“To know fully even one field or one land is a lifetime’s experience. In the world of poetic experience it is depth that counts, not width. A gap in a hedge, a smooth rock surfacing a narrow lane, a view of a woody meadow, the stream at the junction of four small fields – these are as much as a man can fully experience.”
– Patrick Kavanagh
This morning, after throwing a load of laundry in the washing machine, and vacuuming the house, I grabbed my camera and called the cats. During the week a couple of rain showers helped to increase the incredible beauty and variety of flowers blooming at the moment. Instead of what I usually do, fiddling to refine each photograph and searching for the perfect quote, I decided to stick to the unedited version of the best pictures I took this morning. The day is far too beautiful to spend indoors, so I’m pouring a glass of crisp white wine, and am heading outside to just sit and enjoy this warm spring afternoon. Join me.
Portuguese Words:
flores – flowers
vinho branco – white wine
Written by: Jolandi
Absolutely gorgeous. Nature in all its glory.
Indeed, Terri. I do think Spring has a very special charm. – Jolandi
What a good idea, going outside to enjoy a spring day! I tend to get so focused on household tasks (because heaven forfend one should be “unproductive”) that I forget to slip out at least once during the day to see what’s blooming in the garden. As a result, I missed out on the tulips and camassia I planted last year. In my defense, our spring started with high winds and a sudden dip in temperatures. It’s now 80 degrees F. and everything looks like a bunch of twigs stuck in the ground. I had to take it on faith from my neighbors that my garden looked “wonderful” for a week!
I hope your spring lasts for a while, and you get many more days of afternoon wine and playing with cats.
I too hoppe that I will get many more chances for an afternoon glass of wine and enjoying the company of the cats. They do tend to walk with me when I go for walks on the land, and love to hang around when I work outside, which I love. Although I long for summer, I should enjoy these Spring days, as summers here are dry and hot.
What a pity you missed your garden looking ‘wonderful’. AND that your Spring was gone before it actually arrived. Oh the curse of feeling guilty when we are ‘unproductive’!! – Jolandi
Oh yes, absolutely beautiful. Nothing to edit here. Enjoy your spring and cin cin!
Thanks, Manja. I hope you are also enjoying your spring and regularly relaxes with a glass of chilled wine. – Jolandi
A crisp white wine and beautiful spring flowers to drink in as well – what a combo!
An excellent combo, indeed, Lex.
I had a good giggle as a friend of mine called me from California the moment she saw my blog post. I told her I’m really sitting with a glass of white wine in my hand outside – I didn’t make it up. A good thing I took time out, as the last two days involved a lot of physical labour. – Jolandi
What a glorious collection of flowers! It must look heavenly where you are!
Love and best wishes, Clare x
It does, Clare. And the colour of the lavender seems to just intensify with time. It really is rather soothing for the soul.
Hope your spring is beautiful too, although I imagine that it will take a bit longer perhaps for you to have warmer weather.
The colour and vibrancy of spring are leaping off the page to me – no editing needed. Saúde (I think, that’s right, according to Dr Goggle).
Spring really is a gorgeous time of the year, Gwen.
Thank you for sharing your floral beauty and bounty, Jolandi.
A pleasure, Tanja. I hope you too are enjoying your version of what Spring has to offer.
I love this post where the gorgeous assortment of flowers are the stars. Cheers to your decision for staying outside with a nice glass of wine!
Sometimes one just has to go against that little voice rambling off a list of things to do. 😉
It was a rejuvenating choice, Caroline, I’m so happy I did it. – Jolandi
Hello Jolandi,
My apologies for being behind on my favorite blogs yet again. I have missed your beautiful writing and photography so it was a real joy to read this! I too, am so glad you decided to enjoy and take in the beauty around you on this day. All our best to you and Michael as always.
Ah, dearest Takami, please do not apologise. These days I post every Sunday, which is more than I did in the past, so I definitely don’t expect everyone to keep up with it. I know how busy life can be, which makes it difficult to keep up with my favourite blogs too. I hope spring in Japan is beautiful this year. May your days be blessed and filled with joy. Big hug. – Jolandi
As others said, when there is a natural display as brilliant as this, editing is not needed. You included SO many flowers – all so lovely. And I am putting them all together in my mind on the landscape to try and join you properly. You must have felt like you were on a treasure hunt, looking for the little gifts scattered around. So sweet that your cats walk with you. This is not the same, but my chickens do that (my cat would rather stay on the deck and nap), and follow me happily through the grass when I’m outside wandering. It’s quite endearing. I agree that you made a great choice. ~Crystal
It was exactly like a treasure hunt, Crystal. Such fun. I was surprised at the variety of flowers. They follow one another in such an interesting succession, and I still discover new ones all the time. What a glorious gift from nature. – Jolandi
Oh! And I forgot to say how much I love this: “To know fully even one field or one land is a lifetime’s experience.”
Ah, I love that quote a lot too. I’m a collector of quotes and am forever looking for one that is a perfect fit for whatever I’m writing about.
Yes, we mortared the cleaned stones to the old ones to more or less get a flat layer, before using the laser level to lay the first level of bricks. Both the wells on the land was built the same way on the inside, with some of the rocks so immense that we wonder how they managed to do it. Sadly we are planning to cap (cover) the walls, as we want to use it for irrigation, and that way we will prevent algae to grow.
How fascinating that you learned the art of dry stone walling. I think we must import you to come fix fallen patches of our dry stone walls. We have quite a couple on the land and they are not only gorgeous, but is part of the reason we bought the land, as they give so much character. It is fast becoming a lost art here. – Jolandi