Friday, July 26, 2019

July 26th, 2019

I rise early this morning.

Five a.m. and already the morning light surprises my opening eyes.

It is still, - no breeze, but a  squirrel is stirring

the leaves of the elderberry outside

my bedroom window.

I consider another hour under the covers

but these morning hours are so contemplative

and the thoughts of coffee, and a quiet hour or two

before the day takes over

draws me from my bed.

I call to Bruce, who is as eager as I to start the day,

and he rushes down the hall and out into the back garden

his nails clicking on the floor, and Baby, his comfortable bear

in his mouth,

When he comes in we have a little conversation

about the dog groomer who is coming to pay him a business visit

today, and restore his orderly and gentleman appearance.

We are so pleased to have found a "traveling groomer"

as since I stopped driving he has missed going to see Jennifer

who in the past has attended to his doggy needs...

bath, a pedicure, shave and a haircut!!!!!

And he had become a most roguish dog, - his top knot

disorderly, and his hair long and shaggy.  And in need of a shampoo!!

But look at him now!!!!

Well, I didn't mean to just write about Bruce...

I spend the morning winding the rest of the towel warp

and beaming it on to the loom with the aid of two large heavy books

and a vinegar jar full of water, tied to the end of the warp

to provide the tension for winding it on the back beam.

Finished just as lunch time loomed

and the dog groomer arrived....

and here are the results of his visit!!!!!



We spent the afternoon outside in the shade, reading,

with a mister going beside the rocker, to cool the air....

Callie, and Bruce and me.






Monday, July 22, 2019

Monday, July 22nd, 2019

A Recharge Day

Well, that's how I like to think of it, anyway.

It gives the day some meaning

instead of it being a day during which I did

almost nothing!!!

I can remember those days

(very infrequent)

many years ago

when the children would be off to school

and Charles off about his own business

and I would do JUST NOTHING

except dream, and make plans, 

and look at recipes and home decor ideas.

And that's about how it was today!!

I made sure the birds were fed

and the plants watered,

and I did scrub up the fountain lady

who is inclined to get a slimey goo on her

from the water that flows from the flower at her shoulder.

Pristine when she first came to grace our garden

(a gift from our third son and his wife)

but not so much now, and I am looking for ways

to restore her back to her original pure condition.

Well, these lackadaisical days are not a total loss -

they are often an inspiration and a wonderful spirit charger!!!

I rearranged all my cotton, and lined up some beautiful blues

for a new warp to dress the newly naked loom

from which I took this puckered scarf.



And I laid out some knitting instructions

for children's mitten and toques

which I thought would make nice Christmas gifts.

The do-nothing mode has followed me into the evening

but I must go out, after a hot, hot afternoon

and check that everything will get through the night 

without getting thirsty.

Here is Callie, the Cat,

come to keep me company as she usually

does in the evening

when I am at the computer.

A welcome guest except when she

lays a paw on the keyboard

and the screen is full of

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

or  ssssssssssssssssssssss

So will she come out with me into the cool

of the evening garden?

If so, she will probably find a leafy spot

to lie in and won't come back

until it's treat time and we all get

ready for bed!

Tomorrow I am going to the library

to take back a DVD

"Bird Song".

(a sweet love story)

I need no books, having found in my mail box

a  wonderful shipment from the Thrift Store ----

Two  Loren Eiseley books

"The Star Thrower"  and "The Unexpected Universe"

and Nevil Shute's "A Town Called Alice"

All of them re-reads from the past

but books that meant so much to me in those

early years when the children were small

and I snatched time to read from those wonderful busy days!

on another note.......

Here is the Rose of Sharon

the star of the garden right now....