quite asleep.  I know she would have loved his childlike enthusiasm.)






(This grandma bravely lets her charge go in the lake... Would I let Snowdrop get wet? Yes!)






Back at her home, the day moves forward. Snowdrop is trusting, watching so that I don't go too far...

And then it's evening and her parents return and I go back to the cheepers and Isie boy and, after his bike ride -- a tired Ed.

And tomorrow, I am lucky enough to cycle through it all again.