blooming fourth

So DH and I got up at 6ish, went and walked at the mall, showered and had breakfast, then laid groundcloth prior to bark-dusting, Bought four new daphne bushes (squeee! We loves our daphnes, we does!)
Planted them before the delivery of the barkdust, and then went at the garden chaos like two speed-freaks killing electric-acid-bluesnakes. And at the end of all that nail-destroying, thorn acquiring, knuckle-scraping, back-straining,dirt encrusting, profusely sweating work, I harvested flowers.
". . .with the lillies and the roses, and the beauty of Kashmir lay drooping her head." (Semi-remembered folk-song)

Now it's my time to go out into the garden and be the beauty of Kashmir. I will lie in the sling chair, shaded in the heat of the day, sipping cool water and drooping in opulent languidity. No hot-dogs on the barbeque. No screaming kids getting overheated and over stimulated. No one but DH and the cats to enjoy the day with. What more can a woman ask?


The roses, though steadfastly neglected, continue to produce with fragrant generosity. Sniff and sigh with bliss every time I pick up or put down my keys. Life is good.

May this fourth of July be full of your personal favorite things, and may the fireworks light up your heart all year long!