Feb. 13 was the date of my last entry here: what a lot has happened.  My mother turned 95.  I went to a John Burroughs (St. Louis - actually Ladue, MO - high school) gathering in Washington, DC.  A few days after I came back, took Mom to the doctor and she was hospitalized for pneumonia, and we learned she'd had a heart attack as well.  Spent a week in hospital with her, then home with hospice care, and on March 19, after what finally were peaceful days together, she slipped away quietly in her sleep.  So today, Mothers' Day, was a tough day for Dad and me.  We've been going to church regularly since Mom died (did not go before, not wanting to leave her) but both of us felt that that would be too hard today.  Dad slept most all day but enjoyed quiche for dinner with me.

We had a memorial service for Mom right here, a month after her death, when my brother was able to be here.  Wanted to have it here in her environment, to let people see her beautiful artwork that fills the walls.  We put up photo boards showing happy times throughout her life.  And guests saw the peony garden which I'd planted with Mom in mind, and which has been dressed up now as a memorial garden.  Photos of the memorial gathering are on my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150581397115405.666310.744610404

So there has been a lot to deal with in these last few months.  I've been getting to spring garden cleanup a bit late.  There is always some comfort in the renewal of life that spring brings, but I'm sad not to be able to bring all the beautiful flowers in to Mom any more.  I did take Mothers' Day peony bouquets to neighbors who kindly mow my roadside strips of land.  Sharing flowers is always a pleasure.

Gardening can be both therapeutic and exhausting, so I'm putting in some long days outside.  I got the indoor painting / touch ups done in time for the BBAV inspection in early April, but still have some exterior work to do.  The gardens are so eye-catching, the rest doesn't seem very worrying.

Guest bookings are picking up now, it looks like the rest of spring and early summer will be full and lively here, and that's a happy situation.  I'll get back to normal posting soon and talk about some of the other developments here and local events.  For now, I sign off, hoping friends far and wide have been able to enjoy good things this Mothers' Day.

Worst online shopping results ever! We ordered 8 boxes of Harry and David's usually deliciious pears to give to friends and neighbors and share with guests. Guaranteed for arrival by Christmas - December 24. Well, it is December 28 and we are still empty-handed. Such an embarrassment and a huge disappointment. Their explanation December 24? They have a new arrangement with FedEx to use SmartMail - if ever there were a misnomer. FedEx handed the boxes off to the post office somewhere in Maryland. Our mail comes out of Richmond, so there's no apparent sense to this. Given that FedEx made numerous stops here Dec. 23 and Dec. 24, we wished Harry and David had used normal, reliable FedEx delivery like other vendors. Amazon, WinterSilks, Gardeners' Supply, Duncraft - our orders placed even two days after the Harry and David order all arrived Wed-Fri, on or ahead of schedule. Called our post office today, Tuesday, December 28, and they have nothing. Pears are making no appearance these holidays, it seems.

Latest ever, just 5 days before Christmas! What a difference it makes to have the tree. Our ornaments: oyster shells, of course - what's a Chesapeake Bay tree without oyster shells? I've sprayed most of them with gold paint. Then sand dollars, all natural save the ribbon trim. Red apples, for my New York state of mind. Crosses and paper cutouts from Denmark. Santa on the Eiffel Tower and Santa on the Tower of Pisa, for fun and memories of many trips. And lots of musician-angels, for the season.

Finally went to get a Christmas tree today - very late, but no matter, the tree is as fresh as they get. One of the benefits of country living. We don't get our trees from a store lot, but rather Macey's Christmas Tree farm, just a couple miles away, on Stampers Bay Road. There are acres of white pine, Scotch pine (my choice), Canadian fir, Norway spruce, blue ice, Leyland cypress, all nicely lined up, and well spaced so they grow evenly. It can take me a while to choose my tree, there are so many beautiful ones, but once I'd made my selection, I could just let Macey's folks do the work. They cut the tree, then hauled it off on wheels to the stand where they shake the tree to get all the loose and dead needles and branches off. It's very effective. [The first photo shows them with my tree after shaking it.] Then the tree trunk is bored deeply enough to sit securely on the tree stand's spike. I asked for the bottom six inches of branches to be sawn off: no problem. Then onto a bed where the tree is quickly wrapped in netting, all snug and easy to transport.

Home and immediately onto the stand in the living room, warm water in the basin. I went with a smaller tree this year, just 6' - last year's was up to the ceiling. But it's nearly as wide as it is tall, and we think it's beautiful. I wouldn't consider getting a tree from anywhere else, as long as I'm here in Virginia. Oh, and what did we pay? $34 for that 6-footer. I know my city-dwelling friends will envy that.

It's been very hot again today and with Dad feeling very badly, I skipped mowing and stayed in. But now that the day is winding down, went out for a stroll to check on things. Filled some birdbaths and ran the hose out to fill the fountain. Gathered the last of the red currants and went on to collect some ripe black-raspberry type brambles; could only get to small, near berries as I'm running around barefoot. Can wait till the weekend to really collect, but will make a very small bit of jam later tonight. Found the dog trying to decide whether or not to snack on the squirrel he'd killed. Checked the fruit trees and was pleased to see there's hope for the apples and peaches: so what to treat them with to protect them? Perhaps Surround, again (kaolin spray, non-toxic, a physical barrier to pests); and soon, but the next two mornings, it's off to doctors with the folks, and just now there's a bit too much breeze to get started. Figs look like they'll have a good crop. Found mourning doves on the east side of the barn as usual, robins pecking around the north side, plovers in the grasses up the road. Came into the yard to check the linden blossoms: yes, they're opening, and full of all sorts of pollinators, from butterflies to bees, so many bees and so many types of them, it's hard to get close. The scent fills the air, but I wanted a small bunch to bring in to Mom, and finally found a handful of 'unoccupied' blossoms. Heard the frogs 'honking' near the fountain and the boxwoods. Saw the dog had brought his kill up to the yard, so called him in, to leave it. Found FedEx had come and gone leaving 2 boxes on the front benches. Turned the fountain hose off and came in to check on the folks: napping peacefully.

A sight that stays with me is the tall thick lavender by the parking area at Mougins, my favorite stop for dinner in the south of France, whether for Roger Verget's Le Moulin de Mougins or one of the many others neighboring it. On my first visit, when we experienced the thrill of dining at Le Moulin, and when I came away with herb jellies and other goodies from the shop, I was struck by that fantastic lavender, all in bloom, so beautiful and so fragrant, and for goodness' sake, it was just a public parking area. Now Le Moulin has been sold, I can't get away to the south of France in any case, but I thrill to being able to just step out my front door and harvest lavender right off the walk.

When in bloom, it's always full of bees and butterflies, but I can still manage to cut quite a bit without disturbing them. And I've just harvested some, and come inside to make little wreaths - for centerpieces or to ring candles - and bunches to put in vases or lay in drawers. Nice work if you can get it!

I learned from an Italian friend who visited that the scent is greatest before the flower buds open. Check it out when you get a chance, it's true. I'd always waited to collect the flowers. Now, I will gather unopened buds to dry and use for sachets. But when time gets away from me, I gather the flowers as I've just done, and still enjoy their look and scent, even though I now know it's not the most intense it can be.