The Third Act

stragglers

Just a few more images from Wyoming back in September.  Fomapan400 in the Holga...

 

 

 

 

 

camellia sinensis

I have a tea plant growing by my window.  In fall it produces the most delightful, fragrant little blooms.  The bees love it.  It has grown a bit larger than intended where it now lives.  I'll give it a bit of pruning back soon.  Then come spring, it'll put out new leaves, which I'll pluck and dry.  I did this last spring and made my own green tea.  Honestly, I don't remember exactly how I did that...I know there's an oxidation step even for the least processed kind of tea.  Or maybe not...I don't quite remember.  In any case, I know I dried the leaves.  Believe it or not, they do make a lovely brew...subtle, vegetal and sweet.  And they're so pretty to watch infuse, especially in the winter light.

 

 

 

 

 

the last Monday in January

Cool and sunny.  

 

 

 

 

Sunday

It's a quiet, dark, winter evening...

 

 

 

 

April in January?

It's very odd for the temperature to be in the mid 70's and the air so humid in January.  I admit...I'm not a fan of this incongruence.  But it is what it is.

The hellebore are putting up blossom clusters and a few open flowers.  All the little wild daffodil sprouts have pushed out of the ground as well.  The latter, however, usually remain in stasis for a month or so without actually blooming.

The garden is on my mind, as well as many other things...both good and not good.  The world, you know?  It can make the heart heavy.

 

 

 

 

 

Scrabble

For the past couple years, two of my friends and I have been getting together to play Scrabble on Wednesdays.  It's not every Wednesday because we all have lives that sometimes interrupt the pattern.  But it's most.  And we rotate which house we meet at in a very unstructured way, just volunteering however it might be convenient.  We talk about our lives, politics, arts, gardening...the whole shebang.  And we play the game, maybe have some snacks.  This has been one of the loveliest developments in my life here in Richmond.  It's simple, yet profoundly connecting at the same time.

When we first started meeting up for this, it had been decades since I last played Scrabble.  I lost...and badly...most games.  But over time I've gotten better and even won a few times.  Honestly, I'm not a very competitive person, so a win for me is just icing on the cake!

 

 

 

a little bit of gardening

The temps are warming.  Today was the low 50s, which was rather perfect for tackling the first round of pruning.  I managed to get the muscadine and two climbing roses cut back, as well as the container of St. John's wort.  Then, quite unintentionally, I moved on to the invasive greenery (not sure what it is) that always grows through the fence from the neighbor's yard into mine.  I have yet to dispose of the pile of clippings (after a few hours working out there I was done).  I did, however, make a couple of grapevine wreaths.

 

 

 

 

time flies...

and sometimes I do too.  At Midway airport a couple or so weeks ago...

 

 

 

 

Friday

It's cold, a little gray, but sadly (for me) not snowing.  Well, that's not exactly true...there was a short flurry a little while ago.  I suppose it's all okay, because I'm still babying my back anyway.

I ordered wood chips from chip drop.  No idea when they'll come.  Again, spreading chips around my garden is something I don't need to be doing right at this time!  The upcoming garden is on my mind, though (isn't it always?).

Here are a few more Instax photos of Dawn Flores working on her Atonement flag quilt.  It's such a wonderful piece, so finely crafted.

 

 

 

 

 

icy morning

Yesterday was cloudy all day.  Today is colder, but the sun is out.  Still, the high temperature will be around freezing.  Walking in 30F if the sun is shining and there's no wind (and I'm bundled up) is rather pleasant.  The second a little breeze starts changes the experience significantly.  Thankfully there wasn't much of a breeze while Avery and I walked around the neighborhood today.

I'm glad we're getting significant cold.  It really feels like the ground and many of the plants need it.  The garden beds blanketed with a coating of ice and snow make me think of a necessary period of rest.  It won't last, as is typical for Virginia.  I'm grateful for whatever we get, however.