Wednesday

Time, when it's well spent, moves forward so very quickly! But I am not complaining. I remember days in my life when it dragged (when a daughter was sick, when someone wasn't home on time -- those eternities that you like to forget about, even as everyone has them and some have them far too often). And so these days of too few minutes are in my mind special. They speak of fewer problems and more productive outcomes. Ah, but that is should continue!

Ed, too, is exceptionally busy. I ask him if he likes that and as always, he shrugs his shoulders. It's fine -- he'll say. Would you prefer to have less to do? -- I'll push him. No.

Last night he worked so late that by the time he put his work to rest, it was nearly dawn and time to let the cheepers out. So I got the gift of staying in bed past the moment of sunrise!

Still, I wanted to water the front bed and so I did get up soon after. My garden photos are from this early, but not earliest of early, time frame.






Some of my favorite day lilies are blooming now (oh! is it fair to speak of favorites? it's the entirety!). Here are my trumpet girls!






And this year, I added a number of spider lilies. Aptly named!






I should explain why I never photograph the front bed. Yes, we worked hardest there this year. Yes, I planted and moved and established dozens and dozens of flowers. But it's a thin ribbon of a bed, right by the road and it doesn't lend itself to a good sweeping view. Even as I have to think that if you drive by it, you'll be in for a lovely treat. Here's a wee fragment, looking at it from behind.






I had been working in the beds for several hours, but it seemed like minutes. As I returned to the farmhouse, I was shocked to see that it was already 9:30. I was due at Snowdrop's soon!

Breakfast was less leisurely than usual. But both the blueberries and raspberries are from the garden (picked by us under great duress as these are the places you'll find way too many mosquitoes for comfort). Delicious.






Snowdrop is significantly more bouncy today! That's reason to smile!






She jiggles and teases and of course quickly removes the ribbon I put in her hair. Oh, Snowdrop!






(But I sneak it back in when she's distracted by a bit of an oatmeal raisin cookie.)






(Well, for a while.)






At home again, I watch as she stretches out her leg, this way and that. Is she destined to be a dancer, like her aunt? Or a yoga instructor?






And let me post three quick shots of a Snowdrop absorbed in her books, with the last one signaling that new search for a good (yoga?) pose.
















In the evening, I join Snowdrop and her mom for an outing downtown. We do what we've done for years now -- we walk to the Wednesday evening concerts on the square.

I did not imagine Snowdrop could be this happy with the event. Of course, the lawns on the square are quite full, so we move to the side. You could say we're in the peanut gallery.

But here, among families and kids and people who are only mildly tracking the music, we find a kind of peace and acceptance you'd be hardpressed to find closer to where the orchestra plays.

Snowdrop loves her low to the ground seat...






... her food, the sight of other children, grownups -- all that humanity out there, smiling, welcoming.

I have rarely seen the little girl this joyous (and she is a happy little girl in general).






Such a beautiful set of hours. Really, so very wonderful.