First Cicadas

...buzzing loudly in the trees across the street. I'd noticed the absence of their racket so far this summer and hadn't missed it, though I know others like W. consider it a great sound of summer. Personally I prefer the cricket chorus. We were wrong, apparently, thinking this is the summer of the 17-year cicada; that will be next year and should be a doozy.

I spent some limited time in the garden this morning, and a spotted butterfly lit on my hand. It stayed there for twenty minutes or so, tickling around, so I watered and planted some more beet and nasturtium seeds one-handed. 

A lot of stress and anxiety boiled over today for daughter I., who's having a tough time this summer. It was meant to be very different, as we all know, and there are certainly good sides to all this togetherness. Talked a lot and watched a detective show. Onwards and hopefully upwards....