Monday, June 9, 2014

Mondays seem so full of promise, don't they?

It’s Monday. Maybe because I’m retired, Mondays are mostly quiet, a bit of a break from the flurry of activity weekends usually bring. It’s a great day to map out my week so I can be ready for a bit of entertaining next Saturday...nothing big, but still, I want everything sparkling and tidy. Ok, maybe tidy will have to do.

Don’t get me wrong, I’d love it to sparkle too, it’s just that I can’t envision getting it all done because I ache from weeding and mulching and the thought of so much more left to do. Sometimes I wonder if I really look like a tortoise as I plod and crawl across each garden, tugging a straggling weed here or preening a plant there, shaking out mulch stuck between leaf and stem. I sure seem to move like one. I'm oh-so-grateful that Tim and my son, Alan, spent the day with me Saturday concentrating on this daunting chore.

Perhaps next year our schedule—and Mother Nature’s too—will be more conducive to early mulching chores, so we can finish long before our perennials sprout. You see, we traveled to Sorrento, Italy in April this year. It was worth the slip in our garden maintenance, of course, but we’re paying the price now with weeds run amok. That’s why this morning I’m drinking Lapsang souchong tea: its smoky, hearty flavor seems to promise extra strength for the gardening tasks that await. Ever try it?


Note to self: Hurry and finish essential gardening chores: quilting projects await!

This is an appliquéd frog square from the “Infrognito” quilt I made and donated to our community
college raffle (2013). 
It's also my “Inspiration” to begin another for Tim, who really wanted that one; 
but that, my friends, is a story for another day.

Do you sew or quilt?







22 comments:

Unknown said...

Hello from Spain: I do not sew. I really like creations. The frog is fabulous. Great job. For me Monday begins a week of activity. How fortunate that your Monday is quiet. Keep in touch

Susan said...

Hello Dear Vickie:

The froggie on the quilt is darling. I neither sew nor quilt but admire other peoples' talents in these areas.

Mondays, for me, during the school year, mean 5:30 a.m. rises and caring for a little one from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. But it is pure joy! Today, however, with dark skies and rain, it sure would have been nice to snuggle down under the sheets and sleep a couple more hours. ha!

Take care and have a good day. No mulching in the rain! Susan

Unknown said...

Hi Marta, You are very creative even without sewing! Glad you liked the frog too. ;-)

Unknown said...

Morning, Susan, Wow, you are an early bird. Don't you love being up before the world seems to awaken? Glad you like Mr. Frog!

Might do some light gardening later; actually I prefer working in the rain over having the sun beating down on my English complexion!

Wishes for a lovely Monday to you!

Anonymous said...

Wow, a trip to Italy! That is one place that is on my "must visit before I die" list. I bet you took hundreds of pictures.

Hope your week is grand!

Musings, Tea, and Me said...

Patti, It may surprise you to hear I didn't take any photos in Italy! Will have to rely on my new-found friends to share theirs (and plan to write a blog about it). Is there ever enough time to do all we hope to do? I hope you get to travel there!

Bookie said...

I tried Lapsang once and did not like it. I need to try again. The smoke taste was so strong in mine that I could not drink it. Another brand on another day might be different. This morning it is so dark again like the skies will open which they are supposed to do by afternoon. Since it was not raining, I wiped off chair and carried out the tea pot. At 60 degrees it was comfy in flannel robe but still a little bit of a downer under dark skies. The new pecan tea tasted a lot like some I have had called Snickerdoodle. It was okay but not a favorite. I am not into too many dessert type teas...my favorite is a strong, earthy black tea. Continue to have a good Monday where you are.

Musings, Tea, and Me said...

Hi Bookie, I'm with you: my fav is also a strong black. I like the Lapsang but not steeped for very long....some brands can be awful! Enjoy your day....and tea!

Elephant's Child said...

I hear you. How I hear you. The weeds are going gang-busters here and all of my bones ache as I try and wrestle the garden into submission. And I still have several hundred spring bulbs yet to put in. And they are sprouting.
When it is light I will be back in the garden. Sadly, moving slower than the weeds grow.
Love Lapsang - though one of my brothers says it is poison.

Musings, Tea, and Me said...

Hi EC (hope you don't mind my nickname? My hands are like clubs after working this morning and after lunch on our garden chores!)

You made me laugh out loud about moving slower than the weeds grow, and again about your brother's take on Lapsang! So funny. Ah, but what would we do without our gardens?! Take it easy and enjoy the ride. ;-)

Elephant's Child said...

I am perfectly happy to answer to EC. One of the joys of the garden is that by the time things bloom the blood, sweat and tears I have expended are a distant memory.

Musings, Tea, and Me said...

So true, EC! We'e had rain most of the day, drizzle with a light downpour here and there. I always find it easier to work in this sort of weather vs the heat or direct sun...we're making progress. Sometimes I ask myself why I had to have so many curvy lines to outline our various gardens....oh the edging is a back-breaker!

Valerie said...

Hi Vickie,
What a beautiful little frog. =) I have tried my hand at quilting. Nothing major yet...but teaching myself and enjoying it. =) I know what you mean about the gardening and weeding. It does a number on my joints every time. But there is nothing quite like getting out in dirt and soaking up the sunshine. Thank you so much for visiting my lil' blog and following along! Blessings and Sunshine, Valerie

Red Rose Alley said...

My mom used to sew all my clothes growing up, and she even made my wedding dress, which I showed in recent post. I think it's such a talent when one can sew. You went to Italy in April......how wonderful! I hope to go there someday. I love your frog quilt, and how nice that you donated it to the college.

Have a happy week.

~Sheri

Musings, Tea, and Me said...

Hi Valerie, Glad we met! Thanks for your lovely note about the frog, too. I'm trying to entice myself back into my sewing room after a long break. But first, the garden work! We love it despite all the aches and pains. Not sure I'm posting tomorrow but will see how time goes. Talk to you soon, Vickie

Musings, Tea, and Me said...

Hi Sheri, Thanks for visiting and glad you enjoyed my frog quilt. Sounds like your mom was quite talented! I'll visit your blog and find your wedding dress too....look forward to more visits. Vickie

Anonymous said...

Hi Vickie - No, I don't quilt, and my sewing skills are, um, limited (I'm being kind to myself here). To further embarrass myself, I'm a horrible gardener, too! I kill most indoor plants (though I have a couple that like me and have kept going for almost two years!), and for outdoors I usually choose things that are considered too hardy to screw up, like daylilies and Knock-out roses. Those babies grow like crazy and look awesome, and I'm grateful because they make my yard look nice in spite of me. :)

Musings, Tea, and Me said...

Hi Lisa, Nice to hear from you. You make me laugh!

Paulette said...

Love the little appliqued frog! I do sew and quilt, though I feel like a bit of a slacker this past month. Today I'll finish a quilt (finally) and give it to its new owner tomorrow. She'll swap me for the fabric to start another one. And "sew" it goes!

Musings, Tea, and Me said...

Hi P.,
Thanks for stopping by and for the compliment! Can't wait to see your quilt. Makes you feel good to give it to someone, doesn't it? Vickie

Rose said...

Oh, Frog is so cute...hoping to see more quilting on your blog.

Musings, Tea, and Me said...

Thanks, Rose! I need to get back to my sewing room....am missing my daily dose of serenity (almost always it is serene, anyway).