Blooms, embroidery, Tropical Storm 16

Well, we've been getting some much needed rain off and on today as we get stormy weather from Tropical Storm 16. At least it's not a hurricane and we are thankful for that. She'll be coming right over us, the way the prediction shows.

Click on pictures for larger views.


The rain will be wonderful for the gardens,
and for me the gardener. I really miss not having our well.


Here we have the passion vine that has the smaller, paler flowers.










A close-up of Porterweed.



Here we have three different vines taking over the Ixora bush.
Air potato vines, a real pain in the rear to get rid of.
Morning glories.
Passion vines.


Ixora blooms.






A pretty hibiscus.



I saw this when I was looking out the scullery window.
So grabbed the camera and zoomed in.


A male cardinal is all his glory.









What I've done so far on my latest embroidery project.





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And if tonight my soul may find her peace

in sleep, and sink in good oblivion,

and in the morning wake like a new-opened flower

then I have been dipped again in God, and new-created.

D.H. Lawrence


******

Good night all.

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

Still hot and humid :-(

Good evening Folks. I hope you all had a really nice weekend. The past couple of mornings while reading blogs I've been so inspired to get out and work in my own gardens again. So, I headed outside, started weeding, trimming, and sweating buckets. There was hardly a stir of a breeze. I kept on, started digging a hole to plant a potted Queen's wreath and Philippine Violet combo, and had to quit before I croaked. I just started to feel like I'd had enough. I did not want to end up keeled over in the garden. I was so bummed out. Sheesh, when is the cooler weather going to come down here? We are so ready for the heat and humidity (especially the latter) to be GONE.

Since I couldn't work outside, I got inspired looking at the embroidery book from the library, and took a picture of one of our iron gates with arbor that DH made, then came in to the computer to get it edited and printed. Then I traced it onto fabric, and started drawing plants roughly that I plan to put into this piece. I really look forward to working on this. When the colorful threads start being stitched, it starts coming to life. Maybe I'll start tonight, maybe not.



A big pot full of vegetable, Italian sausage soup is simmering on the stove and smelling really good. I think I'll cook up some noodles to add to it too. Made a loaf of Coconut milk, flax meal bread in the bread machine this morning while I was working outside. Will serve that too, along with a glass of wine.

I want to say thanks to all of you bloggers for sharing your garden spaces. They are inspiring to look at, and encouraging too. Every garden is different. Blotanical is such a wonderful place to read about all kinds of gardens all over the world. It's really amazing how connected we all are.

***

I have found, through years of practice,

that people garden in order to make something grow;

to interact with nature; to share, to find sanctuary, to heal,

to honor the earth,

to leave a mark.

Through gardening,

we feel whole

as we make our personal work of art upon our land.

Julie Moir Messervy, The Inward Garden, 1995

***

Hope you all have a great week.

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

Rain and gardens

Good morning Everyone ~ Hope you are off to a good start on the weekend. It's Friday. I'm working at my job today and tomorrow, then Wed-Sat next week, so I won't be gardening much from now until next weekend.

We've had some wonderful heavy rain, really soaking into the ground and watering everything nicely. I am thankful. The other night it started pouring in the middle of the night and DH reached over and patted me and said "There's your rain." He knew I'd been praying and hoping for rain. I think more is expected through the weekend, and is just what we need.

The past few days DH and I have been working outside on our property. It's not as miserable and hellish as it was over the summer, so we feel like working. Our place has become a jungle over the summer, so we're pulling weeds, vines, etc. that have gotten out of control. We haven't started painting our cottage yet, but it's in the back of our minds. We are looking forward to some cooler temps, and hopefully it will happen sooner rather than later. We are ready.

Yesterday morning I went to a different library than the one I've been going to on my way to work. The older library is closed for a year for renovation. This other one is really close to home, I just have to make time to go there now, not on my way to work. Anyway, the library I went to yesterday is really nice, new, and I'm going to have to learn my way around it. I do look forward to jaunts to this closer library.
I found a great book called "Landscaper Plants for South Florida". I've already found one plant that I didn't know what it was in my own gardens. I also got a wonderful book, "Embroidery for all Seasons", which is exquisite. Found the book at Amazon, and two more books by this lady and put them all on my wish list. :-)
My fingers are itchin' to be stitchin' again.

Here are some pictures taken the last few days. We are mostly green, and I hope to add more color in the future. We are also little rooms and hallways, rather than open spaces.

Below is the front path, the road is to the left with traffic rushing by about 15' away.
There were piles all over like this, this was just the only picture I took.
This picture is looking west.


Here I am on the path looking east.


Here we are looking east toward the driveway gate into patio.
You can see the front wall of my little space needs painting.
This is the primer coat.
You can see the front door, which we don't use. My workspace with beads and embroidery materials covering it right now, is on the inside.



This picture is looking southeast to the patio just outside the front window.


This is the front patio, looking west.


East gate, driveway behind.


I'm standing by the kitchen's screened porch,
which is the main entry into our cottage.


I'm standing in the driveway just off the patio by screened porch,
looking north. The gate into secret garden has the wreath hanging on it,
on the left side of the picture.



This is my shed's garden.


Here we are inside the secret garden. I trimmed the hedges at the back,
so that now I can see the two outbuildings rooflines.


View from inside. Colea cuttings rooting in water.


Lemon tea bread.
Delicious and the recipe can be found at
Keeping it Simple




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To find the universal elements enough;

to find the air and the water exhilarating;

to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter. . .

to be thrilled by the stars at night;

to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring -

these are some of the rewards of the simple life.

John Burroughs

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Have a great weekend whatever you do, wherever you are.

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

Love

I came across this blog today through another blog, and another blog. You get the picture, it happens to us all the time.

I backtracked in the blog and came across this post that touched my heart deeply. How could one NOT fall in love.

Enjoying the Small Things.

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

All you truly need

Good morning Friends ~ I am feeling much better even though I still have the occasional cough and sneezing bout and running nose. My energy level is back up and the weather is cooling down somewhat, in the high 80's this week. Hurray.

Yesterday morning DH and I both worked outside, me trimming, weeding, raking, etc. He was moving and rearranging iron pieces he's collected over the years. We were still sweating, but it wasn't as bad as it has been all summer. We both look forward to cooler weather so that we can get some outdoor things done around here, one of which will be repainting our little cottage again. :-) We have a 5 gal. bucket waiting to be spread on the walls. I love to paint, and hopefully my right arm will co-operate as it's not the same since our accident 11 years ago, and with age bothers me more. I'll just do as much as I can at any given time, and enjoy the process. Maybe I'll even start this week. :-)

Yesterday afternoon, after lunch and a nap, I got online and checked out some country properties in GA and SC. We would love a country place, so I check places out every now and then just to see what is out there. Sometimes I get a tad depressed, because at the moment it isn't possible for us to move, other times I feel so thankful for what we have, and am ashamed for being discontent. I can't even keep up with cleaning our little cottage, yet I look at little bigger places, around 1200 sq ft. Larger living spaces and pieces of property mean more upkeep, and at this age, I've got all I can handle. Yesterday after being online, I got up from my chair here in my sweet little space, and walked out into the scullery , kitchen, and was really thankful for our haven. DH has a really nice workshop, we have storage sheds, and I have gardens. The 4 lane busy road out front and the neighborhood make us crave the country. But, when we pull into our driveway off the busy road, we enter our own little haven from the crazy world that we live in. We breathe a sigh of relief and thanksgiving.

I thought of the book 'Simple Abundance - A Daybook of Comfort and Joy' by Sarah Ban Breathnach. A book DH bought me years ago, found at a thrift store, because he thought it looked like something I would enjoy. I have enjoyed it through the years and have quite a few things marked and underlined.

Here is a selection that I was reminded of yesterday.

"Today, no matter where or how you live,
look upon your home through the eyes of Love.
Walk around the rooms and offer thanks
for the walls and roof that safely enclose you and yours.
Pause for a moment to consider
all who have lost their homes through death, divorce, debt, or disaster.

Be grateful for the home you have,
knowing that, at this moment,
all you have is all you truly need."

Wishing you all a great week,
wherever you are,
whatever you are living in,
whatever you are doing.

May you feel God's love, peace, and strength surrounding you at all times.

Below are a few blooms from this past week.


Caldwell's Pink or Pink Pet


Mexican petunias


The next two are the Love rose.





Louis Philippe or Florida Cracker Rose


Dwarf Poinciana


Blackberry Lily blooms



***

"I have learned,
in whatsoever state I am,
therewith to be content."
St. Paul

***

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

The Little House - 1952

This is sweet.

Pause my playlist on the right, and enjoy.

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

Feeling Better and South African Foxgloves

Good morning everyone. Thank you for your well wishes. I am feeling better today, this is the 4th day of this cold/flu bug. It definitely feels like it is on the wane and I am thankful.

I've not been doing much of anything. Did make a big pot of vegetable/garlic/chicken soup, yummy. I 've been wathcing old Disney classics on you tube. These old Disney movies had wonderful visuals, vocals and morals.

The light purple flower that several of you asked about is ~ Ceratotheca triloba or South African Foxgloves. I believe this is plant that popped up from seeds dropped from old plant last year, and I only have the one. I love it, as it is very cottage garden looking, and grows in our heat and humidity.

You can read all about it here.






Happy Gardening and Be Well.

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

Under the weather

Well, yesterday morning I woke up with a sore throat, feeling headachy and achy all over, and feel pretty dragged out and miserable this morning.

I'll just post some pictures taken the last couple of days, no comments.

Hope you all have a great week.





























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The best six doctors anywhere

And no one can deny it

Are sunshine, water, rest, and air

Exercise and diet.

These six will gladly you attend

If only you are willing

Your mind they'll ease

Your will they'll mend

And charge you not a shilling.

Nursery rhyme quoted by Wayne Fields,
What the River Knows, 1990

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Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL