Friday, May 16, 2025

Friday Favourites: A Week in May

 


I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to 
think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read
and all the friends I want to see.
John Burroughs

Halfway through May. The days slip by, full of ordinary things. A friend took me on a tour around her new property. I used the Seek App on my phone to identify many unknown plants including the Leopard's Bane (doronicum) above. The bright yellow patch of flowers underplanted with bluebells is so pretty. 

My husband loves cycling. He rides for pleasure, but also to run errands. I find cycling enjoyable on flat ground. Hills and I do not get along at all. And to go anywhere from our house requires descending a short, steep hill, which means ascending on the way home. Yesterday friends invited us to go for a bike ride using their electric bikes. I was skeptical and dreading the outing. I soon got the hang of it, though, and found myself zooming UP hills. It was so much fun. Perhaps an electric bike is in my future, but there's more thinking to do first. 


On Tuesday Cora and I went to the park and around the pond. No baby ducks yet. We played a few rounds of hide and seek in the forest, and she posed on a tree trunk just made for sitting. I'm certain that she walked twice the distance I did with all her running ahead and then back.


We've enjoyed beautiful sunshine for many days. On a morning walk many things vied for my attention. Here are a few of them:

Himalayan Clematis

Birdsong in every tree

Swaths of Camas Lilies in the woods, dark blue with 
gold-tipped stamens

Creamy Pacific Dogwood blooms

Masses of horsetail in some new landscaping - a real nuisance,
but feathery green and soft just now

An elderly woman bundled in a heavy hooded jacket 
with her walker slowly moving along the street



A patch of Irises in half sun, half shade

A single weathered Adirondack chair sitting in a patch
of sunlight

Fawn Lilies all but disappeared now other than their
spotted leaves



Bellis Daisies against the taller stems of Camas Lilies

The wide smile of a young boy biking to school

Infinite shades of green leaves



The blue skies and warm sunshine have disappeared in the past two days, replaced by a sharp wind off the Pacific, and drizzle today. We need the rain, so I won't complain. Sweater weather again. 


I've thought about these Poet's Narcissus that I saw on our recent boating trip, wondering who planted them there in a grassy meadow overlooking the sea. Perhaps a woman longed to create spots of beauty in her life isolated from society. Her house is abandoned and falling apart, but still her flowers bloom, testament to her existence. Of the dock where she once arrived only two cement pilings remain.

My extravagance is my garden - it's the first
thing I look at every morning when I
wake up. It gives me so much pleasure.
Ina Garten

One peony plant has bloomed and the others have many buds on them. I'm eager to see them open, along with the roses. I made a sad observation to Tim the other day, admitting to myself that I don't have room for any more permanent plants in my garden. Instead, I'll content myself arranging pots of annuals and enjoy the shrubs and perennials as they come. 

Wishing you a delightful weekend.

46 comments:

  1. Bonjour Lorrie,
    Vous avez l’œil d’une poétesse, vous remarquez des choses ignorées par beaucoup, vous savez profitez de l’instant et des menus événements qui sont l’essence même de la vie.
    Cora a l’air bien espiègle et pleine de vitalité. Elle est tout à fait charmante assise sur le tronc d’arbre. Je vous souhaite de passer beaucoup de beaux instants partagés.
    Belle fin de semaine.
    Hélène

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    1. Merci, Hélène,
      Le monde est plein de choses merveilleuses. La vie est une bénédiction.

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  2. Hi Lorrie, I agree with Helene. You have a poetic eye and you are able to see things that are ignored by others. My mother tongue is English but I am fluent in French. Your photos are beautiful and your post is lovely.

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    1. Thank you, Linda. I have a degree in French and wish I had more opportunity to use it in speaking.

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  3. It looks and sounds like you are enjoying spring! Your little sweetie is adorable! Enjoy the weekend!

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    1. This spring seems exceptionally beautiful.

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  4. Lorrie reading your post and enjoying your lovely photos is a breath of fresh air . . . I can feel your love of nature and all the wonders of God's creations. Your blog brings me back to a clam and gentle place . . . a great place to start the morning, Thank you :)

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    1. Thank you, Connie. God's creation is indeed marvelous.

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  5. Cora is dressed for nature with her pretty smile and fun colors! I love the flowers you've seen this Spring...I always want to make a bouquet! But around here, I'm in natural areas and don't pick anything. I did get a few silk flowers and make a new arrangement though. The electric bikes are very popular here and I've wondered if I would enjoy one. But then I walk slow with a camera and I would miss that! Hugs!

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    1. There is so much beauty in the forest and wild places. Not picking flowers allows them to spread and flourish even more for next year. We're going on another electric bike ride this next week. But I won't give up walking with my camera!

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  6. What a lovely post! Your world has so awakened with such beautiful blooms (though I think the prettiest "flower" is that sweet young lady!

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    1. Thanks, Jeanie. Cora is a darling young thing!

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  7. It is sad when there's no more space for new plants. I solve that by putting them in containers...too many containers that will all need watering when we get our annual months of drought.
    Cora is such a pretty splash of colour!!

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    1. Pots are such a great option. I'm getting more of them all the time and move them around to blank spaces in the garden.

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  8. Lovely photos. May seems to be passing by so quickly at the moment, glad you have some rain for the garden, we've had none here over the last couple of weeks:)

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    1. We had a bit of rain, but would welcome more.

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  9. Anonymous6:08 AM

    Lovely, especially your observations! So much to take in and take joy in if we really look! My first peony bush flowered this week! I'm enjoying the scent of them!
    Deanna Rabe

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    1. Thanks Deanna. I'm looking forward to the peonies blooming here, too. They are so beautiful!

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  10. Your post was a delight - filled with lovely thoughts, photos, and gentle experiences. I have wondered myself about those e-bikes; glad you had a chance to try them out. Thank you, Lorrie!

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    1. Thank you, Brenda. We'll be taking another e-bike ride this week.

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  11. I always enjoy reading your posts, Lorrie.
    Love the way you capture nature’s beauty and simple joys.
    I can feel your deep appreciation for the wonders around you.
    Thank you for sharing these wonderful moments! 🌿

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    1. Thank you, Veronica. Life is full of beautiful moments.

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  12. Such a lovely photograph of Cora :)
    A very enjoyable post, both your words and photographs a delight.
    May you keep on enjoying your May days.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you, Jan. I hope your May is full of beautiful moments, too.

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  13. Your quotes by Garten and Burroughs are so fitting for this post -- and I agree with both of them. You've included many beautiful thoughts and images here for our enjoyment. John Burroughs would be envious.

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    1. Thank you, Gretchen. God's world is full of beauty.

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  14. Cora looks like a little flower! I also don’t have much space in the garden now so I am putting them in pots. I would love to go for a bicycle ride again and try electric one it must be easier to ride.

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    1. Yes, Catherine, riding an e-bike takes less effort to go fast, especially up hill!

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    2. I enjoyed your musings as I virtually walked along with you (and boated!). I’ve sometimes seen sweet flowers planted around isolated homes as we travel on backroads as often as we can…always know those are very special and personal to the woman (I’m sure) who planted them.

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  15. Such a sweet photo of Cora. It was nice to come along on your morning walk through your photos and words...

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  16. I haven't been a bike for years, so I only learned about e-bikes from my neighbour last summer. She also found it helped with the hills around my area.

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    1. Yes, I was amazed at how I could go uphill without huffing and puffing!

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  17. Cora's picture is so beautiful... I can practically see you running around the park, playing hide-and-seek... what a wonderful time.
    I'm also looking forward to the peonies; the buds will soon burst open, but unfortunately the lilacs are fading.
    And the roses in the garden; it's so beautiful how one flower bud after another emerges from the greenery.
    Show your sewing work... I'm looking forward to it too. Have fun with the sewing machine; it's so wonderful to create something.
    Hugs to you.
    p.s. I enjoy cycling, but the many mountains here aren't as much fun as they used to be. I just ride shorter distances now.

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    1. Thank you, Viola. There are so many wonderful things to anticipate in spring. Where we live there are hills everywhere and I really dislike them, so the electric bike was a good experience. I don't know that I will buy one, but I was glad to try it.

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  18. You have captured the essence of Spring 🌷 Lovely.
    Oh the daisies - so beautiful, such multitudes 💛
    Cora looks sweet sitting amidst the wonders of nature.
    I can imagine her running around.
    And I can imagine you cycling uphill, perhaps on an electric bike 🙂

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    1. Thank you, Rita. Spring is full of intense beauty.

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  19. Cora is such a sweet girl and that picture is darling. I can see that you enjoy spending time with her, it most surely is a delight.
    I often feel like time is slipping through my fingers. How come it's already the second half of May? My garden is in full bloom and there is always something to do there. The weeds in particular are a bit overwhelming this year. On the other hand there are so many birds attracted to this garden! I enjoy that so much. I only recently "discovered" the Seek app and am using it all the time now. It is really handy.
    Thank you for your beautiful thoughts. I love how you listed the things you noticed on your walk. It's wonderful to be so aware of these "little" things around us that are so important.
    Have a lovely week, Lorrie!

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    1. Thank you, Carola. Yes, time is passing so quickly. We've had chilly weather these past couple of weeks and I've not spent a lot of time in the garden. But it's supposed to warm up and I suppose the weeds will grow even faster!

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  20. So, that's what Leopard's Bane looks like. I have heard of it, but had no idea how beautiful it is.
    That photo of Cora is a beauty. It sounds like you shared a lovely day together.
    So many interesting and pretty observations you have shared.

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    1. That was the first I knew of Leopard's Bane and thought it very pretty, too. I do enjoy my days with Cora. Soon she will be in kindergarten and things will be different.

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  21. What a lovely post. I enjoyed all your thoughtful observations. It is those little things that make our lives rich. Those flowers by the abandoned dock are very thought provoking I agree. Who did plant them? Good luck on the cycling. So many people love electric bikes. I’m not there yet but one day maybe. B x

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    1. Thank you, Barbara. Noticing the little things does add such richness to life.

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  22. What a happy post,, full of delightful things and an especially lovely photo of Cora. We have friends extolling the pleasures of owning electric bikes but whether we shall invest is doubtful!

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  23. Such a beautiful post, dear Lorrie, with wise words and lovely photos. Cora looks happy in the picture and I'm happy to see a child that has learned to appreciate the beauty of nature and gardens.
    A list of beautiful things seen on a walk is a great idea. It was also touching to think of the unknown person that had planted the pretty daffodils. Old plants blooming in a long abandoned garden is something very special.
    Merry spring days!

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  24. Marilyn M.5:06 PM

    I love your walk so very much!

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