Seasons of Creativity

The summer style challenge was a graphic skirt and as the landscape budget is eating into the clothing budget I needed a 'good' idea!  Some years ago I had spent time playing with a cotton sheet and my fabric sprays and paints.  I stenciled as well as using some home made stamps.  I added a few splashes and flicks and put it away in my stash.  Its time had come. I tried to recall all my old garment making skills and Eliana tackled a pillow for the guest room.  She was spending a few days and we decided the summer decor could use some beefing up. Helping Eliana work on her quilting skills took some time.  I did tell her we had no time for a run to the emergency room.  eek! The finished reult turned out not too bad!  She wanted to tackle a skirt.  So we did a basic rectangle and elastic waist.  She wasn't too impressed but I explained we must walk before we run!!!  (on her next visit she brought a book with patterns...

                                                                  DAISY DAYS The pasture we bought had not been mown.  The wild flowers were all through it.  many I'd never seen before.  Our field was certainly not as full as the neighbours but who doesn't luv daisies!  Apparently the building inspector, who is also the weed inspector.  They are a weed?  Really??? A better shot of my Painted Japanese fern.  The emergence and over wintering of this one has encouraged me to consider others.  I luv ferns and hostas together. This will be a large pink lady slipper.  I can't find the ones in the front ditch....

First day of summer and the sunrise position has been noted and recorded in the garden journal.  Hopefully I will remember to catch the sunset. The flower bed for the bulk of the summer blooming flowers is being prepared for next summer.  It is taking up most of my time because there is a trellis wall separating it from the driveway. How open should it be?  And I think I have a gate figured!  Not that I know how to make the gate but I have the idea! I was off to Border Vintage to look for yard accessories and didn't quite find anything for the yard but the kitchen cabinet will certainly benefit from the retirement mug and brass pitcher! I need to switch up the cooler aquas and greens from spring to pinks, yellows, maybe some violets. I am thinking about the summer wardrobe.  Denim is a given and yet I like to keep the darker denim for fall so white will be seen a lot as I have lost my fear of stains.  No doubt they will happen ...

Tiny lady slippers under Jolina's tree.  Then in a walk about with the grand gardener they found tins under the back bush which has pines, spruces, caraganas and what looks like wild (?) amur maples.  And apparently a lilac!  Pink lady slippers are 2 weeks later and there will be one in the front ditch. Luv my Solomon's seal.  The high bush cranberry was leafing out and then I noticed all the droopy leaves.  That hard frost???  I pruned it up a bit and gave it the same fertilizer I give the apricots.   The hostas in this side yard are doing well.  The wee painted fern, half way up the wood chips, is even showing promise.  Another hosta shoot is emerging.  JOY!   The irises were phenomenal, tall, a rich purple. but the frost and wind has about finished them.  I had planted this miniature iris,  a cranesbill and some fox glove.  Only the iris survived winter and I don't remember it being this ...

I think I must resign myself to the fact that the yard is at its beginning stages and will require much more of my time than I had anticipated.  I will have to save some of my other hobbies for hot afternoons or rainy days! I continue to do Art 101 with my Grand kiddies.  We are working away on strengthening and expanding our skills and knowledge.  We have entered  the medieval period.  We also developed our muscles as we off loaded pavers for the next hardscaping project for the yard, the front terrace. I have kept the middle grandchild, Eliana, to help me with some of my projects. I have made a binder of the main areas round the house.  As we work at the yard and as we review various options I try to write down what we did and what we plan.   We fine tuned the side yard again.  Eliana found a hosta on which I'd put a large cement block.  It is now feeling much better!   And as we experimented with the placeme...

I have had an AHA! moment.  During the annual town clean up we were given a tour of a backyard garden.  It was messy, garish, and so very interesting. Not at all like my initial start at our new yardsite. Neutral tan siding.  Maybe shutters.  Robin Egg Blue door.  White arbor leading into the white/green shade garden which has, wait for it, white birdbath, etc.   I luv the whole white and green ascetic.  But when I look through magazines it is not the look that makes me smile! Before I go one more picket further.... How can I get here?  (image from pinterest) First I need to down all the white.  Green shutters? And a colour palette.  Now to kinda figure out how to do it!