July Showers

 It has been an unusually beautiful day on this the 12th of July. It began with showers, rain gently falling, cleansing the world outside our windows. Around noon, the rain stopped, but it remained cool and overcast. By evening, it was gloriously clear and dry. Everything dried up!

By the time Kristina's bridal shower started at 8, it was perfect. We sat in our Relief Society President's back yard. A back yard here is called a garden, whether or not it has green living things. But Denise's garden is well named. It was a beautiful space, long and narrow. 

We have a tiny yard in Gilbert, but this garden was about as wide and perhaps five times as deep.  It was riotously green, everywhere you look. Vines on the wooden horizontal slats growing wildly, blossoming recklessly. Large trees fully leafed out with vines growing up their trunks. In Gilbert, a well-manicured back yard is very neat, everything confined to its space. In Oxford, those beautiful spaces have the enchanting look of benign neglect. It is charming. 

She had a delightful patch of vegetables that was made vegetables far more alluring than I ever remember. There was a play area beyond. In a circle on the soft deep green fragrant grass she set up wooden chairs and benches. We sat enjoying the evening and the company.

I had billed it as 8 to 9 pm, but nobody wanted to leave! Finally we all left around 9:45 - just as the day was deepening into night. If I had that yard, I would have to be out in it on a daily basis. That's twice not within just a few days, that I have been in members' homes, and been a touch envious, thinking "This would be the perfect place to host young adults." Oh well. It is out of our hands, and we will be gone before the next batch of Oxford students come in.

I baked several things, and SK went out shopping this morning to get a few other items. I think it was a great success, and Kristina will have some lovely memories of this night.  I just wish I had remembered to take photographs!