Scooter loves hot weather. If he were a sensible dog like Lily, I’d let him enjoy it. But he’s not. He likes to sunbathe. He plops down on the back step in a bright spot, and stretches his skinny little body out as long as it can go. He’d bake himself until limp if I let him, but dogs can get heatstroke, and I’ve found him on the verge. So, I’ve been limiting his tanning sessions and shushing him off the step. I was pleased the other day when I let him outside, and instead of flopping down in the sun, he trotted across the lawn. Maybe he’d gotten the message!

But, no, I guess he’s a tad more clever than I give him credit for.

When I called the dogs in, this is how he looked. He had been over at the pond, baking himself on a sun-heated rock.

Scooter, I’m onto you!

Wendy brought sharp tools in her suitcase. She was determined to teach me how to felt. I do like felted animals, but have no desire to hold a wad of wool in my hand and poke and stab with a needle (often pricking myself) in order to create a toy (albeit as adorable as can be.) Wendy persevered. She bought wool. She felted while we chatted at the table. (She only went “ouch!” a few times and never did curse – much to my disappointment.)

Pip now has a twin.

Wendy even captured Pip’s perpetual smile.

I still don’t want to work with sharp needles. But, Wendy did teach me a new crochet stitch. I’m working on a scarf. It might be finished by winter.

Last week, in preparation for Wendy’s visit, I did a few things. Yes, I changed the sheets in the guest room and put out a fresh, pretty little soap. But the most important thing on my to-do list was to go to HomeGoods and buy a carload of black ceramic pots.

On her third day here, we shopped at five plant nurseries and came home with a trunk full of vegetables, herbs and flowers (annuals and perennials) and 160 pounds of potting soil. With her plant knowledge and eye for horticulture design (and now sore back) we put these together:

The next morning, my husband got up early and baked off croissants (Trader Joe’s frozen are the best) and I hurried out to the garden to dig in the perennials – all while Wendy slept in. See? We are very good hosts.

I’m not one for breakfast in bed or grand declarations of love. I don’t need “Queen For A Day Treatment.” But that’s not to say that I don’t appreciate gifts, and expressions of appreciation and love. Like this:

I wonder if my Mother’s Day present is goat tip-proof. Excuse me while I go find out.

I let the lawn go weedy and mossy near the woods that circle my property. It’s messy and untidy. It’s also work. I have to pull White Pine seedlings to keep the trees from encroaching. There are ungainly weeds to keep in check. But, those shady, semi-wild verges are where these plants live:

Pink Lady’s Slippers. They’re an orchid, and propagate with the help of fungus in the soil and bees in the air. The pink ones grace my property in May. They’re pretty, but soon wilt into the weedy edge. An untidy lawn is worth having for these moments of ephemeral beauty. Isn’t that true of one’s life, as well?