2022

 

To you all, with all my wishes and prayers for a healthy and safe year ahead.

****

You are never too old to set another goal, or to

dream a new dream.

C.S Lewis

The days between, over the years...

                                              

In these few days between Christmas and  the New Year I've been thinking about the different things we have experienced during this between-time, and remembering.......

....being whisked off to Penang by my son and his wife to stay in a beautiful hotel on the beach for a few days, such luxury!

....a carriage ride in a snowy village in Austria, where the driver offered us a share of his bottle of schnapps as we clip- clopped through the mountains,

....unexpected Christmas lunch with my younger son and his wife while my husband was in hospital,

.....learning to cross country ski in a mountain village in Canada where my daughter was living, (and falling over a lot)

....taking the ferry from France to England to spend the week with family in the snowy North of England, and wondering , as the snow got thicker, if we would ever get safely there.

So many nostalgic memories over the years. The last few have been quieter, more home based, still peaceful and enjoyable. Time to be thankful for what we have enjoyed, and time to gently plan a new Year.

Happy Christmas !

 To all my friends around the world....

Happy Christmas! followed by a healthy New Year!

Signing off for a little while now, taking time to just 'be', and to appreciate the calm and peace of Christ's birth. Everything is done, presents wrapped and distributed, sewing finished, letters and cards sent. Time to stop, listen to Carols, ....breathe. 

This lovely painting of the birth of Jesus is by Federico Barocci, 1526 - 1612.

It's so tender, very moving and poignant, a moment away from the commercialism of today.

Fourth Sunday in Advent...little joys.

 The fourth candle is lit.

Sometimes this is a purple candle, and represents Love, Peace, but is also known as the Angel candle. My little Angels come out every year and guard the candles very beautifully.

This Angel was given to me in Austria, when we stayed for a Christmas holiday in a little mountain village hotel. The snow was falling but the warmth of the welcome was so kind. After dinner on Christmas Eve, the hosts gathered us together and read the Christmas story, in German, then presented gifts.

A really lovely surprise.

Other little joys;

on the back of my door....so many beautiful Christmas cards from all over the world,

....and this little gem, who has suddenly decided to flower.

 Trying to make time for moments of reflection as we approach Christ's birth.

A quilt for a new baby.

    

Nearly finished.

It's one of those things that you think will be done in a day!

Not so. It seems to have taken a lot longer than I expected. I'm just putting the little hearts in place, then I'll stitch around them.

The baby girl was born last week, so I need to get it all finished and sent.

The second Advent candle.

 The second candle represents Peace.

Isn't that what we long for? Both in our warring world, and in our lives.

A pause in Advent

 My Advent Candle ring came out of storage this weekend. We bought it in London many years ago and it goes on year after year, a little worn, some bits missing, but still a part of Christmas.

We both have fond memories of another Advent wreath, in a little Austrian church near Salzburg. We were staying in the village of Kuchl over Christmas and walked through the snowy street to the Church a few days before the 25th, as we had seen that there was a service to light the last candle on the Advent wreath..

Kuchl Church

I don't think we have ever seen such a huge wreath, suspended from the ceiling of the church . Gradually it was lowered for the last candle to be lit and we realise the wreath was possibly about 4 feet across. I wish I had a photo of it, but found a slightly similar image here (courtesy of Shutterstock).

Neither of us speak a great deal of German, but we could pick up enough to understand the familiar story.

The time we spent in Austria will remain as one of the most 'real' Christmases we have experienced. No tinsel, no shops heaving with 'must haves', no loud advertising. Just the simplicity of beautiful music, a snowy village and a beautiful Christmas Eve service.

It was indeed a 'pause' in Advent.

Leaves around the tree.

 My Cherry tree is almost denuded of leaves. Although it is sad to see it so bare, I have enjoyed watching the leaves gradually pile up on the lawn., surrounding the tree with a protective circle. 

 The colours, shades of red, orange, yellow and brown have sung to me and brought back those lovely memories of scuffling through the crunchy Autumn leaves as a child..

Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away;

Lengthen night and shorten day

Every leaf speaks bliss to me

Fluttering from the autumn tree.

Emily Bronte

I hug a little secret to myself.... the tree will not be lonely, for under it are planted Snowdrops, which as the Spring approached will surround it with a snowy circle.

I'm waiting.....

Recycling

When my bedroom was redecorated earlier this year, I knew that I would need a new headboard for the bed. The original one had a very pretty French fabric on, but it was in shades of pink, and my room is now shades of blue.

I pondered, and discussed, and pondered some more. I knew I would prefer a soft colour as there is so much colour on the wall behind the bed.

So, white seemed to be the way to go. I had a tiny brainwave and remembered a beautiful linen table cloth, belonging to my Grandma and maybe a hundred years old. We dont live the sort of life where large linen table cloths figure now.   It had no flaws, so I gave it a hot wash and handed the whole idea over to a clever friend who works as a curtain maker/upholsterer. This week she brought it back for me.

(It's not the bed that's leaning to the left, it's me. Not a proficient photographer)

Sadly the pictures dont do it justice as white isnt easy to photograph. This is a corner of the headboard .She has arranged the design of the cutwork beautifully.

This is the centre of the headboard.

She also made me a little cushion as an extra, which I was thrilled with.

It's lovely to think that Grandma's tablecloth goes on. Reading Angela's post this morning made me smile, as we have both been recycling in similar ways, using lovely old fabrics to recreate something beautiful..

Bits and pieces.

 This week our Dr came to our home to do the dreaded double vaccinations, Covid booster and flu. We are so very privileged to have a surgery that will do home visits. I asked him if having the two vaccinations together would have an unpleasant effect. He laughed merrily and said he hadn't heard of anyone having a bad reaction.

I have proven him wrong, as yesterday I was knocked out with what felt like a bad case of flu, shivers, pain, temperature, no good to anyone. Thankfully our daughter in law came to the rescue, and today I'm fine. My husband doesnt seem to react to these injections. I'm thankful that we can have them.

Today the sun is shining, palely, but trying hard. The garden looks wet and shaggy, and the last dahlias need cutting down. It's sad to see the leaves all over the lawn. Autumn could be a sad month if it wasnt for the little preparations for Spring that I'm making. 

Pots are full of Tulip bulbs, a collection of Tete a Tete daffodils is mixed with Grape hyacinths and a very low growing tulip. This is Tulip Hageri, which is about 6 ins tall and has a scent as well.

My Amaryllis is beginning to peek out. They  will all bring so much joy to see the first tiny shoots. Keep Spring in mind!

Hazy Autumn days

 

Still flowering profusely.

Labyrinth has done so well, especially as she was left in the ground all Winter. Her 'friend' Cafe au Lait didnt fare as well this year, producing one flower and then fainting. We discovered that something had eaten the roots. I read that Lorrie has managed to keep her Cafe au Lait going. It is a spectacular Dahlia growing up to 5 feet and producing huge flower heads.

We wake to misty mornings now. Looking over the village I can only see hazy outlines of trees and roofs. Later it clears and there is a thin sunshine for a while. Then we get caught out as an immense rain shower sweeps the roads and gardens.

It's definitely turned into full Autumn.

Trees are dropping their leaves quickly now, and I recreated a moment of childhood the other day as I whooshed my feet through piles of brown and yellow fallen leaves. This was the time when we were in France that we started to look for the Sweet Chestnuts on the trees nearby, (not to be confused with Conkers). We'd roast the chestnuts with our neighbour on his fire, sprinkle with a little salt, and enjoy the fruits of Autumn..

By 4 oclock I am drawing the curtains to keep the dusk out, switching on table lamps to give a warm glow, and wondering what Winter will bring. It's time to plant the bulbs for Spring, daffodils, tulips, crocus, all bringing a ray of colour in the future months.

Still flowering

 There are few flowers in the garden now. A few brave roses, some Michaelmas daisies and bright pink Canna Lillies

But this Dahlia just goes on and on producing big shaggy flowers.

Called Labyrinth, she is a strong, tall plant and obviously loving these Autumnal days.

My grandfather was very fond of Dahlias and grew the good old Bishop of Llandaff, a very popular single red Dahlia. This is very different.

My pots are empty of Geraniums now, and ready for Bulb planting. This year it will be Tulips. Again.

I do love them.

Reading.

 I've been reading this fascinating book to my husband recently. He has always been interested in modern history, and this book encompasses the years of the Second World War, although written in the form of a young woman's Diary.

Mary was the youngest daughter of Winston Churchill, and was at home during the war years, whilst her older siblings had moved away to their own homes. 

The Diary is a real mixture of social happenings, together with more serious events concerning Churchill's efforts to get Britain through the war. Living at Downing Street there were many meetings with men who helped the war efforts. Mary was often there and writes about 'lunch with General de Gaulle' and other well known personalities.

We do have a little laugh at her shopping forays. There's a war going on but Mary is.....

''visiting Fortnums to buy scrummy food with Mummie, dashing to Liberty's for a super  new hat, buying a lovely new dress for the Officers dance', dancing till 2.30 am'......

She enrols in the ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service), a voluntary service for women as an arm of the British Army. Heading a Battalion, she sees gunfire, planes dropping on London and faces the death of friends.

Of it all she says...

''I shall remember in the years to come something that had form and light amid so much that lacked shape and was dark--but I dont know whether to call it the human spirit or the soul--or the dignity of life--but there it is''.

We are coming up to our Day of Remembrance soon, and this book, although light hearted in many ways, has also served as a reminder of the life during the War years.

Home again

 It seems a long time since I visited my Blog, but, here I am again. The last month has passed with so many happenings.

I feel incredibly grateful to have been able to have the cardiac procedure done so quickly and in such a lovely hospital .When I hear the News of hundreds of people waiting for operations which are being cancelled over and over again, I know how fortunate I was.

A week in a beautiful Nursing Home in Truro was a time of recuperation, my room looking out onto a delightful courtyard full of flowers.

Now I'm home, much more tired than I expected to be, but home.

Thank you for cards and emails sending me good wishes. I did appreciate them.

On my way.

Thank you more than I can express, for all your kind and loving messages and emails. Every one has been read and appreciated so much. I feel I have a huge prayer support system from so many lovely people.

Thank you.

++++++++++++++++

 Case packed.

Covid test taken.

Masses of planning for my husband's live-in Carer done.

Freezer full.

Succinct lists for family.

And so on. I'm being picked up at the unearthly hour of 6am on Wednesday 25th, and taken to the Wellington Hospital in London.

My laptop won't be coming with me, so I wont be reading any posts, sadly. This is a close down for me now. I'll hope to recontact you all in a few weeks time.

Little glimpses of colour in the garden.

Something of a surprise

 I mentioned a while ago that I was waiting for surgery, and with the backlog in the UK I didnt expect to be called any time soon.

Yesterday I took a phone call from the Cardiac nurse who told me that my surgeon was taking some of his patients to a private hospital in London, all transport arranged. Would I be interested?

When? 

August 26th.

Cue mild panic and a wander round the garden. Deep breaths.

The reason for the change is that the hospital in Plymouth has to cancel many surgeries due to emergencies and Covid, and a private hospital won't have those same emergencies so far less risk of cancellation.

I have decided to go to London and get this done.

I'd be grateful for your prayers , not just for me, but for my husband who will, I know, be very anxious.

Seasonal things.

 It's tomato time again. This is a variety called Marmande, which I grow from seed every year, just ten or twelve plants. Some are given away, and half a dozen are planted in my greenhouse.

Every year I wonder if my crop will be as good as the previous year, and this year looks like being a good one. These are the first few, picked during the week. My next job is to process them into Tomato Sauce for the freezer.

It's birthday month again. My  husband and I, two grandaughters, daughter in law and a friend, all have August birthdays!

These lovely Thai orchids remind me of some of our travels.

Dahlias are beginning to flower. It seems to be a slow year but hopefully there will be plenty of flowers now we have had a little rain.

This is Labyrinth, who last year had flowers the size of a tea plate!

Hair cut. Very seasonal.

Our hairdresser has had to cancel so many times due to other clients with virus warnings. So at last my hair is the right length. For a while.

Thank you for kind messages about my husband's health. He is home now, frail but gradually getting strength back.

Home at last.

 The best laid plans.......etc etc.

It's been a very bumpy three weeks. My husband has has two admissions to hospital both with lovely paramedics on hand. Very worrying when blood pressure and oxygen disappear. A drip attached to the curtain rail, oxygen swiftly administered and a totally reassuring presence made things easier.

It has given me time to rest and do absolutely nothing, as the hospital does not allow visitors. So as the heat was almost too much, I have stayed inside a good deal, done a bit of sewing, a bit of reading and tried not to worry. The evenings were the best time to be in the garden, and I found it was better to water the tomatoes at around 9.30 pm, and then sit outside and drink in the scents of the garden....roses and sweet peas.

He is being discharged today and will be welcomed home. We will all breathe a little easier.

Slowing down

 

For a few weeks I will be slowing down, and recouping my strength. 

My husband is taking a little 'holiday' in this lovely Nursing Home not far away, where he is being looked after very well. Sadly I've run out of the energy needed to cope with his needs at the moment, and although we hate being apart it's necessary for me to be fit for surgery, (whenever that is)

They are very strict about testing, and I had to have a lateral flow test and wait outside for 30 minutes. I didn't mind at all, anything to beat the virus has to be good. The Home takes a maximum of 30 clients. The rooms are pleasant, if not huge. they have a Television set, and a comfy chair to relax in. I was able to spend the lunchtime with my husband and he enjoyed a very good home cooked meal.

Visitors are allowed provided they are tested first. There is a nice little garden where they can visit if the weather is fine.

So now I'm wandering around the house, mentally waiting for Carers to come, or for medication times. Probably watching Wimbledon is the better option!

I will be reading your posts but probably not writing a great deal.

Carnation, Peony, Peony, Rose.

I couldn't resist  using, with a slight alteration, the title of John Singer Sargent's most famous paintings.

This dear little carnation is called Gran's Favourite, and I thought I had lost it till this week when all of a sudden it flowered beautifully.

Not having any Lillies in my garden, here is Peony, looking like a ballerina.

And here she is again, on almost her last day.

What a pleasure she has been.

Lastly, the Roses.

There are, I think, ten varieties in this vase, and the scent is so lovely.

Thank you so much for all the lovely comments on my bedroom. It is a joy for me to have a room that is calm and restful. There is still a bit to do, but it will happen, one day.

Redecorations continuing.

 My bedroom isnt quite finished. I still have to re-cover the original headboard and do one or two other little things.

But it's getting there, and it's pleasing me.

Just a quick look......

Can you see the rose peeping through my window?

And just to finish, keeping the  blue theme, Delphiniums! Again.

A wander round the garden.

The poems of A A Milne, which my mother read to me, contained one that always made me a little sad.

It concerned Delphiniums (blue) and a dormouse.

'There was once a dormouse who lived in a bed

Of Delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red).

And all the day long he'd a wonderful view

Of Geraniums (red) and Delphiniums (blue)'

If you have read the poem, you will know that poor Dormouse was persuaded that a bed of crysanthemums yellow and white would be better for his health. So he put his paws over his eyes and imagined himself back in a world of Delphiniums (blue) and Geraniums (red)

It made me sad.

However, these Delphiniums (blue) make me very happy as they continue to come out.

There's even a bee happily foraging.

Here is the beautiful Alnwick rose fluffing up her petticoats. Her perfume isnt intense, but very gentle

 

Zephirine Drouhin is climbing up her obelisk, a highly perfumed rose. One stem in a room will give a wonderful scent.

And lastly, for now, gorgeous Darcey Bussell, a true ballerina.

Truly, the garden in June is a wonderful place, with flowers blooming almost overnight, colour popping up in the beds, scents of roses and lavenders mingling. Why would anyone want to be anywhere else?