Outside:

We had our first real afternoon hail of the summer just before dinner.  This, right after I had made a note to myself to buy hail netting for our son's vegetable pots.  It may be futile.  We shall see. We ran the attic fan afterwards and pulled some of that marvelously cool and fragrant air into the house.  

Wearing:

Capris, a tank, a floral tunic, and sandals.  All knit.  You could call it sort of lounge wear.  Ok, it's loungewear.  I did some lounging. I was supposed to have an appointment this morning but wasn't feeling great in the night.  The appointment was rescheduled and I indulged in a nap before tackling the day's work. I think we redeemed the day after all though.  Sometimes, especially with autoimmunity, you must respect your limits. 

In the garden:

The lupines are back in the garden.  They are a favorite and I may just dig out Miss Rumphius every summer going forward. Those purple blooms are a tangible reminder of that wonderful character's determination to leave everyplace she went better for her having been there. 

From the Kitchen:

I baked a big ham for dinner.  Beef prices have been climbing but for whatever reason the ham is very economical yet. After dinner I prepped a casserole for brunch tomorrow, put up some slices for another dinner, then diced leftovers for omelettes or salads. There is such a sense of relief and satisfaction to have meals made up ahead.  It is like stocking up hours in the coming days. 

Around the House:

The bed and dresser my husband finished staining for our son is finally dry and installed in his room. This boy has shuffled around many rooms and roommates over the past several years and it is so nice for him to have his own space with some masculine pieces.  I found some thrifted gray and white loose sheets and sewed a simple duvet for him.  

Reading:

I finished my recent Tolstoy short story and am reading some picture books from the civil rights era. Yes, picture books.  I am so visual and have always maintained that if I am still able to learn from excellent picture books then so can my students, even if they are not little.  Two favorites were Ruth and the Green Book and Sit In

Reflecting on:

I've been thinking over the reading yesterday about the lost sheep.  While social media and maybe just human nature in general seem fixated on the sins of others I am reminded of St Paul's insistence that he, who was chosen by God Himself, was in fact the lowest of sinners.  How important it is to read these scripture passages in the first person.  The sheep whose feet I need to focus on is me.  I am the one likely to wander, not some anonymous other, much less a particular he/she/them.  It is I who stands to lose my focus and wind up where I ought not, at least figuratively.  It is Jesus Who I see coming around the bend as though to say, "There you are."  

The miracle is that He is willing to do this over and over and over, never tiring.