Fourth Of July

Every year, I post about last year's Fourth of July; so, here is this year's offering. And what to say about it? I think that it was hot and humid and we ate late and, then, all of the men got to go and see the fireworks up close and personal and through some tragic, exhausted miscommunication, I got left behind.... I heard they were seriously epic, too!! But.... that's not very cheery! Hmmm... How about if I tell you that I can still remember how cold and sweet those cherries were?! (No joke!) That's a definitely happy thought! Oh! And that fourth boy, there, is cousin Billy. He just moved to Oregon. Now, I'm going to go cry - we love cousin Billy!!! The truth is that, at the moment, it is very hot and humid. The thunderstorms and rain have just started coming through and the cool breeze is swirling around my fevered temples and will soon soak soothingly into my fuzzy brain. That reminds me - I need ice cream! Brain freeze is definitely a happy thought! Ahhhh!

=)

Happy summer thoughts to you and a happy Independence Day to my friends, here, in the US! May all of your potato salads be creamy and may the watermelon be so sweet and juicy that it drips down your arm!

xo

Spring Reminiscence

I thought that I'd give a romantic title to this post which really should be called "finally able to get around to it"! ;) Spring was so beautiful this year and, even though I was a bit out of commission, I didn't miss it - oh, no! And, at this point, I should quickly tell you that the operation went fine, I'm still struggling to climb up out of it all and to heal and I am seriously chomping at the bit to get back to life. But I will be able to do so very soon since both biopsies came back as benign - HUZZAH!!!

Anyhoo... this year, there seemed to be a lot of buzz in the neighborhood about the spring babies hatching out all over the place. Of course, every year we enjoy spring bursting forth but, this year, the story seemed to be noticeably enthralling. Of course, there are the buds and baby leaves and shoots. Then, a few weeks after the Canada Geese arrive back, Mama suddenly disappears to her hidden nest while Papa can be seen waiting.... waiting....  Mama duck emerges from the woods and heads to the pond - sometimes being sighted walking down the road with her string of ducklings! (I didn't get a picture of it this year but I've been lucky to see it twice before - so cute!) And, most excitingly, the barn cat that adopted us a few years back decided to start a brood of her own, this year. Before this spring, she would, for the most part, shun our food (except in the depths of winter) and we would only catch a fleeting glimpse of her occasionally. This spring, when she started showing up in the barn, mewling at Tom from the food barrel while he was feeding the chickens, we started to suspect something was up! Sure enough, the veriest little fuzzy rascals started emerging from the calf barn - pouncing on each other, on their poor mother, hapless bugs, shadows, you name it - climbing the walls - hanging from the ancient doors and, basically, brazenly getting into all sorts of mischief. It was tricky getting pictures of them because, the slightest whiff of a human, and they would whisk away into the barn. Finally, one day, I was able to sneak up behind the carriage barn and get some pictures. The last picture is the one when they realized I was there and the game was up! But that story will have to be continued... Lastly, I've also included some pictures of the pond - it is so blue in the spring and the autumn without the lily pads on it. We can see it sparkling from our front porch and kitchen windows. Also, the skies in Vermont... always so soft and lovely - there are two pictures of clouds - one is their reflection in the pond and the other is what it looked like up above.

xo

Midsummer

While I am working on a post full of baby pictures (baby animals, that is), I thought I would pop in to wish you a happy Midsummer's Day! (bring on the fairies!)

I should, also, probably mention that school ended for us, yesterday, and I will, also, say, "let the wild rumpus begin!!"

Oh! and, while I'm at it.... I should share some pics of Toby's graduation from elementary school on Wednesday. It feels like we're all grown up around here and fast leaving childhood behind - sniff!

 

 

 and, so, I only meant to share one pic and wish you a happy Midsummer's Day and look what's happened. So, while I'm at it, I should probably mention that the operation went well. I'll know the results some time next week! Thank you so much, once again, for all of the kind thoughts! :)

and, now, the garden is all watered. Blog post and greetings sent. I think I'm going to go put my feet up and read a book! :) I've got my sights set on 'Wildwood' - it looks fun!

Oh! and one other thing. The first and last pictures were taken last year on Midsummer's Day in the middle of the day with the sun just glowing overhead - pure magic!!

=)

xo

Whatever doesn't kill you?

If you've ever read my 'bio' in the sidebar you will see that I make the extraordinary claim that I am both shy AND outgoing. And so it is with blogging! I am bold to share and respond to the lovely comments made and, yet, then, after a few hours have passed, I feel overwhelmed and go and hide - feeling shy and tongue-tied and, yet, still so very sincerely grateful for the comments made.

and so it is that I have no idea how to express to you how I felt by your overwhelming response and extremely kind words to my post about my discovery of being gluten sensitive. It was more than just the public comments - the private notes - it was so touching. I, actually, walked around with this warm sensation in my heart for a good two days! It was like having my heart held - or hugged - something like that. ;) Point being....

I was touched!! Thank you so very much!!!!

Well. Then. I thought that was that but the story continues... I switched Doctors. Mine just couldn't seem to expend any energy beyond occasionally prescribing a pill. And when I went to my new and wonderful doctor, she discovered that there was an odd complaint that was two years old that should be presented to a specialist immediately! ...and so has begun the long journey of tests - each result bringing back the good news that they haven't found any cancer - yet - the frustrating news that I'm at 'higher risk' and will need another test. I am, now, lined up with ten other mysterious and unknown women somewhere in the world who are in the same situation as mine and two of us will be 'chosen' to have cancer. How long and drawn out and, sometimes, torturous could this possibly be, I wonder? My brain has said that, most likely, everything will be okay - my body, after the last result - sort of shut down because of the stress. And so it is that I am just fine and completely not. (which makes me laugh..... and sigh!)

Ooooooh.... surgery for the final biopsy is next Thursday. (June 19th)

And for all of the people who wrote to me and told me how encouraged they were by my sharing about the gluten situation, I have got to say that, when I have been, endlessly, in and out of that MRI machine having all sorts of long needles poked into me and when I have taken a fleeting glimpse down the 'what if' road and felt the sadness and the fear, I have thought of you Bloggy friends who have traveled this road before me (Jane and Lance Hattatt and the dog's mother (Kathy) and others) and it has, in the most practical and real sense, given me deep, deep hope and encouragement that I will be alright and that this road is passable and I'm not alone. It's, actually, made me smile and breathe! Thank you so much!!! xxo

and, so, the only thing that I marvel at is, how in the world did you blog - write, even - in those hard days? I find myself, most of the time, completely tongue-tied. (Consternation!) So, here is a deal...

I love to visit and leave long comments on your blogs but waiting for a moment when I feel witty or, even, articulate, is not working! I may just need to come and visit and put my stamp saying, "Katy was here!" or just leave a smile.... and, then, I can get on with my own posts - low on words - but, at least, I can share in this wonderful optimism - this chronicle of happy thoughts - this treasure of inspiration and creative output that is Blogland! :)

Deal?

=)

 xo

P.S. I have all sorts of spring 'babies' to share with you and THE MOST AMAZING mother's day gift, 'next time' - now that I've finally whacked up the courage to say all of these things. ;) Oh! And lilacs.... more gorgeous and lush lilacs!!

Oh, the sheer relief of having the communication muse visit me, this rainy morning!