No, Millie. It is not the new normal to start telling me at 5:30 that you want to be up and out. That was just yesterday. Go back to sleep -- I say, without conviction that either of us will doze off again.
I stubbornly insist on ignoring her until 6, then I give up. Sunrise today is in fact at 6 so at least I can say I stayed put until the crack of dawn.
It's a little cool outside -- enough to keep me indoors for the morning meal.
And still, I am enjoying the flowers out there on the porch so much! They are in my line of vision from the living room. Radiant, thriving, splendid. I'll eat lunch in their midst.
This is the final April weekend and I have to wonder -- how can this month run out on me so quickly? Spring sprints. It whips past us before it even sinks in that we're done with winter (which drags dreadfully here, in Wisconsin). This year, the blossoms came early so that it all feels especially rushed.
Millie is delightful this morning. (Yes, with the old girl, this is the rule, not the exception.) Give the pup a toy, and make available a pillow or two or three, and she is one happy pup.
We do not have plans for today of the type that dictate a schedule. And so we improvise.
Our first outing is to Madison Sourdough. Oh, it's been ages! Once I moved from the farmhouse, the bakery was just too far away. And I'd been having too many croissant breakfasts. But lately Sparrow has been asking for a croissant snack and my frozen batch is dwindling. Too, Ed would love to restock his supply of sourdough bread. And so Millie and I drive down to get us all of our favorites.
Of course, dogs are not allowed inside, but I find that if I carry Millie into dog-free places really quickly, in an out, no one will mind, or even notice. (I always preorder the breads and pasteries from here.)
I'm learning that the girl really does not do well in cars. Even short distances and few turns can upset her stomach. This is a shame. She is otherwise so portable, that I need almost never leave her home.They say that most pups get over car sickness by the time they're one. Watch her be the exception! She's a high strung pup with a sensitive tummy. A recipe for travel stress and gastric disturbance. Let's see if time and slow repetition will help her with this.
We stop over at the farmette to hand over the breads and to take a stroll...
It's a great place for her, but because she is always on a leash, it's not an effective way to exercise her and I often end up tugging tugging at her too much, just to get her moving. After a few minutes of this, I put her back in the car and we drive the two or three minutes to the park for small dogs. There, she is truly in her element.
Well, except for one thing: she is too friendly. If she deems a person to be a potential BFF (and many fit that category), she will try her utmost to climb all over them, tail wagging, tongue ready to lick.
For some, this is just adorable. Today's target called her the friendliest, most cheerful dog she had ever met. But, not everyone likes puppy affection and I know that I'm going to have to reign her in. Oh, my dogs and dog parks! They really push the boundaries here, though in such different directions!
At home, I take my lunch (a croissant!) to the porch. And it is heaven.
Millie thinks so too. Well, the croissant part anyway.
Millie and I return to the farmette in the late afternoon. I have a full compost bucket and some chicken leftovers for Ed. But even more importantly, these are the days of the crab apple bloom. They cannot be missed.
I cook a cabbage, chicken and corn soup for supper. It should last into next week. I need my evenings for... gardening! The planting itself is limited of course, but the urge to work with flowers hasn't gone away. Spring will always have me getting my hands dirty. Not nearly as bad as in previous years, but still, I'm putting some effort into Steffi's House and Sally's porch.
With so much love...
