Saturday, December 10

Summer brings out the ...

Snail Vine or Corkscrew Vine (Vigna Caracalla)
Every autumn I cut this back to a few sticks and then worry I went too far and killed it. But every year it comes back stronger & cheekier. The snail vine, a member of the bean family I believe, has a fabulous fragrance, sweet, a bit like Hyacinths; hence it’s prominent position outside the main bedroom window, for when that sea breeze kicks in come evening.
The flowers are a little like Wisteria, white and mauve, but are in corkscrew-like twists that start as wee nubbins, develop into snails and then open up into twists of ribbon. And to top it all off, the draping vines make for a lovely, crepuscular gloom on the front porch.

Monday, December 5

A lovely word that should be used more often ...

Crepuscular ... Kri-PUS-kyuh-lur\, adjective:
1. Pertaining to twilight; glimmering; hence, imperfectly clear or luminous.
2. (Zoology) Flying in the twilight or evening, or before sunrise; -- said certain birds and insects.

Saturday, December 3

Saturdays at home with ...


Ping, in the sun. Now that it has finally stopped raining.






And Small,
who is allowed outside.