Under a rock, in the fog, & not letting go of Summer

I keep meaning to post about our Santa Cruz adventure from well over a week ago but life's been getting in the way I suppose. Miranda caught a cold (??) and has been very needy/clingy. It's about the only time she's ever been sick before which we're grateful for, and she seems so much happier today.

We had a huge downpour of rain last night...if you lived here you'd understand how unusual a heavy rain in September is. I had just come in from a run, Jared was trying to get Miranda to bed (apparently she screamed and cried Mama the whole time I was gone :o(, and the skies just opened up and started to dump. And then dumped some more, all night. Jared scrambled to get all our tools & miscellaneous junk inside while I held Miranda who was thrilled watching the rain.

Our gutters and downspouts are in terrible condition and I had placed a large watering can under a huge stream of water coming off the back of the house. Apparently Jared emptied and replaced it two more times after that - yikes. We are not ready for rain yet!

Over the weekend we rented an auger for a half day and Jared wrestled with it (Ever used one of those? Good grief!) to bore out several deep holes and a trench for our gas line to the bbq island we built. I've designed some neat climbing vines trellises and needed deep holes to hold the redwood posts for the support structure. Privacy screens are in our very immediate future! Privacy screens with purple passionflower that is... That night Jared had to ice his wrist from all that auger abuse, poor guy.

I'm so close to finishing the portrait commission for Jared's parents. Portraits are unusual beasts...I feel like I'm not only painting it for Jared's parents and seeking their approval on it, but also for Jared's sister - I hope she'll feel like I captured her likeness. I know I would feel sensitive about a portrait of myself. How we see ourselves is often so different from how others view us.

The rain last night made me realize Summer is fading away. I've still got a bazillion tomatoes on the vines of course. And the most amazing Charentais melons you've ever tasted. I told Jared my plan for next year is to have so many that I can have one every morning for breakfast :o) I'd die a happy death with a melon a day. This time of year also means a change of focus. Finishing the portrait, moving on to a concentration in textile design, planning for the Fall sale I always do, and thinking about how to wrap up this year in a way that will make me feel satisfied & content that we put our energies & ideas into the right places. Once a procrastinator, always a procrastinator. I heart deadlines.

Well, sounds like the Bird drifted off...I'm off to finish up the painting. Have a lovely Monday and I hope to be back sooner than I promised last time :o)

xo