Still Home: Out of Control

When I came home for what was a going to be a few days, I realized that there was much to be done on the home front. Not the least of that was a garden that was completely out of control. While I prefer to show loads of lovely close-ups, this view of the path between the back and front yards pretty much shows it like it is -- a jungle of sunflowers, hydrangeas and (in the distance) phlox, making it impossible to get to the back yard -- which was in sore need of mowing!

While it is very pretty, it is also impossible and so part of my time home has been wiring up the sunflowers to the fence, cutting back the hydrangeas and leaving the phlox as is. When the windows are open, the fragrance is fabulous.

The front was no better, but after pulling out a few pots of dead plants and pulling enough sticker-weeds so I could at least get to the faucet, it will do. Some of it looks pretty spectacular.

I have so many Black-eyed Susans -- they really spread out this year!

The sweet pea, (aka Audrey Two, for "Little Shop of Horrors" fans) is also out of control and seems to have spread from the front bed by the garage to the one closer to the house. I'm leaving them for now -- they're in full flower and very pretty. But they need some serious pruning!

I have no idea what these are and every year I pull them out. And every year they ignore me and return.

While I was outside working, I heard ice cream truck music and saw a police car coming down the street very slowly with all his lights flashing. So of course I stopped to watch. He drove up and said, "Hello, want a popsicle!" The township police were giving out popsicles to people outside -- something like neighborhood night out.

The other reason I stayed home is that I need to sell my car, which means getting it ready to sell. Silly me. I thought that would mean just giving it a good clean out, which it has sorely needed and an oil change. But when I picked it up from Rick's and drove it the two blocks to my house I heard bad sounds. It turns out I need new brakes, too. So, this also has to be taken care of. That was an expense I hadn't planned on.

In some ways it's nice to be home, but I'm reminded of what a mess I left my house! Much as I'd like to run back to the lake, the weather doesn't look great up there and in any event I'd need to come home Monday or Tuesday for my birthday, as Rick couldn't go up with me this time. And Lizzie's certainly glad to not be in her travel box again. But I also feel a bit at sea, like I don't belong here or there or anywhere. 

I'm sure the death of a cyclist Rick knows -- he crashed for no apparent reason, no bike problem, avoiding an animal crossing the road, hitting a piece of gravel or a pothole -- has left both Rick and I shaken. The death of Rick's godmother, a lovely woman who never forgot a birthday and someone he called one of the pillars of his life also hangs like a dark cloud. I see the vast numbers of people in the store who are unmasked and listen to the recent Covid statistics and wonder who in our world will be next to get ill or die. It would all be so simple if they'd just get a shot. The odds are in their favor when they do.  

This heavy feeling will pass. Art camp is coming up and that's always wonderful. And there are good things this week, too. I sold my painting of Michigan State's Beaumont Tower and I have clean laundry (there was quite the pile from the lake!) I also (finally) got my June book wrap up posted and July is in the can and will come soon, so that's a plus. My time will be productive. Meanwhile, I leave you with a couple of photos from my next door neighbor's lovely garden.

This is what happens when you actually tend to a garden.

You'd think I'd learn!

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