Out of Season

The magnolia out front is in its second bloom, as are some of the apple and pear trees. The leaves are yellow and burnt looking, and the flowers are for the most part bug-eaten and refusing to open, just withering on the stem. Everyone is commenting about their gardens this year--unseasonable blossoms, things are early, things are late. It's just been dry too long.

We are experimenting with reusing the laundry water on everything but the vegetables. It's a big fuss--my clever hose arrangement that diverts the water from the drainpipe has to be watched carefully so the storage can doesn't overflow, the hose doesn't kick back under the pressure of the water, the water doesn't siphon back into the machine. Each time I do a load of wash, I refine something, but it is far from perfect and I've spent a lot of time just watching water drain out of the hose, but we do get a full garbage can of water from each load. Then we have to dip it out and carry it around in cans to water the trees and shrubberies, but it's better than nothing.   

This morning's walk was splendid: the tide was low enough to walk the extra distance to the lighthouse, and then to take the long way back along the cliffs to climb the surfer stairs. Probably three miles, maybe a little more. I was just so happy out there.

Hipstamatic: Lowy lens; Sussex film