What I Saw Today

 If I remember correctly, this cloud of dainty, little, star-like flowers is a called clematis. 

As far as the names of flowers go, I am not much of an expert. My mom is the master gardener, at least as far as flowers go. 

 

I just can't get enough of these roses!

September is such a beautiful month.

Waiting

Waiting for what? you ask. Mostly cooler weather. Oh, Fall, when will you return? After that early storm, Indian summer set in just a couple of days later. Now we are in a heat wave and more than ready for fall. If I ever had any melancholy about bidding adieu to summer, as I always do, I do not now. It's too hot! Thankfully today is supposed to be the hottest day and then it will be cooler. On the bright side I can still sport my Hawaiian dresses.

I am also waiting for all the household modifications to be finished. Our new multipurpose Tiki Room is nearly done, and we've been working on moving bookshelves and all the books in them from Rachel's room to the office.

It was nice, in a nostalgic way, to pull out all those children's books and young science reads that I have not looked at in, oh, a very long time. 

I do love books, but I am lazy by nature, and moving massive amounts of books from one room to the next can be very wearing, not to mention irritating with all the dust we've kicked up in the process. But one mustn't shirk duty, and I think all the book moving may finally be finished. Now if only I could have a nice chilly day so I can curl up with one of those books.  

The First Sip of Cocoa

After a very mild, beautiful, enchanted August, September hit and BAM! Literally. Today it is pouring rain and we have some serious thunder and lightning. It's a little scary, but exciting and cozy, as the first thunderstorm always is.

I cannot recall it ever storming like this so early in the year. Usually Labor Day weekend in Grass Valley is a time for barbecues and swim parties. This may be a much harsher fall and winter than we are used to. If we are getting rain this early, maybe we will get snow earlier than usual too. Maybe I will finally get the white Christmas I've been praying for!

For now I will be content with the pouring rain and enjoy warm cups of cocoa (in giant Mickey Mouse cups) and playing games of Irritata with my Mom, (our own modified version of Aggravation.) 

Another Journal Behind Me

Yesterday, as I sat in sweltering heat, too hot to do anything but read, write, watch a movie, or take a nap, I filled the last page in another pretty journal. I always feel a sense of accomplishment whenever I cover the last few pages of my journal in my handwritten words and put it away with all my other past journals in a box, safely tucked away. And I feel renewed inspiration and adventure calling me in the virgin pages of another unmarked book. Sometimes I hesitate to mar the untouched cleanliness of a new journal with my hand that will often complain, and whine, and write things I may later be ashamed of. But that is all a part of human life, my human life. And alongside pages filled with anger and sadness are pages filled with beauty and happiness. My journal is my friend who hears me out on all the good and bad things I have swimming around in my head. It is part of my story. And when I open a brand new one I feel like I am opening a new and hopeful chapter in my life.

   "Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?"

--Anne of Green Gables

Farmer Fairy

For half of my family, 'tis the week to be camping. Both Rachel and Dad are on a church camping trip up in Tahoe for a couple of days, and Elizabeth is backpacking with our bible study group in Yosemite until Friday. That leaves Mom, Matthew, and I to hold the fort down here at home.

One interesting factor in this is that all the regular chicken wranglers are gone at once for the first time. So, what do we do? Hand out garden hats and take charge of course! Chickens are creatures of routine: they eat, they lay eggs (except Bob,) and they put themselves to bed at dusk; and the little ones are now big enough to be pretty much independent too. So, with a straightforward list of instructions to refer to, caring for the flock has been a cinch.

We still have to count the littles. There's one. 

Two, three. 

Four, five, six... slow down girls, I'm getting you all mixed up! 

And I have to gather the eggs.  It took some looking to find these.

"Ollie-Ollie-Oxen-Free!"

"One of these things is not like the other..." 

A total of four beautiful eggs. 

And now, a tale of two trellises. (Sort of.)

Since Elizabeth has moved in to the house next door, and been busy with her work and chickens, she hasn't had very much time for gardening. This year we had just a small one. Plus she's making plans to cultivate the little yard next door into a lovely garden (of both vegetables and flowers!) So, earlier in the season I started taking care of watering the garden exclusively and have now taken full responsibility for it.

A few days ago Elizabeth and I planted some crookneck squash starters and zucchini seeds in one recently vacated bed.

 

 It's a little late in the season to be planting squash, but we all missed fresh, homegrown squash. Except for maybe Rachel, she doesn't really like squash.

 Still too soon to see any zucchini sprouts. 

We also planted three rows of radishes (above), and a second trellis of peas. We took the seeds for the second trellis from some dried pea pods from our first crop of peas. Homegrown seeds! 

Pea trellis, senior. 

 And last but not least, our single volunteer tomato plant is still plugging away. I'm still waiting to see red on it. 

I love taking care of my own little garden, watering it and harvesting produce. I call it my kitchen garden (I like that term) and I'm already thinking up plans for it next year.

 Life is so beautiful.

Isn't Life Ironic?

 Last night, after months of painstaking work with the most difficult yarn I've ever handled, I finally finished this blue shawl.

After three days of chilled rainy weather (yesterday it positively poured) I finished this warm garment just in time for the return of typical summer heat. Oh well. I love summer, and though it will be a while before I'll get to use my new shawl, I'll be content in my Hawaiian dresses until the fall.

As my next knitting project, I think I shall knit a Sontag, a soft, pink one for my Mom, which she's been requesting ever since we saw Little Dorrit. 

But first...

...I think I need to tidy and organize my work basket. But not today.

Today I have a full day. First I have a meeting with the Harold B. Pricklepants Society to discuss our current read, The Dean's Watch by Elizabeth Goudge. (Just the title is compelling, with its multiple meanings.) Then later in the afternoon, if all goes as planned, I will be going to the movies with my sisters to see a truly masterful cinematic work that we have been looking forward to.

Monster's University!!!

The First Day of Summer

It's the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year! After a few weeks of chilly Norway summer (as my Mom affectionately calls it) I'm once again ready for summer's heat. Not to mention the flowers.

While discovering all these treasures in the garden I also discovered how addicting it can be snapping pictures of such a beautiful place.

Runty is not as cute as the puffy little chicks that are everywhere this year (see my sister's blog, Pursuing a Jeffersonian Education, for chick details) but he's still a fine figure of a bird.

Tonight we will celebrate the longest day of the year by spending a late evening outdoors, feasting, talking, laughing, and maybe even a little swim.

Beauty is all around us, outside...

...and in. 

Happy first day of Summer!