the world is brimming with toys

Today is plain hot. In September, days like this make you wish for a cool autumnal breeze, but for us, it's pure joy. Well, for Millie and me. I am sitting on the porch in my shorts and sleeveless t-shirt and I'm thinking -- my, this feels good. (Millie looks for shade: that fur coat is made of... fur.) There is construction noise, but it hardly matters. I have only 3.5 weeks of life left in Sally's House and honestly, for all my griping about its shortcomings (the noise, mostly the noise!), it's been a great place for my girl and me. Yes, the upstairs overheats, and I haven't turned on the AC at all, even though we are in the high 80sF/30C today, because the downstairs is sunless and therefore quite cool, so I searched the internet and found that the world of cooling fans has evolved since the days of those spinning blades behind a cage. I purchased a fan that is tall and so quiet, and so refreshing, and now our upstairs can remain AC-free and very livable, even for my furry girl.

Breakfast, with peonies from the farmette flower fields.

As I said before (and I am sure I'll repeat again and again), I am absolutely knackered from making lists (can you tell I've been reading too many British and Irish books?) and adding two items for every one checked off. Still, take a look at my rose waiting to go into the yard at Steffi's House:

How can you give up in retreat, when there is such beauty riding at your feet? 

But my day is full. I am now making lists as to which separate lists I need to check today, this week, this month.  

And still, Millie remains unconcerned. Oblivious to my lists, to my own disquiet (because what if I forget something?), she steps out each day with joy. And curiosity. I walk her along the usual path. She puts her nose to the ground and searches out every conceivable toy left there for her, on purpose, she is sure of that! The clump of grass, the wood chip, the stone, the dandelion puff, the piece of discarded plastic, the paper cup tossed carelessly -- they are all for her and the world is full of such surprises! Why I should take these out of her mouth puzzles her deeply. They're small, they're free and they're everywhere! And so she goes back to her search and always comes out of it with yet another newfound surprise. Some, I dare not investigate too closely. They look dark and ominous. Take it out, remember to wash my hands at home. (Should I put that on my list?)

Oh, Millie! 

(brushed and ready for play) 

I have a day of outdoor work before me this coming Saturday. Millie needs a dog sitter. I search Rover (a website of local pet sitters) all morning long for the perfect person, realizing of course that there is no such perfect person. This one doesn't have a yard, this one has too many cats, this one has photos of very large dogs with very large teeth, this one does not allow pets on furniture, this one wont take young puppies, this one doesn't respond to requests... Oh, I could go on! 

At some point I shut down my laptop, take Millie to doggie daycare and make it just in time for the long postponed dental visit. How good it is to have a fine dentist! And with a goldendoodle at home, so the hour passes with stories of all the trouble that dog causes. 

From there, it's the usual kid pick up, Millie pick up, and a return to Sally's House.

And in the evening? I work on some gardening plans and yes, you may wonder why why why do this now, and I'll answer -- this is why: read this article (gifted from today's NY Times). I find nothing more restful, more perfect, more sublime than a pretty and comfortable chair or bench, set in a beautiful landscape, with a view toward growing things. In this, the farmette was less than perfect. The porch was the only summer place for viewing the farmette's generous offerings. It had to be from behind screens. Too many mosquitoes to enjoy a restful moment gazing out at the flower fields. Ed liked to sit at the picnic bench (on the rare day that the bugs were less threatening). I wasn't a fan of it. First of all, the picnic bench is right by the trash bins and the compost heap. And of course, it wasn't comfortable. You couldn't totally lean back and release whatever weighs heavy on your. But mostly, as you will have read in the article, it's hard to sit still for long when your garden begs for you to step in and help it along. At Steffi's House, on the other hand, there will be less work. And I want an open front porch that looks out at the flowers. I want a bench in Millie's fenced yard that has the scent of lilac and rose coming to me. I cannot wait to accomplish this! 

So in between Millie care, and grandchild care, I work on my plans, for the move, for the garden, for the trip, knowing that each will give me the ultimate sense of contentment and satisfaction. I need do nothing more!

with so much love...