filling gaps

... in our walls, as the guy is here this week to repair holes from the rewiring, box in ductwork that had been left exposed to act as conduits for said wiring, and possibly rip down the kitchen ceiling to expose some sweet beams and wood.

... in the calendar, as June stretches out and I dutifully fill in planned events, an overnighter to celebrate M's 10th birthday, bday parties for R and A. July brings their trip to Alabama for World Changers, and M and my drive to the States to pick them up after.

... in my running schedule as I try to persevere at doing a discipline I don't like to get results I do like.

... in my August schedule as my East Coast Tour (haha! love that) takes shape and adds a few more dates.

... in the kids' knowledge as we cover genetics and cell biology this week. This is a quick unit study in response to various discussions on DNA and such. Figuring out how to wrap up lessons soon with the nice weather and still complete what I'd wanted to.

aaah

It started raining last night.

Soft, warm rain that was still falling this morning as I woke.

I went outside to rescue the wet patio chairs and cover the grill and could almost hear the ground saying, "aaaahhhh...".

It has been so thirsty; we needed this.

quiet

May has been a busy month. We launched into it and from the 9th until yesterday almost constantly had visitors with us. D's folks, my folks, and some friends from Pennsylvania all spent time here at the farm. It was a fun month of reconnecting, being tour guides (and tourists ourselves, exploring the Parliament Buildings with our friends), and enjoying people.

Last week we celebrated M's 10th birthday, as our baby entered into double digits and once again I marveled at how the time flies, and what an amazing young lady she is. No wallflower, this one.

Now I'm sitting here with my coffee and summer stretches ahead. Finishing schooling, working on the farm, concert dates and an east coast trip, driving to the states to pick up the girls from a visit they'll be having there, trying to keep the chickens from attacking the poor little remnants of begonias (what do they have against them, really?).

While it's been busy and it's going to be busy, today I can sit with my coffee. Well, until it's time to leave for archery, take the kids to their last SHEP day, vacuum the pool, catch upon paperwork...

critics

I'm not a great flower gardener. And I know there are garden critics out there.

I know my little pots are nothing to write home about, but every year I put in some annuals that catch my attention, and hope they grow and make things pretty. This year the girls and I hit the garden centre and found lots of nice little plants. We came home and I had a nice time of solitude putting in the begonias on the shady side of my house. Not a lot of variety, just all sorts of little white flowers peeking from their thick green leaves.

Apparently it's just not right. Some of the hens pulled half of them out today. I put them back, and a few minutes later there she was again, eyeing my arrangement, sneering (okay, maybe not. I know you can't sneer without lips. But I bet she was thinking sneering thoughts) before she reached in, plucked out the hapless flower, and dropped it on the deck.

Perhaps this is the year for all hanging baskets?

work

I feel like I'm making progress.

Two gardens line the north side (facing the pool) of our house. They were full of the weed-from-hell that is the bane of my gardening existence. While it's not a noxious weed, it goes everywhere and spreads via a network of roots. It comes up first in spring, getting a head start on all the plants I want to see. You'd think it is a nice, lush ground cover ... until it chokes out all the columbines and hostas. I see their little leaves poking through, waving for rescue as they drown. The columbine's flowers look like little rescue flares sent up from a lifeboat.

While D's parents were here they very nicely helped out in the garden, digging and pulling out the weed with the girls. I continued that and while my parents were here after (been a busy month with visitors, and more to come) we tackled the shrubs on the other side.

End result (and I'm wishing I'd taken a 'before' photo) is two gardens that are coming under control. Still much to do, and D still advocates a scorched-earth policy, but it's getting there. Two days ago I moved two plants and added a new cute little shrub that seems happy in its new home. Yesterday the wild roses by the lamppost got a much-needed haircut as R mowed the lawn and the younger girls continued pulling out the roots of that weed. There'll be an ongoing battle against it, but I feel like we've established a beachhead, at least.

Nice thing is, when this is done I can sit out by the pool and not be faced by a garden desperately in need of work and crying "don't sit there, help meeeee!". Well, unless I turn a little to the left... sigh.

Have I mentioned it never ends?