The last of the trees to show its leaves – the catalpa – is getting ready to roll. I love this tree with its heart-shaped leaves and blossoms that appear in June. Unfortunately, that bloom will occur while I’m in Chautauqua. Ah, well. I’ll make Don take some pictures.
I ended up going to Hartford yesterday as many of you assumed given the fact that I hadn’t replied to any comments. (I did reply to your comments this morning, so if you asked any questions – and some of you did – check back.) It was a glorious day to drive there. I got to see some of the show, but unfortunately, Darko changed his work schedule, as often happens at this point in the process, so the work-through from the top of the show became something else – working the fights and some of the transitions. I think I took one note. Frustrating. I got home – having made a stop at Trader Joe’s – at about 7:30.
Thankfully, Don didn’t have to get up at some ungodly hour this morning to get into Manhattan/Brooklyn. His call is at 1:00, so he’s heading out the door at 8:45 to take the bus into the city and then the subway to Brooklyn.
Scout and I are going to hang out together today, while I do some weed-whacking, watering and lawn mowing. I love working outside! It makes me a very happy camper.
At the top of the garden: a wonderful mix of grasses, crown vetch and daffodils. I love what I call a ‘riotous’ look to the garden; not too neat, more of a glorious mix. Both the ornamental grass and the crown vetch spread nicely. In fact, the grass and vetch are now growing outside the boundaries of this garden and are headed toward the Funky Patio. Good for them!
Something arrived in the mail yesterday. Hint: it starts with the letter M.
I couldn’t help myself. I’ve never seen this piece anywhere in the past, not in a store, not on eBay, not on Etsy. In fact, one of my reference books says “This vase is hard to find, but it’s worth looking for.” It’s quite large, about 9 ½ inches high and 8½ inches wide. McCoy mark on the bottom. From about 1957.
When I first saw it on eBay, the seller had set a very high price for it. I figured it was because it was so rare. It was too expensive for me. I kept it on my “Watch” list and eventually it was relisted because the seller had made a pricing error. The new price was much, much more affordable and I put a bid on it.
I was the only bidder!
And now it’s mine. I love, love this one.
Don said it reminded him of the Michelin Man. Maybe we’ll call it the Michelin Vase.
Faint crazing, gorgeous aqua glaze. Be still my heart.
Happy Thursday.
LOL – that gorgeous vase DOES look like the Michelin Man. Too funny. Spring is such a wonderful time – so fun to see everything come alive again and see how it has changed/grown from the previous year. Enjoy your day outside today Claudia. It is beautiful here in PA (unfortunately I’m in my office….).
Beautiful here, too, Vera. Temps in the seventies, sun….who could complain?
I agree with Don. The vase does resemble the Michelin Man. We finally had some much needed rain yesterday, the first in almost 6 weeks. I dread the start of fire season, it’s much too dry. Enjoy your yard work today Claudia. With the winter you endured, you deserve some “yard time”.
Blessings,
Betsy
It’s very, very dry here as well. There have been brush fires in the mountains not far from us. I wish we’d get more rain!
Glad you got home at a decent time last night. I love your garden, actually just your whole yard! I live vicariously thorough you when you are in the garden :) I do so miss having a yard, so patio gardening it is. One of my girls bought a Hen and Chicks for me for Mother’s Day. I can’t wait until it starts getting more babies and I can start more of them in small pots. I had Hen and Chicks in huge strawberry pots when I lived in Arizona.
I love that colour of McCoy pottery, It is an unusual shape and sort of reminds me of an animated fish! Don’t know why, but it does!
Have fun working in the garden, but don’t over do.
Hugs to you all,
Deb
I won’t! Or, at least I’ll try not to!
It was meant to be yours! its beautiful
What show is Don working on? If you told us I missed it
It’s some new series called Mr. Robot.
So glad things worked out yesterday. I hope Don has a good day in the city! I am so in LOVE with that new piece of McCoy pottery. Gorgeous and really unusual. I’m going to go back and kinda drool some more over it!
hugs,
Linda
I’m drooling over it as I write this, Linda. This piece has always been one of my favorites and the picture on eBay was not nearly as good as the reality when I unpacked it this morning! Oh my goodness!!
Enjoy your garden time today, Claudia. Hope the fun Don will have on set will make up for the commute. We’re supposed to have a little rain today. Looking forward to the much needed moisture.
He loves doing tv and film, so I know he will have the best time today. He’s sitting in his trailer as I write this, just about to have a visit from wardrobe. And of course, there’s always the catering tables, which are pretty amazing and my boy loves to eat!
Your gardens are looking so green and lush! The new piece is GORGEOUS
Judy!!
Isn’t it? I knew I wanted it – have wanted it for a long time, but the picture in the listing on eBay didn’t do it justice. This is one instance where the reality was a thousand times better!
Love that vase…Michelin Man…now that’s funny! You are going to have a fun time in the yard today I predict! I’ve discovered 2 new to me nurseries in the last 2 days…oh my word…gorgeous! I enjoy a free for all garden as long as it’s in someone else’s yard…hehe. I need a little more structure in mine….so I will move plants when necessary. Almost all planters have been planted with annuals. Still a few to go, along with clematis, evergreens and one tree. Have fun in the garden today! ;)
I am having fun! Just finished mowing and weeding. I watered all the new plants. I still have a couple of things I want for the funky patio and I have to plant all my morning glory and zinnia seed. I just haven’t had time to soak the morning glory seeds. That will be tonight.
The garden bed looks wonderful. Nice combination of textures. The vetch resembles a pretty little fern in that setting.
May I suggest that you keep an eye on it? That is one of those plants that is not very polite and can take over and crowd out everything else. In other words, some consider it to be an invasive.
On a positive note, vetch captures nitrogen from the air, like clover, and makes that nitrogen available in the soil.
Claudia, did you tell us what you’ll be doing in Chautauqua this year? If so, I missed it.
Oh, I already know that, Nancy! I’ve had it for several years and I keep after it if it runs rampant. That being said, it’s perfect for under the shady part of the Maple. That’s why it’s there.
I’m coaching a production of Our Town.
OK, now I remember about Our Town. And I hope that the miniatures shop there is still in business, for your browsing pleasure.
Dear Claudia,
Love the New Vase you did the right thing! Sometimes I think why on earth do we scramble and break our backs, working everyday? If we can’t every once in a while buy something, that just brings so much joy to us just having, it and looking at it?! -Judy A-
Agree totally, Judy. I’ve been looking at it all morning and it makes me very happy!
I love that “riotous” look to Claudia..it looks wild and natural to me..I’d say that vase is “worth looking for”..It’s hard to believe you were the only bidder..I believe Don is right..it does look like the Michelin Man..lol..I left a reply to your comment on Dawn’s blog..have a look the info might help you..
I saw the reply, Nancy. It’s come back for the last two years, but this year there isn’t a sign of it! Maybe it will magically re-appear.
I like a wandering garden with natural flow. Our Catalpa trees have bloomed already… The smell is wonderful wafting in the back door!
Have a lovely day–
Oh! And pretty vase!
You too! It’s beautiful here today.
Wow, congrats on scoring that beautiful McCoy piece; it definitely has an unusual shape, for any pottery.
I’m struck by the planning it takes for you and Don to get to places from where you live…bus, train, subway. It would mess with my head; I’m a very bad ‘map’ person/navigator! It sounds lah-de-dah but, MANY years ago, I got lost on foot in Acapulco (Mexico) when I was a younger/clueless traveler, where every big-city street corner looked alike and it was one of the scariest episodes of my life, having become separated from my companions and not knowing enough of the Spanish language to get myself much help. I inherited this flaw from my dad who, when on family road trips, would always somehow wind up in the worst part of town after dinner, or on a country road that never ended as we went deeper and deeper into nowhere. He’d NEVER ask for directions. (I say this with greatest fondness, as I adored my father.)
It’s fun to see your garden unearthed from snow, coming alive with blooms and green. I just read about bug bites with summer upon us…mosquitoes and the lot…and you definitely are vulnerable out there with grasses and piles of leaves so it’s good you’re on tick patrol for human and canine. Wonderful that you enjoy being in the garden and doing the work of it; great for relaxing the mind and exercising the body…plus the results are rewarding!
Google and the Subway maps are our friends. As well as Mapquest. I’m pretty good with directions and can usually find my way most anywhere. So can Don.
There are bugs everywhere, no matter if you have grass or leaves or sand….or cement. They’re still there.
That vase is a keeper for sure, Claudia! Congratulations on the win.
I love your flower pctures! That vase is s beautiful!
I just put up ome pictures of or gardens on my blog.
Gardensandcamera.blogspotcom
I don’t know why some of my words don’t get completely spelled out when I respond on here.. Guess I need to proofread before I post.
The pic of the catalpa brings back childhood memories for me. Our neighbor had a huge one off his kitchen entrance (you know the kind with the old screen door that bangs when you go in our out). As a kid I would sit under the tree with him while he listened to baseball games on the radio and look for the large worms on the tree.
Lucky you! :-)))