Summer Days
The days are lazy now. Temps in the mid 70's to low 80's are perfect.
When we get going in the mornings, sometimes earlier, sometimes later, we go for our exercise walk. We are doing about 3.25 miles these days, a little less than we used to. Recovery time is longer now.
After I shower off the sweat, I try to keep moving for a while. I might go out into the garden to pick flowers and arrange them for the house.
Wednesday I picked our first bouquet of sweet peas. Oh, the fragrance!
Old pitchers hold dahlias, butterfly bush,and cosmos for the family room.
Flowers for the downstairs bathroom include a star gazer lily. More wonderful fragrance.
Thursday morning our walk was later, but afterwards, I took my bucket and snippy scissors out into the garden to deadhead roses and dahlias and whatever catches my eye.
What also catches my eye are the butterflies flitting and dancing over the flowers, not willing to land for my camera to capture, and the bees buzzing about in the poppies.
I smell the sweet peas and are drawn to the color of the lilies and clematis.
Poppies pop and sunflowers nod.
What's that! Not a butterfly! A dragonfly!
I take time to stroll down the path to the deck, and find a chickadee drinking in the birdbath, and keeping an eye on that other guy sitting there.
Friday's job will be to clean out and refresh the bird baths.
We have been watching the Republican Convention in the evenings, and during the late morning and afternoon, we do a lot of reading and analysis: New York Times Opinion Page articles, Facebook links, newspaper articles. I share a few that I really like, much to the displeasure of some of my FB friends, I'm sure, but I really do consider truth to be important, and not too much of that has been on display lately.
Josy emerges from her long morning nap and joins us on the cool concrete of the patio. She likes to hang out with us.
Friday we'll go to breakfast with friends, and hopefully get a walk in afterwards, if it is cool enough. Saturday we'll go to a couple of open gardens and then I'll do some cooking for Sunday.
Sunday we'll travel down I-5 to join in on a family reunion, a cabin meeting and a 70th birthday party for my sister Laurie.
On Monday we'll slow down again.
What a nice way to restore peace to your being after that awful Republican convention. Sweet peas and poppies are some of my most favorite flowers.
ReplyDeleteWonderful pictures of your life, the flowers and critters who inhabit your sphere. Including Juzy. :-)
ReplyDeleteYour flowers are very lovely. I love Sweet Peas but haven't much luck growing them Now some perennial ones are thriving but they have no scent.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great weekend for you. Enjoy.
I've seen quite a few lovely swallowtail butterflies in my garden this year. Most years I see very few. I wonder if it's the cool, wet summer we're having. Loved seeing your pictures of your garden, especially since I missed your Open Garden last weekend. I hope Peter told you "Hi!" from me.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful yard and garden you have. I do love cut flowers in the house and am glad I have plenty to enjoy the outdoors and see them inside too.
ReplyDeleteMB
It looks like your flowers are at their peak. Not many people pick as many bouquets as you do and enjoy them in the house. The GOP convention showed an awful lot of stoney little hearts. They don't realize that they have to reach out to solve things rather than build walls and fences.
ReplyDeleteRed, your commentary on the RNC is right on the mark. I can only hope that when they get away from the group think, they will have clearer minds and hearts.
DeleteI'd love to pick fresh bouquets in your garden each morning! Lovely post.
ReplyDeletethe bird bath pictures are so sweet!
ReplyDeleteWhat great arrangements and how nice they are just a snip away. Your house must smell wonderful.
ReplyDeleteYou might want to tone down the lovely temps you are having or your area will be swamped with sweaty, disgruntled folks from the rest of the US. 104 actual temp here today. 80 sounds like heaven.
Just flat out lovely. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteWish I could have such lovely flowers, but our heat and humidity are just too much right now.
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful! I can almost smell the flowers in your yard. I love that little bird in the birdbath.
ReplyDeleteYour flowers are truly amazing. My husband follows your blog now and then and enjoyed your flowers, too.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful garden pictures. Doesn't it make your heart sing to be surrounded by such pretty flowers.
ReplyDeleteAh these lazy summer days are amazing! Your pictures of the chickadee checking out the other guy in the birdbath are priceless.
ReplyDeleteYour flowers are beautiful! :)
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