Fairy lights

 



I don’t want to go to back to work today
I want to sleep in under the duvet as the dark ice hardens Bluebell’s windscreen wipers.

In winter I hate coming home to a silent dark house.
The dogs will be at Trendy Carol’s and Albert is usually asleep in the West wing’s Office
and so the cottage is quiet and still and empty which I drive down the lane.

I often leave a light on in the living room to make the cottage more welcoming but tonight I will be faced with a row of fairy lights, left by my sister in the patio revamp of yesterday.
I will post photos of her work once the gravel is laid but yesterday she’s planted out camellia, and ferns and evergreen broad leaves as will as hellebores, heucheras, and tiny almost delicate herbs in miniature terracotta pots .
Delicate bulbs and flowers have filled a hanging basket and spring primulas fill the gaps within the bowls and buckets and planters with cheerful greenery.
It looks lovely
The solar powered fairly lights have been wrapped very carefully around the beams above, giving the cottage a rather cheerful aspect in the dark.
Mr Poznań had walked by very carefully, like an ageing king penguin, when I took the dogs out before choir zoom meeting at 6.30
I asked him if he’d liked the new light display 
“ Very Pretty …..very gay “ was his simple reply 

49 comments:

  1. So hard to return to work on a cold winter morning.

    Your sister has the gift of knowing you so well that she can read your mood and how to lift it. The flowers and plants make me think ahead to spring and the homecoming porch lights mean so much on a winter night. There is something so difficult about coming home to a dark and silent house.

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  2. I don't miss the journey to and from work in the cold and dark! The fairy lights are lovely, and will bring a smile to your face when you get home. Can't wait to see the garden. It sounds like it will be a lovely place to sit, in the sunshine, with a coffee. I'm quite jealous! xx

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    1. I will be laying the gravel tomorrow , if I have time

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  3. Very pretty. Very gay. Perfect. Your sister is an absolute wonder.

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  4. It is the last thing I do when I leave the house in winter, make sure a light in on for when I return.

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  5. Was Mr Poznan talking about you or the lights? Good of your sister to take on the role of head gardener at Chez Gray.

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    Replies
    1. I do pay her but you can’t quite pay for style , and she has buckets

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  6. A lovely light welcome even without the dogs, your sister is a gem.
    Looking forward to seeing the garden pictures

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  7. The fairy lights look as if they've just dropped onto the roof, like a shower of rain.

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  8. Lights make all the difference. You are needed, duty calls.

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  9. I like that ... 'very pretty, very gay'. Lovely :-)

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  10. Lights can attract your wishes to you x

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    Replies
    1. Flis thank you for Leo’s donation, I’ve forwarded it on

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  11. At first glance, I thought you had managed to get a picture of a passing UFO ... so many little lights!
    Looking forward to seeing the updated garden, as well!

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  12. How lovely and welcoming. I do envy you being able to work in a garden right now and to think about Spring flowers. We are still digging out after a foot and a half of snow fell in 24 hours on Monday! No gardening around here for another couple of months at least!

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    Replies
    1. The snowdrops and daffy are already showing

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  13. I leave a light on, too, but my dogs are always waiting just inside the door.

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    Replies
    1. Mine are either sat in front of trendy carol’s fire or sat on her conservatory trendy sofa

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  14. I can't wait to see what your sister has created.

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  15. Your sister is a treasure, John! I like that the lights are solar powered and they look terrific! They will comfort you when you get home from work.

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    Replies
    1. I would never have bought themmmyself

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  16. The lights are a lovely idea and I look forward to seeing the garden photos.

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  17. Your sister is a marvel and I also look forward to seeing her work in your garden. When I no longer liked going to work, I knew it was time to make a change. Employers are desperate for people everywhere and your skills and know-how are in high demand. Seize the opportunity.

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    Replies
    1. I’m only reticent because I enjoyed my holiday

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  18. Planting anything in January astonishes me. Nothing gets planted outside here until May because of the ongoing risk of frost.

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    Replies
    1. Everything is seasonal and not too much in danger of freezer death

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  19. Beautiful! I'll be perusing Amazon for solar-powered fairy lights momentarily.

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  20. How can things be planted outdoors in January in an ice storm? Isn't your ground frozen, is there not frost damage?
    You can buy an inexpensive timer to turn a light on , not good to lv a house dark and unattended.

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    Replies
    1. She’s been careful picking Hardy plants lizzy

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  21. Barbara Anne5:32 pm

    I'm with Lizzy on the idea of a lamp on a timer so you've an interior "welcome home". Love the fairy lights outside and I, too, look forward to what beautiful things Janet has planted. Isn't there still too much winter cold for new plantings to survive?
    Wishing you a cozy, delightful evening.

    Hugs!

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  22. Subtle and welcoming lights.

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  23. I like the lights. I had some on my balcony for a few years. It was Billie's idea. They eventually stopped working and I took them off without replacing them. Maybe it is time.

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  24. I love a garden make over. I can't wait to see what you sister has achieved for you this time. Love the lights, they look ethereal. Very pretty.

    Jo in Auckland

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  25. Very pretty, very gay. That sums it up so nicely!

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  26. veg artist7:46 pm

    Not seeing your home and garden in daylight for days on end is just miserable. Lovely lights though.

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  27. Thanks all for the comments and thanks to everyone who sponsored my nephew , he’s raised over 500£ so far !!!!!

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  28. "Very pretty... very gay"... Hmm, interesting. Funnily enough friend of mine, president of an Alumni "Gay" society, recently asked me if I could not try to be "pretty and gay" just for one night. I declined, but was also oddly flattered. On hearing of this my wife said if it gave her a break she wouldn't mind too much, That hurt. I chose to think she was joking. Life is strange.

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    Replies
    1. Don’t knock what you haven’t tried x

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  30. I love fairy lights. Every year I think I am going to buy some and then after all is said and done, I never do manage to. They add the perfect touch of light on long winter nights. Solar powered ones sound excellent.

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