Parched to Death

I’ve neglected my garden.  The grass needs cutting and its wilting away in the heat.  Its got brown bits and dead bits and weeds all over it.  My climbing rose is rambling through Lucy’s bicycle and the espaliered apple tree is looking like a bush. 

I have dead flowers in my baskets, parched to an early death.  The tomato plants are out of control and I have my annual outbreak of white fly.  So not only is my garden shabby….but diseased too.  Eewwww.  All my vines need tying back and my roses are looking shabby.  The “pond” is looking parched. 

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Yeah,good luck with that!

Its one of those things that you have to see with your own eyes.  And we saw plenty of it this past weekend when we visited family in the Carolina’s.  My sister-in-law has officially opened her new bakery (see links) Cakehead Bake Shop and we were in town to lend some support. 

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View from the top of the Hill

As we get older do you ever notice how your pants start getting a little snug around the waistline?  Jackets that once fit perfectly now grab you around the upper arms? Everything seems to be shrinking as you grow out of your clothes.   Perhaps a little too much over indulgence?  Too much gin and tonic?  How about attacking a wedge of cheese at night or the icecream in the freezer? 

Its been a bit like that with our small tiny garden.  We’ve over developed it to the point that we are now wondering what is next.  We’ve no more room!  We’ve grown out of our urban garden!  So whats a dirt lovin’ couple gonna do?

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Bulb mania

I am what you might call a compulsive shopper.  Using one small comment from Shane (“I do love tulips”) as an excuse, I led myself down the terrible path of gorging on bulb catalogs.  With nothing to throw up but a bunch of cash I wonder why I’m always broke. 

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Main Garden

I’m guessing there are many gardeners in England who’ve had a bumper crop of roses this year.  Wet spring weather with a nice blast of heat had my Mum’s garden overgrown with rose upon rose.  She sent me some photos to share with you (old school glossy snap shots) that I’ve scanned in. 

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Perfumed Memories

Do you have a fragrance of a flower that draws you back in time?  Jasmine perhaps or gardenias?  I have several perfumes that I wear (I’m not a one perfume kinda gal) and each one acts as a time machine whizzing me back or forward depending upon which one I wear. 

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Potatos in the rough

A young lady once told me that she found London boring.  I responded by telling her “anyone who finds London boring is lacking an imagination”.  Cruel I know but true and I don’t feel bad about it.  She was being rude about my homeland the little madam.  Anyway, I digress.  The same can be said for people who aren’t fond of potatoes, that is they lack an imagination.  There is something decidedly delicious about a home grown potato and I will never understand potato haters. 

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Having fallen in love with Inga Moore’s illustrations for The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame I eagerly awaited my copy of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.  Being gardening folk I am sure you are all familiar with the story but if you haven’t got this particular edition then you must buy it!  I’ve reviewed books before where you truly feel the love come through the pages and this is that kind of magical book. 

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then get out of the garden.  Well at least between the hours of 11 – 4.  Me and the hot weather do not mix well together. 

Big hat, no burn

Born and raised in Northern England I’ll survive many a cold Chicago winter but this summer heat is killing me.  Being a total idiot and not drinking enough or eating anything I decided to inflict heat stroke on myself recently.  Wait! There is More!

The fixin's

So I’m on this anti-inflammatory diet that my friend had recommended after seeing her amazing transformation this past Christmas. Even though the thought of shedding a few pounds is a nice one we are trying to get a little healthier as we march through our forties so the goal is health! 

Its an interesting diet in that its highly likely most ancient men ate the same way (if they had access to rice).  Rice is king in this diet but I am allowed potatoes which is wonderful considering my potatoes this year are amazing ( I brag and rightly so.  The kids eat them like they are candy.  Enough said!) 

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