rose arch, originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

I’ve just heard that my GrandmaB–my last living grandparent–is ailing and may not live much longer…
The yard around her home was full of rosebushes and she knew each of them by name and could tell you just where she acquired them (many were gifts from family). While we lived near her, she would let me cut large bouquets of roses to brighten up our humble apartment.

It was she who got me so excited about the fragrances and textures of roses. If I had a time machine I’d love to turn back the dial and stroll through her yard with her again one last time…and hear her stories of flowers.

Pic taken in May last year. My rose arch is just on the verge of being so spectacular again…

iris, originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

Inside one of the gorgeous irises blooming in my garden right now. Loving the colors, textures, patterns. I could gaze at this for hours.

garden, originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

The first peach blossoms of the season. Aren’t they lovely?

GameBoy, in his element., originally uploaded by mind on fire.

right before our eyes. I love it!

Fruits of My Labor., originally uploaded by mind on fire.

We’ve been doing a book audit and re-inventory as we switch from BookCollector to LibraryThing for managing our collection.

I love cleaning, purging, organizing. I love books. I think I should have been a librarian.

If the economy didn’t suck, I might (someday) pursue that dream of mine to own a bookshop/coffeehouse. With overstuffed vintage furniture. And kitty cats. And scones everyday.

disappearing behind catalina, originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

Was just a short distance away from where this pic was taken when I was paddling yesterday, at just this same moment when the sun was sinking.

But I didn’t dare gaze at the sky for too long, because I was wholly focused on the waves (they were big, they were choppy, and I was in the back of the boat which is something akin to being in the back of the bus). But, oh, paddling the open ocean is nothing like navigating the calm waters of the channel. The adrenaline surge is unbelievable and any thoughts of fatigue are long gone as you can only be in that moment, knowing that if you aren’t working as a team, the boat will tump over. (and I have to say that I’m glad there were no cameras around because I think my chin was all covered with drool as I was yelling out the changes, was expelling each breath with brute force to get more torque, and was trying not to swallow any yucky salt water that was splashing into my face)…

This summer I’ll be joining the team on a long paddle all the way out to that little island in the distance. I’ve never been to Catalina, and to think that my first trip will be by my own paddle-power rather than by ferry….it seems too exciting to be true.

lavender, originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

My lavender is so incredible this year–I have two gigantic bushes with big tall wands of purple. The bees just love it and so do I!
🙂

europe trip, originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

Cruising the canals in Canterbury with GameBoy and CatGirl, (and John) in 2004. And oh, how the kiddos have grown up since then!

ranunculus, originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

This afternoon I had a friend over for teatime (read: chat around the table with yum almond cookies & scones while sipping caramel tea). It was such fun to just chat and be a bit giddy.

There’s something so remarkable about having friends sit around our table–sharing food and chatter. I love that I have so many “in real life” friends who feel comfortable in our home…who can drop by and enjoy a crazy-mellow family dinner, who can wash dishes alongside me in the kitchen, and who know each of our cats by name.

I wish all of you online friends could stop by sometime, too. But until then, thanks for hanging out here with me at my virtual kitchen table. And don’t worry about the dishes–I’ll take care of them later. 🙂

These flowers have been adding a bright spot to my table all week long.

blue skies, originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

A pic of the climbing rose vine in my garden that’s about 6′ high. Against that perfect SoCal blue sky.

This afternoon I relaxed in the garden and drank it all in.

Gulp.