Are you listening?

 I'm thrilled to welcome this guest post written by my granddaughter, Sadie.

I wonder.  What if my garden could speak?  If the petals on my roses ruffled with laughter when I told a joke.  Or if the vines that usually clung to trees, slid up my arm swiftly for an affection squeeze. Would my plants reach out to me to complain about the blistering sun or the drought of nutrients in their soil?  I know that if my garden could speak I would sustain its every need. Changing the soil at even a single sunflower's whim and helping the tomatoes tie themselves to the fence to feel rooted.  But would others do the same? If their garden could voice their desires, would they even listen?

Would my vines embrace me with an affection squeeze?

 

Someone brought this garden to life, or at least, they planted the seeds and sometimes despite rough conditions a flower will bloom brightly, a sign of hope.  Yet, ignored and neglected they may never reach their full beautiful potential.  Someone's little sprout is repeatedly trampled upon, unwatered and cast to the shadows where no sunlight can reach them.  Wilting and wanting, only discouragement grows.  If only the tender blossom could have known to call out.  To stand tall on their stem and scream, pleading for the help they deserve.

But plants never did learn to speak.  And many gardeners never learned to listen, their charges are left uncared for and the sad results repeat.  They dry up, fold over, and wilt into the ground from whence they once came.

I beg of you, those who are responsible for tender shoots and delicate blossoms, to  teach your garden their ABC's.  In the hope that when they are about to wilt they feel they can speak to you of their pain, how much it hurts to die from the inside.  Then the world will be filled with the nature it should have.  We will all be connected, all loved and seen for the who we are and what we need to thrive.

Thank you for stopping by My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

May you stand tall and be heard today,

Sadie

Do You Believe in Magic?

 Have you ever arrived somewhere and had a sense that you had crossed an invisible threshold into a place with an energy that was so beyond explanation that when you tried to describe it later, all you could say was, "It felt magical"? 

I hadn't either until this past summer.  My favourite niece and her husband purchased several acres of land on which sits a hundred year old cedar shake clad home with a slate roof. There's a barn and a pond and acres of forest and nature.  None of that is particularly unusual although it is picturesque and beautiful.  But there's something more going on here that even after several visits I cannot quite identify. Each time I leave, I find myself longing to return to bask in the presence of something I cannot name.  It's a pull that not just I, but others feel too; a gentle calling that whispers and beckons.  

I doubt I will ever understand what is at play here but how lovely to know that there are places in our natural world that feel blissfully, restoratively supernatural.

Thank you for visiting My Turquoise Kettle Life today,

May you find a corner of bliss in your world today,

Sandra

Painted Garden Rocks

Today my daughter and I painted rocks for her garden as markers for the various vegetables she is planning to grow.  We chose several rocks from our back yard, made ourselves some tea, then set ourselves up with paints and brushes and scrolled through Pinterest looking for inspiration.  There were so many ideas (isn't there always on Pinterest?) that it was difficult at first to decide.

garden rocks in various shapes and sizes (wash and dry the rocks)

Finally we decided to paint all the rocks black as a base coat for a consistent look

We used acrylic paint

and tried to find rock shapes that suited our subject matter

Here is our final harvest of garden rocks.  

This was a really lovely way to spend a dull and chilly afternoon together.  It was a fun and easy activity that let us be creative with what we had on hand, without a big time commitment and only a few paint brushes to clean up afterwards.  Within a couple of hours we had everything completed and her garden will look pretty all summer long. 

Thank you for stopping by My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Wishing each of you a beautiful day,

Sandra

These February Blahs

Its still early morning as I sit at my desk writing.  I've meditated, prayed, drank my share of tea and dropped off my grandchildren at school. Life is good, and yet... lately I've had that nagging, blah, mid-February sense that something is off.  Yes but what? And why can't I put a label on it and just fix it?

In this office where I pray and write I'm "wintering" my geraniums.  I'm a total novice at keeping plants over the winter but I read up a bit on the how-to's and figured I had nothing to lose and a few colourful plants to gain if I had any success.

So far I've managed to keep them alive.  This room is gloriously sunny in the afternoons (winter willing) and I water them weekly.

What I noticed this morning is that while they appear to be thriving, they are not without their own winter struggles.

See how she reaches toward the light?  All her energy seemingly poured into one stem that strains toward the warm and life-giving sun. 

Closer to her roots some of her stems and leaves are dried, withered and brown.  This is where I began to relate to Madame Geranium.  This is exactly how I'm feeling: surviving, reaching out and maintaining those good and healthy practices that keep me well; enough sleep, good food, good friends, my morning practices (yoga, prayer etc) but the hidden inner workings are a little dry and crumpled, dull, tired, blah. 

Its reassuring to remember that life is seasonal.  I look at nature and remember that this is a season of slowing down a little, allowing the rest and pockets of "hibernation" that winter calls for.
I cannot necessarily be in "full bloom" 12 months of the year.  Its ok to miss the warmth, the sun, the long days, its ok to feel a little blah and not panic, there's nothing wrong with me*.  Its just February.  I will continue to practice self-care and nurturing, I will continue to reach out to those whom I love, we will comfort and encourage one another.  Eventually the days will be longer, the huge banks of snow will melt into the sewers, the earth will smell pungent and with any luck Madame Geranium may even bloom again.

Thank you for stopping by My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

May you be warmed right down to your roots today,

Sandra

* please know that in some instances winter blahs may be a more serious condition that requires the help of health care professionals.  If you suspect that you are suffering from a deeper form of anxiety and/or depression, reach out today to someone you trust to discuss your concerns.

Maybe an afternoon nap

Sometimes a day off on a rainy Monday is a true gift.  My mood matched the weather today so once the lawn was mowed and the gardens weeded and the gentle drizzle of began,  I made a big cup of tea and tucked myself in under a quilt.  With my window open to hear the rain I settled into my self and accepted that today this was all I had to do; drink tea and nap.

Hours later with tea drunk and dreams dreamed I meandered around the gardens enjoying the vivid colours and droplets left by the showers.

Lily of the Valley

Dalia 

Do you ever find it difficult to give yourself the gift of real downtime?  I know I do, I  have a (long) list of chores and when I have a day off I want the satisfying feeling that comes from crossing off as many items as possible.  Today after my nap I woke to a sink of dirty dishes and a laundry basket still overflowing. Does that bother me? Yes, but for today that is going to have to be okay.

Thank you for visiting My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

May you give yourself permission to find a little rest this week,

Sandra

Mayhap ....

"Mayhap", an old English word from the mid 16th century summing up in one word the phrase, "it may hap" or "may it hap" (happen).  What better time to drag out this word and dust it off than on this Victoria Day weekend? (For those not familiar this is a Canadian celebration of Queen Victoria's birthday, May 24, 1819.)

This long weekend also officially welcomes in gardening season, prior to mid-May there is often the threat of frost and so gardeners are usually advised to hold off until the May long weekend to plant.  So it was that yesterday I found myself weeding, edging and generally puttering around my gardens filled with the hope that this will be the year I manage to keep abreast of the weeds and work that will let my flower beds reach their full and beautiful potential.

Forget-Me-Knots - a virtual carpet at the back of  my garden at this time of year

lush foliage and contrasting colours

I envision gently working in the newness of summer mornings easily eliminating a few unwelcome weeds, surrounded by glorious colours, dew tipped foliage and birdsong.  Yes, this will be the year for my romantic garden vision to come to life.  Because, unlike every previous summers when I suddenly found myself knee high in weeds in the sweltering mid-day heat of August surrounded by spiders so large they threaten to carry off my garden spade and flying inspects attacking my neck and ears, this summer I will have my act together, mayhap!!

Bleeding Heart - a gift from my father's garden

What do I base this hope on? Pure whimsy, wishful thinking and day dreams coupled with home decor magazine images of manicured properties, but that is fine because gardens like life don't have to be ideal and perfect to be appreciated and enjoyed.  I can side step the giant spiders and swat at the pesky insects, I can machete my way through the neglected bits of garden until I reclaim them.  I can shuffle plants from sun to shade as I encourage them to thrive and finally I can sit on the stoop with a cup of tea and admire my garden and the garden of my life for all of its beauty and colour, for its raggedy not-so-perfectness and its wild unpredictability.  I can continue to hope and work towards my full and beautiful potential and like my English ancestors I can proclaim that all is well with my soil and well with my soul.  Mayhap!

Thank you for visiting today at My Turquoise Kettle Life.

May all you plant blossom,

Sandra

"Be Good To You"

I've known my friend Wendy for years; she always greets me with a big embrace and when we are parting her words of wisdom are always, "Be good to you!"

The past two or three weeks have been particularly hectic surrounding work and I knew that going into this busy period I would have to be diligent about getting enough sleep, eating well etc.  But I have also been looking for ways to nurture my senses and my soul.  Here's a quick list of ideas that have really helped:


Creating two serene spaces to practice yoga




I cleared off my back deck and have been using that platform to do my morning yoga.  Its private, quiet and peaceful.  Feeling the morning air and a slight breeze is refreshing, a great way to begin my day.

I also tidied up my indoor yoga area and created a small

 "alter" with candles, some pretty stones and little mementos  

that have special meaning to me.

Sitting down to drink a cup of tea



I know it seems silly but I'm usually carrying my mug of tea from room to room (often forgetting it and finding it cold, hours later) while I multi-task.  So I've been allowing myself the privilege of sipping my tea quietly without jumping up (okay, trying not to jump up to do something).  I've found that sitting outside on my balcony with a book is very, very relaxing.

A bedside bouquet

Last weekend I indulged in a small bouquet of fresh flowers.  Normally I would arrange them and place them on the kitchen table or counter but this time I found a little china milk jug, trimmed the stems and put them on my bedside table.  Waking up and going to sleep beside a pretty bouquet feels absolutely luxurious.

Unscheduled time

I'm a maniac with my planner.  Yes, I'm the one with the blocks of time colour coded and hi-lighted, the tasks all scheduled in for the week in their appropriate time slots.  So I'm trying (really trying) to leave space for a day, or even just a morning or afternoon totally open.  This isn't easy, all those lines with the times of day beside them cry out to be written on!  

Being good to yourself may mean something totally different to you than what it means to  me; it could be a manicure, a drive in the country, a lunch with friends or an afternoon nap. Whatever those special indulgences are for you, make some time to allow yourself the luxury of enjoying them; you deserve it.

Thank you for visiting My Turquoise Kettle Life today,

Be good to you,
Sandra

Jam Jar Door Bouquet

The art of welcoming.  We go all out to welcome our family and friends into our homes, we want them to know that they are cherished and appreciated.  But how do we welcome ourselves home at the end of the day?
What  could be nicer than a fresh bouquet of summer flowers to greet you (and your guests) every time you walk through your front door?

Jam Jar Door Bouquet

Materials list:
small jam jar
plastic pill bottle that fits inside the jam jar
picture hanger/nail
picture hanging wire
flowers/water

• Wrap the wire around the top edge of the jam jar tight enough that it won't slip off.  
• Leave enough wire to create a loop that will hang from the nail.  
• Drop the pill bottle inside the jam jar and fill with water. (I use a pill bottle inside because the smaller diameter requires less flowers and creates a "tighter" arrangement.)  
• Arrange cut flowers and leaves inside the pill bottle. 
• Nail picture hanger into door at suitable height (wooden doors only).  
• Hang your summer bouquet and change flowers when they begin to wilt.

If you don't have a wooden door try hanging your bouquet from the  mailbox
or your civic number sign

Last week I used forget-me-knots in my arrangement and this week its daisies.  I love the idea that the bouquet will change throughout the summer according to what is blooming in my garden.  Why not practice the art of welcoming yourself home, is there anyone who deserves it more than you?

Thank you for visiting My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Be good to you,

Sandra

Discouragement, a Rake and a Spade

"What is a weed?  A plant whose virtues have never been discovered." 

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Last weekend was the big gardening weekend.  Since our geographical location makes it risky to plant before mid May, Victoria Day marks the beginning of gardening season.  A walk around the neighbourhood this morning confirms that while I worked all three days of the long weekend at the boutique, every single one of my neighbours were out beautifying their properties.  

So it was this morning that I found myself, rake in hand, standing in the center of my backyard overwhelmed and discouraged.  The grass is full of weeds, as are the flower beds, even the gaps in the patio tiles are sprouting long weeds.  I'm trying to grow grass over what was last year's vegetable garden but it is sparse. I'm probably over-tired, and looking from one eye-sore to the next isn't helping. 

One eye-sore ....

.....to the next.

I need a plan because there are hours, days and probably weeks of work back here and I am only one woman with a rake and a spade.  So I decide to begin to the right of the entry gate and work slowly on the flower beds around the edge of the property.  I will only look at the area directly in front of me and make it as weed-free and trimmed as possible.  I tell myself, "Do not look at any other area of the yard, only these few square feet in front of me."  It really is a matter of focus; don't look to far ahead, deal with what is in front of me at this moment.  How many times could I benefit from this approach to gardening and to life? 

After four hours I have one garden weeded and trimmed, two garbage cans are overloaded with weeds and both lawns are mowed. I'm sweaty, exhausted and dirty but my prior discouragement has somewhat abated and perhaps this summer I can actually rescue this backyard; even if I am only one woman with a rake and a spade.

Thank you for stopping in at My Turquoise Kettle Life.

Plant yourself a happy day,

Sandra

  

   

From "No Man's Land" to cozy deck




BEFORE




AFTER

Earlier this summer we decided to remove a huge pine tree from our back yard, the tree was encroaching on our house, our neighbour's house, becoming a hazard and completely blocking the view (and the light) from my studio window.


With the tree and stump removed we discovered a huge amount of space that had previously been hidden and unusable.  Also, we finally had a little sunlight in our yard.   I set aside a small space that will become a vegetable garden next year and decided to use some of the remaining area to create a low level floating deck. 



With the pine tree gone all the ugliness of this corner of the yard is exposed!

Tree cut up and ready for removal




A short section of fence (to the right of the chair) used to conceal a heatpump...
that fence had to go too.



I staked out an area for the deck 10' x 10'.....



 and leveled the ground.



Geotex fabric to prevent weed growth and a layer of gravel to ensure good drainage

With the site prepared the fun work of learning to use a table saw and mitre saw could begin.  I watched several You Tube videos on deck construction and borrowed a book from our library.  I was a little stubborn in my determination to build the deck alone; I just needed to prove to myself that I could learn to do something new.  My husband was a great sport about it and let me do just about everything.  He did wheelbarrow in several loads of the gravel and held the end of the twelve foot long planks while I sawed them.  My parents too were an encouragement, every couple of days they'd come by to see the progress and cheer me on. 



A simple frame of 2" x 6" planks supported by patio slabs



Its taking shape but there was too much of a drop to the existing walkway




Building another small 3' x 6' platform solved the problem of the difference in height

I painted a couple of Adirondack chairs and planted some big daisies.



Here's how it looks now, a nice sunny spot for a cup of tea

Thank you for stopping by My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Wishing you a beautiful day,

Sandra

A Morning Frost

 

The beauty of a morning frost may not be appreciated on your car windshield, but it does make for some interesting effects on fallen leaves and shrubs.    

 

Maple leaf in frost
Sandra King-Allikas

Maple leaf in frost
Sandra King-Allikas



Maple leaf in frost
Sandra King-Allikas

I saw this seed pod with a few seeds still inside and covered in frost.  It reminded me of a miniature landscape with a two trees on rolling hills with storm clouds in the background.

Seed Pod Miniature Landscape
Sandra King-Allikas

Seed Pod Landscape
Sandra King-Allikas

Here is what the pod looked like before zooming in for a close-up.
Sandra King-Allikas

Thank you for stopping in at My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

May you find the beauty in today,

Sandra