Tuesday, July 29, 2025

I finally broke down and cut some flowers because Boud and Ms. Moon always seem to have lovely bouquets in their homes.  I used the pitcher I made in the spring as a vase and it's sitting on my kitchen island where I can enjoy it.  It does bring me joy.

I spent some time in my garden yesterday, digging up and moving things.  Digging up invasive (although very pretty) plants like lamnium and anenomes.  They tend to just choke out everything else, kind of like yarrow.  I love yarrow though and I just yank it out if it gets out of hand.  

I planted raspberries a couple of years ago and that bed no longer has any room for anything, except raspberries.  I moved a huge hosta and some astilbe and put them by my new shed (not quite finished, but close).  I also moved a couple of ligularias and a bleeding heart which had become far too big for the front of a bed.  Of course, all of these beds need protecting from rampaging dogs:)  There is still ranunculus and a couple of other things that need to be dug up and rehomed.  On the upside, no need to buy anything at the greenhouse.

My apple tree blossomed this spring, but only one apple is growing, and it's a very sad looking apple.  We had such strange weather this spring I guess the pollinators and the cross pollinations didn't all coordinate, maybe next year.

I made my first saskatoon berry pie yesterday.  It was nice but the berries don't have a huge amount of flavour, not like raspberries.

Dog walks, laundry hanging on the line.  I'm going to see Cynthia this afternoon, taker her some pie and check on her.

I just finished reading "Something Like Happy" by Eva Woods, perhaps not everyone's cup of tea, but I loved it.  Made me cry a lot last night though.

We leave for Penticton in eleven days so I'm trying to plan ahead for that and for Jack going back to school.

My son visited Jack on Saturday, first visit in four or five years.  It went well.  My son is sober and has a job now but I'm not holding out much hope.  This has happened so many times in the past.  I suppose time will tell.  At least my son kept Jack entertained for a couple of hours and I got to read and work in the yard.



 Mostly, life is good and I'm thankful for that.  Humour remains, despite the fuckery in the world.



30 comments:

  1. The bouquet in your pottery jug looks fabulous! Glad that your son is making an effort at sobriety and reconnecting with Jack again. I wish him well.

    I made a blueberry pie this week. Save-On Foods was so overflowing with a huge shipment of BC blueberries that they were practically giving them away, so how could I not?

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    1. My husband brought a bunch of those blueberries home too. I hope my son stays sober, but that has not been my experience. He's been doing this for 25 years.

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  2. That pitcher is lovely. And I may put flowers out, but I've never made the container. The flowers are lovely too.

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  3. I love that pitcher! The perfect way to display flowers.

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    1. Thanks. I've made another similar but small pitcher. See how that turns out.

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  4. The pitcher and flowers are beautiful and uplifting. We need more flowers in our lives and homes! I'm glad that Jack had a good visit with his dad and hope that your son stays clean and sober. It's hard to have hope sometimes. We are so often disappointed.

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    1. I hope that my son stays sober but I have my doubts. He has years of trust building ahead of him if he does stay sober, not just with Jack, but with all of us.

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  5. Oh, look at those happy zinnias in that beautiful little pitcher! I"m so glad that you decided to give yourself even more joy by bringing a few flowers in and putting them where you can see them many times a day.
    That book looks pretty interesting. I'm going to look for it.
    Wow! Your son came and saw Jack? That's pretty amazing, as is his sobriety, even though I know that is always tenuous. But hell, who knows? Maybe he can stay that way.

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    1. I loved that book, although it did make me ugly cry. I like a good cry over a book.
      I was thinking about how long it's been since my son saw Jack and it's been five years. Five fucking years. It's so sad.

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  6. The pitcher is just wonderful. You do such nice work with the clay. I just read the road trip post and it sounds delightful, so nice that you both had daughters that were not too far apart.

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    1. We had such a wonderful trip, not just seeing our daughters, but also spending time with each other. Highly recommend:)

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  7. The flowers in the pitcher look great. Your garden must be so full of flowers, if not apples. It must be very odd for Jack to have his father turn up. Maybe it's good for him.

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    1. I always love my garden this time of year. All the flowers look so beautiful, nothing is dying off yet, or getting too leggy. It's at it's peak right now.
      We'll see what happens with my son. He is a chronic liar who cares for nobody but himself.

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  8. My zinnias are now looking at me, wondering why they don't have such a gorgeous vessel. Your amazing pitcher (and other creations) have inspired me to find a pottery class . . . or at least upgrade my vases.

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    1. I think you'll love pottery. It's wonderful to work with your hands and clay is forgiving.

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  9. The pitcher is perfect for your bouquets!💐 I do like the color of the pitcher, as well!
    How was Jack after the Dad visit? If he wasn't all hyped up, more visits might be good for both of them ... as long as you are close at hand!

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    1. Jack was fine after his visit from his dad. He doesn't talk much about his parents, at least not with us. Not sure what he thought about him. My son looks old, with a long beard and lots of grey in it. Jack and his dad were surpervised by me. A few years ago my son abducted his other son, so I'm not taking chances.

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  10. A lot going on in your neck of the woods! Love the vase. First cosmo bloomed yesterday in my yard. It's what I've waited for.

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    1. I love cosmos, they're so beautiful. I always forget just how beautiful they are.

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  11. I hope Jack won’t be disappointed again if his father relapses. He must hardly know him. Very sad for all concerned. Your jug and flowers are beautiful. Gigi

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    1. Jack will be disappointed with his father, even if my son doesn't relapse. We all are disappointed with our parents at some point in our lives.

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  12. That vase with the flowers is beautiful! It is good that Jack had a good visit with your son. And it is good that he's sober and is employed. I called my son this weekend to check on him, and I always hold my breath as the phone rings hoping that things are going well. His life has been a roller coaster, and right now things are good for him. I still worry about him though as he has had so many ups and downs.

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    1. I'm glad my son is sober and employed, but that's happened many times over the years. My son is 41, he's not a kid. I try not to hope too much.

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  13. Such a lovely pitcher and flowers. One day at a time for your son, eh. Phlox is what had taken over my flower beds. It's unstoppable.

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    1. My mum loved phlox, it was her favorite flower. I think it reminded her of England. One day at a time for all of us I guess.

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  14. It is so hard for the families of addicts - even recovering ones - because you hope for the best but you have so often hoped for the best and been disappointed that anticipating the fallout is the natural state whenever the bliss of sobriety is offered. Hugs to you. Gorgeous flowers.

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    1. Yes, it makes it so hard to ever trust them again.

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  15. It sounds promising that your son is sober and got to visit Jack, but I understand your skepticism. Beautiful bouquet, and it looks great in your new pitcher!

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    1. Thanks Steve. I've been down this road so many times with my son, I just don't Jack to get badly hurt by yet another parent.

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