June 1st

I begin the new month feeing technologically at ease! Late yesterday, the Fed Ex gent delivered my replacement smart phone (staring at the black screen of my once trusty phone was so depressing that I finally caved and gave up on the cracked and malfunctioning old one) and, too, my camera, which had been sent to the repair shop in New Jersey. Another software malfunction. I use my camera so extensively that I am used to the occasional breakdown. Fujifilm, my company of choice these years, has a terrific repair service, costing nothing but for the one way mailing fee. I spent the better part of the evening adjusting the camera and transferring data and apps to my new phone and now, this morning, I'm good to go! 

I have not a small amount of amazement on how dependent I am both on my phone and a good working camera. I know people complain about this next generation being glued to the devices. I'm not "glued" to either. I don't find screen time to be exciting or even much fun, but there are functions that the phone has and that the camera can perform that are to me so incredibly helpful that it's hard to imagine that there were days when I traveled and found my way in complicated cities, walked the garden, communicated with my kids, set the temperature in the house, checked the latest weather, identified birdsong, listened to music (etc etc) without the assistance of these two apparatuses. Yes, some will say to tune out of them is to tune in to your own senses. I'm of the mind that they amplify my world and make it a gentler place.

Morning walk, now with beloved camera.

I bake muffins again. Snowdrop asks me every day in the car if I baked something and I've run out of excuses! Besides, she has a haircut appointment today and I promised her a treat at a nearby coffee shop -- without checking first on my phone, which would have revealed that it closes before we can get to it. A muffin will keep her happy.

Breakfast on the porch. I am adding peonies from the garden to the vase because they are just so beautiful and so short lived: I need to prolong our enjoyment of them!

It's another hot day and so Ed and I take a walk on the early side. Before noon. To our park, to check out the prairie, the turtles.

On the one hand, is glorious. The wild indigo is terrific...

There are only two turtles out and about. Maybe the rest are waiting for a stronger sun? Or is the pond already too warm, leading them to move over to the big lake? We do not know.

On the downside, as we take the lakeside path, the stench from the algae is disappointing. We know our beautiful lakes got an earlier than ever algae bloom, but I can't recall it ever being this pungent. We live in a county that has some pretty tough rules about what goes into those waters and I do believe people have cooled their jets with all those lawn chemicals and field fertilizers, but the watershed that ultimately fills these bodies of water runs through predominantly agrarian landscapes, with few restrictions on pasture lands and crop field fertilization. Add to it our spring heatwave and we have trouble. Typically I take Snowdrop to a little beach early in the season. It's fun for her to splash around in lake waters. Not this year. Sigh...

And another disappointment: the Dame's Rocket in the park woodlands is growing out of control. It's such a pretty weed, but it spreads so rapidly that it is a real threat to native plants. I did read this interesting article about eating the leaves of it! This afternoon, Ed will canvass farmette lands and bring in some missed stalks to add to our salads!

In the afternoon I pick up Snowdrop.

In driving between the farmette, her school and the haircut place, I do hit a few clouds that deliver a few raindrops. A cloud passes, there's a little shower, then it's over. Ed later tells me that a bigger cloud passed over the farmette. Indeed, we got hail. And an inch of pounding rain. A tiny patch of heaven for our plant life!

In the course of our car shuttling, we talk about school ending. The last day is next Thursday. That means tomorrow's Friday is the last Friday of second grade for her. "I will cherish it!" -- she tells me.

The haircut is at Bang -- a place I have taken her to since she was a toddler. We have some discussion of how much she wants to cut off. Her hair is so long and the summer is so full of activities that I gently suggest a bigger trim.

She really really really wants to preserve her length. If she's willing to put up with the brushing and care that it requires, then I feel it's her decision. I suggest to the hair stylist two inches. She is satisfied, he is satisfied.

After a short hour at the farmhouse...

... I take her back home. Thursdays evenings offer a chance to catch up a little with her mom. Oh, here come the brothers! 

It's a good beginning to a beautiful month. Did I say May was stunning? Well now, June offers some stiff competition!