I've been dreaming lately. Of summers that last longer than three months. Of the place we hoped to find in the country, but with all the work we've put into this place already done there. Of taking the time to reap the rewards of our labor instead of hurrying on to the next project. It was a lifetime ago that I would wander around dewy grass wrapped in the romance of an easy summer morning, listening to the mourning doves coo, building my dream farm house with it's flowering gardens, while my mom hung up laundry. I was impatient then to make my dreams happen, not realizing the luxury I had at my disposal. I feel myself slipping more and more into old dreams lately. I'm tired and feeling very old this year.
The month of July was full; it always tends to be. Besides the never ending battle with weeds.... My projects are of the boring type and always the same: moving plants around, mulching, filling in holes with dirt, plaster, wood filler, ever and anon, and "slapping lipstick on a hog" (painting projects that sometimes make me wonder). I painted another large section of the back garage, but still am not done. Hopefully next month I can finally scratch that off the list. Eli got our new storm door on the front porch and it has made the front of the house look so much more put together. He installed the porch's old screen door on the back of the garage to replace the broken door, and it was a process retraining ourselves to push the latch before pushing through the door. If you own an old house you'll know what it's like only having a couple doors that latch at a time. Ha!
This month also marked five years since we bought this old 1901 Folk Victorian house as a fixer upper. I decided to take yearly photos to mark our progress, though ones from the very beginning compared with now are more dramatic. I'm also working on a post with before/after photos of each room we've worked on so far.
After we picked up the storm door we stopped at Carlos O'Kelly's for lunch with the two littlest kiddos. It was unplanned and very low key and really nice, and we decided it could be our anniversary meal. It's so hard to believe it's been 15 years. I also said the same thing on our 10th, and 5th...and probably will next year too.
The drought continued this month with very little rain, and the creek remained dry. I had thee littlest amount of mud to scrub from doors and the bathroom than any other year so far.
On the 16th we left for our family vacation at an Airbnb lake house in northwestern Wisconsin. My parents honeymooned in the area 40 years ago and I have fond childhood memories of vacations in the Chippewa area. We were able to borrow a trailer and kayaks for the trip, and spent a fun six days with my parents, brothers, and their families on the private 20-acre lake surrounded by 80 acres of woods. That first night after unpacking, my Dad was the first one down on the dock with a fishing pole, and Eli was close behind. These are precious memories I'll carry with me as long as God allows me to keep them.
Ash turned ONE while we were gone...and Addie, who probably felt the worst about missing it, has made up for it by yelling HAPPY BIRTHDAY at him and snuggling him every time she notices him looking particularly cute.
Aidan was keeping busy reading as well, and participated in a local public library's summer reading program by submitting the minutes he read every week. He ended up winning their grand prize, a Kindle Fire. He'll be able to use it for school now to listen to the text books we have this year on Audible.
I'll leave you with some of the blooms and growing things I've thrilled over this month.
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