a clean garden but...

... a messy house? Who, me?

Yeah, me. At least it hasn't yet reached its minimalist goals. Can I blame the kids? Okay -- I blame the kids.

It really got out of control during Grandma Camp. The kids found sticker pads that I put aside. They made toy arrangements that they swear cannot be touched for eternity. And the fairy gardens? Well, they loved doing them but what happens next? They are big. The Chicago household already nixed the idea of one traveling back with Primrose to their home. And there are craft materials thrown into an Amazon box along with... lollipops for air travel, rubber duckies from wading pool days, magnets, and very tangled threads for friendship bracelets.

I know craft people who have these little drawers with neatly organized supplies. Everything has a place. I admire that amount of care given to random pieces of plastic, paper and fabric, but as I've said before, I have never loved creating stuff out of paper straws and pipe cleaners and if I bring in such materials for a kid project (which is so rare that the kids associate it only with camp), I haven't a clue as to what to do with them once the project is behind us. Same goes for random small nothings accumulated for kid use over the years.

Well, today I attacked those boxes and made Goodwill piles that are impressive! I'm not done and I'm not really motivated to do a whole playroom overhaul, but I have to say, few things give me more pleasure than clearing out old stuff. And so count this morning as being almost joyful.

Of course, first, I did clean up the flower beds. The air quality was not great (those Canadian fires again), and the mosquitoes were spiteful, but I kept at it. 859 today, but judging by today's flower display, I'd say that tomorrow I should start going down in my count. Which will be a relief.

In the meantime, here are the lilies of today. With their flower (and froggie) friends:

 

(early morning light) 

 

("you're not going to snip this one, are you?")

(hiding under the petal)

(my "nymphs," in full bloom)

(beautiful color)

(In bright sunshine)

(lemon yellow, next to a sweat pea)

(Big Bed colors)

(Big Bed from the middle, looking toward the farmhouse)

(a true lily that did not get eaten up by lily leaf bugs)

(By the porch: lilies, phlox and... garlic.)

The day disappeared for me. One appointment, many errands, and all those cleanups!  

But of course, there was breakfast. With Ed and Dance. I'd just baked fresh granola. And, too, we still have two weeks of peaches coming our way.

 

 

Lunch and dinner were far less exciting.

I have a string of days before me where the most important thing I'm likely to do is bake granola and snip lilies. I can think of worse ways to spend a summer week.

with love...