Just Little Things

Here's a another variety of camellia opening up. The blossom on that one is usually HUGE but this year they are not. I am sure there is a biological explanation for the smaller size of the flowers this year which has something to do with not enough rain and too much cold. 
Possibly.
The azaleas are beginning to color up in my yard. I have been seeing them blooming all over the place on my drives into town. Last year, as I recall, they had the most prolific output of any year I can remember. They were nothing short of glorious. 
We, however, got almost none because Mr. Moon decided to prune our bushes when it was really too late. He never believes me when I tell him he's doing that. But this last year he left them alone and I hope this freeze we're supposed to be getting on Tuesday doesn't nip 'em all in the bud. As Barney Fife used to say. "Nip it, Andy. Just nip it!"
Y'all remember that? 

I swear to you, this is going to be a very short post. I want to make the creamy cashew butternut squash soup I love so much for our supper and that takes some time. I don't have a butternut squash so will be using an acorn squash and sweet potatoes and that works perfectly. I also want to make some naan bread and that's time consuming too. 

It was another beautiful day and I weeded some in the garden and am starting to feel a little more excited to start planting. The potatoes from last year I planted a week or so ago have, bizarrely, started coming up. 

Look at that pretty little potato plant. I love its green sandy face. I'm sort of shocked they're coming up at all. The potatoes I planted looked like something that came out of Miss Havisham's pantry. 
Life does want to live though, doesn't it? 

I started glaze-painting my silly fish dish. I immediately discovered that using brushes that don't come from those beat-up jars in the studio results in a much easier application. I know I must have known this but stubbornly didn't buy my own. I think I haven't been taking myself seriously in this regard but once I ordered all those sweet little bottles of Stroke and Coat glaze, I figured I might as well get some better brushes. 

I enjoy this so much, even as I despair at my clumsy hands, my rough and uneven fish. 
Well. La-di-fucking-dah. I am having fun. 

Glen's spent all day long clearing the vines and trees from that area between our yard and the church. It's a horrible task. You think you've got an armful of trunk and branches and vines freed up and ready to load into the trailer, only to find that no, there are still vines connected to all the others not yet pulled or else you're standing on one of them or else...well. I wouldn't want to do it. Frankly he hasn't wanted to do it either which is why that part of the yard has been a mess for many months. I admire him for returning to the task and his persistence in getting it done. 
Which he will eventually. 

And that's all I think I'm going to discuss tonight. It's time to get in that kitchen and cook things. But before I go, I'm going to give you a link to a post I wrote eight years ago about the first time August spent the night. I came across it looking for something else and oh, my heart and soul! Of course no one needs to go back and read it but it is a post that is perfectly precious. I have forgotten so many things! 
And this is perhaps why I blog. Not just because I HAVE to write, but because in these ridiculous numbers of posts, I have captured the biggest events of this family and some of the tiniest details, too. 
And if any of my grandchildren want to ever know what they were like as little's, being born and growing up, they can come here. 
I suppose I should be more serious about backing things up, shouldn't I? 

Eh. Maybe tomorrow. 

Love...Ms. Moon