In the early evening, I sometimes stand just inside the kitchen door and look at the buds on the morning glory, trying to figure out how many are far enough along to bloom the next morning. Last night, I think I came up with twelve.
There are fifteen flowers this morning.
It’s a foggy morning, so this is the best I can do. All that loveliness!
And the other planting, in the chicken wire fence garden, has a bloom.
And a lot of buds.
Then there’s the other batch of morning glories, the petite version, that have been blooming all summer and continue to do so.
And the ever wonderful zinnias, late summer/early fall beauties.
As all of these flowers happen to be planted in the memorial garden and chicken wire fence garden – right outside the kitchen window – I am blessed with their beauty throughout the day.
I’ve been so scattered lately, what with working in Hartford and driving home on my days off, going into NYC here and there to coach, along with Don being away and coming home on his days off. It’s been hard to concentrate on any one thing, including the latest Louise Penny, which I’ve been reading in bits and pieces.
This morning, I said, “Enough!”
This is one of my very favorite authors, as you well know. She deserves more of my time. So I’ve been reading since 6:30 am. I finally took a break to write this post, only because I don’t want to be getting close to the ending only to have to stop to take care of business.
She’s a stunningly talented writer, which is an understatement. More on that later. I’m going to close now and get back to the book and the rest of my coffee.
Don is going to finally get to see the Broadway version of Anastasia tonight. Yay!
Happy Wednesday.
Thank you for another lovely post! My morning glories are the dark purple sort of striped ones, Fuji I believe they are called. And I have just a few glorious blooms left. Louise Penny is my favorite mystery author! When a new book comes out I put it on my Kindle immediately and read it over no more than two days! My husband said “are you done with that already.” I answered “ it’s a Louise Penny, for Pete’s sake!” Well ok then…
I try to read the newest Penny slowly, simply because I know I have to wait another year until the next one. But this time I had been reading it in short bursts and today I needed to devote myself to it. I finished it. Her best yet.
I haven’t started the new Louise Penny yet…but, it’s next up in the queue. Anticipation is everything! Happy reading! ;)
Oh, you will love it. It’s simply the best one yet!
Enjoy the book, Claudia! I bought it the day it was released, and then life happened…
Finally got to read it on our short vacation to Canada, and of course, couldn’t put it down!
Such a talented writer, and I particularly enjoyed this story. It was gripping.
It was amazing. Once again, I finished her book with tears in my eyes. She is the best.
In 2nd grade I use to walk to school and morning glories grew on a fence and they were my happy morning surprise! I love them and think I should try to grow some next year. It’s fun when something sparks a memory. I put food in the bird feeder yesterday and it’s almost empty this morning so the deer must have paid a visit. I need to move it a bit higher so they can’t empty it. I miss the birds. I want to clean up the house today as yesterday ended up being a ‘MOM’ day. I enjoyed it and I’m so lucky to still have my Mom to spend days with. Hugs.
Linda, every time I post a morning glory pic on Instagram, my mom remembers them growing on the porch posts at her grandmother’s house. She loves remembering that.
Flowers can really bring back memories. I’m glad you still have your mom around (right next door!)
Happy Reading, Claudia. Your Autumn blooms are spectacular. We’re working hard to wrap up the season at the lake. We’re busy doing un-fun things like pulling docks and boats out of the water and stowing lawn furniture and water toys, packing up to leave. Kinda sad, but also kind of exciting.
Sad, but on to another adventure in Florida. Can’t believe how quickly the summer went by!
Yes, because around here, it started about last week!
xo
I love Louise Penny. I used to have a 3 hour drive every Sunday and I would listen to the audio versions. The narrator of the first 10 Three Pines novels, Ralph Cashom, does a fabulous job. I may have to switch to actually picking up the physical book when I get to number 11. I can’t imagine listening to someone else tell her stories.
She has a very poignant essay (The Last Promise) on caring for her husband after he was diagnosed with dementia. It will surely break your heart a little and make you need to go hug your spouse.
I really love the actual act of reading the book and holding it in my hands. My sister has a long commute, as well, and she listens to the audio versions of lots of books. Really likes it.
I read that essay. She is an extraordinary woman.
I just purchased tickets yesterday for the Broadway version of Anastasia as a surprise birthday present for my Sister. Girls overnight in NYC! Your flowers and cottage are as lovely as always. I’ve been scattered as well with all that is happening in the world, as well as an extra load at work. I’m reading, but not always able to comment. I do love your blog.
Oh, have fun! I know you’ll love the show! Thank you, Karen.
Beautiful flowers. I have to do a little research to see if they’ll grow in my yard. I have a few empty areas that can use a pick up.
Hope you can gather up your scatters into a big ball of happy, settled, and fun busy-ness. I watched the premiere of NCIS: New Orleans last night, and Jimmy Buffett was the vocal guest star! He sang “I Will Play for Gumbo” at the end of the episode, at the re-opening of the lead character’s bar. I immediately thought of Don, and therefore, you! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XcmkobtdEkY
Speaking of coffee, after ignoring my espresso maker for 7-8 years because I thought it wasn’t working anymore (water hadn’t been flowing through the main tube through the coffee grounds), I decided finally to clear it off my counter. But before disposing of it, I tried once more to fix it, and after googling a couple of sites and trying the non-invasive fix-it hints, I got it to work! Turns out, ironically, that it wasn’t working because it wasn’t used for so long. I made myself a nice latte yesterday and will make a cappuccino today. I did have to use a non-Peet’s brand since my bag of Peet’s is not ground fine enough, and I couldn’t find my coffee grinder. When I finish this half bag of not too bad locally roasted coffe, I’ll buy a bag of Peet’s. I like that one can still buy beans from the bins at Peet’s, and someone there will grind the beans to one’s specifications. Off to be my own barrista!
We had morning glories in our San Diego yard. They’d been there for years and covered the whole back fence, so maybe they’ll work in yours.
I’ll have to listen to Mr. Buffett and I’ll send the link to Don, as well.
Glad you were able to fix your espresso maker! Oh, I’m jealous. We used to have a Peets right by us in San Diego, but there are not physical stores here – as far as I know. If only!
Louise Penny! What a treasure!
My son began graduate school in Montreal this year, and reading her books makes me feel closer to him. Over the summer, as he prepared to move to his new Francophone home, he watched a series of documentaries and movies about Montreal—just little things that educated him on some of the idiosyncrasies of the city. He shared tidbits with me each morning, and we would enjoy the comfortable strangeness of this place he was about to call home.
Reading her books has brought up so many of those little things. Each time I happen on one, I share it with him and we laugh at being ‘in’ on the inside jokes.
She is an astoundingly good writer, and I don’t say that very often. Her ability to create a world and invite her readers into that world is a gift.
Enjoy your shared Anastasia!
Peace,
Leslie P.
I agree. She is simply extraordinary!
Those Morning Glories are gorgeous. I showed them to my sisters. They are my twin sister’s favorite flower. I know what you mean concerning not having time to read. It can be frustrating. I try to read at least 10 or 20 pages a day.I also try to keep up with my magazines.
Marilyn
If I don’t get to read enough, I can feel the result in my mood that day.
Beautiful blooms!…we have a lot of wildflowers blooming here that are very pretty!….I am glad that Don got to see Anastasia tonight…it’s nice when you get to see each other’s work in performance…
We do, too. Wildflowers are everywhere – such a lovely surprise every autumn!
Sounds like you made some good time for yourself, and well-deserved. I’ll always think it’s so other-worldly to see a blue flower in a garden, like if a person suddenly stumbled upon a blue rose and it would almost seem a fantasy. What a treat for you to indeed see such beauty every day in your own yard. ( I love to look at color combos in a naturally-occurring/growing flower; what works. If blue and yellow can work for a flower, maybe it could be colors for a bedroom. I’m clearly not the only person who ever thinks of this[!!]; nature just gets it right and, of course, the paint manufacturers often turn to flora/fauna to name a paint color!)
And, you know, I love that you love your home and that you work hard to make it so nice both inside and out. It’s important that we love our spaces, no matter where they are; bloom where planted in every sense of the word. I didn’t always think of it this way. But I’ve come to realize that it’s a serious thing with great rewards, to take good care of my space; keep it beautiful; keep it clean. I’m not there yet, but I’m getting there (we’ve had lots of moves/relocations; too much remodeling; too much havoc and upheaval in the physical surroundings; stressful to live like that for years on end and I’m so over it); it’s a respectful thing to honor one’s personal environment, and it’s a gift to have sheltering space. Just like being given the gift of a healthy body and to not abuse it but instead nourish it with the appropriate food; keep it detoxed; keep it toned and don’t let it rust up! I guess that could even extend to one’s mind, of course…to fill it with good thoughts, good deeds; to not harm it with a lot of worry and negative emotions (easier said than done in trying times).
I have to have a nest that is calm and full of the things I love. When that isn’t the case, I don’t do well. It’s all important to me!