Tuesday, June 23, 2009











Wonderful weather for the beginning of summer, in recent years the start of summer has been very damp.

Wimbledon has usually been the signal for lots of rain and once it really starts it would often go on for two weeks just like Wimbledon itself.

It would also rain on St. Swithin's Day which meant forty days of rain so basically often that would be the end of dry summer weather.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Swithun

This year is different and the 21 to 22 June has been very pleasant warm weather, be nice if it were like this all year.

Sadly not in Northern Europe which has in the past been very damp during the summer months something which can get me very upset.

Can get the half empty glass way of thinking instead of the half full glass which I do prefer.

It is amazing to see that perspective has a huge influence on us, guess because we are such emotional creatures.

Have really noticed that if I want to change how I do things I have to do it quite mechanically in order to learn the new behaviour and to start to imprint it on my mind.

Then when it has become something I am used to, when it has become a habit I do not need to make sure I do it anymore.

Was even like that when I decided that I would do my best to live in the moment this moment and enjoy all I can.

Had to initially remind myself that was what I was doing, almost had to say to myself '' enjoy this now ''

Certainly noticed the positive effects on myself but more importantly on Richie and everyone else in my neighbourhood.

Am amazed that looking back now can see that it was actually relatively easy to learn a new habit.

A habit which is good for me, also learned to ask for what I want, and ask clearly, found out that friends appreciate it.

Makes everyone’s life easier and that good feeling reflects back around so everyone benefits twice and more.

Really lovely.

Richie just fed me three strawberries from our strawberry plants, they were small but packed full of taste.

He also told me that the tomato plants were doing very well; he was reeking of tomato as he stood next to me.

Really exciting seems our potato plants are doing excellently too, hope the pepper plant does well too.

Well summer is bursting out all over hope the temperature does not go too mad as then the MS symptoms go abit mad.

Guess that will mean time to put the fan on constantly.

Have a good day I intend to, Marianne will be around soon with delicious things from the Suriname Snadwich Shop.

Will be getting a roll with pom (stewed chicken and cassava) and one with bakkeljauw (saltfish) and both with lashings of pepper sauce and a tin of sorsop or guava juice.

Really looking forward to it very much.

Best bit about today is that I did not wake up until pleasantly late at 10.30 and then my pain was quickly helped to subside with the application of several bags of thc and the baclofen, arm and leg exercisews and leg massage and a beautiful ripe Pakistani mango.

Richie is making lemonade and the dog biscuits he made earlier are in the oven giving the dogs who are waiting in front of the oven hope that they will get some soon.

Life in short is good today.

Have a great day.

14 comments:

Cranky said...

Herrad - it's great how your apartment and patio can support so many plants. Really lovely. Glad you're getting great weather. We here in New England (NE US) have been having cool, rainy weather for almost all of June. Looks to be a record-setter. As long as the improves by mid-July and vacation, that's fine with me!

Have a great day.

Love, Cranky

Herrad said...

Hi Cranky,

Our balcong has quite a few plants, wish we had concentrated on hings we can eat instead of so any flowers.

Just had noticed I had not got the correct tomato plant photo, looked like it had not grown.

Seems I selected the wrong date and put up an old photo.

Hope your weather improves.

Where are you going for your vacation?

Have a great day.
Love,
Herrad

Cranky said...

Herrad - we're going to Maine. Staying in a house with 2-4 other friends. Brand new construction, handicapped accessible (of course) and right on a very large lake. Can't wait.

Herrad said...

Hi Cranky,

That sounds very nice indeed especially by a lake.

Hope you both have a brilliant time there and the dogs have a new place to investigate.

iI have heard it is very beautiful there with lots of big forests and mountains and lakes sounds ideal.

Love,
Herrad

Celeste Maia said...

How amazing that you have so many vegetables and fruits and flowers in your balcony. I liked the photographs. But my mouth is watering with the description of your unusual and delicious sandwiches: pom and bakkeljaw - oh I want one of each too, please!
Also enjoyed the story of your dogs waiting by the oven for their freshly made dog biscuits!
I hope your day continues being good!

Herrad said...

Hi Celeste Maia,

Lovely you came by hope you are having a good day.

We have got potato and tomato, paprikas, hot pepper, strawberries, loganberry and black currant and basilicum, thyme and coriander.

Had our first three strawberries each today,its just for fun which is nice we enjoy it very much.

Love,

Herrad

soulful sepulcher said...

Hi Herrad!

The sun is shining today here, and am about to go take my daughter for an outing. I think that Koda would love to share one of those bisquits with Spike and Marleen!

I hope you have a really relaxing and wonderful evening.

Herrad said...

Hi Stephany,

Hope you both have a good day.

Plenty biscuits for Koda.

Love,

Herrad. .

Gareth said...

Watcha H@R what a wonderfull collection of veg on the go all looking so tasty, Glad to hear you,v had a gental start to your day and its contiued in the same vain. Talking strawberries me picked a load of wild strawberries at me folks and came home and had a Yummy smoothi so tasty. Have also mulched me garden with fresh grass clipping from me folks this will act as a mulch and weed suppresant will gradualy be taken into the soil to give it fibre, Thats the theory anyway. TONS OF LOVE from Paul@Me XXX

Libby said...

herrad, your balcony looks so wonderful! vegetables & fruits can be just as pretty as flowers, can't they? my mouth is watering for fresh peppers & fresh tomatoes!!

Sita said...

Hi Herrad,
You've got mouth watering plants there...I should learn how to grow some....as for that food ..it sounds good...from Suriname? Do you know anyone from Curacao? Two of my best friends from university hail from there and often go to Holland...glad you had a good day...

It is the first hot day here in TO and the city workers went on strike..no garbage collection, no daycare/community centres, no pools...so many single moms rely on govt subsidized daycare to go to work....so many people have lost jobs...this is one of those strikes that the general public has no sympathy for...
I'm thankful to be cool inside my home--no a/c--have a fan going...

your attitude inspires me to be grateful for all I have..
Thank you,
Love, Sita
Love, Sita

Herrad said...

Hi Gareth,
Those wild strawberries sound very good.
Hope the mulching works for you, look forward to photo updates.

Hi Libby,
We are really looking forward to peppers and tomatoes and the potatoes.

Hi Sita,
Lovely to hear from you, I had a good day today hope you did too.
Really good being in touch with you.
It is easy growing things the only thing you have to do is water regularly.

Thanks for your visits.
Have a good day tomorrow.
Love,
Herrad

Anonymous said...

Hi Herrad!!!
Oh those strawberries look so good! Yey for summer and lemonade. I'm having lemonade too, looking out the window in hopes that the mourning doves come back to the bird bath. I would like to try to photograph them again, in focus this time!! You know, habits really aren't that hard to break or start, but sometimes we only see that in hindsight! I can speak for myself on that one. I thought it would be so hard to cut out wine, because I just love it so much, but to be honest, it's been a while now and my food tastes just as good, lol! I spent the day cleaning the house, doing laundry and ironing...I hate housework in the summertime, but I have a bad habit of letting things pile up too! The dogs got their ears cleaned and their nails done too. Tomorrow will be bath day for them! I missed wishing you a good day, so I'll wish you a nice sleep and a good Wednesday morning!!!
:-)

Herrad said...

Hi Rain,

Nice to see your mail just before I go to sleep.
Hope the doves come back too so you can take and post the pics.
You are right habits are not that hard to break they just seem so.

Never thought I would be sucessful in stopping smoking but I did.
My folks always told me I was useless so why would smoking be different??
It was and purely as I hate to be run by something.

Have a good day.
Take it easy as you can.
Love,
Herrad