Drifts of daisies, devil’s paintbrush, buttercups and red clover speckle the meadows. Lupin are making a last splash amidst the medians on I-89. Most of the flowering trees have turned their energies to starting fruit on their branches. The lightning bugs have begun their evening flights of fancy.
What a treat to spend so much of yesterday caught up in Mother Nature’s rhythms. The certainty of her planetary cycles is a welcome respite from the current chaos we find ourselves enmeshed in.
On Sunday, Batman and I edged, weeded and mulched the peony crescent. It was so satisfying to use our homemade mulch, chipped with the help of an attachment on Batman’s tractor.
Last night, early in the evening, I wandered out to the peonies, clippers in hand and harvested a bowlful of blossoms.
I brought them in, pulled the petals off, rinsed and drained them. Then I poured boiling water over them, covered the bowl with a tea towel and left them to steep overnight. The scent in the kitchen was intoxicating.
Batman and I had strawberry shortcake for supper, because what else would one have for supper on the solstice? We used King Arthur Baking’s recipe for lemon cornbread biscuits, here. Of course we had them mit schlag and berries from the farmers market. The biscuit recipe really is amazing.
We ate generous bowls of deliciousness outdoors as the bonfire was lit. Rain was in the forecast, so we got started after the sunset, but before it got dark.
I made a daisy bracelet and took this photo for Maggie, who was very curious about my wrinkly skin when we were together last week. :-)
You may be able to see the sheets of rain coming across the valley in waves as it hits each mountaintop along the way. We stayed outdoors as long as we could and then tumbled in just as the downpour began. We need the rain. It was a celebration of hope and renewal.
This morning I got up early and made five jars of peony jelly, using this recipe that I found on the website of the Alaska Peony Cooperative. (Did you know there was such a thing? I did not!) I’m not convinced I’ve got things just right and am waiting til later this morning to check the jelly out. I still have much to learn in the world of making preserves!*
It’s still raining and so I will spend some time in my sewing studio today. I have some new and fresh inspirations I want to play with.
I hope you were able to find some time to celebrate the solstice, friends, wherever you are. I know things are topsy turvy in the Southern Hemisphere. That has always fascinated me…how we are all rooted on the same planet, but can find ourselves in different seasons and time zones.
Oddly, I’m not a huge fan of the summertime. Her blazing heat and glaring light challenge my northern soul. But each year I try to find her pleasures…lovely gardens filled with bounty, quiet evenings on the deck with a breeze off the mountains, more social time wrapped in the freedom of being outdoors, farmers markets, festivals…and dye season!
Sending love, sending hope, sending hugs…to each of you, dearest ones. xo
*The peony jelly was a success! It jelled nicely and it’s got a complex and delicious flavor. :-)