a wet May 1st

I wanted rain. We got rain. Heavy at times, drizzly at other times. Like England's Lake District where gardens flourish! 

Ed has a week of intense work, introducing his machine design into potential manufacturing. The rain has him sleeping later than he had hoped, so that when I do nudge him, he is suddenly in a hurry. Breakfast comes first, before I even head out to feed the animals.

And then he is off, and I wait for the steady rain to subside. Poor wet chickens! They dont like the weather, nor the feeding delay!

Ah but when I do step out, I am reminded why May is often thought to be the most beautiful month. There's something about the shades of green, the pink blossoms, the wet grasses, the clumps of opening buds...

French people take their vacations in July and/or August, but they fill the month of May with dedicated days off and this year, three of the national May holidays fall on Thursdays. This begs for Fridays off too, naturally. I can completely understand the desire to be free of work now. (And indeed, in many countries of Europe, May 1st is their Labor Day.) It's tough to focus on tasks at hand when the world outside is bursting with vitality, when nature displays her cleanest and finest, when tulips are followed by peonies, when lilies of the valley (the May 1st flower of France) fill the air with their sweet fragrance.

Eventually, I take advantage of a pause in the rains to put in more glad bulbs. The Abyssinian ones that gave me such gorgeous white blooms late in the summer last year. All fifty of them, spread out randomly through three of my eleven flower fields. Let's hope they repeat their stellar performance.

And then I pick up the kids.

Since our schedule this week has been muddled, the after school treat timeline is also off track. And since it is both cold and wet, I hesitate in taking them to the Fitchburg farmers market (which starts today!) -- a lovely late spring ritual for me and for them. Remarkable how weather can muddy your thoughts and expectations. This May Day, or at least my May Day and their May Day, ends up being mostly a farmhouse one. 

(old toys come out)

(his boots match the daffodils)

 

In the end, I go to the market alone, toward evening, after dropping off the kids. Ed is still busy with his design project and we have eggs to drop off in exchange for cheese curds. 

True, it's much more fun to go to the market with him, or the kids, or both! Nonetheless, it was good to see the vendors back in action. I've missed the first couple of downtown markets. Too much to do in the flower fields. This small local one, however, is an easy five minute drive. And of course, you get to know all the vendors. It's grand to be meeting up with them again.

Ed comes home deeply satisfied with the progress of his machining project. A good May 1st for him, for me as well. 

with love...