yesterday

"She's a little intimidating."

"Yeah, a lot of people say that when they first meet her. She is intimidating. It's because she's so smart, and she's not afraid to correct you if you say something that's wrong."

"Yeah, she seems like a really smart lady."

"She's one of the best people I know. Do you know how long we've been friends?"

"I think you told me before- twenty years?"

"Twenty years."

"That's a long time to know someone. Besides my mom and a few girls from kindergarten that I found on Facebook, I haven't known anyone for twenty years."

"Have you heard her sing yet?"

"She was singing when we were working in the greenhouse. She's got a beautiful voice."

"Every time I hear her sing, I fall in love with her all over again."

--A conversation between me and S, concerning the farm lady I am working for.

***

A little tour of what I did on Wednesday, if you'd be so inclined to come along...

The sun played peek-a-boo with us for most of the day, popping out from behind the clouds to warm us up intermittently. It was 48 degrees when I got to the farm at noon, late because of an appointment. I worked inside the greenhouse, right off the kitchen.

the greenhouse

the kitchen window

Crates of bulbs that had sat for the fall and winter, intermingling and wrapping around each other, had to be gently chiseled apart with hammers.

bulbs

Mouse and I worked easily together. She's been working here since last fall. She shows me how things are done and is kind about it.

The jasmine has only started flowering in the last few days, and the smell was perfectly subtle and lovely. A slight shift in the wind from the open door brought the scent right to our noses, like a little kiss.

jasmine

Before I left for the day, exhausted and stinky from working in the warm greenhouse, I picked up the friendly chicken. She protested a bit, clucking perturbedly. But I held her close to my belly, and with my ungloved hand, I stroked her scrawny neck beneath her feathers. She soon quieted, and I knelt in the dirt. I released her wings and expected her to jump off of me and run away, but she stayed perched on my leg as I continued to massage her. I think nearly two minutes passed before she decided to take leave.

friendly chicken

The cat, Sweet-Pea, [formerly Wicked but confusingly renamed] is not nearly as nice as the red chicken. She will tolerate a few seconds of petting before she bits or claws. For some reason, she does tolerate and even seem to enjoy caresses with my gloved hands, but is instantly irritated if I touch her with my bare hands.

Weird cat.

grumpy cat

 And this was the song that was playing as I finished up my work.

the day's soundtrack

Happy May, happy Spring. :]