Jul 14 2012
Home at Last
My garden says “hello”
Thursday would have been a beautiful day no matter what, but it was a sunny one, too, without the bone-crushing heat’n’humidy of an East Coast summer day*. I sang along to the Beach Boys’ new CD as I drove past the vineyards and redwoods in the California sunshine. I yelled “Woo hoo!” as I passed the Mendocino County line. I wanted to hug the whole County, even Willits.
Well, maybe not Willits.
I stopped off to get my mail, rejoicing in the familiar sight of the hardware store owner’s old black dog napping in front of the store, the swallows above the post office door peeping merrily away, and the peaceful cows across the road wandering through their huge, golden fields.
Hooterville had never looked so lovely.
Pulling up at my humble abode, it was immediately obvious that Rob had been at work while I was away. The hose was looped up far more neatly than I can ever manage, so he had watered my garden in my absence. He had also removed two cans of garbage and two of recycling and repaired the cupboard door which had mysteriously fallen off one day while I was at work.
Before I left, I asked Megan to borrow some twine so I could tie up the Little Rose That Could. Strangely enough, feeding and watering it have made it much happier and bigger, but its branches were kind of flopping around:
Instead of tying it up, Rob wove the branches through the balcony slats:
So I’ll have climbing roses on one end of the balcony and jasmine on the other.
The cats definitely missed me. They all came running to say hello and be petted, and then wandered off, reassured that all was back to normal.
Megan and Rob arrived with a bottle of Absolut Mandrin vodka and pomegranate-cranberry juice, which, with a squidge of fresh lime juice and some ice, made pretty good faux Cosmos. Sitting in the garden with the sun gilding the tops of the redwoods, it just felt like heaven. I was (and am) so glad to be home.
*It seems unfair to survive 6 or more months of cold, snowy winter only to be rewarded by intense heat, humidity, and bugs. How can it be so hot and so cold in the very same place? Enquiring minds want to know.
2 Responses to “Home at Last”
It’s great to come home any day of the week, but in your case, it’s amazing to have such a lovely family who truly care and love you. Nice to hear you’re back, enjoy your lovely home and surroundings Suzy, you’ve earned it.
Your place looks lovely….Love the greens that you and nature use…..makes a very peaceful setting.
Glad that all is right in your world again…
jx