All my grandkids know the song I sing when I am with them and happy. It's called "It's a Beautiful Day" and I made it up years ago, when I wheeled around the first babe that came along, coming close to now ten years ago. The focus of the song is on them and I do stand behind the sentiment in the lyrics. A confirmation of what you already know -- that they are a source of joy and wonderment. But it is also true that they are not the only source of joy and wonderment. There are days that are just plain beautiful and full of wonderment, no matter who is around.
Today is one such day.
Sunny and mildly warm. Without the humidity. (And tomorrow will be even better, because we are going to do one more spray of the "natural" (haha) stuff, to ward off the latest army of mosquitoes.) Life is sooo good! Optimistic thoughts abound!
And I'm down to 374 snipped lilies this morning. It is, frankly, a relief to be declining in numbers. Even if the lilies may be calming down, the phlox, is really exploding. There's plenty of color in the garden. Here, take a look:
(the path leading to the farmhouse door...)
I bike over to Tati's coffee shop and bring home pain au chocolat for breakfast. Supreme contentment!
Not done with biking yet: Ed and I pedal over to Stoneman's Farm for the corn.
More outdoor stuff: we (finally!) pick some of the garlic. This is a big deal for me because Ed planted too much and in my opinion, it overwhelmed the courtyard, sometimes blocking the lily field just behind. Of course, the lily field is almost done for the year, but still, it's good to reclaim the courtyard again. Admittedly, the garlic looks fabulous. We're losing so much to animals and birds in the veggie field and it's nice to know that there is one thing no animal out there will pull out and devour. Yay garlic.
In the afternoon I pick up just Snowdrop today.
Toward the end of her visit, she asks to go to the local Farmers Market. I'm not sure why she likes it so much, but we're happy to take her along. (Oh! Maybe it has to do with the cherry pie and cheese curds! She always talks us into getting both.)
Home then. Her home. Where I check in with her mom for a few minutes out on the deck, before turning around to do a very late stop and shop at the grocery store.
Yes, it's a packed day. Just half of the activities and events would have felt like it's one hell of a busy day.
And yet -- all that sunshine -- on the bike ride, picking garlic, chatting on the deck -- it felt so perfect. Not busy at all, just very very perfect.
(evening at the farmette)
with love...
