A difficult week: we had to put our beautiful calico cat Moneypenny down after she suffered some sort of stroke, and then Charleston. Too awful for words, and I just walked past that church last week. We’ve had some lovely late spring early summer days, which seem almost cruel in my morose mood. My garden looks beautiful from far away, but up close it is full of weeds that I’ve been too busy to yank out. So that’s my plan–I shall tend to my garden and pursue the other distractions that have always been helpful in tough times: shopping (for everything from clothing to vintage lawn games), old movies (life is always good when Doris Day is on, submarine movies always plunge me into another world, and I’m currently obsessed with George Sanders), history (not only my profession but also my daily preoccupation–the perfect perspective corrective), and drinking (another great perspective corrective, in moderation of course). I need a new bicycle too: that will help. I do have some nice pictures that belie my dark mood: the garden–from afar so you can’t see the weeds! The lilac and variegated dogwood trees are particularly beautiful this year. Chestnut Street Park across the street, with the remains of a lovely neighborhood party last night, a thoughtful offering from my friend Pamela, and the gardens and antiques at the Massachusetts Horticulture Society’s Elm Bank last weekend, when all was well with the world.
Very impressed with this lady’s bedstraw–must get some.
June 19th, 2015 at 7:55 am
I am so sorry for the loss of your precious cat…
June 19th, 2015 at 9:50 am
Thank you–I really miss her: she was kind of my animal twin.
June 19th, 2015 at 9:55 am
They connect to our hearts and soul and take a piece of us with them when they leave…it is never easy losing a beloved…my thoughts and prayers are with you…
June 19th, 2015 at 8:11 am
I thought of you when I heard the news about Charleston.
June 19th, 2015 at 9:51 am
It’s funny–not being an American historian–I really didn’t know about the history of that church, but I read up before we went down….
June 19th, 2015 at 8:27 am
Sending hugs, Donna! I am so sorry for the loss of dear Moneypenny. We are all keeping the people of Charleston close to our hearts. Time in the garden is always so healing for me. The colors of nature, the birdsong, and flowers everywhere are so soothing! ♡
June 19th, 2015 at 9:51 am
I’m just going out now–lots to do–and thanks.
June 19th, 2015 at 9:05 am
thank you for including Charleston. I could not have read the post otherwise, it is so on my heart.
We have too many strawberries! Could that be possible? and bed straw is horrible in hay fields – an invasive.
So we continue, hoping to somehow find answers.
Thinking about your cat – and ours as well.
June 19th, 2015 at 9:48 am
Good to know about bedstraw–and no, you can never have too many strawberries in my opinion!
June 19th, 2015 at 9:07 am
ps: bed straw will self seed everywhere
June 19th, 2015 at 9:19 am
Donna, did you buy the bocce set? How about bocce for a distraction? You and John versus me and Craig in Chestnut St Park. Are you up for a challenge? We have an ordinary set of bocce, not as nice as the ones in your picture. But I’m a total beginner at the game.
June 19th, 2015 at 9:47 am
I didn’t buy it, which I regret—it was very cool. We have a basic one too, so you’re on for any available evening. The park looked great last night!
June 19th, 2015 at 5:11 pm
So sorry about Miss Moneypenny. Hugs for you. Gardening is good therapy.
June 20th, 2015 at 5:37 pm
Hey Donna, Sorry to hear about Moneypenny. So hard to lose our beloved pets. Enjoy making that beautiful garden, more beautiful.
June 20th, 2015 at 7:47 pm
Thanks, Judy–I am very, very sad! Look forwarding to seeing you.