Monday, May 2, 2022

Beautiful May morning -




I don't know why Blogger plays around with us just when all is
 running smoothly.
I haven't been able post here for a week and quite honestly,
 thought my poor little blog had died and gone wherever old blogs go!
Now it's back, I'm able to post, however commenting formats on
 other blogs seems to have changed and I'm not certain if 
comments I've left have ever published.
So, if you're wondering where I've been here's at least a few pix 
showing I'm mostly at home, working nonstop on house and garden
stuff. . . . . . always so much to do once Spring arrives and Nature goes
 berserk in the garden.
 In between I've been my daughter's taxi service several times a week
 for a month to get her to PT and doctor appts. Following a big shoulder
 surgery she was unable to drive, thankfully she now is permitted to
 get behind the wheel again.


The garden is looking awesome and we are getting kind compliments 
from passersby and neighbors.
Above is the back where roses, jasmine, honeysuckle are vigorously 
clambering and blooming. . . . . . . the evening perfume is especially 
lovely. 



Mowing days come around quickly now!


Peonies already budding - hoping to have showtime soon!


Snippets from the garden.


New cushions for the porch chairs - all got a good wash 
this weekend when I removed everything to the lawn and got busy
 with the garden hose.  The pollen is just about over at long last.


Gentle rain last night washed everything else - a clean start to another
 busy week. April and May are the loveliest, and busiest, months
 for gardening here in the southeast US. . . . before the intense heat 
and humidity hit and things start to require constant watering to
 keep growing and remain green.

Hope your week will be great.

36 comments:

  1. I have also had trouble adding comments.
    Barbarax

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    1. Thanks for stopping by - can you share where you are located Barbara?

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  2. I also had a Google / Blogger issue! Many did I suspect. For me, if I used my iPad, I was 'anonymous' .. on my PC, everything worked. A mystery. Your yard, everything surrounding you ... gorgeous. My son is moving from Raleigh to Cary, looking forward to visiting him some time in 2022. Stay well ...

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    1. Do let us know if you come this way later Helen - we should meet up!
      Mary x

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  3. Your hard work is paying off as all looks lovely in your gardens. It is always so nice when the pollen is done. We could use some rain over here. I can't remember the last time we had any. With the temps going into the upper 80s I will be lugging the hose around to get the new hydrangeas I planted well established.
    I'm sure your daughter greatly appreciated your taxi services. Happy to hear that she is doing better now.

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    1. Thanks Kim - yes getting very warm already - our crazy NC weather!

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  4. It looks so beautiful there Mary! I hope your daughter recovers well. Oh, I can't wait to mow my lawn lol! ☺ Yes, I've been having problems leaving comments as well. I do hope they go through!

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    1. Thanks dear Rain. Commenting is going crazy on Blogger - saw on your post that weird thing that popped up!!!!

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  5. Dear Mary - as I mentioned to you here a couple of weeks, I too have been having commenting problems too, and wondered if I should simply give up and go. As time has gone on things are getting slightly better, but still not straight forward. It takes so much longer to leave a comment as I have to keep on reopening the page until it will take the comment.
    Glad to see that you are back and that your daughter is on the mend now. Your garden is looking lovely, but then again it always does.

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    1. Life is just nothing but ups and downs these days - we have struggled a bit to keep up with all that needs attention - having blog problems made me realize perhaps I should give it up too as I don't need the aggravation! Anyway I may just keep going but not post as often, at least for a while.
      Thinking of you x

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  6. It all looks so pretty around your home. Glad your daughter is able to drive again!

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    1. Thanks Penny - life is crazy busy - wish I could come walk the beach with you and get some relaxation!!!!

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  7. Dearest Mary,
    So glad your daughter is over the worst part with her shoulder and is permitted to drive again! Quite a chore for you to chauffeur her around.
    Your garden looks picture perfect and magazine worthy.
    Oh the pollen, I have not yet cleaned out our front porch...
    Did pull weeds last week and my severe mid–back arthritis did flare up. Still managed to continue through Thursday and not on Pieter's Birthday of course. Yesterday we both biked some 18 miles total, with a stop at a Horse Barn and Petting Zoo from a dear friend. Today I am a wreck as my back is hurting like hell. Have not yet made the appointment for our car check up in Atlanta, don't feel like driving or anything...
    Usually when I 'behave' and taking rests in–between cleaning or ironing, I manage to remain painless.
    BUT I also managed to score me a flight on Pieter's Birthday for going back home in a short week. Flying in Delta Premium Select for 152,000 miles. Could not complete my ticket on line (always, due my very long legal name...) so I had to call and it took me 1 hour and 47 minutes in waiting and then luckily getting a very knowledgeable and courteous gentleman who managed to complete it swiftly. The day before when Pieter slept, they only had 3 seats available and the day I booked, only 2 so I had to remain on hold in order to score this. It also allows me to check 2 bags free. Since I go home to bring back the few things from Mom & Dad's Estate in a suitcase. Will travel out with 2–in–1 and back with 2.
    Hoping that they still will change the rules for entering the US, as I hate to have a Covid test done on a Sunday as requested now. Hoping for you also the very same when finally being able to travel abroad! Pieter no longer can handle all the stress and he worries about his heart condition while abroad.
    ENJOY spring and I never had problems commenting as long as you type above the dotted line! Below–nothing works...
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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    1. Thanks for your detailed comment Mariette and I hope so much your back is better and you will be OK to fly home. I'm not sure when you bought your ticket for - will it be soon?
      From what I read the US still requires us to have a COVID test done one day prior to the flight back here to the US - at least that's from the UK currently, perhaps yours will be different. We are checking where to get it done as there is no clinic at Heathrow airport (ridiculous!). We only have one day in London before flying out but we stay at an airport hotel. Fortunately it looks like there's a test site within a 10 minute walk from our hotel so we will plan to go there. Of course things may change again by June - who knows!
      Safe travels - like you, I always try to take a suitcase with room to spare for bringing things back, haha!!!

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    2. Mary, it is 3 weeks from today and yes, the rules for entering the USA are the same. Not a happy thing for finding a place on a Sunday for the test! BUT, that too will get done... So lucky for my back being 'normal' again; guess I'd done too much! You know about that with having your home and garden and... and...

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  8. Not that I've noticed troubles here, but I have noticed that commenting is somehow "different." I also noticed that some of the comments I've left did not take. Oh well, not going to do them all over again. Glad that your daughter's shoulder is healing and that she can drive again. Your yard looks marvelous. So green and vibrant.

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    1. Yes, same happened with my comments! Yes daughter driving now thank goodness. Yard is currently looking at its best - one the heat arrives it will be toast!!!! I'll bore you with photos for a little longer, haha!

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  9. Such lovely greenery and garden Mary I think we have all been having trouble with blogland.

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    1. Thanks Pat. Hope you get your needed rain over the weekend!

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  10. The garden shed looks wonderful, surrounded by the greenery. What do you use it for?

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    1. Hels, the potting shed is gradually being 'softened' by English ivy (which of course must be kept in check as it goes anywhere and everywhere!) on the left side. Akebia quinata (Chocolate vine) is on the right and will require some pruning this year as it's up to the roof now! Beneath it are two large pots of variegated ivy - easier to manage but I still chop bits off now and then as they start 'walking' across the ground!

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  11. I haven't blogged in a few weeks, but I have been commenting on blogs and haven't had a problem. I was going to work on a blog post tonight, so I hope I don't run into any trouble!

    I love seeing how lush and green your gardens and yard are already. April was not good to us here in northeast IL. It was unusually cold and rainy all month. We are just now getting started on spring yard clean up. As every year, there is so much to do. I finished cutting down all the perennials today. Here your peonies are about to burst into bloom and mine are just now coming out of the ground!

    Hope your back is better. And glad to hear your daughter can drive now.

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    1. Sad your April was so cold and damp - hoping all much brighter now. Hope your peonies do well - mine are OK but some buds were damaged by the late last frost and the blooms are showing a few brown spots. They smell gorgeous though and today I will cut just one to put here near my laptop to enjoy.
      Hugs - Mary

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  12. Dear Mary,
    Your garden looks so beautiful, lush and green with lovely blooms beginning. All your hard work shows good results. I hope your daughter continues to mend well.
    I've noticed a difference in the commenting form on some blogs, and have noticed that a number of comments are not published when I've gone back to check. So strange. Some people have mentioned that they can't leave comments on my blog, so I've switched the comment format to the pop-up box, and some said it made a difference. I don't know why Blogger messes with things.
    I'm so glad you haven't stopped blogging - it's always delightful to visit you here.

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    1. Thanks dear Lorrie - I do hope to continue if Blogger stops fooling with us!
      Garden at it's peak right now and I do a little each day in hopes my back issue doesn't get worse. Sadly I've not planted up pots yet - especially herbs - because we still hope to leave for England early June. It's too much to expect people to come and take care of pots which dry out so fast and need daily care in our heat. Of course I will be desperate for basil (pesto is part of summer - well all year thanks to the freezer!) so have bought seeds and will plant when we return.
      Happy days dear.

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  13. You have such a lovely garden, I bet that grass takes a lot of tending though! Blogger has been playing up for me too, I think a lot of people have had problems with it :)

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    1. Bob mows, fortunately still able, and enjoys doing it! We do have a service for fertilizing/weed control etc. I know many people are against lawns these days but at this point in our lives it would be hard to give it up and go with an alternative surface. . . . . . . .concrete!!!!!! I'm sure someone would then find that's even worse for the ecosystem!
      Thanks for stopping by Betty.

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  14. Ah, yes dear Mary, the commenting has certainly changed. I too have been unsure if mine have 'taken hold' or not! So lovely to see your garden, rich with flowers and bright green grass. Like ours these days, growing so fast - we have ours cut every week. Your porch is so elegant (just like you). The angel and candelabra are a winning combination. It is good to see that your daughter is well, and you do not have to do all that extra driving. Family is so important, but sometimes it can also be quite tiring! xox

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    1. Thanks Trish - you say the sweetest things. I've be bad about commenting with so much going on and the Blogger problems - but always read posts. The wold is spinning too fast for me - or I'm getting too slow, hmmmm!!!!

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  15. As always, your garden and glimpses of your house are gorgeous! All that hard work is paying off.
    I have not had any problems with blogger lately. The spam filter finally seems to work, but one or two non-spam comments have been classified as spam, too, so I always check there to see if anyone‘s comments have gone there by mistake.

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    1. Thanks Meike - lots of work and harder now, just do little bits at a time!
      Happy days!

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  16. Dear Nary, So much beauty everywhere. You have made your surroundings a green oasis.

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  17. Oh Mary ..... Bloggers upgrades have messed up my commenting ability on my phone on some blogs ! I'm OK on my laptop but not on my phone which I normally use.
    Your garden looks amazing ..... as a gardener, I know how much hard work goes into it ! This is my favourite time of year for the garden ..... and, I always love glimpses of your gorgeous home. Good to hear that your daughter is on the mend and I hope you are feeling better too. Also, hope your blog stays alive !!!! Lots of love to you both. XXXX

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    1. It's all so weird lately, especially the commenting issue. I've never been able to comment on my iPhone - I just got a new one (13 Pro Max) so may give it a try - would be useful when away from the laptop.
      Yes, gardens in spring are the best - especially here as the hot summers toast everything once June arrives.
      Still dealing with pain - may have to do something about it later, ouch!
      Happy weekend Jackie x

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  18. I love the evening scent of Jasmine! Sadly our seasons are flipped in Australia so ours is long over! Enjoy yours for me!

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I would enjoy reading your comment - thanks so much for stopping by.