Five on Friday

On homesteads scattered across the prairie provinces of Canada, women planted lilac bushes near their homes. Lilacs are hardy plants, blooming reliably year after year, even as the old wooden houses fall into disrepair and lie neglected. Now, in many places, only the rows of trees and lilac bushes stand in witness to the hopes and dreams of those who once farmed the land.

The lilac bush in our garden is relatively new - not yet 15 years old. Its blooms increase each year, in spite of being moved around a fair bit. The blooms are just beginning to open. Such sweet fragrance.

Leaves emerge from the fig tree about the same time as tiny fruit. The larger fruit in the bottom of the photo is left from last fall - it didn't have time to ripen before cold weather set in. 

I received some new sock yarn (the grey and the variegated turquoise - 2 skeins of each) from Yarn Canada. I've just wound them into balls and am contemplating what I'll make with them. In the meantime, I'm enjoying the colours. I'm not an experienced knitter or crocheter at all, yet I enjoy small projects. What would you create?

A row of apple trees grew not far from my childhood home. In spring the blossoms were intoxicating - sweet smelling and luxuriant. My friends and I would cut branches to put into water, but the blossoms never lasted long. We used to climb up into the trees, too, and sit up high, surrounded by lovely fragrance.
Our apple trees are blooming and also sweet smelling, but they are the dwarf variety that will never support a climbing child (or Nana).

Strawberries, too, are blooming. We've discovered that letting them trail over the mulch underneath the apple trees and blueberry bushes results in healthy plants and keeps the slugs away so that we get more berries to eat. That's a very good thing!

The end of another week. It's felt long. Another term has ended and another begins on Monday. School in our province goes to the end of June. The term end means lots of grading of papers and a mad scramble on the part of students who have neglected to turn in their work. 

Over the weekend I hope to not only grade papers, but do some sewing and, if the weather cooperates, get out into the garden. We've had some much needed rain this week and the soil is soft and suitable for weeding or planting. I'd like to do both. 

Linking with Five on Friday, hosted by Amy of Love Made My Home.