Too Many Fronts

My house looks like a battle zone. Piles of garden produce to deal with make me wonder why I embarked upon a major clean out and reorganization of rooms and closets. I'm faced with too many fronts - a clear strategy for losing. Just ask Napoleon. 
 

In an effort to gain some perspective, I took a little walk around the garden with my camera. A few new spikes of lavender bloom and the dahlias are lovely.
 

My neighbour has a grape vine that trails over our fence. She (the neighbour) encourages us to help ourselves to the grapes. Last year I canned some grape juice which made a wonderful drink when mixed with club soda for those who don't want wine with dinner. The grapes are ripe now and should be picked soon. But I won't think about that now.
 

I wanted an evergreen plant for the pot in front of the porch and settled on a bay laurel - laurus nobilus - that I'll prune to a fuller shape. The prunings can be dried and used to flavour soups and stews.
 

This little village spends most of its time in a cardboard box, carefully wrapped in tissue paper. I have it out on our dry sink in the dining room just now. The buildings replicate those of Old Quito during Spanish Colonial days and make me think of the years we spent in Ecuador.

How quickly the years pass. I'm feeling rather pensive just now, looking at those little buildings. Those were the years of active mothering. Now I'm a grandmother of 3. How can that be? 

There's a weekend of celebration coming up and I have to get the house in order. The important things will all be accomplished. Onward I go, taking little breaks here and there to read a few of your blogs and sometimes leave a comment. How are your early September days? Full to overflowing or just right?

Gathering

 The elements of nature brought into my home are changing. Green gives way to more subtle shades. On our weekend excursion, I collected a bouquet of gull feathers, white and grey. They sit on my mantel, nestled into the curve of a piece of driftwood garnished with a brown leaf.

Color exists elsewhere; seen here in a box of reusable sandwich/snack bags I've been stitching for an upcoming craft fair. My daughter-in-law requested some last year, and I'd intended to make more - they make great stocking stuffers - but have only gotten around to the project now. Some are listed in my Etsy shop. Lined with water resistant nylon, they make a good alternative to plastic bags. I've been avoiding plastic as much as possible for several years now.
 

Lavender grows well here and this summer I harvested a fair bit of it, then combined it with dried rose petals from my roses to fill some simple sachets. I've had these pretty bits of fabric and lace tucked away ever since a swap with Jane of Marigold Jam a few years ago. I like using old damask linen napkins from the thrift store for sachets, too.

I was at the fabric store yesterday. The young girl who cut my fabric folded it all so neatly, taking care to see that each piece was stacked with corners matching. When I commented on it, she said that she likes to think that presenting the fabric in its best light will cause the customer to think of it as a gift. 

An action like that just makes me want to treat others as best I can, too. Have you recently been treated well by someone unexpected?


 

Lavender's Blue Dilly Dilly

Out to my garden in the early evening, just after the irrigation system stops its soft spray. The hammering and drilling noises coming from next door where the neighbour is rebuilding his deck have thankfully ended for the night. Children play in a yard nearby, their voices rising and falling, a sprinkler ticks rapidly, and indistinct hum voices hum from a distant patio, punctuated by bursts of laughter. Butterflies and bees drone lazily.

Early summer pleasures. Among them, lavender. I've harvested several bunches for sachets, but left some plants alone to enjoy. Summer evenings are full of loveliness. I hope that you, too, are enjoying the pleasures of summer.

Joining with Mary for Mosaic Monday. 

When the Showers Stop

It's rainy and cool. Not good weather for puttering in the garden. But today, the rain stopped, the sun shone and I ventured out to survey the estate. As soon as we have a dry day I'll be harvesting lavender. Some plants I'll leave for decorative effect.
 

The blueberry bushes are loaded with fruit this year, and are just beginning to ripen. 

There's lots to anticipate. I was surprised to see this big clump of tomatoes. I'd been looking down at the plants and was a little disheartened, but when I squatted and looked up, there they were! I guess looking up is always best :)
 

Here's one of my hydrangea bushes, blooming with both pink and blue flowers. Now why is that? It's a starter from another bush that has always bloomed blue. I know that the soil has something to do with the color, but I'm puzzled by this. I'm not so worried that I don't just enjoy the blossoms. 

How is your garden? Blooming? Producing? Showing signs of progress?