Into the Wild Wood and Home Again

Another warm start to the day-- I sure could get used to it. Holly and I planted a few more things yesterday; we'll see what happens with the lettuce and spinach. I chose to put them in a porch planter. That way, I can keep them out of the sun if it gets too hot. And we broadcast some red poppies-- we'll see what comes of that, too.  Students are liking both Our Town and Summer of Soul, which is good. I have to grade a pile of essays I left alone this weekend, but mostly, things are rolling along well enough.  And I finally got my second galley proofs for the new book! They tell me that the printer is running about two weeks behind, which is going to likely make me shift my book release party. Sigh. Now I have to figure that part out. But I'll ask them for a better idea of when the book will arrive. I was hoping for June 14th (Flag Day, not UFC debacle day). It may have to shift to Fathers' Day. I dunno. I'm balancing a lot of scheduling, and it seems like either a...

We spent most of yesterday outdoors-- G doing most of my self-appointed tasks, as well as a few he wanted to get done. After church (and pancake breakfast!), we went to buy another phlox and a rose bush. Well, I got a couple of petunias, but restrained myself-- it's too early for vegetable sets. The lovely weather is misleading. We will not plant garden crops until the first of June (there's a second full moon in May this year--colder nights are a likelihood). G did the pruning for me (my ankle is in full revolt lately), and went on to prune back forsythias, dig holes, plant phlox, move solar lights...I'm sure there's something else, too, but it was a lovely outdoor day, getting things done. I got to hang out with Meg and Holly for a bit, too, and I made a nice Sunday dinner for us all. Fresh blueberry-rhubarb pie! Roast chicken and veggies! And all the windows were open.  Achoo. Pollen everywhere, too. The apple trees are blooming. The pears are still blooming like cra...

Ooo I got drafted to read this morning-- so, short note. I need to read over the passages.  I hope your Sunday is glorious.  It's sunny and warm. We'll be outside for a good part of today, I think! Ciao for now, blessings for everyone. C

I should not ever start my day by reading the news feed. I'm carrying around a whole lot of angst, and that does not help in any way. What does today look like? I know there's errands and folding laundry involved. I want to do some outdoor stuff, but I don't feel confident getting into the roses when there's no one around-- if I topple, I will not be able to right myself easily. And no, taking a cell phone out into the rose bushes is not a good plan, either-- if it should drop, I won't be able to navigate safely to pick it up. So, that pressing project is likely moved to tomorrow. No matter. It'll get done.  Confronting limitations is never an easy thing to do, and I'm really having a hard time with the new level of "be safe" and "pace yourself" that physical limitations are putting on me. I used to do so much, so quickly, and solo. It's damned depressing. And there's not a lot of help to be had; people are busy with their own to-...

Another warm/damp start to the day-- I'll take it. Yes, it'll be nice to see some warm and sunny, but warm is good.  Speaking of warm, I am wearing denim capri pants today. Not that newsworthy, I'm sure, but still-- it's not wool socks, fleece-lined leggings and a sweater.  And speaking of clothing, I never really noticed just how prominent clothing as ritual gifts is in The Odyssey. Yes, there's gold, usually bowls and tripods, lots of animals, sometimes women, but the tunics and cloaks are just as prominent. Sometimes one-fold, sometimes two-fold tunics. They are stored away just as carefully as the hardware. I got thinking, then, that it's women who created these articles of clothing. The hours needed are amazing. The threads, created from raw materials like wool and flax, all had to be processed by women. So of course, the clothing is precious. Beggars go about wrapped in untanned ox hide. Sometimes, the gift-women given are not for sexual reasons, but beca...

Raining, but warmer...it's already over 50 degrees, which beats yesterday's high. The new herb plants and flower seeds will likely be happier. I have my garden boxes figured out, I think. But G ordered this cool little sampler of seeds that can be used for saving seeds after the plants grow. So now I have a plethora of interesting things to try out. Some, I will not. I am not growing okra. But there's three types of lettuce-- I was not going to grow lettuce, but now I think I might do that in the square planter on the deck. That way I can move it to shade so the plants don't cook in the sun. I'll grow beans and peas, squashes, tomatoes, and a shared box of carrots, beets, and parsnips. I might pop in a cuke plant, but we'll see. I have terrible luck with them. But who knows?  At any rate, none of this is happening until later in the month, so we can avoid that Blue Moon possible frost. Ah, New England. Short growing season, and we want our veggies before Septemb...