Waiting for Lavender. . .

"Wherever you are, be there totally" – Eckhart Tolle

By my side gate the colours are muted. Pinks, lilacs and mauves, awaiting the lavender with its sweet scent to join them. I love the smell of lavender and have it planted everywhere. Lavender, Rosemary and Roses are some of my favourite smells of the garden. What are yours?

Last Sunday afternoon we went to visit my Mum and enjoyed the sunshine in her garden. We wanted to see her garden building now it was 'almost' finished. My lovely man Joe, designed it.

I loved to see how well these box plants are doing, I gave her these as tiny cuttings.
They are twice the size of the ones I kept!

I looked over my shoulder and noticed these wonderful shadows. . .

. . . and was wowed by the colours (and size) of these lovely hostas.

"Observe the wonders as they occur around you." - Rumi

And here is a photo of Joe sitting outside the new structure. :-)

. . . And my newly silvery hair. It is strange really, I have died my hair since I was a teenager, it has been a myriad of colours and I have spent years being a blonde and a red head as well as brunette. I even tried out jet black (with shaved sides!) in my 'almost punk' era. lol - But at the time when the grey starts in earnest and a lot of people start dying their hair, I have finally stopped!. . . I am enjoying seeing the silver appear.

(I wrote a poem this week called Age Comes - You can read it HERE.)

But right now, as I write this post the sun is hidden by dark clouds and we have the strong winds that have been almost constant over the last couple of weeks. Today it has even got so chilly that I have had to turn the heating on (the first time for nearly two months.)

As I look up from my computer this is what I see, the orchid on my windowsill, the heart hanging in the window and beyond that the windblown trees . . .

I hope your week has been a good one. x

Thought of the week
"Realize what you really want.
It stops you from chasing butterflies
and puts you to work digging gold."
- William Moulton Marston

I am linking this post to week 37 of I Saw Sunday - Why not come and join us?

I Can Almost Hear it all Growing. . .

"If you truly love Nature, you will find beauty everywhere." - Vincent Van Gogh

I step into the garden and I can almost hear it all growing. Nature is burgeoning, pushing forth with green fingers and blossom. The energy is palpable. I watched the insects busily moving from flower to flower, struck by the fact that they are living their life too. A shared space, my garden, the insects, the birds, this moment and me . . .

At the end of the garden, the gooseberries and blackcurrants are growing. . .

Everything is so lush, especially considering how little rain we have had.

And then. . .
Totally inspiring and just as beautiful, is this -
a lesson in growing where you are planted.
Life will find a way!

I hope your week has been a good one. x

Thought of the week
"Stop counting crayons, just draw pictures." - Mark Scharenbroich

I am linking this post to week 36 of I Saw Sunday - Why not come and join us?

Clouds, Windows and Windswept Hair. . .

Pushed by the wind, white clouds sail across the vast ocean of blue sky.
On top of my fence a sparrow fledgling chases after its parents, fluttering its tiny wings.

- My Name is Zing

This week has been one of blustery wind and magnificent skies full of white fluffy clouds. I am afraid I never got to take photos of the second half of my walk from last week but I did remember to take my camera with me on a visit to my sisters home . . .

She lives in a crumbly old gatehouse of honey coloured stone that glows in the sunlight.

I love the views from her windows. . .

Who wouldn't want that view when washing up!

Surrounded by nature, It is a wonderful spot. . .

Visit over it is time to head for home.

I still have the camera in my hand so decide to experiment with photos taken from the window of the moving car - you will be glad to know that I wasn't driving! :-)

Yellow fields of rapeseed and the wonderful sky.

More clouds and my windblown hair!
(Yes, it was very tricky to get a brush through it when I got home!)

Good to remember that the sun is always shining even when obscured by clouds.

Ah, here we are - almost home!

I hope your week has been a good one. x

Thought of the week
"It is never safe to look into the future with eyes of fear."
- Edward H. Harriman

I am linking this post to week 35 of I Saw Sunday

Before the Rain Came . . .

"Rain falling, refreshing yesterdays sunwarmed garden,
everything drinks deeply, fuel for another bout of growth.
Raindrops on my window panes, sparkling like diamonds."

- My Name is ZING

Now we have some rain at last. After weeks without any my water butts were empty and the garden looked thirsty. But earlier on in the week the sun was shining and we decided to go for a stroll around the village. . .
Unfortunately the battery in my camera ran out as I got half way around. I must remember to carry a spare. Perhaps I will take some more photos for next week if the weather is clement!

I hope your week has been a good one. x

Thought of the week
Do not say “It is morning” and dismiss it with a name of yesterday.
See it for the first time as a newborn child that has no name.
- Rabindranath Tagore

I am linking this post to week 34 of I Saw Sunday