Something a little cooler

Greetings,

It occurs to me that until I get into the habit of updating to this blog I will be inexcusably slow and infrequent to post. So, in an attempt to stave of those guilty feeling I'll have for not writing for so long (last post March 25th, oh dear) may I offer out a blanket apology for being inconsistent/unreliable/quiet, and if you'll allow an uncharacteristic Americanism, tardy ;O) That should lighten my shoulders for a few posts at least so thank you for your indulgence, and now let's continue...

It's been hovering around 32ºC here during the day for the past several days, and if the forecast is to be trusted will continue like this for another week. For a pale, fair haired, fair skinned female not used to much heat I've been casting my thoughts to earlier this Spring when things were that bit cooler. Here's what it was like when the garden was waking up and I didn't yet need factor 50+ sun lotion and a hat to be able to work outside.

Above, here's our view from upstairs down towards the village. Taken just after the abundant mud had re-solidified and the hillside greened up. It wasn't long before the buds started swelling and the birds started twittering - very welcome sights and sounds after a winter that hit -28ºC (and more about that later folks).

Here are some welcome, sunny daffodils from my neighbour, plus some willow sprigs from the local, impermanent stream, currently running thanks to the snow melt.

The hazel bush is off to a slow start but here come the leaves and more catkins.

I wish you could smell these lily of the valley flowers and zdravets - здравец - leaves. Clean, sweet, a little spicy and pleasantly pungent. Zdravets plants, properly Geranium macrorrhizum or scented cranesbill, have long had a special place in Bulgarian folk lore. Giving of a bunch of zdravets to someone is a symbol of good wishes and goodwill, and offers protection to those setting out to travel or engaging an import undertaking (from Mercia Macdermott's Bulgarian Folk Customs which I highly recommend to those who are interested).

It seems like long ago now, but the cherry blossoms were a lovely part of Spring. Now we have almost ripe cherries on the tree that we hope to make into juice for winter. That is, if the woodpecker and his pals leave us any! With a bit more pruning and TLC we should have an even better fruit set next year.

I'd love to have a Morello cherry, or six :O) in the garden one day, just like grandma used to have. There was nothing so nice as a big spoonful of Mama's morello cherry jam, mmmmmm.