Spring in Strange Times – In a Vase on Monday

“One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.” – William Shakespeare

Welcome everyone, I’m Bec I’ve been away from my blog a little while now but I thought I’d get back into the habit of taking photos and writing.  I’m a gardener, an outdoor enthusiast, and a bit of a geek.  I have osteoarthritis but yoga, mindfulness, and crafting help my wellbeing.

I have nothing particularly profound to say at the moment; we are living in very strange times here in the North West of England in our little home, with its north-facing back garden, right by the Bridgewater Canal in Salford. I am focusing on the moment, on nature, on kindness, on the activities that bring joy to my soul – crafting, mindfulness, cooking, photography and gardening.

I started this blog just over five years ago, I’ve gone through times where I took photos and wrote blog posts often and times when the blog was in winter hibernation (like me). One of the things, I came across a month or so into my blogging adventure was In a Vase on Monday run by lovely Cathy from Rambling in the Garden (www.ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com).  She has a simple premise to pick flowers from our garden or your locality and put them in a Vase every Monday.  People join in from all around the world, the flowers and foliage differ, and the ‘vases’ most definitely do – have a look through the links below her post as I guarantee it will lift your spirits.

I can’t tell you how much joining in with IAVOM over the years has helped me; I looked through the posts even when I was too unwell to garden.  The gorgeous flower combinations gave me ideas for my own garden, I got advice and help on a myriad of gardening issues.  Everyone is so kind and helpful especially about what to plant in our little north-facing garden.

This week Cathy has white narcissus and different hellebore to mine in a very cute Caithness glass – www.ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com/in-a-vase-in-monday-dodecahedral

If you want to see some of my flowers and vase collection over the last few years have a look:

• In a vase on monday

If you’re at home and have access to a garden why not join in.   I am 🙂

In a Vase on Monday – tête a tête daffodils, hellebore in Spring

Here’s my contribution, I can see the hellebores and tête a tête from my sofa – they are lifting my spirits in our lockdown.

I was fairly organised last Autumn and planted a lot of extra daffodils and also bought two new hellebores – this one starts with green flowers which turn to white. I need to venture out into the garden to find out what it’s called.  Both hellebores and daffodils have appeared in vases before too.

• hellebore
• tête a tête – in my first ever In a Vase on Monday – In a Vase on Monday – tete a tete daffodils and mini iris

The picture has appeared a few times around my blog too.

• Worm moon – 9th March
• Pink moon – 7th April
• Flower moon – 7th May.

Pink moon is nothing to do with the colour of the moon.  It is because in Native American folk law, it is named after Moss Phlox (Phlox subulata) which covers the ground in early April.  I have some Phlox which are nowhere near flowering here in Manchester.

Hellebore – my first one – still going strong after five years. My mum gave it to me

Our situation

In many ways, we are fortunate we are both still getting paid, have our little house and garden, greenery on our doorstep, and despite our long-term health conditions, we are both well.

I’m concentrating on staying safe at home with my Chap, helping and supporting my family and friends near and far.  I’m also helping the charities near to me in this great city who are supporting vulnerable people in poverty, in insolation and far from family and friends.

Fortunately, my physical health is good at the moment – there are major benefits for me not having to commute to work.  I’m working from home, in an interesting and useful role in these challenging times. My Chap’s company is closed down for the foreseeable, but he has plenty to keep him occupied at home – and he can run every day if he wants.  I hope he can continue running.

Resilience

“Resilience is accepting your new reality, even if it’s less good than the one you had before. You can fight it, you can do nothing but scream about what you’ve lost, or you can accept that and try to put together something that’s good.”
Elizabeth Edwards (1945-2010) US attorney, a best-selling author and a health care activist.

My mental health and wellbeing are good, it has been for a few years.   However, I do have a great deal of experience of being at home; I have been unwell twice over the last five years which meant I could rarely leave the house or garden – fortunately; I came out the other side.  I developed such resilience, reconnected with mindfulness and found many ways to cope with these profound, ongoing changes in my life.

I’ll write again soon about what I learnt about living within enforced boundaries – and what I discovered what helped me – it may help you.

Meanwhile, I have seeds to plant… but don’t feel you have to do the same.

Find the things that lift your spirits, stay connected with the family and friends you love – but it is OK to be scared too. Follow the experts and the evidence 🙂 #stayathome #washyourhands #protecttheNHS

Stay well my friends,  Spring is here

much love always

Carpe Diem,

Bec xxx xxx

P.S. there will be more writing and photographs in 2020 – life got very hectic in the 2nd half of 2019 – I’ll write about that too another time.