The Third Act

A nice visit with friends…

…humans as well as canines…

 

always something new

When I opened the blinds upstairs and looked down on the garden, I could tell from a distance there was something different.  There was a color among the poppies that I hadn't seen before.  Heading out later to check on things, I discovered a couple new poppies blooming.  I'd completely forgotten the look of the flower from one of the seeds I'd planted.  What a delight...a couple of raggedy red poppies!  There was also a delicate little white poppy, plus all the the sweet peas now blooming.

That's how I get my charge these days, even if it's only momentary.  It's an opportunity to jump up and down with joy, squealing to the plants how cute they are!  I rather like the strange old woman I'm growing into (although I would appreciate finding ways to up my physical strength and stamina!).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

indulgences

Twice a week I have honey in my tea.  Twice a week, that tea is a home made blend with lots of smoky Lapsang Souchong.   There's always milk in my morning tea, but on the other days it's not sweetened and it's one or another kind of Puer.  For me, this twice a week sweetened tea is an indulgence.  I used to have honey in my tea every morning, but I wanted to guide my palate away from sweet.  And I used to have my special blend every morning, but I wanted to incorporate Puer on the regular for its purported health benefits (longevity and lowering cholesterol).  I'm always experimenting.

Anyway, I find that these two times a week, usually a Wednesday and a Saturday, have made this cuppa extra special.  The flavor I get takes me back to old memories, good memories.  I suppose there's some danger in that...old memories.  But when I feel into it, for me those memories are a part of the whole, they're history, they're actually part of the now.  It's a continuum.  Maybe that's the same reason I love to hang on to and view (on occasion...another indulgence) the breadth of my photostream on Flickr that goes back well over a decade.  What was in the past is part of who I am today, and something I've learned and grown from.

How's that for a meandering wander through my mind?

 

 

 

breakfast

I still rarely eat at my dining table.  This is a shame since it's a wonderful table.  Instead I carry my food to various spots in the house.  Many times I'll be poking about online, or watching something on TV while I eat.  Mostly I do this, I think, because I'm lonely and meals are one of those times when the loneliness is more palpable.  This is a habit I want to break, like so many other things about myself I'd like to change.  I don't think I'm bad or wrong for my misguided habits...I understand why they're there.  At the same time, I know there are better ways to live my life, ways which will contribute a more useful energy to my being.

So this morning I sat on my couch and ate my bowl of fruit and cereal, while looking out the window.  I avoided my computer and phone (after I did Wordle, that is), until lunch time.  This was a good thing.  It offers a better sense of engagement with life as it is.  Now to build on that (acknowledging the whole two steps forward, one step back dance).

 

 

 

Monday

The lovely weather continues.  Sunny, low humidity, warm during the day and cool at night.  I've had the delightful opportunity to comfortably work in the garden.  When the sun is full force, some of the plants look a bit wilty, but they perk up again as soon as the shade falls.

The container bed on the south side of the house is now ready for planting.  After the sunshine diminishes, I'll put in the herbs I have for there.  What I really need to do is get more wires up that go from one of the trellises (with the muscadine vine) to the eaves of the porch. I'd rather have company for that though, since it involves climbing on a ladder in an awkward space.  

Currently, it seems all I do is make photos of my garden.  I don't have a lot of other inspiration right now, so I let it be ok.  That being said, I feel like I'm one of those folks who are always posting pics of their kids to social media (not that there's anything wrong with that) and maybe people are bored.  But, that's okay too...everyone has the option to scroll past.  The garden is my day to day family at this point in my life.  The plants are my relations.  It tickles me when they do well and look pretty.

 

 

 

out back

Most of my attention and energy goes to the front yard and garden.  The back yard kind of takes care of itself.  That being said, I do have a vision for out there...something wild, yet thoughtful.  It's a lovely place to be, to listen to the birds and look up at the trees.  It's lovely until the mosquitoes are out in force, that is!  It was still quite pleasant today.

There's a lot of space on my property.  Even the heavy shaded areas have potential.  Today I worked more on the south side of the house (which now has sun, after two trees were removed last year between mine and the house next door).  I realized that there was still enough space for another raised bed.  St. John's wort and lavender will go in there.  I'm hoping those plants will do better in a situation with improved drainage than where I've been planting them.  I'm always experimenting.

 

 

 

 

The pawpaw tree is growing!  I think I planted the seed four years ago.  It came up in the garden, then I transplanted it to a pot and then in its final place in the yard.

more poppies

They keep coming, the poppies.  Over the few very hot days we had, the petals would almost dry up before they opened.  Now that it's cooled off, they're back to their regularly scheduled show.

I love the variety of poppy that gives great big pods (more seeds!!).  These may have crossed with the deep purple variety, however.  Last year the large podded flowers were pretty much light pink, with darker pink spots in the center.  This year, they're more of a light pinky purple.  Very interesting (and yes, I save my seed from year to year).

The honey bees really seem to like these blossoms.  They were all over them this morning, often three bees to a bloom.  Quite the show.

 

 

 

 

and here are some dill flowers just to mix things up a bit...

fermented soda

Now that warm weather has returned, I've revived my soda making practice.  These are made with a ginger bug to start, but after that I used the dregs from one batch to start the next (similar to how yogurt is made...and indeed, these are a lactobacillus culture).  The two I have on hand right now are ginger/lemon with buckwheat honey and ginger/pomegranate/lime sweetened with evaporated cane crystals (shown in the photos).  They make a nice soft cocktail in the evening.

 

 

 

the garden in June

I'll let it speak for itself...  Well, that is, except to say I was going to do more out there, but the heat/humidity/strong sun just felt not good to my body.  After my migraine-ish situation yesterday, I don't want to push it.  So, I watered some of the spots and pots where I put in new seeds.  I disposed of the poor deceased kitten I found out there (I found two voles also dead in the garden over the past week and I'm really hoping no one is putting out poison!).  Now I'm inside working on the photos I took yesterday.  This should be the last really hot day for the week.  The weekend looks pretty nice.  There's the potential for strong storms this evening as the cold front moves in.  Yep, seems like summer.

 

 

borage blossoms

black strawberry cherry tomato

garden peas

milkweed

Korean shiso

black hollyhock

daylily

squash blossom

nigella seed pod

A little push...

...or maybe a big push.  

I woke up early, to the bird chorus.  I guess I slept enough...it's sometimes hard to tell.  There wasn't a lot of tossing and turning, and I don't recall lengthy wake ups during the night.  

Anyway, I woke up and laid there, breathing deep.  I took a quick look at my phone (yeah, still haven't broken that habit).  Then I felt all the things that don't feel quite right in my body.  For some reason, it just struck me that, dangit, I'll just feel better if I get up and take a hot shower.  Hot shower in humid, warm weather?  Of course...my body always seems to like a hot shower.

Anyway, it was great to be up earlier than I have been.  I made time for a little movement and meditation.  I also was able to catch the light for a couple conceptual photos.  Just the thought of how often I nudge, cajole, push or shove myself into a space that, while I know it's better for me, I just don't want.  So, yeah, that was the idea.

It's hot and humid.  Summer is pushing itself into spring's time.  That happens.  The garden has been watered, photos have been taken (in the garden, not these).  I need to get some stamps, so that'll entail getting in my car and going somewhere.  I'm okay with that, I won't be long.  That being said, a trip out of town sounds nice, for a change of scenery if nothing else.  But that's not happening today.