A Day in May

Once upon a time... there was a day in May that was calm and unruffled.

Nothing was pressing: no meetings to attend, no parties to plan, no place to be.   

Although it was sad to hug family members goodbye (like, tears in your eyes sad), the lady of Bixby Cottage took a deep breath and sat down to read the morning paper as she sipped her coffee in complete silence.  

In no hurry, she made her way through the house.  Tossing in a load of laundry and changing sheets on the bed, she did so with leisurely pleasure.

Emptying the dishwasher, she took time to watch finches fight over the bird feeder and spy on robins splashing in the birdbath.  

The yard was teeming with an abundance of birds of a wide variety.    

Taking the day slowly, enjoying the little things...she was content.  

Noticing the basket of flowers hanging outside the front porch as if for the first time, she enjoyed a mini photo shoot.  Her only companions, the morning sunshine and a flourish of birdsong.  

With the spirea bush in full bloom, it's a sea of red, white & blue.    

She savored leftover beef dip sandwiches (w/sauteed mushrooms & onions) for lunch as she indulged in extra time to read her book.  

Could she really sit down and read a book, guilt free?  Yes, today she could.  
     

Such bliss, such joy.  One day of quiet.  One day to do whatever she wanted to do with no agenda.  

The lady of Bixby Cottage needed this day and was happy and grateful.    

The End.  


P.S.  You know that I just hosted a graduation party for 2nd son, Alex, but have I mentioned that tomorrow is the LAST DAY of SCHOOL???  Plus, it's back to daycare tomorrow after a week off.  Hello 12 smiling (I hope) children!   

P.S.S.  If you'd like to see pictures of Alex's grad party, I made an album on facebook for you to browse.  






 

Turning a Corner

Today was a good day.  I have turned the corner.  You can stop worrying about me now (were you worrying about me?).  

Today was a day of weeding, planting, and errand running for Alex's grad party this Saturday.  Oh, and an appt. at the bank to refinance our home (very low interest rates in case you haven't noticed).   

The plants are basically out of my front porch and neatly tucked into pots or the ground.  They are much happier and so am I. 

Don't get me wrong, I have a new (short) list of plants I forgot to buy/still need.  But, the end is in sight.  

I hesitate to show you photos of things just planted.  I mean, they need time to grow, man.  

You'll have to trust me that when this pot fluffs out, it will be amazing.  The star of the show is butterfly flower, always a winner.  

Trying something new this year in the front triangle garden.  Usually I plant colorful flowers amongst the hostas, but the hostas have grown so big they take over.  I planted 3 coleus and hope that everything grows huge and beautiful.  

I'm slightly concerned because the coleus call for Full Shade and this spot gets a bit of morning sun and dappled afternoon shade.  I hope the leaves don't fry.  

I'm really excited about these 3 pots on my front steps.  Again, this photo doesn't do them justice... they will grow and look better.   

They each have a salmon colored double impatien, heavenly blue morning glory (that will climb up the railing), wax begonia, and white lobelia.  I was thrilled to find such healthy looking double impatiens loaded with chubby buds ready to burst.  

In other unrelated, but totally fun news... with our local Target remodel, they have added more merchandise.  Yeah.  Well, I found it.  

The great news is... Pottery Barn style at Target prices.  What's not to love?  

Did you notice that it's red?  Here's a peek inside.  

I kind of like the color red. 


I hope you're enjoying the weather.  Tomorrow is another day.  I have to remember to live one day at a time.  It's amazing what you can accomplish in a day.  Breathe....  

MAY-hem

It's the middle of May and I have a bouquet of lilacs gracing my kitchen table.  The smell is intoxicating and it calms me down. 

It's the middle of May and I planted a teeny tiny 4-pack of Whirlybird Mixed Colors Nasturtium.  Derrick asked, "Are these the plants that hang down on the lawn?  They're such a pain to mow around!"  I said we could cut them back if it bothers him.   

It's the middle of May and I'm waiting for the hostas in my front corner garden to "fluff out".  When they do, I'm planning to plant a few coleus.  Their tag says "shade only".  This area gets morning sun so I hope I don't scorch their delicate leaves. 

Double impatiens. 

Butterfly flower. 

Light purple bacopa.  New to me. 

 

I think my basil is cold outside tonight.  Brrrr... I hope it survives.  I should bring it a sweater.  

 

Derrick weeded the up & coming hosta bed.  Thank you, Derrick.  Looks great! 

Visited Ashley today at Ace Greenhouse and found a few treasures. 

It's the middle of May and I am in the midst of planning a graduation open house.  I'm so proud of my graduate, but I'm not a party planning kind of gal.  I am wilting a bit.     

I'm working on the outside (yard) and the inside and organizing food/drink/decoration.  And, my anxiety is creeping up. 

One week left.  I need to plant, plan, clean, organize, shop, chop, make salads, figure out clothes, etc.  I do believe the invites have all been sent.  We've all had hair cuts.  
 

This little "Babe the blue ox" came in my box of mother's day chocolates from Elliot.  I haven't had the heart to eat it because it's so cute.  Maybe now's the time!  

It's the middle of May and it's mayhem for me.  It's all fun stuff and I promise to enjoy the festivities.  

 It's the middle of May... help!  











 

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day (yesterday)!  I hope it was a fabulous day for everyone.  I received a hanging basket of flowers from 3 of my children and decided to pot it rather than hang it.  I love it!   

White lobelia is so pretty alongside magenta double impatiens.  From my eldest son I received a cooking magazine and a box of truffles from Chocolate's Plus.  Flowers, food, chocolate... yep, they tuned into me.  :o) 

Recently, I found this adorable green glass hummingbird feeder.  I also bought a big hanging basket for the front of our house.  Below is a close-up, red million bells & blue lobelia.  It matches the red front door.    

Derrick's cousin, Jackie, was so kind to deliver a bunch of tulips to his mother on our behalf.  I think she was surprised.  Thanks, Jackie!  Happy Mother's Day, Lorraine!!   

My mother was happy to receive a framed picture of the above photo of our patio that she loves. 

Mother's Day was spent attending a play that Derrick was in, greenhouse hopping, and enjoying burgers on the grill.  Derrick~ you were awesome in the play and I must say... your burgers were very tasty!    

Today (Monday) the weather was in the low 80's in Bemidji.  The morning was busy with meetings & phone calls, but I spent the afternoon planting.  It's only just begun, and I am in my glory.  
 

Here come the lilacs!  Oh, the smells outside...  

Happy Mother's Day and Happy Spring!  

Sweet Scent in the Air

 The apple trees in our yard decided to burst open today and provide us with spring time beauty and a wonderful sweet scent in the air.  This got me looking up quotes about apple blossoms.  Allow me to get all sappy on you.  

 What plant we in this apple tree?
Sweets for a hundred flowery springs
To load the May-wind's restless wings,
When, from the orchard-row, he pours
Its fragrance through our open doors;
A world of blossoms for the bee,
Flowers for the sick girl's silent room,
For the glad infant sprigs of bloom,
We plant with the apple tree.
- William Cullen Bryant, The Planting of the Apple Tree

 Apple blossoms swing and sway,
In the merry month of May.
All the fairy folks are gay,
’Tis the merry month of May.
In the trees the birdies call,
Apple blossoms softly fall,
Here the robin sweetly say
’Tis the merry month of May.
- Traditional

 Beneath these fruit-tree boughs that shed
Their snow-white blossoms on my head,
With brightest sunshine round me spread
Of Spring's unclouded weather,

In this sequester'd nook how sweet
To sit upon my orchard-seat,
And flowers and birds once more to greet,
My last year's friends together.
- William Wordsworth, from “The Green Linnett”

Light are the petals that fall from the bough,
And lighter the love that I offer you now;
In a spring day shall the tale be told
Of the beautiful things that will never grow old.
- Anna Wickham, The Cherry-Blossom Wand

O happy day!  Spring has most definitely sprung.  Why do apple blossoms scream romance?  Not sure, but I'm headed outside for another whiff.  


Ahhhhh, the joys of spring.  

Greenhouse Hopping

I planned on greenhouse hopping today, but got stuck at one lovely greenhouse called Deer Haven and couldn't get out.  My mom and I ventured there together and happily met up with my friend, Barb. 

After a short time shopping and picking out several items, Barb announced, "I've gotta get out of here!", which made me chuckle.  

I'm now wondering if my "ohmyword, come look at THIS" or "wowww, this is unique" finally got to her.  It's dangerous to your pocketbook to flower shop with moi.  I just love everything.  I should be more quiet on these trips.  HA.       

Above you see the loot I acquired today.  
 

Three coleus plants.   This is new territory, I never buy coleus. 
 

Herbs: lemon thyme, rosemary, & basil.  Must haves.  
 

An old fashioned favorite: vintage antique mix miniature Stock.  Very fragrant flowers... a unique spicy scent.  This gem was purchased at Ace on the Lake greenhouse.     

Flowering Maple.  I love the big fat buds.  Is it trying to take a bite out of it's sibling?  I hope not. 
 

"Hip hop" Euphorbia plant makes a nice wispy filler in a large pot of flowers. 

 

"Sunset Shades" tuberous begonia next to "Snowland" Chrysanthemum.  
 

Flowering maple in creamy yellow.  I'm in a flowering maple craze.  Just ignore me.  It's in your best judgement.  

Teeny tiny baby's breath called "Gypsy Deep Rose" (Gypsophila). A very dainty, wispy filler plant that requires full sun.   


"Apple blossom" non-stop begonias are what drew me to Deer Haven in the first place as they are the only greenhouse in town that carries that color. 

I just finished schlepping this nice mix into my front porch to be safe & sound for the night.  
 

It was so fun to visit the first greenhouse of the season! 


"It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!"- Mark Twain