An Iris + What I’m Watching + Crafting

Yesterday I ventured onto the patio to take a few photos of the iris across the way. It’s so beautiful in its purple and white frilly dress.

I had an iris very much like it at the old apartment.

If I could have done anything, I wish I’d been able to take what was in the 4×6 blue plastic raised bed with me from there. I had purchased it from Gardener’s Supply some years ago and began adding perennials to it on my patio.

The hosta plants had grown so much. A big mound of lamb’s ear had spread vastly. The few irises I had which I believe had all been gifted to me when I moved there in 2014.

I so wish I could have dug them up and put them into containers and found a nice place for them to spend the winter so that I could plant them here.

But I was in so much pain at the time I could barely think straight. I left things behind I wish I wouldn’t have.

It was a bad time to move. But when is a good time?

Stretching:

This morning I got down on the thick yoga mat to do some stretching. Greg didn’t think I was ready for that; to get down on the floor and then have to get up.

But lately in the mornings my back is hurting so bad I can barely walk. I tried stretching while in bed, but that didn’t help. So I felt it was a necessity to at least try stretching on the mat.

And it does feel better to stretch your limbs and soften the strain on your back. Otherwise I could eventually see myself turning to stone, not being able to move any of my body parts.

Wallander:

I watched the last season of Wallander last night. Some may feel it’s a dark show, but I thought it was beautiful really.

Of course not the violence, but it was never in your face. It was what the police found afterward, which is another type of gruesome sadness.

It was as much about the main character as about his job. Kenneth Branagh, who I can’t recall watch acting in anything before now, pulled the role of Kurt Wallander off brilliantly.

Kurt was a thoughtful man. A man who never became inured to the violence around him. Every crime he witnessed seemed to chip at his soul a little bit more.

No matter how many times he saw the spectacle of violence, there was this beleaguered sadness that swept over him.

There were no sex scenes. And now that I think about it, I don’t recall hearing any profanity. Very unlike the detective shows you see that are made in the US.

Kurt Wallander could not understand what made human beings want to harm others. But he could not rest until he brought them to justice, even when, at the end, it struck a bit close to home.

I will miss watching Wallander.

Whitechapel:

Then I started watching Whitechapel. Have any of you seen it on Britbox? I only watched some of the first episode before I want back to the bedroom to read.

Whitechapel is a British police procedural about detectives in London’s Whitechapel district.

They deal with murders which replicate historical crimes, such as a copycat killer replicating the murders of the infamous Jack the Ripper.

I wondered where they got the name “Whitechapel”, so I looked into that.

Originally created in 1270 as a ‘chapel of ease’ at St Dunstan Stepney, the church was rebuilt in 1329.

The outside walls were painted in a whitewash made of lime and chalk, which gave a bright white finish. This prompted local residents to call it “the white chapel.”

In The Craft Room:

I will be starting a series of sorts. It will be called “In The Craft Room.” And I will sit at the yellow table doing crafts/DIYs.

I’ve been writing little notes on pieces of paper about which crafts I want to make. Decoupage, embellishing garden pots, and other ideas I find my mind churning about.

Some I will have done before, and some I will be learning how to do.

Basically I will be doing makeovers of objects to transform them. I’m certainly not in the category of the craft and DIY bloggers, but I’m going to be giving it a try.

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  2. The photos of the irises are beautiful. Mine have been growing so fast in this last week of way above normal warm weather, but they are far from sending up stalks and setting blooms. We broke records a couple of times the past several days with temperatures in the 80s, our average temps this time of year are in the 50s. Right now it is 76 outside. We are expecting rain later this evening and then, possibly Sunday, we could get slushy snow – up to a foot up north (couple hundred miles away from where I live) and maybe half an inch to an inch of slush/mush where I live. The ground is dried out and warmed from the weeks’ extreme temperatures so whatever snow we get around here will melt quickly. I am worn out from cleaning up the yards. There is still more work to be done cleaning out the remainder of garden beds, I will be tackling them shortly with a rake and my gloved hands. If we do get rain and then snow (the forecasts around here seem to change hourly in this “new normal” of climate change) I want the remainder of the beds at least raked out once. With the warm streak we’ve had everything is popping up prematurely, so I can’t wait to try and clean them out, soon the plants will be too developed to safely try and rake over and around, as I don’t have one of those “mini” rakes to fit into tight spaces. Oh well – back outside for me.

  3. I think we always leave things behind that we will later miss, when we move…seems to have happened to me too in all our moves. Most moves come upon us rather quickly, although generally I have had some advance “feelings” that one was on the way prior to the move. Glad you have lovely plants from the neighbors to enjoy though…seems you are in a place better suited to your needs etc.

  4. Beautiful irises!

    I don’t know how in the world you got back up off the floor with your bad ankle. Please be careful. I know what you mean about stretching on the yoga mat though – it feels so good!

    Looks like I’ll be in for more PT…saw my ortho dr and had a MRI for my right shoulder. Two partial tears and severe bursitis. This getting old stuff stinks sometimes.

    It’ll be interesting to see what you create at your yellow table!

  5. Brenda,
    Just an fyi place your cell phone near when you get down on floor just in case you can’t get back up on your own. I am 85 and try to keep mine close
    Claudine

  6. Thank you so much, brenda, for the beautiful photo of the Iris! Had them at last 2 houses, but not this one, and I really miss them.

    I always enjoy your gorgeous photography and can’t wait to see what crafts and DIYs to come up with!!

  7. You will probably enjoy “young Wallenberg”, it’s the prequel to Wallenberg and is about how he started out in the police force, I’m thinking it was on PBS.

  8. I can’t wait to see what crafts you make! The terra cotta pot the other day was so pretty. Maybe you can try your hand at that. She used napkins, but maybe you can try a sheer fabric. And I can’t wait to see how your bowl fillers turn out, that you were gifted. I love irises too. They are so beautiful! I love purple, so I’m particularly fond of them. About your stretching, do you think you could do them from your chair or couch? I’m worried you’ll get stuck on the floor and hurt yourself trying to get up. I’m sure Greg can show you some safer ways to stretch. Stretching is so good for your body. I can understand why you want to do them. Judy please be careful!

  9. That iris is gorgeous! I hope things are sprouting more and more on your patio, as well.
    Be gentle with yourself and the stretches. Sometimes we want to feel better than we do and overdo what we know has made us feel better in the past. Just be careful.
    You know I’m thrilled and excited that you’re going to start crafting. Especially while sitting at your yellow table by the window.
    I was able to check of my list one of the things that’s been extremely concerning regarding my health. There’s still a BIG one we’re dealing with but in a month, I’ll know more and can hopefully check it off my list, as well.
    Enjoy your Fri-YAY!!!

  10. I think the iris is beautiful. Just wish they lasted a bit longer. I think British TV shows are well made too. Take it easy on those stretches. Don’t overdo. We know how you are! Have a lovely day. Spring is wonderful and energizing!

  11. I like to stretch in bed at night and in the morning but it does limit you to certain movements. Overall it is healthy to just stretch – in any way that you can. Even just for a few minutes. Your insurance might also cover some massage appointments if they are deemed medically necessary and I believe yours could be because of your extended rehab. It might be worth a call anyway. The bearded iris’ are showy and beautiful – they are a masterpiece of the spring garden:-) Remember the past but live in the present and look to the future – what you have and can do now and also what may be. Hope and optimism are essential to our happiness. I love the idea of a craft series – what a great idea! And you have the perfect room for it now:-)

  12. Please check out White Cottage Company on YouTube. Mary is Amish and transforms all sorts of things, has a beautiful yard with flower beds,with a pond, and 2 cats. I think you will love it. It will give you inspiration. Have a good day.

    2. Oh, I’ve watched the house plant video and been over to their Etsy shop. I’m getting ready to watch her spring home tour.

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