Sitting in an English garden, waiting for the sun.

Last year it took me until the middle of summer to summer-ize my balcony. So this year I was determined to get going before Memorial Day and I did. I actually don't mind that it still took me until the beginning of May, because now I don't have to worry about frost, and we still have all summer to enjoy it--well, at least until something inevitably dies.

This year I have begonias, impatiens, some kind of pointy yellow things, some kind of coral-colored leafy things, and geraniums. The geraniums are my favorite! They look kind of awkward in their cheapo plastic hanging pot but they smell divine! The smell reminds me of being a kid for some reason. I don't know . . . maybe it's just the smell of dirt.

I also resolved to do tomatoes and strawberries this year, and maybe some other food too, but I am a little intimidated since I feel out of my league there. The herbs I did last year didn't last very long. Plus I don't have containers for tomatoes or strawberries . . . yet. I still have a few weeks to get my act together though, right?

Matt put up a screen around the railing, which is fabulous since half the time we were out there I was having daymares about Theo falling through the (I think) huge spaces between the rails. The trees surrounding us provide the perfect combination of shade and aesthetic delight. So we spend lots and lots and lots of time out there. At least, until the kimchi and cigarette fumes from next door drive us back inside.

Currently the inside of our home is a mess for various reasons. But our humble little balcony is really quite lovely and not too cluttered. So, do come on over any time.