The Exhaustion of Spring

This weekend I had plans, big plans, oh my yes.  Apart from a little light planting and mulching (on Friday I had snaffled six large bags of coffee grounds from the delightful baristas at the cafe at work, a record I think and very tricky to get downstairs and home without stretching one's arms), it was going to be indoors and stitching away on an Art Deco dress for next February.  February always rolls around a lot faster than I think it's going to but this time I was going to be prepared, oh yes indeed.  So, out into the garden bright and early on Saturday morning to plant the lily bulbs kindly donated to me by a dear friend.  Then onto the garden with the coffee grounds, first mixed in with compost.  But the weeds, the weeds were calling.  And the hanging baskets needed replanting.  And the front porch was in dire need of sweeping out and then that made me notice that some of the plants there needed attention.  On it went, and now the end of the weekend is here and not a single stitch has been put into an Art Deco costume.  After Saturday's efforts I predicted to myself that I would be too sore to continue on Sunday but it was fine.  Maybe next weekend it will be raining and there will be some enforced indoor time.  Whether it is raining or not, I must do better in the sewing room.  If I ever recover from my labours this weekend, that is.  I feel I need to return to work tomorrow for a well earned rest.  I imagine my colleagues would object if I fell asleep and started dribbling into my keyboard, though.

How lovely it was to be outside.  After the bird bath was cleaned out a male blackbird had the most lengthy bath and was a joy to watch.  And the spring light was so intense on some of the plants, the sun shining through the holes which must have been bitten into this leaf before it unfurled were casting bright shadows on the rest of the leaf, I had to stop and admire the effect for quite some time.  (And stretch out my back.)

The dark purple tulips were most obliging and blossoming their hearts out.  They are so velvety and the colour is so deep and rich, it does make a person wonder at the huge variety in the natural world.  

And all the while I was observed closely by a disapproving rabbit, who was deeply suspicious of my actions in his patch.

We had had a very eventful time before even arriving at Shoestring Cottage.  Only about three weeks ago my little Figaro car broke down on the way to the cottage, and my sister (who is a rock and the most helpful and uncomplaining sister a body could ever desire) towed us all the way to her house.  The problem was detected the next day by Mr Shoestring (yes, being an amateur is another one of his many and varied talents), and we were on the road again.  Then the same thing happened this week, and my poor sister had to turn out in the cold and dark and tow us once again.  This time I noticed that she had bought a new tow rope and torch, that is how well organised she is.  Anyway, she must have felt sorry for me, because she insisted on giving me my Christmas present early and I have been using it already this weekend.  A lovely cup, saucer, side plate and dinner plate with violets painted on it.  Perfection!

While I was using it this weekend I was musing about the fact that we love to collect things for our loved ones, once we know their tastes and likes.  Some people have very definite and predictable tastes and I am one of them, so I suppose I am easy to buy for.  My sister has been presenting me with violet china for probably about 40 years now, and I never can get enough.  She on the other hand, has a fondness for hand painted china with misty roses on it, and whenever I find a piece I know immediately that it would be perfect for her.  And my daughter only had to tell me that she had bought a pretty ceramic swan vase in an op shop in London to start me on the hunt for pieces for her.  I now have quite a selection for when she comes "home" again.  

And since the thrill of the chase is part of the fun (in fact a large part of the fun) when we are scrounging around in markets, op shops and second hand shops, the more people you have to look out for, the better.  Even if you don't find anything which thrills you to the core on your outing, to come home with a treasure for one of your dearest friends or relations is just as good, sometimes even better.  

Next time I hope to have some news about a fabulously successful Art Deco sewing session.  It's always good to have something to work towards, anyway.  

Roll On Sunshine

At last some sunny days in the garden, and a chance to get out there with the bees and rattle some weeds, give them a fright even if not mortally wound them.  Today I spent some happy time putting bags of coffee grounds and compost onto the earth's surface, and  watching the worms writhing about.  I like to think they are in a feverish state of excitement at the prospect of being released from the dark coffee ground bags, but maybe it's just the sudden exposure to light and sunshine after having spent their entire lives in the cool dark coffee grounds which makes them respond so.  (And how they get into the bags in the first place, when they are tied tightly closed, is always a mystery to me as well.  Nowt so clever as these lowly creatures which we like to think have very little in the way of intelligence.)

Early spring time is associated in my mind with intense yellow greens, such as the new growth on oak trees, and these oxalis leaves (this is an ornamental oxalis and not the noxious weed, but just to be on the safe side I'm confining it to pots.  It has lovely bright pink blossoms, another shade associated with early spring in my mind.  

Things in the pink and purple themed garden, though not strictly sticking to their colour scheme, are cooperating very nicely with me at present.  The pelargoniums are always the most obliging and will happily take off from a little piece stuck into the earth, and reward by blooming their hearts out.

I usually resist the urge to buy tulip bulbs, because of the way they need lifting and care if they are going to bloom again next season, but this season I gave in and bought these outlandish frilled pink ones, which I am really pleased with.  Also some which are such a deep purple as to be almost black, very exotic and worth spending a bit of loose change on. 

I had to have a few ranunculus and the pure white colour of these ones combined with the startling yellow of the central sepals always makes me pause for closer inspection. 

As well as the hundreds of blue bluebells, the pink shaded ones are clumping up nicely with time and multiplying every bit as keenly as the blue, which is something of a surprise as the "original" variety usually seems to be the most vigorous form.  

The tulips seem to be emerging and blooming at varied rates, which is good because it extends the season of enjoyment.  This pot is still getting ready to flower and some are almost past their best already.

Indoors things are looking rather sad and dusty because the urge to be outdoors has been too strong to resist.  Two things which are very happiness-making though are the charming tea cosy I managed to enviegle out of my dear sister.  Sitting there and admiring it so fulsomely must have been the magic which made her part with it.  I love the way it is lined with silk, and both sides are embroidered rather than just one.  And it has the most cunning little chimney which is also cross stitched, and attached after the rest of the cottage was put together.  What a special adornment for the teapot, I'm afraid my old cosy has been tossed aside and disregarded altogether.  

And here you can see that the front and back of the cost are different from one another too, how wonderful is that?

The other thing which has received attention indoors is the jewellery box Mr Shoestring kindly gave me as a birthday gift.  It is in perfect condition and now houses my art deco weekend "jewels" (mostly from the op shop, but I'm not fussy).  

It is cunningly contrived with four different layers and the individual layers open out so that different pieces can be stored on different levels, what a clever innovation.  It has only taken me five years or so to actually put my treasures in there, but these things take time.  

The other thing which has been pleasing at the cottage lately is this tiny little manicure set in a bakelite case, the most perfect shade of art deco green of course.  As a person whose hands are usually somewhat affected by the rigours of the garden and who isn't particular as to her manicure, this is something I should make more use of but I am content to just look at it and admire it.  Like the jewellery box, it is very cleverly contrived with its hinged lid and little slots inside for the four tiny manicure tools to fit into.  Admirable.  

No matter whether it is your spring, summer, autumn or winter, I hope you are taking time to do some of the things which thrill you and make the days more enjoyable.  I have been working away on a quilt I'm trying to finish, and I suddenly realised I was working on the very same one exactly a year ago with the same aim.  And that I started it about 15 years ago.  It's about the journey, not the destination.  Just as well!