Unexpected Treasures (9 months)

Nine. 

Today held an unexpected treasure! Last night I received a text asking if I wanted to meet a friend before co-op. This was perfect timing. Laura and I met for quiche and tea at a little cafe down the road from co-op. We keep TALKING about doing this - it was good to actually do it. We did it with another co-op friend over a year ago. I can do better at connecting. 

Co-op was long and wild, but we got it done! LOL I haven't been buying much at all lately, but it's always good to spend time with this group. 

Nine months.

I had been home about 5 minutes when CoRielle showed up. They were coming to help us prep for Thursday. What great "kids" we have! Stacia was eating a bite and heading into Eagle River to spend the night with Josiah's girls so she can watch the girls tomorrow while Carrie is at work. We enjoyed a very brief conversation. Stacia has just moved her counseling to every other week! A great step for her. I had forgotten Allie worked 6:30 a.m. - 2:30 today.  She took over prepping a quick dinner for her and GG. 

Arielle cleaned the RV. Cory and Michael, and I emptied the longish chest freezer into the squarish check freezer so we can move the longish one into the RV for fish camp.  Cory and Michael began working on hooking up batteries and discovered they aren't charging...Michael ran out to try to find golf cart batteries that will fit. Cory grabbed the weed eater and trimmed up under the garden fence. 

Nine long months. 

Arielle and I chatted a bit with Allie and played with Ellie. What a precious smile. Check out the curl in the middle of her head! 

Bre called with promises of her famous cookie to take to Fish Camp. Danny fell and was nervous about coming into the house because Millie was upstairs. I went and got him...and enjoyed my Danny cuddles. They aren't as frequent as they used to be. 

📷by Danny

The boys informed me I had a LOT of peas in the garden. Translated: "Come on Bachan! Let's pick peas in the garden." We went out and they each picked quite a few....their 3 buckets probably equaled one bucket. 

I also picked some head lettuce. I have discovered I love having a crisp head of lettuce fresh from the garden. Allie already packed the peas in her lunch box.

Nine gut-wrenching months. 

I have been needing to cut back tomatoes. All my attention has been on paperwork since the 7th...and so...today I just went in and cut back everything that was green and leafy but had no tomatoes. I did the 3 big plants. I have 4 more I can trim after fish camp and 3 or 4 more than are even smaller. They look funny, and I may well have done it wrong, BUT I see tomatoes on those plants. 

I've got to figure out what to do with the pile of greenery. The chickens can't have them. I may dump them into the bed that is 1/2 filled with dirt...let them compost as it doesn't look like I'll be planting this year....well...maybe some more lettuce.....

We had six  helicals placed. IYKYK. Excitement will soon be coming our way. Flowers are starting to bloom...I hope they keep blooming while we are gone. 

This fireweed came up in a broken pot left by the previous owners 7 years ago. I let it grow in there as our own winter predictor. The legend says when the fireweed blooms to the top and then flames out...we have six weeks until winter. It hasn't reached the top yet. 

The awareness that nine months have passed since our life was upended ran through the day. Nine months. Unbelievable. 

GRACE NOTES: 

The day was filled with unexpected treasures...lunch with Laura, time in the garden with the boys, smiles from Ellie, a chat with both Bre and Arielle...