The summer of 2020 was exceptional and I feel a great need to document it with words and photos. In some ways it seemed to endlessly stretch from one impossibly hot and humid day to another, while concurrently it was over in a second. With the advent of an early fall my head and heart have been restored a bit and I can see more clearly.
The first few months of the pandemic allowed us time to expand our vegetable garden, which ended up being a huge disappointment. We have not managed the transition to gardening in Maryland particularly well! Have you ever heard of a gardener bemoaning the lack of zucchini? Well, that's us. The basil, on the other hand, was spectacular, and I'd guess that we supplied at least a dozen folks with enough for a good batch of pesto. Bill's signature crop, garlic, did well-enough.
This was the second year of my higgeldy-piggeldy garden and it came into it's own. Do you know what a higgeldy-piggelgy garden is? The definition of that term is in a confused, disordered, or random manner, and that's exactly what my garden is. Anchored by a few perennials, the garden is home to whatever is on sale at the nursery or has been given to me by friends. I love it! St. Francis is hiding in there somewhere-next year he needs moving.
For a few blissful days we were restored by the peace of a cottage in Central Maine. It was a different sort of Maine trip, due to the pandemic, but I cherish every moment we were there.
The summer was notable in that we finally ate crabs, after 5 years on the Eastern Shore. Courtesy of dear son-in-law Jeff, we sat on the porch and made a huge mess. Wow, crabs are a lot of work! I really don't mind eating mine in a crab cake, tho.
And then...it was the summer of our family's relocation to Colorado Springs. Zev spent a few days every week at Nana Camp and Ari made frequent visits as well. It was intense, exhausting, and life-giving. There was time to introduce Ari to the books of Robert McCloskey and weekly trips to a farm market for lovely produce and yummy ice cream (especially the peach!). Zev and I greatly expanded our baking repertoire from blueberry muffins to include oatmeal cookies, homemade bread, blueberry crisp and banana muffins. Did we ever make a mess...but oh so much fun.
Bill and I made a similar cross-country leap when we moved from Dallas to Maine in 1993. Begrudgingly I have to say I understand the reasons for the move to Colorado. Of course it is different here without them 55 miles down the road and I miss them terribly. But I am happy for Emily and Jeff and proud of them for trying to do what's best for their family.
How could I not say something about the state of our country and the upcoming election? I am worried, yes, and the above says it all.
Every day I make it a point to remind myself that we are all God's beloved. May we treat each other as such and work for healing and peace.
