As Evelyn works on her ham, cheese, and ketchup sandwich, and the sun makes its final peek through the low-hanging branches of the pines, the porch frog, ever hiding, gives his evening call. It’s a quack-like sound that takes center stage, leaving the always-chattering mockingbirds and cardinals to take a backseat. The gnats have my number. Why do they land on my eyelid? Swatting them away works for about 20 seconds.
A DIY method shared by a Reddit user suggests using vanilla perfume or even vanilla extract mixed with water. One sec, I’m going to try it. Well, first and foremost, I smell wonderful. Five drops in a few tablespoons of water, and I dabbed it on myself, on my neck and wrist points like I was Cinderella going to the ball. And by Georgia, if a bug didn’t head toward me, then pivot, ricochet, and dart in the opposite direction. I’m feeling quite at peace for the moment in this bug-filled countryside.
Archie’s alerted to something. His cute ears are fully erect, and his back left paw is poised at a slight angle, ready to run. It could be a deer in the adjacent pasture, but I don’t know. I don’t want another dog after Archie. Since it’s impossible to top the best of the best, I won’t even try.
With the four new, hand-tall raspberry shoots, I revamped the area to the left of the backyard steps. It needed a good weed pull and a rake leveling before I could start, so I did that with the sun blazing overhead. Soon it’ll be too hot for that, but while I still can, I will. Between raking and pulling weeds, I also handled the sprinkler system, as Dave replaced heads so we could gauge the ratio of house and sidewalk coverage versus actual grass and plant watering.
When the heads did nothing but mist three feet, instead of the 8’ the instructions promised, Dave had a moment. “I’m ready to burn down this house and build a new one.” Which would likely not phase the sprinkler system, so I had him rethink his retaliatory action statement.
Ooh, the chimney swifts are out. Their stiff, sharp-angled wings make them easy to spot, and I forget which other bird, but it’s them and one other that are the last to bed.
I’ve been thinking about emotional safety in tough conversations and how fundamental it is for having a productive dialogue. I’ve given Dave permission to let me know when I broach a topic in a way that makes him uncomfortable, but now that I’m on my best behavior, it won’t happen for a while. This morning, after last night’s tough but valuable talk, I got acknowledged for how well I brought it up and how it went. So, that’s good.
“Come inside, I’m mad at you.” Evelyn’s in nothing but a Paw Patrol towel, the actual ears of the pup acting as her own, having just exited the front door. I look up and stop typing from down below, seated on a blanket in the grass. Dave had taken her in for a bath, and I’m guessing she wants TV time on the couch. Which she won’t get. With an abysmal amount of time left until her bedtime, it’s reading a book or two, but that’s it.
Lastly, I’m pumped for my haircut appointment this Friday. I’m going for an old ‘do I had—very short, that tucks behind my ears. I’ve been feeling like fresh starts are popping up all around me, and this is just another one of those.
It’s a small but meaningful way to embrace change and bring some new energy into the mix.
Love, Jaclynn
Going On 40 