Saturday

I'll start with yesterday's sunset. Ed was out locking up the cheepers and he called me over to admire it, even though you can't really see a full setting sun from the farmette land. Too many trees in the way. Still, the colors were magnificent! (I did not post it yesterday because I'd already published my post for the day by the time I stepped out. Besides, you don't want to see our breakfast tableau at the beginning of every single Ocean post, right? So here you go, flowers and a setting sun. Behind the willow.)






This morning -- well, it's cold! I test the furnace for the first time. Just for a minute, to make sure it still remembers how to heat this place.

And I feed the animals. And admire the incredible power of the September garden.






Early fall (before the first frost when it all wilts to a great heap of nothing) is a great time for trailing nasturtium. They're all over the garden and this year, in addition to the orange blooms, we have ruby, pale lemon, and nearly white ones.






Okay, breakfast.






Saturday is, of course, the big, downtown farmers market day...

 (Do you see how high the lakes are? I click this on my drive downtown. The bike path is being licked by the waves of Lake Monona...)






...and I meet up with my daughter and both kids for our walk around the crowded square. Ah, but the foods and flowers are so pretty!

(Door County fruits of the season!)






No downtown trip is good for Snowdrop unless it includes a visit to the Capitol and a climb up the steps to the upper balconies. I wait with Sparrow outside while they complete their mini excursion.


And here's a pleasant surprise: the young family proposes an after the market brunch at Sardine! We hustle down, with kids packed into the stroller...






Our leisurely meal together gives us a chance to talk about the year ahead. We always have grand schemes churning!

Well, Sparrow is just short of three months. He doesn't have complicated schemes in his head yet.






Snowdrop? Oh, you never know with Snowdrop!







In the evening, the little girl comes over for pizza and a sleepover at the farmhouse. Her overnight visits are always special for all of us. Undoubtedly the highlight for her is to take the flashlight and go out to the coop at night with Ed.






(I suppose a close second is watching a video clip and munching on ahah's popcorn.)





Nighttime. Clear skies, quiet moments. Many books later, Snowdrop is asleep. Ed dozes on the couch, I linger, enjoying the utter stillness of the moment.