Rain, Rain, Rain.
That seems to be the pattern so far this spring, a day of rain followed by a day of full or partial sunshine followed by more rain. In one sense this is nice as it gives my poor achy muscles time to recuperate from their time in the yard.
In another sense it is annoying. I would like to paint the deck during the cool spring weather but I need more than one clear day.
But still, spring is progressing and the weather, when it is not raining, is delightful. I love being out working in the yard even if I pay for it in the evenings. It seems that the consequences of not letting the yard go wild for two full seasons following two seasons of only partial work due to workmen, has taken a toll on more than just my flower beds and landscaping. My body is also feeling the pain of being whipped back into shape. At 50 it is not as easy as it once was.
It appears that I was wise not to get to ambitious with plans for the vegetable garden because facing that mass of weeds, shrubs and trees that have taken over that spot makes me feel something like a very small David attempting to slay Goliath, except that in my case a simple sling-shot will not do the job. The peas aren't in yet. With luck and good weather they may be my next weekend. And so much work is needed that I am practically starting from scratch all over again. The thought that I could use the existing garden beds without much work was really just fantasy. There is too much work involved, and I need, for my own peace of mind, to have pretty things in front of the house to greet me every day. Repair and replanting the front beds will take first priority.
I had a lovely day cleaning out flower beds, seeing what has survived (so far) and removing a few weeds who were hoping to get an early start. There is also a colony of Sumac seedlings, now really strapping adolescents to deal with. It amazes me how the Sumac always decides to come up right in the little gaps in the middle of a iris rhizome, so that it is somewhat tricky for me to extricate the invader without damaging or relocating the desirable bulb.
Today however it is raining and we have spent some time inside with books.
I picked up the book of poetry I had been reading a while back, but had abandoned due to lack of concentration, the Collected Poems, by Christopher Middleton and was happy to sit and read, contemplating the poems, while looking out at the rain and fog. I continue to find some the references to German literature and authors incomprehensible, but that is due to my own ignorance. I am still reading the fairly early poems, and I still find some obscure and forced. But I am getting more of a feel for the irony and wry humor of many of the poems, of the rather philosophical bent, and the occasional bits of pure beauty.
Above is the view from the living room sofa. The large barge spent the night and had just finished turning around, probably to accommodate the change in tides. The tug is hidden now at the far right hand side of the photo, just beyond the corner of the house.
These rainy days are good for me in that they remind me to slow down and enjoy life. They remind me of the pleasures of whiling away the day in the company of my husband. They remind me not to get carried away with my plans and visions of what could be and what I might accomplish. Plans and visions are all good, but it is too easy to get wrapped up in the doing and forget to take time just for the living.
I also went to the gym today and finished my short book by Haruki Murakami, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, which I really enjoyed. I actually think Murakami helped me hook back into my enjoyment of the monotony of my exercise regime. I started a new book as well, I was very near the end, another historical fiction: The Boleyn Inheritance. Really, I am always a sucker for books set in or about Tudor and Elizabethan England. It should see me through many a happy mile.
Comments
2 responses to “Rainy Day Post”
Though I share your impatience with the spring rains, your rainy day activities sound delightful, and I love that view from your couch. I had my first hour working the garden yesterday and can feel every minute! I’m going to head out there again later this afternoon and will surely regret it later, but I suppose it’s the only way to get back in garden shape (and funny that no matter how much I run and do Pilates through the year, the gardening muscles need gardening itself to get back into shape!)
I love Murakami and I haven’t read that book. I will pick it up and hope that it inspires me to exercise.