The first part of April was slower paced and focused on healing. We had to cancel plans to visit family on the east coast, and instead my husband had a surgical procedure to his neck to relieve stenosis. All went well, he is nearly back to normal, and his neurological symptoms are receding. I took on most of his chores, all the lifting and even cooking (he has done most of the cooking and shopping since he retired five years ago). I am glad to have him back to most of his regular activities, although our son is still mowing the lawn, and the weeds have gone crazy. We went on several slower paced hikes to see the wildflowers (see next post). And I saw many beautiful flowers in neighborhood gardens on my near-daily walks.
Neighborhood Gardens
Early cherries lost their blossoms.Late cherries in bloom at Grant Park.Apple, crabapple, and Chinese fringe flowers in the front yard.Horse chestnuts in the neighborhood.Forget-me-nots and a fading tulip out front.
Dogwoods in bloom all through the neighborhood…
Bunchberry in the front yard.Dogwood trees in many colors: salmon pink,Pink, andWhite – these are newly planted, just across the street.
April 15th, Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden in southeast Portland –
It was early for the rhododendrons to be in full bloom, but we saw a few…
RhododendronNorthern lakeGoose eggTrilliumNutriaAzaleaGeeseFawn lilies and anemonesCherriesShadowsJapanese maplesJapanese maples
April 20th, Easter
A feral bunny stopped by, but didn’t leave any eggs.I dyed a few brown eggs with muted results.
Arts and Crafts
We saw a lot of beautiful pottery at the Oregon Ceramics Showcase, and bought three small trinket dishes (made by Truly Sarah).I finished knitting a shawl (“May I Borrow This Please” by Larraine Waitman, Juniper Moon Cumulus yarn), and a pair of socks (Laines du Nord Summer Sock yarn).
Books and Reading in Portland
Signs of Literature in the neighborhood:
The selection of books in this little Free Library has a dark theme.This telephone pole art has a more positive message,And I always enjoy a visit with Ramona, Henry and Ribsy in Grant Park.I read six books in April. I especially enjoyed the biography of Barbara Pym, an author I have been rereading since the eighties; and the memoir of Liese Greensfelder, a young woman from California who worked on a primitive sheep farm in Norway in the 1970’s.
Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, our daughter, our son, and his fiancee met up anyway, even though we had to cancel our trip. Looks like they had a good time. I look forward to seeing them all during the summer!
Margaret Quilts 