After the deluge of a Spring that we’ve had, it is finally sunny and warm today. My tomatoes are standing tall with their leaves turned upwards, thanking the heavens for the warmth.
My spirit is sunny today too, if you’ll pardon the metaphor. And I think it’s because I decided I’ve had enough of the “should’s in my life. Seriously, the shoulds in my brain are like this big: SHOULD!
whereas the other words in my brain are like this big: joy, beauty, happiness, serene, peace, excitement, fun, silly, live it up, giddy with pleasure …
Somehow I get the concept of God being the great discipliner for our own good, but I don’t get the concept of God wanting me to have fun.
That’s weird though, because I don’t just desire my children’s moral growth, I also want them to have fun. In equal measure even! So clearly something is off in my perception of what life is supposed to be about.
Today I decided to live it up. Do the things I like. Be giddy with pleasure! And wouldn’t you know the day started with my physical therapist appointment turning out to be nothing more than a (very good) back massage. Okay, yes! This is headed in the right direction.
So these are my happy ordinary things of today (following the massage).
First we got our new old piano tuned. It’s a Pleyel from 1890. Usually the tuner won’t tune anything that has a wooden board as a base, but ours is in such good condition he accepted the job. We just have to replace some of the pegs (at 20€ a pop) (cough). And the classical sheet music is on the way, including a beginner book for the kids so they will stop playing the same infernal rhyme over and over again.
I also went out to explore the garden that I’ve been shunning due to pouring rain and freezing hail. @OpinionsToGo tweeted that the pictures on my blog make it look like I live in a calendar. Let me say thank you to that OTG, and raise you a few more. (She is a great friend to follow on twitter, by the way).
My other iris is out.
And the lavender is just starting to bloom (hello little golden beetle).
My tea roses are so purty,
and the roses over the well make up in beauty what they lack in scent.
Remember this back yard a mere couple of months ago? (taken March 13)
Look now.
Can you believe the difference? I Know. Right?
All this rain has been so good for the strawberries. I’m actually making jam this year with my friend Renata.
And here are the apricots (the smaller tree is finally producing a harvest!),
the baby bamboo, which I feared would never grow
the plums
and even my kiwi (still childless, but growing beautifully).
After twelve years of marriage, my stoic husband and I discovered that he’s actually happier being around people, while social butterfly me is actually happier being alone. We chuckle over the fact that we’re just now discovering that he’s the extrovert in the family and I’m the introvert.
As an introvert, time alone in the garden repairs my soul; and I would never have pegged myself for a gardener either.
Lest you think I’ve got nothing else going on and lead a sad and lonely life, I should add that I am happiest being alone when I know that my family and friends are not far off and that the kids will soon descend upon me, covering me with chocolate kisses. That way the solitary moments are precious and not oppressive.
My husband is working from home exceptionally today, and we had lunch together: salad with goat cheese and dijon mustard dressing.
Oh, and leftover gluten-free spaghetti bolognaise.
We sat down at the quiet table and Sir exclaimed, “Oh! Nice!” when he saw the meal. (He says that every time no matter what I make).
I laughed and said, “I don’t know what I would do if you didn’t say that each time I put something in front of you. It warms my heart.”
He responded with a wink, “It warms my belly.”
Magnificent ordinariness.
You, my dear, have got to write a book and, fill it with your beautiful photos and lovely prose. And, what can I say about your back yard…MAGIC!
How sweet of you to mention me in your post.