Cottage Sun

 

My sister Ann gave me a plant pot stand for my birthday so , today as it’s sunny, I have been playing around with it as well as filling the hanging baskets with delicate pink annuals, which replace the pinks underneath the honeysuckle 
It’s Mindful work which I’m good at treating myself in between with glasses of iced coffee laced with agave nectar.

The cottage shines in the sun
It kind of comes alive and seems even to breath with its windows open and a breeze wandering the rooms from the south west.
The dogs mooch into the back garden to lie in the sun and I play ludovico Einsudi and Christopher Beck’s Under The Tuscan Sun as I plant up and water in.
I found myself scanning the shaded bit of wall for Albert too

Chic Eleanor called around this afternoon, with a bunch of peonies, she stayed for coffee
I’m working tomorrow as a favour for a colleague 
So I will be mindful and quiet for the rest of today.
Thanks to everyone for my best wishes yesterday 
They were gratefully received 



53 comments:

  1. I do declare You have your very own paradise there John x 🌄

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    1. Paradise , not quite, but it’s sweet

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  2. Enjoy your quiet day puttering around the cottage and the garden!

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    1. I recharged the batteries and feel a whole lot better

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  3. Pot therapy? Maybe there's a better name.

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  4. I want your cottage garden! It looks so peaceful and glowing in the sunlight. It took months before I stopped "seeing" my 2 darling cats out of the corner of my eye. Still in my heart, though. Enjoy your pottering day. xx

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    1. Yes, I’m seeing shadows in corners

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  5. I do like that pot stand. Very stylish.

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    1. My sister has got the patio looking nice

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  6. Anonymous12:26 pm

    What a thoughtful gift from your sister, it looks like it has been there for ever. It really fits into your garden! Your little bit of paradise. GG

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    1. I’m very proud of my garden , because when we moved in , there simply wasn’t one. Just a tarmac car park. I designed the garden , had it dug out and paid for the wall and gate to be put in .
      I have a laburnum which I will never sit under as it’s terribly slow growing

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  7. I, too, feel that my house breathes when the doors and windows are open. It takes in air and light and it gives back life.

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    1. You put it beautifully and better than I could describe

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  8. krayolakris1:12 pm

    A little breeze, the song of birds, beautiful plants…nothing like a garden to soothe the soul even if just a tiny bit.

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    1. And no barking and yapping from next door, oh it’s been blissfully quiet today

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  9. Anonymous1:28 pm

    What a bittersweet post...
    Your enjoying the beauty indoors and outdoors of your home ... sweet!
    then looking for Albert, touchingly sad- though wonderful that he's been your's to love whilst he walked this good earth and still love memories of now. -Mary

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    1. I’ve always described cats as supporting actors.
      Those in the wings , with smaller but essential parts for the play x

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  10. Barbara Anne1:32 pm

    What a lovely post and I can almost feel the warmth of the sunshine and smell the fragrance of the flowers. Your pinks look so pretty!
    Ah, how well I know the fleeting almost glimpses of a dearly departed beloved pet.
    How kind of you to work for your friend.

    Hugs!

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    1. She’s a trouper and a deArheart I’m happy to swap

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  11. Anonymous1:39 pm

    You have a beautiful home and garden. I opened my windows here in my house this morning. It just feels better after airing it out. None of my neighbors have their windows open - ever. In fact, when we moved to Georgia from Iowa the realtor told us that no one ever opens their windows so don't plan on doing that. Ha! Jackie

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    1. Sometimes I wish I had white floaty curtains which would dance in the windows when opened
      And I can think of a dozen films that use this metaphors and scene setting

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  12. weaver1:49 pm

    Love the plantstand.

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  13. Anonymous2:46 pm

    Just noticed there are two plant stands, one new and one looks like its been there forever. Lol. I am doing a bucket of iced coffee as we are having a couple of days of hot right now. GG

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    1. I’ve only recently got into iced coffee and iced tea .

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  14. How nourishing is a lovely day in a lovely corner of the world ❣️Yes Enjoy.

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    1. It’s my home….and I’m making the most of things….I’ve very aware that interest rates are going up and my mortgage fixed rates are up in just over a year

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  15. Mindful work, I like the sound of that term.

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    1. Mindful work , recharges the batteries, it can be repetitive and mundane but it allows the mind to wander and to rest

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  16. Beautiful. Your sister knows how to gift and how to love. And so do you. You're very lucky. (And sometimes there's crap to face.)

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    1. I am lucky….Chic Eleanor reminded me of that fact today

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  17. Your garden is beautiful.

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  18. Beautiful garden and such a thoughtful & wonderful gift from Ann! It is lovely to have the windows open and a breeze whispering about on warm, sunny days.

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    1. And on a practical note , it gets. Rid of doggie smells

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  19. Whenever I go to the chicken run I always do a head count of my beloved girls. Whenever I have lost a girl I catch myself counting and thinking there is one girl missing then remember. Gets me every time so I can just imagine how you keep looking for Albert.

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    1. I’ve always been careful when walking down stairs or around the kitchen as he often used to get under my feet as cats often do

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  20. It is a lovely time of year to be enjoying the outdoors. Your garden looks delightful, John. Xx

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  21. The best place to be mindful, whatever the weather

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  22. You garden spectacularly. Meanwhile our one tomato barrel seems to be doing well and the mint and the chives are growing like weeds. Which, by the way, have overtaken the back yard where we rarely go.

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    1. Any greenery however small is an island of pleasure xx

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  23. Yorkshire Liz7:29 pm

    The old word for such a plant stand is a theatre; seems very appropriate for a garden that shines, thanks to the attention of yourself and your lovely sister. Interesting to note there were over 200 birthday greetings yesterday; is that a record?

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    1. It is a record and many names I’ve not seen before, I’m humbled. As for the term theatre
      It’s a new one on me thank u liz

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    2. auricula x🏵

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  24. Diane9:14 pm

    Love the plant stand

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  25. Plants, animals, sunshine, and a happy John

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  26. Good to see that you have pukka terracotta pots. It makes such a difference.

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  27. It took years after his death for me to stop seeing my original black cat hiding in the shadows, then I started seeing him out of the corner of my eye slinking out of the room. I thought I was going mad. A while later I went to a clairvoyant as my Mum was having a reading, the lady turned to me and said 'Did you know you have a black cat sat by your side?' Somehow that was very reassuring.

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