It’s a big day. The Boston fern is ready to move to its summer home, The Porch. Plans were delayed as we waited for nighttime temps to get a wee bit higher. Everything is prepared. The fern and I are just waiting for the right time, probably around noonish. Then I have to vacuum the dead frond bits that are on the carpet upstairs and which will most likely be all over the stairs as I bring her down to the first floor.
Don worked hard yesterday and I’ve finally managed to persuade him that today must be a day of rest. He did a lot of digging and hoeing and he’s tired. He was too tired (and his hands were too sore) to play his guitar. That’s not a good thing.
It’s looking increasingly beautiful around here as all the trees are in full leaf, except for the black walnuts, which are well on their way, and the catalpas – always the last to leaf out. The peonies are growing taller. The self seeding yarrow and forget-me-nots are all over the place. Where just a few weeks ago we saw bare-limbed trees and a stark gray landscape, we now see green everywhere. And it’s that lush spring-green which makes us enormously happy. Goodness, we are blessed. This transformation helps so much in these times, we’re able to dig in the dirt, to plant, to sow seeds, to prune, to watch things grow. Watching green things come back, seeing that abundance – it gives us hope in this hard and heartbreaking time.
Today? Maybe a few little prunes of the boxwood. Some sitting on the porch. Some vacuuming for sure. And definitely reading.
Stay safe.
Happy Thursday.
Yes Claudia, seeing the doves in their rightful place on your beautiful porch gives a feeling that some things can go back to normal. Nature can often make such a difference in our outlook. I’m glad all your and Don’s hard work give you such lovely place to find solace during these crazy times . Enjoy and relax, you earned it.
Love the greenery and plants…love it…spring…love your cottage-just looks like a dream.
Thank you!
Seeing the porch filled with plants and the usual things I decorate it with makes me calmer. I can retreat to my beautiful, safe place. Thanks so much, Janet. Stay safe!
You’ve had great success overwintering your fern…how many seasons have you been doing that?
Your porch is a great refuge from everything…more so I would think, this year. The doves and the fern just make it a complete refuge. That’s the way I feel about our deck. Chairs, plants, and favorite objects all manage to give us an outdoor room to thoroughly enjoy. And both, are great advantage points to watch the birds, butterflies, and anything else that may fly by.
Our clematis fell over yesterday…it was on a metal trellis, but the wind evidently, knocked it over. It’s quite heavy…it’s anchored better now. I have a few more plants to plant this morning, and then I’ll be done with planting.
Enjoy your day of rest…on the porch I hope! ;)
I’ve overwintered it for 2 winters now. So far, so good! It loses a lot of fronds during the winter and it can be messy but once it gets used to the dry air (and I mist it, of course) it sort of adjusts. If I see new growth, I am happy.
My clematis is on a metal trellis, as well. Have a wonderful day, Donna, and stay safe!
Beautiful! Spring in the Hudson Valley is lovely.
I want to thank you for sharing one of your favorite bookstores with us: Oblong Books. I ordered two books from them yesterday and their online website was very easy to navigate. It feels good to support a real store.
Arnie is making progress on his Star Trek puzzle, thanks to your telling us about the Galaxy Puzzles site.
Wish we had a porch but I’m vicariously sitting on yours!
I’m so happy to hear you ordered from Oblong! They are terrific. Thank you for supporting them. And I’m glad that Arnie is enjoying that Star Trek puzzle! Stay safe, Sylvia!
Porch setting is always good for the soul. We all owe it to our beleaguered souls to find peace and joy somewhere every day. Even 20 or 30 mins a day is a renewal that we all can use.
We had a sunny warm day yesterday. I thought it was supposed to be a carbon copy today, but it is cloudy, yet not quite as cool as last week. Looks like we have pretty big chances of rain the entire holiday weekend. I guess that we get what we get and we don’t throw a fit. Well, not a big fit at least.
Hope Don allows himself some rest today. It is the least we can do for ourselves on those occasions when we over-do. This time of year it does seem to happen quite easily!! Hope you both have a great day.
We’ve had a fantastic weather week but tomorrow night and Saturday will bring rain. We need it, so I can’t complain. Enjoy your day today, Chris. Stay safe!
all the hard work by you and don has paid off beautifully! hope the vacuuming is done and you both take it easy today enjoying lots of time out on your very charming porch. :)
well, my news is i have to stay home for at least eleven more days … been home for four already. after getting a fever on sunday (still have it, 102), among other things, i got tested monday, learned the result yesterday. yep …
hope you all stay safe and well.
kathy in iowa
Oh no! Are you saying you tested positive for COVID-19, Kathy? My dear, I don’t like hearing this news. I’m praying for you, knowing you are healing as I write this. Much, much love to you. Write more when you can. We are all praying for you.
Oh, kathy!!! Is it COVID? Please let us know. And, if it is, they seriously only give you 14 days “off” ????????
hej, chris k …
yes it is.
that fourteen days rule is from my doctor. if i am not better by then, i will follow her guidance … not my boss’ wish/demand.
see more above.
thanks very, very much for being kind.
stay safe and well for your own sake and so you can get to see members of your family and hold your granddaughter again soon!
kathy in iowa
Prayers
hej, brenda …
thanks very much.
hope you and your loved ones are well and stay that way.
kathy in iowa
Kathy, While I sadly understand your symptoms all too well I do not presume to give you medical advice as that would be unethical. However, as merely a caring person I will emphasize that the number 14 is not magical anymore than the distance of 6 feet is magical. Given your valuable commitment to a vulnerable community it is advisable that you be tested again before returning to your work as the shedding process continues to be a bit ill-defined. Even more importantly I must emphasize that one can feel they are
getting better and suddenly develop an entirely new symptom or suddenly worsen even toward the end of the expected timeframe. This is the minute you must contact your doctor or seek immediate medical attention.
Do not take anything for granted. Do not assume at any point that just because you’ve gotten through it thus far that you can tough it out through another symptom as things can progress rapidly. Obviously you have a powerful group of people praying for you and may I add that I join in asking for miraculous healing, comfort, and peace of mind to surround you throughout these difficult days.
hej, r …
i appreciate very much your prayers and guidance.
while my boss has already shown an expectation that i will be at work on monday, june 02, i know health recovery (among other things) does not always follow a timeline. i will for sure follow my doctor’s orders, not those of my boss!
i want and expect to be re-tested before going to work. wouldn’t have it any other way.
i pray for you all … that you stay safe, well and have what you need and want.
thanks again.
kathy in iowa
fever, chills, dry cough, can’t smell food (not even dill pickles) … that all started sunday. i am blessed to not get headaches except maybe twice a year and two aspirins would get rid of them … but for the last ten days i’ve also had a brutal headache.
and a crabby boss (who allowed an employee to come back from quarantine [because his wife had it] five days early … probably because he’s friends with her husband). my doctor said to stay home for fourteen days, rest, call if things get worse or don’t get better so that’s what i’m doing … and my boss will just have to deal with it.
i know there are people who have it much worse and i pray for them and you all and the rest of the world.
thanks very, very much for the prayers for me. they are appreciated and reciprocated!
stay safe and well.
and know that you and everyone else here are blessings to me!
kathy in iowa
kathy, you are in our thoughts and our prayers. Get lots of rest! Don’t worry about completing any projects right now, just take care of yourself. And, as you said, do NOT NOT NOT go back to work until you and your Dr know that you are @ 100%+!!!!! Please keep us posted every day on how you are feeling. Remember, we are thinking about you!! 🖤
thanks, chris k …
will do!
please stay safe and well.
thanks very much for the kindness of your support and prayers.
kathy in iowa
Your boss has much to answer for, Kathy. I find her actions – and inaction – reprehensible. Your boss is lucky she isn’t being sued.
I’m so sorry you are dealing with this, my friend. My heart goes out to you. We are praying for you. I hope your fever recedes and that headache quickly becomes a distant memory. We’re here if you need to talk. xoxo
I am so sorry, Kathy and I echo Chris’ and Claudia’s thoughts and sentiments.
xoxo
hej, melanie …
thanks very much!
good wishes and prayers are appreciated and reciprocated!
stay safe and well, too!
kathy in iowa
thanks, claudia, very much!
haven’t turned the corner yet, but i will … and will especially be glad and grateful to get rid of the headache.
i am thankful to not have my boss’ job … lots of pressure and big decisions to make … but choices about fighting coronavirus seem easy and unfortunately she’s been slow to make those decisions. there were a dozen people in the lobby last friday and she has again declined to remove some seat cushions off the sofas to make it tougher for people to gather there. she is very appearance-oriented and doesn’t want to deal with any complaints about the seating, etc. ugh.
to be fair, i haven’t said anything about them, but my boss does have some good qualities (here’s one … her bad moods don’t stick around long and though it’s easy to see she has favorites, she doesn’t seem to hold grudges).
anyway, thanks much for prayers and support. means a lot.
stay safe and well!
kathy in iowa
Sending boatloads of wishes for peace, healing and some understanding from your boss as you walk this journey. I wish I could send you a remedy. All I can send is a heart full of wishes.
hej, jeanie …
thank you so much! i send those same wishes and prayers to you and everyone else … good health, peace of mind, safety …
i hope and pray you and your family are well, have all you need.
thanks again.
kathy in iowa
Kathy, you’re such a kind and supportive person to everyone here. I’m going to pray for you. Please get some rest now. I can see from your posts just how much running around you do for others.
Dee Dee x
hej, dee dee …
thank you for your kind words and especially for praying for me!
i am definitely resting and grateful to have plenty of groceries, etc. i was out of bleach wipes, but a very nice man who lives in my building left a canister of them by my door along with his phone number. that was nice. that he looks a lot like keith carradine is alright, too …. :) i know it helps my family to know there is someone here kindly watching out for me and could get here in a literal minute; there are a couple other nice people here, too. even though you all are in different places, i feel the support and thank you for your prayers. again, they are appreciated and reciprocated!
stay safe and well.
kathy in iowa
Kathy,
I’m praying for you. I’m so very sorry you have to endure this!
hej, lily …
thanks very much for your kind words and especially prayers. they are appreciated and reciprocated.
hope you and your family are safe, well and stay that way!
kathy in iowa
So sorry to hear you are sick, Kathy. Sending healing thoughts to Iowa for you to rest, relax and feel better real soon!
to ellen d …
i appreciate that very much and hope/pray that you and your family are safe and well!
kathy in iowa
Saddened to hear your news Kathy in Iowa. Prayers sent your way for a full recovery.
hej, olivia …
thanks very much for your kindness to pray for me. they are appreciated and reciprocated for you all to stay safe, well and have all you need.
kathy in iowa
Oh my goodness Kathy…Claudia just mentioned your results this morning. I’m sending you all my positive thoughts and prayers for your speedy recovery. Take care…and get lots of rest!! Blessings! ;)
hej, donnamae …
thanks very much for your kind support and prayers. much appreciated and reciprocated!
definitely am taking it easy, grateful to have groceries and other supplies. hope you and your family have all you need and stay well!
thanks again.
kathy in iowa
Sending healing prayers up for you Kathy!
hej, donna …
thanks very much for the prayers. i pray for you all here and hope you stay safe, well and have all you need.
kathy in iowa
It is finally full spring here, too with everything so lush and green and filled out and in bloom – except for certain trees, like you mentioned. I went for a walk in a forest preserve early this morning and came home feeling so renewed.
I’ve been up way too early both this morning and yesterday morning, so some relaxing and reading is on my radar for this afternoon, too. I’m in the middle of Tiffany Jenkin’s book, “High Achiever.” Even though she’s not the greatest writer, the book is enthralling because it’s a true account of her addiction journey. I follow her on social media and have always admired her.
So glad you got that walk in, Melanie. Enjoy your book! And stay safe.
We’ve finally had two beautiful days in a row here in Upstate New York. And both without rain! Yay!
Got some bad puzzle news today — the Nancy Drew puzzle I ordered (after following your joy in doing it) is not available from the store I ordered it from a month ago. Went online and found places where it is almost twice the price … hmmmm. The company that makes it is temporarily closed, and the store I ordered it from the company gave no future date of availability. Sigh. You inspired me and it was coincidental to my sister who is in a long-term facility asking for Nancy Drew books to read. I got her some from my local bookstore (and read them before I sent them to her, tee hee). Enjoyed them!
I’m so sorry about the puzzle. I guess they’re closed because of lockdown. Have you tried eBay? Someone might be selling a used puzzle. Stay safe, Caroline!
Hope you are doing the chill thing after all the hard work. But yes, you have a made a little haven that you can enjoy on many a day to come. The fern will be lovely when it gets to its outside. Your porch… I love it.
Yes, when Rick’s too tired to play his guitar I know he’s overdone something. He’s really missing practicing with his trio. I’m hoping now that it’s getting nicer they can play on the patio — distanced. They might not be able to hear each other as well, but at least it would be something.
Exactly. These guys love their guitars! Don is playing as I write this, by the way. Stay safe, Jeanie.
The sun on your green is beautiful and your fern is wonderfully lush. Goodness, that must have been a challenge in warm, dry heat of indoors all winter, to keep that fern misted/hydrated and healthy. Good job!
I’m so pleased … my husband planted lettuce yesterday! A LOT of it. I have a whole tall/standing (easy on my back), rectangular planter full of small lettuce plants. It’s great because it keeps them from being invaded by as many crawly things on the ground. The lettuce is also great because it will give several yields. Just have to wait in between a little for it to re-grow after you harvest it. Today, planting onions (container gardening) and re-potting my basil. Taming my rosemary which is in another planter box and beyond vigorous (it’s going crazy; has to be trimmed back; I have rosemary all year; nothing kills it; I love the smell but I love it even better in cooked dishes/recipes). My husband planted cucumbers yesterday as well. Carrots, radishes, green beans, beets; all are in the ground now, getting lots of good sun and water.
Feeling good to be growing some of our own food; it really is, as you said, affirming and comforting to work in the dirt and look forward to new growth. I guess that’s how our ancestors felt when they knew they’d have garden bounty that they could preserve (canning) and ‘put away’ for the winter; food for the family. Security.
I say again, even if I lived in an apartment and I only had a window, I’d still find some way to grow something, even a tiny herb garden on a windowsill. If you have even one patch of dirt, just stick a tomato plant in it, like by a front door or a back door. On a balcony, you can do all sorts of things, even in hanging planters (I’ve seen them for tomatoes; it’s genius) or with a wall grid (wall of hanging plants on a grate you stand vertically against a wall, and they might as well be veggies or herbs as much as flowers too). It’s something deep in our souls about watching something grow and flourish. Really improves the mood in times like Covid.
You are going to LOVE it when you start growing veggies, Claudia! My tomato plants are already as tall as my chest (of course, I’m not a tall person, but still … exciting to see a bit or red amid the green, and I’m already pulling lots of diff recipes for zucchini dishes as the zucchini here is about to pop; just found a easy one for sliced rounds of zucchini that you spread with a bit of marinara and top with some grated cheese, pop them under the broiler and, voila, pizza bites! Without the dough! Lower carbs!
Saw this tip this morning online: Set out onions. Make a little hole in the ground, tuck in a bare-root onion seedling, and stand back. In two or three weeks, the small plants will be ready to pull and use as green onions, or you can wait until the bulbs are bigger and then harvest them. Mature onions will let you know they’re ready when their tops turn yellow and bend over. Just brush off the soil and put the onions, with the tops still attached, in a warm-dry, well-ventilated place to ‘cure’ for a week to 10 days. Then remove the top foliage and roots, and store the onions in a cool-airy place until you’re ready to use them. Slice and fry for onion rings, chop for salsas/salads, or grill-roast-pickle them. Chopped or sliced onions can be refrigerated in sealed containers for 7-10 days.
I’ve got ‘garden’ on the brain today (but it’s a great alternative to Covid, THAT’S for sure!).
Love seeing you this excited about your vegetables! What a wonderful thing to do. It certainly puts you in the ‘now’ as all gardening does. And we all need that right now. Stay safe, Vicki.
The exuberance of spring! A little green and a bit of sunshine make Life soooo much more enjoyable. The yearly cycle puts the rest of the daily static in perspective and also makes me aware of what is truly important enough to fight for. The amount of effort I put into my garden is reflected in the result. Pretty sure that principle holds true for our democracy, our planet and our fellow earthdwellers.
Stay safe and revel in the change of season!
Wise words, Roxie. Thank you. Stay safe!