This is my childhood home. My parents, baby brother, and I moved here when I was four. I left when I married Mr P. Mum and Dad had very little money. Father worked six days a week and would come home tired and dirty from twelve hours of manual labour. I would wait at the gate.....watching for the bus to arrive at the top of the hill. As soon as I could see Dad, I was allowed to go and meet him from his day of toil. I would run so fast, red in the face, gasping for breath........and then that moment came when father would lift me in the air and swing me around, until I was so dizzy I could not stand. On Sundays Mum and Dad would take us out to the woods, or Greenwich Park. My time would be spent looking at the trees.....trying to spot birds.........and generally being at one with the outdoor world. I owe my parents so much.......they taught me to love all that is around me.
The hornbeam is showing her catkins.......I planted this tree and she is quite a beauty now.
Blossom is late............the bees will appreciate the flowers.
There is much nest building ......
A female chaffinch sits quietly .......
Love is in the air.....
A robin sings.......
The fritillary have opened, the rabbits have not found them yet. Hush, do not tell.
A bumble enjoys the last blooms of the Mahonia.......yes it is still flowering.
The fritillary have opened, the rabbits have not found them yet. Hush, do not tell.Don't you just love a bloom with freckles. Do you have freckles?
Happy Sunday safari........
24 comments:
I have, with regret, decided to stop blogging at the end of the summer. My parents and mother in law are becoming quite frail. They need me.
Personal family problems are also taking up much time, something has to go......
BUT I would like to show you the garden for the next few months. Those of you that have shared my journey with the rabbits know that I have struggled these last six months. I am slowly changing the gardens and I would love to share these changes with you.
Thank you for all the support you have given me and let's enjoy the spring and summer seasons together........
Hi Cheryl
That post was quite lovely! Your parents deserve your time, and real life and family is so important! Nothing should get in the way of that. Your parents have given you so much and encouraged and nutured your interests by the sound of this post.
I've loved reading your blog, and really look forward to seeing your garden at the height of summer! After that, I hope we can keep in touch by snail mail occasionally with seed swaps and dog biscuits.
In the meantime - here's to Spring!
Best wishes
Dan
-x-
Oh, I will miss you so much! But I certainly understand and will think of you during the fall and winter as you go about helping your family.
I love the vision of you as a little girl running to greet your father. They have helped formed your life and it's wonderful that you are now able to help them. I will look forward to your summer posts and I will imagine your beautiful garden in the other seasons. You have given us a rich legacy to enjoy. And for that we are grateful.
I am so sad as I have only just found you so to lose you so soon is a disappointment to me as I love your posts - perhaps you will pop by just very occasionally? I understand that your family must come first of course and I did envy you having a Dad to run to like that - mine died when I was a baby so I never knew him. Take care and good luck in the battle with the rabbits. I will so look forward to seeing how your garden turns out even though it will be bittersweet since we shall not hear further installments after that.
Jane x
Dear Cheryl, The wonderful thing about blogging is that the only pressure to do so is self-imposed. I for one will miss you very much - I feel like I know you and we would enjoy spending real time together. But I definitely understand your dilemma. Your parents are fortunate to have you and time with them is precious.
The story of you meeting your dad touched me. I lost both my parents at a relatively young age but they taught me much. Gratitude is key.
I find myself thinking about your rabbits often, especially when I'm obsessing over my voles. You've helped me be more forgiving of the critters and more sensitive to the possibilities of sharing my domain.
Looking forward to your garden photos - "Nothing is forever except change." Buddha
Hi Cheryl, It's so nice your parents encouraged your love of the natural world, and I'm glad to hear they are both still living. Of course I will miss your wonderful posts but understand you want to be there for your parents now as they were for you when you were growing up.
I thought I was the only one who called dots on flowers freckles, LOL, and I love them too. I get freckles myself if I'm not wearing a hat or sunscreen... but I always am doing both as I've developed rosacea.
Are your fritillaria late this year? I think mine I have the same snake's head one) are early and just opened.
Thank you Dan.....I shall do safari each week until the end of August. I shall show the creatures that have visited plus the changes in the garden. I shall miss blogging but feel it is becoming more of a chore due to lack of time.
Of course I will keep in touch....and send the seeds I promised. I have always liked the thought of a little bit of my garden in another plot far away.
ncmountaingirl....I was very touched by your comment. Thank you for understanding. The decision has not been made overnight, I have been thinking about stopping for sometime now.
My family are very important to me and of course will always come first.
It will be an honour to share the garden, birds, bees and bugs with you all this summer.....
Hi Jane.....there is still spring and summer ahead, so lots more posting and visiting to come.
When I stop my blog at the end of summer I shall visit you all though probably not as often as I would like.
How sad that you never knew your father. I do realise how lucky I am to still have my parents and cherish each moment spent with them.
Dear Amy....your comment left me feeling quite emotional.
Such beautiful words thank you, I am humbled.
How terribly sad to lose both parents at a young age. I am truly blessed to still have my parents and I do realise that.
I am sure during the next few months we will learn a lot about each other. I shall do safari each Sunday until the end of August.
Hi Monica....thank you.
I get freckles to, so also wear a hat and sunscreen. Rosacea, I have a friend who suffers. Best covered up.
The fritillary are a bit late. Mine general bloom mid March......although I don't see them open very often because the rabbits have usually munched them......
Cheryl what a joy to stop by and catch up on what's happening in your Spring garden! Oh my such a variety of daffodils! In your previous post I was in awe that you have had a special butterfly stop by!!
Freckles on flowers faces are adorable as well on human child faces!
I understand when aging parents require our care and support. I shall enjoy our garden season just ahead sharing and posting what gives us Joy!Blessings to you dearest Cheryl..hugs anna xo
Dear Cheryl,
Seeing your childhood home has touched me deeply. I can see you as a child full of love for your Dad.I see you one with nature.
I will treasure each post this summer. I do understand. When my parents were ill I too took care of them.
Holding you and them in my thoughts.
Happy Safari,
Sherry
Oh Cheryl, I loved reading your post...I could so clearly see the tired dad, the anxious, yet happy girl and the two of them in that wonderful hugging spin! So much love. I am sorry to hear this...but I do understand it completely! Life is like that sometimes~~I look forward to the summer and hearing about your bees and other critters. xxgail
dearest cheryl...i shall treasure every moment we "do" get to spend together.
you have been an inspiration to me thru your due diligence to just keep going even in the midst of some major struggles in your garden. i dream of your garden sometimes. we sit together quietly taking in every creature and the scents wafting around us. i have enjoyed our friendship through our gardens...you will be missed.
i understand life is so demanding and our parents deserve our best. i will pray for your strength.i have been a caretaker and it can be exhausting. your parents/mother in law will be in good hands with you by their side.
i look forward to our summer together.
happy springtime.
your friend, marmee
My garden has freckles. I don't have freckles unless you want to count age spots.;)
I hate to hear that life is such a burden to you right now. You and your blog are such a gift I will cherish as long as you feel comfortable to share. BIG HUGS.
Life was so much simpler when a child. I think, too, that my love of nature and all things growing was fostered by my parents, but it lay dormant for many years until recently when I began to garden. I regret that I didn't share those same values with my children as much, but I'm trying to make up for it with my grandkids. Love your "romantic" little bugs and the freckled face of the hellebore.
I am so sorry you are going to stop blogging for awhile, but I do understand, Cheryl. Family is the most important, and I know you want to be there for your parents just as they were there for you. I realized this past winter during Dad's health scare how precious our time together is. Your family is very fortunate to have you there for support, Cheryl. I'll keep you and them in my thoughts and prayers.
Hi Cheryl,
So sorry to hear your decision to stop blogging...
I hope to see you around occasionally??...
Please keep yourself fit and healthy, we cannot have you also becoming ill with worry.
The freckled hellebore are may favorites:)
I always enjoy seeing your birds and comparing them to the familiar ones I see here.
Everything about spring lifts the heart.
Marnie
Thank you all so much for your lovely comments. Your kindness and understanding overwhelms me.
I will look forward to posting this spring and summer. I shall post safari as often as I can BUT when summer comes to an end, I shall cease to blog.
Dearest Cheryl, oh how we will miss the quiet and peaceful posts from you. Your sharing your lovely sanctuary and all it's inhabitants is a high point of my week.
I certainly can empathize with your struggles and difficult decision. I have been posting less and less the last year. But I do enjoy reading everyone else's posts.
I loved that you shared a little of your childhood-such poignant and wonderful memories.
I look forward to seeing your changing garden and spending the spring and summer with you. Take care dear friend. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Oh Cheryl, how I will miss seeing your world from your eyes. But, that seems such a selfish thing to say in light of what you have based your decision on. The very least we can do for our parents is to be there for them as they were for us.
Cheryl - I enjoyed your trip down memory lane. Sorry about the problems that you are having, and I hope everything works out. Even if you won't have time to blog, I hope you sill have time for your beautiful garden. Art
Your garden is indeed a delight, I love the pink trumpets, and walking through the garden with you...
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