Have you ever been lucky enough to experience the scent of a catalpa blossom?
It’s downright heavenly. Whether mowing the lawn, gardening, or sitting out on the funky patio, that gentle scent wafts through the air and I’m in a state of delight. It’s such a gift, however short-lived. This year the flowers seem to have hung around a bit longer than normal. Maybe because of all the rain we were blessed with this spring?
The falling blossoms are everywhere and there’s something wonderful about seeing them scattered on the ground.
Across the driveway, on the lawn, here, there and everywhere. We have several catalpas, but most of them are up in the woods. This one proudly stands between the driveway and the shed. It’s huge and lovely. And it has heart-shaped leaves.
Thanks for all your compassionate thoughts yesterday. I do miss my boy. As for long periods spent apart, this year is especially tough. Don and I will have been separated because of our work a total of 7 months this year. That’s more than half the year. Seven months. We’re tough and we do the best we can to handle it with grace, but frankly, that’s just too much time spent apart. It might be hard to grasp if you are lucky enough to be in the same place as your spouse all the time, but believe me, it’s very stressful. And lonely.
I did some work on the funky patio yesterday; flowers in the galvanized container, a pot on the bench. I’ll share it with you in a couple of days. We mowed, but we seem to do that all the time. Mowing. I used to be the chief lawn mower around here. Don had to be ‘persuaded’ to do it. But something changed this year. While I was away in Hartford, Don had a conversion of sorts. He likes mowing. He likes the exercise he gets from mowing. He wants to do all of it.
Well, hold on there pardner! I like mowing, too. I’m glad you have discovered its benefits, not the least of which is a nice looking expanse of grass, but we have to share this chore. I like it, too. And I’ve been doing most of it for the eight years we’ve lived in this cottage. I’m asserting myself right back into the mix. Who would have thought I would have to beg to get my turn behind the lawnmower?
I guess I’ll get my wish, as Don leaves Monday for five weeks. I will once again be the chief mower.
Tonight, Don and his friend Dan (he came over to the house to rehearse a week or two ago) are performing at a venue north of us. And I’m going along. I look forward to hearing them weave their musical magic.
I have a question. When I had the little problem with a spam comment going to one of my readers, I was at first concerned that I’d been hacked. So I deleted the plugin that informed you that I had replied to your comment. But I’m now convinced that it was a random spam comment that somehow got through my spam filter and since my reader had checked that box that said she wanted to be informed of a reply, she was notified when the spam comment went through. The blog is fine. There was no intrusion of any sort and I’ve instituted even stronger protection that blocks most of the spammers, so we should be a-okay.
Here’s the deal. I really love threaded comments and the conversations that sometimes take place as I reply to a comment, and then that commenter or another commenter replies to my reply. As a rule, I try to respond to every comment. I don’t know how many of you ever checked that box that allowed a reply to be sent to you as an email. I know some of you did.
I’ve found that most of us don’t have the time to return to see if our comment has a reply, even if we have the intention to do so. I know I usually don’t return, so I can only imagine you don’t either. I’d rather get an email that tells me there is a reply.
So. Do you miss receiving those emails? I’m thinking of installing some sort of plugin that will allow comment reply notification because I miss our conversations. Let me know in the….wait…. hold on….comments section!
Have to close. Scout’s bored.
Happy Friday.
Bored? That looks like a guffaw to me!
Sorry to hear about how much time you and Don will be apart. I still remember way back when my husband went on his first business trip. I just couldn’t sleep. It’s gotten much easier (to the point where I sometimes look forward to it!), but it’s never been more as extended as what you go through.
Beautiful garden – do you think Don was using a little “reverse psychology” on you to get you to “take back” mowing?!
She does have an expressive face!
I don’t know about reverse psychology. I just finished the lawn and when he gets back, he’ll not be very happy!
Claudia,I believe I mentioned,I usually get back to the thread before I even get the e-mail so no problem here. When I was married I had a beautiful yard and garden,did it all myself. But I loved to mow,mowed twice a week and left it a little longer, and it flourished!( it”s a little different back here in the desert.To have a beautiful green lawn without using too much water)but I digress, I loved to mow the exercise,the sound of the mower ,you are all lone with your thoughts or talk out loud or even sing at the top of your lungs! And most of all, The Scent of New Mown Grass! I sure miss those days! Great post Claudia! -Judy A-
And with mowing, you get instant gratification! It looks so nice.
Personally, I loved the reply to my comments but it wasn’t getting past my cableone filter. Well, cableone just initiated a NEW spam filter and boy, has that changed! Now, I’m getting more emails and some of it is spam. So, being on a Mac, I’m making a rule for each one I’ve been receiving. So, let’s try it out with this email. Reply to me and I’ll see if it reaches me. I’ll check throughout the day—giving it a day since you might be mowing th’ yard, sugar—;-) to see if it is working. When I do check cableone’s spam I certainly have less though. I don’t see the “check here if you want a reply” though. Hmmmm….
xoxo,
Connie
Just sent you one, Connie.
You had me laughing over the power struggle with the lawn cutting. My hubs and I are the same way about gardening. We even have His and Hers garden beds. He, too, took a liking to yardwork a few years ago after I had sweated it out for 20 years. I guess that’s good but we are very territorial. I once ran out of the house screaming at him when I saw that he was fertilizing my daisies!
XO,
Jane
That’s so funny, Jane! Don is getting a wee bit too territorial about the lawn!
I don’t know – the mowing stuff sounds like Tom Sawyer painting the fence to me!
Your yard and flowers are so lovely!
I wish I could hear Don and his friend perform – maybe some day I will!
And, finally, Scout is laughing!
Scout is a funny girl, Paula!
I’ve always loved mowing the lawn. There is something very satisfying about it. I like getting the response in an email. I don’t really have time to go back to each blog and read the replies. Enjoy your time with Don.
Hugs,
Laura
I’ve added it back, Laura.
Okay, let’s see if this gets through to me.
Connie
xo hope you get this
I’ve never actually smelled a catalpa blossom…but I did live on Catalpa Circle…does that count? Fighting over who gets to use the lawn mower? That’s precious! And yes, I do miss your Email replies…I liked the “conversations”. Enjoy your weekend!! ;)
It sort of counts, Donna! Wouldn’t you think there would be catalpa trees on Catalpa Circle?
You would think so…but as far as I can remember…the catalpas were cut down. That was a long time ago…almost 40 years…so my memory might not be spot on, but I don’t remember any heavenly scents! ;)
I was wondering what a Catalpa Tree was so I looked it up and it is what we used to call a Cigar Tree when I was a kid..Yes, I do remember that they had a wonderful scent..There was a large one in our neighborhood that the boys were always climbing..I hope that Don doesn’t have to go so far away this time..If he is not so far maybe you can have a visit or two like when you were away..I do miss getting notice of your replies but I have been remembering to check back..Your beautiful little girl looks like she is having a big laugh about something to me..
He will be a couple of hours away, Nancy.
Take that Scout out for a walk or playtime! Bella gets so frustrated when I’m on the computer. She’ll come up and just paw and paw at me until I get up and do something with her. They are so smart.
I would like to get an email about reply. Like you, I don’t always get back to the original post.
Judy
Too hot today, Judy! She’s panting a lot so she’ll have to settle for being in the air conditioned living room.
That must be so hard for you and Don to be apart for not only long lengths of time, but so many times a year, too.
I love mowing the lawn, too.
I don’t mind missing the replies to my comments, unless I’m asking a question.
That is so funny about the mowing, because I have NEVER mowed a lawn and plan to keep it that way! Yes I miss the email letting me know your return comments. I would love it to return. :)
I hate mowing with a passion!!! I’d rather scrub toilets or wash dishes. I wish you were here…and yes, I really miss the conversations because yes, I never seem to find the time to return…J
I love the look that Scout gets on her face. So many expressions! Can you dry some of the Catalpa flowers and take them with you. It might be another way of taking home with you. I love reading your posts on how you personalize your temporary homes. All your little friends, flowers, etc. Funny how Don decided that he likes to mow now. Now if he would just decide that he likes to do something that you hate to do! Your love for each other just flows out of your posts. So cool to read about. It must be so hard when he is gone for so long of a time. I hope you have a great day and I will be looking for your post tomorrow.
The catalpa sounds wonderful….I am not familiar with it yet surely we have them around here somewhere…your gardens and grounds are beautiful from the various posts that I have read lately. Just lovely there, Claudia. I kind of like your place better without snow, how about you ? :)
What a lovely place you and Don have made. I never had to struggle with my husband about a turn in mowing. He was glad to have me take a turn.
I have missed having a reply in my e-mail. Truly, I don’t always have the time to get back and check, but as I am the one who gets your postings twice, this was not a problem! LOL. I just enjoy all your chats.
You know I love comment replies….I don’t think I would do well if separated for long periods from the husband….i know he couldn’t handle it for sure…now with retirement he is happy to have me home all the time…we shall see if that lasts though ;)
Seeing as i often find myself looking at posts some days later your thoughts made me wonder if you are notified of comments or if you only see the more up to date ones? Notifications of a reply and comment replies do add that extra touch.