During my three weeks away, the hortensia (hydrangea) finally bloomed. I was beginning to despair, as our late winter had gone straight to summer, skipping spring entirely. This is the sixth summer the hortensia has thrived on the balcony - despite lashings of high winds, storms and an accidental dousing of toxic cleaning chemicals, bright pink blooms always manage to emerge from the soil. I find that reassuring.
On this lazy summer Sunday, have been sipping cucumber water with mint, reading a hard-to-find magazine, writing a blog post, watching the French Open Men's final (won for the fourth time running by the young Spanish hearthrob Rafael Nadal) and doing as little as possible requiring actual physical effort. Now I must drag myself across the street to Longchamp for my usual five miles around the racecourse perimeter. Wherever you are, hope you're enjoying a lovely Sunday!
Your hydrangeas are gorgeous, Tara - they look like summer personified! ~xox
Posted by: tinker | 13 June 2008 at 09:38
Hydrangea's are one of my very favorite!
Posted by: Madeline | 11 June 2008 at 22:53
Hydrangeas are my favorite and these are lovely! So glad you are having a relaxing weekend. I spent part of Sunday in the basement with tornadoes -- day three of scary weather! I like yours better! While I was in the basement wondering if I was headed to Oz, the phone rang -- it was my friend from Paris, coming for a visit! How excited I am!
Posted by: Jeanie | 10 June 2008 at 19:42
Beautiful hyrangea!! I'm finding that after our brutal winter my garden is coming up quickly and very lush -- some things that haven't bloomed in a few years are up and full and everything smells so much stronger than it ever has!
Posted by: sherry | 10 June 2008 at 03:36
Well, are you glad to be back, or what? Do you miss us at all? Did you leave any part of you in San Francisco? Do you have Southern hospitality in Paris? Grits, or cornbread? Did you breathe a sigh of contentment to sleep in your own bed again?
You have a beautiful daughter. Congratulations to you all!
Posted by: pepektheassassin | 10 June 2008 at 00:59
NO you can't call it a lazy summer Sunday then go and do five miles around the racecourse perimeter :)
Posted by: Di Overton | 09 June 2008 at 19:32
What a neat thing to walk the perimeter! You smart gal. Cucumber with mint, I must remember to get mint. I think that combo would be awesome.
Our Sunday was spent river-side on the Trent, we took the kids and dog for some shopping and icecream. The height of lazy days!!!
(We lost our soccer match last night, and had to play in the rain!!!)
xoxo
Posted by: Gillian ~ Indigo Blue | 09 June 2008 at 18:52
Beautiful hydrangeas - I lost one that never bloomed and I planted a new one this year. Now that I think about it, I planted it near the same place - probably not a good idea. Oh well, too late now.
Five miles is your "usual" walk? How often!? My goodness, I was feeling very smug about one to three miles about 3-4 times a week. Clearly by Parisienne standards I'm slacking.
Posted by: Laume | 09 June 2008 at 08:26
Wow, it's gorgeous! I've always loved hydrangea.
Posted by: Carla | 09 June 2008 at 08:14
Your hydrangeas are gorgeous! I've just recently realized how many beautiful colors there are. They're in the running for my wedding bouquet - love them.
Posted by: deirdre | 09 June 2008 at 05:57
Sounds like a lovely Sunday afternoon, we were actually hoping Federer might take it...but he was not even in the game....oh, well, yes, that Nadal is a cutie!
Beautiful hydranga, mine are always white.
Posted by: stephanie | 09 June 2008 at 04:58
An "avalanche" of beautiful hydrangeas to celebrate Rafael Nadal's victory.
I love them both!
Thank you, Tara!
Posted by: Marie-Noëlle | 08 June 2008 at 19:44
My hydrangea finally bloomed also, after no blooms for over two years! I'm not going to cut it back any more. It seems to do better just left alone. Beautiful colors!
Posted by: Rosa | 08 June 2008 at 18:25