I can't help but feel a combination of marvel, confusion, pleasure and exasperation with the weather here in Wisconsin. It's still dry, sunny and warm. Today's high -- 79F/26C. Ed says it was cooler last week, but not by much. He watered the pots for me and I will continue to keep them going until... Tuesday! That is the predicted possible first frost day for us. No sense in doing anything after that.
I'm up early. We both are. I check on the animals, on the dried out garden. Wait, something is still blooming! Oh those gladioli murealis!
Breakfast? It was early and we had so much to catch up on that I completely neglected my camera, until we were well done with our morning meal. Here, you can still see the flowers I picked for the table -- nasturtium. Also still blooming outside.
Then I turn to the job of unpacking, laundry, grocery restocking. The normal "return stuff." Not too bad this time around. Ed's been trying harder not to slum it down in my absence and so the house is actually in good shape!
Emails to write, reviews to post.
And now for the garden: my box of bulbs arrived. I buy in quantities. I have nearly 325 to put in -- daffodils mostly, but, too, crocuses, tulips, allium, hyacinthoides (like bluebells only different), snowdrops, and a blue anemonie that I'm trying out for the first time.
This is my last gardening job for 2024 and it's a big one! But oh, the rewards, come spring!
I start off slowly. Fifty in today. Seems plenty, frankly. Now I just have to keep up the pace and they'll be in by the end of next weekend.
It's time to pick up Snowdrop. Sparrow is under the weather, and her violin teacher is under the weather, so it's just the girl and just at the farmhouse.
To her it always seems "forever since she was last here," and she buzzes with enthusiasm for the various games with Ed, for her book reading, for her predictable snacks.
The day is in other ways unusual as well: I drive Snowdrop home and linger for a bit to catch up with her mom. By the time I get home toward dusk, I am significantly sleepy.
Still, I cook up a pot of chili. It'll be good to have something in the fridge for the next couple of days. And of course, after dinner, I can hardly keep my eyes open. Ed looks around for a movie to watch, but I tell him that it's impossible for me to stay awake through anything at all. Tomorrow. I'll return to all those lovely things tomorrow. Right now? Sleep of course!
