Steps

32 of them to be exact. These are the steps from our house up to what we call 'Up Top' or the 'Upper Terrace where our veggie boxes and surviving arbor are. We were up there today picking tomatoes. We have a bumper crop this year and will probably be giving a lot away to anyone who will take them! It would be good to have a railing but the steps are broad and shallow and it's hard to think of a railing that would look ok.

We were out just after 8am to take Spike up to Spike's Meadow before it got too hot. It's been mowed, but was full of stickers . We're not sure which plant produces them but they can't be avoided. I've spent quite a lot of time combing them out of every part of Spike's anatomy. Most of them are tiny and elusive. He's fairly patient about it, and if we avoided places where they are, we would never go anywhere. In the removal process I've transferred quite a few invisible, microscopic spines to my fingers. Sometimes I can get them out with tape.

We repaired to Trail House for a coffee afterward, sitting outside in some rather uncomfortable Adirondack style chairs. At least we're still able to get out of them!

I've finished the second of three really fiddly 6 inch quilt blocks called Grandmother's Flower Garden or something like that. There's no machine sewing involved in making them, which is right down my alley, but my hands tend seize up after stitching one together. There is one block with an owl on it which is just a little to cutesy for me so I'm going to design my own instead.

Not much else to report today. And now a neighbor is coming for a glass of wine and a salad....