Easing into summer

Now that I'm done with college teaching for the semester and with my opera and concert, I'm sliding into that relaxed summer mode where I still teach private students and sing church services and weddings, but actually have time to do things like garden and WRITE!The Monteverdi Vespers on Monday went very well and I was thrilled to have a chance to sing it. My duet with another soprano was lots of fun and I think we blended well in spite of only having been able to rehearse together once.I'm a little bit behind on writing and critiquing deadlines, but should be able to catch up. I have to get part 2 of the novelette "For the Love of Trees" in the mail by Saturday, and I've still got some tweaking to do and some thinking about the protagonist's relationship with his father. I've come to the conclusion that the father is essentially a well-meaning coward, but if that is the case, I have to show evidence of this sooner so his actions at the end make more sense.I've still got seven chapters to write detailed critiques of before I get the next TNEO batch, but I've read most of them and have jotted some first impressions. My novel group meets Tuesday so I also have critiquing for that.In the bad but not unexpected news category, my younger cat, Varda, is at the vet today because her blood test last week revealed that her kidneys are functioning around 25%. She's lost weight and has been drinking lots of water. I've got her on special food now. Poor thing! I always expected Athena would be facing her final illness before Varda. Athena is 16, Varda is 14. But now it appears Athena is in better health that her younger sister. I ordered a special cat drinking fountain I think Varda will love, because she is always clamoring for fresh water and really would prefer to drink out of the faucet if we would let her. I explained to both cats that their bodies were slowing down, and someday, would stop working, but I would do everything I could to keep them happy and feeling well. They probably wondered what Mommy was getting so worked up about.Yesterday, Stephan and I finally weeded the front bed, planted some pink dianthus between the hostas, and layed down some mulch. We also put in some solar lights that come on in the evening. With the new maple leafing out and the willow much recovered, our front yard actually looks nice for a change! Today I did some weeding in back, and hung a new wind chime in the big backyard maple. I also put a metal blue heron stake under the redbud tree. Blue herons are my favorite birds.Speaking of birds, we have robins nesting in the crook at the top of a downspout. I had the garage open while doing yardwork, and came in with some tools to startle a robin who had flown in. The robin beat its wings frantically against the garage window and I was afraid it was going to hurt itself. I went outside to the other side of the window hoping to scare it back out of the garage. It must have worked, because suddenly I didn't see the bird any more, and saw no sign of it when I went back into the garage.While trimming the willow in the front yard, I saw a blue jay and a dove in an aerial battle. A few white feathers drifted down, so I put one in my pocket.Our peonies are blooming, so I cut two big blooms to float in bowls of water. One is on my desk right now.I hope I hear back from the Vet's office soon, because they are supposed to call me as soon as they get a urine sample and she can go home. No call means the poor kitty is probably too scared and upset to pee.