Somehow July is moving along too rapidly. June sped by demonically fast. Intense months have a way of whizzing by and leaving you stunned at the end. What? That was June? I'm still panting! But there's nothing especially intense about my July. I moved, okay, there was that. But everything was in place by the 5th, so how do I explain the feeling of breathlessness now? As you can tell from my posts, it's not as if I am hurrying from one thing to the next. And yet -- it's the 12th already. Ridiculously far into the summer season.
I have to blame my gardening for this. We're moving through the height of summer blooms even as I'm still planting -- something I usually finish up in May. But this year, it all had to square with the fact that I wasn't living in Steffi's place in spring. The gardening bit began late and is not really done yet because I can see pockets of needed adjustment. Too, it's a new garden. This is important. I wouldn't have to water the farmette perennials more than once a week, and then only through a dry spell. Established plants are tough! Here, everything is new and fragile and two days of neglect can cost me! And of course, Millie slows things down significantly. For example, today I watered some and I planted one flower. All within her field of vision. And then we ate breakfast together.
Normally, I'd be digging until everything was in its place. Not so with my sweet pup who insists on being never more than 10 feet away from my side.
So, some garden work today, but only in a few spots. Where is my focus then? Indoors, on cooking and baking. I'm back to making Sunday family dinners and since my daughter is adding a friend tonight, I decided to expand on the usual and bake something summery. My younger girl had made a strawberry slab pie that looked good in the photo, so I picked up several packs of strawberries and set to work.
Millie finished her morning nap and I put aside food preparations to head over to the farmette. For more soil, and to pick up Ed for a Tati's lunch.
Maybe you're curious about the farmette flower fields? After all, this is their best month -- the time of the maximal lily blooms. How might I describe it now... Yes, it's overgrown. It's beautiful, but the weeds make it look even denser and some of the flowers are lost in the thicket of plant growth. And of course, I haven't been snipping the spent flowers, so the feeling of a garden going wild is intense. Here are a few photos:
Oh, and a photo of the two new chickens for good measure:
I dont like to stay long there because the urge to clean it up is so powerful that it hurts. It never was totally neat and tidy, but right now, the plants are huge, the flowers come in waves, then fade, the grasses and prairie blooms fill in the gaps. I tell Ed that he should get a garden person to come in one day and clean it up. His response? I can't tell what's a weed. As long as it's pretty, what's the difference?
At Tati's Millie gets her pup cup,
Ed and I talk about chicken issues and, too, about the week ahead. Maybe blueberry picking, maybe biking over to McFarland. But of course, it has to be squeezed in on days Millie is at doggie daycare. The girl has to let go of her anxieties soon -- which, I suppose is like telling a snowman not to melt in sunshine. Not his fault, not her fault!
In the evening, the gang is here -- family, friend, dog and all. Steffi's House isn't large, but there's plenty of room for everyone.
Millie is all over the place. The little kids chase her, Goose chases her, doors open and close -- we are not a subdued household tonight!
But at the end of the day, I have to smile. It was great to fill Steffi's House with people I love.
(pre-dinner)
(dinner)
(post-dinner)
Such a beautiful evening!
I like quiet, interrupted by periods of intense exuberance. I had both today.
with so much love...
