The day lends itself perfectly to the cliche -- when it rains... well, it rains a lot.
For one thing, there is the wetness. A solid drizzle. Plants are happy so I'm happy. A little gray outside, but the warmth now is palpable. Skip the jacket. Don't need it. Not even a sweater.
(I was pleased to learn that the May freeze was not awful for apple growers. They may have lost a few buds and blooms, but a diminished load may actually be a good thing for the life of a fruit tree.)
(Old orchard bloomers: pears, apples, quince.)
Early in the day, I begin work on my supplemental grocery list. Typically the weekend is round two for me: I check to see if the items that were missing on the big list are now available. And this time, I am really gunning for cherries. The small bag I got on Tuesday was gone the next day. Pfft! Just like that. Snowdrop really loves cherries. At this time of the year they are erratic and so if you want them, you have to keep checking.
And bingo! They are in stock! So I place the supplemental weekend order now. And I get the answer telling me that a morning delivery is available. Today. Okay. I'll take it. Even though the kids are on their way to the farmhouse. It's a small order. I can manage.
Breakfast first.
Kids are here!
(He so tries to imitate all that she does...)
(Appreciative hug...)
And now all hell breaks loose. The phone rings. A mega mix-up with my mom's forthcoming doctor's appointment. It has to be solved immediately. It requires many calls to many people. At the same time that the groceries arrive. Only two items need a wash and a refrigerator, but still, it is drizzling outside. Bags need to come in.
Ed!
He's on it. Groceries are in. I'm washing the perishables. The phone keeps ringing. Snowdrop and Sparrow turn to him for amusement and conversation.
Snowdrop is especially happy to have Ed listen to her Barbie dilemmas and developments (she brought a handful of them to the farmhouse today).
Did you play with Barbies when you were little, ahah?
No...
What dolls did you play with?
I guess my stuffed teddy bears...
Who knew.
They bake cookies...
Lots of chocolate chip cookies.
And eventually the calls slow down, calm is restored and the kids settle in for an hour of drawing.
In the afternoon, the flurry of farmhouse activity subsides. The kids are back in their home. I step outside to take stock of what still needs to be done.
It's not sunny, but the warm air overtakes the senses. You have the feeling of incredible beauty all around you.
I scatter a few seeds, I pull a few weeds. I'm nearing the tail end of spring work. A few more days of planting and I'll be switching to a maintenance program.
And I have to say, so far so good! Even the wildflower seeds are starting to sprout and ones that I sowed in the autumn are pushing out the first handfuls of lovely flowers. I pick a few forget-me-nots and a few stalks of the invasive but nonetheless pretty lily-of-the-valley (I let it grow in a few shady areas of the farmette and it never fails to enchant me. The fragrance is everything you want in a small flower -- a delicate sweetness.)
Evening. I've defrosted fish from the Community Supported Alaskan Fisheries. This is the day to bring out Matt's asparagus. Steam it, sprinkle a bit of parmesan on it and dig in!
And nab some cherries for dessert! The first bag that I purchased on Monday was tiny and so this time I ordered three. Well now, Snowdrop will be pleased!
An evening of quiet. Of gratitude to all those who worked hard these last months to understand how best to keep people safe.
For one thing, there is the wetness. A solid drizzle. Plants are happy so I'm happy. A little gray outside, but the warmth now is palpable. Skip the jacket. Don't need it. Not even a sweater.
(I was pleased to learn that the May freeze was not awful for apple growers. They may have lost a few buds and blooms, but a diminished load may actually be a good thing for the life of a fruit tree.)
(Old orchard bloomers: pears, apples, quince.)
Early in the day, I begin work on my supplemental grocery list. Typically the weekend is round two for me: I check to see if the items that were missing on the big list are now available. And this time, I am really gunning for cherries. The small bag I got on Tuesday was gone the next day. Pfft! Just like that. Snowdrop really loves cherries. At this time of the year they are erratic and so if you want them, you have to keep checking.
And bingo! They are in stock! So I place the supplemental weekend order now. And I get the answer telling me that a morning delivery is available. Today. Okay. I'll take it. Even though the kids are on their way to the farmhouse. It's a small order. I can manage.
Breakfast first.
Kids are here!
(He so tries to imitate all that she does...)
(Appreciative hug...)
And now all hell breaks loose. The phone rings. A mega mix-up with my mom's forthcoming doctor's appointment. It has to be solved immediately. It requires many calls to many people. At the same time that the groceries arrive. Only two items need a wash and a refrigerator, but still, it is drizzling outside. Bags need to come in.
Ed!
He's on it. Groceries are in. I'm washing the perishables. The phone keeps ringing. Snowdrop and Sparrow turn to him for amusement and conversation.
Snowdrop is especially happy to have Ed listen to her Barbie dilemmas and developments (she brought a handful of them to the farmhouse today).
Did you play with Barbies when you were little, ahah?
No...
What dolls did you play with?
I guess my stuffed teddy bears...
Who knew.
They bake cookies...
Lots of chocolate chip cookies.
And eventually the calls slow down, calm is restored and the kids settle in for an hour of drawing.
In the afternoon, the flurry of farmhouse activity subsides. The kids are back in their home. I step outside to take stock of what still needs to be done.
It's not sunny, but the warm air overtakes the senses. You have the feeling of incredible beauty all around you.
I scatter a few seeds, I pull a few weeds. I'm nearing the tail end of spring work. A few more days of planting and I'll be switching to a maintenance program.
And I have to say, so far so good! Even the wildflower seeds are starting to sprout and ones that I sowed in the autumn are pushing out the first handfuls of lovely flowers. I pick a few forget-me-nots and a few stalks of the invasive but nonetheless pretty lily-of-the-valley (I let it grow in a few shady areas of the farmette and it never fails to enchant me. The fragrance is everything you want in a small flower -- a delicate sweetness.)
Evening. I've defrosted fish from the Community Supported Alaskan Fisheries. This is the day to bring out Matt's asparagus. Steam it, sprinkle a bit of parmesan on it and dig in!
And nab some cherries for dessert! The first bag that I purchased on Monday was tiny and so this time I ordered three. Well now, Snowdrop will be pleased!
An evening of quiet. Of gratitude to all those who worked hard these last months to understand how best to keep people safe.
