Just a quick post to wish you a Happy Weekend — a long weekend here in Canada and perhaps where you are as well. For Canadians, Monday is Victoria Day, a reminder of our colonial past when we celebrated the birth of Queen Victoria on May 24th. It’s a movable date these days, the Monday before May 25th — but this year it will fall on that long-reigning monarch’s actual birthdate.
Traditionally, it’s the date Canadian gardeners are advised to wait for before planting out anything “tender” — frost and even snow are unlikely after May 24th, but before that? My sister in Northern BC says they had a “quick wet snowfall” earlier this week, so . . .
The weekend is also traditionally an occasion to head to “the cottage” for those lucky enough to own or rent one, or to pack camping supplies into the car and head off to a nearby lake, seashore, or mountainside. . .
But this weekend we’re all being asked to stay put. Numbers here in BC are dropping encouragingly, but this pandemic isn’t over yet. Still best, here at least, to stay local, keep the circles small and maintain distance, and meet up outside rather than in. With some relaxation when all meeting up are vaccinated. . .
Okay with me, although I’ll be pleased when we can travel just a bit further. Right now, there’s ample enjoyment to be found in my own neighbourhood — cheery yellow “weeds,” to more cultivated garden specimens, to whatever street trees are flowering splendidly above me as I walk (chestnuts this week, as you can see).
I’ll be spending some time inside as well, re-organizing this newly configured blog. Did you notice that I managed to set up Categories — those “boxes” across the top? Still working on re-categorizing and re-tagging over a decade of posts — it’s going to take a while! — but I’m already pleased to see a clearer focus.
Unfortunately, the MailChimp email subscription service has hit some kind of glitch, and after last weekend’s post landed in your mailboxes, Tuesday’s doesn’t seem to have been seen out, and I’m guessing this one may not be either. I’m trying to get some help with this, but not sure how long that will take. Until it’s fixed, I’m hoping you’ll pop by to check for new posts occasionally, just so I’m not mumbling to myself in the corner 😉
What about your weekend plans? Can you tell me one thing you’ll be doing to Take Care of You? ’cause that’s really important, you know? My own plan is to set aside worries about email subscriptions because I’m doing as much as I can for now. Meanwhile, I’m stopping to breathe deeply when I remember — and I have a massage this morning to deal with the crick/knot in my neck from too much time at my laptop. . . . So what’s your self-care plan for this weekend? Any tips?
xo,
f
A dinner a a lovely French restaurant with all immediate family members present. To celebrate my, and a I have just learned, Queen Victoria’s birthday! A tad early so all can be included.
Author
Happy Birthday, Darby! What a wonderful way to celebrate — Queen Victoria would be so pleased 😉
This new format is a visual delight, I must say. What will I be doing to take care of myself this weekend…buying new red nail polish. Mine has reached the stage of gloop and so I will see if I can track down the same shade. And hoping the rain might stop though little chance, I fear. Hey ho.
Author
Isn’t it an improvement, Annie? I’m so pleased!
Red nail polish is the perfect pick-me-up! I wish I were any good at all at applying it myself. . . Have to say that all that rain does seem to be working a treat on your garden!
Additional Victoria Day fun: we call it the May Long Weekend, or ‘the May Long’ as in ‘are you going camping on the May Long?…we swam in the lake on the May Long back in ’03!…it snowed on the May Long…
Self-care inside and out, up down and sideways has been my primary activity for the past year+, so just more of the same this weekend, but oh how I long to get out and do something with my cared-for self (mumble mumble third wave mumble government incomptence mumble mumble).
Love the new format (even the font of the comments is more elegant). Was thinking of you during the transition although any advice I could give would be too large-scale to be useful. I did recall an early lesson not to start a 4 am to midnight conversion day with sweet pastries, I can still feel the thud of that 7 am crash…
Author
I’ve heard this usage, but not much here in BC, at least not at the Coast . . . probably because much of what the Rest of Canada is celebrating — the long-waited release of winter’s grip — just isn’t as evident here. Only the most cautious of gardeners here wait until the 24th of May to do their planting-out. . . and the latest I remember snow is towards the end of April, shocking! 😉
Wise of you to have made a regular habit of self-care (just speculating here, but I think we inveterate readers might have a leg-up on this one). Hope you can get out soon.
And thanks re the new format — I love it! Must say I could use you looking over my shoulder giving some sage advice with a few niggling problems. My reading skills are strong, testified to by letters after my name, but technical language defeats me. . . .
Today is my father’s birthday–109th. He died just after turning 72–a very long time ago now, but remembering him with gratitude.
This weekend I will be picking up my DD from the airport (in a couple of hours) as she returns from a week long business trip to San Diego. Had her DS with me overnight for the week. Not sure which of us is more tired, but I’d guess her since she put in 90 hours of work over five and a half grueling days. Must finish clearing out bathrooms tomorrow as the trades are to show up Tuesday to begin demolition–two bathrooms (one at a time)–each scheduled to take about two weeks, assuming trades and supplies all show up on time. Both are complete gut jobs. Once those are finished, then all the house doors will be replaced–interior and exterior (+storm doors), including all the closets. Let’s just say I won’t be lonely for the next month or two.
You’re correct in assuming no email arrived, but I have no problem finding you as your site is saved on my computer. Will just check as needed. Don’t worry!
Author
Being remembered with gratitude . . . a good way to have left, if too early.
That’s a crazily busy weekend and sounds exhausting — to be followed by a month of construction noise, stress, and dust. But an exciting transformation ahead! May that vision sustain you 😉
I am here via the email from MailChimp. Yah! It worked. We always called the May long weekend Victoria Day weekend down east. But I was amazed when I came to eastern Ontario that many people called it the May 2-4 weekend. As in “let’s go first camping on the opening weekend of the season and bring along a 2-4 of beer.” Ha. Then again we didn’t call a box of 24 beer a 2-4 downeast, either. That was a flat of beer to us. That 2-4 of beer is why many of us give camping a miss on the May 2-4 weekend. Too many 2-4s being consumed by young campers. Ha.
Author
I was SO pleased to see that email had gone out!
I remember reading a post by The Yarn Harlot quite a few years ago wherein she explained that they called the weekend the May 2-4, and she added the information about the 2-4 of beer. All foreign terms to me although I’m a fellow Canadian. . . In fact, on our Coast, at least when I was growing up and perhaps until 20 or so years ago (Oh Gadzooks, but I’m getting old!!) we called it the Victoria Day weekend here as well. And I don’t believe we could buy a flat of 24 beer in BC at the time; liquor laws were draconian here, and beer could only be bought by the dozen . . .
Well we are all speaking English here but not quite in the same way . May long …May 2-4 ??? We say May Bank Holiday ( next weekend ) which is probably a mystery to many of you & even some of us . We had snow for May Bank Holiday in 1976 which then became our longest hottest summer on record . That’s British weather for you . Hope it’s not snow this year . We are going to a family BBQ .
Author
I love these regional differences in language. As you say, we’re all speaking English, but not quite the same way. Snow at the very end of May would not be a good surprise! Luckily, it’s not very likely, right? And now I’m trying to remember a novel I read some time ago, set during that very hot summer of 1976. . . .
Frances, could it have been Instructions for a Heatwave?
Sue, ha ha, we never called the long weekend 2-4 but we had 2-4s of beer, then we didn’t (too much temptation in one box?), then they reappeared. I think my mother called Victoria Day the 24 of May.
Wendy, it took me awhile to realize all the ‘longs’ were called Bank Holidays for you. (For yes! We have the July Long, August Long and September Long as well. Outside of summer we call things by their real names.)
Author
No, but I’ll put that on the list. I looked up the one I only vaguely remembered — but remembered as quirkily charming. It’s by Joanne Cannon, The Trouble with Goats and Sheep.
FYI – email for this post arrived 5/23 8:09am. So it seems they finally have the email delivery working again. Happy days for you.
Author
Thanks Mary! I’m so relieved this is happening. 😉
I did receive an email with a link to this post as well as the previous one, so that seems to be working now.
Here in Alberta, this weekend is most commonly referred to as the May Long Weekend or just the May Long. I had planned on planting flower beds this weekend, but we had temperatures below freezing several nights this past week, so I’m going to wait a few more days. In the meantime, the bedding plants are outside during the day and back in overnight. Thankfully, we didn’t have any of the snow or hail that surrounding areas had this past week, so that’s something to be thankful for!
I’ve been feeling rather blue over the ongoing Covid restrictions and missing time with family, especially the grandchildren who are growing up so quickly. A bit of self-care is definitely a good idea. Perhaps a Netflix movie and a glass of wine are called for, but first I’ll go for a walk.
Author
Happy you found your way here, Elaine — but sorry about that weather. You gardeners east of, well, us, are stalwart types, having to coddle your bedding plants almost to the end of May . . . of course you’ll soon have warmth and sunlight that we Coast-dwellers will envy, and you’ll probably be slicing your homegrown tomatoes into sandwiches long before we are.
I feel the same way about missing so much of the grandchildren’s lives. And I’m probably going to follow your mood-busting (at least mood-abating) prescription for a walk and then a Netflix evening, just as soon as I’m finished this cup of tea. Take care. . .
Got the email also. Glitch be gone!
Self care this weekend. Gave myself a mini facial. Cut large hosta leaves for a vase for the table. Invited a friend for a long walk at 11 a.m. today, then for lunch at home. We talked and laughed and talked, and talked some more and she left at 10:45 p.m. never thinking that many hours had gone by. So, self care through a long visit. Both of us stunned, absolutely, when we finally looked at the clock.
A. in London
Author
Oh, that visit sounds so very replenishing! I’m delighted you had that!
And thank you for the hosta-leaves-in-a-vase inspiration. I’m going to try that soon.
Monday is a holiday here, too, although rather related to the Christian feast of Pentecost (like Easter Monday). The day we assume may bring the last frost of the year is May 15th, the day of Saint Sophia, also known here as “cold Sophy”.
As for self care: we had two friends over for dinner (that was within our local Covid rules: up to 5 people from 2 households) and shared the first asparagus of the season.
Author
Poor Sophia. . . at least she has wisdom 😉
Having friends over for dinner — and celebrating the season’s first asparagus! — very good self-care indeed. We’re waiting for the word that this will be allowed soon for those of us vaccinated, at least. . .
Love the new format Frances. well done on embracing the change .
Author
Thanks for the encouraging words, Caryn!
This is beautiful. Love the font of your title! Also, the layout seems more colorful. Wonder if it’s the placement of your photos in this new layout? And, as you say, more organized and easy to read. Well done, Frances! I have always loved your profile photo and like having it “nearby” as I read. Recently, I also saw a closeup photo (2nd favorite) where the lighting on your face and hair is so complimentary. ❤️
I’ve always hovered in the background but with this new layout, I thought I’d add an additional test for MailChimp by (finally) adding myself to your email list. Forgive me for this late arrival but do know that I have avidly sought you out and kept you in my iPad blog space. Now, we’ll see how MailChimp handles this!
On this upcoming Memorial Day weekend here in the States, we are open to whatever arises! After a recent (remarkable) back procedure, husband is still using a walker. So things are quiet but our home is set for possible visitors. Never a dull moment in this location closer to family and church!
Author
Thanks so much, Charlene, for all the kind words about the blog (and my photos ;-)).
I’m delighted you’ve followed me here and so pleased that you’ve subscribed — I hope MailChimp treats you well and keeps you visiting.
Also delighted that your move continues to have been a good move — and that your husband is recovering well and, with his walker, mobile. Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend!