Claudia — Page 693

Little Scamps

April 18, 2019 at 10:16 am by Claudia

I worked outside for several hours yesterday. I used muscles I haven’t used in a while.

Oh my.

I managed to finish a first pass at clearing nearly all the garden beds. I’ll go back and do more in a week or so – which is fortunate, since we have a lot of rain in the forecast.

Sedum, hostas, daylilies, the very beginnings of all the coneflowers – they’re all there. The hydrangeas have green buds on them. Suddenly, all the surrounding vegetation – the brambles/wild roses, some of the smaller trees – are green. Oh, how lovely!

The first daffodils:

These are the daffodils that are right on the edge of the woods. In fact, I have a story to tell you. I stopped in the middle of loading tarps with leaves and debris when I saw the splash of yellow. Of course, I took the obligatory picture and while I as standing there, I noticed what looked like trash in the woods. Thinking it was a random plastic bag that had been blown there during one of our many “wind events” I headed up there to get it. Much to my surprise, there was not only the plastic bag, but all sorts of trash scattered about from one of our kitchen trash bags.

Then it came to me. About a week and half ago, some raccoons tipped over our trash can and there was debris strewed on the ground near the can. Don cleaned it up, took everything to be recycled, and that was that.

These little scamps grabbed a bag and took it up into the woods!

I went in the house, got a trash bag, and picked everything up.

Then I stood up, ready to head back to the trash can, and I saw another bag several feet away. More trash to pick up.

Then – far off in the woods – I saw ANOTHER bag. These guys had dragged three bags up to the woods. After cleaning it all up, I couldn’t help but laugh. Don and I were wishing we had some sort of infrared outdoor camera to record these hijinks!

I’m grateful the woods is still relatively bare because I could get to everything. It would be much harder to get in there come summertime.

Raccoons mess with our trash rarely and I’m hoping it stays that way.

Yesterday’s theme: Pairs.

On the left, morning glory egg cups found in a Paris flea market. Then the egg cups we found at Abbey Road Studios in London. Then, two beautiful bluebird egg cups from Germany. And finally, two wooden egg cups.

There’s a few more egg cup posts to share with you as we head toward Easter.

Besides the happiness at sharing these little beauties with you, I really enjoy seeing them all again.

Happy Thursday.

Garden Cleanup, Egg Cups & A Gift

April 17, 2019 at 8:10 am by Claudia

Now that the endless wind has died down, I’m going to work outside today and tomorrow. Rain is coming on Friday and throughout the weekend, so I have to grab some time while I can.

Meanwhile, in the yet uncovered big garden bed:

The hyacinths are blooming.

I’m tackling that bed today. Wish me luck.

Egg cups for today: Four double egg cups in the Harlequin pattern by Homer Laughlin. (Apparently, I forgot to remove the price tag on one of them!)

I received a lovely package in the mail from Kate, a reader of this blog. Kate asked me if she could send me two egg cups that she had in her home. Of course, I said yes. When the package arrived there were additional surprises!

First of all, two lovely lustreware egg cups.

Then two beautiful knives – my grandparents had a set of flatware like this.

And 4 cups/saucers made by Arabia in Finland. Are they demitasse? They’re on the small side. And this photo isn’t capturing the color, which leans a bit more toward green/yellow. They’re lovely – such simple and beautiful design. (I’ll try to capture the color in a future photo.)

Thank you so much, Kate! I’ve already made room in the kitchen china cabinet for the cups and saucers! The egg cups are in the cubby cabinet. And the knives have joined my stash of bakelite.

I’m blessed.

The winner of a copy of The Eighth Sister is Marilyn! Marilyn, I’ve already sent you an email. Just send me your mailing address and I’ll forward it on to the publisher.

Happy Wednesday.

Our Lady

April 16, 2019 at 9:52 am by Claudia

After I returned home from mailing our check to the IRS, I checked in on the blog, only to read Regula’s comment that Notre Dame was on fire. I googled to find out what was happening and the still shots I saw filled me with dread. So, like so many, I turned on the television and remained glued to the screen for several hours.

Heartbreaking. I have no other words.

But I am heartened that the main structure was saved.

We visited Notre Dame last October during our trip to Paris. I am so grateful that we got to see it intact. Who would have dreamed that only 6 months later the roof and the spire would be consumed by fire? Beyond belief.

I’m going to stop now and share some pictures I took of Notre Dame.

She will rise again.