The Sweet Affairs on Sunday | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: Please join me in welcoming Author Michele Rhem, who presents us with her poignant memoirs of the Rabbit Patch, where her diaries weave tales of a simpler, expressive life lost to many, but gathered together in her most familiar environs - the Rabbit Patch.

Early Sunday morning

    As soon as the sun came up, I went out to pick peaches. How sweet it felt, to be outside in pleasant conditions. There was a soft, almost cool breeze and the fresh cut lawn was in its' glory. The rabbit patch is lovely, after all I thought.

    I got most of the mowing done yesterday. It was so hot, I was forced to take more breaks than usual, and so it was a slow task. At the back of the property, a young tree is down. At least one sin I do not have to worry about is "idle hands". Other than the felled tree, most of the work is done, that I had set out to do, before Tuesday, when the appraiser comes. Today, there is just a bit of outside chores. I have about thirty minutes left of mowing, as I ran out of gas yesterday. (I was almost glad.) I need to finish pressure washing the north side of the house. There is a small load of trash from the barns and one last barn to organise. Tomorrow is housework. After Tuesday, no matter how sinfully long, the list of what more I need to do is, from the appraiser . . .I plan to rest. .. and I hope it rains.

    In spite, of the circumstances, I am having Sunday Dinner" today. It has been a good while, since I cooked at the rabbit patch on Sunday. That is why, I was picking peaches, at the crack of dawn. Of course, while things were cooking, I started painting the front porch windows. There are only three, thankfully.

    After Sunday Dinner

    Mama and Daddy came around noon. Christian had just come in from work and so with Kyle and I, too, the table was full. The peach cobbler was a big hit, especially-with vanilla ice cream piled on top. It was a sweet affair altogether.

    It was very difficult to think about going out in the heat again, when the dinner was over. Yesterday was still fresh in my mind. I soon regretted that I had added the window painting to an already full agenda. When I did muster the courage to go out, I found the heat was much more bearable than yesterday. There was a slight, but constant breeze. When I was mowing, I had a nice surprise. I found a sweet Lantana growing along a fence. The flowers are little clusters of lavender, pink and cream and have a citrus scent. The woods are full of flowers just now. Beauty berry bushes are along the edge. There are irises just now blooming, too. The butterfly bush, that planted itself there is massive enough to give shade.

    I came in the house just after seven. The only task, not completed was organising the biggest and oldest barn. I did get it swept, but the hateful bees made their presence known and I took it seriously. The appraiser will have to take my word, that the old barn is great for family reunions. . . when the bees move on.

    Tomorrow is the housekeeping day. Things are mostly put away but every floor needs scrubbing. I declare that spiders are the busiest creatures I know of, for there are cobwebs again in the high ceiling corners. I am also convinced that a fair share of the rabbit patch soil is on the baseboards. Still, it pleases me to think of tomorrow.

    The air changed quickly tonight. I couldn't find a single star, when I went out. I smelled rain. A cool wind showed up and then I heard thunder. Oh, but the coolness felt good after the heat of the last few days. I stood there in the wind til all my weariness left me. I heard the whispering pines singing. Then the rain came , so gently. I said "good night" and felt like I was leaving another lovely affair.

    I went back in the house to find a butterfly in the kitchen. I have had birds come in several times. Once a rooster came in, and once a little goat. Brant brought a shetland pony in, when he was around four- but I have never had a butterfly visit. It tickled me. I decided, it had to mean something good.

    Dear Diary, I am glad when loved ones gather for a Sunday Dinner. I am glad to find flowers beside a picket fence. . .and along the woodlands' edge. I am glad for a cool wind and a light rain, in the evening . . .and the song of the pines that falls like a lullaby. I am also glad for the little butterfly that came to visit.