Sweet Dreaming ~

Binx and I are in denial.  The volcano blew again Saturday.  The wind was not in our favor this time, and the whole town is covered in what looks like concrete.  We kept our heads down for the most part. 

Especially Binx.  She kept her head down with two paws over her face.  Sweet girl.  But we also cleaned the art nest, again.  Well, actually,this time we REALLY cleaned the art nest.  It was a two day project.

Then we took photos of our new Garden Book and remembered summer days. 

We love to plant herbs, and pansies, and roses. 

There is a lilac bush and a lovely honeysuckle bush in the front yard.  They smell so good.  A very old birch tree and a young split leaf weeping birch offer dappled shade for the front yard.  Their leaves whisper in the gentle breeze. 

Since my home is a Craftsman type, there is a wrap around front porch with stone pillars.  We plant herbs and ferns, and silvery grasses in big urns on either side of the front door.

Hubby's favorite each year are the four huge hanging baskets on the front porch.  He likes Ivy Geraniums in hot pink or carmine colors, with a dark blue trailing lobelia mixed in.

I love old fashioned roses. 

They are not the perfect, well-mannered hybrids... although these are beautiful too.  No, my roses are the wild, single layered, thorny kind. 

Dozens of blooms cover each bush all summer.  Humble blooms, but their perfume fills the air....

... and combines with the spicy scent of mint, lavender, thyme, marjoram, and rosemary. 

We've planted big ferns and hostas in the shady corners. Varigated, the hostas bring light into these areas.  Binx loves to hide under the leaves of the largest ferns, doing her best jungle kitty imitation.

I plant very few annuals.  Pansies mostly, but cosmos also, and a few nasturtiums.  Nasturtiums are an herb, did you know that?  A scented bloom tastes like pepper and we add them to salads all the time.  

There is a small fountain in the back yard.  I love this one with the windmill and watering tank turned into a pond.  Do you think I could convince Hubby to make one like this?

This book will house all my notes about the garden.  What was planted, what survived the harsh winter, what worked, what didn't. 

Some days I will sit under the pergola and write while the sun warms the grass.  Binx or Star will be sitting beside me.  Bitty will be waiting under the big tree hoping that the squirrel will finally get close enough for her to capture.  

Or perhaps we will be at the kitchen table.  Looking out on the yard while the nourishing summer rain pours down. 

Writing our dreams in little disjointed scribblings.  Words that matter only to me.  

If I close my eyes I can see it all. 

So today, since summer is still a few months away, I will attempt to bring the sun, and flowers, into the space with a quick trip to the florist for a bouquet or two of country blossoms....

...and I will dream. 

Eileen

 

 

Comments

[Sydney jobs]

Your garden look is so adorable! Cool!!!

[Sydney jobs]

Your garden book is so adorable! Cool!!!

[Charlene]

I like you, wanted a pond. Took a tank buried half of it in the ground, put white stone around it & put the works in for the fountain. LOVED IT the first year. Then the pond scum starts. Love them but the are a lot of work to keep clean. It's like there is a magnet for all things (leaves, berries, trash) yucky to go into the pond. Ours is getting a redo this summer or it GOES! I put the word on "honey" already. Nothing prettier than a pretty pond. Nothing worse than one that isn't. Be careful what you wish ofr & ensure your project comes complete with "pond boy". :)

[Susan Elliott]

I'm so glad I've found your blog -- you are creating with paper wonderful, beautiful pieces. It's a breath of fresh air to come here and see what you've been up to. Thank you!

[Deb]

Your garden journal is gorgeous and it sounds like your garden is too! Thank you for sharing....

[Heidi]

Hello my friend! As always a beautiful post with such delicious eye candy ~ I just get lost in it all! Guess that was the point when your world is covered in concrete...dream of pretty things!
xo Heidi

[Jen Day~sugaredsongbird]

I'll take our snow over ash anyday. For now, I'm going to go over every mezmerizing detail of your book! So lovely!

[karen]

What a beautiful post!!! That journal is to die for! I think I need to go cut some roses from my garden now!
karen...
recycledrita.blogspot.com

[Boxwood Cottage]

Eileen your garden book looks wonderful, what a lot of love work you put in there!
I wish that one day I'll also find such a beautiful old ledger to turn into a journal.

I'm amazed by the description of your garden. It all sounds so beautiful. I wouldn't have thought that all these flowers and herbs grew in cold Alaska.
I grow a new kind of nasturium this year, it's pink! And I also like to eat them in salads.

And about the volcano ashes oh my that must be so annoying!
Your winter must be and feel even longer as ours. We are promised beautiful spring weather this week from the weather forecast and I can't wait to spend more time in my garden again.

Warmest wishes from Germany sends you
Carola

[janet]

binx is adorable and im so sorry to hear about the volcano. Your garden book is absolutely beautiful, what a fantastic idea.
hugs
janet

[Rebecca]

I love the pictures! I really love that brown and white wallpaper! Where did you find that? Binx is too cute!

[Swampgirl]

I, too, have just found your blog from Met Monday! Your garden book is wonderful. I have been sorting through my scraps to try an altered book. Your artwork has got my imagination running! So sorry about the ash- my daughter also lives in Alaska so we are keeping up with the latest news!

[Nancy Van Hoose]

So sorry to hear about the volcano and the ash! How frightening too. I love your garden book, and it inspires me in such a way that I "need" one. Very lovely. ~Nan

[Kim]

Beautiful book. I could picture what your house & garden look like from your words. Sorry to hear about all the ash from the volcano. I've lived thru many a southern California wildfire with all the ash from that. Makes it very hard to breath, not to mention the mess that ash makes. Good luck to you. And my husband loves ivy geraniums the best too. Must be a guy thing. I'm like you, love roses.

[Tami]

I can smell all the flowers already....
Love the book...what a great memory it will be!

Have a great day!
T

[susan]

Binx doesn't look too concerned :) Thanks for a beautiful post with a reflective spirit.

[Kelly @ DesignTies]

I just discovered your blog through Met Monday.

This is such a lovely post, both the words and the pictures :-) I think you've transformed my heart a bit too on this gray & rainy day :-)

Kelly @ DesignTies