Had another pain episode this evening. Put a bit of a crimp in my plans.
Fortunately, there is always music.
And new artists to find…
What I Know
Before The Rain
It’s been pouring out there for a bit.
Seems to have tapered off now.
I knew the rain was coming – there were warnings all over the place. Up until just over an hour ago, it still looked fine…
I did a big load of laundry yesterday, anticipating a few days of storms.
Also noticed a tiny nasturtium, popping up in the front garden. I don’t know where it came from – I haven’t planted any, and there hasn’t been any since we’ve been here.
It’s one of the plants I’ve been thinking about putting in, though.
And, suddenly – here it is!
A bright spot of colour, in amongst the mulch and the weeds…
Here’s a profile 😀
Yesterday was taken up with various tasks, so I didn’t get around to photographing the flora.
Today I thought I’d better do so before the storms set in.
Including some dandelion close-ups!
❤
Rain Likely
At least, that’s what the weather app has been saying!
We washed the duvets last week, and put them away, but it looks like I might have to have a blanket on standby…
I’m writing this on a new (to me) laptop – it’s not been that long since I upgraded the old one, but that laptop had issues, even after the faulty part was replaced with a brand new one. I took it back to the place I bought it (they sell second hand with one year’s warranty), and they gave me this one as a replacement. It’s worth substantially more, and works beautifully.
It also fits in a big, padded pencil case (for extra padding if travelling), which was too small for both the previous laptops.
I like the rain.
I also like the cooler weather.
Not sure how long it will last – the forecast is a bit up and down.
But my roses have started blooming – just in time for rain!
’tis the first rose of…spring?
Hopefully it won’t be left blooming alone for much longer.
Taking A Drive…
…just to have a walk.
Yes, I know.
A bit weird.
I had somewhere to be around 7ish this morning, so I went with my Babe to a nearby park before that.
He’s been stepping up his exercise regime, so I had a go too.
I got once round the (basketball?) courts!
Then I just enjoyed the view.
Been a bit weird this week. More than normal, anyway.
Still, there’s always room for oddities.
I might even go for a walk again, another day.
Who knows what could happen in this great, wild world?
😀
Joy Crashed In
Got the sheets washed, duvets clean and aired, ready for spring to make its mind up and stay.
Or summer.
Whatever.
The last few days have been pain days, but I’ve still managed a lot more than I thought I would.
Watched lessons and zoom calls.
Maybe even understood most of them! 😆
I keep the laptop off on Sundays (except, very rarely, if there’s a deadline I need to meet), so I try to catch up by Saturday night.
Rest (and recharge) time tomorrow – yay!
I have refreshed my memory of beauty encountered on our getaway last weekend…
Fresh flowers by the bed 🙂
This giant on the patio!
A wealth of patterns, and textures, and shadows…
My studies have shown me interesting things.
…like the building blocks of creativity.
And I’ve been listening to music, to let the joy in…
I’ve had the lyric video for this on the blog already, but here’s the people version…
Rainbows and sunflowers!
(Of course, in my head, I will always hear Kermit ❤ )
This one came out of left field, but it’s something to think about.
May joy be unconfined!
A Pearl Of A Weekend
Yesterday was our 30th (Pearl) anniversary.
Where did the time go?!
My Mum made us a photo framed with pearls.
I remember those youngsters!
We got back today from an overnight stay in the country.
Our room – the kitchen is behind on the left, and the bathroom on the right.
The price includes fresh bacon, and eggs from the onsite chooks, for breakfast.
It was a peaceful place, and we had a lovely time walking around the garden, sitting with a pot of tea enjoying the view, or talking over crackers with pate and a glass of wine.
Yes, we do know how to party!
A bit more of the view –
We reminisced about the years gone by, and talked about plans for the years to come.
It’s fairly common for us to take time to sit and talk, but there’s something about a cuppa tea on a wooden verandah, with mountains in the distance, that just takes it a bit above the ordinary…
We had hoped to see the stars last night, but it was too cloudy.
We caught the sunset, though!
❤
Remembering Priorities
Well, winter came back for a visit.
It’s still not quite as cold as it could be, but my toes are gently freezing…yesterday the wind was so strong that I didn’t even consider putting the washing on the line. I had visions of our clothes winging their way to the river, and beyond!
The asparagus has sprung up again, and is ensuring that we don’t have to buy any for a while.
It seems the wildlife is also finding its way to the garden – I surprised a snake in our yard today, just next to our back path. It was only about a couple of feet long, so mid-size, I guess… they can move fast, can’t they? Don’t know what sort it was, but I thought I’d stay out of its way.
We’re off on our anniversary jaunt tomorrow, or at least an overnight stay not too far away.
It’s been many years of winters, washing, and anniversaries. Not so many snakes, though. 😀
But, it can be easy to let things slide, and take all the good stuff for granted.
Time to take stock again, and remember what’s important.
We’ve had our moments over the years.
But we’re still here 🙂 🙂 And there are a lot more years to come!
❤
Loving The Serenity
Finally, the rain came!
My weather app was promising full on rain most of the day, but we didn’t get that until not long ago, and then, not for long.
Here’s a bit of colour, if you want a break from the grey!
🙂
It’s pleasantly cool, and peaceful in my little nook.
I’ve had a “Positive Vibes” incense stick burning, and have been meandering through time.
This morning I started a book – a memoir of time spent in Venice in the summer of 1957, apparently a transition time between the days of the “Grand Tour” and the advent of the package tour.
I spent a small part of the summer of 1994 in Venice. It’s one of the places I would have liked to see again, and to see better. My summer was firmly in the time of package tours, although I wandered round Europe on my own.
Sometimes I think about writing my memoirs of my travels. They wouldn’t be as glamorous as the book I’m reading – no taking care of titled children in the palazzo, rubbing shoulders with the elite! More stumbling around in my big boots and Tyrolean hat, trying not to collapse in the heat…
I want to remember what I can, though,
while I can still remember it.
My travel style was a bit chaotic – turning up to places and finding hostels when I got there, finding interesting nooks and crannies, but probably missing any number of tourist landmarks. This was long before you could look up your itinerary online. I’m sure I would be more prepared if I were to go again.
But, if I close my eyes, I can just hear the sound of the canals, the gondolas (and other water craft) clunking against the docks, the sound of many voices and languages… I can still, faintly, feel the heat radiating fom ancient stone.
And, just for a second, feel the serenity.
Of Age
My Sweet Bean turned 21 today.
❤
Where has the time gone?!
There were no riotous parties, but he seemed to enjoy his day.
He chose his “cake” (a salted caramel chocolate cheesecake, I think).
It looks good!
Half of us couldn’t eat it (lactose and chocolate) so the rest went back into the freezer for another day.
So – time marches on.
I don’t feel quite old enough for my “baby” to be 21, but then, we’re looking at our 30th anniversary on Sunday.
Decades of goodness 🙂
Age has its sweetness, and glimpses of beauty…
a resting point on the way to the next flourishing years.
Time Out
Don’t mind me.
I’m just trying to distract myself from the need to finish an essay for the nearly due assessment.
Look!
11, K9, 10, and a floral TARDIS!
😀
(got them off Facebook yesterday…)
Yes, I’ll stop procrastinating. Soon.
A lot of the questions I’ve been answering for my assessment are about my opinions on things. They’re taking longer than I thought they would… I’ve had to do a fair bit of reading, even if I know a bit about a topic. After all, how can I give an opinion on something if I’m not clear on what the something is?
Also – there are a lot of interesting side quests along the path of research!
So – I need to take time out, and clear my head a bit.
Tonight it’s a blog post.
Yesterday it was coffee (or hot chocolate) out.
I feel rested just looking at it 🙂
Well, back to the essay.
Or a bit more scrolling.
Whatever.
😆
1000 Fields of Roses 