Sunday 19 April 2009

Half way there.....

O.k... Hands up who of you start blog posts and never get around to finishing them..?
How many times have I started to tell you about recent events, outings.. general musings, storing them away for a time when I can write them down.. but ending up with a drawer of half finished blog posts that never quite make the grade..
The last few days.. have been a series of half finished memoirs... I have been in contemplative mood and not only are my days filled to the brim with thoughts about this and that and everything else.... but also are my nights as I seem to be a regular visitor at the 3 a.m witching hour party.. mulling over the worries and general lists of the day ahead..
This weekend has been no exception and a busy one in the mind department...
My son has been absent from home... roaming the wild and rugged moorland of Dartmoor as part of his Ten Tors training... I in turn have been a bundle of nerves and worries as endless nightmare scenarios have played out in my mind... will he suffer from hypothermia, will he get struck by lightening.. will he be the latest supper for the beast of Dartmoor...? Well he will no doubt roll his eyes at me and my crazy fears when he returns to a hero's welcome in a few hours and I will be faced with the more sobering task of a muddy pile of washing... though it is always possible that he has lived in the same clothes for the last three days.
Mr Custard and I hurtled down to Dartmoor in the wake of my boy.. to stay with a good friend at the village of Drewsteignton.. our regular destination.
I knew it was folly to think that I might just bump in to Master Custard on our travels across the moor from Totnes ( where I was to meet up with some lovely ladies..( more about in a blog post coming your way soon) to the beautiful valley of Fingle Bridge along the river Teign.. but it did not stop me peering like a hawk at every little matchstick figure that we saw on the moor.
As we approached the huge stone mass of Haytor.. we saw a group of figures ... ant-like.. upon the top of the Tor.. and my heart skipped a beat.. could that be my boy in the distance.. surely not.
Well on closer inspection we found evidence of his party in the car park below.. a mini bus with the name of his school....
I had to hold on firmly to the coat tails of Mr Custard to prevent him from racing up to the top of the hill and greeting my boy which would have resulted in one very red faced child and one mortified mother....
We tore ourselves away and I took a snap of the group just in case he was amongst them.. to show him on his return. It helped to ease my worried mind for a while.. feeling that we had seen him.. possibly!

To while away the time today... and divert my neurosis elsewhere.. I have pottered.. and pruned and planned and made a Pavlova...
It never ceases to impress me how nature plays 'What's the time Mr Wolf' ... by creeping up behind me.. the plants in our garden have blossomed and bloomed and there is plenty in bud whereas a few days ago they were just small shoots..
Would you care to join me for a short stroll around my garden.. as seen this afternoon in the sharp sunlight of a beautiful day...
I will stop prattling on now and let you roam in silence amongst the flowers...
Please excuse me whilst I go and look at the clock and pace up and down until my boy returns...Apple blossom time....Tulips and cherubs....
Milly Molly Mandy as we like to call it.... Alchamilla Mollis...with diamond dewdrops...Pickles ..... my under gardener...Shuttlecock ferns... fresh green coils unfolding...Tulipmania.. comes to our small plot..Forget me not....Down the garden path....Over the hills and far away..

30 comments:

Shabby Chick said...

I hope your boy is back safe and sound very soon, and probably full of adventurous tales! Your garden is looking lovely, we just planted some forget me not seeds and I'm hoping they will come up as they are one of my favourites.

Mel xxx

Deanna Bland Hiott PhD, MSN, RN said...

Ohh, I can so relate. Love the pictures. He will be back soon.

Sarah said...

I don't think we'll ever stop worrying about our children regardless of what age they are! I love gardens at this time of year, the start of a new season and new life - wonderful!

Simone said...

I too have a son and know just how you feel! I did a garden post today. We have had awful weather here but the last two days have really picked up and the garden has burst out all over!!! Your Pickles looks like a lovely kind boy unlike Gizmo over at my Mutant Trees latest blog post!!!

Sam said...

Look at Mr pickles! So sweet!
And HOW nice is your garden and view...

I don't have children , but my husband is going to Africa for a couple of weeks soon, so I think I will be pacing backwards and forwards too....

Oh the worry!

:0) Sam xx

Clare said...

I'm sure your boy has had a whale of a time..as a teacher I know what good care and preparation has to be done before a trip goes ahead..he'll be back safe soon for a well deserved hug!

Whitney-Anne Baker said...

Ah, that never gets any easier, you'll just have to be really nonchalant when he gets back. Lovely ,lovely garden photos. And next time you get to Totnes, let me know cos I'm only just down the road in Brixham!

OhSoVintage said...

Stunning photos of your beautiful garden. We used to have loads of the alchamilla mollis in our previous garden but I never knew its name. I love the way the dew stays on it leaves. Forget me nots are one of my favourite flowers too. Wait till your son goes to Ibiza with his mates! That's when the sleepless nights are worst!!!
Ruth x

LiLi M. said...

Being worried about your boy is just in your genes. You cannot help it. I know all about it. When he is back safe and sound it is forgotten, until the next time...Your garden looks so lovely. I cannot see garden posts.
I have lots and lots of photos that didn't become blogposts, I don't even come as far as you do!

Teena Vallerine said...

Trusting that Master Custard and his muddy laundry are safely home with exciting tales to tell! My what a steep plot you have! Couldn't he have stayed home and done his ten tors training there?! (although not with a busload of young chaps to trample your lovely flowers!) I am lost in admiration for your restraint in just taking a photo of his group. I would have been running up the hill with a flask of bovril and a hotty bottle for him! Well done! t.xx

Dana and Daisy said...

your garden is looking warm and lovely already! how did you do that?

Ragged Roses said...

Are you buried under a mound of muddy clothes, pavlova or delicious spring blooms I wonder? Hope all is well with the Custards and Master C has returned triumphant and safe and sound
Mx

Funkymonkey said...

Your garden is looking really good. A little further south and everything seems to be further ahead than here. Hope young Master Custard didn't bring back too much mud with his washing.

Tracey

THISNTHAT said...

I know just what you mean about the 3.00am thing! I always used to say that there was only one 6 o'clock in my day and now I frequently get two 3, 4, 5, and 6 o'clocks!! That's when I mess about on the computer but also why I make less sense, if you see what I mean.
The best strategy, I find, is to write down what is on your mind and then you have permission to go to sleep & forget it :) Lesley XX

Sam said...

Thankyou for visiting my blog!
As I work full time for a publishers my work isn't any where else but on greeting cards and stationary..but I think I will have a go at a little blog shop!!

I have been visiting your blog for ages now - really enjoy reading it and love your work too!

Love Sam xx

Sal said...

Gorgeous pics!
These sons do give us a hard time now and again,don't they ?
;-)

Rosie said...

Lovely pictures of your garden and of course Pickles. I know exactly what you mean I seem to spend my life worrying about my boys even though they are grown up now. They tell me not to but I think it's something we all do as a mum. Like you I just try to keep busy. x

Rubyred said...

I know exactly how you feel, my son is working on his Duke of Edinburgh award.He'll be taking part in a two day trek soon!
Thank you for the wonderful tour of your beautiful garden,I love it!
Congratulations on being mentioned in the paper too.How exciting!
Rachel x

thevintagemagpie said...

Hi Michele, I thought I recognised that mound of rock! My children love climbing Haytor, with daddy I hasten to add, as it really is not my bag!! I'm sure your boy will have a great time, but I know how it feels, that shallow breathing that occurs until they return home! Your garden is looking gorgeous xx

Oast Farm said...

You made me laugh so much when writing about your son, we thought we were the only ones who fret when our lovely boy is away from us (I have vowed to travel to all his teenage festivals with him in a Cath Kidston tent and wellies but i'm not sure how he will take that when the time comes). Hope he gets back fine and happy - enjoy that first hug and sleep better!!! xx

A time to dance said...

Oh your garden looks lovely...and what a view...I have huge huge dark trees oppoite us and a road!...I know what its like waking and worrying about our little blessings...although I wake at 4am...just late enough to think I wont bother going back to bed as I get up at 5.45am...i am sure he will return to you saf and sound with lots of washing....

Redwoodhouse said...

Your garden and view is stunning spring is such a pretty time....and yes I so relate to you and your concerns does it ever stop I wonder....
Jan

this is my patch said...

Both hands are in the air! Thanks for the lovely tour down the garden path Michele. Those green fingers will definitely be back in business! Mr Pickles really is a fine looking boy cat. x

Anonymous said...

If you had needed any help or reassurance then you could have called upon me.
I could have waved to your son from my garden.
He wouldn't have been able to see me as I live in a different area. lol!
Only kidding as we are close to the foothills of the moors and Haytor figures prominently on our skyline.
The weather was most excellent for his exercise.
I loved the views of your garden and the lovely blooms but in particular the blossom.
See you @ the fayre, time is marching on.

Unknown said...

I think I've spent my entire life worring about things boys do: my brother jumping over huge expanses of water and barbed wire, and now my own son scales huge heights of very flimsey-seeming trees and builds the MOST prcarious 'obstacle courses'!One can only hope extreme sports go out of vogue...
Lovely pics and thanks for your comment on the old chaise longe...I felt it needed some appreciation: think my Dad would probably light the bonfire with it if he could: old = out to him!
x Philippa

Joanna said...

I'm afraid I would miss you at 3am I'm awake at 2 and 4 but will wish away your nightmares so you can get some sleep,hope master custard made it back safely, lovely sunny pictures

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

I trust your boy is back , safe and well ....and starving! My youngest is 27 and I still fret ....it's become a family joke !

A Bun Can Dance said...

Hi Michele! I'm sure you've dealt with the muddy clothes pile by now and probably onto a new batch! I'm thinking about the bloggers afternoon tea get-together and thought maybe the second half of June might be a good time? Maybe let me know what is good for you? I'm leaving a comment for all those who showed an interest. Can you email or leave a comment over at mine, and I'll get back to everyone (my comments come to my email first). Happy weekend! Denise x

A Bun Can Dance said...

Hi Michele, me again, thought I'd just post a clearer and hopefully easier to understand (!) message about the afternoon tea. My first message seemed rather rambling!! So here goes:
I'm catching up with everyone who's shown an interest in the bloggers afternoon tea! How about sometime in the second half of June? Maybe you could leave a comment over at mine, it will come through to my email first and then I can get back to everyone. Let me know what suits you - weekdays? weekends? location?
Thanks! Have a good weekend!
Denise

Vintage to Victorian said...

Hi Michele

I'm sure your boy is back home now and you've forgotten all about the scary nightmares. I read your post a while ago but didn't have time to comment and forgot to come back!!

Thanks for thinking of me with sky photos. Shall enjoy seeing them.

Hope you're sleeping better now. I'm waking up at least twice every night at the moment so don't feel refreshed when the alarm goes. Am intending to be in bed in the next half hour or so which will be very early for me!!!

See you soon.

Sue xx