A Lovely Evening. . .

I just spent a lovely hour out in the garden, watering, weeding, moving stuff around (my favorite thing to do), and when I was finished, I did a little reading out there while the tomatoes got watered.  My lemon tree is looking pretty awful--I think something is eating it.  I had to prune back a couple of branches that have all the leaves eaten off, and they looked kind of puny.  Maybe I need to plant it in the ground.  And get a few more.  I love that tree beyond reason.  My hands are dirty and smell like green tomatoes and basil.  Is there a lovelier smell than that?  I think I'm going to get a really good sprayer, the sprinkler I'm using is inefficient--the water goes everywhere, and I don't really mind standing out there and spraying.  

I knew this before (that's why I always talk about DIRT THERAPY) but I read an actual study that said that there are microorganisms in dirt that absorb into skin and affect melatonin (sp?) levels in the brain.  Pretty awesome.

Kaleigh is having some problems with depression, and this is when Hillarie's issues started, when she was 18.  We're trying some things which will help eventually, but it's a process.  I don't really want to throw her business out there without her say-so, so that's all I'm going to say about that.  The reason I even brought it up is that I've been thinking about changes I can make to help her.  I did change the house around and it looks more cottage-y, which I love.  It's also a lot easier to keep picked up for some reason.  I'm making more of an effort to stay up later instead of going to bed early all the time.  I don't think it does K. a lot of good to spend a lot of time alone.  Thank God for Tara--she and K. have bonded and I love that.  I trust Tara completely, so I get a little break and she gets someone to hang out with.  They have a lot in common.  I've been making a point to make time to putter around the house a little every day.  I love to do that, and I've gotten away from it lately for some reason.  Too tired, I guess.  But I feel very "homey" when I do it, so I'm making a real effort.  Kaleigh and I have been thinking about a couple of projects to work on together also, which I think is a wonderful idea.  She got a new sketch pad and I suggested that we decorate the cover together.  I was super surprised when she said yes, actually.  Then she asked me about sewing a 50's style pinup dress.  I found a vintage sheet with big blue 50's flowers on it, and suggested that maybe we could make it from that.  She's all about it now.  

On another positive note, work is going much better these days.  The thorn in my side is gone.  I feel so relaxed and free and able to get things done.  Isn't that sad?  Happy now, but sad that this has gone on for so long.  

I got some sun this weekend while mowing the grass and also I met my sister and her kids at the pool, which was nice.  I shopped for work shoes also, which makes me very happy.  

Well, I have a lot to do tonight--lesson planning for next week, and I'm reading a very compelling book.  It's called Lasher by Anne Rice.  It's a sequel to her book The Witching Hour, which I just finished.  Very compelling.  Over 1000 pages--I haven't read such a long book in awhile, but I surely enjoyed it.