Two Hours

At seven o'clock last night, after Cubby had gone to sleep, I headed outside with A. to help him fix the water pipe in the cistern that had come loose at the intake, leaving us with no water in the house. And by "help" I mean I stood there and passed the flashlight and screwdriver to A. after he had dropped down into two feet of fifty-degree water wearing nothing but tennis shoes and shorts.

I think we all know who got the better end of this deal.

ANYWAY.

As soon as we ("we"-HAHA) were finished, I announced my intention of doing just a little work. I actually said that. "I'm just going to do a little work. Not much."

I think we can all see where this is headed.

So I went out to harvest peas. And found that there were a lot more English peas (the "regular" kind that need to be shelled) that needed to be picked, and the sugar snap peas needed to be harvested too. Harvesting peas takes a long time. And I was weeding as I went, so that slowed me down some.

Then I noticed a few potato plants that needed to be hilled. And the newly-sprouted squash plants needed to be weeded. And then I hoed around the tomatoes and eggplants and pinched off the tops of the basil so it would get bushier.

Then I saw how weedy the carrots looked. So I started weeding them. And while I was at it, I did a second round of thinning, pulling out many nice-sized baby carrots.

Then I went up to the mulberry tree to shake out the tarp and rid it of all the water that accumulated during the rains in the last couple of days, and the mushy, water-logged berries. While I was up there, I pulled off a few roses from the bushes in the ram pasture to put in a vase in the house where we could enjoy them.

Then I went in to put the vegetables away and remembered that I needed to strain and bottle the elderflower champagne. So I did that.

And then it was nine o'clock and time for bed. Two hours gone, just like that.

And now! It has come to my attention that the last time I posted a picture of the resident baby was three weeks ago. Can my title of Mother be taken away for that? I think so. I'd better remedy that situation RIGHT NOW.

Seriously, lady. How could you NOT post pictures of me? Look at the sunhat! Look at the crab shirt! LOOK AT THE CHEEKS!

Okay, all better now. I can call myself a mother once more. Have a wondrous weekend, poppets!