Thursday, May 26, 2011

The Yellowbrick Road To Mudville

We are building a path of pavers around the back garden which will eventually do away with the lawn.
And we pause a lot while it rains. And rains.

On the right below you can see the path is taking shape.

Above is the view from the deck.

This is why we wait to do more.
I am looking forward to a sunny day.
Preferably before September.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Hello Sun

Today the sun is shining. I wouldn't go so far as to say the mud is drying in what used to be the back lawn but I can squish around there handily.
The deck thermometer reads 32C and it's a perfect day to sit and smile.

I like yellow, but have never intentionally planted anything of that color, so how did the Iris get there? Would the nursery tag lie to me?

There's a lot of work to do in case we get sunshine two days in a row.
The pavers are waiting for #1 son to assemble a digging crew and install these beauties to make pathways.
The pots are planted and waiting for a strong person to lift them into place on the deck.

Rhino is where he should be, with a petunia or two for decoration.
He sits on a glass top I got from a junk yard and sprayed black around the rims. it rests on the cannibal pot, probably a syrup kettle from Quebec and inside that is an old light globe with glass marbles glued over it, from my arts and crafts days.
Now I'll return to appreciating the day.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Enough Already




This was my garden at this same time last year.

Today, the middle of May, there is nothing in bloom. Nada. With the exception of one clump of daffodils and I am incredibly grateful to the little tykes.

I could be a good sport and slog out in the rain to photograph the nothingness squished into the mud out there to show you the contrast.
Just take my word for it--there is a swamp out there, with more swampage to come.

I am trying to be a good sport--okay I'm not. I was a good sport for as while but this is going on and on and on.

The garden tours begin in about three weeks and the poor souls who volunteered to show their gardens will have to truck in blooms from out of town, just to save face.

I know we have been really lucky since the weather is so unstable and has become harsh in so many places.

I'll try to resume being a good sport.

But damn it, stop raining for a whole day.

Please.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Oh Lord--Mother's Day Is Coming



Sorry to be a spoil-sport but really--mother's day?

Seems to me there's a guilt-driven message in there. When the kids were small we ignored mothers day and fathers day and any other day that seemed silly.

I'm probably the luckiest mother ever because mother's day comes for me all through the year.

For instance:
Every Sunday barring ten -foot snow drifts, my son and his wife take me to breakfast and we go at the time I like--nine o'clock. My daughter-in law loves to sleep in but she always comes and I love her for it.

Then, every Saturday I cook dinner and as many as are in the mood will come over. No pressure. We eat, laugh and talk. We might be silly or one of us confides serious issues and it remains in the room, with a lot of love surrounding the anxious soul.

Sometimes I am given a bouquet of flowers for no reason, or a cheerful face and strong arms arrive to fix the current household ailment.

Because I am a creative soul there's always a tree to be moved to a better spot or a wall color needs changing by that much and one of them is there to cheerfully provide the muscle.

It's not all one way. I am there to lend an ear and am respectfully careful not to pass on information.
sometimes I can do office work for one of them, or run errands or provide chicken soup for a bad cold.

The thing is, they allow me into their families all year round and I never feel redundant.

I'm a lucky and blessed lady.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Amen

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.