100 days of summer :: day 20

“but now the news of the world aged him more than time itself.”

― Paulette Jiles, News of the World

the yellow loosestrife would take over the garden if I let it. this gives me pleasure, assuming that when I leave this world, it will still bloom summer after summer. I spend the morning in the garden deadheading and doing my best to prune our hydrangeas (which is a bit confusing). come afternoon we head into town to have scones and tea and paint at one of those studios, where you can pick out your unglazed item and paint away. Percy picks out the best mug for his dad and they work together on colors and design. he then helps me finish up mine. We eat scones, with lime coconut cream! and we leave our projects to be fired. i watch my son and his family moving through all the steps of parenting a five year old. one who has his own opinions, and my heart swells at the good job they are doing. I marvel at how time flies. I worry about the state of our world right now, and can’t help but wonder how they will handle the mess we are leaving them as I watch them interact and laugh as they celebrate father’s day, while deep in my heart I pray and pray.

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100 days of summer :: day 19

“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.
Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.”
— Albert Schweitzer

how the two of them get me, how they listen, and how they spark something in me that makes me want to run right to my camera to try new things, for taking time in the afternoon to lay on the couch with the dog and read, and closing my eyes for a few minutes, to listen to the birds
for him coming home so excited and happy after time with a couple of our boys sporting new t-shirts for us all
for clean sheets, and clean bathrooms, and wishing the kids next door happy last day of school
for growing wiser as I age, wise enough to let go of things that just don’t work any longer and embracing what does.

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100 days of summer:: day 18

“There is nothing that is comparable to it, as satisfactory or as thrilling as gathering vegetables one has grown.”
—Alice B. Toklas

the cool breeze that came in off the deck after the heat of the past few days,
how the lake looked like glass and every shade of blue,
the sun coming out in the afternoon and taking time to just enjoy it
listening to crows, the first poppy in the garden,
spicy greens from the garden for tonights salad

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100 days of summer :: day 17

“I want to lay up like that, to float unstructured, without ambition or anxiety. I want to inhabit my life like a porch.”

― Rebecca Wells, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

falling back to sleep early this morning, when I didn’t think I would
accepting how I forget things now and then, without panic
the two of us together out in the garden for a couple of hours
fresh greens from the garden, along with lots of fresh herbs, in the salad I had for lunch
for how this practice has become a bit of routine now, how it has slowed me down,
and become a place to rethink my day, helping me to let of go of frustrations
and turning my focus instead to the simple things that bring me joy …
like daisies, in every room of the house

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100 days of summer :: day 16

“The most significant gifts are the ones most easily overlooked. Small, everyday blessings: woods, health, music, laughter, memories, books, family, friends, second chances, warm fireplaces, and all the footprints scattered throughout our days.” 

~ Sue Monk Kidd

gratitude for the warmth of the morning sun on my face and the quiet of the morning.
for a few hours with Percy, books read, bug hunting and the study of ladybugs.
for the simplicity of a peanut butter sandwich with last years rasberry jam
for him listening to the restlessness in my heart right now, and how he doesn’t try to fix it.
for celebrating vegan week out and about with my my youngest and his family
and, finding it hard to share the best butter bean humus with roasted cauliflower dish, because I wanted it all to myself!

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