Saturday

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I love it when I get to see where someone I care about lives. I hope I don't bore you showing you my yard, which is where I've spent the day today.

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This is the side yard and this is JB's studio, called the Magic Cottage. When is warm enough to wear short sleeves and cold enough to be comfortable, like today, JB and I love the process of opening up and welcoming the yard after a snow filled winter. We bring out our lawn furniture and check out every plant and bush and tree.

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Last year I planted a couple of small trees; the front one is a peach tree. I have never planted any kind of fruit tree before and the branches were so full of peaches everything ended up on the ground. So today I pruned. I kept the stronger branches and cut all the little ones. My fingers are crossed.

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Like blogging, I am determined not let gardening be anything but fun. I don't mind taking my sweet old time. Today I cut back a bush that hadn't been touched for years, raked up the leaves all under it, mixed a wheel barrel of top soil and manure (I don't touch) and peat moss, planted three lilies, and turned over and mixed the soil in my backyard flower bed.
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JB did even more.
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And we hauled up our patio furniture, opened the umbrella, spread out the cozy chairs, and did a little planning and planting and pruning in a few areas, here and there.

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We had lunch and dinner outside.

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We bought perrenials at a church fair.

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JB put these azaleas in water. I don't know if floating them like this will work, but my picture doesn't do it justice. Beautiful and serene.

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How often do I take a break in one of these chairs? Very often.

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The back yard slowly came to life today. There is so much landscaping to be done, but I'm in no rush. I tackle little sections at a time, like my Mother's theory of cleaning 'one wall at a time.'
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Aaaaah. Agggh. Some rain must fall even on a fine day. This is our new floor in the very tiny laundry room. You can see our royal blue washer and dryer, which just arrived yesterday. So far so good. But....our trusty carpenter has been preoccupied with another project. He has squeezed us in and hasn't been his thoughtful reliable self. He was not here when the electrician put in the new plugs or when the plumber set up the new water thingy.

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The hole for the vent was cut in the wrong place on the floor. The outlets are too high so the plugs and wires show. The back door barely opens past the washing machine. We emptied our kitchen cabinets waiting for a cabinet removal that hasn't happened. The house is kind of a mess.

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Really, we've been pissed. And sad that this hasn't been the fun we expected. JB and I love making improvements to the house, especially when we don't have to do any of the work ourselves!

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But things happen. This is a guy who's been good to us. I keep telling myself: this is not a serious illness. This is not living an oppressive country. This is a little laundry and kitchen remodel. This is a person I think will make things right.

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I feel very mature saying this! I am trying to keep things in perspective these days.

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It's been a beautiful day. I have been outside all day doing what I love with a woman I love.

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I am not complaining. Not today. But since I am a very experienced and skilled and dedicated complainer, maybe tomorrow....

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Love

kj