Weekend Shenanigans

What a weekend! Thank you all for your kind words about my… well, bad attitude last Friday. It seems that the raging nasties passed and was replaced kindly by the slightly foul mood. Ha! I guess it takes a few days, right?

But we did have a very productive weekend! Andrew and I finally purchased a new (as in, really new!) car to replace the demolished one. It was a bit of a weak-kneed endeavor, as the last time either of us has seen a brand new car was back in 2002. But we are very happy with our decision to buy new, as neither of us can handle (or afford) to have any uncertainty in another car. Plus, it’s a very good feeling to think that it should last us a nice long time. My Honda Civic is still going strong 11 years and 175,000 miles later. Love those Hondas.  

We spent loads of time in the garden. It’s such a learning process that I absolutely adore. Every year we experiment with growing new things, and every year we decide to subtract or add based on what seems to work for us, in our climate, in our soil. Broccoli raab was all stringy and not producing those beautiful full leaves and florets. Out they came. Garlic was a disaster. Out it came. Squash is acting finicky again. I’ll give it some time.

What we are having luck with: tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes! Also, cucumbers, beans, beets, kale, and chard. Our herbs are fantastically happy. Carrots are taking their sweet time, but growing still. Emil enjoys harvesting the beans. He wants so badly to love them; taking a bite out of the bean only to spit it out with an unsure little smile on his face. 

We went on a few walks despite the stifling heat and the boys were thrilled to discover that the cicadas are out in full force. Our goal is to find one coming out of its shell so we can watch that miraculous event.

On Sunday, the boys were begging to go for a drive in the new car, so Andrew surprised them with a trip to his father’s old home; a place Andrew spent childhood summers running through woods, climbing on rooftops, and creating mischief and mayhem with his four older step- and blood-brothers. We stopped by the park just down the street and let the boys play on the playground and in the wooded paths surrounding the neighborhood. They saw a deer, a dead mole, and lots of animal tracks. 

Being in the woods was so calming and healing. It has always been like that for our family, probably because Andrew and I both grew up traversing the wilds near our homes, spending every waking minute under and in the trees and streams. Why we haven’t just up and moved to a forest somewhere is beyond me! Maybe some day…

Another big event that happened this weekend? Milo jumped onto his two-wheeler (after not having touched it for a year probably) and just rode off, like he has been doing it his whole life. Last year, Andrew would run alongside him down the grassy hill by our house, but Milo pretty much always just toppled over. Whatever happened this weekend, something just clicked. He is officially a bike rider! He is the absolute embodiment of “beaming with pride.” Oh, and of course, he’s already showing off with some pretty nifty tricks. And this last one is for ALL of my Ohio peeps. I miss you. I love you. Will come home soon.