"Flowers and plants are silent presences; they nourish every sense except the ear..." --May Sarton
After nearly a week of fog and drizzly rain the sun has returned and graced us with her presence! I'm hoping to do some gardening this weekend. In less than two weeks we will take a trip to the US, so we're holding off on getting in new flowers and plants until we return. But for now the planting of seeds in the kitchen garden and making all else ready is enough. The seeds we already sowed are sprouting nicely! The beautiful, silent presences of the bleeding heart shrubs delighted me this week, their sweet hearts hanging on the line...I have garden madness on the brain, and am dreaming up how to plant out a new flower bed we'll be digging this spring. "Norsk Hage Tidend", a Norwegian gardening magazine, gives me lot of ideas.
During this last month or so, I've been rereading some treasured books--the journals of May Sarton. A selection shown here: Plant Dreaming Deep, Journal of a Solitude, At Seventy and The House By the Sea. Her opus of works is outstanding, she was a prolific writer. Her poetry and journals are among my favorites of her many works. She speaks of the joys and struggles of being a writer, of the inner and outer quest of the artist, daily life, modern times, the seasons, life in New England, gardening, books, people, spirituality...These books are like old friends, it's wonderful to be revisiting them. I love to read, though I find myself squeezing in a page or two when I can during the busy days of late.
Since the post I made a couple of weeks ago about blogging, I've received a lot of comments, as well as personal emails. The majority of them have been very positive and encouraging, some quite delightful. The responses have also been just plain very interesting. We are so many, and we blog/read blogs for different reasons. It's been great hearing the views out there. And to everyone who's stopped by here lately, I thank you with a very warm heart! It has also been fun reading the Five Faves lists going round. Many links led me to blogs I'd not read before...and have found even more to add to my bloglines list--LOL!
Lots of good things at the moment--fruit trees coming into blossom, good reading; steady work on a couple of orders; planning and getting ready for vacation next month; tea breaks out on the patio in warm sunshine; lighter, summer-y fare to dinner. And speaking of which, I have a new recipe to share today. I came up with this for dinner one evening this week, Balsamic Baked Fennel with Asparagus, Tomatoes & Chevre Cheese. You can find the recipe In the Kitchen.
I know Charlie was featured here last time...But I had to share this funny set of pictures. (A couple of weeks ago I read an article online about writing "better" blog posts...it was suggested that bloggers not share details of family life nor share photos of family or pets...Hello! These things make up the majority of people's lives, how not to post about such things?! Personally, I love to read about family life and see people's pets--that's real stuff!) Anyway, this is what's happening a lot lately when I go to take photos. I generally take many pictures, always trying for that "perfect" shot. Curious Charlie keeps nosing in though--LOL! He must and will see what's going on. The conversation goes:
Me: Oh, Charlie...I'm working/taking pictures/ making dinner, etc., etc.
Charlie: Hey, Mom, what are you doing? What's that? Can I play with it?
Me: No, not now...But we'll have cuddles later (blatant attempt to get him to scoot!)...
*SIGH* So here's my boy again...Speaking of boys, both Charlie and Dear Husband are hungry, so off to the kitchen I go to make more good things. May your weekend be full of GOOD THINGS! Happy Days! :o)