too hot for words

We moved slowly from a pleasant, summer-like morning too a hot and humid afternoon. There is a menacing storm brewing to the west and I just want to say for the record that I am very careful in what I wish for: I do not want a night of strong winds and damaging golf-sized hail. I want a sustained rainfall. So please, let's have a night of wetness without craziness out there.

It is fortuitous that the two older kids are here during the best hours of the day. The cherry tree with the golden cherries is in its peak moment right now. Snowdrop loves these cherries best and though Sparrow, consistent with his "I prefer to eat no plants" policy, really doesn't adore any cherry, still, I want him to experience the joy of climbing a ladder and plucking the fruit right from the tree. This morning is perfect for it.

But first, my morning rounds. I check on the flowers and yes, the ones I watered have perked up a little (you know that things are okay when even the pansies -- planted for the cold spring and not for the heat of the summer -- are standing upright).

I see another bloom among the newly planted day lilies. You cannot expect much from this flower in its first season and indeed, though you may see a handful of blooms, they will come early and they will be on tiny, immature plants. It always seems a little funny to see a big head on a little plant. Still, the color is just lovely!

I try not to look at fields and flowers that are in need of water. I'm banking on the rains tonight, so I'm not taking out the hose for them. Still, things look pretty dry in many places around the farmette. May that change overnight!

Breakfast, on the porch. With Dance.

The kids come here right after. Sparrow is always just a touch apprehensive when you suggest something new and he has no recollection of cherry picking a year ago. No surprise there: he had just turned two and climbing ladders was a bit too ambitious then.

Snowdrop first checks in with her tree...

... and then it's off to the young orchard. She goes straight for the ladder, he follows.

She wants to reach every cherry. 

He wants to climb too! The ladder, now that's fun! (Like a young cat, he is confident about going up, less so coming down.)

Picking cherries is okay as well. Eating them? Well, he gives it a try, pit and all.

But, somewhat predictably, one cherry, partly consumed is plenty.

(Hey, a double! To hang over the ear!)

I notice that the orchard meadow is sprouting flowers despite the drought. I let them meander among the dainty blooms...

They pick some, because you know, kids just love to pick flowers. 

And it feels so fine to have them mingle with the coreopsis, the sweet william, the gentle blue flax... Sparrow snips a flower with a very short stem. No problem: Snowdrop trades, clipping his little flower to her hair. 

And then I take them home and I return to a very hot day. So hot that when I ask Ed if he is game for a one hour outdoor project, he doesn't even pretend to consider it. The project -- clearing out the small raspberry patch which has been overtaken by awful weeds -- is put on hold.

We do go out again -- on his motorbike, to pick up our CSA veggies and to stop over at our local farmers market. These are the weeks of the most fantastic produce, in my opinion. We have the sugar snap peas. The grand lettuce heads. And we are, quite suddenly, in the peak of the strawberry season.

(market berries)

It's about a week earlier than in normal times. The heat has been that strong. Maybe tonight there will be a heady, prolonged rainfall. Maybe. I don't know a grower in Wisconsin that's not hoping for it.