Crivens and sunlight.

Finished reading: Alone with You in the Ether by Olivie Blake 📚 Not my usual genre, but I’m so glad I took a chance on it. I was captivated by the writing, and by the nuanced characterizations of the protagonists.

Stepping out of a sun-warmed room, soft voices downstairs. A new neighbor, after bringing fresh eggs from another neighbor’s chickens, stayed for a dram. Shadows making the room smaller. I won’t get used to this, I promised myself.

Overdue moving update: All four of us are ensconced in our new home! Each of us is at a different level of adjustment to that fact, so we’re giving each other plenty of space and grace.

Criminy is perplexed by this “moving” thing we’re doing. On the one paw, lots of boxes to perch on. On the other, all of his preciouses keep disappearing. 🤨

Animal Crossing in real life: a pink windflower! 🌸

We emptied the display cabinet that holds our dearest artifacts. Astounding how a simple physical movement disgorges the soul of a place. This is the part of moving I get superstitious about: How will our ghosts know where to haunt us?

Getting used to how the front door opens, how the stairs creak halfway up, where the late afternoon light seeps in: small, tender moments of acquaintance. Feeling more at home by degrees.

First raspberry harvest at our new place, carried in white glass bowls that once belonged to my nonna.

Fun identifying plants in the new garden. “What’s this one?” “It’s a … whoa, it’s a strawberry!” 🍓