The News from Sonnystone Acres

I’ve been outside on all these beautiful, sunny, hot days — down at the firepit, in the gardens, and just generally walking through the grass — and am now infested with chigger bites, itchy welps wherever my clothes touch, especially “down there” and around my waist (or where it’s supposed to be). Why me? Whining about such a small, tiny, wee, little bug that seems to love my pasty white skin is not a good look, but damn, it’s so aggravating. I cannot wear deet around all the time, though I’ve got gallons of lotions and sprays. Over the years, I’ve learned to Not Scratch (much), and was hoping they’d tire of me.

We were going to wait until the 4th of July to put up the pool, but it’s Hot, so we filled ‘er up yesterday…and found a leak. This is probably the last year for this pool and it’s given us a good run for our $, so Casey’s out buying whatever it is he needs to fix it. The chlorinated water helps dry out the chigger bites, so now I can dip off after I’ve been out in the weeds.

The Gardens are looking great. We haven’t had a decent rain in weeks and none predicted, but I’m babying them along with regular watering. Several of the tomatoes on the plants that were out during the monsoons have had blossom end rot, so I’m trying to stay consistent with my attention. Fingers crossed.

It seems like Real Summer now! Hope you’re soaking up some rays where you are!

Peace

My grandies have been soo entertaining this week-end! Samantha danced beautifully at her recital…(she’s the red-haired little girl in the center)

Emma and her date went to their Jr. Prom…Is she beautiful or what?

Those are my #1 and #4 grandies, and #2 and #3 are equally adorable.

I planted green beans and zinnias last week and the seedlings are popping up. I still need to plant three tomato plants, but otherwise it’s all over but the watering…and the weeding…and the Miracle-gro-ing.

I’ve been going through old clothes and tossing — Lord help me, I’m a clothes hoarder! I blame it on our abundance of storage; the clothes got stored upstairs and I’m just now noticing that I’ve run out of drawer space. I don’t believe I’m ever going to fit into those size 8s again, but there they are, just in case… I’ve thrown out about a half-ton, including old shoes, which is even more pathetic, and I’m feeling much lighter. Still, there’s all those souvenir t-shirts that the kids will have to give away when I head to the home. I just can’t part with my Seussical the Musical tee, or my Steve Martin, Banjo Boy shirt…

Next Saturday is the JoJo’s Academy of Music First Piano Recital, starring Samantha. She’s really done well and I’m super thrilled that she likes playing so much. I’ll see you on the other side of that event. Have a great week!

Peace

My mom was a typical 1950s stay-at-home Mom, and to me her life looked like one long summer vacation. She and the neighborhood ladies started their days with coffee from a percolator that perked all day just in case someone dropped in, and often someone did. When I was in 6th grade she got a part-time job working at Sears and made life-long friends. She was always in a bowling league, played bridge, bunco, and any other game she and her pals dreamed up. After I left home, she and Dad started playing golf and she was pretty good at it–definitely better than Dad!

Mom was my inspiration in that respect: I never wanted a career, didn’t really want to work at all, but if I must, I prefer part-time. I just wanted to keep house, cook, take care of the kids, hang out with my girlfriends, watch soap operas, and get a good tan. The games/sports thing was never “Me”, but I can loaf with the best.

Now that I’m retired, My life is pretty much one long summer vacation. I wish Mom were here to share it with me. We could play cards all day and sit out on the swing every evening. She would have loved this house and fixing it up. She always did admire my garden. I miss her every day…

My kids have remembered me with gifts and hugs. I’m so grateful. Hope you’re enjoying this day!

Peace

Hi, kids. I missed you a little over the last couple of weeks, but it’s that time of year when I’m All Plants All the Time which makes me a little boring. I’ve been stalking the weather forecasts, trying to hurry up the transition from cool and windy to warm and still; obviously, I have failed. My plant date has shifted from 4/19 (dreaming) to 4/26 (hopeful) to a sure date of 5/3 — this Wednesday! We’ve had sunshine and the ground isn’t all that cold, but those breezes have been chilly.

It’s all okay in the Peace/Bird garden, though, where the perennial natives abide.

I can’t wait to get digging and planting. My vegetable plants are begging to go in the ground and be a Real Garden. I have to admit that I enjoy having such Green on the back porch and confess that I’m still not sure Exactly where to plant everything. I’m super-proud that my indoor seed-starting has yielded 8 watermelon (sugar babies), 8 canteloup, 3 zucchini, and 3 yellow squash, but they are teenagers now and need to be Outside.

Some wise person told me that the secret to being patient is to do something else in the meantime, so I’ve been filling time by planning away for the upcoming Double Holiday on 5/6: the Coronation of King Charles III and the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby. I’m going to make the Coronation Quiche, a curious recipe that includes “broad beans” and only two eggs; I’m going to use lima beans and four eggs, cut back on the milk and see how it goes. Since I’ll have to be up by 3:30 a.m. or so to watch the ceremony, I’ll make the quiche the night before. The Royals should be out on the balcony by 8 a.m. or thereabouts and that’s a good time for a celebratory mimosa breakfast, don’t you think?

My Derby Day menu is more simple: pimento (pronounced pumentuh in our neck of the woods) cheese sandwiches, salad, and mint juleps. I’m in a quandary about the juleps, though. I usually buy good bourbon for the Derby, Woodford Reserve or my favorite Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit, but it is a sin to mix the good stuff—it should only be sipped. I guess maybe a festive julep or two followed by sipping the night away, celebrating a Big Win…yes!…would be acceptable.

For All Things Coronation, here’s a good curation of info: https://theroyalrundown.substack.com/

To study up on the Kentucky Derby, the best site is this: https://www.kentuckyderby.com/horses

I will be in touch frequently this week, making up for missing the last couple. The Edible Garden Will be planted and I’m sure you will want to see how it turns out. Drop back by to get my Derby Picks (and those of my family)! And don’t forget Cinco de Mayo! It’s a trifecta of liver abuse…

Peace

We had a little Egg Hunt yesterday with the Jr Family. Casey and Michael warned that these eggs (filled with a quarters and occasional smarties) would be a level up from the past hunts, and sure enough, there’s one out there we still can’t find! It will show up at the most unlikely time, experience tells me — maybe at next year’s Hunt!

It’s a Beautiful Morning, perfect for a Sunrise Service, so I dragged myself up and out into the garden to contemplate. In my 25 years playing the organ at the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, I heard many an Easter sermon, usually 2-3 times. The choirs were jubilant, the congregation all gussied up in their Sunday finest, and the Music was inspired, if I do say so myself. But it was often at the end of that long haul of service, that I could stop and think, and let it all sink in. Religious scholars do their best to “explain” resurrection, but it’s all a mystery to me. In my wee brain, the metaphor of Spring, when the dormant earth returns to life, when the brown and gray gives way to green and blue and the birds sing loud and long at dawn that inspires Hope, strengthening my Faith that we are Growing Every Season, transformed and reborn Every Day. Mercy! Such Grace!

It’s just an every-day song, but “Beauty in the River” (by Ozark Mountain Daredevils) gives a hint of Easter in the message of its chorus:

We must all stand in the water
We must find it when we roam
It don’t matter what is said
We can wake up from the dead
And roll away the stone
We can roll away the stone!

Songwriters: John Dillon
Beauty in the River lyrics © Irving Music, Inc

The song starts with the sound of a saw sawing wood to count the rhythm, something that has always intrigued me… Give it a Listen…

Have a great week!

Peace