The beautiful moments are often arrived at through a circuitous journey of challenges.
In other words, life.
A thing to be much valued.
On a stroll through the garden yesterday, the GrandToddler reached out and plucked 3 blooms from their stems. Back in the house just before our Mother’s Day lunch began, she walked up to each of the 3 generations of mothers present and handed each person a flower.
Then she looked around at her dad, grandpa and great aunt and decided they each needed a flower as well. So back into the garden we went. This time, I followed behind a very determined 3 year old and watched her choose and pick the flowers.
It’s been a beautiful spring – cool, which means the blooms last longer. And in case you’re wondering what that cage is doing among the pink and white bleeding hearts, yellow daffodils and pale pink tulips – it’s to protect the bleeding heart plant from rabbits. They like some of the tender stems in our garden.
Until I took the above photo, though, I didn’t realize that the front garden in spring is very colourful, but the back garden is more subdued. The white trillium below (Ontario’s provincial flower) grows in patches and occasional singles throughout the back garden.
I must have planned it that way and forgotten.
Or maybe not. Such is the life of a forgetful gardener. Makes for delightful surprises every spring.
Whatever the reason, there are patches of both white and blue flowers throughout the back garden. Below is one of my favourites: the forget-me-not, which self-seeds so prolifically, I think of it as both a perennial and an annual. It grows between stones or wherever it pleases.
It’s been a rough few months but I’m so glad to be alive. Among my happiest moments is time spent with our grandchildren. Did I tell you we have a second granddaughter now? What a sweetie. And so alert. She’s been grinning and “talking” back to us since she was 8 weeks old. Lifts the heart.
As I did with the GrandToddler, I plan to start taking her on walks through the garden before long.
Life is made up of many and varied moments. On one end of the spectrum, some are brutal, yes. Trust me: I know. But many are beautiful.
Flowers from a grandchild, and grins from another, rank right up there with the best of them.
I hope you are doing well,
Cynthia.
Cynthia Reyes 
Beautiful flowers
I have been thinking about you. Sorry to read that the past few months have been rough. But very glad to read that even so there have been beauty and joy in your life. Congratulations on the new grandchild. And your description of the toddler grandchild is delightful. As always, I so enjoyed seeing photos of your garden.
Lovely to hear from you as usual, Laurie. Thank you.
It’s amazing to be feeling human again after such a rough spell. Giving thanks daily.
Hope you, Clif and loved ones are all well.
Thanks, Cynthia! So very glad you are feeling better after such a rough spell.
I’m totally impressed with a three year old with that much awareness of others. Belated happy mother’s day.
She amazes me at times. We are all so thankful for her kind, and at times humorous, self.
Thank you for responding and I wish you well.
Will check in when I can.
Wishing you a happy and healthy Spring/Summer.
Thank you for the update, Cynthia. I’m sorry to hear you’ve had a rough couple of months. I can just picture the scene with the GrandToddler. What a thoughtful and loving child. Congratulations on the new grandbaby, exciting news for your family. Forget-me-nots are a favorite of mine as well. They remind me of my mother.
How lovely to hear from you, Liz. Thanks for the kind response.
Sorry I’ve been such a bad blog-pal – but now you know I’ve been barely keeping my head above water.
will check in when time permits.
You’re welcome, Cynthia. No apologies needed! Life comes first.
Moments of joy come in the most unexpected ways. Thanks for this beautiful post that spells out some moments of joy for you that you have shared with us. You have a marvelous recipe: grandchildren, flowers, Spring, Nature awakening. Yes, Still. Alive. Blessings.
Thanks for this beautiful reply, dear Paula. After the winter and early spring we’ve had, I’m giving double thanks for all the good things.
Such a sweet grandchild. I hope you are feeling better and the garden helps. Mine has gotten me through some rough patches.
Yes. Their smiles, the things the toddler says, and just being around them. It’s such a joy.
Good to hear from you.
How wonderful to have two granddaughters and such a caring grandtoddler too! I remember how much I saw and noticed when my girls were tiny. Enjoy your walks of discovery with your grandchildren, Cynthia. I hope you are feeling a little better after so much illness ❤
Thank you, Clare. We are almost all feeling much better now.
It’s true that we see things we wouldn’t notice – the little ones make us stop and notice.
Hope you are all well, my friend.
Thank you, Cynthia. We are all recovering from our very first Covid experience. We are all still very tired and I still have a cough but we are much better than we were and are no longer infectious. Hurrah!!
Congratulations on a new granddaughter Cynthia, you must be thrilled to have another baby girl join the family. I loved hearing about grandtoddler choosing and gifting her flowers.
Thrilled indeed. She’s a sweetie.
Mind you, we’ve already had many sleepless nights, but nothing compared to the parents, so we’re doing our best to support them.
I’m glad you have strolls through your garden with your granddaughter and beautiful flowers to lift your spirits. Happy Belated Mother’s Day Cynthia. 🙏
Thanks very much, Brad. I trust you are with your mom and that she had a good one too.
Will check in soon.
Yes, I’m with mom fumbling through the process and grateful for the time together.
Congratulations to all on the arrival of your new granddaughter. We, too, have had a rough year so far, but the garden and our spirits are rising with the sun and our third (and last) grandchild is now toddling lopsidedly round the garden, grinning with delight. Granddaughter has earned her mini gardening gloves planting potatoes and grandson has planted the broccoli and helped me erect the netting round it.
Wow, Hilary! That’s what I call the progress of the little gardeners. I picture them and it’s a lovely sight in my mind.
I’m sorry about the tough times.
As it turns out, you’ve been on my mind a lot so I must get in touch. Meantime, enjoy those grandchildren, my friend.
What a beautiful post Cynthia. Congratulations on the new Grandbaby! Isn’t that a wonderful word! Grandchildren are joy and now you have it multiplied. I am very sorry you have had some difficult times and hope the future is full of flowers, and grandaughters who give them to you! Much love დ
It is good to see you again, Cynthia. Flowers for everyone! Where there is life and love, there is hope. Many blessings to you and your family, dear friend.
Thank you, dear Lavinia! My best to you and the family.
Fantastic garden and plants!
I’m late with everything this year, got some injuries again.
I somehow missed your posts or maybe just like me you didn’t get a chance to post much.
Anyway, I hope your long weekend runs smoothly and nicely!
Love those photos and I am sorry to hear you have been through the mill recently. That’s pants. On the other hand, it brings your positivity into relief. I am truly convinced that happiness is a state of mind, and the gift of happiness is the gift of being able to look at the world around us and pick out stuff to be greatful for. You may not feel like it but from over here it looks like you are very good at that! I am glad things are a bit calmer now and congratulations on second grand child. That’s awesome!