It is Summer and the DIY season

Real heat in the day now and appropriate responses all around. The Korean Lilac is blooming and its fragrance hangs at the western corner of the house. The Candy Tuft puts out a scent and I think the 2 aromas clash. On Monday Ian joined the DIY at Upper. As I had sufficient notice I was able to send a meal up with him. He came home at near 11pm.All the while exuding sympathy for the crew on the project,he says that he has to go again but I don't have to cook. Unintended reverse psychology. A provided meal helps the process.
So from this Upper I join the DIY at Stewiake; cook a pot of chilli, a skillet of noodles and a single crust blueberry pie. Last year's frozen tomatoes prove useful.
DIY projects do activate the COW (Coalition of the Willing).

Travails

I have put in 75 percent of the transplants and wishing, as I was doing them, that there is a single plant in each slot. None of this swishing around to disentangle the roots while black flies target me. At the entrance mirror I noticed that they got me,3 bites on the neck and it is not dead skin as they drew blood. Yesterday some expert on CBC claim that black flies and mosquitoes have a place in the ecological scheme of things but I don't want to know.Earthworms yes.With all that rain we have fat laid back crawlers.

There is still a frost warning for tonight but the day is still and bright. Hurrah.

Smell the onions

It is the second day of Summer;June 22. The day is generally gray with a northerly wind and there is a warning of the temperature going down to 4 degrees Centigrade with the risk of frost. Well there you have it,the sough of the wind and me. Good thing we have to eat and Minestrone soup it is. This allows me to use those ripe tomatoes of last summer. It was a very good year as the song says. Frozen tomatoes must be cooked without thawing-remove skins under running water and chop up rough and add to the sauteing onions. So no canned tomatoes this time which should make my brother happy as he is warning me off BisphenolA. A line of communication I appreciate. I am also cheered by the clever thought that I captured some of last year's sun. And to paraphrase my brother the sun is not yours until you eat it. A little narcissism,maybe not just a little touting at something. Here is to the oncoming Summer. Game on.

That first cup of Cha

My number 2 son once mentioned that the moment can occur in a good cup of tea when the first sip allows you to Aha and radiate a pulse of gratitude. So this morning,after waking to the demanding ancient cat and feeding it soft food,I made my tea. It was lovely,the day is bright and beckoning and one is delighted and humbly grateful.

The Dandelion and I

This year I am managing my argument with the lovely teeth of the Lion. As soon as the flowers appear I mow them not allowing them to go to seed. Those gray heads that are singled out by photographers to reveal delightful designs. Meanwhile a few weeks later more blooms appear, just shorter.  Same process. The Dandelion is not winning and I am not losing; we both are getting shorter.