Scenes from the garden…as I prepare to leave.
Oriental Poppy
Annabelle Hydrangea
Slender Peony shoots – my favorite flower
Lilac buds – just waiting to flower
A Hosta in the midst of Jacob’s Ladder
A closer look at the Weigela bloom
I’ve done a lot of thinking about all this. I am a nester. I love this house, my husband, my dogs, my life here. I waited so many years to have my own garden – not just a little one I carved out on a rental property. We moved in here in August of 2005, so I didn’t plant anything until the next year. Since then, I’ve watched my garden grow with great pleasure. The last couple of weeks have been a mix of joy and sadness for me. I am joyful when I am in the garden or working on the property. I can spend hours working here and there and everywhere. It is as if I lose all track of time. And I’m so happy. One day, after finishing work in the garden, I sat on the glider and looked around and cried. When I came in the house, my husband asked me what was wrong and I did my best to put into words how much I love this time of year and how sad I was to, once again, leave right when everything was starting to take off. I feel like I am leaving my child.
Most of you know that we both freelance. It has been a tough time for us – there has been no acting work for my husband for over a year. I’ve had work, thankfully, but it is off and on. Don is searching for some other kind of job. And I certainly can’t turn down 10 weeks of work. I am grateful for it. Unfortunately, that job takes me to the other side of the country and away from my loved ones and my home and garden. Oh, I’ll be a big girl about the whole thing – once I’m there I will buck up and do my best to enjoy my time in San Diego. There are friends to see, family to visit, work to be done and places to share with you.
But…I’m having a hard time in the here and now.
I will probably not post again until after I arrive in San Diego. See you soon, my friends.
Oh Claudia :( I feel so bad. I can tell how much your love your home and garden in every post. I know it must be so hard to leave. Your gardens are amazing!!! So beautiful and bright. I love peonies too, even more than roses. They are so lush and fluffy. I planted wiegela last year and look so forward to seeing them bloom again.
You are in my thoughts and prayers sweet friend. I hope you are able to have a wonderful time In San Diego.
Love and hugs,
Amy
I know exactly how you feel, sweets. Hubby is going away for a week in Reno for a model RR train convention and I just can’t go because he’s taking the trailer and I could NOT sit in a trailer in the desert for a week all alone. He’ll be in workshops and things so I’ll sit here alone waiting for him to return. I’m never happy when he’s gone. Just lonely as all get out. However, San Diego is a beautiful city to visit and lots to do. I wish you well, chick.
xoxo,
Connie
Oh Claudia this just hurts my heart. Happy that you have the work, but so sad that you must leave your wonderful home for what sounds like such a long time. Blessings to you my sweet friend. I’ll be looking forward to hearing of your trip, and praying the time goes by quickly for you. ♥
A bittersweet trip for you but unfortunately the almighty dollar is a great part of what allows us to pursue our dreams and live out the life we want. It is, as you know, a fact of life.
The best part of the trip will be in knowing what you have to come home to after 10 weeks.
Hugs.
Di
The Blue Ridge Gal
I keep thinking about you, knowing you’re having to take care of last minute details to prepare for your departure. I wish I could wrap you and your sadness in my arms. I wish there was another way, so that you wouldn’t have to go at all. I know you are doing it for the well being of your family. I know I will be thinking about you even more on Saturday.
Brenda
Claudia, I can feel the sadness in your post. (((hugs)))
Your garden photos are absolutely beautiful. I have an annabelle, too. She’s probably not going to bloom this year though, because so many canes broke off due to the heavy snow that I decided to trim everything back. I did it just recently, though, so I probably cut off the buds. Oh well, next year she will be glorious again.
Safe travels.
Claudia, the garden is beautiful, but in ten weeks when you return, it will be even more so. Have a good trip and dream of home often. My thoughts will be with you.
I understand completely, and if I could, I’d reach through my laptop and give you a hug. It is hard to go, but you will see your friends and family in San Diego. The time will pass quickly and you will be home again soon. And if it’s any help at all, you have many, many blogging friends who care about you very much.
LOTS AND LOTS OF BIG HUGS,
Zuzu
my heart breaks for you- I am a nester also and I understand the emotions you are going through. Hopefully the time will pass by so quickly once you get out there–maybe there are some blogging friends close to where you will be that will share some of their garden with you? I would if you were coming my way♥ Have a safe trip- sending you a big hug today!!!
Sorry you have to leave your beautiful garden. Maybe your honey will take some pictures and send them to you via e-amail, so you don’t feel like you are missing all of it. :-)
Hi Claudia,
I really feel for you. But it is so admirable that you are willing to leave your home and garden for the welfare of your family. At least San Diego is a beautiful place and you will have friends to be with.
~janet
it must be very hard for you to leave your wonderful home. try to embrace the adventure that awaits, we all look forward to sharing your journey with you sweetie :)
Hi Claudia…
I’m sure it must be so hard to leave your lovies…I hope the eight weeks zip by and you can be home enjoying your home and family before you know it.
Huggies,
Spencer
HI CLAUDIA,
I FEEL FOR YOU, IT IS SO HARD TO LEAVE YOUR LOVED ONES AND THE THINGS THAT YOU LOVE. I LOST MY HUSBAND BILL IN 2007 THERE ARE DAYS THAT ARE SO HARD TO DEAL WITH, BECAUSE I MISS HIM SO. I FEEL FOR YOU, BUT RMEMBER THIS,
DON IS HOME WAITING FOR YOU TO RETURN WITH OPEN ARMS, AS YOU ARE WAITING TO RETURN TO HIM. YOUR LOVE IS STRONG, AND THAT WILL HELP YOU GET THROUGH THIS.
GO MY FRIEND, AND ENJOY YOUR TRIP, WE WILL ALL BE WAITING FOR THE DAY OF YOUR RETURN. RIZZI
hi claudia,
i’m sorry you are sad to leave.
while you are out in CA you will have to pitch some story ideas set at MHC and starring don, who will need to speak in a variety of difficult accents. sound good?
wishing you a safe flight & happy shabby shopping.
xo
elyse
Safe Journey.
Hugs,
♥♥♥
Gerry
Change that is forced on you is sooo hard isn’t it, and you’ve had a lot to deal with lately so what your heart aches for I’m sure is certainty and a sense of place, and now you have this disrupton flung at you. Hopefully San Diego will have suprising moments in store for you that you will come to treasure as part of your journey through life.
Take care, hugs :)
Your flowers are looking beautiful. There is something so special about things blooming after the winter. I am sorry to hear you have to be away from your home for so long. Being home is my favorite place to be too!
Oh, Claudia.. I welled up when I read about how you feel having to leave. May everybody’s situations change so that you won’t always have to leave your beautiful MHC for long – at least not in the spring (wink!)… Thinking of you and wishing you a safe trip… Donna
I can hear how heart wrenching it is for you to leave.
I am sending out good thoughts that this year may be the last time you need to go away to work. That somehow, works comes to both of you easily and accessibly, so you can both enjoy the home you have created as well as care for it and yourselves.
Hugs to you,
Terri
Awe Claudia,
You are breaking my heart! I can so feel your sadness. You’ve had much going on lately…and leaving holds heavy on your heart.
I’m wishing that the three weeks pass fast and before you know it, you’ll be home again with Don and the cottage!
Thank you for leaving such a sweet comment to help the newbie bloggers on my last post. I so agree about the importance of leaving comments to friends! I wish I could visit everyone everyday and totally chat all day, but unfortunately, LIFE doesn’t let me do that. So I am very appreciative of the spare time that I have to visit special friends like you and many others whom I’ve enjoyed my visits with.
I’ll be praying you have a wonderful trip and time flies so you come home quick!!!!!
:)
Oh Claudia
You love shines through in all you do. You don’t have to tell us how much you love your family, home and garden. It there for all of us to see.
Safe travels my friend and I hope that time goes by quickly for you.
Leann
Of course you feel that way, you have worked hard and care for your home and garden and then to be away with family gives you a “tug” in your heart.
But I do hope you will have a nice stay and days spent where you’re going. It’ll be another, yet, adventure for you.
Have a safe trip!
Mizpah,
Li
Claudia ~ My heart breaks for you….I hate when things are different and not as they should be. Hopefully the time will pass quickly and maybe Don can come for a visit. Safe travels!
I would feel sad about leaving too. Times are tough for many of us now and we often have to make choices we would rather not. Fortunately you have the opportunity to do some work that will keep your little ship afloat. So be thankful for the opportunity and positive about the future. I’ll be looking forward to hearing about all of your activities in San Diego!! Until then …
Love from,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo
Ah, Claudia… your post really pulled on my heartstrings today. It must be so hard to leave your sweet little nest. I wish San Diego was closer to Sacramento– I’d take you on a shabby chic/vintage shopping tour to help you get over your homesickness!
Hugs,
Jill
i sure hope that Don will take pictures of your garden for you and send them to you. Perhaps he could even put them in a book for you. I understand that you have such a beautiful house and garden and apparently such a great man. I can only imagine how hard it would be to leave all of that. My heart goes out to you. Perhaps this will be the last time you have to go away like this.
Hi Claudia,
I really understand. My work takes me away frequently. There is nothing like contrast to make us appreciate everything in life. I do know that feeling of dread in leaving the home, husband and dog-kids.
Usually, though, once on the plane a new excitement takes over….and then when I return there is an ecstasy
and appreciation that is greater than anytime before.
I know this will be a good time for you. And we ask the Universe to show Don where his Highest Good is and to work that is purposeful and fulfilling.
love, kelee
Dear Claudia, it has been a long time since my last visit, you know we in Chile were having earth shakes…and now I find you with your personal shaking and movement…. well darling…I can tell you that time is in charge of putting every piece of you in its right place and you uplift yourself to See that there always can be great pleasures and light all around outside and inside yourself. What you have created in your garden will be always with you.
Love my darling,
Maria Cecilia
Life is so hard sometimes! Now I feel sad for you as I know how you must feel. I will be praying for you and hubby and hope the time goes fast for you until you are home again. Many blessings, Kerrie
Oh I understand Claudia~~hopefully your time away will make the heart grow founder:)Right?!
Do you use skype? I love it!!
With my son away at college~~it has really helped me and the entire family to talk to him and see him LIVE!!!~~we even have the schauanzer and cat chat:))
Make sure and try it~~~ once you get settled…
Take Care,
Kay Ellen
OMG, we have the same stuff coming up in our gardens. Plant-soul-mates. I was so excited to see what was popping there. Then I read on. 10 weeks, I just couldn’t do it…well, maybe. So here’s the deal. Since, we have the same stuff popping, please, please feel free to stop by my garden anytime as you know I will have pictures up for you to look at. You can pretend they are your’s. But, think of all the fun new plants to see in sunny SAN.
Let us know you got there Ok.
Hugs and Sweet Dreams,
Kate
I know sweetie, but as you say, in some ways, you are fortunate to be able to ease the financial stress that so many are feeling these days. In the last few years, so much of my time went to health issues and helping my family out. My garden used to be really pretty, but it has been neglected. I’m doing what I can, a bit at a time to catch up. The wonderful thing about having a garden, is the patience that it both requires, and teaches us. It will still be there, and happy to see you, when you return from doing what is best for you and your family.
xo
Lena