Happy Day

Tuesday, 7 July 2020

I had the realization today that I’m happy. I’m content. I like living where I am and I am grateful to be here. Even in these hot, hazy, humid days and nights.

My dream to have a hobby farm is still very real and something I am working towards. Because, as much as I like living here and making it my own, it’s missing a few components key to my dream. Such as being zoned agriculture. We’re currently zoned “Garden Centre”. Go figure. I’m living on the land my parents, grandparents and great-grandparents farmed and yet, we can’t have animals. The second component is the busy highway in front of the house. Constant noise. Third, the neighbours are too close for comfort. I would like to live on a farm that is surrounded by nature and not houses, to be able to walk 500 feet in any direction and not see people.

As I write this, I’m sipping on a herbal tea blend from my herbal tea garden. A wish fulfilled, I have finally grown my own herbal tea garden. So far the chamomile and lemon balm are doing amazing. The mints, on the other hand, are having a tough year. They were amazing the last few years but this summer, they are slow to start. I have tried starting a new batch indoors during the spring but with no luck. Could be something with the seeds. So I may have to be happy with chamomile and lemon tea this winter.

I tried a new chicken recipe today and cooked in on the BBQ. My first time cooking anything on the BBQ that wasn’t a hamburger or steak. I must say, it turned out exceptionally well and I may try a few other things now too!

On the COVID front, I went into the office for the first time since March. I got the go ahead to go in to pick up a few things. I wanted my docking station and keyboard, and my yellow crocs. Now, I could have lived without the Crocs, but seeing as I was there for the docking station and keyboard… I was a little nervous, perhaps apprehensive but it was for not. It went very smoothly from the moment I entered the building and checked in with the commissionaire to when I said good bye on my way out. Signs were everywhere, indicating one way lanes, only two people per elevator, etc.

Several photos from my garden today: The butterfly garden, corn and beans in the vegetable garden are coming along very well, Malva Zebrina – which I grew from seed – is gorgeous, and the Baltimore Oriole was back this afternoon. Can you see the goldenfinch coming in to the feeder just above the oriole?

Dukes is waiting to come in this morning! We close the curtains in the morning because the sun is so strong, the heat flows in heating up the kitchen. Dukes wasn’t impressed.