May Long Weekend

" You do not find the happy life.

You make it. "

CAMILLA EYRING KIMBALL

Many of you have posted this week about what's blooming in your gardens - lilacs and irises, bleeding hearts and peonies, and even roses. I am so glad for these cheerful reports from your various corners of the world. For we have nothing so advanced to announce from our garden. Our perennials are still shaking off the remains of the snow dump we had a few days ago. The temperatures the last few nights have gone below freezing, and I am lamenting the fate of our fruit and ornamental trees just coming into blossom. Those tender petals.

Today, though, things are on the upward trend. The sun shines and it's warming up. We hope, with fingers crossed, that spring can re-commence and with that last gasp, winter will at last crawl away and hibernate.

Here in Canada, it's the start of the May Long Weekend, also known as Victoria Day weekend. The holiday that marked the old Queen's birthday now signals in our modern day the start of the summer and camping season. Although I cannot imagine going camping when the night temperatures are still hovering near freezing. Thankfully, definitely NO camping for us. To Rick's chagrin, my idea of camping is a four-star hotel, while he dreams of sitting by a lake with a fishing pole or a pair of bird-watching binoculars. It was in the fine print (wink) when we got married that I didn't do camping...or ironing. I guess he thought I was still worth marrying. In my defense I do iron on occasion, and more rarely, I have also gone camping with him, in a tent no less. 

Now, I do love day camping, that is to say, going out into nature and spending the day amongst the birds and bees and the flowers and the trees. This afternoon, we're off for a drive in the countryside with a packed picnic and a thermos of tea. The driver rarely announces a destination he has in mind, and I rarely mind not knowing where we'll end up—I love the serendipity of it all.

* * *

On a different note, I had birthday money burning a hole in my pocket, and so I finally made a quick visit to the bookstore yesterday for something new to read. A woman joined me at the table where I was browsing. Masked and safely standing at the other end, she pointed to the cover of one novel saying she had just finished and really enjoyed 'that one'. It was Kate Quinn's 621-page new novel The Rose Code—an historical novel about three female code breakers at Bletchley Park during WWII, a spy they must uncover after the war, the dashing Prince Philip of Greece, and the upcoming royal wedding. Looking no further, the book came home with me. I cannot wait to crack the cover. Maybe later today.

With that, I'm away to my weekend activities (I've got plans, too, to bake a Victoria Sponge tomorrow). What have you got planned? Whatever you are up to, I hope it's filled with pleasantries and small treats.

Wishing you beauty and heart's ease.

Heart Hugs,

Brenda

xox

Top Photo Credit: Elena Ferrer from Unsplash