Today is the last day of August. It is raining and the air is cool. I should be studying.
We’ve been back in Vermont for almost a week and everything is green and lush and overgrown. The morning glories that I left a month ago have done their job and have grown up and over the staircase as I had imagined they would. When I left there might have been one flower. Now there are countless – mostly dark purple, but some white and pink and a few baby blues as well. I planted two different varieties. Then when they weren’t growing, I planted some more. They’re growing. They’ve grown. They’re happy.
Many of my neighbors have sunflowers. When we left a month ago they were just getting big, the taller ones at my shoulder height. Now they tower above me. My next door neighbor has ones that are towering over her shed with faces the size of giant pie plates.
My tomatoes are out of control. Who can eat so many cherry tomatoes? The day we arrived my upstairs neighbor, who had been watering my garden while I was away, had left a bowl of them on my counter. My parents and I ate them up. As you walked into the kitchen you’d just pop one into your mouth. They were sweet and tasted of the earth. But I have so many I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed! One carrot plant actually grew! But my peppers were shadowed by the insane tomatoes. I’m not sure how my beets and chard are doing, they too are overshadowed by the tomato bounty. I was thinking I’d work in the garden today, but the rain has other plans for me.
Isabel has started at pre-school. It’s right down the street, you could almost see it from our front steps. She has charmed all her teachers right away. The first day they said, “She’s so confident!” The second day they said, “Is she always so cheerful?” Haha. Today is bread making day at her school and so Isabel ran over to the table where they were kneading the bread and joined in right away. I love the atmosphere and I couldn’t be happier that she’s attending.
My horoscope this week said that this is a season of rebirth for me. And it strangely is. October 17 will mark one year in Vermont. After a year of putting myself back together, I feel ready to move forward.
Home is Here 