7.2.10 Bedknobs & Broomsticks

The weather has been wonderful this week and it's good because the week has been quite busy. Some not so great things but most (as always) very good things.

The garden is slow to produce this year. It's usually slow because I do tend to get started late but this year seems a lot slower. It's already July and not one ripe tomato. there are plenty on the bushes but none ready for eating.

The hyacinth beans are beautiful! This is the first time I've grown them and have yet to eat them. I understand that many people say they're toxic but I intend to try some and see :) I believe it was Thomas Jefferson who grew and ate them often. They're certainly beautiful enough to grow for looks but everything here has to work for their space (with the exception of the paranormal cats - unless paranormal is an occupation, in which case I'll be adding it to my own resume).

Speaking of cat creatures ... Kirin has gotten so big! We bottle raised so many kittens over the years but none have impressed me as much as Kirin. He was so cold and his wick so low when we went back out to check him that night. I told Nik when I picked him up that I didn't think he had any chance at life left and for Nik to be prepared. He just turned 3 months old and is a little wildman and milk-aholic :)



Kirin, a few days old

Kirin, today - 3 months old :)

We spent most of the week getting work done that it was to hot for last week.

We had a few bummer things happen like ....

waiting over a week for a guy to bring some hay, it took almost a week just to get a hold of him and then he put me off for a few more days and I had to buy more expensive hay to hold us over, then the day he was to bring it at around 8:00am he never showed up or called, I finally called him around noon and he said he thought i wanted him to deliver after dark *~* I explained that was not the case at all and he said he would be able to deliver it between 2:00 and 2:30 and would call me at 2:00. At 3:00 I called our old hay guy and we went and picked up a beautiful round bale of alfalfa from him.

Then there was and still is ... the lawn mower *~* but I'll save that story until I know how it ends, hopefully it will end soon and end well.

Of the many good things that have happened recently ... I believe I've finally found a replacement door and someone to put it in next week all at an affordable price. I won't know until it's all done but it's all looking very good :) we have a very old sliding glass door that has been broken and barely able to open for almost 4 years. Recently it has begun falling out of the frame completely and is pretty bloody dangerous. Unfortunately it's a very old door and they don't make parts for it anymore but I believe I've found a newer version that will fit the same opening. I hope so !

Another wonderful thing was that a lovely little elder woman stopped by to ask about herbals and noticed a little besom I have. It's not a traditional besom because the brush is flat and not made of twigs but it is handmade and the handle hand turned on a lathe. It is a besom just the same. The elder woman looked at mine lovingly and said "how fast does it go?". I stood there for a moment kind of surprised and then we both laughed so hard we nearly fell over. I sent her home with a basket of cinnamon basil, lots of english thyme and a bit of wormwood, she left me with a huge smile, a glowing heart and a memory that will sustain me for many years to come.

And then, there is a most excellent thing :) :) :) my new bed! Last week i got a new bed, new as in ... antique, around 100 years old and the very bed I have wanted for many years but could never afford. It came with old real steel springs in perfect condition and a fairly new mattress in great shape. And! they gave me a beautiful quilt to go with it! The kindness of wonderful people.

I can't explain what the bed means to me or what having a quilt means. I did plan to have this bed some day but I certainly never thought it would come now and in the way it did. And the quilt... well I'll just say that I've always wanted one and never had one :)

how can I spend more than a few seconds complaining about the bad when I am so very blessed with so much good :)

And now I am off to sleep in my beloved bed and to dream dreams of great adventures.