Friday, May 19, 2017

Simple Pleasures of May

The French are well known for taking time to enjoy the simple pleasures of life 
whether it's food, family, home or garden.


My simple pleasure? 
Stepping outside in the early morning, a cup of steaming coffee in hand, 
still in my pj's and robe, to stroll around the garden. With my sheepskin slippers quickly getting soaked with dew, I sip my coffee as I listen to the birds waking up around me.

(This photo, which shows the cottage garden, was taken before I created Cafe' Bleu in the corner).
If you missed that post, here's a link... Cafe Bleu Reveal.


As the sun peeks over my rooftop, I love to see what has emerged overnight --
a peony bud about ready to burst open or a daffodil in full bloom.
This time of year everything changes so quickly, I can almost watch it grow.


Have the pansies I potted a few days ago made it 
through the harsh weather we've been having lately?
Yes! They're fine but, sadly, my bleeding hearts and hostas
took a beating in the latest hail storm. 


Has my little dog damaged anything in her enthusiastic patrol of the yard 
or has she found a new bed for an afternoon nap?


Perhaps I'll hear the steady drone of a small plane overhead. 
I see the same plane fly directly over my garden every day at the same time. 
It's probably some kind of business commuter plane 
but I like to imagine it's something more romantic.

Do you remember the plane in Out of Africa that flew over Karen's farm 
and dipped its wings in a friendly wave? Wasn't that was Robert Redford in the plane?



Or the plane to Lisbon in Casablanca cloaked by heavy fog as Rick said goodbye to Ilsa?


Maybe my little plane is searching for something or someone. 
In any case, I look forward to seeing it fly over every morning.

Still waiting for Robert Redford to fly by and say good morning.
Or maybe wash my hair. Ha!


Early mornings in the garden are a special time when it's quiet and dreamy. 


I might hear an occasional car door close as neighbors head off to work 
or squirrels clawing the fence as they chase each other back and forth.


But, usually, it's a time for reflection and planning my day.


The French have the right idea . . .
slow down and notice the simple pleasures of life in the month of May
whether it's a garden filled with birdsong, a warm croissant with hot coffee, or a cold dog nose.

P.S.
Yesterday Colorado got slammed with a late-season snowstorm
(more than three feet in the mountains)!
Here in Denver, we received only a few inches of the heavy, wet stuff.
Still, I had to race around, bringing all my potted plants inside.
So my new Simple Pleasure of May is
reading a good book in front of the fire! 

***

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30 comments:

  1. Lovely garden pics! Between the hail storm from hell and soggy snow yesterday, May hasn't been the gentle spring month we normally receive. The good news though is the peonies and poppies are just starting so it gives us something to look forward to enjoying. Happy weekend!

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    1. Thanks Monika. Let's hope the nasty weather is behind us. I'm ready for summer. Hope your garden is surviving well. Hugs, Pat

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  2. Enjoyed my visit for sure! Your morning sounds wonderful, here You would not dare to walk the gardens until the sun has been out for a while...we have mosquitoes that are huge and the bites are terrible. Love your imagination mine tends to spiels a bit out of control but that's what makes life so fun and interesting, don't know where I would be without it. Wondering if you ever got to travel to France? Seems like a place I may want to live beautiful, slow paced and friendly Enjoy your day! Lisa@ Sweet Tea N' Salty Air

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    1. Thanks Lisa. Fortunately, we have bats in the neighborhood that keep the mosquitoes at bay. Yes, I've been lucky to visit France a few times, and most recently, went to Provence which I absolutely adored. It would be perfect if I could just speak French. Hope you have a wonderful week. Hugs, Pat

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  3. What a wonderful dreamy post, thanks.

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  4. Love this post. Your garden is beautiful, so colorful. Enjoy your mornings and hve a great week end.
    Marilyn

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    1. Thank you Marilyn. I hope you'll visit again once it stops raining and hailing and snowing and I can plant some annuals! Hugs, Pat

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  5. I love your garden. Wonderful photos of simple yet wonderful pleasures.

    Have a great weekend ~ FlowerLady

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    1. Thank you so much Lorraine. I'm assuming, from your name, that you also enjoy flowers. So happy days in your garden. Hugs, Pat

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  6. What a charming morning, great post! Enjoyed seeing your garden, glad the weather spared your pansies.

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    1. Thanks Carole! So glad you enjoyed visiting my garden. We had a terrific windstorm tonight so I wonder what effect that will have in the garden in the morning. Have a great week. Pat

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  7. I love early mornings in the garden! Yours sound so relaxing. Love all your pretty garden pics. I missed your post on Cafe Bleu so I'm going to pop over and check it out. But your weather; ugh. This southern girl would not be able to handle it! Enjoy your cozy fire!

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    1. Thanks so much Cecilia. I'm glad you hopped over to Cafe Bleu. Just painted a bistro chair blue so it continues to evolve.Hope you have a wonderful week. Hugs, Pat

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  8. Your morning does sound very relaxing. My mornings have been planting. I ran out of flowers this morning. We held off buying as we didn't know if we were going to be here and then the weather got nasty. Loved the blog and the way you can capture a photo that someone else may not have even noticed. The shadow on the wall. Love it.

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    1. Thanks Jan! We haven't been able to plant any annuals--too cold, too wet, too windy. Did I mention it's too cold? Supposed to warm up end of this week, then I'm off to the nursery. Hope your flowers do well. Love and hugs, Pat

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  9. You do know that if Robert Redford drops a wing your way, you will have a stream of blog visitors, eager to sit in your beautiful garden every morning with you! Just saying! (And it IS so lovely!) ~jeanie

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    1. Thanks Jeanie. I'll be sure to announce when Robert R. makes an appearance! Hugs, Pat

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  10. Sounds like a wonderful morning! Your garden is so beautiful. It's easy to see why enjoying it is one of your favorite parts of May!

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    1. Thank you Andrea. When it's nice in the garden, I don't even think about decorating inside. Hope you enjoy the rest of May. Hugs, Pat

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  11. How I love "Out of Africa" and that music they played when plane going over water. Never get tired of that movie. Read the book and pictured people in movie while reading.
    We live on other side of Rockies, the western slope as they call it in Grand Junction. We live few miles west out in rural area, not a city person.
    Love your photos and got chuckle from squirrel on fence. Love hearing about your morning. No snow here but lots of rain and colder again. Phooey. Got snow on Aug. 21, 1992 when we lived in MT.
    Have wonderful week, hopefully warmer on your side too.

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    1. Oh, me too! I've seen the movie how many times and have the CD that I play over and over every time I go on a road trip. I could really relate to that story and Robert Redford is a bonus! Hope you're having a good spring on the western slope. Hugs, Pat

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  12. Early morning a garden stroll is always lovely. I can see it is beautiful and relaxing. Your sweet dog looks totally comfy. Thanks for sharing your lovely post at Dishing It & Digging It.

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    1. Thanks Linda! Roxy always seems to find the best beds for a nap. Pat

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  13. What a lovely garden. It is so hard to believe that some people are still getting some snow. We have had a chilly, wet spring, but no snow. Let's hope that the corner is turning toward warmer days ahead.

    Yael from Home Gardn Diggers

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    1. Thanks Yael! I thought we were past the yucky weather but we just had an intense thunderstorm/hail. Fortunately, I think my plants were unscathed. Warmer days ahead! Hugs, Pat

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  14. I have a morning ritual of strolling the garden as well. It certainly does wonders for my soul! As you mentioned, this time of year it is ever changing. Just yesterday I had an orange and red poppy that surprised me on my morning stroll. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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    1. On my morning stroll I always seem to see five more things I need to do in the garden but I'm definitely ready for it. Your poppy sounds beautiful! Hugs, Pat

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  15. Your weather is definitely crazier than ours here in upstate NY. It's practically June and you had a snowstorm? Wow. I'm glad we got to enjoy your garden before your bout of bad weather, Pat. Thanks for linking up with Vintage Charm :)

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  16. Thank you for sharing at TFT. Pinned and featured xo

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