Cherry blossom in our garden
Early in the summer mornings there is nothing I like better than to wander around the garden. Wearing my dressing gown, mug of coffee in hand, peeking into all of the flower beds to see what flowers have opened up. One morning I was admiring the blossom when H came out to say goodbye, he was off to hike down the high hill where we live to the valley below. He was spending the day carrying out his voluntary duties at our local Citizens Advice Bureau.
Rucksack on his back off he went with a cheery wave, whilst I continued poking around in the garden.
When I went to open the back door to the house I discovered that H had locked it forgetting that I was outside. Both of our side gates to the property were also padlocked with the keys indoors. I started panicking, thinking ‘how can I gain entry to the house’. My neighbours' properties are too far away from us to call, and the one who has a key lives a journey along the road. I was in my nightclothes and could not scale the high gates anyway. I parked myself on a seat in the garden and wondered what I was going to do with myself for a whole day.
Clematis Armandii in our garden
The garage was in need a good clean so that is what I set about doing. I was without refreshments all day, but was rewarded by a job accomplished which I had been neglectful of doing.
A seat to while away my captivity.
Eventually, during the late afternoon, with the garage looking spic and span, I was sitting relaxing in our garden, I became aware of a shadow passing the window in the kitchen. It was H home and looking for me. He went from the kitchen to the conservatory where he suddenly spotted me, and waved a happy salute. He didn’t seem to realise that I was still in my nightclothes, and looking rather dishevelled from cleaning the garage.
He came wandering out in to the sunshine, handed me a cup of tea, sat down and started chatting. I certainly needed that tea!!!
Double cherry blossom in our garden
Make the most of each day, or put more beautifully by Maya Angelou “This is a wonderful day, I have never seen this one before”.
I was reminded of this occasion in the garden a few days ago by my lovely blogging friend Kate when I read her post on “Locked In”.
Hello, Rosemary.
ReplyDeleteLovely your works, full of JOY.
I am enlightened by your splendid works.
Thank you for showing your heartwarming world.
The prayer for all peace.
Have a good weekend. From Japan, ruma ❃
Hello Ruma - I love your poetic comments, thank you, and wishing you a happy weekend too.
Deletemaking the best out of every situation, I like that about people...
ReplyDeleteThere is beauty in every single day we breathe : )
It is always best to look on the bright side of life, and in fact I felt very happy at the end of the day when the chore was done!
Delete... not to mention your garden is mazing AND women are simply the best of "survivors " ; )
ReplyDeleteDear Demie - I am pleased you liked the garden - it is a great source of pleasure to us. When we moved here it was just grass and a few trees and we have developed it over the past 15 years.
DeleteRosemary, what an enchanting way of looking at being locked out! That seat looks the perfect place to sit and watch the world go by. And to get the garage cleared was a brilliant idea.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the link: what a wonderful story came out of the idea of being locked out...
Dear Kate - H was the butt of his Bureau colleagues jokes for a few weeks following this. They would ask “had he locked his wife out in her nightclothes today?”.
DeleteRosemary, hello... I wanted to comment on your lovely post about Liberty's, but it seems I was too late! So... here we are, in this wonderful garden. Good job the garage wasn't locked!
ReplyDeleteI, too, love wandering round the garden, first thing in the morning, to take in the quiet, the beauty, the scents and the sounds. I love nature!
In our house in Italy, my home country, we have a garden perched on the side of a mountain, overlooking the sea (600 m above sea level!)and the Isle of Capri. I love to go outside as soon as I get up, to water my plants before the sun gets too hot.
I walk amongst the olive trees and say hello to my baby lemon and orange trees. Amongst the dry grass grow little bayleaf seedlings and wild fennel. Two years ago I rescued some cacti (prickly pears which we love eating!) and planted them at the end of the garden. They are really happy and beautiful, grpwing in the hot sun.
In the gaps between the olive branches, where the olives have started growing, I see the blue sky, the islands and sea, whilst a number of ferries and boats make their way to the islands or the Amalfi Coast, not too far.
Taking in so much beauty, so much colour and so much love is not easy: you have to become part of it, like a lizard on a wall, or a snake, or a cat sat on a roof. I love it!
Have you ever tried "watering" yourself with a hose, while you water the plants? Fully dressed? That is how crazy I can be! Beauty makes me crazy!
Thank you for a very inspirational post!
BUONA DOMENICA!
ANNA
x
Dear Anna - first of all thank you for your comment re: Liberty's which I am pleased you enjoyed.
DeleteSecondly, thank you for taking so much time to write such a lovely account on this post about your garden in Italy.
I am there with you Anna, looking across the sea to the beautiful Isle of Capri, walking amongst the olive, lemon and orange trees. On my return to your house, I look forward to a bowl of your own delicious Ragu.
Please Anna, do share some pictures of your Italian garden sometime.
Ciao
Dear Rosemary, So like husbands not to notice that you were still in your dressing gown. It happened to me the very same way. I found a bathroom window slightly ajar and after finding an old chair to get up to the window I was able to climb through the narrow space.
ReplyDeleteYour garden is so very beautiful. Thank you for including these lovely pictures.
Dear Gina - it is surprising that he did not notice that I was looking such a mess and still in my dressing gown so late in the afternoon. As you say thats what husbands are like. You were lucky to find a window, at first I hoped for that possibility.
DeleteI am pleased you enjoyed a glimpse of the garden which we have split up into different areas to make it more interesting.
It's good to be reminded that that there's always a plan B and making the most of every moment...the planned ones as well as the unplanned ones. Always a bit of inspiration over here at your blog!
ReplyDeleteDear Roanna - what a lovely comment - thank you. I am thinking about you very much at the moment and sending you my best wishes.
DeleteRosemary, you are the picture of ingenuity and industrious energy. With a beautiful garden like yours it would have been very picturesque of you to have collapsed in tears underneath the cherry tree while you waited for your husband to rescue you. I prefer your version!
ReplyDeleteDear Rosemary - to be perfectly honest that is really the way I felt at first - it could have been picturesque - rather like one of those Pre-raphalite paintings that I love. However, I pulled myself together, and was pleased with the end result.
DeleteI got a good chuckle from this posting, and it certainly made me consider secreting an extra house key in an outdoor hiding spot.
ReplyDeleteYour story reminded me of a friend who went in her nightgown to the newspaper rack at the end of her street, very early in the morning — barely dawn. She put her change in, withdrew the newspaper, and then the rack door slammed shut on her nightgown. She had to stand on the street in her nightgown until the next person stopped for a newspaper!
And this comment would not be complete without mentioning that your garden is absolutely beautiful. Your morning routine must be a very soothing meditation.
Thanks Mark - likewise your story made me laugh too. Sometimes H goes to London on the very early morning train, and I drive him down to the station in my night attire. I do have a fear of the car breaking down one day. Perhaps this will teach me a lesson, and I should get up a few minutes earlier.
DeleteI am pleased you liked the garden, I am looking forward to all of the flowers coming back again.
How breathtaking your garden lookes. Love to see the colors you are showing. And don't forget your keyes!!
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely sunday
Marijke
Hello Marijke - good advice. Pleased you enjoyed seeing the garden. Today I am invited out for lunch so that will make for a lovely Sunday, enjoy your Sunday too.
DeleteLovely garden...
ReplyDeleteBest regards from France,
Pierre
Bonjour Pierre - pleased you enjoyed the garden and thank you for your comment. Do come again.
DeleteWalking around the garden with a cup of coffee is the best way to start the day.. I love to do that too Rosemary.
ReplyDeleteYour garden looks magnificent.. how beautiful. reminds me of the song.. "How many kinds of sweet flowers grow ,in an English country garden"
Ingenious to think about cleaning the garage.. you are enterprising indeed.
I have a spare key hidden.. as i once locked myself out many years ago.
I love this blog ..thank you Rosemary..
love to see more of your garden.
happy sunday
val
Dear Val - I am sorry I am late in replying to your very generous comments which I appreciate. We were invited out for the day so, yes, we had a happy Sunday, and hope you did too.
DeleteMore of the garden will appear when it brings forth its bounty as the weather improves.
here's a fluttering addition to your summer garden, an invitation. remember the drawing challenge via demie? here's a new one for you to partake in, if you like.
ReplyDeletecome and have a peek and join, if you like!
much fluttering love,
woolf♥
Thanks ♥Woolf♥ for the kind invite - I will flutter-by with you as long as it is alright for me to use photography?
DeleteYour predicament really made me smile... I loved your solution - but don't know that I would have been that energetic! You must have been famished at the end of the day!! H should have taken you out for a slap-up meal after all of that!!!
ReplyDeleteCarolyn
Carolyn - H did not even realise that I had been locked out, not until I told him after my cup of tea. I could really do with another lock out, the garage needs doing again, but don't tell H!
Delete