A photo I took the other day just to show you how huge the limelight hydrangea is! Soon it will be taller than the porch roof. (That’s where the catbirds had their nest.)

It does make a statement, doesn’t it?

That’s the front lawn after I went crazy and mowed it all – Don helped a little, but it was mostly me. I also mowed the secret garden because it was as dry as I’ve ever seen it – usually it’s so wet that any attempt to mow it is a messy and yucky experience. That dryness tells you how little rain we’ve had this second half of summer. We had a brief thunderstorm the other day, but really, no impact whatsoever. The rivers are quite low. This is exactly what happened last summer.

I’m working on the dialect/script and finishing off our deductions. I’d like to have the weekend free of anything other than being with Don and making a list of what to pack. I’ll be driving down to the theater in New Jersey on Tuesday. Wednesday is the first rehearsal. I’ll most likely be there through Sunday’s rehearsal and then I’ll drive home that night or Monday morning, depending on how late I’m at rehearsal.

Don will get instructions as to his ‘watering schedule.’ I will walk him through everything. And you can bet I’ll be checking in to make sure he’s doing it!

In the back and forth with the theater about lodging, etc., I noticed a sentence saying that some accommodations would have to be double occupancy. I immediately let them know that was not going to happen for me. And I used the age card with “I’m 72!” I clarified that I was not feeble or anything like that, but after doing this all over the country for 40+ years, I felt I had earned my own space, not shared with anyone. They were great about it. I’ll be an in apartment next week, and then, when I am there for two days at a time, I’ll be in a hotel. That’s fine.

That would have been a deal breaker. Very thankful it didn’t come to that.

Okay. Time to make the second cup of coffee and return to the script.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

We’ve been going through a couple of days with air quality warnings because of the wildfires in Canada. It’s also been extremely hot, so we’ve been staying inside – except to water all the plants, of course. And in Don’s case, to take a short walk in the morning.

I’m going to try to mow a bit this morning before it gets too hot. We’ve been leaving the lawn alone because of the heat and the lack of rain but the front lawn in getting too long, so it’s time. I also have to do some work on the play, and finish our deductions to send to our new tax person. Our former tax preparer retired last year and we miss her! We worked with her for 26 years.

Please say a prayer for my best friend, Laural, who has been going through several health crises over the past months. We had a long talk on the phone yesterday. My heart goes out to her. She is such an incredible person; we met when I was 12, so that makes 60 years of friendship. She has had more than enough health issues to battle in her lifetime and it’s time for that to end. I want to see her healthy and thriving once more.

I thought Miyoshi looked too hot in her kimono and I wanted to see her in a dress. (Don misses the kimono.) Isn’t she pretty? I find myself looking at her a lot during the day. I love this customization – Maiko created a perfect doll. Don’t worry, she’ll don her kimono soon; most certainly for Christmas as that red color is perfect for the holidays.

She has the rosiest lips of any of my Blythes.

Heavens, I love looking at her!

Okay. Gearing myself up for mowing later this morning.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

I had two wondrous experiences this weekend.

On Saturday during the afternoon, I looked outside and saw a Monarch butterfly. He was gliding through the air. He would glide, then land on a plant or flower, then he’d take off again and glide. I called Don to the window and we watched him and I knew he had just emerged from his chrysalis. He was getting used to flying. He would soar over the area between the big garden bed and the memorial garden. I must have watched him for an hour as he discovered who he was, drying his wings, gliding, and resting. Toward the end of that time, he started to vigorously pump his wings. He was getting it. He was growing stronger. Soon after that, he moved on. What a privilege to see him just after he had emerged. To know he came from an egg laid on our milkweed, that he became a caterpillar, then a chrysalis, then this beautiful creature.

There he is. It wasn’t until I did a close up that I saw tears and damage to his wings. I wonder what happened as he emerged? Or right after he emerged?  Nevertheless, he seemed to be fine – strong, and vigorous.

Sunday morning. We got up and I was very groggy. As I always do, after opening the blinds in our bedroom, I walked into the office to open the blinds there. As I walked to the window (blinds still closed) I had the thought “deer.” Then I opened the blinds and there was a deer running down the road in front of our house. He was running right next to our property on the other side of the culvert. I’ve only seen that one other time in the 20 years we’ve lived here. There was no traffic at the time, so he was safe.

But here’s the thing: I had the thought “deer” and then I opened up the blinds and saw a deer.

Can’t quite get my head around that, but it was mystical and beautiful.

As was seeing the Monarch.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.