Years ago, a reader of the blog sent me some forget-me-not seeds to sow after I lost both of my parents. I planted them in one of the beds. And now, years later, they are no longer in that bed, but they pop up all over the funky patio area and on the borders of some of the other beds. I love that. They’re sweet little flowers. Hi, Mom and Dad!

I am beat!  While Don was out running numerous errands for us, including grocery shopping, I mowed the larger part of the front lawn and the secret garden. The usual bodily responses on my part: tired, sore, and allergy ridden. I’ve been ordered by my husband to take it easy today and he will get no argument from me. I’m glad it’s done, I love mowing. But gosh darn it, I’m on my way to 74 and it’s a lot of work. All I’ll do today in terms of the outdoors is water the porch plants.

I’m finally getting into The Black Wolf. The delay in all of this is not due to Louise Penny. Rather, it’s my inability to concentrate on reading. I have ideas in my head about the dollhouse, I have a lot of work to do outside, and then there’s the debacle that is everything Agent Orange. Thankfully, I’ve reached a point where it’s hooked me, so I plan on doing some reading today, as well.

The wallpaper is on the way! I sent another message to the owner yesterday – no response – but then, at around 5 pm I got a tracking message saying it had left the post office and was on its way. Delivery is supposed to be on Tuesday. Now, I’m worried I’ll screw something up when I’m wallpapering and I’m also wondering why I didn’t order one extra sheet of each design. Ah, well. I am going to have to give myself a talking to: You can do it. You can do it.

It’s very cool today – in the 60s – it almost feels like a seasonal change. But it’s temporary. It will go back to the 70s and 80s next week.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

I mowed the back forty and the corral yesterday. It was at least 20 degrees cooler than it had been the day before, so it was a pleasant experience (except for allergies.) It looks much better out there!

I’m on hold with any further work on the dollhouse as I wait for the wallpaper I ordered, which is hung up in the mail. I contacted the seller because tracking shows that a label has been created as on lasts Monday, but it hasn’t moved since then. She responded and said she was sure it had shipped and that she would check into it. This was after the posts office had closed for the day, so we’ll see what I find out today. It’s frustrating. I don’t want to lose my mojo!

In the meantime, from my time outside mowing:

Wild phlox on the edge of the secret garden. I’ve never seen as much of it on the property as we have this year.

I love it.

Protecting The Dude, who is just beyond the phlox.

All of the black raspberries are in bloom.

I need to haul out the weed whacker soon, as well as yank lots of poison ivy. There are plenty of chores to keep me busy as I wait on the wallpaper shipment.

I have to cut this short as I have to help Don with a self-tape audition. Don’t get excited…it’s the kind of role that any actor of his age can do. He’s doesn’t even want to do it, but I talked him into it.

Okay, my friends.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Monday morning – it’s lovely and cool, but we’ll hit the 90s today, tomorrow, and Wednesday. Too hot, too soon. I’ve been watering everything outside and doing any work that is necessary in the garden early in the morning. This hot weather will break on Wednesday/Thursday.

We still don’t have the A/C units in yet and we are fighting having to put them in this early. Our thinking is if we can get through this little patch, we can hold off a bit longer. Fingers crossed, but really hot weather makes me cranky, so let’s see if this plan works out or not.

Any work on the dollhouse will have to be done in the morning because we don’t have a window unit for that room and I really don’t want to invest in one. And let’s face it, the Beacon Hill is NOT portable.

Yarrow is popping up everywhere. I planted some when we first moved here. Just one plant. In the intervening years, it stopped growing where I planted it and proceeded to reseed in the corral and all around the funky patio. Can’t wait to see it in full bloom.

The catalpa tree, always the last to leaf out, looked especially bare this year and over the weekend I expressed a little worry that it “might be dead.” Within 24 hours, I saw little green leaf buds emerging everywhere. I should know better. It’s quite dependable. We have other catalpas on the property, but the one I usually mention is huge, kind of the “grand old catalpa.”

And the pansies are doing so well!

Don is singing and composing and recording his songs – he wants to create an archive. This is a hard time for my love. He hasn’t had any work in a long time and is worried that he won’t be hired again. And he turns 75 next month, which is a milestone that is very difficult for him to come to terms with. All I can do is be there for him, and I am, of course. And make him laugh, which is my specialty.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.