whatnots and thingymajiggers

This week was short because, well, I got an unexpected visitor from 'Clara Cold'.  Technically, she's been hanging around for about a month, but has been so mild that I've been able to continue hiking without too much of the normal stuff that comes along with a virus.  In fact, I was sure that she was long gone, when low and behold, she showed up again this week on Monday in the form of a very sore throat and an exhausted feeling.  I finally went to see the doctor who told me that all of this hiking and deadline stress is beating my immunity down and gave me firm instruction to take several days off the trail to recover. I'm on day 3 of recovery now and it feels good to let the blisters and my body just rest. I'll be back on the trail soon, feeling stronger and more rested.  I hate to say it, but this was "just what the doctor ordered."

Now..for something less cliche.  Vstarted working on the hot tub deck (sorry for the e-commotion...that was me doing back handsprings). It's a project that has haunted the backyard and the guy in charge for a couple years and as summer rolls to a close there is one final window of opportunity in sight.  As usual, I'm in awww of V's brain, perfectionism, and construction skills.  There will be a few steps all the way around the tub and decking creating a pathway, outlined by landscape. We designed the deck together, then he drew up blueprints and we picked out materials.  He's doing the whole thing himself in between work appointments, which is a crazy labor-intensive project.  There is no doubt it will be a masterpiece when it's completed and we'll enjoy not having to wobble up a step ladder on uneven rocks to get into the tub.

Lastly, our neighbors have asked us to care for their garden while they are in Hawaii.  This is such a spectacular garden that it deserves to be in a magazine and could double as a neighborhood pea patch.  From the minute you see it your jaw drops, because it's so pretty and large, it almost doesn't look real.  The fencing around the edges is a work of finely crafted art as is the picturesque little gate wrapped with vines that opens to allow you inside.  Immediately, your feet hit deep dark soil and you are surrounded with healthy plants cranking out all sorts of gorgeous produce.  In one corner is the pumpkin patch, proudly producing little gourds under giant green leaves.  In another corner are perfectly staked up sweet tomatoes, bursting with small green and red buttons.  As you wander you are surrounded by rows of rhubarb, cucumbers, potatoes, carrots, broccoli, beans, onions and beautiful cornstalks.  This bounty is peaking while they are away and they've asked us to come water and pick for a few days.  On yesterday's tour I was given the harvest pictured below. Last week we were invited to come pick blueberries from their mini blueberry farm and we picked over 1 gallon of berries (and there were even more). Just below the garden is so much lavender it would make Provence jealous; all beautifully blooming and scenting the air, lined up in rows full of pollinating bees.  The honey comb is not far away in buzzing boxes. They have surrounded their property with an electric fence to avoid deer, elk, bear and raccoon issues and so far it's worked. Yes, these are the same urban farmer neighbors who give us eggs on a regular basis.  Sure...we'll babysit your garden...twist our arms.