Shabby Find

Wandered over to our local markets yesterday and found this wonderfully pink, shabby, cane rocking chair. The stall that I bought it from (should have a picture!) is full of all manner of shabby things in the prettiest colours. Beautiful old tablecloths, china and pieces of furniture. I could honestly say that I love everything she sells.

I spotted the rocking chair from afar and was immediately drawn to it. I didn't have to think twice when John said, "Do you want to get it?" YEY!

It is going to live on our little back, shady deck but we are in the process of painting it so I thought it would be lovely to sit in up in the top garden....AND it sure was!

Garden Sanctuary

Garden Sanctuary
You who walk,

Maybe with troubled thoughts,

Come, enter here and rest;

And may the sweet serenity of growing things,

And the heavenly,peace

Be mirrored in they soul.

-Doxis M. Palmer

There are certain times of the day when the garden takes on a SOUL of it's own. You know what I mean? A quiet calm comes over it. A stillness. Even when there is a gentle breeze. It's usually in the late hours of the day or the first few hours when the sun has been up just a little while and before the sun's rays are getting a little too hot just before midday.

It's these times that I love most in the garden. Only too happy to take the long way around back to the house after getting my first load of washing on the line for the day.

Sometimes it's good for the soul to take the long way.

Good Rain and Gardens

I'm sure that everyone knows by now that once spring comes AND we have had some good rain, I can't help but post about the garden.
Everything is starting to flourish now. We had just started to get very dry here and I was starting to get a little sad about my poor plants trying to push out their new spring growth with no moisture to support it. Some years the new growth has been scorched off....VERY SAD!
It seems by these photos that I only grow pink flowers but you can be sure that I have a garden full of every imaginable colour.
Down in the picking garden, the globe artichokes are starting to look very architectural with their deeply cut large grey leaves. It so exciting when they start to bud but I must confess that I find it very hard to pick the main bud to eat as the flowers are so miraculous. A giant purple thistle!

They do taste good though done in garlic butter. Oh the dilemma!

Yesterday I finally managed to mulch the vegetables to keep that lovely rain in the ground for a little longer. It really makes a difference especially when the temperature starts to soar.

The young bean plants are getting a real grow on now and the herbs are looking nice and fresh.

Back to the garden for me. Have a happy week, A.

School Holidays

We have been enjoying school holidays the past one and a half weeks. Late nights, catching up with family, sleepovers and the odd outing. AND best of all, NO SCHOOL LUNCHES to make. I don't know why I dislike it SO much but I do. Could be something to do with the fact that I often skip lunch so having to make everyone else's....yuk. Sounds rather pathetic really.

We had a bit of a snow storm, or should I say, blossom storm on the back deck one evening. It was such a pretty sight. There was a mean wind during the night and we awoke to snow and mist swirling about the garden in a very magical way. The sun was starting to come up so all the water droplet lined spider webs were like jewelled nets throughout the garden....PRETTY!

We had mum and dad's new little dog, Ellie, stay with us for the first week . She's such a cute little thing but obviously felt very guilty about sleeping in one of my little gardens. She's also a little camera shy which didn't help. I had such a hard time getting a photo of her. I managed to get the meter box painted with the chalkboard paint. Unfortunately the day was hot and windy so the paint was drying too fast and now there are a few blotchy bits in it. Oh well, it will do. Next time I think I'll wait for a better day. Live and learn.
Happy days, Angela.