animals — Page 22

Cluck, Cluck

May 30, 2013 at 8:23 am by Claudia

I spent most of the day yesterday being a slug. It was still a little rainy, the skies were gray, I couldn’t get motivated. By mid-afternoon, Don felt we needed to get out of the house, so the three of us got in the car and went for a ride. We stopped at a charming family-owned nursery that’s about 10 miles down the road from us. I’m trying to find something other than impatiens to plant in the barrels by the funky patio. Couldn’t make up my mind. Any ideas?

As we toodled around the nursery we met up with these guys:

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Dueling iPhones

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The minute they heard our voices, more and more chickens appeared.

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That’s a peacock in the background. There was another gorgeous male peacock in the pen but it was too dark in there to get a good photo. I’m well aware that every blogger out there seems to be raising chickens, so if you’re suffering from an overabundance of all things chicken, forgive me. And don’t ask. No. I’m not going to be raising chickens. I would get too attached and there are too many predators around here. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to one of them. And, in typical me fashion, if everyone is doing it, I tend not to.

We returned home and then, as if someone zapped us with a burst of energy, we mowed, weeded, planted seeds and, seeing that we are due for 90 degree temperatures for the next few days, put in three window air conditioners.

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By the way, the day I came home from Hartford, Don and I checked to see if the quilt top will fit in the place I had in mind for it – the stairway wall. Hurrah! It fits perfectly.

Don loves this design so much that he wanted to hang it right away. I explained that it isn’t a quilt yet, that I have to add batting and a quilt back.

Then I have to quilt it.

His disappointed reply: “How long will that take?”

Happy Thursday.

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Feeling Nirvana-y

May 28, 2013 at 8:45 am by Claudia

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Nirvana = A state of perfect happiness. That comes awfully darn close to how I feel when I work in the garden. Even the drudgery of weeding brings a smile to my face. Remember when I took those first spring photos of plants peeking up from the soil and I said that I felt like I was reemerging after hibernating for the winter? That was before I left for Hartford and was away from the garden for five weeks. Well, today I feel like I’m exactly where I should be, with the sun on my face and the memory of a long, hard winter slowing fading away.

I’m communing with all sorts of plant life. Getting reacquainted with each plant. Oh, that one. I remember that one. Hello!

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Masses of green, masses of textures.

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Hostas that become more glorious with each new season.

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Blooms about to burst forth.

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Birds everywhere, their songs filling the air, providing a welcome counterpoint to the sound of traffic.

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This little guy, who plants himself between our car and the dog corral every evening. I think he likes to watch the world go by. Scout runs out, ready to bark at him, but upon hearing my “No, leave him alone” stops and goes about her business. She’s almost getting used to him. He certainly wasn’t too alarmed by my attempts to photograph him.

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This girl, who sometimes watches all my digging and yanking and planting from the porch. She’d rather be right beside me, where the action is, but is content to watch from afar. But only for a while. Then she gets antsy and starts barking at me. Scamp.

Today, I will plant some seeds. Tomorrow, some things need to be purchased, hopefully, for very little money: a couple of bags of mulch, some potting soil, a flat of impatiens. I really want to buy some hanging plants…but we might have to wait on that.

Money’s tight. I woke up today with worries about all of that. Thank goodness for gardening, which takes me to another place. Where I get a tiny glimpse of nirvana.

Don took this photo of me yesterday. I was pruning some bushes. The weather was perfect and I spent several hours outdoors. See if you can guess what shocked me.

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The sun made my gray and brown hair look white. Yikes. But danged if my hair isn’t looking grayer. I checked it out later in the bathroom. There’s still brown underneath it all, but it sure as heck is silvery gray. Or perhaps we’ll call this platinum blonde?

Who is that woman?

Happy Tuesday.

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On Making A Difference: Mothering, Guiding, Protecting (And Some Quilting)

May 12, 2013 at 9:15 am by Claudia

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On Thursday, which was a rainy day, I was hurrying down a small side street, umbrella in hand, on my way to rehearsal. I heard a voice say, “Claudia?” I turned around and there was one of my former students, Brian. I hadn’t seen him in about 13 years, though we are in contact on Facebook. What are the odds that the two of us would happen to be on the same one-block-long side street at the same time in Hartford, CT? Turns out he’s in town with a touring production of a play – just for one week. (He’s had a very successful acting career on the stage.) That particular encounter made my day! Serendipity. We met again yesterday for coffee and spent a wonderful 90 minutes or so together, catching up on everything. He’s a lovely guy living a good life and I’m happy for him.

Though I’m not a mother of human children, I am a mother to my Scout and my sweet Winston and Riley who are no longer with us. And to all the former students that I have nurtured and trained and spent hours with; providing a sympathetic ear, being there when tears and fear and frustration overwhelmed them, giving a hug when needed, helping them through major life changes, sometimes providing a laugh when needed, always giving support. I’m proud of that. I’m proud that my former students want to see me and spend time with me. And I’m humbled when I hear that I’ve made a difference in their lives.

That has been my mothering experience and one I am most grateful for. I was meant to be a force in their lives, for however brief a period.

This Mother’s Day is a difficult one for me as my mother fades away from us, living in a state that is partly here and partly in another world. The mom I knew and loved, though still here physically, has been gone from us for a long time now. My heart breaks for her. And truly? I wish for her the shedding of her mortal body. Though I will mourn the loss of her physical presence here on earth, I will rejoice in her release from the straight-jacket-like existence in which she now exists. Love never dies. My connection to her will always be strong, whether in this life or in another plane of existence.

You’ve been the best mom ever. I love you.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you moms. Though this is what I call a Hallmark Holiday, I know that it is a time for many of you to honor your moms and to be honored. Hopefully, we do that every day of our lives.

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I’ve been piecing some more blocks for the quilt. I have 12 now and the quilt calls for 25. Each day, I try to make a couple more. Camille’s class concentrates on piecing and gives lots of tips for short-cuts in the piecing process. I, however, am taking my time as this process helps to fill some of my time here.

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The carpeted floor is my design board.

I love this fabric.

Thank you for all the thoughtful, compassionate responses to my post From My Heart: What I Believe. I cried more than once when reading them and they confirm what I already know about my readers and friends: what wonderful, caring people you are.

Happy Sunday.

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Cluck, Cluck

Feeling Nirvana-y

On Making A Difference: Mothering, Guiding, Protecting (And Some Quilting)

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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