Love In A Cottage

A cottage small be mine, with porch

Enwreathed with ivy green,

And brightsome flowers with dew-filled bells,

'Mid brown old wattles seen.

 

And one to wait at shut of eve,

With eyes as fountain clear,

And braided hair, and simple dress,

My homeward step to hear.

 

On summer eves to sing old songs,

And talk o'er early vows,

While stars look down like angels' eyes

Amid the leafy boughs.

 

When Spring flowers peep from flossy cells,

And bright-winged parrots call,

In forest paths be ours to rove

Till purple evenings fall.

 

The curtains closed, by taper clear

To read some page divine,

On winter nights, the hearth beside,

Her soft, warm hand in mine.

 

And so to glide through busy life,

Like some small brook alone,

That winds its way 'mid grassy knolls,

Its music all its own.

 

 

Love in a Cottage ~ Daniel Henry Deniehy 1828-1865

Spring Cleaning

The First Sergeant has spent the last few days, mowing, trimming, pruning, and fixing.
Putting the place 'to rights' after a long Winter's nap takes quite an effort, and will be ongoing for several weekends to come.

 

My effort consisted of hanging the porch ferns. and planting Geraniums.

I've still got lots of empty pots to fill, and birdhouses to tend......

 

 

The Perennials are flowering.

We had a  late hard frost last week, I'm keeping my fingers crossed they were not harmed.
 

 

And once again we are being serenaded by the amorous calls of Igor the frog.

Summoning any eligible female within earshot to venture his way.

 

Cold, wet leaves
Floating on moss-colored water
And the croaking of frogs-
Cracked bell-notes in the twilight. 

 

 

~ The Pond, Amy Lowell

 

Cats

“Sunday, January 27, 1884. -- There was another story in the paper a week or so since. A gentleman had a favourite cat whom he taught to sit at the dinner table where it behaved very well. He was in the habit of putting any scraps he left onto the cat's plate. One day puss did not take his place punctually, but presently appeared with two mice, one of which it placed on its master's plate, the other on its own.”

~Beatrix Potter, Beatrix Potter's Journal: Cats
   

Tennessee In Bloom

As if fancy bonnets, and colored eggs, are not enough to enjoy this time of year, Mother Nature is intent on putting on her own show.
Just in time for Easter celebrations, it's as if she marked her calender.

 

 

 

 

Snoozing

 

A Visit With The Easter Bunny

 

 

ALL I EVER NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT LIFE I LEARNED FROM THE EASTER BUNNY

 

Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.

Walk softly and carry a big carrot.

Everyone needs a friend who is all ears.

There’s no such thing as too much candy.

All work and no play can make you a basket case.

A cute little tail attracts a lot of attention.

Everyone is entitled to a bad hare day.

Let happy thoughts multiply like rabbits.

Some body parts should be floppy.

Keep your paws off other people’s jellybeans.

Good things come in small sugar-coated packages.

The grass is always greener in someone else’s basket.

An Easter bonnet can tame even the wildest hare.

To show your true colors – you have to come out of your shell.

The best things in life are still sweet and gooey.

~ Author Unknown

 A Happy Easter dear friends ...

Simple Days

 

"Don't let yourself get so busy that you miss those little but important extras in life ~
the beauty of a day...
the smile of a friend...
the serenity of a quiet moment alone.
For it is often life's smallest pleasures and gentlest joys that make the biggest and most lasting difference."

April Showers, Bring May Flowers

I sing of brooks, of blossoms, birds, and bowers:
Of April, May, of June, and July flowers.
I sing of Maypoles, Hock-carts, wassails, wakes,
Of bridegrooms, brides and of their bridal cakes.

Robert Herrick 1591-1674

click to enlarge

Happy Camper

Whenever I can find a product, that makes everyday life a little easier on arthritis- riddled hands, and worn-out backs I'm grateful.

 

Last year I bought one of those lightweight, expandable hoses, it was such a great help in the garden, hardly weighing anything, it made watering a breeze.

After I was through, the whole thing, just shriveled up in a neat little package, small enough to sit in a bucket.

Easy peasy.

 

Sadly there was a design flaw, and after three months the entire end flew off whilst attached to the spigot, and my little garden helper was kaput.

 

The manufacturer recognised the problem, and offered a full-refund, if returned to the store.

 

 

This season they have corrected the weakness, and The First Sergeant  surprised me with my very own new and improved version.

I couldn't help but smile from ear to ear.