The last 6

As promised, here is the last 6 things to be happy about in my garden.

7. The lemon thyme planted between the sandstone under the clothes line, that has survived the heat and gives of an amazing scent when I step on it, as I hang out my washing.

 

8. The final roses before they get pruned back and the wait for the next blooms.

9. Lulu's cute, friendly and happy little head that pops through the fence to greet me and always cheers me up.

10. The Mulberry tree that the dogs go round and round has stopped dropping berries, the birds eat them, do ugly purple droppings everywhere that stain everything. next year I must get to them before the birds do.

  

11. Being able to use so many of the herbs from my own kitchen garden. When friends came over for lunch on Sunday I made a greek feast and used oregano, winter savoury, perpetual spinach, curly parsley, continental parsley, lemon balm and mint. I even used my own chocolate mint to garnish dessert . Recipes in a future blog- lamb souvlaki, beef kofta, my special invented mint salad and raspberry & white choc cheesecake



12. The electrician is booked and coming next week to give power to my water feature.

(amongst other jobs)

Fellowship of suffering.

I have delayed adding my 6 other items from my 'Things that make me happy about my garden' as thoughts of all the people affected by the floods in Queensland fill my mind and heart. I have relatives and friends in various parts of Queensland and although all say they are safe, it's hard not to worry. I sincerely hope all the bloggers are staying safe too. Tragedy certainly changes priorities.

Like many, it is times like this that we feel immense gratitude, to even have a house and garden. It is so confronting to realise that at any moment we are all just a breath away from suffering. It could so easily be you or I. We have the protection of distance but the stories of trauma, loss of life of adults and especially children (even animals) and the devastation of lifetimes of toil, is absolutely heartbreaking. I once heard someone say we are all connected in the 'fellowship of suffering' - we are not in control and none of us are immune from suffering.

The only gold in the darkness is that we have amazingly committed emergency service people and the generosity of Australians in tough times. We have several English friends who on migrating to Australia were astounded by the generosity of Australians in donating and assisting in the Victorian bushfires. They had never experienced this community spirit before. It gives you faith in the human spirit to survive and our innate capacity to rebuild. Nevetheless it will be a long and challenging journey for many. We never really comprehend all the big and small losses and the meaning they hold. There is so much we take for granted. This situation also makes us reflect and if necessary reassess our priorities and to remember that relationships are everything.

This Australia Day we will have lots to grieve, as well as much to be proud of .

12 things about my garden!

I am a big believer in the saying 'What you focus on is what you get' and also gratitude. Over the years I have found that the questions I ask myself and the language I use really shapes my thoughts, feelings and quality of life.

I have a laminated piece of card on the shower screen that asks about 10 different questions and these help me focus when things are challenging. Sounds corny but it works. Usually when I have the greatest resistance to answering the questions is when I need it the most. Some especially challenging days I have to go through it twice and it takes a while but eventually makes me feel better . I am always amazed at how much I have to be thankful for.

The first question is "what am I happy about in my life right now?" So I thought I would change this to "what am I happy about in my garden right now?" I have found 12 things.

So here goes.... the first 6

1. My Japanese garden which is the only place nearly finished, low maintenance and the sanctuary from the rest of the messy garden it has provided.

Love the colours of nandina and forest pansy

2. The beautiful agapanthus flowers- so hardy- the nursery owners say they they are weeds but they have been a blessing in my garden. I divided some months ago and  even the ones I left and never got around to putting in the ground are flowering now. Talk about tough.

Not bad for a weed!

3. That I have actually got to finally start the box spiral in the circular English garden and how cheap plants are $1.98 from a local shop- shhhh! This used to be a lawn but never got enough light, so now it will be a contemplative spiral walk - made of Japanese spindle bush hedge that leads to a pond. I plan to gradually add to it until it gets to the middle.

Lots of growing to go but small beginnings.

bargain plants make it possible

4. That the young camellias I transplanted are surviving and looking remarkably healthy and happy.

maybe the angel is proteting the camellias from harm

5. The strawberries that look so beautiful on the plant that I am reluctant to pick them and so I end up leaving them for the birds.

6. That the water feature in the French garden finally has the right pump and works really well after several years of frustration and being idle.

she's happy to have some attention at last

So much to be happy about outside- another 6 tomorrow!



Black & White

My Japanese garden is neglected at the moment, the only thing I have done this week is buy some black pebbles for the water feature. I will start panicking when it is closer to the end of the month- after all these years I have accepted that I do my best work under pressure anyway! Doesn't make life any easier though. Although I have discovered that lots of creative planning and decision making happens while I look like I am procrastinating. That's my story anyway.

Another reason for the neglect is that it has been too hot, yesterday was 35 degrees. I have been painting furniture all week so it was nice to get out of the house. We headed to the beach at Goolwa to go cockling with my family (5 kids and spouses), they all love fishing, so it was a good excuse to spend time together. I really appreciate that even though we are all over 40 we still enjoy each others company and the kids especially value the feeling of belonging & connection.

My highlight was 4 wheel driving for the first time through the sand dunes and on the beach, I did get bogged on the way back but the risk was worth it.

I am beginning to realise more and more that nothing in life is simply a good or bad, black or white experience. Everything has it's upside and downside. Going to the beach for instance- there's the scenic drive, the beach views, the joy of watching kids bodyboarding, dogs excitedly playing, smell of the sea, excitement of 4 WDing, chatting and laughing with family, beach cricket, collecting shells, the traditional icecream at the end of the day and the wonderful cool shower when you get home. Then there's the preparation, windburn, sand in your food, feeling hot and bothered, sand sticking to sunscreen on your skin, burning your feet on hot sand, hat hair, cleaning out the endless sand from the car, washing dogs and clothes.

The garden is the same it is a lot of work but also alot of pleasure. I guess you just have to keep weighing it up. It's all about what you value and what you choose to focus on! Right now garden and beach are worth it but ask me again when my sunburnt knees and windburnt arms start to sting.

Selective Ambush!

It's amazing how much joy our pets can bring and how quickly they can make us laugh and change our mood. I am sulking and aggro with the world because I have to wait five weeks for an order of pool coping. This means another delay before any more progress can be made on our pool, which was started in September 2010. That's a story for another day.


Fudge ready for Australias Top Model

The dogs are determined not  to let me hold onto my grumpy attitude. Firstly Fudge the younger, bolder, female (with attitude) turns into a stone statue and won't move a muscle when we try her in a jacket that lovely neighbour gave us. She looks very funny anyway but her stiff protest and forlorn look makes it even funnier.

Then as I sit reading blog updates I hear a cry of protest from outside the family room door. The door is open and I wonder why Darcey the older and gentler Italian greyhound doesn't just enter. A closer investigation reveals that Lilly the male cat has him bailed up and is ready to ambush and attack him as he comes through the door. The cat has an evil sense of humour, it often sits at the end of the verandah like a guard preventing him from passing. Darcey sits shivering and terrified until I pick up the cat and end it's psychological game.

Darcey the timid but adorable iggy!

 Meanwhile Fudge (who is the smaller but wider dog) can attack the cat, bite its ears, nip it's back and generally harrass Lilly with no real consequence. Fudge ambushes lilly as she comes through the door!Occassionally the cat has enough and digs its claws into Fudges head, after a shocked squeal but Fudge is back again a few minutes later. Not sure if this is a female, male thing or whether the cat picks up on different energy. Whatever the reason it is hard to stay grumpy and life is quickly put back in perspective.

Mr Lilly very satisfied with his psychological tricks!

And poor old Darcey has gone back to bed to destress and it's only 8:30 am.

More being than doing!

Funny how the gifts on our wish list  at Christmas are often connected to our New Years Resolutions.
This year I asked for and received a hammock. Up until today everyone else had spent more time resting in it but me, even the dogs got a decent turn. One of my hopes for the coming year is to be able to spend more time just simply being and enjoying the garden and life in general, rather than constantly doing. There is always the feeling that I must do just one more thing before I stop, rest and enjoy the fruits of my labour. Later never comes of course- I think this is a very common 'Mum' habit. I have lots of places to sit in my garden but I rarely use them myself.

This year I want to develop some small, simple and deliberate mindful practices as well as becoming more mindful in my everyday life. Not quite sure whether adding blogging will be another distraction, added to the 'to do' list or  maybe it just might keep me accountable. Lets hope its the latter.

I am hoping that by the end of January that my little Japanese garden space will be a place I can escape to and simply 'be'. It's already a lovely place to start and end the day. Nearly there but not quite. Right now I am still distracted by all the possibilities. In the meantime I did enjoy my time in the hammock this afternoon, laying under the wisteria, what I remember anyway. Although you do have to be very 'mindful' getting in and out gracefully! I plan to put my hammock up on the Mexican patio, when it is finished, then I can have a real 'siesta'

Hopefully this is almost worn out from use by next Christmas.

Water, water!

I realised the missing piece of the jigsaw in my Japanese Garden has been water. All the books I've read and my visit to Himeji garden have helped me to realise that I am missing water. So today I moved my Zen water column around to the Japanese garden and have started to look at what is needed to have goldfish and some aquatic plants in a bowl. I think I will need a bigger bowl. Actually a feed trough or some kind of old  bath would be perfect- keeping  my eyes open. Underneath the study window would be perfect.

I am also making a list of all the things I want to do in my Japanese garden this month. It is not as far from completion as the rest of the garden so it is a good area to focus on in January. January can be hot and windy like New Years Eve, I have the bug for indoor summer/spring clean and the Japanese garden is shady when everywhere else is hot. I also find it hard to get anything major done in school holidays when Soph is home and friends are over etc. etc. So maybe I can dedicate half the month thinking and half the month doing.

So all I have done so far is move the water feature into the Japanese garden, I will get the pump organised soon and electricity when the electrician comes for other jobs in the next few weeks. All looks a bit blah ( Alot really) at the moment but I am all for momentum,small steps and Kaizen (more about this later). Looking forward to the sound of running water very soon. I am also on the look out for black mulch, a better bamboo screen to disguise the hot water tank and working on David about building a screen to better camouflage the ugly but necessary gas bottles (that doesn't blow over in the slighest gust of wind). I have the seeds of an idea for what to put on the blank walls (more later). So I am doing lots just in my imagination and not yet the garden.

And yes I know I need to improve my photography skills and get a better camera!!!!

very blah at the moment!

                                   

Bah!Blah! blah! but stay tuned.