Changes

Came back from a weekend away through harvested field of wheat, the stubble glowing in the late afternoon sun. But what is this? I thought the harvest didn't happen until late August, and find I am unprepared for this new development. I felt shock register in my body as scalped field after scalped field passed through my vision, the valuable ears whisked away, the farmers presumably already planning the ploughing. I dreaded getting back to my own territory, but so far only the barley has gone. This is bad enough as I had planned several more forays through their midst, my hands sweeping sensuously across their silky waving beards, my eyes following the wind's progress through their swaying path. At least the wheat is still intact. I want to be around when it is mechanically scythed, and judging by my reaction yesterday I think there will be grief at its passing. For me it signals more clearly than anything else the changing of the seasons, and the sadness this brings. Oh well. All things etc.

One of our walks, behind the house

For now it's still July, and I'm trying to plan my garden. The lawn is fine, but I'm stuck at the next stage. I've got plenty of inspiration, from gardening books and programmes, but I still don't know what to plant and where. Delphiniums there will be aplenty, ranging from near purple to near white, in huge clumps. White and pink I want in the same bed, though what I don't yet know. Then there must be another bed for the shocking shades of dahlias and hellenium and phlox; also lupins, lavender. My mouth drools at the thought. For now it's all a blur.

New lawn, unwitting but not unwelcome stripes

And so to bed. Last night Sasha was worn out by her hectic weekend and fell asleep in my arms as I carried her to her cage at 8.30pm. When I tried to coax her out for a last minute pee two hours later she refused to budge. And so I snapped her, curled up against her heart cushion looking tiny in her new house cage (the smaller one lives in the car). So cute when she's sleepy. Even her curly tail is relaxed.