ClusterStrip of Simmer

I perhaps overdid it by going for a walk with the Sparrowhawk and then working out in the yard for an hour and a half before attempting to write and concluding with a Zoom. The walk was fun because we ran into the sculptor who made the statues that punctuate the woods path. He was taking a tour group around, and stopped to chat and answer some of my questions about the near-future fate of the garden. At home, I weeded part of the front garden, and when it got too sunny out there, moved to the back yard and got a good start on cutting up the two big branches that fell off the maple tree. The area at the back of the yard is sadly disheveled. We used to sit up there all the time, but a combination of factors caused us to move the chairs to the other end. One was the unfortunate discovery that municipal regulations forbid actual use of our firepit. Another was that Irish and family owned a dog, for a time, that barked hysterical every time it saw us sitting there. The dog is gone. The regulations remain. Anyway, I was full of consternation and was muttering "Oh no, oh my goodness, this is not good" as I pulled up weeds and piled up sticks. But then, I discovered something that changed my tune: a tall stalk topped by a cluster of green seeds, like jade beads, turning red at the top. It's an arum, almost certainly a Jack-in-the-pulpit, an adorable wild flower that I have long craved to have in my yard! All is forgiven, wild weeds! You have brought me a delightful treasure!

Finally I came inside, as I was decidedly overheated. When I was doing tae kwon do, I used to pour water over my head after class, and as it cascaded down my shoulders, it would magically become hot, because my head was so warm. I was amused to have the same thing happen in the shower. It's been awhile since I enjoyed that sensation. Definitely too hot to cook, so we had yummy ham sandwiches for dinner. Also cheese. I forgot to mention that our Cheese Lady sent forth a bulletin to say that their shipment of Fromager D'Affinois had arrived late, and was even now at its perfect peak of ripeness, so they would offer it half price to anyone who wanted to come get it right this minute. He promptly buzzed off and brought home a creamy wedge, plus a couple of other cheeses as well. We are having very French snacks this week.