Wednesday, August 24, 2016

farmhouse day

It rained last night. I had kept the windows wide open, optimistically, without thought to rain. I had to scurry and make amends at odd hours of the night.

At dawn, or thereabouts, I go out to open the coop. It's raining, the air feels sultry, my flowers are leaning heavily toward the ground.


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But by breakfast time, the storms have passed and at least some of the flowers of late summer perk up again.

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Breakfast is on the porch. Ed and I discuss what kind of learning is beneficial to save the human race.


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The bugs are still menacing our farmette land, but they have receded enough to allow me to occasionally venture forth into the thick of green growth. For example, after breakfast I clean up the front bed enough to let the remaining lilies (and yes, there are remaining lilies!) shine.


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And then Snowdrop comes over for a day at the farmhouse.


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I feel torn about letting her play outside. Initially, I let her run out and have her fill of outdoor freedom. But as she runs towards the denser areas where raspberry canes fill all available spaces, I see that she's heading for trouble.


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The mosquitoes will get her for sure. I redirect her toward the indoors.

Ah-ah comes over. She's delighted with his antics.



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Knowing that we may be stuck indoors all day, I've prepared a cooking station. Snowdrop, we're going to bake! 

I'm not ambitious. Cookies would be nice. I've just come back from the UK -- my yearnings stray toward ginger. What? No molasses in the cupboards? Ed: I'll get you some molasses.

He comes back. Snowdrop and I set to work.

What do I stir, gaga?


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Well, the whisk works better with the dry ingredients.
(Okay I'll do both!)


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In the past year, I've let Snowdrop smell various spices. She's become quite good at taking a whiff (rather than wanting to taste). Today, she watches as those fragrant particles are shaken into the cookie batter.


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Time to roll the ginger balls in sugar!


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Okay, we're done.  A few minutes later the cookies are ready -- to be tasted at the end of lunch.


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Meanwhile, the girl plays.


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Runs.


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Flips through books, chortles, dances, snuggles -- oh, it's nice to know she hasn't totally changed!

Lunchtime. It's easy today: leftovers from supper! Then her favorite -- fruit!


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And finally I remind her about the cookie. Served with milk.

Happy girl, happy gaga.


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In the late afternoon, just before her parents arrive to claim her, Snowdrop  eats her afternoon snack which includes -- watermelon!


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And then her parents arrive and I hand over a happy, well rested and well fed girl.


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 The sun recedes. In its last minutes, it always throws a beam of light just at the middle garden. I catch it today.


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And it reminds me of the fact that if you are lucky to be there at the right time, every single day of the year offers a magic moment of light, color and texture out on the farmette lands.

Someday, maybe Snowdrop and I will make a habit of looking for it, reveling in its fleeting beauty.