Today's labors

Brian and I picked 68# of blueberries today (at the farm of one of Rick's clients), resulting in 12 packed gallon bags in the freezer and a 2# container in the frig for topping breakfast cereal. In addition, I finally got all that basil made into a double batch of pesto.

That's it for today from . . .

It's what the cool kids do

If I'm going to keep up with the "cool kids" (here's lookin' at YOUR blogs Claire, Leigh, Mama Pea, and Susan!), then I'd better do a garden update – even if I'm not cool enough to have raised beds.

Yesterday was mostly overcast, breezy and cool, perfect for working in the garden – even if one was to get a late start. 😕 Brian got home from work at 12:15, Rick got up to take his mother to the airport about four hours later, then I got up . . . while Brian slept in. Since Brian had had plenty of ways to communicate when he needed to get up and if he needed a wake-up call (and has been adamant that he doesn't need us telling him ANYthing), I didn't go into his room until 9:30 – which, as it turned out, was 30 minutes before he needed to be at work and he was supposed to pick up a friend first. He roared out of bed (actually, I found him sleeping on his bedroom floor) berating at me for not waking him earlier, insisted he didn't have time to do chores (that didn't fly), and then flew down the driveway without eating breakfast (I did throw together a lunch for him). I prayed (among other things) that he'd get a speeding ticket rather than have a wreck, and trudged to the garden. It's amazing how physically draining a heavy heart is....

There was brief sun, but thankfully it clouded over again. I chose a photo angle that didn't make the garden look too bad, but at the far side where vegetable patch meets berry patch and all around the perimeter, the weeds are rampant!

Early Girl, true to its name

For some reason the cherry tomatoes never last long enough to make it into a photo!

volunteer parsley

There were a lot more snow peas than I expected, and I picked the first mess of tender bush beans (I packed a pint of each in brine so they can ferment). The basil got a good trimming, and I took the few peppers that were coloring up. There's probably a bushel or two of kale that I still need to pick and freeze.... I found some volunteer parsley in the peas, which was a welcome surprise; the plants I moved to my chive barrel almost died from too little water and now all they want to do is bloom and go to seed.

While carrying my harvest back to the house, I captured this summer scene: horses on dry grass, armed with masks and tails against the flies, framed by lavender.

You won't see any photos of the sheep out on pasture; the foxtails are dry and deadly. There is some forage in the little wooded lot, but the boys are still in the Ram-ada Inn. Blake is as lame as ever, even though Rick has treated his right knee twice with shockwave therapy. Not sure what else to try, but love is always appreciated.

Tuesday I played hooky. The only riding friend I have left had asked if I wanted to meet her at Perrydale Trails, and I jumped at the chance! Lance set a good example for my friend's horse, who has extensive arena experience but very little with trails and trail obstacles. It was a beautiful day:

That's it for now from . . .

Flying solo

It's been a strange Sunday. Brian left early for his first day of his new job driving combine, and may not get back until late. He's called and texted and sent a couple photos; he seems to be enjoying himself.

Rick left a bit later to help a church member move furniture and has been gone ever since. He took his latest wooden bowl with him so I suspect he's spent the rest of his day at his wood-turning mentor's shop.

That's left me home alone, which I don't mind at all except for the not knowing when to expect anyone. There are leftovers in the frig, so it's easy enough to serve supper to whoever, whenever. I've baked and watered, did laundry and weeded, spun some yarn and filled a feed sack full of noxious weeds from another patrol around the property. Nothing very exciting, but since I have the time, I figured I might as well post.

After spinning 44g of singles on my new Lilac Wren, I started my Juniper Egret's maiden flight. The Wren spins much faster; the Egret is better suited for plying but it's doing a fine job of spinning singles, too.

Oh – I sampled my fermented snow peas tonight and they are TASTY! Too bad their season is about over.

That's it for Solo Sunday at . . .

Life. It's . . .

sometimes silly:

sometimes sweet:

sometimes scary:

sometimes serene:

sometimes sad:

sometimes sweaty:

And this time of year, during the Tour de France/Fleece? There's lots of spinning!

We got some wonderful summer rain, so I've spent hours this week pulling weeds while the pulling was easy(er). But now it's warm and muggy, which makes me feel sticky-icky-stanky-cranky. Then it's particularly hard not to fret about the direction the teenager seems headed, my horse's handicaps, and the daily decline I'm noticing in Jackson. Our dogs truly are old friends now, and we're facing their one and only flaw – they never live long enough.

We're all hangin' in there for now at . . .