hot Friday

It was not so hot when I went out at 6 to let the cheepers out and to plant a few more flowers. I wore my fleece.

Still, the promise of a warm day lead me to take our breakfast outside onto the porch.
You sure? Ed asks...
Yes, it's so good to look out on the yard!






And it is. Though there is a downside to sitting out in such close proximity to the flower fields. The cheepers hear us and they very much want to be close to wherever we are. (Here they are, rushing toward our voices.)






They don't seem to mind that they can't actually be on the porch. They work the soil close by and I have to endure watching their claws scratch at the roots of my plants. Ed reminds me that the actual damage is insignificant. But I think that's because I do a lot of damage control after they've barrelled through the yard.  Ah well... on balance there is more benefit (the fertilizing, the bug control, the joy of watching them be free and productive and yes, happy).

And what's blooming at the farmette? Well, this morning, before the heat wave, I have the usual suspects.






Much of the color is in the potted annuals.






Though as you can see, not only there.

I have for you a chicken's perspective on one of the beds. I'm cleaning up some of the pots, the cheepers, as always, are keeping me company.






And in the late afternoon, Snowdrop comes over.






It is by now so warm that I feel we should feast outside and picnic on the grass! I have picnic stuff ready. Off we go in the wagon (which she now loves!).






In the young fruit orchard, we spread out her baby quilt, lay out a tea towel and arrange the foods. They're not complicated -- it's just an afternoon snack after all. But we have that joy of eating outside, on the ground...






I tell her that if she looks up, she can see the expanse of the willow against a deep blue sky.






We smell the white lilacs, spin around the property in the wagon and eventually return home, where grandpa Ed makes sure she has her upside down moment.






In the evening, there is dinner. She loves corn on the cob!






And she loves salmon and really, all the veggies and fruits known to us.

After, we play.





And we walk outside then again and the whiff of the lilac is so strong that I tell Snowdrop to just stand still and inhale deeply.

It is a fitting way to end a day.