It's too sunny, too outrageous, too bright, too perfect for outdoor work. There! Never satisfied. Doesn't that well describe the human species?
Let me add another comment: too beautiful.
Too much visual candy. Yes, even a gradual opening up of a spring garden brings on a plethora of loveliness. You can't possibly take it all in.
The sunshine today is intense. It's not a warm day. More like warm-ish. The pressure is on to do some work outside. The Big Bed needs a good weeding.
After breakfast.
And remember the house in the new development that I had helped a friend buy? Well, I offered to look in on it, to see how the lawn is doing. (She's not living there yet -- she's renting it out.) Not surprisingly, it's not looking that great. It's telling me it needs something. But what?
I hate lawns, I don't know how to care for lawns, I don't really understand them, I don't know what their issues are. I bring over some organic grass fertilizer. Maybe that?
I sprinkle it randomly. Then I read on the box that you need to water after sprinkling. But the outside water isn't turned on yet! Now what? Am I burning the lawn with unwatered granules? Damn lawn!
Next stop is far more pleasant -- a meetup with my daughter at a coffee shop halfway between her home and mine. But who knew that there are two cafes in town with the same name? I go to one, she's at the other. (My fault, by the way. She had specified the street, I just missed that part of the message.) Is this turning out to be that kind of a day despite the perfect weather?
Never mind. We have a lovely hour once I finally do catch up with her.
And using that positive momentum, I come home and talk Ed into taking a bike ride with me. And that, too, feels good!
As I put away my bike, I take a look around me. In the late afternoon light, every plant takes on a richer hue. Even the orchard's white flowers seem more profoundly white!
(old orchard)
(new orchard)
Sometimes I think this time of the year -- late April, indeed, all of May -- is too perfect, perhaps laying on the pressure to seize the moment, to make something of it. But of course, we are appreciative! Rare is the walk outside where we don't remind ourselves how lucky we are to be in this season, at this time, among all that grows here. But it never feels like enough. There's just too much to be grateful for.
with love...