After two solid weeks of festivities and celebrations, this morning I’m looking down the barrel of a quiet week of regular programming. We had our dear friends as houseguests this weekend, which always feels like a holiday, and then we hosted a barbeque for about thirty people on Saturday night.
It was such a great time with wonderful people, and I achieved my lifelong dream of having a Nifty Fifty sheet cake.
Friends, the weather here has been gorgeous, so much so that I actually planted my tomatoes, peppers, and basil. I know. I know! I’m walking on the wild side, danger is my middle name, etcetera. But the forecast is great and the worst case scenario is that I would have to cover the garden beds in the event of frost, which seems unlikely at the moment. My arugula, spinach, kale, and cilantro are all up; I was low-key fretting that my zucchini and butternut squash hadn’t made an appearance, and then suddenly they both burst into life. My zinnias have sprouted as well, and now I’m just waiting somewhat impatiently for my onions and nasturtiums. Why aren’t they up yet? I asked my son, who calmly reminded me that I had planted those seeds less than a week ago, and that they may need a little more time.
Is this about to become a garden-centric blog? Yes, probably. But isn’t it just amazing, isn’t it just AMAZING that you can put a seed in the ground and then it becomes a plant? Yes, I know this is how the horticultural world works. But still! It feels like a miracle every single time!
Speaking of miracles, Michelle (HI MICHELLE) had mentioned a book called Simple Abundance: 365 Days to a Balanced and Joyful Life. As soon as she mentioned it I knew I had to have it; usually I would start a 365 day book on January 1st, but a) I didn’t want to wait that long as I purchased the book in March, and b) I thought it would be fun to start it on my birthday. It’s a really wonderful book and I highly recommend it – along with Michelle’s blog, which brings me so much joy I cannot EVEN. Sometimes when I’m feeling glum or blue I will go to some of her dollhouse posts and just look at them until I feel better. I recommend this course of action for anyone who needs a little pep in their step these days.
Weekly Reading
In addition to Simple Abundance and a book that I will surely be talking about at length in the future, Radical Acceptance, I finished three books this week.
The Flatshare. This was such a fun, cute rom-com! A woman answers an ad for a flatshare – the trick is that she is only in the flat in the evenings and weekends, and he is in the flat during the day (he works the nightshift). So they go for a long time without meeting, only communicating via post-it notes. You know how it ends – happily! There is a great cast of characters and a lovely, chosen-family subplot. This was so enjoyable and fun to read.
Rental House. I really enjoyed this very quirky book about two couples who come from very different backgrounds: one is a Chinese immigrant, the other left his small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains, they both met at Yale. It really explores two sayings: a) you can’t choose your family, and b) when you marry a person, you marry their family. The first half was wildly funny and I couldn’t stop laughing. The second half was more poignant and moving. I found so much of it resonant, particularly the sense of duty that one can have to one’s family, while at the same time being exhausted by that sense of duty. Family of origin versus family of creation, how can they coexist? It was a great read.
Watermelon. The day a woman has her first baby, her husband tells her that he’s leaving her for another woman. This book starts off with a bang! After this shocking news, she goes back to Ireland to stay with her family, and all is going smoothly until her husband comes for a visit and attempts to reconcile. This is a long book but it doesn’t feel long, it’s a pretty quick and easy read.
Speaking of gardening, don’t you just love these wildly insane flowers? Our landscaper planted them in the fall, when we were in Italy, so I had no idea what to expect from them. At one point they looked like tiny coconut palm trees. I’m here for this weirdness! Have a wonderful week, friends. xo
Ha ha- who made that cake? I love it. Sounds like you celebrated in style!
Yes, danger is your middle name, but I appreciate your audacity (and hopefulness) is planting your tomatoes, peppers, and basil. Why not! YOLO! I’m sure it will all come out fine.
Simple Abundance sounds good- I want to hear all about it! And- those flowers are wacky for sure. Your landscaper obviously likes to think out of the box. I love them.
Jenny, my husband bought the cake from the grocery store – but he told them what to write!
Hooray for gardens! I am well behind you garden-wise. Over the past few days I planted cucumbers, parsley, sunflowers, and zinnias. I also have some herbs that overwintered (rosemary) or are coming back from dormancy (chives). And we have some cilantro coming up in a pot where it must have self-seeded last fall. I always like it when the garden starts itself without waiting for me to get around to it.
Oh wow, I thought you’d be a month ahead of me at least! I love self-seeders too, and my perennials are so fun to watch emerge.
Those are very cool plants. I wonder if deer eat them and if they’d grow here and what they’re called. I’m into planting a new garden plan this spring, have been tweaking everything. Also happy birthday again. You’re doing fifty up proud.
Ally, you’ll be happy to know that deer do NOT eat them. In fact, they are apparently “deer repellants.” Who knew? Not me! But they are called fritillaria and they are bulbs related to lilies.
I read and enjoyed Flatshare but didn’t like Rental House as much as you did. I liked the first half but then the book kind of fizzled from there for me. But I am glad it worked for you!!
Wow, you have had very busy back-to-back weekend! Whooey! I am glad you have some quieter times ahead to catch your breath, although your weekend sounded very fun! Those flowers are amazing – I’ve never seen anything like that! And I will live vicariously through all of your gardening tales. Have you read “Animal Vegetable Miracle”? I am thinking you have – but if you haven’t, you should!
You know what, Lisa, that book has been on my TBR for like ten years, I think it’s time I pull the trigger! Putting it on hold now!
Yes, it was a super fun weekend but wow, things have been busy!
I would like to read all these books! I was subbing for a grade 7 science class on Friday and the assignment was to research ‘weird plants.’ Fun! I thought of these plants you had posted and almost messaged you to find out what they are called. Do you know??
Oh yes, they are fritillaria, the Crown Imperial kind. They are a bulb, related to lilies. Aren’t they fun?
Seeing all the plants come to life is such a boost to the mood! I only recently became a gardener, flowers only at this point, but I love watching stalks grow, leaves appear and flowers bloom. Your flowers look so tropical – made me think of a hula skirt 🙂
I read Simple Abundance when it was first published in 1995 on the recommendation of my sister. We were both at home with our children at the time and the daily meditations were a good way to start the day.
The author was a staple on Oprah at the time and her story after the book was published is an interesting one.
I thought it looked like a hula skirt too – with a wild hat on top of it all! I love gardening so much, and it’s just so great to see everything emerge in the spring. Right now all the flowering trees are blooming and it’s just so pretty!
Oh I will have to look up the author and what her life was like. This is the most updated version – 2019 – but I don’t know much about her personally. Off to look!
Gotta love the Rex bookmark – makes every book better!
And those flowers look like something out of Dr. Seuss!
Isn’t that bookmark great? My son made it for me!
Thirty guests is no joke! How did you handle the food? Did people bring something, did you hire a caterer, or what?? I’m asking because we are hosting my husband’s team in July and if ever comes, it will be 40 people and I’m low key freaking. The weather better be good!
I cannot get over those flowers! I’d expect to only find something
Ike that in the tropics. Such beauty. How long will they last?
You find the best books! Thanks for more recommendations. Back to regular programming, but Hello Summer!
Bijoux, for the food my husband BBQed veggie and beef burgers (mostly beef, only like 3 veg) and then I bought a bunch of bagged salads from Costco. Easy to put together! I also had big bowls of chips and snacks, plus a platter of pitas and veggies with hummus and dip. It was plenty, along with the cake. I’d recommend that approach – pretty low stress. I’ve had similar sized parties and another thing we’ve done is that my husband has made a big brisket or pulled pork, then just salads and such on the side. It feeds a crowd!
The flowers are fritillaria and I’m not sure how long they will last but they’ve been going for a few weeks now!
Nicole, you are so sweet to mention me, and I’m so happy that you’re enjoying the book, and that my dollhouse posts give you a boost on gloomy days. Your blog posts and your comments always give me a boost too! And look at you, nifty at fifty! (What a great cake!) That photo of you with your wine glass, in front of beautiful, green scenery – you look amazing and happy!
I looked up some info. about your flowers, and I think they’re called Crown Imperial. They’re supposed to help repel rodents and deer. They look really cool and they’re “working flowers!” I am here for your garden blog all summer long!
Yes, they are fritillaria, the Crown Imperial kind! Everything in our garden (the unfenced garden) is deer-resistant, and so far so good – they haven’t munched on anything yet!
Thank you! I feel very nifty!
Yay! for happy gardens and nicer weather. It’s going to be super hot here today, so I wore a summer dress and sandals. #noregrets I’ll definitely have to wear something warmer for the rest of the week, but today I am partying like it’s July. Happy birthday, my nifty friend!
The Flatshare is such a good book! I’m glad you enjoyed it. I gave it a 5/5 stars and rave about it to anyone who will listen.
Dress for the weather you have is my motto – so rock those sandals and sundress!
I really enjoyed The Flatshare, it was just fun!
Oh Nicole you are so amazing! I love the picture of you holding the wine glass. So much joy!
Whew thirty people is quite a lot, I am sure you handled it with much poise and creativity.
This flowers are something else… So pretty yet otherworldly…
Thanks Daria! It turned out to be a great party!
I’m so glad you had such a fabulous birthday celebration! I love me a sheet cake! And I want to hear all about your garden! Spring is finally here! How much joy it brings!
I love love LOVE sheet cakes! Especially with icing flowers!
Yay for spring! What a lovely round of bday celebrations.
It was so much fun!
In sum, Ms. Nicole MacPherson, what you’ve planted this year so far include tomatoes, peppers, basil, arugula, spinach, kale, cilantro, zucchini, butternut squash, zinnias, onions, and nasturtiums. And yes, I think I can feel the livelyhood of the flowers in the last image, and they also look to me like they have quite strong stems.
I also think that it is great that you found books this week that are great reads.
And no, I had no idea that having a Nifty Fifty sheet cake is one of your lifelong dreams.
Thanks very much Yukun!
I’ve been holding myself back from planting too early, but we’re having extra warm and sunny weather here too. I guess it’s a perk of climate change? Though I would glady put up with cold, wet springs if it meant we weren’t burning our planet to the ground.
Yes, there’s that, isn’t there! Right now it’s a bit cooler and rainy, but definitely not frost weather.
Great photo! You look radiant, happy and great in that dress! Happy fifty! Also did you realize you were reading two books with household related names one after the other?!!
As for Keyes, I think I gave most of the Walsh family series a two or three stars out of five. Okay but nothing special. I liked her Under The Duvet and Further Under The Duvet the best!
I didn’t realize that but now I do!
I liked Keyes’ The Woman Who Stole My Life, but this one was just okay, I thought. Maybe I’ll try the duvet books!
I love the first photo so much–it’s just so joyous! And your crown lilies are amazingly tall! Wow on both!
Love the non stop birthday party-ing… Don’t stop now!! Finish out the month :)!
Hahaha I know, but…even I am starting to get a bit tired! My liver could also use a rest!
That photo of you is magical, Nicole. I love it so much! What ARE those plants? They are very fancy!
So excited for all the garden talk!!!! I haven’t planted anything yet, but I do somehow have some cilantro coming up in my pots, which is a delightful surprise.
Suzanne, they are fritillaria and you too could enjoy them – the deer don’t go near them!
Do you know what those flowers are called? I am so curious. I planted most of my winter garden—broad beans, peas, ruby chard and some radish—before I left for the UK so I hope that by the time we get back in a month they will be growing well. When I am home I will need to pull the tomatoes out and I think I’ll just get some seedlings of kale for that bed.
Yes, Melissa, they are fritillaria, a member of the lily family! I’m sure your garden will be doing great – how long are you gone for?
Oh goodness, those grown imperials are amazing! Now I want some for my husband’s birthday, because they look like they could be in Star Trek, and he is a big fan of that kind of thing. Like everyone else, I love that photo of you! You look so beautiful and HAPPY.
Wow, 30 people? That’s a lot, was it pot luck, or did you cater? I think I would cater for something that big.
I planted a lemon seed in the dirt in a little pot on my windowsill, I was curious to see if anything would happen. Unlikely, it’s been about 6 weeks and I haven’t seen anything. And I did nothing special for it, didn’t germinate it inside or anything.
I know, aren’t they nuts?
I didn’t cater or do potluck – it was a super casual BBQ, so my husband just did veggie and beef burgers, and then I bought a bunch of bagged salads from Costco. I had chips and pitas with dips, etc., and it was plenty without being much effort.