Diverting grief…

I haven’t blogged much lately as you can see if you look back.

Part of the reason is Mum’s passing, and working one’s way through life with Grief sitting on the shoulder does tend to take up time…

So does sifting through an estate. One’s mind is on so many other things that the simple act of being creative really just doesn’t cut it. Being creatively writerly that is…

Because that requires mental dedication and one’s brain is a little bit occupied.

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I’ve found that embroidery is soothing, requiring no great brainpower, but like meditation, redirecting one’s brain into gentler thoroughfares.

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The other thing that I’ve been doing is building on the framework of my tiny new city garden. Spring has shown me that it’s getting there, that the perennials are starting to expand and the annuals are filling in the gaps with showy brilliance.

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White hellebores…

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White tulips…

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Black tulips (sold as black but really magenta – damn it!)…

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Dwarf Japanese maples coming into leaf…

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The birdhouse untenanted…

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Clematis busting (I was so worried about this one as it was on its last legs at House but I transplanted it and it seems to be thriving)…

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Climbing roses (white) behind their protective armour against possums…

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The top of our old farm windmill with Huldane and Arctic Queen clemmies climbing up…

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Fairy Magnolia just planted…

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White primroses very happy in front of a fledgling white hebe hedge…

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Weeping silver pear coming into blossom…

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Lawn in front of the house in need of a mow…

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Bank at front entrance to the row of little townhouses in bloom…

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Dog photo-bombs the Manchurian Pears…

Ah, sometimes, the gentler things in life are indeed the staff of life.