not all days are the same

And now we're in for a bit of a cool down, and with that cool down comes a gardening slow down and indeed, a different kind of a day. 

But first, a check of the farmette lands to see what storm damage occurred last night. (Not too bad: a few downed daffodils. And lots of new weeds! )

(storm clouds? moving away...)

And breakfast! 

Then I turn my attention to something completely new. Literally new. Let's see how I can describe this without trampling over people's fragile toes: so, I'm helping a friend purchase land with a finished or unfinished house. Why me of all people? Well, because she is interested in buying something in our neighborhood -- the very development that Ed and I had once lobbied hard against (it was a question of preserving the ecosystem and the wetlands to the north of us). The neighborhood where we bike and walk and admire or criticize what is being built. The farmette looks out on that development (though thankfully we are buffered by a green belt that is left to prairie flowers and ponds) and I'd say we have a pretty good idea what's going on there. So I offered to help. 

This is how I found myself at the Tati Co cafe, looking at house plans and property listings along with a realtor and the interested buyer, whom I'll just call Steffi, because, well, this will be Steffi's house.

Ed would say that I know nothing about houses -- building them, or designing them, or evaluating them -- but the fact is we are a nation of people who crave simplicity in life and the way to build a house and retain sanity is to follow a plan that was already drawn up for you so that all you have to do is make tweaks and small changes. Or, better yet -- buy something that's half built already!  

I'm not terrible at making quick decisions and Steffi wanted some pretty quick decisions made, so by the end of the morning, she gave up on the house of her dreams (too expensive!) and picked a suitable alternative. I nodded my support (when someone makes up her mind, you nod, vigorously!).

And I promised that I would be there throughout the building process. I mean, the house is almost visible from our back yard! I can help keep an eye on things! 

 

(with permission to post the process, if not the party involved!)

 

So this was my morning and my early afternoon.

And afterwards,the winds howled but the rains moved on and so I weeded. No kids today! (They have other engagements.) As the bucket filled to overflowing, I wondered if maybe caring for kids is easier than digging. Ah, the grass is always greener. [A truism that reminds me of a car conversation yesterday: Sparrow and I were complaining about the strong winds and the coming of storms and heavy rain. Snowdrop chimed in -- April showers bring May flowers. I explained to Sparrow how April rain will help my garden grow, but the girl would not let it go at that: gaga, the saying is a more general statement about how sometimes tough times and hard work can bring great rewards. Snowdrop never fails to interject and clarify if I'm oversimplifying things!]

 

I also planted my first perennial -- a clematis that I hope to train up the farmhouse porch corner. Yep, the planting marathon has begun!

Soup for supper. Someone has to use up the winter spinach in the fridge. Besides, it feels like a soupy kind of a day.

with love...