My house looks like a battle zone. Piles of garden produce to deal with make me wonder why I embarked upon a major clean out and reorganization of rooms and closets. I'm faced with too many fronts - a clear strategy for losing. Just ask Napoleon.
In an effort to gain some perspective, I took a little walk around the garden with my camera. A few new spikes of lavender bloom and the dahlias are lovely.
My neighbour has a grape vine that trails over our fence. She (the neighbour) encourages us to help ourselves to the grapes. Last year I canned some grape juice which made a wonderful drink when mixed with club soda for those who don't want wine with dinner. The grapes are ripe now and should be picked soon. But I won't think about that now.
I wanted an evergreen plant for the pot in front of the porch and settled on a bay laurel - laurus nobilus - that I'll prune to a fuller shape. The prunings can be dried and used to flavour soups and stews.
This little village spends most of its time in a cardboard box, carefully wrapped in tissue paper. I have it out on our dry sink in the dining room just now. The buildings replicate those of Old Quito during Spanish Colonial days and make me think of the years we spent in Ecuador.
How quickly the years pass. I'm feeling rather pensive just now, looking at those little buildings. Those were the years of active mothering. Now I'm a grandmother of 3. How can that be?
There's a weekend of celebration coming up and I have to get the house in order. The important things will all be accomplished. Onward I go, taking little breaks here and there to read a few of your blogs and sometimes leave a comment. How are your early September days? Full to overflowing or just right?
I love all of those little buildings. And I should have read this earlier and walked away from my house for a little while. I have been overwhelmed since I got back with decluttering. I always think it's a good time to sort through things but I take on too much at one time. And now I feel a bit burned out! I should have gone outside with you! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteI love your little village. It's really sweet and I'm sure brings back wonderful memories for you and your family. I'm enjoying September and it's not been too bad since we got home last Thursday. Just getting caught up I guess. The weather has been wonderful (better than the snow they got in Calgary yesterday!) and I'm enjoying some gardening and harvesting veggies. Enjoy the rest of the week.
ReplyDeleteOne step at a time and it will all get done. Love the little village but pray tell me what is a "dry sink"? Enjoy your visitors - I am sure they will not care too hoots if you have finished the clear out or not and if not maybe you could get everyone to give you a hand?!!
ReplyDeleteWow it's so beautiful and I am in totally love with your sweet place..
ReplyDeleteHugs xx
I love that Spanish village, and all the whiteness of it is very much my taste. I also love fruit juice mixed with club soda. It's our go to drink around this place. I keep telling my husband that we need to get one of those seltzer water makers because it would probably save money. (Of course, club soda isn't all that expensive.)
ReplyDeleteI know the feeling. It can be overwhelming. Take a deep breath! How interesting to see your little village. I think the older we get the faster time flies by.
ReplyDeleteNo better place than the garden to gain a fresh perspective. Your dahlia is so pretty and reminds me of our trip to Butchart last year at this time. I still enjoy the hundreds of pictures I took of them :).
ReplyDeleteSo nice of your neighbor to share her grapes with you. They look delicious.
Love your little village. A charming reminder of your time spent in Ecuador.
Sometimes I feel exactly as you do now, Lorrie....pulled in 20 different directions!
ReplyDeleteI hope things calm down for you soon. I crave balance in my life.
May I suggest you make some grape walnut jelly/jam with those grapes? I would LOVE to have some, just like my Mother & Grandmother used to make. Recipe link (but I add chopped walnuts) is on my blog here: http://rettspace.blogspot.com/2009/11/traditions.html
Last week was like that for me! Ron was off for the week, we had projects going right and left, but we had two sets of guests coming over the weekend. On Sunday night, I fell into my chair and thanked the Lord for Mondays!! :)
ReplyDeleteMay your busy week be both productive and peaceful!
(Love your little houses and your grapes photo is striking!)
Your comment on Napoleon and too many fronts made me smile. I feel a bit like that too, with a front at Pondside, one in Oak Bay and one at my parents' new apartment. My strategy is to bite off a tiny bit at a time, focusing on one task and not being distracted (as is my usual strategy!) to wander on to another something that needs doing!
ReplyDeleteThe little village is adorable! Time does fly, doesn't it? We are piddling with projects here and there. No big ones. We're waiting for the weather to get cooler and then we'll venture out for a few car trips, some local, some not. And we'll be toting cameras!
ReplyDeleteI've been catching up on your blog. My Sept. has been quite full and computer time has be scarce. You and your husband have wonderful adventures and it's a treat to see all of your pictures! I still haven't tried the zucchini soup yet but hope to. You made me realize that I can take the tomato soup I can and add half and half or the like to it when I open it to serve it.
ReplyDeleteSeptember is rushing by far too quickly, if only I could get things done around here that fast! Meanwhile, following some rainy days, the sun has appeared sporadically making me feel guilty at not getting out into the now even heavier mosquito infested 'back forty'. Gardening is impossible until the days and nights cool down - so what did I do, buy two lovely pots of mums for the front steps and hang up the garden gloves until possibly October!!!!!! I refuse to feel guilty and am contemplating hiring help sooner rather than later.
ReplyDeleteLove the village - can imagine life in a place like that, in fact I think I hear the mission bell chiming the hour so must away to make 'mister' a sandwich.
Love and hugs - don't knock yourself out, you know what happened to Napoleon!
Mary X
September is a hodge podge of things at this old house. I like your little village. I've been scanning photos while workers were here and the memories of those mothering years were full of some emotion for me. Enjoy sorting through and your big weekend!
ReplyDeleteLove all the color! That dahlia is gorgeous. I got some bulbs free from the nursery in late July. I planted them and they're about a foot tall. Now the issue is remembering to bring them in before the ground freezes.
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely flowers. I hear you there always seems to be something happening in life so we have little time just to sit back and relax. I really liked your little village.
ReplyDeleteThink of it this way, your fall cleaning and organizing will be done!
ReplyDeleteI love those little houses, bet the grands will too!
I've been changing up the gardens since our home will be on a garden tour next summer. What better way to light a fire under me to decide, divide and get things in order!
Your days sound like mine - full to overflowing. I had 17 kitchen cabinet doors painted and sitting around inside the house to cure - resting on waxed paper to keep them from sticking to the carpet - and then my husband's surprise birthday party loomed and I HAD to get the doors back on - even though the bases of the cabinets are not yet painted - and I HAD to get the party organized - and invitations sent - and photo collages of his life done. By Sunday afternoon it was all in place and the guests came - we ate - we laughed - we talked - we ate. It all got done when it had to be done. And now I have a book fair to attend on the 21st - a writer's meeting on the 24th, our 50th anniversary dinner on the 25th and finally - 3 days away in a cabin on Orcas Island - then we can slow down. I'm hoping the autumn is a slower season than this summer. It has been fun - but tiring, in a good way.
ReplyDeleteI love your little buildings - what sweet memories
At least our weather is still gorgeous - may summmer last until the end of September. Please!
I love how you display that little village with that arrangement of pretty plates over top. Your garden and home will be a welcome place for that celebration this weekend.
ReplyDeleteAt least with those kinds of battles, you won't lose the war if you step away for a while and behold a little of nature's order or happy mess. I'm so glad you did! And I love the little buildings.
ReplyDeleteThat village is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteLong ago I had a grapevine where I lived before when my sons were younger and I recall the heady scent wafting through the house when making grape juice. The first time that I did it the best compliment that I could give myself was "It tastes just like Welch's! " :) I was surprised :)
What a lovely village. I can imagine the pensive feeling... where do the years fly to in such a hurry?
ReplyDeleteI could do with a bit of fall cleaning around here, but by the time I put in 4 hours at work every morning at the performing arts centre, I'm done with cleaning and polishing, not to mention wiping walls and surfaces.
It's the classic story of a shoemaker's children go without shoes, and a cleaning woman's house begs some serious dust removal too.
Wondering if I can get inspired to do all the things you are doing. I must at least do a good, deep cleaning. I feel like I can almost smell those grapes and can definitely imagine them with club soda, yummmm! What a very sweet village.
ReplyDeleteVery lovely images, Lorrie. Bright and fresh!
ReplyDeleteTake it easy with cleaning, I know what you mean.....
Started here at La Pouyette with a "tabula rasa"! And when I need a break I walk around the garden.
xk
Great post! And I love your little village! Yes, I've been spending time with the grand kids and painting some furniture. Made a mantle scarf for my daughter. Busy times indeed.
ReplyDelete