Monday Meander - May, 24, 2021

Victoria Day 2021

It's the day that originally celebrated the birthday of the late great Queen Victoria (born May 24, 1819) but since 1957 also includes Canada's official birthday celebration of Queen Elizabeth II.  

God save the Queen. Bless her heart. 

Queen Elizabeth II - Canada's official portrait (March 2019)

It's the long weekend known as the May "TWO-FOUR" weekend, with a generous nod to what is known as a case of beer in Ontario. I wonder how the grand ladies Victoria and Elizabeth feel about their party being supplanted by hops and malt? Amused? Or not? Well actually, none of us is amused that this is the second year in row when the #1 long weekend of the year, the one that kicks off the summer season, is hemmed in by pandemic restrictions.

Ah, but the sun is shining on this holiday Monday. It is a grand day to celebrate the little things, the simple joys...

 A solar fountain in the bird bath....

...that needs more water according to a special little one.

Nothing more needed to say.

©2021 April Hoeller

Monday Meander - May 10, 2021

Baskets and Birds

The Mother's Day weekend has always been the time when I set out six to eight hanging baskets of blooming colour around the house. At first, this year looked like it would be a fail as my perusal last Wednesday of my usual sources turned up nothing I either wanted nor was willing to pay. Two garden centres were just setting out stock and what they had was, in a word, meh. Friday's excursion proved modestly better but Saturday's drop in at a grocery store outdoor garden centre was perfect.

Hanging baskets are the best choice in my part of the world for this time of year as frost remains a distinct possibility until the first week of June (even later there can be unwelcome chilly surprises).

Every evening since Friday, I've had to bring the blooms into the garage as temperatures dropped to freezing. Tonight's forecast again is advising of frost. I might be okay with that, but unless one is up and out first thing in the morning, sunshine is also missing from too much of too many days. As I've been writing this, the clear blue skies of 9am have have once again been overtaken by clouds. It's getting as tedious as a pandemic lockdown! 

Even the hummingbirds are tentative in their return with just one showing up now and then.

And I've yet to see a Baltimore Oriole at the feeder, but I know they have been sighted in the vicinity. The orange, nectar and grape jelly are all set up for them. Goldfinches, chipping sparrows and pine warblers are the main attraction at my feeders.

Pine Warbler

Elsewhere in the yard, the first trim of the lawn  has been done and the forget-me-nots and wild strawberry blossoms are popping up...

...as are the tulips, though the cool temperatures keep them closed up to stay warm.

The rhubarb is set for first harvest by mid-week.

And that's the way it is as the second week of May kicks into gear.

Stay safe. Be well.

Enjoy the emerging colour and bird song of spring. 

©2021 April Hoeller

Monday Meander - May 3, 2021

The place has been tidied up and the welcome mat is out.

I harken to the road outside my door, waiting to hear the unmistakable and oh-so-familiar rumble of the big truck coming in off the highway. 

My heart swells with joy to see this event unfold before my eyes this morning. Why? Because the annual delivery of firewood is blessedly normal. It is reassuring to this old soul that the cycle of seasons still rolls on, not just those in nature but also those that shape my life in this place. 

And so, this first full week of May begins with comfort and joy, throwing off the pall of gloomy wet weather that has been hanging around for too many days. 

...but all shall be well,

all shall be well,

and all manner of thing shall be well.

Julian of Norwich (1342 - 1416)

My soul must have been working with these words of hope and trust as my hands went to work this past week to finish the pandemic cross-stitch piece I began in early 2020. I hesitated to add my initials and end date because I had originally felt that I would not do so until the pandemic was over. But hope and smiles bloom...

Fini! 

©2021 April Hoeller