I'm not known for my wisdom.I'm not sure what I would be known for, either, but I'm fairly certain it would be something I'd rather not have as my legacy. This is true, and I could ramble on, but that would require dishing out juicy details about my failings, so instead let's look at pictures of children working on a Very Hot Day.
I dug a trench behind the coop to grow a sunflower fort this year. I compulsively wanted to finally finish the last of the planting, so I waited to begin until early afternoon, when the sun was highest and the muggy heat was at its peak. (See above comment about wisdom, please.)I filled it with manure, lugged away the rocks and strips of sod, and asked the girls to line it with larger rocks.
The heat forced us to bring out Ye Olde Garden Dunking Bowl, which makes a regular appearance each year. (They reward themselves thusly: pick up 60 rocks and you earn a dunk! Or: weed half a row and you earn a dunk! Or: fill the barrow with rocks and you earn a dunk!)
Piper always ignores the rules and dunks herself silly while the others are working, which drives them batty because she uses up all the water by the time they arrive.
Hopefully the seeds will actually grow to reward our sweaty labor.
Here's a bonus. Susannah, covered in an inch-thick layer of grime, asks to "post" on some rocks.
Then, because I'd chosen to plant the Fun Thing first, I tuckered out before digging the pumpkin holes I needed to plant in that same corner due to all garden space being otherwise occupied.
I dug the holes, anyway, but I did stop at 9 instead of the intended 15. Here's a picture after the fifth hole. There were no more pictures until we completed them.
Sorry, Molly! I intended to take pictures of the girls plunking and covering their seeds, but I was slick and delirious. Here they are with their finished holes.
And here's Millie-- pumpkin-lover-- pleased as punch to be finished, who regaled me with tales of her future, milk-fed, Big Max pumpkin as we worked. This year's the year for a prize-winning pumpkin!
Ah- the sunflower circle. I have always said I would do this- and then I never do it. May we enjoy YOUR fort with a visit when the time comes?
ReplyDeletePretty please?
We will happily trade you the sunflower fort for the tipi.
ReplyDeleteEnd deal.
My oh my! I have been gone way too long! A real letter will be headed your way with all kinds of news but I had to comment on this special post. Thank you for letting me live vicariously through your family and your hard work in planting the seeds. I am also excited that Millie will be showing the Big Max pumpkin this year as the prize winner! A girl after my own heart!!! I am enjoying ALL of your posts and pictures. Smiling and laughing with tears of joy in my eyes. You and your sweet family are such a blessing to me!
ReplyDeleteMuch love!
I've been thinking about you and had plans to send off a letter of my own to make sure all was well! Glad to hear you're still around, and, Lord willing, we'll show you some BIG pumpkins in a few months!
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for your kind encouragement regarding this silly blog. I'm glad that it gives you joy! :)