Wednesday 10 July 2019

Wednesday This and That . . .



 
We had kind of a mixed bag weather wise yesterday. It started off gloriously sunny. I had plans to hang out the laundry and did two loads, but alas it turned to rain and drizzle by the end of the day. ended up having a gorgeously sunny day. This  morning has dawned dry, and I can see some blue sky, but you can never predict the weather with any certainty over here in the UK. It is always so changeable.  I am not against the rain per se . . . it is the rain which helps to turn the garden lush and green, and . . . for that I am grateful, along with the sound of it's pitter patter on the roof tops, which is so sweet and endearing.   You can almost see the garden turning with every little droplet that falls . 

But those sunny moments in between the rain . . . they do the heart good, perhaps even more so because of the frequent rain.  I find everything standing at attention after a summer rain, as if to say here we are . . . brisk and lively and ready to take on the world.

Can anything taste better than fresh baby salad greens with rain drops still on their leaves????   Oh no . . . there is not . . . unless it is a strawberry, still warm from the sunshine with bits of straw clinging to it's leaves . . .

There is so much to fall in love with in this most beautiful month of the year . . . .  

 
 
 The roses in our garden are breathtakingly beautiful at the moment!   Each one more lovely than the rest.  These wild Tudor roses are so sweet and the area is dusted all over with tons of little buds waiting to burst open.  When they do it will be glorious  to behold . . .  
 
 
We have roses of every colour imaginable . . . and this is only in the back garden.  There are even more in the front.   We adore roses.   These small gloriously red ones are so beautiful . . . I shall have to try to dry a few petals . . . my charge for today to find out something which I can do with rose petals . . . perhaps rosewater?   Or sugared rose petals? 
 
 
  
 
I wish I knew the names of them all, but alas, I don't  . . . I just know that they are beautiful and make my heart smile. 
 
 
I could spend hours outside admiring them and all of the other blooms  . . .  

 
  
 
The hydrangea are going mad at the moment  . . .  so pretty.  In the autumn these blooms deepen to a crimson colour almost  . . . 


 
But for now we enjoy the pink  . . . 
 
  
 
There are far too many of these about.  They have pretty much decimated our bush beans no matter how hard we have tried to keep their population down.  I even find slug marks on the kitchen floor in the morning.  They get in everywhere  . . .  its gross. 
 
 
Lets not think about them.  Lets think about all of the wildflowers that are springing up in the back garden, in our wild flower garden . . .  they are amidst the strawberry patch . . . which are pretty much done now  . . .  I ate a small handful yesterday, all warm and juicy.  Deliciously sweet.
 
 
  
 
I do so love cornflowers.  I always have done.  When I was a teenager I used to buy bouquets of dried flowers and there were always corn flowers in them.  They were so very pretty. 
 
 
 
One thing I have noticed this year is that there are hardly any bees  . . .  it is a bit worriesome.  Our lavendar which is usually buzzing with them, so many that you are a bit afraid to get too close or rub against it, is oddly quiet  . . . 
 
 
  
 
Two types of daisies living together in perfect harmony . . . friends together in the same patch.   Such a lovely picture and thought . . . were that people could only be the same harmonious companions as a rule . . . 
 

 
Mom on her Birthday last year.  She would have been 87 yesterday.  Yesterday was hard.  I found myself telephoning my sister and I could scarce get out the word hello. I had spoken to my mother on her birthday, no matter how far away I had lived, every July 9th of my life.  It was nice to talk to my Sister. I think that was the first time we have Voice-talked since  . . .  we talk about every other day on Messenger. It was a difficult day for each of us.   My sister was going to the grave to leave some flowers.  I told her to tell mom I loved her and missed her.  I can't tell you the number of times during the day I will say to myself (without thinking) "I need to tell mom that," and then I remember . . .  I can't.  I think we each feel the same. It is natural I guess. 
 
 
This was only seven years ago at Eileen's wedding shower. We were playing a clothespin game.  What a fun evening that was. 
 
 
  
 
It was just a few days later we celebrated mom's 80th Birthday at the Big Scoop at the edge of town.  These were two of her good friends.  It was such a bright and sunny day. 
 
 
She was pleased really to have us all celebrate her day.  All of my children were there, with the exception of Doug who had had to leave pretty much right after the wedding due to work committments.  Most of our extended family was also able to attend and I know mom felt really special. 80 is a milestone in anyone's life. It would only be a few months later that she was diagnosed with lung cancer and everything went down from there.  When you get older it doesn't take much to make a huge difference to your life and it can change in an instant.
 
That's why I won't let Todd go up on ladders anymore.  He pooh-pooh's at me, but I tell him, its not because I think he can't . . .  I know he can.  It is just that something like a fall at the age of 80 is life changing.  I want him with me as long as possible.  I noticed lately he is becoming/looking more frail.  But I won't go there  . . . 
 
 
  
 
Back to happy things  . . .  to a window sill which is laughing in flowers at the moment.  This never ceases to make me smile. 
 
I think we have wood pigeon wars going on in the back garden because each day brings much flapping of wings and three large fat birds who are vying to take hold of the territory. The same one always wins and the other two clear off.  I can tell because he has some white on his wings.  He puts the run to the others. 
 
 
Right now he is sitting on our wooden bird table in the back garden, waiting for Todd to get up and put out some crusts . . .  surveying his domain.  Todd only just repainted that table last week . . . oh well  . . . 
 
 
I am off to Costco today to pick up burger and dog buns for tomorrow and some fresh berries and one of the cans of whipped cream. Or maybe I will just send Todd. But then again, he always brings back the wrong thing, so I best go myself.

And with that I will leave you with a thought for the day  . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~\。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ | 田田 |門 ★

 
*Do the right thing
even when nobody is looking.
Its called Integrity.•。★★ 。* 。 
 

Low Carb Fish Pies 
 
Over in the kitchen today  . . .  A Low Carb Fish Pie.  Quick and easy and yes, delicious! 
 
Have a wonderful Wednesday.  I hope the sun shines down on you wherever you are! Don't forget! 
 

═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════ ⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════
 

And I do too!  

 
 


8 comments:

  1. Hi Marie, your garden is beautiful! The only time I miss my garden is in the summer, somewhere quiet to sit with all the colourful flowers, still the summer time was when it needed most work...and I hated that! My mum, dad, sister and one of my brothers all love gardening but that passion just passed me by.

    Your Mum looks so happy and adorable in these photos. It's funny but I tended to find I could cope with the various anniversaries that arise after someone has died. I think cos I knew the date was approaching I could prepare for it mentally. It's always been the unexpected things that have literally floored me. A song on the radio or a memory that is brought to mind. Strangely I always find that a good cry brings me a sense of peace and the ability to carry on. I'm really pleased I loved, and was loved by, so many people that I can still cry and miss them so many, many years later.

    We too are heading to Costco today, the Liverpool one, and then on to see my brother and sister in law. Have a lovely day, lot's of love xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Kate! It is starting to look a bit cluttered now. Todd just doesn't have the energy to keep it up, although he does really well! The mowing is the hardest as six houses run along the length of our garden, so it is a really long garden! Yes, I know what you mean about a word, or a song, or just some little thing that will prick your memory and bring the tears. Last night just before I woke up I dreamt I was with my father and we were buying a Christmas Gift for my mom, it was a needlepoint picture of Christ in Gesthamane. Not sure what that meant, f anything. It is a special blessing for sure to love and be loved. Grief, its the price you pay for love and I will gladly pay it. Love and hugs! xoxo

      Delete
  2. Speaking of slugs...read recently that if you crush up your used egg shells and put them around plants, the slugs won't cross that barrier. We don't have room for a garden here so have not tried that out. Sending my hugs for how you are feeling with missing your Mom...I STILL wish to tell my mom things and she has been gone now 18 years. That is such a tight bond for most of us.
    Elizabeth xoxo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have done that Elizabeth. Apparently they don't like the sharpness of the shells, so far it hasn't worked. lol Maybe we are using the wrong eggs. It is a tight bond for sure. ((((hugs)))) xoxo

      Delete
  3. Hi Marie, birthdays and holidays are really hard especially the first year. Heck, they're hard anytime. When someone we love is having a birthday and we can't be with them, my husband and I always drink a toast to them. If they have passed we pray they will rest in peace. It helps a little. Your roses are so beautiful. And I am going to make those fish pies. We always have fish on Fridays. I have a lovely recipe we like called Brazilian Shrimp and Fish Stew. If you google it, the recipe should come up. It's very good. Enjoy the bbq tomorrow. Hope you got to Costo okay. Hugs, Elaine

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Those are lovely thoughts Elaine! We did Costco fine, although we almost got divorced on the way home. Apparently I am too bossy a front seat driver. Nevermind, we got there safe and sound in the end. Love and hugs, xoxo

      Delete
  4. Oh, my sweet friend, your garden is spectacular. I love the roses and all the other varieties. I can imagine that you do enjoy looking and taking the photos. I feel some concern too because there aren't very many bees. It's not good.
    We have a strawberry patch too that we love when we can actually get to them before the birds. I must get a net for them.
    I do know how you feel on missing your Mom. My Mom was 90 years old when she died. We had a huge family party about a 6 weeks before she passed. I love the photos from it. She was so happy but even then I knew our moments were not to be long. I'm happy you had some time with her on her 80th birthday.
    I am sure it was comforting to be able to visit with your sister and know she was visiting the grave. We just visited my parents gave just a few days ago. it was so nice; I don't get there often. I still talk to my Mom now and then and hope she really is near to hear me.
    Sending lot of love, prayers and thoughts your way with big hugs!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My eyes filled up with tears at the thought of you all having a get together to celebrate your mum's 90th. I hope that someday I will get to visit my mom's resting place in person. Love, hugs and prayers to you. xoxo

      Delete

Your comments mean the world to me, and while I may not be able to address each one individually, each one is important to me and each one counts. Thanks so much!