The Darling Buds of May

Hubby is off to writing class in the city and I find myself on my own for dinner at the end of a rather long working day. In keeping with my theme of creative relaxation, I decided to make myself a bowl of yummy pasta - penne, garlic and olive oil, some parm and a nice big spoonful of some tomato & italian sausage sauce left generously in my freezer by my mom (thanks, Mom!) and parked myself in front of the TV. To my smug joy I landed on an episode of The Darling Buds of May. I am crazy for British TV and I love these old episodes if for no other reason than to see the early works of the likes of Hugh Laurie and Catherine Zeta-Jones. The series is based on books by H. E. Bates, and I'd love to get my hands on a set. To find out more about these delightful characters: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Darling_Buds_of_May

In our neighbourhood, May brings out other darling buds. It's rhododendron season on the West Coast and we are lucky to have an amazing neighbour, a delightful character himself, who has transformed an unused public lot on our street into a glorious and showy rhodo garden. This is guerilla gardening at its finest. Nothing frees my mind and feeds my spirit like gazing at these subversive beauties. Darling buds, indeed.