1. So Many Cats
Last night, as Ed and I were tending to our various readings and writings on the couch, the usual parade of cats came in from the porch, meowed a bit, then either settled for a nap inside, or left to look for greener pastures. Three of the six are regulars here. They check out our willingness to throw down some people food for them and they rub their faces on our legs, or trample over us to get a more substantial nuzzle. Ed is a big sucker here and never turns down a request for a kitty rub. But this night, as I look up to see which cat is meowing from the middle of the living room floor, I do a double take. The cat isn't one of the usual three. In fact, she isn't one of the six who live here. She looks like Dance -- white paws, gray torso, but way darker and skinnier than the matronly Dance herself.
Ed, there is a strange cat in our living room!
You're right -- he answers, unfazed.
This is a first. Strange cats routinely pass through farmette lands, but inside? Never.
I get up to check out her markings, but she'd done her quick survey of the premises and is out the porch cat door before I can come close to her.
2. So Many Machines
This morning, all is calm once again. No cat spend the entire night here, ever, thank goodness. The house is quiet. And the day outside? Lovely. And very dry. I know I have to water the flower tubs. I probably have to water everything even as I cannot possibly water everything. But, I can't be discouraged at the start of the day, right? I'll do what I can do! Onwards!
I take on the flower fields.
In the meantime, Ed settles in to work on the latest addition -- a 1966 Bolens 650 tractor, with lots of attachments. Really, lots. (I know which attachment interests him: the tiller.)
He'd picked it up yesterday, hauled it over in a rented u-haul and now he's taking it apart because, well, it doesn't work.
It's in very good condition - he tells me.
Yes, but it doesn't work! What if you can't fix it?
He thinks that's a really poor excuse for passing up the chance to get it to work. So, for now, he has his hands full!
(We pause, but only briefly, for breakfast.)
3. So Many Flowers
He returns to tinkering, I water and weed. A rain shower would cut my work in half, but we haven't had a good one for many days and there's none in the forecast.
Ed peers up at my work and comments -- you have so many flowers here!
He's right. And they are all thirsty.
By the time I'm done I have to go pick up Snowdrop at robot camp.
4. So Many Cherries
Again we have a short time at the farmette. And again we go right down to the new orchard to pick cherries, because we have so many!
Half of them are chomped up by birds, some are already rotten, but she finds the perfect ones. She climbs the ladder and gets to work.
And I have her pick a few pea pods too.
And at home, I take out my prepared mixture of peaches, sugar and cream (with a little lemon juice and vanilla) and I throw it into the ice cream maker so that we can have freshly churned peach ice cream.
5. So Many Grandchildren
Toward evening, I return Snowdrop to her house and once again I try to pause for a chat with my older girl. Wait, Sandpiper is on the move!
And Sparrow wants a huge long hug, and then there's this fantastic Montreal book he wants to show me...
And meanwhile, Snowdrop contemplates climbing up on the roof of their playhouse and Sandpiper is getting himself into the next bit of trouble...
And it is all great fun, but I can tell you, with three little ones, you cannot expect to concentrate on serious topics or even lightweight conversation with the other grownup in your midst. Still, it is such a beautiful evening and the sound of happy kid voices is a wonderful thing indeed!
6. So Many Swallows
The air is perfect -- not too warm, not to cool. The sun is low, but still with us. The smell is of summer, in full swing. We eat dinner on the porch.
And we linger. Because from our seats, we can see the swallows darting in and out of the garage. One, two, three... No, more than that. So many swallows!
Cats, machines, flowers. Cherries, peach ice cream, grandchildren chasing each other on the deck. Swallows taking flight.
It really is a classic first day of July!
