ALL THE UNUSUAL SUSPECTS...

Let me tell you about more 

of my unusually beautiful hydrangeas.

 This bush sits in 

an ivy clad corner of the Secret Garden 

and it has never gotten more

 than two or three blooms

 per season before.

  It starts its day 

in the cool shade,

 looking full, pretty and bright.

  By noontime, however,

 the hot sun hits it

 and it droops and looks like 

it is coming apart at the seams. 

 The first time we noticed it 

looking like that,

 we ran for the hose

 and thought we had lost it for sure.

  But,

 when evening comes around, 

it makes an unusually 

remarkable 

recovery.

I never started out 

collecting pitchers 

but, over time, I've noticed 

that I do have quite a few. 

 I really like using them 

for flower arrangements.

  On a recent trip to

 Home Goods, 

I saw this beauty...

...a little unusual 

in its decorations,

 with the look of spongeware and stenciling 

that I adore,

 with some real 

farmhouse charm thrown in.

 As I reached

 to place it in my cart,

 I noticed an old familiar pinch

 in my lower back.

  

It registered in my head,

 but I didn't feel the results 

until the next morning.

I have been hobbling around 

for the week

 not being able to straighten up. 

 When it gets like this,

 I just can't walk straight 

and the more I bend

 the worse it feels.

I just have to 

take it easy and 

let it run its course. 

It is almost a year to the day that it happened the last time.

 Just before we were getting ready 

for the Country Sampler

 magazine shoot.

The pitcher 

feels an unusual responsibility,

 even though I say 

it is my own fault.

 It was me, after all,

 that wanted to go to 

Home Goods 

in the first place.

I gave it 

a bouquet of these

 unusually beautiful hydrangeas 

to try to uplift 

its spirits,...

"We may think 

we are tending our garden, 

but of course,

 in many different ways,

 it is the garden

 and the plants 

that are nurturing us."

Jenny Uglow

...and 

I think it

 might be 

working.

...Judy...

  Sharing today at:

Keep in Touch at Let's Add Sprinkles

and

SYC Thursday at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson