A July Weekend

It's a bit overcast today, but the humidity is as thick as pudding.  

I lay in bed, listening to the sounds of my husband excited for a day at home.  A day to work and get things done.  The chest freezer closes with a thud in the basement below our bedroom.  Quick footsteps come up the stairs, bowls are rattled and water is poured.  The coffee maker heats up, while an excited dog follows eagerly waiting for his breakfast.  The dry food hits the bowl with a loud thrash, while "good mornings" are exchanged between them.  The brook is at a steady trickle, not enough to hear in our bedroom.  The baby birds are singing, waiting for their breakfast.  I slowly turn my tired body over to feel our baby moving and grooving and ready to start the day.  

Bacon hits the pan and begins to sizzle.  The screen door opens as he heads to the garden.  Omelets with our green peppers and summer squash are on the menu.  I slowly wake up, as he bounces back in the kitchen with a "it's thick out there today, mornin' huni" with a kiss on the cheek and a rub of the belly.

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Last night we watched Jackie's kids so they could go to a wedding.  We packed up a bag, threw the babies on our backs and walked up the hill.  I played with Liv in the pond as Jas sat in the shade chatting with Waylon, making sure tiny clovers didn't end up in his mouth.  He said he likes that age.  I told him our little guy will be that big this time next year.  He took out the orange tractor i bought and drove the bottle around in the back.  The babies giggled.  We fed some very green baby food to Waylon.  He was covered.  Liv looked for frogs and ate some sand.  We had a potty accident that was no big deal.  We rocked the babies to sleep and passed out on the couches until mom & dad returned.  

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Slowly, we eat our breakfast and talk about what is working well and what we'll do differently in next year's garden.  We talk of chickens and Japanese beetle control.  We hear a splash and look out to see charlie taking his morning dip in the brook.  We talk of baby gear and what's next on the list for the sugarhouse.  We talk of what food we'll bring camping next weekend and when the firewood will be split for this winter.  Our conversations consist of love and vision.  Our vision.

Yesterday i made up some raspberry/blueberry maple preserves.  Today calls for Dilly beans.

This is a good weekend.

This time in July

I used to dream of what it would feel like to hold my round swelling pregnant belly.  To feel our baby kicking and moving all around.  To plan for motherhood and the arrival of our child.  

To be 25 weeks pregnant and truly feel our thriving child inside has brought me so much peace.  I believe i was born to be a mother.  To care, nurture, inspire.  To carry and hold close and to let go and give guidance.  To marvel at this little human we created.

Some mornings i lie in bed, and can't believe we're having a son in just over three months.

This time of life is so, so special.  I'm cherishing the crazy heartburn i get from all things tomato, and feeling that slight stretch to my belly every night.  

I've been watching Jason's cousin's kids every Tuesday night for a few hours until her husband gets home.  These kids are such a delight.  At 8 months and 2.5 years they certainly are busy.  Charlie likes going to babysit just as much, for all the little fingers delicately feeding him off their plates.

Baby W was born early November last year.  When i hold him, i picture my little guy this time next year, being the same age.  

Time flies and life soars.  We hold on as tight as we can.

Berry & Green

I spent most of the week nursing a terrible summer cold.  As it turns out, pregnancy plus a cold plus asthma do not equal a fun time.  Although i will say that being so sick brought my mama over for an unexpected overnight, and my husband home early from working away.  That, i do not complain about.  

Saturday morning i woke up feeling like the end was in sight.  I decided to whip us up some berry muffins to start the weekend off right.

A quick garden tour:

Our garden is doing so well this year.  The tomato plants are shoulder-height.  The squash are huge, the beans are flowering and the lettuce is keeping us nourished.

Purple beans

Tomatoes! 

a single pear

dozens of mac's are growing strong

and last by not least we'll also have a handful of peaches to munch on this year :)

Lately

The last two days have reached 93 degrees and humid.  That is hot for this New England girl.  Jas wanted to put in the air conditioner last weekend and i told him we didn't need it yet.  Then he went away to work for the week…..and it's really sticky.  Ha!

But I'm not complaining, after the months of ice, snow and frigid temps, I like to feel a little warmth around me.  Our gardens and flowers love this weather.  The tomatoes have flowered, the squash and cucumbers are growing inches every day.   And the lettuce and greens are over-flowing.  It is amazing to just go out back and pick our salad greens for dinner.  

And our strawberries?  Holy moly.  Another six quarts picked last weekend.  With already two rounds of jam done and over a dozen bags frozen in the freezer, it was decided that a strawberry rhubarb pie was in order.  

We left last Saturday and headed for Maine to spend the afternoon on the beach and have a nice seafood dinner.  It was so nice to scoot over there for an afternoon and smell the salty, humid ocean air. I always forget how close we are to the ocean, remembering my youth in VT and being four plus hours away.  Such a gift.

Charlie and i went on a long ride last night and got lost.  We both needed a little breeze blowing on our face.  Sanbornton back country roads remind me so much of Vermont.  It's magical.  

It's been thundering and down-pouring all afternoon.  Everything is so alive in the summer.  Tomorrow we head to Vermont for the 4th and to meet up with both of my brothers (and families) at my parents house.  Thank goodness for long weekends!