Lilac Perfume

One common theme of our little yard is the lilac bushes. They reside in all four corners of the property, spewing a heavenly perfume that delights every nature enthusiast. Their magic is short-lived, just a few weeks in May to enjoy and capture with the camera. This is why I cherish them even more.

Here we are at the far end of May, Memorial Day weekend and they are blossoming to greet us. Our local town Lisbon hosts an annual Lilac Festival as all purple and pink lilac bushes in town bloom to beautify every street and lane.

 

This lilac bush is a miracle! A few years ago the snowplow brutally clipped the original big bush and just a sprig remained. My husband Tom nursed it back to life and here it thrives to remind us that once in awhile tragedy can eventually lead to rebirth and growth.

As lilac perfume wafts through the air and grown grass encompasses it in a rich green, I thank God for all the vibrant color in my world. The red geraniums hang out in my window boxes as well as the white draping bicopa. Deep purple petunias add a pop of color. Glancing around my yard various shades of the rainbow calm me. Their beauty amazes me and draws me back to nature when I really need it!

 

Lilac perfume continues to permeate our air and thrills the bees and insects. As the weather warms up and all the creatures and insects live happily around us, I thank God for this life here. I can’t imagine not having all this beauty to enjoy! Remaining grateful for the season, I pray for all the plants, flowers and creatures to thrive and for me to follow suit.

Happy days to you all, in whatever season you are in. Embrace the beauty all around you, for acknowledging it can make life so much sweeter!

 

All My Best,

Heart and Soul

A Spring Morn

 

It’s a spring morning in New Hampshire. As I rise the wood floor boards are freezing to touch. Goosebumps spring through me as I glance out the bedroom window.An emerging sun welcomes my rising from a deep slumber. It warms the earth as robins and chickadees fly all about the yard.

A hot cup of coffee and a watch outside begins the day. Chipmunks already are at their daily routine skittering all over the front lawn. One has made a hole in one place where I tripped the other day. I’m not sure what Tom will do with it or will he leave it?

 

As the day warms I shed blankets and turn off the electric heaters. It’s been about two weeks since we’ve had a stove fire. It actually is a luxury for Tom not to haul wood to the house and kindle a fire so early. The house is warm enough, as the day warms up to the 60’s and lasts until the night cools off. Our heating season is coming to an end besides a sporadic wood fire on chilly June mornings.

 

Nearby yards host delicate daffodils and tulips, springing their rich yellow and pink colors, a beautiful combination with the rich green grass hue. I long to have a daffodil and tulip garden and add it to my yard wish list for coming years.

 

Tom trimmed our sprawling apple tree in the back yard. It looks so much better with branches cut back. Bumblebees fly from blossom to blossom, a good sign for my upcoming garden growth. Gotta have those bees!

 

Just the other day I saw my first hummingbird on a cherry tree branch. It must have been visiting the blossoms. My feeder is up now and I’ve spied the little guy already making a visit for a sugary drink.

 

As this beautiful day emerges with all the possibilities of nature, I remain extremely grateful for this country life. Despite the worries and anxiety of everyday living and an ending school year, I find this quiet yard a haven from it all. It’s a quaint refuge where I can gather my thoughts and center my mind as birds chirp in the background. I can only hope that you all find this harmony in a corner of your world. If you have this, grasp it with all your might and indulge in its elements. It’s the best and cheapest therapy around and will prepare you for what you have to face in the near future.

All My Best,

Heart and Soul

May Days

 

The sun’s powerful rays

warm and heal

our corner of the world!

Returned birds soar

amid clear blue skies.

 

 

 

A gaggle of geese gingerly trek

across a nearby clearing.

Dancing deer cross roads and flick

their whitetails for all to see.

 

 

A flock of eager turkeys

squawk and invade the yard

as the Tom struts with confidence

unmatched,

showing off for

gathering hens.

 

.

 

Our pond beautifully springs to

life once again, sprouting

tranquil yellow

flowers.

The pond plunges into the brook,

swirling and bubbling,

emitting sounds of peace.

 

 

Welcome

mud caked driveways

and open windows

with an

an inhale of  fresh air!

 

It’s finally spring in

this neck of woods!

I’m happy that I can start walking again and being outside more

that spring is here.

I feel like I’ve been cooped up for too long

and it’s time for a release in nature and a dose of the earth.

I hope this post finds you all thriving and loving every moment of May! 

All my Best,

Heart and Soul

 

“Earning Your Keep”

 

I think most writers discover inspiration all around them…in nature’s beauty, in the eyes of their loves, in magical books and movies that take your breath away, to name a few. I watched a movie last night on Hulu, Tumbledown with Jason Sudeikis and a quote struck me so much that I thought about it all night. The female character was looking out over a frozen lake in April set in Maine and her prolific words touched my every being. ” I love living in a place where you have to earn your keep.”

 

 

What does that really mean? I know it was a reference to  living in New England. It can be brutal here with harsh weather with loads of snow and little sun many months of the year to the point of driving many people south for a reprieve. Staying here in this sometimes unforgiving land is”earning your keep.”You have to work hard. Live hard. Love with all your being. You have to accept the seasons and love the changes that are thrust upon you.

 

 

In spring the hearty tulips emerge in patches of snow. Newly arriving robins flutter and fly while frosty snow covers the ground. That’s not what I visualize when I think of spring…yet that’s the reality here.

 

In summer the warmth and pleasant temperatures take over, a season when towns fill up  with returning snowbirds. Small hamlets come to life as economies thrive once again, counting on the hot sunshine, the cool walks in the woods and the refreshing dips in the lake that appeal to any visitor and resident.

 

The crisp fall presence is a prelude of winter but a lingering glimpse of summer. Trees are an outstanding canvas of golden, pinks, bright yellows and rich reds. Mountains call to you to explore and experience the surreal peace on the way to the top.

 

Beautiful yet unforgiving winter brings sparkling whites, glistening sheets of ice and frigid air….testing your endurance. It’s the season your will must be steady and strong. You accept the harsh reality because the splendor and beauty can be humbling yet breath-taking.

 

When I think of living in New England, I think of “earning your keep”. It takes a strong-willed person to not only stick it out, but to love all the seasons for their unique qualities. We choose to stay, to live and love the changes the seasons hand us. That’s what a New Englander does….earns his keep and loves every minute of it!

 

The older I become the more my bones ache ( possibly arthritis) and my patience with the cold waivers at times. With that said, I still love living in the north. It’s all I know and my husband as well…both of us have lived in New England all our lives and I foresee that’s the way it will always be. 

Happy Weekend to you all!

All My Best,

Heart and Soul

Little Chippy ( A Sign of Spring)

 

This is a photo of last summer when the grass turns a rich melon green and the bushes thrive by our pond.

Although patches of snow remain

little chippy ventures out on the surface

up on his hind legs.

He soaks up the sun,

absorbing its goodness

as I do.

This afternoon I sat out on our front steps and let the sun penetrate my skin.

It had been too long

and I think chippy chipmunk would agree with that!

Chittering,

chattering

he scoots down

the hole in the mound of snow

to comfort

and insulated warmth.

With his presence and my first sighting of

two robins in a nearby tree, I’m confident

to say that spring is here.

I’m extremely grateful for this!

 

I wish I had a photo of this little guy but he’s much too fast for me!  It’s a blessing  that the sun is warm and the wind whipping today, together melting the few patches of snow.

God Bless you all.

All My Best,

Heart and Soul

Back and Forth

 

Written on an old tattered notebook page

First Draft, 1992

 

Windshield wipers scrape

BACK AND FORTH

Intense rain splatters

pitter

patter

on the windshield

Monstrous storm clouds hover

while a deluge of showers

clouds my vision

Cold rushes sweep

through the  inching vehicle

as the windshield wipers chime

BACK AND FORTH

Like a tune on an old record player

Constant

Unchanging

yet beautiful,

showers of rain

pitter

patter

BACK AND FORTH

 

 

What do you think of my poem from long ago? 

All My Best,

Heart and Soul 💕

March Days

In March I open all the windows on warm days and breathe in fresh air in all my rooms. This month I’ve done it a couple of times so far. Refreshing!

 

Usually this month I continue planning and sketching my garden! This season I’m hoping for beets, corn, big leafed spinach and much more! I can’t wait! Check my blog in June and July for updates!

 

In March my mom celebrates her birthday. I usually take her out to lunch or visit her house. It’s also  special because her father, my maternal Grampa Gould’s birthday was just a few days before hers. Every March I’m reminded of that and what a funny good person he was! ( I have fond memories of watching GunSmoke with him, he loved westerns!) Does anyone remember GunSmoke?

 

 

Sometimes  the snow melts in March and grass comes into view once again! Spring birds reappear and start their melody. I hear them upon waking from a slumber and thank God for the gift of spring! Other times snow gracefully blankets every inch of the ground. This year we had a few days of melting weather and then Mother Nature immersed us right back into winter with loads of snow! We’ve had three Nor’easters in a matter of ten days! Spring doesn’t seem close…but the good news is it is. ( I hope)

 

March means St. Patrick’s day! Although I’m Irish my family never really made a hoopla of the holiday. For us, St. Paddy’s day means a cooked corned beef in the crock pot. My friend Marlene is a St. Paddy’s day baby….what a day to celebrate!

Last of all in our part of the world, March is the arrival of spring! We host a long winter every year and the warmer days are longer and so welcomed. It truly is a God-given gift to experience.

What does March mean to you? I would love to hear your thoughts!

All My Best,

Heart and Soul ❤☘

Tall Pine

A side glance at tall pine to the right during the fall season. 

Tall pine thriving during a snow storm. What a beauty!

 

 

Tall pine majestically towers over our yard

magically scattering pine needles upon the grass and in the garden.

It’s the last of the neighborhood kind…

except one other

several hundred feet up the road.

Perhaps it’s guarded for a hundred years

and seen families come and go!

If it could murmur our stories

what would it share of us all?

It’s weathered the storms and treacherous winds,

constantly shedding limbs but still remains mighty!

In spring and summer it scatters needles here and there.

Bold frosty winter coaxes pine to  rest

as it holds heaps of snow

upon its branches.

 

Our home was once called ” the Pines” ,

where these giant trees encompassed the acres,

four bold beauties just in our front view.

 

Will Tall Pine remain while we live and love here?

Will it be struck down in front

of our bewildered eyes?

We just don’t know it’s fate!

In the meantime we look up at it

and revel in it’s enormous beauty and stature.

It deserves this place,

a sacred spot on our land

and in our hearts.

 

All My Best,

Heart and Soul ❤

 

 

Rhubarb Custard Bars

Shared from thelocalbeet.com

 

 

Recently I read a post from Plainsimplelivingblog.wordpress.com . The author’s post was focused on rhubarb and how many rhubarb recipes are riddled with sugar. It brought me back in time…years ago when the boys were little and Tom took Dylan and his dad to Maine for a special fishing trip. I made rhubarb custard bars to welcome them home. I remember vaguely that the recipe had sugar but wasn’t overly sweet.

 

 

 

 

It was early spring, in May and the rhubarb patch was thriving and ready to pick. I picked the smaller stalks, as they were deep red and I knew were rich in flavor. I stumbled upon a recipe online and decided to surprise Tom with a yummy dessert.

 

 

 

Here is the recipe on the link Rhubarb Custard Bars

 

I made so long ago and I believe that within a day or two, they were long gone but not forgotten. What I love about this recipe is the subtle orange juice sweetener. It does have quite a bit sugar but you could experiment with it to find a balance that would work.

 

 

 

 

Hopefully your growing rhubarb hasn’t gone to seed so that you can try this! If you try baking these, let me know if you enjoyed them or if you cut the sugar and your results.

All My Best,

Heart and Soul ❤

Lilac Beauty

 

A Lilac beauty…

stands in a pristine state.

It’s glorious perfume is divine.

Purple petals open to the sun.

Clusters of a grape tinge,

are immersed in a sea of green.

So lovely and delicate!

Early June days commence

as beautiful lilacs fade away.

Happy June days to all!

All My Best,

Heart and Soul ❤