garden — Page 114

Loveliness (and Madness)

April 14, 2018 at 8:49 am by Claudia

A favorite view.

Another tense evening, with you-know-who desperately trying to distract us from his very real problems at home. Question: if he cares so much about the people of Syria (and he should) why did he do everything he could to close our borders to Syrian refugees? And what about the horrors going on in Yemen?

You don’t have to answer. They are rhetorical questions. We know the answer.

Anyway, this happened late in the evening so yours truly had to run a bubble bath in an attempt to relax my rigid muscles. Sigh.

I did more work outside yesterday, slowly uncovering the big garden bed and completely uncovering the garden bed right next to the porch. I’ll do more today and then we’ll be in the middle of two days of rain starting on Sunday. It will be heavy rain at times, which makes me think it is the midwest storm moving east. Those of you getting snow: I’m so sorry. It will melt quickly, but it really is the final straw, isn’t it?

It was very warm yesterday and that warmth is going to continue in NYC today, but not here. We’re back down to the fifties. It’s so wonderful to hear lots of birdsong in the morning. This morning, when I got up and walked to the upstairs bathroom, I could hear a symphony of singing birdies. Last night, when I went to bed, I could hear a symphony of peepers, with a bass accompaniment by the bullfrog.

That makes me smile.

I got called for jury duty! But as it was going to be the week of April 23rd, I postponed it. That’s smack in the middle of trying to get the garden up and running and I can’t spare the time – what if it became a long trial? I’ve postponed it until the end of June. and I will perform my civic duty then.

It’s sunny today. Slowly, ever so slowly, I feel the shackles of a long winter easing their grip. I hope you’re all having a lovely weekend.

Happy Saturday.

Cleanup for Spring

April 12, 2018 at 9:53 am by Claudia

Jumping Jacks with (I now see) chalk dust on their heads/hats from the chalkboard which is just above them. Time for a little cleaning!

I worked outside yesterday for a few hours, starting in on the cleanup of the big garden bed. Clearing all the old growth, cutting back, getting down to the bare soil is always a huge task since I’m the only one doing it. I stood there, looking at everything, thinking, “Oh crap. How can I do all of this?” But I can. I just need to take it day by day.

Don and I were chatting this morning and both of us agreed that we need to see green things growing, flowers blooming and also: scent – we need to smell lilacs, etc. Perhaps because this winter has been so long, longer than usual, that feeling, that need, is more intense for us than ever. I hope that by the next time he comes home for a visit, things around here will be very different.

News flash: I saw Henry yesterday! He was lounging on the ramp to the shed. That’s how I know it was him – he loves to do that. Of course, in the space of time it took me to go get my camera (30 seconds?) he was spooked by something or other and disappeared. So maybe that was Henry I saw the other day. I’m always so happy to see he’s still with us.

And I saw a tiny little bird take a drink from the birdbath. A sure sign of spring.

Today I’m having lunch with Rick and then we’re going to look for some houseplants for his sunroom. That will be fun!

Happy Thursday.

April Showers

April 4, 2018 at 9:59 am by Claudia

It’s that kind of day where the lamps remain lit all day long. So was yesterday, a day in which it rained all day and into the night. I have no idea what the forecast is for today; however, looking out the window indicates gray skies and general yuck.

April showers, right?

I’m just about to finish Avid Reader, which has been a complete pleasure to read. Do I try for fiction next, or more non-fiction? I have a copy of Russian Roulette by Michael Isikoff and David Corn and I haven’t started it yet. But the contents of that book will make me angry, as they should, so I’ll have to read it in fits and starts, if only to maintain some sort of equilibrium.

This succulent has been a part of Riley’s dish garden ever since I planted it, not long after he died. Other succulents have come and gone, but this one has remained and much to my surprise, it really took off this winter. Constant new growth. I think it likes its new position at the center of the kitchen table, as well as its buddies, the monstera and the rubber plant. I do know that houseplants often thrive when placed in a group with other plants and I think that’s the case here.

Or maybe Riley is speaking to me. I hope so.

The tulips are winding down and, like all flowers, there is a beauty in every stage of life.

I’ve been nursing a sore back, brought about, I’m pretty sure, by having to sleep propped up for several days when I had the cold/flu/whatever-it-was. It’s getting better.

Gosh, I’m ready for some work outside. And I still want to paint the remaining unpainted wall in the kitchen. It’s never been the right time, but I have to do it soon before spring starts to bring in more bugs. Maybe next week.

I have a whole list of things to do outside, including cleaning up the garden beds, raking the gravel that was snowplowed onto the grass back onto the driveway, picking up falling branches, and cleaning the side of the house and the porch railings. None of those tasks excite me, but they have to be done before I can attend to the gardens.

I saw a big rabbit sitting very still yesterday afternoon. He was up in the back forty. First rabbit sighting – a good sign!

Happy Wednesday.

Loveliness (and Madness)

Cleanup for Spring

April Showers

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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