This is the view from my dining room picture window. . . .
The green trees in the background are Arborvitae. They were tall when we moved here 34 years ago. Now they are huge! A few years back I cut off the lower branches so I could have a view beyond my front yard. It felt claustrophobic before. I put up deer fencing behind the Arborvitae to keep Gabriel in the front yard. It doesn't block our view and gives him more room to roam on his own.
This is the only window in the dining room and it overlooks the front porch, so the room doesn't get a lot of light. That's why I decided that if it has to be dark, then I should use darker colors on the floor and walls so it will feel cozy and not just dark. We finally got the mantle which completes my dining room redo. . . .
It was a gorgeous day here today. I worked in my garden despite my head cold. I think being out in the sunlight and fresh air helped because I'm feeling a great deal better tonight. I feel even better in my mood. I've been ruminating over a problem I have with someone I see often--we're not a good fit, personality-wise, and I my feelings get hurt often. I was going to make that my conversation topic for this post, but by the end of the day working in the dirt, clearing away the leaf litter, pulling up the weeds that are already appearing, and removing the "straight jackets" daffodils always get themselves into when they come up through a dead leaf has totally changed my mood! This gives me a new topic!
Tasha Tudor once said that she loved illustrating books because she could create the world she wanted in her books. I know this is why I started gardening 25 years ago. My youngest was 2--no longer a needy infant. At my age I knew I shouldn't have more children. I needed something to replace my need to nurture so gardening seemed just the thing. Tending my garden is one of the pleasures in my life. It gets me outside, I feel like I'm accomplishing something, I love color and arranging little "scenes" with the plants and pots and statues, all my senses are stirred.....listening to the bird songs, smelling fragrant flowers, feeling the light wind on my skin, seeing all the loveliness, and tasting the herbs I keep on my deck. But most of all, this poem expresses why I love to work in my garden....
Being down on my knees helped me get the right attitude about this person. I no longer feel upset. I can move on...until the next time....but I know now where I need to heal my feelings....
The last line of Kipling's poem is this. . . .
So when your work is finished, you can wash your hands and pray For the Glory of the Garden that it may not pass away!
So, my question for you this month: Do you have an activity that you use to create your own little world? A place where you get to decide what happens, when it happens, how it happens?
.•*¨`*•. ☆ .•*¨`*•
Take Joy!
Cathy, yes I do have my garden and our home to express my creative self. With so much to do in the garden this time of year, it is quite therapeutic to me. It's a wonderful place to contemplate many things --the good and the troubling things that come along. I find if I don't do my problem solving during the day I lay awake not able to sleep at night! Your dining room is looking lovely with your new mantle--I'm sure you will enjoy it. ♥
ReplyDeleteI agree--we really must do our problem-solving during daylight hours or else we won't get a good night's sleep!
DeleteI too love to be out in the garden or in my craft room, two places where I can think things through properly.
ReplyDeleteI wish I was good at knitting. I could see where that would be a good "place" to think during the winter months!
DeleteI really liked what you wrote. It's always good to get our minds off what irritates us. I started painting with watercolors last year. I hadn't painted in years. I'm slowly developing my style and I can get carried away in my paintings. They're botanical paintings. I discovered Edith Holden' s books through your blog. It's opened up a whole new world for me to explore. So, I am very grateful to you. I'm sure you have a lovely garden.
ReplyDeletePat, I visited your Blog and found your name! ☺ I'm very pleased to hear that you discovered Edith Holden through my Blog. I found your two posts with your watercolors. You must post more of your paintings. They gave me some great ideas. I'm finding painting very relaxing, too, but it does not allow me to think about anything else, which is probably a good thing--no space to "ruminate", right? I also looked at your post on felting. I did not realize that Michael's sold a kit. My Tasha Tudor group has wanted to learn felting, but I didn't know where to find the needles they'd need. I'd got mine in a short class I took. Have you done any more needle felting? You can find what I did by looking in my Archives under needle felting. Once you learn the technique you can make anything your imagination will allow. You can see more of my garden by clicking on the Tabs at the top of my Blog.
DeleteWhat a wonderful questions Cathy.
ReplyDeleteI have created my own little world all around me, we quite often say that about were we live. Dene our oldest said on Easter Sunday that home is like going through many periods of time as you step from room to room. Home is safe for us & so special, a place we have created with some help from history.
I love your new mantle.
Enjoy this beautiful day, hope you get in your garden.
Fondly Michelle
Thank you, Michelle. My home is my haven. We moved often when I was a child (13 houses in my 18 years with my parents) so "making a home" has been a high priority for me. I don't expect to get out in the garden today because rain is predicted for every day this week. By next week everything should be bursting out of the ground! I will turn my attention to picking up sticks--a continual job with all the trees we have on our property.
DeleteAlthough lacking in attention {due to my back} my garden is one of my go to places where I create my own world and few things put me back on track like an afternoon in the garden, be it labouring or just sitting watching the sky drift by and listening to the birdsong and all the noises of the distant Shire. I also have a favourite garden poem, as you have seen on my own sidebar, which was my Nanna's favourite.
ReplyDeleteI also express myself through design and craft, and I love to create with words and images on my 'online journal' space.
I think your mantel is quite special!
It isn't being on my knees that bothers me about gardening ~~~ it is the getting up!
~~~Deb in Wales
That must be why I like blogging....I hadn't thought about it as a way to design my own world, but it is, isn't! When I get down on my knees to garden I crawl from space to space so that I don't have to get up so much. I keep a big bucket handy, but do have to get up from time to time to empty it into the larger garbage can which then has to be carted way out to the compost pile! It's picking up sticks that gets MY back--all the bending over. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this subject.
DeleteGreat question! I suppose my home inspiration "box" is the closest thing I have to creating my own little world ["box" is in quotes because now nearly everything is digital, except "hard" details like paint chips, tile samples etc]. This is something I started just before graduating college, and it has been SO much fun doing it. Like building and furnishing a dollhouse, only in my imagination. No detail has been overlooked. Tens of 1000s of images and 100s of lists. House plans I liked. Articles about siding, roofing, heating & plumbing, floors, fireplaces, millwork, hardware like doorknobs and switchplates, central vacuuming, lighting, security, windows & doors. Articles about working with architects, builders, contractors. Landscaping designs. Garage, basement, pool & terrace ideas. Retaining walls, fencing, pergolas, sidewalk & driveway materials, composting & potting areas, garden sheds, garden tools & equipment, bird houses & baths, photos & notes of the trees, shrubs, grasses, flowers, fruits, vegetables and herbs I want. Interior design ideas, color palettes, paint chips, flooring & tile samples, fabric swatches, furniture photos, room arrangements, closet organizers & equipment, bath linens & accessories, bedding & linens, cookware, cutlery, kitchen tools, small appliances, food prep & pantryware, kitchen linens, major appliances, canning & preserving supplies, china, glassware, flatware, serveware, table linens, lighting, picture frames, rugs & floor coverings, vases, throw pillows, artwork, tools, cleaning & homekeeping equipment, even little whatnotty knick-knacks I liked. I even kept lists of all the books [and later on the CDs and DVDs] I wanted to own. Over the years I've added items like green cleaners, green gardening tips and sustainable practices etc. And most importantly, my tastes have changed hugely in that time. Many of the things I just adored when I was 21 are long-gone now. I'm horrified to think that if I'd won the lottery or something in my 20s, my dream home now wouldn't even be close to what my current tastes are. So maybe it's a really good thing most of us don't get everything we want when we're 20. We are, most of us, I think, pretty clueless then. One of the best parts about getting older for me has been that I have developed, in my opinion at least, MUCH better taste. Have a great week and talk to you soon!
ReplyDeleteJanet, you've mentioned your "box" before but I had no idea it was as extensive and detailed! I'd say you've saved SO much money putting your wants in this "box" (as opposed to buying them ☺) It's like when I pick up something in a store that I really love and carry it around with me while I continue looking. By the time I'm ready to leave I usually put it back because I spent all the time I needed to with it. My tastes have changed drastically since my 20's, too. They're different even from 10 years ago in some areas. And if you gave me a check book with no limits, I can guarantee you that my tastes would change again.
DeleteOh yes. I truly tried to prepare as much as I could, in case I was ever in a position to actually house-hunt or better yet, build. And some of the things in the "inspiration box" I have bought like china, kitchen equipment, linens, furniture etc. It was very helpful to have had time beforehand to really think about what I liked and wanted - otherwise I would have been picking out a china set after about 10 minutes of browsing in a store. A few years ago I was showing "the box" to one of my sisters who was stunned to see how much I had. I told her "Yes, basically I am ready. Once I get the winning lottery ticket, all I'll need is an architect and a lot." I even have a list of architects in my area whose work I like. I still need a landscape firm but I'm hoping the architect will have some good recommendations for me. I really want a nice garden and yard. Not big, lots of relatively-low maintenance perennials, fruit trees, raised beds for veggies, a pool, terrace etc. And wow, I've done that a million times myself. Walked around a store with something under my arm that I was initially sure I HAD to have, then end up putting it back an hour later.
DeleteJanet, you will definitely need to have an Open House WHEN your dream comes true and invite me!
DeleteWhen and if, I will surely have a big old housewarming with a mile-long all-day buffet and bar, music, games, etc. And because I won the lottery, I'll be able to fly in guests from all over for it - first class! Consider yourself & Ken on the list! Hey, this means I have to start an "inspiration" box for the Housewarming - yay!
DeleteExcellent post, Cathy. And by the way the new mantle looks so nice. I love the color of your dining room. I find when things get very upsetting I start working, whether it's doing dishes or cleaning something. I never do it purposefully, it just a natural reaction, so it must be similar to what you are doing in your garden. I think working with our hands is so therapeutic, and time to think. I find mowing the lawn, doing dishes both excellent for that. And to answer your question I guess it would be my home, since my husband is the gardener, I love to create there and make things the way I want them. The Gardener usually agrees. So I guess that's my world.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing, Dotsie. Getting down on my hands and knees (something about being on my knees!) to wash the floor is therapeutic for me. That's when I got the idea to replace the floors last month! I have "equipment" now that allows me to stand while cleaning my new wood floor, so I don't know what I'll do when I can't be out in the garden on my hands and knees!
DeleteYour view looks so different without the snow! I too find the garden a good place to be and make me feel better. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteIt seems the garden is winning for the best place to feel better.
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