Like I do most Saturdays, I spent the early morning hours yesterday at the Farmer’s Market. The gay profusion in my driver’s seat is two bouquets (one wildflowers — Indian paintbrush! — the other a more conventional spring mix of peonies (a favourite) and iris and more. Nestled beneath, in another bag (it was a four-bag day!) are radishes, fresh strawberries, poundcake for them, basil & cosmos & clematis to plant, and a baguette. Not to mention the asparagus (for roasting!) and the fresh greens.

It was a good day.

My sister who doesn’t live in town (the other 3 of us do) is coming in this weekend, and she’s staying w/ us. So she needed a bouquet for the guest bedroom, obviously. And good stuff to eat. What’s better than fresh mozzarella, basil, baguette, and olive oil? All that would improve that is fresh tomatoes, and it’s still a bit early for those.

By the time I got home, I was ready for a bread&butter&radish sandwich. And once refortified? I could go upstairs to find…. my missing cat!!

In other words, yesterday was a perfect day. Hector the cat came home, after two days of acute anxiety on my part. We made flyers (complete w/ reward info) and put them up in the neighbourhood. But Hector apparently decided he’d had enough tomcatting (he’s neutered, but apparently doesn’t remember that…), and came home. Where he has slept peacefully all day so far.

Me? I took the plants from yesterday (zinnias & caladiums & marigolds & all the other old-fashioned reliables), put them in pots, and then dug in the garden to plant the herbs & the new clematis. Then I filled watering cans (albeit plastic) and watered them all in.

A day in the garden — as well as a morning at Farmer’s Market — reminds me what really matters. The earth, and the everyday beauty of greens and flowers, and the rich smell of fertile dirt. A cat who is a blessing in the middle years of his life. My family, who make trips to see each other.

It’s a good life. Don’t let the clouds in the sky confuse you. Get outside, and I promise: you’ll remember.