luck of the draw

This is all we talk about in our fleeting exchanges -- with the plant sellers, the farmers, even with each other: it's so hot and dry! Dusty, parched! We need the rain.

This morning I set to work right away. Carry those buckets of water to the meadow, dump some, too, on the new lilies, keep at it for a bit -- the plants need it. They're getting by, but they sure would be happy with a nice steady rain shower.

Still, there's stuff to admire in the farmette fields. Slowly the late spring flowers are opening up.

The first phlox paniculata is one such early bloomer. This native to North America is one of my favorites: the clumps of flowers are often fragrant, but even if you can't really pick out the scent, the look of a phlox is just enchanting, no matter what color you choose as your favorite. The first one here is always white. I have it throughout the gardens, one right by the path to the door.

The tiny dianthus is also blooming, if you can find it! (It gets a little overwhelmed by the bigger flowers in the yard.)

And of course, the campanulas (here, mixed with the white iris) are really lovely now. I don't plant many, but in June, I totally appreciate these gentle bells.

Breakfast. 

 

 

Quick, because I have a dentist appointment. One of those prophylactic ones where the technicians yell at you because according to them you never floss enough. I did enjoy checking in with my dentist -- we exchanged stories about predators. Bunnies eat his hostas. That's bad enough, but I could up that with my stories of raccoons that eat our chickens. [Yes, we identified the culprit last night. It's an unfortunate consequence of having the development nearby. We never had problems with raccoons before. Hawks, possum, skunks, coyotes -- all those are real threats, but raccoons were not in the mix until the buildings went up and the people moved in.]

My dentist happens to be close to where the young family lives. And so I pop in on them. Of course I do. So many kids to say hello to now!

(from youngest to oldest)

The two older ones are setting out with their sitter for their first swim in their neighborhood pool! First of the season and, too, a significant first, because last year the infection rates were too high to safely go to the pool at all. I am told that Snowdrop was in heaven in the water today. Sparrow had, of course, forgotten what "going to the pool" was all about, but I hear he got into the swing of things as well.

And because of their water play, I had to groan when I got home and climbed on to the tractor mower to mow down our paths: I felt the distinct drops of rain. By the time I was done mowing, the drops were multiplying rapidly and I even heard a distant rumble of thunder. 

We hadn't expected a rainfall and I put aside my drought concerns to shake my head at the timing! The kids were enjoying their first swim in the pool! How can it storm now!

But, as it happened, the rain was not widespread and Snowdrop and Sparrow were in a pool ten miles away from the farmette lands and that proved to be enough to keep them dry, even as we got a nice steady shower that amounted to about three fourths of an inch of water dumped on the flower fields (and elsewhere!). Like giddy kids, we left out cups to measure!

Well now, what an unexpected surprise!

 Meanwhile, down in Chicago, a little girl tells me (while slurping on a cool drink) that it was very hot!

 

And here's another pleasant surprise: earlier today, Ed worked over and spiffed up my scooter.

I missed those rural little scooter trips to catch a sunrise or sunset, or to check in on the cranes at dusk! I used to use the scooter to get to work, but of course I do not go to work anymore and if I am out and about, I typically am carting kids or driving with Ed, or lugging supplies. So the scooter collected dust and the battery gave out and so it stood, abandoned.

But tonight I went out on a quick scooter ride. Twice! It was good to see the fields wetted by the showers here. The air smelled so fresh, rinsed clean of the the heaviness that sets in with a drought. 

And as always, there were the encounters with friends. Sandhill cranes, deer...

And a more unusual one. Big. About two feet long.

I pause, wondering if I should move it away from the road. A guy, our neighbor of sorts (in rural areas distances are large so we've never met him before), comes out.

We've been watching her all afternoon. Waiting for her to lay her eggs. She's done it now.

Here? At the edge of the road?

She likes the gravel. She's tired now, but we'll make sure she gets down to the creek.

And what will happen to the eggs?

Oh, they'll hatch. Some of the babies will make it down to the creek as well.

Good thing I didn't move her myself. I was just getting up the courage to do it.

Oh, you need to be careful around her. She's a mean girl. She'd snap your fingers right off!

I wave and continue back. The sun has set now, but the sky is beautiful! On all sides of the road!

Lucky to have had the rain, lucky to have my fingers still attached to my hand, lucky in so many ways. 

With love.