Always June
Grady celebrates his first June with MeMe and PaPa at the Virginia Beach Boardwalk, 2014.
“I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where it was always June…I feel that it would take me a long time to get tired of it, if it were all as charming as today.”
— L. M. Montgomery
There’s a good reason Anne’s sunny personality has won the hearts of so many readers for over 100 years now. And who can disagree with her about June? I’m guessing that even in the southern hemisphere it’s an agreeable time, more temperate than the months that follow.
We can only wonder with Anne what a perpetual June might be like. I suppose the closest we’ve come to it was during the years we lived in Hawaii, but even there, we learned to recognize that there were seasonal changes to enjoy.
For Anne (and for us here in Virginia) June is definitely worth celebrating– and you still have a couple of days more to do it. I hope you can take a few minutes today to savor whatever the climate might be bringing your way. Whether your June is bringing you carpets of green grass, sunshine, flowers, wind, rain, or something else I haven’t mentioned, I hope today is the charming kind of day that you’d not tire of for a long time.
One year ago today:
Defeat Despair 
Hi MeMe, this will be short. My surgery went well but didn’t take away all the double vision. Everything else is okay and I will see the doctor on the 16th. I don’t know what it will be then. May take so adjustment on the left eye. I love Grady’s picture, enjoy him as much as you can, they grow up so fast. I will keep in touch. Love to all. I’m a Mimi.
Thanks for checking in Carolyn, I had been thinking about you, praying for you and wondering how it went. I hope maybe some of the double vision will correct over time as your eyes adjust? Or maybe they will have something else in mind. I’m glad it went well but will continue praying for better results. I’m so happy you are a Mimi too! Sheila and some others among my favorite people are/were “Mimi.” I use the French spelling but without the accents (mémé) and pronounce it the same way as “Mimi” instead of using the French pronunciation – it’s easier for everyone to say! I capitalize the second M so it won’t look like the internet word “meme.”
Julia after have visiting 32 states and 6 foreign countries ,I have I think learned a bit about weather changes. Delaware is known for its beaches and NASCAR.Next weekend planning if not going to NJ a mini trip maybe to a garden close by.Thank God I can share the memories of being blessed to travel safely. Today is the 3 R’s reading,writing and relaxing. Be blessed
Raynard, that sounds like an ideal day for me. Maybe I can make a schedule that includes an hour or so of “3 R” time each day. Or even better, a whole day of “3 R” time with an hour or so of work scheduled somewhere in there. 😀 Hope you have a lovely weekend and some fun garden time. Jeff and I are doing some much needed landscape maintenance here at York. I should say Jeff is doing it and I am writing about it. I am waiting until sundown for most of my part! 😀
It’s a lovely June day here in northeast Ct., the “Quiet Corner,” as well. Mid 80’s, light winds and sunshine. It brings to mind, the song from the musical-“Carousel”- “June is bust’in out all over!”
Hope all will enjoy the last two June days.
-Alan
Alan, that sounds blissful. I hope Jeff and I are able to visit Connecticut someday. Obviously, summer would be a good time to go, but I’ll bet autumn is beautiful too! Later this evening I plan to go out and enjoy a June walk at dusk. Hope you will have a nice week ahead.
Fall here “is” beautiful. The weather is pleasant, and the foliage color is awesomely memorable. There is no better place to experience Autumn, than in New England. It prepares and strengthens its residents for the winter to come.
I’m so fortunate now to be living in an area that I once longed to visit at that season of the year.
Enjoy your walk!
-Alan
Thanks Alan, the walk was lovely. Jeff and I will have to plan another fall trip to New England. We went there one late September but it was a strange year weather-wise and we missed the peak foliage times. So maybe when we go to Connecticut we’ll plan it for fall.
ah.. life in ecuador is a bit like a perpetual may or june, depending on which area of either country you’re experiencing!
still online a tiny amount of time, but am traveling today and using fast wifi! yippee!
Z, I am so happy you were able to grab some fast wifi! I suppose you are about as close to the equator in Ecuador as a person can get, so that truly would be like a perpetual June. Jeff and I have never been to South America, but our daughter-in-law has been at least a couple of times, and I think she really liked it. SO, it’s probably a great trade off for having sporadic wifi service. If only Anne could have tried it – we might have a book in the series called “Anne of Ibarra.” 😀 Thanks for checking in during your very limited time online!
The best part of my morning so far, “hello sweet Grady”!! I recognized his outfit from another photo you shared, teehee…my cute little Gnome in training.
This June has been more of a whirlwind than normal. Lot’s of birthday celebrations this month, including my own and lot’s of packing, organizing workers, unpacking and of course my brilliant new job. I did get to plant a couple of pots a week or so before we actually moved in. I’m happy I did it then, because I surely wouldn’t have gotten around to it since. Nothing like that awesome garden you’re visiting though. Wow, how divine. Everything is trimmed so tidy. The flower beds and lawn edging to the brick walkway are perfect. I can’t imagine the labour involved. I can see some tile work on a building in the background that I really think is awesome too, the colours are great. As are the cheery bright yellow and white canopies back there. As gorgeous as that all is, little Mr Grady Denton still steals the show. Adorable! I’m a big Anne of Green Gables fan and had the whole series on VHS before we got a DVD. I’ve never been to PEI but will someday. xoK
I can’t believe I missed your birthday, how did I manage that? Hope it was happy. Your flowers are already gorgeous, I can’t believe you got all that done PLUS working through a move. Your new home is already so lovely. I simply must learn to do container gardening right.
Thanks for your kind words about Grady and the photo. The Virginia Beach Boardwalk flowers are really nice and the area is quite well kept. Plus lots of interesting statues scattered all along the Boardwalk and the famous (at least on this blog) Belvedere Coffee Shop with the fabulous ocean views. When you and Alys come, we will have to try to make time to get down there if you can possibly stay long enough. Of course it would be wonderful to go to the Blue Ridge Mountains too and see Laurie. So much to do, so little time! I haven’t been to PEI either but Eric sent me some tea from there – a special blend named for Anne.
I half cheated on the planters, buying hanging planters that were already grown in and full. Shopping Mid June has it’s benefits. I’m enjoying them because it’s so peaceful here and we love to sit outside.
I hope we can stay for at least 8 or 9 days. I of course haven’t too much to stop me from traveling but Alys has the boys and a clients to look after. I can’t wait to visit and maybe Laurie can meet us half way? Omgosh, I can just see that scene. The giggling and screeching will be heard in space, LOL. We are going to make so many memories xoxo. We’ve booked our hotel and air fair for Victoria and will be there August 11 – 19th, I think we are both counting down the days. BTW, my middle name is Anne, named after my grandmother. So there is that connection for me to Maud’s wonderful story. xk
WOW – I need to add a book to the series – “Anne of Boomdeeville.” 😀 You will need at least 8 or 9 days to scratch the surface here but if we plan compulsively and leave lots of cushion time for playing by ear you should be able to have a great intro on which to base your second visit 😀 😀 😀 and probably Laurie can meet us at some interesting midpoint but if not, the trip to western Virginia is a lovely one! You will have to enjoy Victoria vicariously for me (double v words, how often does that happen?) and take lots of vivid, vivacious and valuable photos! Especially at Butchart Gardens! BTW I was toying with the idea of going out and buying full grown plants to hang everywhere and you have inspired me to do just that. If I manage to get to the garden store I will email you photos of the results. Don’t hold your breath though, hee-hee.
Seems that typically, taking a shortcut is looked upon as a negative. But in this case, Spock and I would think of it as the, “efficient management of the time, space continuum to maximize the visual effect and minimize the energy expended to achieve satisfactory results”. LOL
If you do a post, I did find this positively luscious quote:
“What Romantic terminology called genius or talent or inspiration is nothing other than finding the right road empirically, following one’s nose, taking shortcuts.” Italo Calvino
Now what’s more romantic than ensuring beautiful flowers to gaze at in your garden?
You can count on us to be camera crazy at Butchart Gardens. We can be vivacious with some effort 😀 Ohhhhh, you were talking about photo’s, that too (snicker). It’s going to be an amazing 12 months, I must have built up lots of lucky points. Decorating a new house, having a holiday with Alys in Victoria and traveling to spend time with two of my most favourite southern bells….dang, just pinch me!
I hope you get to the garden centre Jules. It always smells so nice in there and somehow you just can’t have a bad day with flowers in the trunk. Love and hugs, K
Hi K, didn’t get to the garden center today but started in trying to hard-prune a big ugly shrub I need to get rid of before planting something prettier. I’ll try to put together something worthy of Calvino’s quote so people won’t say “Uh, yeah, but notice he said the RIGHT road?” 😀 Yes, you have a banner year ahead of you and October (and even April) will be here before we know it. I shall begin talking to the cherry trees about the importance of getting their blooms timed correctly once we know the actual dates of your visit. I’ll make sure nobody is around when I talk to them so I won’t be carted off to a padded room before you get here. 😀
Prince Edward Island has been on my bucket list since Anne of Green Gables was televised – and that was long before we had bucket lists!! 😀
If you ever figure out how to get there, let us know – maybe we can meet you there!
Serendipitously you are correct! This June is actually warmer than May was – I have been thinking about Spring and planning my garden. For us the golden month is usually February 🙂 I loved the Anne books when I was young 🙂
Pauline, I’m so glad your June has been relatively warm. If only I could box up some of our heat (sans the humidity, of course) and ship it your way! Let’s stay healthy so we will live long enough to beam ourselves around the globe when technology catches up to Star Trek. Then we can have spring morning teas in New Zealand or Australia, Summer morning brunches in California or Alberta, and gorgeous fall evenings with spiced apple cider here in Virginia. Just dreaming of course, but til then, the next best thing is hearing about your lovely weather. Hope you have a great week! Hugs to Siddie and Orlando.
Wouldn’t that be wonderful! I do believe it is getting closer 🙂
Beam me up, Pauline! 😀
😀
Happy June Saturday, Julia. Today we’ve had rain with a mix of rest, relaxation, and more rain! A system has stalled off the coast and it’s drawing in bands of moisture here. It may even be a threat for 4th of July. That is straight from “Weatherman Bill” live from beautiful Willow Tree. 🙂 The Virginia Beach Boardwalk really looks beautiful and Grady seems to be loving it! Thinking of y’all there in York. 🙂
Sheila, I hope the rain stays away next weekend so you can have a glorious Fourth. Tell Weatherman Bill not to wax the cars since that ALWAYS brings on a rainstorm around here whenever Jeff does it. Also make sure not to spend too much time on your hair – that always brings on rainstorms for me. 😀 We had a nice week this past week – it was a bit hot but as in Camelot, it only rained after sundown. Perfect! You’ll have to come up sometime so we can stroll the Boardwalk together and have tea at the Belvedere. Have a great week!
I love June, but dislike the Japanese beetles that munch on our roses and Canna lilies in June. 🙂 remember how wonderful it was to wake up on a June morning and realize that there were THREE whole months of freedom?
Wow, Japanese beetles! That would definitely be a disadvantage to anyone who loved gardening. I haven’t seen too many off them here. One thing that was so hard to get used to when we moved back to the South after nearly 25 years out west, is how many BUGS (scientific term meaning “teensy critters with more than four legs”) were everywhere! On the whole, though, I’d rather have them chewing on my flowers than on me. I get all sorts of bug bites in the evening when I go out without putting on Skin So Soft or some other aromatic oil concoction to keep them at bay. Still, it’s worth it just to enjoy the evenings. As my red-spotted arms and legs attest. Yes, that was a delicious feeling, THREE WHOLE months with NO school. I have Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out” on my MP3 player, and to this day when I hear it, it brings back memories of that particular euphoria. Plus it’s hilarious. “We can’t even think of a word that rhymes!” 😀
What a beautiful, happy baby!
Thank you, Rene! “Happy” is the word we hear most frequently used to describe him, and I am so thankful for that!
Great shot of Grady. Looks like a cool garden. Last year June was so cold and rainy in Seattle that it gained the moniker-“Junuary.” This June ;however, is one for the record books, with several weeks averaging in the 70’s.
They have decided on a name for baby girl number two- Josephine -A.K. Josie. Seems like some of the older baby names are coming back, but no Josephines in my family though I have know a few folks from church. Is it a southern name? Although I don’t think of Florida as a southern state-,of course it is and there was a section for Florida when I visited the Confederate cemetery in Marietta. Did I tell you we found a Confederate memorial- section of a cemetery- here in Seattle at Lakeview cemetery, where my wife’s family has a plot. ? Very interesting.
If the 70’s are a record high for June, that sounds quite refreshing to me. I love the name Josephine and especially Josie (mainly because of the Steely Dan song) but I’m not aware of it being a southern name. I think it’s just the feminine version of Joseph so I would imagine it would be more connected to Catholic regions, which the south definitely is not, for the most part. Although to be fair, I can’t think of anyone at all I’ve ever known with that name, so I think it’s a good choice. I think you did mention the Confederate section in Seattle, which is definitely interesting. When we toured Fort Point in San Francisco, I was surprised to learn that the fort was on guard during the Civil War against a Confederate attack by sea that was planned but called off when the war ended. So I guess the Northwest was not totally isolated from Confederate sympathizers and even soldiers.
What an inviting smile! Grady sends out the message: “Joy is right here!” It fills us up to see his lovely face! Thanks, Grandma!
Thanks Mary Ann, and speaking of joy, you are going to be featured in an upcoming post about happy people. (Jeff’s suggestion when I asked him whose would be the best photo to feature.) 😀 You will recognize the three others in the photo with you! Stay tuned!
lovely flowers smiling at a beautiful baby!! 🙂
Thank you Merry!
Well, thank you Dr. Jeff!!! I await with happy, joyful anticipation. 🙂
I think this is going to be a photo you have not seen yet. 😀
Have to look up that Steely Dan song. Turns out Josephine is actually Hebrew in origin and means may “Yawheh” increase- feminine version of Joseph. Also the movie -“Outlaw Josie Wales.” -as I recall.
Looks like Virginia Beach might be a nice little place to retire also.
Michael, as with so many Steely Dan songs, the words are less than inspirational, but the beat is beyond compare. Virginia Beach is a nice town but I’m not sure I’d want to retire there. I don’t know why but it just doesn’t have that colonial charm of which I am so fond that runs strongly through the peninsula. Maybe it’s because the naval influence is so very strong, with Norfolk adjacent. In any case it’s nice to be within an easy drive. But for retirement we prefer Yorktown or the Williamsburg area. That’s just us, I guess.
You’all have Fuchsia baskets out there? Ours are finally coming into bloom. Quite spectacular and my favorite is” Lena”-with double white and lavender blooms. The hummingbirds are back and they play tag in the yard between the Fuchsia baskets. I know they don’t tolerate the warmer climes that well and there were none in Hawaii. But in Hawaii we had orchids on our little Lanai outside our apartment overlooking Kaneohe Bay. What a ‘choice to make; Orchids or Fuchsias. I can’t decide although my wife does not want to live that far from the kids.
Michael, I had gorgeous in-ground fuchsia plants while we lived on the central coast of CA, but have not tried to grow them here. We have enormous bleeding heart plants that remind me of them a little bit, with their hanging flowers (though the blooms are much smaller). I don’t recall seeing many fuchsias here and I imagine the heat would get to them. I agree with your wife; Hawaii is a wonderful place to live for a limited time, but it’s too far away from the mainland for me to want to live there again.