I am tuckered out today. I did a lot of work outside this past week and much of it involved bending over repeatedly. Back aches, along with a major allergy flareup, have resulted in my surrender today. I need to take a break. Fortunately, it’s going to rain all day today, so I will not be tempted to “just do do a little something.”
I went to the nursery and, hurrah! – the impatiens had come in. I put together a flat, found some more lobelia in a paler purple, and the geraniums I grow in the barrels by the funky patio. And more potting soil. I still have to buy a certain kind of hanging plant that I use every year, and some coleus for a pot in the secret garden. I’ve decided that I’m only going to use one or two pots out there this year. That will save some money.
Came back home and started in on my porch project. I had to retreive the pots I use from the shed and then I proceeded to happily pot flowers for the next 3 hours. I swear, I was so happy! Nothing makes me happier than working in the garden and adding flowers to the porch. Don came out on the porch after I was done and thanked me for prettying up our favorite place. We sit out there a lot, Don plays his guitar there, I sometimes go out there with a cup of coffee very early in the morning and listen to the birds sing. We love that porch.
Nothing surprising here, it’s my usual setup. Hey, it works, so why mess with it? I want dependable at this point in my life.
The impatiens will begin to fill in pretty quickly. Before you know it, they will be quite lush.
So that’s pretty much done, save for one more hanging plant.
Hurrah!
Then to make it an even better day, I walked down to get the mail and decided to check out our culvert – the section that always has water. As I neared, I saw something jump in. It was a frog! A large frog. Has Phileas come back, or is this Phileas Jr.? I immediately went inside to tell Don and he was so happy. Unfortunately, when he ventured down to the culvert later in the day, the frog was MIA. But I reminded Don that that often happened last year. I hope Don can see him soon.
Okay. Time to rest.
Stay safe.
Happy Saturday.
lol…..I love your porch, too. It’s perfect just as it is. It’s still too early here, to pot up my pots…so I’m trying to practice patience.
We are taking the weekend to rest as well. Our muscles need to recover, before we start phase two of our garden projects. Enjoy your rest this weekend….you have earned it! ;)
You, too, Donnamae.
I’ve rested today and will do the same tomorrow.
Stay safe.
Your porch is a wonderfully peaceful outdoor room. I miss having a porch. I had the front yard of my current house relandscaped a few years ago to take out the lawn and plant drought tolerant plants. I had a patio made of Kentucky bluestone built in front of my living room, but it’s not the same as a porch.
Our porch is bluestone as well. Yes, I know what you mean. patios are lovely, but a covered porch is, I think, better.
Stay safe, Wendy.
Aw just lovely to see your patio with new spring life. I find it so charming every year (long time fan btw). Here on the west coast of British Columbia we’re starting to do the same.
Best to you and Don,
Nadine K
White Rock, BC
Thank you so much, Nadine. Lovely to hear from you!
Stay safe.
It’s a joy to hear of someone taking such delight in an encounter with a frog. Yay! Claudia and Don.
We love our critter friends, Judith!
Stay safe.
beautiful! glad you enjoy the work to get things like that, claudia (i know it’s worth it, too), and that you’re taking time to rest.
glad you saw phileas or phileas jr. hopefully you and don get to see him many times this spring and summer.
i’m happily, gratefully retired and yet am happy to reach weekends … no business-y calls to make/get! no appointments! and (by my own choice) no going to stores! the last month has been especially full of those things so i am relishing time to do what i want/need to do without interruptions. today that includes sorting old tax papers (only two free paper-shredding events this year, sponsored by a kind local bank, and one is next saturday). also working on something for church, knitting and starting another book (back to reading … hooray!). and maybe take another walk as it’s a very pretty day. already had a nap this morning (haha).
hope everyone has a lovely weekend. stay safe.
kathy
Enjoy your weekend, Kathy!
Stay safe.
It’s great to get outside and do gardening, isn’t it? There’s a few clear days of sunshine predicted so I am making the most of it.
I have quite a lot of metal garden ornaments including various birds that have rusted over the years so rather getting rid of them, I have been upcycling them with an inexpensive set of children’s acrylic paints and a tin of clear varnish.
It works as the hens that I painted last year have survived the Winter!
Enjoy the weekend on your porch, hope that Phileas is back!
It is so great to be outside again working in the yard. Good for you – upcycling your garden ornaments is a great idea.
Stay safe, Dee Dee.
Your porch is so pretty! Happy Spring!
Thank you so very much, Darlene.
Stay safe.
Loved the Thursday and Friday pictures.
Can’t remember what they were but I suspect they were crabapple blooms
Thanks, Lynda.
Stay safe.
dear Claudia/Don — Really love your front porch !!!! Would be very tempting to spend the whole day out there !! Those quince blooms are so gorgeous — ours froze during a very cold time earlier this spring. Next weekend is a BIG event — you may have heard of it Ha The Ky Derby runs next Sa evening — big doins around here Ha Have never been always watch on
TV but do love seeing those beautiful horses. of course, many fields around us have beautiful
horses we can see every day. sure hope you all can take time to enjoy that beautiful porch. stay safe/healthy
Thank you so much, Linda!
Enjoy the Derby!
Stay safe.
Claudia, your porch looks absolutely lovely-I’ve been waiting for this moment all year, and it’s every bit as charming as I hoped. The impatiens and the soft purple lobelia already give the space that familiar, welcoming glow you create so effortlessly. I especially love the pillow on the swing/recliner- they make the whole corner feel like a true retreat. That little turquoise table adds the perfect pop of cheerful color. It is a simple touch, but it pulls the whole porch together. After all that bending, hauling, potting and planning-the result is serene, welcoming and unmistakably yours. A true “hurrah” moment. The porch is singing already! 👏
It is a beautiful start to the season.
Maria
Thank you for your lovely words, Maria. That’s exactly how I feel about the porch. It is our haven in the spring/summer/fall and it’s open for business again.
Stay safe.
It sounds like your perfect day, the kind of day when being tired is ‘worth it.’ You’re right about impatiens. I think it’s because they are impatient to not be the stars of the show!
They’re such workhorses – impatiens. They’ll last until the first hard frost.
Thanks, Jeanie.
Stay safe.
Your porch is so pretty. It’s too chilly to put out plants here but soon…
Soon!
The plants I choose are hardy enough to withstand nighttime dips of temps into the 30s. It’s all done on purpose. They have to be workhorses and dependable!
Stay safe, Ellen.
So fresh and ready for porch sitting!
Thank you so much, Sue.
And Don and I are ready, as well!
Stay safe.
Your porch looks so beautiful and inviting. I, too, like the light blue lobelia. I have seen it called Cambridge blue. The view into the woods is very lovely.
I don’t know why but you seeing the frog made me cry. I think because it makes both of you happy to see the lovely little critter.
Take Care,
Kaye
Oh, you’re so sweet, Kaye.
I hope we see him again today!
Stay safe.