Simply Balisha

Simply Balisha

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

My Love Affair :)

I have a love affair with Clematis vines. Not just the first one that I purchased in 1976  the famous deep purple Jackmanii. Since that day, I have planted so many of these beauties. I loved the big beautiful blooms be they white, pink, purple, lavender. I've had great success with them, all except the one that was planted under the shade of the River Birch. Since the River Birch has been removed...it has flourished once again. Now here's where the mystery comes in. A smaller clematis has sprung up a couple of feet from the  original. It's a different color entirely. The only one like it in the yard. I blogged about it last year and thought that it deserved another post. It's a little smaller than most but the blooms are the same size. Who knows how it got there, but I'm glad it did. Glad that I recognized the tiny start of it as being a clematis. Glad that I had a small trellis just for it. It graces the Mary's Garden in amongst the hostas and lilies.
I've become interested in the smaller blooms of some new, to me, hostas. They are bell shaped and so delicate. I planted a couple next to the front porch three years ago. They are growing like gang busters this year. They are budded out and I'll show you a picture when they bloom. They are my new favorites.Hostas and Clematis....a couple of favorites in the garden. I'm loving the chartreuses, purples, lavenders, and blues in the garden right now. My favorite time of the year.....Spring.

Speaking of spring....how about some spring cleaning? Love that too.Yesterday, I cleaned our bedroom and living room. I took down the lacy valances in both rooms and washed them. While they were washing, I cleaned the windows inside and out...sills too. My sills get so dirty. Then I cleaned both rooms good. I was too tired to cook, so we ordered a couple of dinners from the local Chinese restaurant. Joe's not crazy about Chinese food, but I am and this was such a treat after working so hard. Then, when I was about finished the pain began. My joints in my wrists and knees were hurting me, so I had to stop. That went on until bedtime. I was able to sleep and this morning the joint pain is gone. Rather than start the cleaning again, I'm going to do a little at a time. I always pay for a day of work... later on. I sometimes think, as I go along, you're going to hurt tonight.....but I keep on going because I want to accomplish something... pain or not.

I'm really enjoying the book A Year By the Sea. I'm close to finishing it, but don't want it to end. Have you ever read a book like this? Toward the end you read so slowly just to make it last longer. The book reminds me of Anne Morrow Lindbergh's book, A Gift From the Sea....a favorite of mine. There are two sequels to this book....I'm thinking of ordering them. I would get them from the library, but I want to keep the books in my collection.

We'll have chili today. I thawed it for yesterday, but I was too tired to even heat it up. The dismal day outside is perfect for indoor work. No looking out the window and wishing I was out in the garden.
See you later...
Balisha

11 comments:

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    1. I love them both too. Such small books....such good reading.

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  2. You are working too hard, Balisha! Life is too short to work so hard. Do one room at a time and don't overdo.

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    1. I usually don't do two rooms, but the carpet cleaner is here tomorrow and i wanted things to get done, so we can enjoy a clean house. I like it when everything is fresh and clean. I'll rest tomorrow.

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  3. I wonder if a bird dropped a clematis seed and that's how you have the new one? I just bought my first one the other day, still have to get the trellis up. I wanted one that would bloom most of the summer. My hubby has one at the lake, it has white blooms at the end of summer.

    I feel bad that you were so sore after the big clean up, I think we sometimes just don't know how hard we have pushed ourselves until later. Sort of like sunburn...it shows up later to remind you that you overdid it! And yes, I am known to savor the end of a good book! :)

    XO,
    Jane

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    1. I have rheumatoid arthritis and most times I suffer after I do a lot of work. I knew that I was pushing it yesterday...but didn't pay attention. I hurt most days...and I just won't let it get me down. I need the exercise to keep limber. I don't like to take medicine...so I just ice the joints. That usually helps. Now, that's enough talk about aches and pains. I think that everyone has them as they age.

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  4. Your clematis is so pretty! I am not a gardener, but I began to notice these beautiful flowering vines a few years ago, and so we purchased a couple for the arbor at the vegetable garden. So lovely...I only wish the blooming time was longer.

    I love Chinese food too...and my husband will eat it but doesn't love it like I do! We have a Chinese take-out nearby, so it is something to fall back on on those busy project days. Hope you're feeling much better today!

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    1. We had one Chinese restaurant that failed in our town a few years ago. Then someone else started a new one....I'm hoping that more people will eat there so it survives. They do a pretty good take out business. It's my favorite restaurant in our little town. I've never tried making various Chinese dishes....so much easier to just order.

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  5. Autumn clematis pops up in my garden and not near the plant so something must carry the seeds. Balisha the rolls were a huge success. Everyone who got them was raving about them. I have used an old recipe from my home ec cookbook but I think yours is the one I will use from now on. It was very easy and thank you!

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    1. I wish that Autumn Clematis would pop up in mine. I had a really pretty one, and a perfect spot for it for three years. I lost it during the harsh winter. I just left the roots there...thinking it may come again, but it's too late now...I guess I lost it.

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  6. A Year By The Sea is one of my favorite books. I have shared that book with so many people. I wish I could go on one of her trips. She was in Rockford, Illinois several years ago at a place called Womenspace. I want to make a trip up there, too. So enjoy your blog

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