more rain

started raining late in the day yesterday and then rained all night (i know because i was mostly awake because i could hear the wind and the rain and also because a little black messenger reported on the weather several times by meowing loudly and walking on my kidneys).  the rain was heavy at times but soaked in well and we didn't have any problems with runoff.   can't remember ever getting rain like this in may---happy for it.  the ten-day forecast shows we've got about a week of off and on rain still to come.

before the rain started up yesterday i was able to get a lot of planting done in the orchard garden.  it feels like a late start for planting but i've just been going with what the weather says the timing needs to be this year.  nature knows the way, i'm just a novice and attendant.

got a little more planting done today between rain showers.  i think we topped out at about 50 degrees F. but it was still a beautiful day.

tromboncino

traded my cow for these

why i mow and trim high

too cold and dark for the poppies to wake up today

i'm officially in love with cornflowers

party in the plum tree

still water in the creek

i told him to look noble and handsome or maybe it was the squirrel he was staring at

just lovely

happy mother's day!

i love you, mama.

40

today is my 40th birthday.   another quiet day in a quiet life surrounded by countless gifts.

2 minutes of awesome below, though i recommend watching it on youtube (click here) for a bigger picture.

spring

been having kind of a slow, coldish spring this year.  lots of rain, cloudy skies, and cool temps.  we've been mostly in the mid 60s to mid 70s with a few days in the 80s but no sustained heat or sunshine---just sort of bouncing around.  it's been the last couple of weeks that things have really started to green and grow and bloom.  most of the garden is still in flats in the greenhouse waiting to be planted out.
i've spent a fair amount of time on the riding mower and taking the string trimmer for walks but it's only been the last few days that i've really spent any significant time working in the gardens and i've been enjoying that a lot. 
just a few (mostly overcast) springy pictures to share...

squashes etc. in the greenhouse

assorted greenies in the kitchen garden

flowers sown in the fig orchard at thanksgiving now in full bloom

checkerspot having lunch

it's not spring without poppies

adorable little tramplers of flowers

deep in the green giving the turkey vultures what for

more to come when i have more time.  happy spring!

happy earth day!

the five-spots are smiling

tribute

together in the sunshine

more than the pain of my own sense of loss
i feel the pain of his
they knew each other's warmth in the womb
and every night for the 13 years of life they shared on earth
now the nights are colder for one
at some point every night
he wakes
and i hear him crying
in the dark
sometimes a frantic succession of short mews    
sometimes in low drawn out moans
i can hear him saying
“billy isn't here...
where is billy?”
and soon after
he jumps onto the foot of the bed
and walks up onto my belly or chest
and meows softly
telling me
“billy isn't here”
sometimes he stays for a moment
settling down on top of one or the other us
before slipping off again into the dark
i lie awake for a while with my heart aching for him
because i cannot find for him his lost brother
cannot explain to him where he has gone
during the day
he often naps on the bed
sometimes the sunlight coming through the window
washes over him at just the right angle
and i can see a series of dark stripes and spots
just like billy's
showing through from under his glossy black coat
and as i look at him
sleeping peacefully
i wonder if he dreams of being with his striped brother again
pressed to his familiar furry warmth
napping together in the sunshine