Thanks, Mom!

Mother Nature had a gift this morning - two, actually.


After ten years of producing a handful of blooms, this camellia has come into its own this spring. Now a three by four shrub it is finally covered in blooms. They appear to be a compound blossom - single outer petals, but a very double center.


And, while this forsythia is not technically mine - it lives just across the "line" in my neighbor's yard - it is still mine to enjoy. When it blooms - apparently yesterday - spring is really just around the corner. I wish it got a bit more sun and a bit more attention, but I can't really tend it like I think one should.

My neighbor is 96 and still works in the yard as she can. Her parents once owned all the land of our neighborhood as part of their farm. When she married, she and her husband moved into the house next door and there she has lived "forever". She still plants a bit, digs a bit, rakes a bit - and walks laps around the perimeter nearly every day. While I would be happy to help more, I think it keeps her going to have the garden and yard to care for. I notice that she does let me weed the iris bed, but that's about all!

Today is April in early March. Still a bit of a cool breeze, but we have had showers all day with more predicted - perhaps a downpour. The flowers certainly do need it, but I hope it stays sporadic so that the ground can absorb more and it doesn't all run off. It's in the high 50's today and smells like warmer weather. Definitely a step in the right direction.


For years I have taken the Tete a' Tete daffodils and moved them around the yard to "make more". Suddenly they are everywhere! poking their tiny heads out from around and under all sorts of plants. It's just the effect I wanted. By next year when they have a chance to multiply in all these new spaces they will be wonderful. Here they're hanging out the the first of the phlox. (The messy looking stems on the right are the hyacinths I had in the house last month. I hope they will rebloom outside next year.)

Here's one final present from me to you - happy Sunday!



10-10-10

Down 16 pounds today! and lost nearly 6 inches in the waist, abdomen and hips. Still not down a whole pants size (rats!) but am starting to put my biggest pants in the Goodwill pile.

And, as much as I hate to say it, I miss exercise on days when I can't fit it in. That is the most totally weird statement I have ever made.

As Time Goes By

This is what my world looked like on March 2, 2009. Feeling completely closed in and, deciding that I could take a semi-snow day, I sat down and wrote my first blog post.

Two years and two hundred nineteen posts later, I am still here. I had planned to write lovely essays (like Sam) and there is a pile of books somewhere on how to write non-fiction. Instead, I have mostly told you what is on my mind or what projects are at the top of my to-do list for the week.

Most of all, I have discovered the wonderful group of bloggers who read and support each other. Whether you're in Arlington or Arizona, you have become friends. I have laughed at life in a small village in Provence, and met wonderful ladies who live in England, France and Australia, to say nothing of Texas, Illinois and Georgia. I've cooked wonderful dishes from a small roof-top garden and a french country home. I've shared bee news and bird sightings with bloggers in western Virginia, Minnesota and Arizona. I've drooled over wonderful flowers that Jane, Denise and Alison arranged and shared with us and learned about wrapping beautiful packages from Sande. Jill has set high goals for me in art work - goals I won't get to for a couple more years, but I want to learn from her. Belinda has gotten me interested in growing more flowers for cutting, and I have shared many a Friday glass of wine with Ally.

Charlene nudges me to maintain a better work/life balance and some weeks I manage to accomplish it. Savvy gives me great ideas on what to read to broaden my horizons and Vivianne and Kiren brighten my day as they raise their families and share that adventure. Ms. Caroline Bender continues to be my muse. I can't leave out my favorite cat, who mostly complains, but is a hoot to read.

And then there are a few hardy followers who - for some unknown reason - seem to come and visit. Special thanks to those of you whom I don't even know, but who have signed up anyway, and to James and Elizabeth who come regularly but never tell me.

It's a lovely journey and I am so happy when you come along and comment. I know year three will be every bit as much fun as year two. Thanks to you all.... and love.

ps: Here's what it looks like today!

Monday's Flowers

We had friends for dinner Saturday - Abby and The Barrister - so most of the flowers are left from the weekend. Mitchell brought me a bunch of alstoemeria from the grocery store (sorry Jane and Denise) and I added some hellebores from the garden to make individual place flowers.



But always a few hyacinths - not quite in bloom yet.


Hope you are having a great Monday!

Really Diggin' in the Dirt

Finally a real day in the garden - well two and a half hours. My body won't take more than that without some training!

Cleaned out two whole beds (small ones). I mean deadheading, trimming, pulling weeds, spreading Preen (sorry, organic gardeners!) and Plantone. Completely done and ready for mulch.

It was a lovely morning - warm enough to shed the sweater - and not too sunny, so I could work without really sweating. There are many signs of the hot summer and snowy winter we have had. Many plants died and some completely disappeared, so I have the opportunity to redesign a lot of small spaces. The two I worked in today were particularly hard hit because they are so far from a water source that they don't get much except what Mother Nature provides. I need to look at more plants that can get along without much moisture. I moved some sedum and will look for portulaca grandaflora (moss rose) when the spring flowers appear at Big Blue Box.


Overall, a great day.