and now I am home

Storms were predicted for the evening of my return home on Sunday. But the storms never fully developed and my flight, like all the others on this trip, was on time and Ed (eventually) showed up at the airport and we headed home -- by way of a local mostly organic grocer, where we picked up some mishmash of foods for supper.

I carried the foods and my backpack into the farmhouse, Ed carried the travel bags. And as soon as I put my stuff down, I was out again, madly snipping a few spent lilies.

I don't mean to sound insane. Nearly every lily is long done blooming. Things are looking really autumnal in my garden. Still, the countless spent blooms tell a story of finality. I don't think we're ready for that yet.


Early the next morning, Ed sleeps and I'm out grocery shopping. But not before throwing an eye on the yard.

It has certainly changed. None of the light and airy wall of flowers.

But not bad either.






The front garden -- the one by the road -- is dominated now by the strawberries and cream hydrangea.






I do some necessary snipping and then I am off to grocery shop. (Yes, before breakfast.) I am to care for Snowdrop this afternoon. Might she not like a croissant? And so long as I am at the bakery, maybe I should pick up a thing or two for breakfast back home?

Yes, to both questions.





And now I go to a radiant and joyous little one and I sweep her up and take her back to the farmhouse where it's as if she never saw her toys before!






I tell her it's raining outside and she insists on interrupting her play to check it out...






(Did you notice how autumnal it all looks?)






Inside, she flits from one toy group to the next...






Oh happy girl! What a beautiful smile you have!






Beautiful little one -- how you love your most precious spaces!






And in the evening she goes home and I go back to fixing supper for two and it's as if I've never ever left.