Early spring flowers on bushes and in trees are blooming here at the cottage. As I said on Instagram yesterday, it’s been a late spring, slow in coming, but oh-so-worth it!
As I walked down the driveway this morning when it was still relatively dark, I caught a whiff of the lilacs. Heaven. It’s going to be warm today so I’m pretty sure the rest of the flowers will emerge.
More crabapple beauty.
Hello, flowering quince!
I have some mowing on the docket for today. The back forty needs its first haircut. And, of course, more mowing will be needed for the rest of the lawn which grows by leaps and bounds in early spring – especially with all the rain we’ve been having.
Went to a zoning board meeting last night re: the development/glamping site that we are fighting. I have no idea how this will end, but we’re fighting the fight. I even have a spiffy new sign to put on my lawn!
Happy Friday.
Linda @ A La Carte says
Your Spring blooms are so pretty! It looks like rain here today. Resting since I have some babysitting to do tomorrow night with the Grands. Sara’s Uncle has passed away and she and Blake are going to KY for the funeral. Friends are helping with the kids tonight but I will have them tomorrow night until they get home. Hugs!
Claudia says
I’m sorry to hear of a death in the family. Thankfully, you are nearby and can take care of the grands!
Debbie - Mountain Mama says
What gorgeous blooms, and beautiful photos! My lilac flowers are developing but not near blooming yet. I can’t wait for that first whiff of Lilac, and the first bouquet I can bring in the house! Meanwhile, the shelling peas, snap peas, garlic, onions, spinach, and greens have been planted – spring has sprung, for sure! Have a wonderful weekend!!
Claudia says
Isn’t that smell heavenly? Thank goodness for Spring!
Jay says
Beautiful blooms. Sending good vibes to your community and their fight against the development. Our town fought against a cell tower (and lost) the cards were definitely stacked against us and it was an eye opener for me.
Claudia says
I have no idea how this is going to end but we’re definitely in fight mode.
kathy says
best wishes on stopping the “glamping” site! that name itself should be stopped, too.
:l
enjoy the flowers. they are beautiful (of course)!
kathy in iowa
Claudia says
The word “glamping” makes me crazy. They tried to distance themselves from that word on Thursday night, but that’s exactly what they’re promoting.
Chris K in Wisconsin says
Beautiful flowering trees. I surely wish they lasted longer once they bloom. But they are so pretty ~ almost breathtaking when you come upon one while taking a walk or a drive.
Do you know when the “results” of what may come across the road will be decided? Have they presented any sort of time-line of decision making?
Hope the mowing goes quickly. Keep thinking “it is better than shoveling”!! Enjoy the rest of your Friday.
Claudia says
I know. The bloom time is so short, but at the same time, such a beautiful introduction to Spring.
I have no idea how long this thing is going to take. It could take months or years. Keep your fingers crossed for us.
I actually like mowing, although it really tires me out. It sure helps when Don and I can ‘tag team’ it, but that’s not going to happened for a while.
Leslie P says
Drawing hope from your lilac pictures! Up here in the mountains, our lilacs bloom much later than everywhere else, but they are much-anticipated and greatly-prized. We have had a string of warmish days, so here’s hoping.
Fight the good fight. Glamping…sheesh. As a lifelong camper, the name alone sets me off—don’t get me started on the concept. And, there’s far too much ‘paved paradise and put up a parking lot’ going on in the world anyway. I wish you the strength of your convictions and the comfort of your neighbors as together you stand against this.
Great weekend–
Leslie P.
Claudia says
I know – I grew up in a family that camped and the whole idea of ‘glamping’ is a bit of a turn-off, at least in terms of the marketing aspect. Nothing wrong with beautifying a trailer or a campsite, but this is marketed for New Yorkers who want to come up for a few days. We already have B & Bs around here and the great Mohonk Lodge on the mountain and a huge Yogi Bear Jellystone Park camp site down the road. Enough already. I really feel that if this goes through it will set a precedent and the very thing we all love about this area will be in danger.
Vicki says
I’m feeling let down by some of my fave blogs. The blog owners seem to have lost interest, not posting very much (l.o.n.g spaces in between), not replying to any reader comments; less and less of a ‘connection’; repeats, dredging up old content; they seem increasingly disengaged. And they’re allowed to do what they want to do – it’s their blog – some things just run their course (and I know there are blogs where the blog owner simply posts but never allows comments and makes that known) – but it’s just that there’s otherwise an ‘expectation’ once they have readers, so the ‘audience’ gets accustomed to a certain exchange (the two-way conversation). As readers, we’ll keep adjusting. But it still leaves me feeling…I dunno…neglected? Disappointed? (I guess I need A LIFE!) Just kinda perplexed and a wee bit sad, like experiencing a withering friendship. It reminds me how faithful you are to this blog, Claudia, and how no matter what kind of day I’m having, I can rely on a fresh, new, interesting post and hello from you ( which I hope is as good for you as it is for us), and also enjoy the other comments by your lovely community of readers here; just the nicest, good-hearted people you’ve attracted to MHC. Just wanted to again say thanks. I’ve formerly visited ‘way too many blogs in a day and, for some time now, have whittled it to a handful; you always come out on top!
When you mow a ‘back 40’ like that, how much are ticks a danger? How can you inspect yourself head to toe when Don’s not there to help? Just curious. I don’t really know anything about ticks except to know that they’re a menace. I think I’d be walking on eggshells out there in ‘the countryside’!!
Claudia says
I just discovered a blog about a week or so ago, read all the post archives, and am now disappointed that it’s been well over a month since the blogger wrote a post. I think Instagram is becoming a ‘blogging’ tool for some, because it’s faster and less of a time commitment. But the fact is, Instagram – though fun – can never replace a blog post where the writing can and does have more depth. Sigh.
I understand your disappointment. I’ve felt the same way.
Ticks are always a danger here. I wear jeans and muck boots which protect me and I come in and shower immediately, scrubbing my skin with a wash cloth, and I scrub my scalp while I’m washing my hair. That’s about all I can do!
Vicki says
Okay, so the scrubbing rubs them off before they can inbed/attach?
If you missed one, would you all of a sudden get a welt or something? It hurts? How would it show up on a furry dog when you had dogs?
Does even one tick cause the Lyme disease, but not every time you have one on you? Is that how you and Don got the disease before, because you missed one or more ticks glomping on to you?
It sounds so creepy to me. Like leeches or something!
Claudia says
Yes to the first question. Or, hopefully.
The problem with furry dogs is unless the tick attaches to their head or belly, you can’t really see them. That’s why you give them a tick preventative once a month.
Not every tick causes Lyme. And yes, we must have missed some ticks when we were infected before.
Shanna says
Checking in late…the heat is stifling around here today. I’m looking forward to moving North, soon. Best of luck with your yard work today—breathe deep! Mmmm, lilacs and freshly mown grass and temps under 90°, I trust.
Vicki says
Just in general terms if you like, can I ask WHERE to the north you’re headed? I’m too hot, too; pretty much all the time where I live in SoCalif (we’re 90 degrees right now at about 5pm, same as yesterday; if it’s like this in April, imagine what we’ll be in August). I’m always interested in the ‘movement’ of people as I make my own plans to possibly move to more northern climes as well!
Claudia says
Shanna lives in New York State, Vicki. North of me (probably a couple hours north of me.)
Shanna says
Yes, about 100 miles north of Claudia, I think.
Claudia says
Meredith said it was 99 degrees where she lives. Ridiculous! Yes, the temp was under 90 but it did reach 80, which is very warm for this time of year!
Vicki says
Thanks to you both for the geographical direction.
Yes, if we don’t go higher than the forecasted 91 degrees today, it’ll be a small miracle here in SoCalif. It was already 70+ degrees at 7:15 am (Saturday). As far out as they can forecast for the next ten days, we’re in the 80s every single day…and we’re fluctuating between dry wind and then higher-than-I-like humidity, so it seems even hotter, to me.
Maybe I should move to coastal Maine! My husband went once and loved it…Rockport; Bar Harbor…but then there are those winters…
Claudia says
It was 99 degrees at my sister’s house in Florida yesterday, Vicki. Think of that!
Vicki says
Yep, and I bet she’s humid, too. She’s got us beat in SoCalif, for sure!
Claudia says
She says it’s extremely yucky down there!
Wendy T says
I got rid of the lawn, so no mowing for me, but the native grass that was planted in the backyard are getting out of hand! I went out and gave the grass a haircut and pulled some of the runners out. I can already tell I need to keep an eye on them. I’ll need to go out and cut them down again, but not today. My dracaena bloomed for the first time ever…I didn’t even know dracaena put out flower spikes. The flowers have a very heady fragrance, almost like a gardenia. I kept smelling this sweet odor in my bedroom and couldn’t figure it out, since I don’t wear scents. My daughter finally sniffed it out to the flowering house plant in my shower enclosure.
Claudia says
My native grass spreads every year, though it spreads slowly. How lovely that your dracaena bloomed!
Nancy Blue Moon says
Love these gorgeous blooms Claudia..I just wish they would stay longer!
Claudia says
Me too! I have to document them because they’ll be gone soon!
Donnamae says
Your blooms are really gorgeous! The day got away from me…where did it go? Glamping is a ridiculous sounding word…should be outlawed on that basis alone! Good luck with the fight! ;)
Claudia says
Yes, it should definitely be outlawed!