Why the post is titled thus I have no idea – but I changed my mind – ladies are (I believe) allowed to alter their brain thoughts on occasion … are they not?
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| Edward Lear's A Book of Nonsense giving us limericks (The Father of the Limerick) |
A limerick – I often start one and then it fades away into ellipses many – to start us off …
There was an old man
from Brill
Who designed a straight
garden rill
Pebbles were scattered,
water filtered through
Fledglings flocked in
Sparrows, robins and
songbirds all
Came to drink from the
old man’s drill.
Then a little post-tale …
as it’s summer in this island … we have rain, we have mist, we have
strawberries, we have cricket, tennis, even football … we have had to entertain
ourselves closeted in … and so it goes …
A garden rill
Some friends let me know that their newly built rill is keeping them occupied … a fishing net to hand with a long-handled broom help their days along rearranging stones to make bird bathing hollows for sparrows, robins, blackbirds, magpies and wood-pigeons …
Roses in Regent's
Park, London
June is finished – the next
half begins … we hope for more freedom – I’m staying relatively put – I’d like
some more sun … but our roses are blooming heartily …
We have a family birthday
this weekend – it’s a family picnic time … this time at a famous church, across
the fields from the house …
These are packed and flown by
first class post around the UK
… I ordered some Scented
Pinks from Churchtown Farm, St Martin’s Island, Scilly Isles – they grow
scented flowers all year … narcissi for winter and pinks for summer … for the
birthday girl.
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| St Martin's Island with the summer sun |
The website is
interesting … showing the Scilly Isles, their flowers, while the farm videosare delightful …
Just enjoy – savour the
scent … it is wafting around … so wonderful … let’s all have an easier next six
months.
Hilary Melton-Butcher
41 comments:
Enjoy the picnic!
Thanks, now I know what a rill is.
Oh I look forward to an easier, and warmer, next few months and those blooms look so beautiful I can nearly smell them from here. Go gently Hilary and enjoy the birthday party - we've been doing more catching up with friends and going out for coffee - great to see people.
Here's to an easier six months indeed.
I adore pinks and plant more each year.
Enjoy the picnic - and the roses.
@ Alex - I will enjoy the picnic .. thank you - and am glad the pic of the rill has enlightened you!
@ Fil - oh gosh don't we all wish for an easier time ... and can relax a little and enjoy these roses ... I can't wait to see and smell the pinks. The birthday picnic will be fun ... it always is ... family, dogs and sometimes ponies. Wonderful to read you're getting out and about and meeting up with friends ...
@ EC - thank you - a happier six months for us all would be just wonderful. I know I grew some pinks in South Africa and the scent was intoxicating. The roses are everywhere ... while the picnic will be fun ...
Thanks so much all the best to you all - cheers Hilary
Perhaps I need to think of Lake Junebug as a garden rill, although I've never seen a bird approach. It would be nice if they did. The roses are beautiful.
Love,
Janie
Your summer sounds identical to ours, Hilary. I love the idea of organising the rill. I can imagine long hours of entertainment there. Enjoy your family get togethers and I hope you get to talk of more mice and men :)
Hari OM
... hmmm I need to add flowers to my next grocery order!!! We've actually had sunshine and warmth up by the Hutch. It won't last. But I'll take it for now! YAM xx
An interresting post
Yes, I certainly hope for an easier second half of the year too. I hope the birthday celebration is wonderful.
Half the year gone already...
This year is going by too fast. I love your photos. They’re beautiful. Have a beautiful evening.
www.rsrue.blogspot.com
Half the year gone already? It's flown by, too busy by half, and I think most of us here on the Pacific northwest would gladly donate you a bit of sun :)
The rill is a very attractive way to introduce water into the garden, without having to create a pool or lake. Does the rill lie on a slight angle? Is the water refreshed regularly?
There is a woman named Hilary
who much enjoys her frillery
when I asked her why
she said with a sigh
it makes me feel so thrillery
(apologies)
Enjoy the picnic Hilary and the wonderful scents of summer and roses
I do like a picnic; hope you enjoy it!
By the way, do you know that book about early German porcelain manufacturing, Of Meissen Men?
CLICK HERE for Bazza’s suspiciously spasmodic Blog ‘To Discover Ice’
Now I know what a rill is, thanks. It’s always a great time for a picnic. Hope you have a wonderful time and happy birthday to your family member.
I have to admit that I was unaware that the water feature was called a rill! A lovely Summery piece Hilary, I hope you have an enjoyable picnic!
Lovely summer breezes wafting over your picnic - hope all the good aromas fill the air.
Hard to believe it is July 1st already. Things are very back to "normal" in Texas, and I hope you folks get freer too.
Take care, enjoy the birthday celebration for your family, and keep rambling about.
What a lovely post. Who knew they could mail those gorgeous flowers? And I had to look up 'rill'! Hugs to you.
@ Janie – you could … it’s probably a natural rill – and I’m surprised the birds haven’t appeared. Thank you – the roses at this time of year are wonderful …
@ Val – I suspect it is … it’s been pretty miserable over here – as it was for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012. Yes where they had the idea of a rill for their new home I’ve no idea – but obviously a successful choice in these pandemic days.
The picnic is coming together and the ‘pinks’ have arrived, and smell gorgeous I gather. I think there’ll be more Mice and Men – after Bazza’s comment below …
@ Yam – that’s wonderful … I saw some peonies in M&S recently – love those, and then Sweet Williams too … but these Dianthus are so delicious smelling … so enjoy what you can find. Glad the sunshine’s come out … it’s lovely here today and I’m appreciating the sea-breeze.
@ Jo-Anne – thank you …
@ Anabel – I know I do hope this second half of 2021 sorts life out for us and we can get some degree of normality back in our lives – it’s been challenging. The picnic will be fun …
@ Liz – I know a whole six months’ gone …
@ R’s Rue – thank you … nearly your 4th July … so enjoy your weekend and the bbq …
@ Ian – good to see you … we’ve a bit of sun today – so I’d rather not have yours – way too hot …!! Hope it cools off for you …
@ Hels – the garden rill is simple and straight – but my friends are obviously enjoying theirs. I guess there must be some form of slope, while the water could be recirculated – but I haven’t seen it, so can’t comment any more …
@ Susan – the limerick is just brilliant – way better than my Brill one … I shall regularly recycle it … so am really happy to have it here. Absolutely no need for the ‘apologies’ – I’m honoured …
The picnic will be fun … and the churchyard has roses growing around it … just hope the weather holds …
Thank you again for my ‘There is a woman named Hilary’ … so chuffed!
@ Bazza – we’ll have fun picnicking either in the churchyard or at home …
I hadn’t heard about the book ‘Of Meissen Men’ but I’ve ordered it to read – sounds intriguing – and of course another post to tie in at some stage – thank you!
@ Mason – yes … I wondered how many would know what a rill was – but would be interested to know.
Summertime and picnic times – always good … and thanks re the birthday wishes …
@ Keith – live and learn … as we tend to – for those of us blogging. Thank you – I needed something light to write about … it’ll be fun picnicking in the evening sunshine …
@ Joanne – we’re inland, but I’m sure the breezes will brush by from the Downs … I gather the ‘pinks’ smell totally gorgeous – wish I was over there to smell them.
I’ll keep rambling mentally or actually … thank you.
You’re lucky all is “normal” back in Texas … I guess it’s the smallness of this land that hasn’t help curtail the Covid thing …
@ Jacqui – it was fun to write … and yes at Christmas the narcissi are just amazing to have – while being told about the ‘pinks’ I thought ah ha a good prezzie – which they are, I gather …
Didn’t I explain rill well enough … but at least you now know! Thank you …
Cheers to you all – I gather the flowers are scenting profusely through the house – so I’m looking forward to get a whiff or two on Saturday … also looking forward to the picnic in the churchyard … thanks for all your comments - Hilary
Enjoy the birthday party, Hilary. I hope the sun will shine and the food and the company will both be delicious. We have been so restricted by COVID for so long that any excuse for a get together is worthy of celebration. The idea of providing watering holes for the birds is a great idea. You know I will applaud that! As for limericks I can brilliantly and quickly create the first four lines and without exception get stuck coming up with the fifth! I doubt that will ever change. How about this:
There was a dear lady named Hilary
Who never was placed in the pillory.
She was lovely and pure,
A model of allure
Now it's up to you to add the final line!
I hope you enjoy the celebration.
I can add 'rill' to the words I understand - thanks.
Hilary, I Googled “rill” to learn more about this word. Thanks to your photo I see it is a ‘garden rill.’ Beautiful flowers help us think beautiful thoughts. Especially scented flowers. A friend and I spent a morning at the Butchart Gardens two weeks ago. A delight. The Gardens were closed for three days this past week due to the heat.
Hilary, you have inspired me to sift through the photos I took of the gardens. Yes…an easier next six months. Hugs.
Cheers to an easier next six months, Hilary!
@ Thanks David … not so sure about the sun – but we’ll be fine – still a picnic, even in the house if it’s bucketing!
Yes – the birds must be loving the bathing facilities in their rill – not sure whose rill – the owners or the birds!
Limericks … gosh, they don’t come easily – however another happy one for me to think about … I suspect my brothers would think otherwise about your thoughts … as to the ‘last line’ … I shall be contemplating during the day and will come back.
@ Dan – thanks … the ‘pinks’ arrived early and so are already being appreciated.
Great that you’ve added ‘rill’ into your vocabulary drill!
@ Erica – thanks … I thought I’d described it sufficiently – especially with the photo … but do understand the need to clarify – my way too.
I saw you’d been over to the Butchart Gardens – they are lovely … I went a couple of times and loved them. Interesting they closed the gardens because of the heat.
Oh wonderful … that you’ll be sifting through your photos of gardens – remembrances of beautiful visits. Six months – I do hope will ease up …
@ Donna – I so agree … an easier six months ahead … not sure about that!
Cheers and thanks for commenting – I’ll be back re that last line for the limerick … brain needs to get into gear – all the best - Hilary
Nicely said, Hilary. Let's all take it easy the second part of the year, and be good to ourselves. I hope you enjoyed what sounded like a great day. Lovely photos.
India this time round is well-prepared, unlike after the first wave. And a lot many people have got vaccinated by now. Hopefully, the 3rd wave isn't as bad as the 2nd wave was.
Enjoy your family birthday!
Take care.
Beautiful pics.
I love floral scents. I want to get some Lily of the Valley and Tea Olive.
Take special care.
Enjoy the picnic. Those flowers are beautiful!
Enjoy your family holiday. I love limericks, though I can't or have never tried writing them.
Limericks are fun, aren't they, Hils?
I can’t believe half the year is gone already, but I’m looking forward to this second half. I hope these next six months bring you much happiness, Hilary!
Another lovely post, Hilary! You had me at "scented pinks"
Sounds like you're enjoying the season to its fullest.
Fascinating, the garden rill. Such a carefully structured thing for a garden!
@ Silvia – thank you … I do hope the second half of this year releases us all … in fact the picnic didn’t happen – it rained!
@ Pradeep – so glad India is organised … I think we’re meant to be – but …..
The family birthday get together was lovely …
@ Sandra – I love true natural scents … lily of the valley and tea olive sounds ideal – which I’d never heard of it … so thank you for mentioning it …
@ Sandra – we had the picnic at their house – a big enough one … and the flowers looked wonderful when I got there …
Limericks are wonderful to read, or listen to …
@ Rachna – Limericks are such fun – and I’ve one to finish off here … they are not things I can get quite right …
@ Chrys – I know already six months’ gone … and thank you – it’d be great to have lots of happiness for us all through the rest of the year …
@ Deidre – scented pinks – they were wonderful to see … so pleased I sent them as a present – perfect for my SIL …
@ Lynda – yes things keep happening – even though I haven’t escaped Eastbourne … my reading does that for me …
@ Rebecca – the Rill came from the Persian Gardens, and from the earlier empires … I need to write about them a bit more … delightful garden accoutrements …
Thanks so much for you all – cheers Hilary
Once again you've educated me. (Flash back to Pond Pudding) I didn't know those beautiful garden water features were called rills! I must find a way to use this new information and impress some friends.
We're having the lot this summer. Biblical rain and cool nights. :-) Fab post. Thanks.
Greetings from London.
I only got one rose bloom this year. It was white. Pink carnations are my favorite flower though. I hope the next 6 months are better than the last 6 too. I can almost smell the hope :)
Beautiful flowers and rills combined with a cheerful limerick to describe the essence of summer! I'm sure you enjoyed your family picnic, as you spread sunshine wherever you go! Take care, Hilary!
Julie
@ Lee – yes I well remember ‘Pond Pudding’ – that was fun … I’m going to write more about Rills: they are really educationally interesting too …
@ ACIL – yes the Biblical rain and cool nights are still happening … a British summer – ah well … the plants are gorgeous this year …
@ Donna – lovely seeing you … only one rose bloom – glad it was white for peace! The pinks generated a delicious scent. I sincerely hope life is going to ease up …
@ Julie – delighted to see you – I’m on my way over. Limericks – I must finish David’s … while this year our plants and blooms are quite amazing to see. Actually the family picnic happened at home … it was very damp … so we resorted to an outdoor home picnic.
Thanks so much for coming by and commenting … it’s always great to see you – cheers Hilary
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