mom — Page 4

Blooming

April 24, 2019 at 9:00 am by Claudia

In the midst of shoveling mulch onto the soil in the garden, I moseyed on over to the lilac bush. It’s full of flower buds! More than last year. Huzzah!

Our crabapples are also blooming – the one next to the catalpa bloomed first.

I cannot tell you how all of this makes my heart sing.

As I said to Don yesterday, “I’m happier in the spring.” That’s just the way it is. I’m in the middle of a lot of the physical labor that is required to get the gardens and the property in shape, so my muscles are complaining; nevertheless, I love being out there.

There are challenges this year and some that will test my ability to do things on a very small budget. When we lost the huge limb on our maple, that part of the big garden bed was no longer in shade. The lovely crown vetch that worked as ground cover for approximately half of that huge bed gradually died off. Crown vetch only thrives in the shade. Consequently, I have large sections that have nothing growing and that was made clear when I was mulching yesterday.

I added a couple of plants last year, but I need to step up my game and add more this year. On a budget.

Then there is the unexplained absence of a couple of perennials that just didn’t emerge this year. One is the oriental poppy; it’s happened before, though. I remember a few springs where I just assumed it had died only to have it reemerge the next spring. It decided not to show itself this year. Also not showing itself – the scentimental balloon flower.

I think it has to do with the kind of winter we had. Ours was warm, then unbelievably cold, then warm, then cold – and many of the snowfalls started off as snow, turned to rain and then turned to ice. I suspect this has something to do with it. If I was more industrious, I’d track it. Anyway, I miss those plants.

On the other hand, the lone tulip that has been on this property for years and years has a flower about to open. For the past few years, only the leaves emerged. Go figure.

Gardening is rewarding and mysterious. And sometimes you just can’t come up with an explanation.

Blooming all over our lawn.

Soon, the buttercups will also be blooming.

Today is the fifth anniversary of my mom’s transition. I miss her every day. Not only was she my mom – the best mom – but she was also my friend. I really liked her. I miss talking to her. She adored all her sons-in-law, you know. One of my favorite memories: when she knew I was out of town working and Don was home by himself, she always called him. She looked forward to these nice, long chats. It was so sweet. Don loved it and I loved knowing that they had ‘their talks.’

I miss her. We miss her.

Happy Wednesday.

Mom as Flower Girl

March 2, 2019 at 10:03 am by Claudia

When Vintage by Crystal has a blog sale, it starts at a certain time and you have to scan all the items quickly and then email them with your choices. Really quickly. I’ve lost out on a few favorites because my email didn’t get there fast enough and it can be frustrating!

During the last sale, which was for Valentine’s Day, I sent an email with my first two choices, both of which I lost out on. My favorite was a spun cotton little girl whose face and hair reminded me of photos of my mother when she was a wee girl. When I heard I had just missed getting her, I was so sad. I ended up ordering something else, but in the course of our back and forth, I mentioned why I had wanted that little girl so much.

Then I got sick. It wasn’t until about two weeks later that I discovered an email that Crystal sent in response to mine. Somehow I’d missed it. Anyway, she said she had another copy of the face and that she would be happy to make one for me. I was so afraid that I’d lost out because I hadn’t seen the email, but it turned out that I hadn’t.

She arrived yesterday.

Isn’t she beautiful? My wee mom as a magical girl carrying a big pansy flower.

I love all my Vintage by Crystal pieces but this just might be my favorite. She’s currently sitting on the table to my left, right next to my blogging chair. Eventually, she’ll go upstairs to my pink cabinet, where other Vintage by Crystal pieces live, right along with some of my Roseville pottery.

Crystal is a lovely person and I was so touched that she would offer to make this for me.

I am in awe of Crystal’s whimsical imagination, the incredible variety of pieces that she makes – all this while raising two young children with her husband and partner in the business.

We had a little snow overnight but not much. The sun just came out.

Tomorrow night? That’s another story. We might get anywhere from 3 – 7 inches. And more later in the week. March is starting off with a bang.

Thanks for sharing your current reading matter with me. I hope that you got some ideas from other comments. I sure did.

Happy Saturday.

Later In the Summer

July 31, 2018 at 8:07 am by Claudia

The wonderful thing about planting zinnias from seed is that I never know what to expect. Each new bloom is a surprise. Will it be purple, or red, or white, or in this case, a combination of peach and pale peach?

They are my later-in-the-summer delight. This year’s crop is especially prolific. When you plant seeds, you are often told to ‘thin’ them once the seedlings appear. I never do that. I just let them be. What could be bad about lots of zinnias?

One thing I miss at this time of year: the lack of bird song in the morning. I used to sit on the glider on the porch each morning listening to a veritable symphony of birds singing and calling. Now? It’s pretty quiet. Yes, there is occasional bird song, but nothing like it was. I feel a bit melancholy about that. It’s too quiet first thing in the morning.

I know that autumn is coming. And I’m never ready for it.

One sound that does kick in at this time of year is the chorus of cicadas. Wave after wave of sound. Don and I listen to them as we drink coffee in the Secret Garden. They really are amazing.

The constant? The bullfrog that lives in our neighbor’s pond.

The hydrangea in the memorial garden is particularly pink this year.

And the limelights are doing their later-in-the-summer thing.

Don has been working every day with his new camera. Now, he goes to some local spot – in town, at the farm stand, outside a bookshop – and talks to people, who are, of course, fascinated by his camera. He then tells them that he’s a student who is learning to use the Crown Graphic and asks if he can take their picture. Most people are more than happy to help out. Each day, he is learning more and more about light and framing and apertures and F-stops and the adjustments he has been making are paying off.

This is from yesterday’s session and I think it’s my favorite so far:

Of course, this is a picture of a picture of a picture, so you’re not getting the texture and the sheen of the polaroid, but it’s everything you want in street photography; an interesting background with cars, buildings and people and a great subject, in this case, two very cool young people.

He captured the light beautifully. I’m so proud of his work ethic, his determination.

I love hearing him say, “I love this camera. I love it.”

He’s the bees knees.

One last thing: Happy Birthday, Mom.

Happy Tuesday.

Blooming

Mom as Flower Girl

Later In the Summer

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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