May Flowers

May Flowers

I’m sure you’ve heard the old adage “April Showers Bring May Flowers.” It’s been a cool and wet April and I am happy to report that there are lots of colorful May flowers blooming in my Pie Cottage garden. Right now I’m waiting for dear friends who I lived next door to in another city, to arrive for a long overdue visit. Since it’s May Day, I’ve brought a few of the blooms in and set them in an vintage glass milk jar. I have tea and shortbread ready for the start of our visit, a casserole ready to pop in the oven, and pears and chocolate (but of course!) for dessert.

I’ve lit what may be the last fire of the season in the wood stove and have the windows open to adjust the heat. I think there is no heat as luxurious as wood, and forgive me here, but I LOVE to have fresh air in the house at the same time. Call it one of my guilty pleasures. Tonight, rain or shine, we’ll have a fire outside to celebrate May Day, too. 

May comes but once a year, 
the dancing month,
the sky light and high,
the birch trees bursting.
May-daisy time,
and cowslip
and primrose
and harebell
and dancing anemones.
Deep down in the meadow grass,
they’re all dancing
with delight,
lily-of-the-valley
nodding,
ringing her bells, 
the silver trunks
lordly and slim,
their branches and slivery twigs
dancing
too
to the tune of Spring. 
—Elsa Beskow (from Around the Year)

P.S. I’ll post the recipe for the yummy casserole tomorrow.