The Simple Things That Delight And Charm Us Now

During that time which we knew as "lockdown", (even though we were not supposed to call it that, because it sounded negative, and we were supposed to use more pleasant descriptions such as "social distancing"), so many things which had previously seemed somewhat ordinary and mundane, such as visiting and entertaining friends, working in the garden (if you were trapped in the city and unable to visit your garden), cooking for those outside your immediate bubble, all assumed suddenly greater significance and became so desirable and so much anticipated.

One of the greatest pleasures this weekend was being able to have girlfriends around again.  I used to fantasise about this while we were in our most strict social distancing phases and so even though  friends this weekend were only going to call in briefly (to drop off some fresh fish, imagine the luxury!), I wanted to make it special for us.  I baked them a cake, and made sure to serve it on my prettiest (even if unmatched) plates, and then the three of us were able to set the world to rights, even if there was a bit of interrupting and talking over each other because we were slightly overexcited after so long in captivity.

Now that we have finally been able to relax our restrictions somewhat it has been a joy to return to Shoestring Cottage.  One of my dear friends (who must have become confused, and believed that I had a birthday this month), left this beautiful little painting on card for me, near the front door.  I love to see bees working in the garden, and I particularly like foxgloves (though they are a noxious pest in parts of the country, I know), so it was perfect to find it when we arrived at Shoestring this week.

Look at the close up of the bumble bee, to me it seems to have a very purposeful expression on its face.  I am going to find a frame and keep this forever, it is so endearing. 

When I went into the garden I was pleased to see that the real bees are also still working feverishly and even to see one in the depths of the gladioli, I should think it must be amazing to be in this colourful environment when you are working.  Glowing and golden. 

To be honest, these gladioli have been a bit of a mistake on my part.  I seem to remember that they were heavily reduced at a garden centre, and I felt for them, they were looking a bit moldy and I knew nobody would ever buy them, so I took pity on them and bought them and took them home and planted them.  Little did I realise that they would grow to be immensely tall, easily three metres high some of them.  And of course I planted them near the part of the garden which I want to be all pink and purple, resulting in some hideous clashes of colour.  Mind you, there are also the orange canna lilies nearby (which I just cannot remove, no matter how hard I try), and a purple salvia, and this lemony brugmansia, which never seems to stop flowering, despite officially being a tropical plant.  It has been such a long, warm, dry season and surely the rain must come soon.  Also the cold, unfortunately.  

I love the way the ends of the flower petals are all curled and waxy and trendrilly before the flower actually opens.  

And then when the flowers do open they are almost translucent, and seem to glow, especially when night is falling.  

Thinking about my friend who gave me the bee and foxglove card, I am full of admiration to people who are artistic, and can paint and draw.  Perhaps that is why I collect all those landscapes from the opp shops, I look at them and imagine how important and significant the scenes depicted must have been to the people who painted them.  I must admit though that I don't much appreciate it when people or equipment are included in them, and I was forever grateful to my friend who took one of them home and painted out a tractor and some people, who were ruining an otherwise perfectly pleasant painting. 

Thought the skies were grey today there was still such a lot to look at in the garden.  I can never go past geranium leaves with their wonderful colours, especially the intensely greeny yellow ones which are my all time favourites. 

But these ones are great too, and they have a lovely pink blossom so that's an added bonus.  

And these ones for the sheer variety of colours included in the leaf.  I remember there was a stage (maybe in the 1990s) when designers of tapestry canvases used geranium leaves to great effect and I feel quite nostalgic about that, and would like to attempt one for old time's sake. 

Another surprise this weekend was that (in between cutting things back mercilessly and pruning things to within an inch of their lives), I discovered what I am certain is a grape vine, coming up between the bricks in a path in the garden.  I can't think where it came from, unless there was a grape vine in this garden a long time ago and it has suddenly sprung back to life.  I don't think it would have grown from a pip, though I have been growing mangoes, avocados and date palms from seeds recently, not to mention a peach or two, andt would be very interesting if it had grown from a seed.  Though I think grapes need to be grafted if you are going to get good fruit, so only time will tell.  

Our neighbours have just come to the end of Ramadan and kindly gave us cookies and Turkish delight when they were able to end their fasting period.  The Turkish delight is in beautiful shades of rose pink, green and apricot, and so pretty.  The apricot coloured pieces were banana flavoured, the green ones mint flavoured, and the pink ones rose flavoured.  Mr Shoestring was very pleased, as he adores Turkish delight and doesn't often get the chance to feast upon it.  

This weekend I worked diligently away upon that quilt I'm trying to finish (wretched thing), but it occurs to me that I need a break from this sort of quilt and I have a craving to get back to crazy quilting again.  Just looking at this one piece of crazy quilting nearly had me dragging out all the old silk ties and kimono fabrics, but I must be strong and not start anything else.  

And that was my weekend.  I hope that  wherever you may be, you have been able to find enjoyment in some simple pleasures this week, especially in view of all the changes that we are experiencing, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and all its unforeseen consequences.