In the midst of endless rain, the crabapple blossoms have opened. We have a several crabapple trees around here, most of them younger than this one and all with slightly different blooms. This is always the first tree to flower and it’s right under the catalpa.
It’s so dreary out there, but the forsythia is a vivid yellow and the crabapple is in bloom, and boy, does that help. Both Don and I were lethargic yesterday and so tired of the rain. We want to be doing things outside and there’s much to be done. We’ll get a one day break tomorrow and then more rain on Sunday. HELP!
Also: Don had to take his car to his mechanic – again. We noticed it riding strangely the other day when we were driving back from the grocery store. He was afraid it might be tied to the most recent repair. So he drove it to the mechanic yesterday morning. It’s another thing entirely – the rotor for the right front brakes. It will be costly to repair and, between bills for heating oil, the bill for the last car repair, and the high cost of living, Don decided to hold off on the repair until we have the money. In the meantime, he can use my car. I have to admit, I had a good cry yesterday.
It’s always something. We have had to deal with so many repairs in the past year. I named 2023 The Year of Rain. I might add ‘Repairs’ to that.
Anyway, we both feel a bit down about all of this stuff and we’re working hard to stay positive.
In the meantime, I’m immersed in another Daniel Silva. I think I have 3 more to read until I catch up to where I left off several years ago. Boy, that man can write a spy thriller. His books are routinely 400+ pages and I positively cannot put them down. As I picked up two more at my local library the other day, I felt the need to explain why I’m reading so many Daniel Silva books!
I’m trying to finish the jigsaw puzzle. But I’m at the difficult part – the trees. So, if I manage to fill in 5 pieces a day, I’m doing good.
What else? Some critter is chomping on my garden. No emerging plant is safe. My lone tulip suddenly disappeared from sight. This drives me mad. The daffodils have been left alone, but that’s about it. The culprit is either a deer, a rabbit, or a groundhog.
Cue my frustrated scream.
Stay safe.
Happy Friday.
What beautiful crabapple blossoms! Simple and beautiful! How frustrating to have car problems again. It’s fortunate that Don can use your car, but I’m sure it would be nice to have his car in working order sooner than later. I just hate car problems! Sorry to hear some critter got your tulip…my favorite flower. Screaming can help sometimes!
I plan to scream a lot when I’m outside tomorrow!
Stay safe, Barrie.
It’s lovely to see the Spring blooms and always lifts my spirits. Hope your rain lets up so you can get outside and enjoy your yard.
Not until tomorrow. It has finally stopped raining, but it’s windy right now.
Stay safe, Ellen.
Oh, I indeed AM so sorry for your worries and frustrations, Claudia.
My own mantra is, “Why does every day have to be so full of PROBLEMS when all I want is my little, simple, quiet life?” I have auto pay on my car insurance and when it renewed last week, the deduct from my bank account was $300 more than it usually is; I just do not need those kinds of surprises. We’re going to have to dump our back-up/safety-net (old!) car because the premium has just gotten too high to insure it; not worth the cost.
All said, that you gave us the gift of such a pretty photo today of apple blossoms; thank you!
We have dark, oppressive, deep-gray, forbidding DENSE fog this morning at our house in Southern California, with rain on the way tonight and for the whole dang weekend (which is unusual this late in the year here [oh my goodness, to think of the dry and the drought we had this time ten years ago!]). I feel like going back to bed and burying my face in the covers. We humans need our sun (just like my garden lizards darting around; my roses do, too [they are SUFFERING from too much cold and wet {yesterday afternoon, I couldn’t get warm in the lingering sun at all, and the wind was cold, yet we were just coming off of a two-day warmup!}]).
But, you know Claudia? That sun is gonna come out soon for you and Don, in more ways than one. And when you can get out in it, feel the warmth, see blue sky above and bright daylight shining down on the lovely grounds of your home, dig in the dirt, smell it and feel it in your hands, knowing your gardens will come to life once again as they are beginning to, you’ll feel like a new person; Don, too. With the way time passes so quickly at this age (is it really already Friday [where did the week go]), it’ll be May before you know it, and the April showers WILL bring May flowers!
(Beyond that, I think of the soundtrack from Carousel about June bustin’ out all over, despite all the doubting Thomases predicting that the summer would never come [“you can hear it in the trees, you can smell it in the breeze, look around, because June is bustin’ out all over the meadow and the hill … June makes the bay look bright and new … sails gleamin’ white on sunlit blue”].)
Much of which to look forward in happy anticipation! We need nature’s love, and she’ll respond when we give it, come the spring.
And that part of the text of June is Bustin’ Out all Over ends in “Look around! Look around! Look around!”
Soon!
xo
Did they have a reason for the big increase in that deduction? The premium is too high?
Hate those little surprises, Vicki.
Stay safe.
No explanation! It was a bad shock. And I couldn’t do anything about it; the auto-deduct had already hit the bank account. (I have a message out to my broker that this is absolutely NOT acceptable!! [I don’t even live in L.A.; I live in a really-small town in the burbs; it’s not like we’re in some kind of higher-risk traffic area where a lot of car accidents happen; and I haven’t had a traffic ticket since 1989 {although, ouch, come to think of it, my husband got one last year in an intersection where we got caught behind a slow car on a left turn, such that the light went green to yellow to red; anyway, I hadn’t thought of it, but maybe that kind of thing ratchets up your costs; we’ll see}.])
Ours went up last year because Don had a little fender bender, but not that much!
xo
That crabapple blossom is a feast for my eyes. You are way ahead of us in blossom time. Finally a few trees are starting to leaf out here. Sure seems like it’s taking forever this year.
I am sorry to hear about what seems like an endless amount of car repairs for you two. Luckily you have your car as a backup. I can totally understand your worries and frustration. Both of our cars are ten years old. Unfortunately, we need our cars….we are not designed like Europe.
Hopefully your weather will clear, and you can pop outside to continue your yard chores. Enjoy your day! ;)
No trees are leafing out here as of yet. Just the crabapples which blossom early.
Thanks, Donnamae.
Stay safe.
Love the blossoms. Eagerly looking forward to that happening here as well soon. It is hard to keep your spirits up with one gloomy day after another and an older car with continuing issues. Been there with my late beloved Mazda. I refused to give up on that thing until one day it wouldn’t start and needed a new engine which simply wasn’t feasible for a 13 yr old car. I hope you’re able to get outside in the sun and fresh air before too long.
Take care,
Kay
He hasn’t had the car all that long – about 3 years or so. And the engine is fine, but we’ve had to pay for so many repairs in general this year!
Stay safe, Kay.
oh, I thought it was older than that. Then your exasperation must be multiplied! Hopefully only one fix more and you’re done for a while.
K.
Big bummer about the car. I’m glad that you have the bright forsythia and crabapples to brighten the rainy days. We’re seeing it here, too (and cold and windy, too.) They threaten nice weather and more rain. I suppose it’s April Showers and it beats April snow but aren’t we all ready for real spring?
I hope the weekend is mellow. It sounds like a good time to read!
Thank you, Jeanie.
Stay safe.
The crabapple blossoms are beautiful. My husband makes crabapple jelly sometimes. Our daffodils are blooming. Squirrels and deer seem to leave them alone but the squirrels love the tulips and will bite the blooms off before they are fully open so I can appreciate your frustration. Hard not to get a little down when the weather is so wet and rainy for so long and unexpected expenses crop up. This too shall pass, Claudia. Better days ahead. Hugs, Elaine
Thank you, Elaine.
Stay safe.
The blooms on the crab apple tree are lovely.
I can relate to having to spend money on repairs, worries, worries. Plus, I am going to have some dental work done. That a is big yuck! I tell myself to move on and deal with it. As if I have a choice.
Wishing blue skies and sunny days,
Kaye
We have no choice, right? Sigh.
Stay safe, Kaye.
dear Claudia/Don — c apple blossoms are great — ours are over but were very pretty as were our peach, apple and pear trees. oaks, maples and wild cherry getting little tiny leaves right now. have always heard most foraging critters do not like daffodils at all but love tulips. sorry re car troubles — it is bad for everyone — really a colossal problem for us b/c living in the middle of nowhere — have to drive to everything– i.e., civilization, haha. stay safe/healthy
Same here. We have to drive. We live in the country.
Stay safe, Linda.