Gentle readers,
The longest day of the year has passed and we are here once more in the heart of summer. I bring you greetings from the edge of the continent.
The sun reached its zenith in the northern hemisphere. There it sat for a brief time directly over the Tropic of Cancer before it began its journey southward back towards the shortening of the days.
Here in the land of California, the heat arrived at long last, but it isn’t blazing hot yet. September brings our hottest days. It’s a very long time until then. Or at least in my mind the days are moving at their very slowest.
I have willed each day to double in size so that I can do everything at a slower pace. Yet oddly enough, the coffee that I bring out onto the porch in the early morn, still cools before I can finish it. I am busy staring into the garden and puzzling out where I will conduct my 30 minutes of gardening chores.
When the sun is over halfway across the sky and settling in the west for the night, I’m back on the porch. I have begun to reteach myself how to crochet. Here I sit surrounded by geraniums and the oaks which keep guard over Moss Cottage.
Every summer I have a big giveaway on Craigslist. Sending the things I don’t need anymore out into the world to new owners. Things like little canvases I never got around to painting, old art panels I made long ago, gardening supplies I don’t use, lots of sheets, a camera, old-school electronics, kitchen ware, decorative items, strange things you’re sure no one will want, but they do. The good citizens of Los Angeles come to collect things and some leave thank you notes, or send emails, or leave a bottle of Dr. Pepper, or a can of grass jelly drink. Some say thank you as they pass the open kitchen window. Some I never see, but I like that they’re helping me pare down.
I went through hundreds of old photos and saved a few special ones. Do you remember when we used to get photos printed at the drugstore? I always got duplicates. I let go of old camcorder movies stored on VHS tapes. Not all, but some. Every year that passes I want less and less stuff – even memorabilia. Whatever lives inside my head will have to be enough. I ask myself over and over, what is essential? What brings pleasure daily? What do I love? What do I want to be surrounded by? The answer is obvious.
Kitschy crochet afghans! Like this one I found on eBay for $35. I’m no minimalist, but I want closets with empty shelves, drawers that aren’t overflowing. Little by little I’m reducing the drag. I’ve still got a lot of weights to drop before I’m free floating. A life’s work. A daily practice.
Look up there. A photo I kept. Me, gardening on my tiny plot outside of my South Pasadena apartment with my neighbor Jim and his daughter Anna in 1993 or so. Some of these photos find new homes inside my journals. My future self will be glad to see them.
This is a picture of a picture of my dearly beloved pop, taken 30 years ago. I will paint him into my sketchbook again. Put the picture in my journal.
The writing journals also get examined, but this year less carefully. I’ve already gotten rid of nearly all of the journals from the 70’s, and 80’s, and quite a few from the 90’s. Dream journals where I used to meticulously record my dreams – gone. Thoughts once captured on paper, set free. I don’t need them. They are an invisible anchor that connect me to an old story. This year though, I kept all of my remaining journals. I go through them yearly and decide if it’s time.
I got rid of a huge stash of fabric remnants. I move things I no longer use out to the garage and if I go through the entire year without touching them, they become part of the great Craigslist giveaway. Other people take such pleasure in the things I don’t use.
These posts take days for me to complete. I add some pictures. Write a bit (on the porch of course). Let everything settle. Come back. Keep going. Until I click publish. The unhurried pace of summer agrees with me. This is me, the narrator of this post card returned on Day 3 to add some more…
Right now a cool wind blows over the porch. I hear birds, branches swaying in the wind, traffic sounds down the hill, a soft roaring from far away – maybe a leaf blower. A screen door closes. A small plane overhead. Music sailing on the wind towards me.
I haven’t gone anywhere this summer. I’m right here at home. I wake up early and head outside in my pajamas and tennis shoes. Set the timer for 30 minutes. This is gardening in the wild. My property is about 10 times the size of my little house and I don’t have a regular gardener, or automatic sprinklers. Usually I just let everything grow wild and do what it wants, but with the great rains of this past winter, things were rambling and spreading. Taking over.
I could’ve called the gardener I use occasionally, but he lacks sensitivity to plants and wants to hack away at everything. No, no, no. I will do it myself. I’ve been afraid of the work involved and overworking joints and tendons. But what do you know? No trips to the ER, I’m still upright with little to no joint pain. A couple times a week I hit the timer on my wristwatch twice. Tap tap. A 60 minute session is born. I sit on the old green stool under a spider web under the smoke tree. Birds visit the bird bath. It’s quiet and cool. I’m in happy land. Then up I go. Stoop, bend, pull, dig, clip, spread. Things get done. Lots of things.
In this way, I cleared the entire front garden area one section at a time. Pulled up lavender bushes that had gone woody, huge clumps of aeoniums, pruned the small trees and hibiscus, pulled out a ton of feather grass, filled the bin over and over and over. I haven’t done this much work in the garden since I planted everything in the first few years of moving here. I was an energetic 39 year old. Now I’m an almost retired, 60 year old with bad knees and funny ankles.
But here I am doing it for myself. Just like Annie & Aretha.
I didn’t think I could do any of this. It was too hard, too big of a task. Impossible! But somehow I’ve been doing it. Despite the peanut gallery inside my head.
Moss Cottage nears her 100th birthday. Porch rails rot and need to be replaced. Garage roofs need fixing. Stucco needs patching. I hired someone who’s been working out so far. He shows up when he says he will and does what he says he will.
In the garden there are new perennials. I don’t need to buy compost or bark from the store because I have 3 good sized oaks that are compost making factories. I cart the leaves around and spread them out. They are feet thick in places. Coast live oaks need a healthy leaf drop underneath their canopies in order to stay healthy. I pull out the grass that doesn’t belong. Everything takes time. But I’m patient and I have time.
I’m outside nearly all day long. Either in the front or in the back. I like it out here.
All of these little plants will grow tall and eventually fill in the area.
I’m slowly working my way down the long front yard. Jim fixed my hose so now I’m back in business with keeping things hydrated. I don’t mind watering everything by hand.
The succulent beds await!
See that tall silvery plant in front of the feather grass? Some would call those weeds, but I like them and let some of them hang around.
I’m making some time for sketchbookery, but not as much as usual because of CROCHET!
Here are the old collage panels that a woman collected for a vintage dog photoshoot. And someone else, named Ginger took the rest and shared them with her mom and emailed me to say how much she loves them. That’s awfully nice.
Dottie & Christy visited from Albuquerque for a few days!
Otto helped me paper some old drawers. Everything’s old around here. And we’re just fine with that.
My nice neighbor gave me this hanging glass vase. I’ve been putting garden clippings in it. I papered these old drawers one a night until they were all done. I like the idea of breaking big jobs up into little tasks that can be done easily over time.
I’ve got a geranium propogation operation out back.
Well I guess that’s all the news that’s fit to print. If you made it this far, you’ve earned a giant crocheted gold star. I’ll place it in a little floating lantern that will drift over towards your little house this evening. Or tomorrow morning, depending on where in this big wide world you live.
Keep me posted on your own wild and precious life. I like to know what you’re doing, who you’re seeing, what you’re cooking, planting, reading, thinking, eating, drawing. How you are BEing is this big old world. I’ll just be here tuning my frequencies, getting my ducks lined up, and transmitting the signals as they arrive.
Greetings from South Africa. Crochet is magical therapy! Love the process of doing small bits to get big jobs done. I have 40 paydays to go before I retire, so I’m also starting the downsizing process. I don’t want gifts of stuff, but rather time with friends and family as my gifts of choice. Sending hugs from Johannesburg
love the yarn, the crochet, the blanket, the ducks, the portraits the flowers, all of it thank you again
Hello again I forget to ask you, what is that one flowering plant called the foto the white flowering one . Looks lovely.
I have had no luck growing lavender , as I love the look and smell. Don’t get enough sun . I love to have color and some greenery outside on the balcony , a lovely green cedar bush thrives here. Luckily! And a few other plants if lucky.
Greetings from the other side of the world .
Good morning Mary Ann
Just love to read your blog with the happenings in your life.
I have been waking up earlier and earlier each morning 430-530 . But enjoy the stillness and bird singing , well waiting for my morning coffee drizzling into the stainless carafe. Love the sound and smell . Then get the breakfast tray ready with fresh strawberries, croissant and coffee. Then I sit out on the balcony Enjoying the cool breezes finally!
It’s been so dreadfully hot here , so it’s a big relief that it has cooled down
It’s been a daily thing to water the plants in this heat, but thank heavens they survived. I do Love your interesting garden with all the different plants. Big job!
Crocheting is definitely a nice hobby I tried it first time trying to make a basket to hold small things in the bathroom (still not finished) perhaps I will give it a try now.
Enjoy your summer in LA and look forward to your next post.
I thank you for all your posts but this one gave me the reminder and incentive to really get on with clearing out. I try not to see all that I no longer need or want thinking like you that it is TOO Hard! Absolutely it’s bird by bird. Annie is so wise. But this week I actually took myself to the local gym which I signed up for in..hanging head…in Dec 2022. But a friend told me he goes and so off I went. I decided on a chair aerobics class and did it all! Now I just have to see when the next class is and GO! it’s nicely warm in MD right now and I’m feeling very blessed for these days. I wilt easily and tend to get cranky then. I’m a real heat wuss but I do love the cold! Keep writing MAM. Discord, teen granddaughter’s cat say hello (but went back to sleep then.)
Hi Mary Ann! What a lovely post. My favorite day is pottering around my house and yard, not having anyone to answer to, going at my own pace, darting in and out. So I read this post of your “potterings” with great pleasure! That is how I read all your posts, actually, with great pleasure. Quite a quick pace around here these days, as my daughter and son-in-law, 2 1/2 years and 6 week old granddaughters are now living here in an apartment we made for them in the basement. Home ownership seems like a pipe dream in this economy, even for responsible adult children with good paying jobs. But we feel very blessed to have them here. The two year old begins asking to go outside as soon as she gets out of her crib in the morning, and she is a naturalist in training! She can already identify several different birds and flowers and we have started many nature collections together and even a nature journal of sorts! I’ll have a garden helper next year for sure! I am in Connecticut and we have had record amounts of rain, so only one beach day so far, and I left early because fog rolled in. My husband and I were able to take a road trip to Southern VT last week to visit a favorite vintage home and garden shop, and will be visiting my son and his family in Montana in August, to meet our new granddaughter, due at the beginning of that month. My husband will stay for five days and I will stay for two weeks to help them out a bit. I love Montana, the Rockies are so different from New England. I am hoping for at least a day in Yellowstone, my favorite place in the whole world! Enjoy the rest of your summer, and I am looking forward to your next post!
Jane,
Thanks for the details of life in your Connecticut world. I will take some of your rain. Lovely to be able to participate in the lives of your grandchildren. And a new one on the way in Montana. I hope you get to Yellowstone. I’ve never been, but will get there one day.
I love seeing your news filled posts in my email! Over here, (eastern Ontario), wild fires and heat and humidity have kept me from some of the usual summer activities I like including walking. Some days were so smoggy that we just stayed indoors. But I have many books to read, and all the supplies I need to paint whatever I wish. I solid get rid of some of my stuff too…I admire people who can edit their surroundings. I must make an effort to do that.
Enjoy your holidays.
We had a period of extreme smoke and bad air quality a couple of years ago. Everyone stayed indoors the air was awful from the fires. I know exactly what you’re going through. sending fresh air and rain your way to aid in the wildfire battle. xo
For the first time in my 69 years, I recently tagged along with a childhood friend on a 2 1/2 week westward road trip. We hit all of the high points of my dreams. We left Alabama by a southernly route and returned by a northernly route….17 states in 18 days with many firsts along the way. I added 9 new states to the total list of 28 states I’ve visited, as well as 9 European countries. I feel so blessed to have had these amazing experiences.
All of that to say, California has the most amazing flora! I’ll swear that the flowers and blooming bushes are the largest I’ve seen. (Alabama is filled with greenery and flowers too, but your’s are better : ) It was wonderful that our visit coincided with your amazing rainfall this year to make nature’s display even more abundant.
Enjoy your slow and peaceful summer vacation!
Stephanie,
Your roadtrip sounds fun. And you did it with an old friend. How wonderful to head out west on a big adventure. Good to hear from you.
At 62 i’m ready to get rid of the journals too (I still have them all since i started them at 12). It’s time.
As cor the weeds, who decided what plants are weeds anyway?
The getting rid of the old journals — how, exactly? Fire pit? Shredder? Last time I did it (about 10+ years ago; dumped several years’ worth I knew I never wanted to read or even see again), I took them to a shredding place and paid them to shred. An ordinary home-use shredder would work on the hard covers of the ones I’m contemplating now, so that means I’d have to rip the covers off first. Oh bother. So just looking for ideas. I always enjoy your blog posts — the pace is so civil, and yet you are so productive! Carry on!
Well, I will tell you my environmentally unsound method. Chuck it in the garbage bin. Eventually it will degrade in the landfill. The complications involved in other methods would prevent me from unloading them. Occasionally I leave them on park benches without identifying information inside.
Hi Mary Ann,
Every few days I look to see if you’ve put up a new post. I know that you’ve cut it back to monthly, but I’m always hopeful that you’ll have something that you might want to say on an earlier date!! Love your blog! The kitties are looking very happy and satisfied running Moss Cottage. You are making fabulous progress on your gardens and things are looking lovely. Projects are always easier when you look at them bite by bite (or Bird by Bird as Anne Lamott writes). In Houston, summer arrived with a vengeance. Mid-way through June we began to hit triple digits day after day and even if the temperature was only in the upper 90’s, the heat index was well above 100. Miserable. So, trapped indoors I’ve been amusing myself with multiple art projects. I attack those projects just like you’ve been working in your garden, just one step at a time. Its amazing how much gets done that way, isn’t it?
About to take on some traveling again after a long break. Like you I’m very much looking forward to retirement and slowly making plans for that day that gets closer all the time!!
Susan, I always want to say “bird by bird” but think no one will get the reference. (sometimes i do) Love that you used it here. Art & Air Conditioning = perfection if one can’t be outdoors. I wonder where you’ll travel to…hmmm…
Stay cool. soon we’ll be in full retirement. won’t that be grand?
MAM – It’s so nice to hear what you’re up to and to see the kitties and all your gorgeous plants. I am off to Italy on Monday, finally visiting Venice and have thought back to your Venice class years ago. Can you recommend any places to buy beautiful paper? Enjoy your summer!
Yes! Go see this post for the place… https://dispatchfromla.com/2018/12/postcard-no-5-legatoria-polliero.html
ENJOY so very much your time in Italy.
Oh Mary Ann how I love your posts! My latte is just a little tastier as I enjoy these snippets from your life. Thank you for sharing, it warms my heart.
Hi Jessica…hope you’re well. Glad you popped in with your latte.
I love your writing. You should write a book from all your wonderful posting. I have been perked up time and again reading your posts. I am 79 and used to be very active. Now right hip pain grabs me 24/7 but try to still be active. Thank you for your book tips and still go to a library book club. I am reading a few Linda Fairstein detective novels and she incorporates New York City history into some.
Oh dear, Melva, sorry to hear about the hip pain. I have as yet to experience, but don’t doubt it will arrive just when I think I’ve escaped unscathed. I always like a book with good historical reference.
Dear Ms Moss,
Thank you for sharing. You’re a wonderful storyteller and I love reading your updates. I’m a gardener too. Only succulents for me though, I seem to have an affinity for them. Your garden is so nice and big! I live in a townhouse in Simi Valley across from the Reagan library. I don’t have a proper garden just a patio with a built-in planter but it’s my happy place and I have made good use of pots to make it cozy. I get a lot of accolades from my neighbors for my “green thumb”, even though I keep telling them it’s not me, succulents are warriors and so easy to grow.
Hope I didn’t bore you too much, your beautiful pictures inspired me!
Take care and enjoy the rest of your summer, will be looking forward to your next post.
Isabel
Hi Isabel,
Have taken the school children to the Reagan Library many times over the years. They have a great roleplaying program for 5th graders and a fabulously recreated oval office. It’s so beautiful up on that hilltop. Succulents are fantastic. I just repotted some this morning.
Nice mild day today. Ahhhh. waving to you across the hills and dales and giant rock formations (of the 118)
I love getting your posts in my email. They are always so interesting and inspiring. Love your photos, your garden, your cats, your sketchbooks. Weather is taking it’s time warming this year in San Diego but as you said for southern CA the hottest days are ahead. My green beans are spent (they were so yummy), the basil going to flower and still waiting for the tomatoes to go full red and ripe. Taking time for a small sketch or art project each day between the deep cleaning and clearing out. Don’t we love the longer days of summer.
Thank you for sharing with us. Have a lovely rest of the summer. Crochet on!
Meredith,
Let’s enjoy these pleasant days before the onslaught of deep hot summer. Have a salted tomato for me!
Brava! This post felt like such summery fun at the perfect wandering pace!
Crochet is like dental floss for the brain….so addictive and comforting. Time passed that is visible and woven with memories and thoughts.
Check out Attic 24 on line…tons of free patterns and a beautiful flowery English cottage vibe…and Janie Crow also (just remember UK stitches are the same with taller names ie our single crochet is their double, our double is their treble – just look at the pics and you’ll figure it out!).
Loving all the sights from your edge of the continent. Starting to return to gouache-y painting and wanting to finish my book started in your class…hoping I can remember…
Chilling ( ha, sweating) on my Hill Country porch here in Texas. Coffee in one cup and iced sparkle water in the other…camping with fluids and crochet and colored pencil swatching…ADD art party!
Anyhoo…thanks for sharing!
Cyd
Cyd,
I love that! “dental floss for the brain” I started up again with the crochet because I saw Janie Crow’s Persian Tiles and knew I must make it. I’m just practicing the different stitches on swatches right now. Found a great class on Creative Bug with Twinkie Chan. She’s really good at explaining…I supplement with the YOUtube. Thanks for telling me about Attic 24 – they sound familiar!
Raising my iced cold brew to you out there in Hill Country…(sounds dreamy)
Sister!!!!! Your gardening plan is perfect. In my this 3rd act of my life I I have learned some of the wisdom on big by bit or as mom used to say “poco a poco”. Do you remember that? I have never seen that picture of dad in his cap. It’s a good one. I love all the photos of Iris and Otto and especially the one of him checking out the new paper in the drawer. It’s simply splendid. I remember so well lots of photos of you with your hair up like in the photo of you gardening in south Pasadena. It’s definitely a keeper. This has been a delicious post to dig into as I sit on my porch with a cup of coffee this morning.
Thank you. Going through my decades of journals was to be one of my projects this summer. I’ve tried it before and was not looking forward to revisiting my angst and and doubts from so many years ago. Did I ever write to myself when I was happy, evidently not. After reading your latest post I think I will approach it this time with a different attitude. Cleanse and set free those doubts and questions of my 20’s, 30’s, 40’s and on and on. I’m 75, I can use those file drawers for different stuff but plan to keep them airy and empty for awhile.
Jennifer,
Letting the old thoughts (in the form of journals) go is like a dip in the ocean – refreshing and liberating. But it does take a dive down to the wreck to see what’s in there doesn’t it? Pace yourself. And come up for plenty of air.
What a lovely snapshot of contentment and self sufficiency. Wish you were my neighbor.
I want to thank you for sharing your gift of teaching via videos over the years. I got such pleasure in learning the joy of making sketchbooks, mixing rich shades of gouache and sketching interesting houses in my neighborhood. Those skills have been especially important to me these past 2 years as I have become my husband’s caregiver. My days are filled with the repetitive tasks of meal prep, house/business paperwork and doctor appointments. When he is reading or napping I can lose myself in painting or crafting or admiring my sketchbooks that you inspired me to make. Thank you so much.
PS. I have now become a cat mama after a lifetime of being a dog person. We have 4 beautiful playful weaned kittens that need a home. Any suggestions?
Sylvia,
The Pasadena Humane Society is one of the very best and adopt out lots of kittens. I also had wonderful luck with the Burbank shelter, but many are not good places. These aren’t that close to you though… Seems like when I was looking for a new cat posse I found lots of ads placed by people not rescue organizations…just can’t remember where I saw them.
Being a caregiver sound difficult. Art saves lives: that was on a rubberstamp long ago and I never forgot it. You would make an awesome neighbor. Waving to you down south and sending lots of hearts straight out of my heart bubble machine.
xo
I always feel warm and cozy after reading your posts— especially love the pic with the aqua table and interesting shadows from it and the plants! I feel the same about summer— relishing slow days, garden chores and pets lazing around while I putter. I’m sitting on the sun porch right now, sipping coffee and enjoying the light rain on the roof which is making the yard look super green and healthy. I too have an older home and I love that you appreciate that aesthetic as well. We’re helping the earth to support us humans for just a little longer by reusing and recycling instead of building new all the time. I received your “golden star”, thank you and sent off one to you in pen and watercolor— thanks for sharing!
Sun porches and coffee sipping. Ahhhhh that is the good life. I recently discovered the occupant of my home in 1940 – he was a private detective! Where do you live Kate?
Oh how I love reading your blog! You sure enjoy life and in the most lovely simple ways. I am on my deck looking over Green Lake WI listening to all the different birds and recording them on my Merlin app so I know what they are- I can identify some and it’s nice to know who the others are. It’s a beautiful cool morning and I am soaking it in. I turned 70 in May and somehow that has made a difference…but I can’t put my finger on it! My brain still feels much younger.
Keep enjoying your summer!
I just looked up Green Lake…Ohhhhhh it must be so beautiful where you sit and listen for birds. I can imagine it perfectly. When I am 70 working life will seem so far behind me. 70 seems rather young to me still. We’ve got miles and miles left in our engines. Happy birthday, Kim. xo
I love your posts, Mary Ann. We’re going to a kids’ birthday party today – nieces. Our nephew and his wife have a resort-like property. We’ll get to see people that we haven’t seen for a while, including my siblings. I’m taking an umbrella just in case I have to be in the sun. I don’t like being in the sun too much. Of course, we’ll be happy to get back to our precious kitty Seymour. Love your cats, too. Nothing else to report.
Iris & Otto say hello to Seymour. I hope you enjoyed the party. 🙂
One of the best posts ever! Living the life we love at the space we want and doing it joyfully- who could ask for more! You continue to inspire!
Thanks for your dispatch. I enjoy your doings and observations. I’m in the southern US where I’ve lived for over 20 years. I was born and raised in Oakland, CA. My retirement has been a lovely chapter of my life thus far. Almost 15 years of retirement has given me the gifts of a more thoughtful, peaceful and meaningful life. I pick up a few pointers from you and I am grateful that you share your world.
Why thank you, Anne. I’ve lived in the south (but not the southwest)- Arkansas, Florida.. And visited every other state for different lengths of time – especially Mississippi, Louisiana, the Carolinas. Happy slow summer to you.
Your posting makes me yearn for some homebody time! Traveling a lot in our Rose Cottage camper along with frequent extended visits to care for Mom in Orlando. I can travel with crochet hook and paintbrush but playing in the home soil sounds mighty satisfying! Yes, indeed! When my gold crochet star arrives, I will pin it to my garden apron! ❤️
Pearlie,
Camper travel with your husband sounds wonderful. I like seeing what you get up to on Instagram. I can’t wait to try that red gingham crochet you sent me. xo
Hello dear Mary Ann and kitties! Just thought I’d FINALLY say hellooo… I follow you now and then when I’m able and ALWAYS enjoy hearing what you’re up to. You write the best stories with wonderful glimpses into your world that I get to imagine being your cat or imaginary friend.
After overseeing my mom’s care for a year and her recent passing, I’m now helping at estate sales in return for a few treasures. Oh what fun and not a bad trade giving up the corporate world for a fun new crew.
Wishing you and your gang the best!
Arlene, estate sales part-time work sounds GOOD. I bet you see amazing treasure! Sorry to hear of your mom passing 🙁
Take good care.
Hi!
I love getting your posts! I have had one of those days when my monkey brain is driving me crazy.I had a mad gardening session a couple of weeks ago.resulting in a really fine removal of weedy grass from my fenceline and vedge garden ,a sore hip and bursitis in my right shoulder.Currently seeing physio and walking with a walking pole, proving once again that slow and steady really does win the race.The rest of the house is napping.Very peacefull!
This very thing happened to me several years back and resulted in my needing a cane for months and months! I really hurt my knee after cramming too much into one day. Try the 30 minute per day method. You’ll see BIG results and no resulting injuries. It’s like a miracle. I wish I had thought to do it long long ago.
Sounds like you’re healing well. Always good to hear from you, Wendy 🙂
Now THAT was a satisfying visit to your acre of cyberspace.
Hello Janice! Happy summer to you.
Hello! 😁
Your despatches are always very welcome 🤗 in this little cave of mine in Sydney , Australia. I particularly like this current one with it’s slow pace, the pleasant pictures of your garden and the way you get all those different tasks done. And, oh yes, love your pussy cats! 😻
Me, l’m a somewhat decrepit old crone of 86, not particularly fit or healthy, but l do get by, living on my own in a tiny rented flat, and still managing to cook and clean (not particularly thoroughly), as well as do my grocery shopping by bus. No car and never learned to drive, can you believe that?!
I do a lot of crochet and knitting, charity blankets and little amigurumi toys.
That’s all for now! ❤️🌻🌺
Tia, i find thorough cleaning a waste of time. a swish here and there and a wipe of the most obvious spills is all one needs. I shall come to visit in my special time travel machine which I have hacked to do present-day travel. It’s risky and presents some challenges especially on the return voyage home, but so worth it. Let’s have dinner somewhere splendid and quiet. My treat. Sending love.
What a beautiful post, Mary Ann! I will take your advice to do things for 30 minutes, or one a day until done…
I have been weeding through my things, too. I still can’t get rid of my journals, but I know I’ll start soon. I’m working on baby quilts for my nephews twin daughters in Kazakhstan (!). My brother, who is the new grandpa, will take the quilts to them in August.
gwen dear, i have so many students from Kazakhstan! i can imagine those quilts and the long journey they will make. wonderful. xod
Still enjoying these dispatches after I don’t know how many years.
I’m listening to the birdsong and watching the fireflies and sweating because it is hot in WV now, oh there’s a rabbit in my driveway.
i often have coyotes in the lane beside my house. they aren’t rabbits, but i still love them. am happy to have indoor cats these days so i don’t have to worry. you also have FIREFLIES? oh i would love to see those. sounds enchanting, Sue. xo
This might just be my favourite post of yours. I love seeing your garden and your little projects, and I love imagining your routines and puttering. The kittens seem so well settled. Thank you for writing, MAM ❤️
Thank you for reading SG, love hearing from you. Lots of puttering. This morning I have a bright green gingham frock over my pjs and I just came in to get coffee.
Mary Ann… you’ll never know how much your posts mean to me!
Your narrative is philosophical, poetic… creative!
Thank you so much dear!!
Do you have a mailing address?
I shall send you my mailing address forthwith, Linda. Always a pleasure to see a comment from YOU.
Boy, I just love your posts. I just really love them.
Always wonderful to hear what is going on at Moss Cottage. Just had our first pesto of the year from our own basil. We had June gloom that is still here. No hot weather and my warm season plants are growing: pumpkins, melons, cucumbers, green beans. Still have kale and broccoli from early spring. Sugar snap peas just finished after harvesting for 4 months, best year ever.
Kate:
We have had outstanding weather here in California haven’t we? Blessed with a mild summer so far and all those winter rains that have plumped everything up. Send me a few melons. I will make quick work of them on the porch.