It doesn't all have to be about wedding planning, right? I mean, days can just be days.
On Saturday someone asked me what we were doing (a question that gets asked a lot around here, as if things are so unpredictable that you just wouldn't know if suddenly we were all going bungee jumping or something), and I said (and hopefully this resonates with you Pinkie and the Brain fans), “Same thing we do every day, Pinkie — plan a wedding!”
And this coming Thursday on {pretty, happy, funny, real} I will share a little wedding planning, just because well, yes, it's what we are doing. {Please join us for {phfr}!}
For now, though, let's just relax.
Sunday before Mass:
Pippo got dressed and then was feeling spunky with the pillow:
We had an early dinner and I grilled.
The Chief was highly motivated to clean our sadly feeble gas grill (as in actually clean the burners), because he just couldn't bear the thought of me going out to find another one (this one was free and that's how I like my grills, but you realize the downside: the hauling of questionable grills home and the subsequent hauling of confirmedly dead grills to the recycling center which may or may not accept them, resulting in a grill graveyard at your own house).
It was then so amazingly functional that I nearly burned the deck down while incinerating our burgers.
Note to self: re-calibrate your internal grill settings.
And then we headed to Rota Spring, the local dairy where the ice cream is yummy and the cows are cute and everyone is hanging out, because, let's face it, there aren't many hangouts in these parts. This is a good one, though, and Pippo got to visit with the cows and goats and generally “get his ya-yas out” — something toddlers just have to do of a Sunday evening. And yes, we ran into several friends!
In other regular news, The Garden.
This should be a separate post, but I only have this one in me, so — want to see the garden?
I can't believe I've even been gardening. Just a little. I will say that raised beds make it possible for someone like me (who thinks that everything is just a huge chore, when, really, if you just go out there for an hour or so you can get a lot done) to get some stuff planted. In my defense, the weeds here are bionic. And there are the chickens, who are like the anti-gardeners of life, rendering your future lettuce-free and iffy as concerns broccoli. Someone should fence them in. Maybe after the you-know-what.
Tomatoes waiting to be tied to their stakes, peas, onions, and lambs' quarters beyond. |
Here we have the plants that didn't make it out of the cold frame this spring. I hope they will just do fine, because this is where they are staying:
Zucchini, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Yikes. |
Beans; and eggplant (a bit stressed out) and peppers beyond. |
You can't really see much, but in this bed are the two butternut squash the chickens spared. I didn't think there were any, so I am pleased. |
Remember when we severely pruned these pear trees (and the one off screen on the right)? I am hoping that the crop will be nice this year. So far, so good! And, in happy news, the bluebirds have returned to their house! Phil made it extra special cat proof, so hopefully the babies will do fine. Otherwise, I will feel very, very guilty, luring bluebirds to what is basically the cat's hunting grounds. |
I cleaned my lens after taking these photos. Maybe next time you won't feel that your eyesight is getting funky! See you on Thursday! MWAH!
Jamie says
It is good to hear from you! I am looking forward to PHFR this Thursday.
The photo of the cold frame stuffed with growth is truly amusing. It's a good thing you opened up the window-can't you just picture them stuffed in there with fruit and trying to get out? I think you have evened up the odds by opening the window.
Anitra says
How close are you to Rota Springs? That's right around the corner (OK, about 3 miles) from my church! We often go there after evening service Sundays in July & August.
glendachilders says
Sounds wonderfully fun and busy.
PNG says
Lots of fun going on there.:). One of my husband's colleagues trained bluebirds to come to her home to feed and nest. She feeds them meal worms. I thought of doing this and Paul is encouraging me, but maybe when the kids are bigger. None of our baby birds made it…finches, cardinal, and robin families all lost their young. It was very sad for the kids. See you on Thursday!
Claire says
Wonderful dairy farm pics! Was turquoise the liturgical color last Sunday, and I didn't know it? 🙂
Lisa G. says
I'm at work, so must hurry, but – it seems like you all pre-coordinate your clothing so as to look very lovely when seen in public. Everyone has some blue on! Very impressive. 😀
Amy says
Did you also have a blue shirt on? I thought my family was the only one that does that. My daughter says its easier to find her parents that way. I think it comes from years of trying to get the “perfect” family photo. LOL
Also the garden looks wonderful. I didn't get anything in this year except herbs. Sigh.
_Leila says
No you guys, those aren't our Mass clothes at the dairy! That was after the grilling, remember? We changed. I don't know why everyone changed into blue. (Pippo didn't change — he likes to look snappy for the goats.)
Tamara says
I am so happy to 'hear your voice'! I have missed you! Thanks for sharing a little normal with us.
JessT says
All lovely.
Pinky and the Brain was a favorite around here, too.
🙂
Anne says
Nice Jammies Pippo!!
Cheryl (Copperswife) says
Wow! Such a nice, big garden in the midst of TWO weddings! I'm impressed. So great to have catching up sort of post. Pippo is such a dapper little guy!
Pippajo says
Today a wedding, tomorrow THE WORLD! Honestly, my hat is still off to you. Anyone who can accomplish what you're doing probably COULD take over the world. I love Pinky and the Brain. But you probably could have predicted that.
That dairy farm looks positively delightful. Green grass, rolling hills, ice cream…quite a pleasant way to spend a Sunday afternoon! It's been too hot to do anything like that around here, though the weather seems to be more promising today!
Also, I found the Normal Day post to be very relaxing. I think I need one of those…but not happening until…oh, let's see…November? Thank Heaven WE don't have a wedding on our horizon!
Yuuko Ichihara says
“And there are the chickens, who are like the anti-gardeners of life, rendering your future lettuce-free and iffy as concerns broccoli.”
That just summed up my recent bout with the chickens, except the plants involved were pepper, tomato, and basil seedlings. Anti-gardeners of life indeed. That's their new name from now on.
kathi says
I agree. missing your posts like this. but i get it, daughters … weddings …
*i was also thinking … they are all dressed alike 🙂
see you tomorrow for {phfr}
Elizabeth says
I hate to correct you on the potatoes, but it is not true that even the least talented gardener can grow them. Last year I planted more than I harvested. Which is a truly sad commentary on my gardening skills; hopefully you will have more luck. (Yesterday I found what I believe to be a potato growing out of my compost bin. I am cautiosly hopeful of an actual harvest this year, as soon as I can cofirm that it is, in fact, and potato.)
Aren't Sunday afternoons and ice cream just the perfect combination? 🙂
wanderingsue says
MWAH back to you, Auntie Leila! Thanks for the green-ness and the chuckles. Wish I could come plant something for you, and please do something special with that itty bitty bit of lace! (Yes, I'm a few days behind.) I think it sings for an itty bitty frame of it's own.