Saturday's chase

Was it Jimmy Buffett who said that you should "Build your life around what you love?" Wise man. It took me many years to figure that one out. He picked it up much earlier in life.

But I'd say that today, if measured against those words, was a remarkably good day, despite the somewhat nutty beginning.

Saturday is market day for me and if the weather is nice, I'm thrilled to bike the awesome paths and roads leading to downtown Madison. But first, the animals.

Good morning, beautiful day!

(looking out from the kitchen...)

(the nasturtium will keep going strong until the first frost)

(the phlox still has a few good days left)

(the girls, let loose...)

What? Oh, cats! What animal have you hunted down and gutted all over the sheep shed floor?! That's both sad and disgusting! Well, never mind. I'll feed you all anyway. 

Back in the farmhouse now, getting ready to leave. Ed is coming along. We're pulling on long sleeved shirts. It's only 51F (10.5C)  outside! But wait: what's going on out there, on the porch? A cat has brought in a bird? Feathers everywhere. Eat bird, eat cat food, then throw up. A familiar pattern. So now we have a mess to clean up on the porch.

This is when you start to not like having cats around.

Except that feeling doesn't last. We remember the farmhouse before the cats settled at the farmette to call it home. We had constant mouse problems. You couldn't keep the rodents out. The foundation is porous and there are plenty of spots where they could squeeze in and come inside to do damage. And the smell! Mice are horrible house mates! We'll take our cats over them anytime!

We're late starting out, but that's okay: we've gained a couple of degrees of warmth. And here's what else we have gained: bikers. Moving in the opposite direction. Hundreds of them!

(photo taken while pedaling; Ed's before me...)

It's the morning of the half-Ironman (tomorrow is the full one). We pedal and admire. So many fit people! And indeed, in addition to the bikers, we see on the paths many many strollers, casual cyclists, joggers. The city is full of people enjoying a morning of movement on this glorious day! Makes me proud to be a Madisonian! (Even though we are only fake Madisonians, as we live outside the city.)

At the market, I cannot find the fruit stand that was my most important reason for being here. They advertised Door County peaches. I would love some late season Door County peaches. It is not to be.

Too, my favorite flower vendor's flowers aren't as lovely as some of the others. Should I stay loyal to her anyway? How can I pass by these brilliant ones in another stall?

I am not loyal. I buy the preferred flowers. It's a market! You're supposed to spread your shopping to others, right? 

Here, Ed and I split up. He has an errand to run, I want to continue on to Madison Sourdough to pick up (and freeze while still fresh!) croissants for the week. The kids have been devouring them. Too, the flakey little guys would be lovely to eat this morning.

Okay, done. Basket full of life's essentials.

And now for the ride home. 

Breakfast! On the porch, of course. [Ed brings chunks of melon to the meal. He's been eating a lot of melon because our field of melons has been exploding. I told him there's only so much cantaloupe I can stomach in one season. He, on the other hand, loves anything and everything that we grow here, including the apples from the ancient apple tree (they have skins that make your mouth pucker!) and the pears that have the mouthfeel of cotton. And melon, which admittedly is good, but it's, well, melon!]

And there you have it! My watch just told me that I am setting records in my daily moves. And I haven't even started ballet yet!

A Zoom call with a most precious friend, a few minutes pulling out weeds from a flower bed.

What a day... Built around things we love, indeed!