And so it continues. Yesterday afternoon, I stood up from my chair, thrust the phone between the slats of the blinds, and took this picture.
Rain, rain, go away. You won. Most days this spring have been rainy. Our well is full. Please move on.
Now.
It’s actually not raining at the moment, but it will start up again this afternoon.
One comfort: our cold temperatures will move on tomorrow. This is the last day of this nonsense. Our neighbors who live at higher elevations have woken up to snow for the past two days. So, I’ll only complain a little bit. I’ll be quite happy to see somewhat higher temperatures and I’ll be even happier when I can move around enough to brave the outside and check in on the gardens.
As Don said this morning, “Well, if you have to be resting your back, it might as well be on a rainy day.” He’s right.
More forget-me-nots appearing hither and yon. This time, between the pavers on the funky patio. One of my favorite things about gardening is the magic of self-seeders. Coneflowers are that way – for years, they have appeared in unexpected places on the property. The same with yarrow, which self-seeded from the big garden bed (and subsequently disappeared from that bed) to the little patch where I plant my seeds. For the past two years, they have self-seeded in the corral. Big patches of them! I love that. So, now I mow around them, letting them grow and flower.
This year, the forget-me-nots have moved to surprising places; the above-mentioned pavers, the gravel, the little hill that leads to the corral, and there are several in the memorial garden – fitting, I think. It’s as if they know where to go.
I’m reading several books at the moment; continuing with Paris in Winter, adding in some Beverley Nichols books that I had waiting for me on the shelf. Have you ever read Beverley Nichols? He wrote the most delightful books about gardening in England. They were written in the thirties and forties. Nichols was a prolific author; writing fiction, non-fiction, children’s stories, plays – he counted Noel Coward among his friends – and had a flat in London along with a country house. The first country house was a thatched cottage. He eventually wrote about three different country cottages. The first in the Allways (the fictional name for his cottage) trilogy is Down the Garden Path. The next – which I’ve just started – is A Thatched Roof.
I should be living in England, you know. I’ve always thought that. If not England, then Paris, please. Both Don and I are about as British (ancestry-wise) as you can get and both of us started our careers acting in British plays. Don excels at British farces, especially the plays of Alan Ayckbourn; I was very good at Noel Coward. Both of use just knew in our bones how to do those pieces. I could do a cracker-jack of a British accent when I was in junior high school.
Let’s face it, we’re both Anglophiles.
Anyway, another day of back rest and rain. So books to read and some hot chocolate should come in handy.
Happy Tuesday.
Yes, I have read one Beverley Nichols (A Thatched Roof) about two years ago. Not sure why I have not tried more. Probably due to lack of availability at our local library.
There is indeed something magical about the English countryside with the narrow lanes and lovely old vegetation. Whenever I get a hankering to partake of appearances of a quieter life, I visit Ben Pentreath’s blog. Can’t imagine what it must be like to live amongst such beauty, including the gardens, right down to the most enchanting, antique cloches. Even overcast and drizzling days over there, seem such a better idea than the same here.
Yes, yes-rain, rain PLEASE go away, even us accidental gardeners want to play!
I’m a fan of Ben Pentreath and Charlie McCormick. They’re country place is gorgeous!
Thanks for the heads up about Ben Pentreath. I’m always looking for new blogs to read…especially ones in England or Scotland. ;)
He’s on Instagram, as well. Follow both Ben and his partner, Charlie McCormick. (I think I have that spelling right.)
Thanks! ;)
xo
The forecast says rain here later this week, but the skies are threatening something this morning. Rest is a very sensible idea. I begged my daughter to stay home today (bad sinus cold and cough), but she just started a new job and doesn’t feel she can. Rest up and feel better – sunny days ahead! (On a side note – has your email address changed?)
The Yahoo address? No. But I haven’t been there in a few days.
Yes, that’s the one. Sent a quick note there (Saturday, I think). :)
I’ll check! Thanks.
We’re expecting rain tomorrow brought Sunday, meanwhile it will be cloudy all day in preparation. It’s forecasted as a winter rain more than a spring rain, whatever that means…colder temps? Taking one of my cats in to the vet to follow up on the very slight heart murmur that was detected at last month’s annual check up. Crossing fingers and toes, humans and feline, that all is well, or at least stable. My daughter cut the nasturtiums back yesterday, at least a few feet of them, and so I was able to harvest the flowers for last night’s salad, made with the lettuces that began to bolt. She sowed more lettuce seeds and planted a couple of tomatoes. And we have volunteer potato plants in two beds, so we’ll see if we get potatoes. They are a result of scattering the soil from growing last year’s potatoes. She didn’t sift through the soil before she distributed it.
We’re Anglophiles too! We love British shows and understand British humor.
Potatoes might be my very favorite thing to eat, Wendy!
ditto!
kathy in iowa
from one lifetime anglophile to another… I love it as well! and rain seems to be just second nature to the UK! maybe why their gardens are so gorgeous always? their rain doesn’t seem to last long but it’s just very FREQUENT! that is the way our spring is going this year where I live.
and I’m loving the cool weather! although when it grows hot with this much moisture all around the mosquitoes are going to have a smorgasbord! LOL
I still prefer it to the horrible DROUGHT and drying constant WIND that we always have here.
I suppose every place has its thorns. and wind and suffocating heat are my major thorns!
P.S. I thought your beautiful fern was suddenly looking very full and healthy the other day! XO
They get a lot of rain but their climate is more temperate. Winters aren’t nearly as brutal.
Yes, we’ll be walloped with mosquitoes this year. I walked outside for a moment and the river across the street is running high and it’s very loud.
You might as well be in London with this weather! This year my Liatris has gone bananas and seeded everywhere taking over the garden. Its behaving like a weed. I’ll have to look it up as I didn’t think it was invasive. I’m always surprised at how much I don’t know about things I think I know about in the garden. Haha.
I have liatris, but it’s never spread. So far, it isn’t invasive here and I’ve had it for about 5 or 6 years.
Have you watched “Escape to the Country” on Netflix or Youtube? It’s wonderful! Each episode features perfectly lovely folks who are seeking to purchase a country property in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. The small villages, rolling hillsides, and stunning vistas are enough to encourage one to bag one’s bags and head immediatel across the pond. I enjoy this lovely program so much that I often end my day by watching an episode. :-()
Oh yes. I’ve watched a lot of episodes, especially when Don was gone so much last year and the year before. It’s calming and beautiful.
Aah Beverley Nichols, that’s a name from the past, the thing I remember most about him was his love of cats!
I’m sure Don and you would fit right in over here in Britain especially with your love of gardening. It’s the national pastime – the weather readers on TV will often give advice on looking after plants if for example an unexpected frost is likely. We have Gardener’s World on Friday evenings and Countryfile every Sunday gives a forecast for the coming week.
As a child we often spent our holidays in Devon which is probably my favourite county. There ‘s nothing more tranquil that sitting on a bench in an English country churchyard on a summer’s evening, listening to birdsong.
Happy Tuesday
When we were in London, we watched the last Gardener’s World of the season on the telly. Such fun! (I watch it here via a thing called Britbox. I subscribe to it. It’s worth it in order to see Monty Don et. al. Then I unsubscribe when winter comes.) xo
See Claudia, you’ve even picked up our lingo – ” on the telly” !
xo
Hope you’re back pain is lessening. Gardening is hard on my old body. I used to send the kids to school and stay outside until just before the bus returned them home. Now it’s a half hour out, a half hour rest. We’ve been getting the rain and cold in Michigan too. Apparently it is record rainfall throughout the country!
We have a low spot in the back of our “yard” which we still haven’t been able to cut yet and that stuff is LONG! Today is perfect and brought my flats outside for sunshine. Have kept them in my shed but afraid they need to get in the g round soon. The perennials are doing fine. Love watching them all emerge. Prettiest time of the year. We also are enjoying two pair of Baltimore Orioles. I’ve given them cut up tangerines and 2 jars of grape jam so far but they are a treat and their song is lovely. Take care of yourself and enjoy the good weather to come.
My back is worse today. I don’t know why. But it’s very frustrating!
Love Baltimore Orioles, Penny. We usually see at least one every summer.
I know I should be living in England. Like you, serious Anglophile. And I love it all – the bustle of the bigger cities, the gorgeous quiet countryside, the smaller towns. (And Paris isn’t bad either!)
Glad you can chill out and rest. If it’s any consolation and weather moves east, we’re enjoying sun (if cool temps) here in Michigan today and perhaps it will come your way.
Love the forget me nots.
I am fed up with this spring, so any sun would be most welcome, Jeanie!
Oh…I could easily live in the English or Scottish countryside. What a life that would be.
You might as well rest up as long as it’s raining. At least you were done with most of the hard work before your back went out. We still have lots of mulch to spread…but it’ll get done when it gets done. Weather for next 7-10 days looks promising. I think it’s time to hit the garden centers to get my plants for the containers. I have everything I’ll need written down…so hopefully I won’t get too distracted by other beautiful plants I might see.
Now, that I’m thinking of the English countryside, guess I better get back out to the garden and do some work. Enjoy your day! ;)
I had to bring in the geranium. It’s been so cold the last few days, it was not doing well! I’ll keep it inside until the weekend.
Have fun outside, Donnamae!
thanks for the reading suggestion. I learned about Monty Don through your blog (thank-you!) ….have you read his book The Jewel Garden?
No, but I have another of his books. He’s great.
I’m very sympathetic on the back pain. It hits me when I least expect it and gets me down for awhile. Still catching up on reading is always a good thing. We had rain over the weekend but this week looks to be sunny so I’ll be getting out and walking some I hope. Trying to make healthier choices for my mind and body as age and stress are taking it’s toll on me. I have lots of French blood in my ancestry so yes to Paris for me!
Some days are better and today, for example, it hurts more. Go figure. xo
The temp here in Arizona today 98°. I know you don’t like the desert. I’m used to the weather and did not enjoy our cold winter.
I hurt my back and it did seem to get better and then got worse. I saw a neurosurgeon and had surgery six weeks ago. He fixed a bulging disc and a herniated disc. I had never had back problems before. I missed the last step going down four steps to our driveway. I landed on my knee and stomach. The ER doctor that I saw a few days later said it wasn’t the fall that caused my injury. He said it would have happened anyways. I think my parts are just wearing out. Anyways, better now, glad I had the surgery. Hope yours heals on its own.
I’m happy to hear your back is doing better, Olivia, and that you are okay. My back problem is on the lower right near my hip, so it doesn’t have anything to do with my discs. It will heal. I just have to be patient. Thanks.
Sending you our hot Colorado weather!!!
We could use some, Heather! Thank you!
is your back feeling any better? hope so!
and that you get some sunshine soon, too. i’ll take that rain!
look at all the little details that your camera picks up … beautiful!
don’t know how someone can read more than one book at a time, but i’m glad you have so many choices! no reading here for working on some projects. sometimes i can’t relax enough to read when i see stuff that needs to be done … but i’ll get there!
hope you feel much better and have a good night.
kathy in iowa
That’s my iPhone camera, Kathy. Thanks!