Summer Rain

This is Sunday morning, something that hasn't been really different from other days for us for the past two years. It's raining, softly, not so that it should be keeping us from working outside, but somehow it is. Jay and Alma are sitting on the couch reading the Sunday Funnies, there's music on, and a cauliflower pie baking. Aside from the dairy (lots of cheese, some milk) and onion, it's all homegrown. Thanks Mollie Katzen! This is what our life is today. In a few months, Jay will start his new job teaching English at Fortuna Union High School, and things will change. It's interesting how I'm feeling about that. Sure, we're going to be more secure, have full health coverage, and be paying into retirement again, but I just don't think I'm cut out to be a traditional "stay at home mom" getting dinner on the table, keeping the house orderly, dishes done, laundry washed, etc. And there will still be farm work to do, because we're not planning to quit. I don't know how things will work, but I am happy to say that I know they will work.

For now, things are growing great guns. Seems like the corn puts on an inch a day, just like the weeds. We ate fried green tomatoes, have been eating broccoli and cauliflower, garlic, spinach, but really we're in a holding pattern until the weather gets warm enough to ripen the 'maters, grow us peppers, get squash and beans pumping, and all. It is quite exciting to see! We are not able to open the stand or get to market yet, but we are so close. Come on summer heat!

Alma is growing so quickly. She already seems much more like a 4 year old than 3, and is thriving in our world, although this time of year is hard on her. We should do so much more to get her to town to play with other kids, and to play with her ourselves, but there always seems so much to do. We have a goal to get down to the river a couple times a week to swim and have a cook-out. That hasn't happened yet, but we will keep trying.

I love seeing her brain develop, her imagination expressed. She is very interested in making things, likes to "wash" dishes, and loves to haul her cat around playing mommy. Just now, she put some watermelon pieces into a small jelly jar with water and a pinch of salt, got a whisk, and stirred it all up. Honestly, it's not bad! What comes with this little scientist and creator is lots of cleaning up, and I often have to surpress my initial "no" response to her ideas because I know it is so good for her brain to have her hands in things, to have an idea and actually try it out, despite the messes and wasted food. I find that "yes" is more and more rewarding.

Time flies on!