Summer is Winding Down

Summer is winding down. The mornings are cooler. Water polo has begun. My son is in his second year of polo. They practice morning and night. It brings back poolside memories of swimming and lifeguarding. Tomorrow I might bring my suit and swim laps while the boys practice. The thought is quite appealing.

In the garden we've got lots and lots of green tomatoes. I can't believe I've nurtured these plants from seed. Now my fingers are crossed that they'll turn red. If not we'll have fried green tomatoes out the wazoo.

The beehive sits next to my raised beds. This was all well and good until I got stung -- my first ever bee sting. No major allergic reactions yet. But I need to wait for the next sting to truly determine whether or not allergies will be an issue.

The bees are getting more protective of their area and do not want me watering my tomatoes. Whenever I start messing around the bed the guard bees buzz my head with their aggressive warning. Though the bee sting wasn't too bad I'm not interested in a repeat so soon. Thus I put on my bee suit to water. In the suit the bees leave me alone. It smells of smoke -- I wonder if that's the difference.

Our lavender is done with its bloom. I let the buds dry on the vine in order to give the bees full access to the plants. Now I've begun to harvest and the lavender is hanging in our dining room. I plan to make homemade linen spray (vodka plus lavender buds). Perhaps this spray will make its way into our holiday gifting.

I'm also in a nesting mode. Anxious to clean house, cook and prepare for the school year to come. I plan to make and freeze breakfast sandwiches and whole grain waffles. I'd also like to make another batch of granola and bake some bread. But all of this will have to wait until tomorrow. Today I am tired from the night shift and plan to laze the day away.

As I type I am laying on the couch. Little is snuggled next to me. Phineas and Ferb is on the tv. Our new cockatiel, Leo, paces back and forth on the arm rest while carrying on a serious discussion with my feet. Every once in a while he pauses his conversation to nibble on my socks.

Mr. Peculiar brought this bird home from a garage sale -- free to a good home. We've housed him with our other cockatiel but it seems he prefers human company. I've learned it's best to spend time entertaining him; it's that or listen to him screech.

And speaking of birds - the chickens are laying full force. We have such a variety of eggs, dark and light brown, sweet mint green, large and small. I keep them on the counter and *love* seeing them each and every time I walk into the kitchen.

Now I'm going to enjoy some cantaloupe. After that I'll snuggle in bed with my book, The True Darcy Spirit, and relish today's lazy disposition.

I hope you, too, are having a wonderful day.

xo.