TAKING A BREAK...

Just wanted to flash everyone 

my beautiful smile! 

 Just spent a lot of 

Dad and Mom's money 

but look what they got for it 

and,

 they say 

I'm worth it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Planted one little plant of 

the Chinese Lanterns 

about two years ago and 

this is the first time 

we have had anything to show for it.

I probably will be 

complaining about them,

 sooner than later, 

as I understand they are 

rather invasive,

 but no one would dispute

 that we kind of

 like things that way

 around here,

so for now

I am as

pleased as punch.

  I have never seen one close up 

so did not realize 

that they set blooms  up the stalk.

  

What a fun little plant.

 A few pods

 at the bottoms 

have already turned color...

 ...makes me look forward

 to fall.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am taking a break from blogging 

for a couple of weeks.

 When I show you the next pictures 

you will understand why...

"Where have all the flowers gone?

Long time passing

Where have all the flowers gone?

Long time ago...

Peter, Paul and Mary

1964

...this is what 

the Cottage garden looked like 

last summer...

...this is what 

it looks like now.

I have always said 

that I am not a gardener. 

 That, if things 

don't come back on their own, 

they just don't come back

 at all.

Well, apparently, 

they are starting not to come back.

 The flowers that we have had

 growing along side the walkway

 for all the years we have lived 

in the Cottage

 are shutting down. 

 Maybe it has something to do 

with the drought,

 or the excess of rain this winter, 

or the excess heat this summer, 

or something as simple as

 an end of life cycle.

 What is 30 years 

in flower years

 anyway?

 I don't know, 

but they put forth 

such a poor showing and

 are already going to seed 

which normally didn't happen

 until the end of August.

 It looks like

 we may have to do an overhaul 

so will be putting

 all our spare time into 

coming up with a solution.

 It is still very warm here

 so the plan is to work 

in the mornings and evenings 

and regroup during the heat of the day.

  Hopefully,

 there will be something pretty 

and surprising 

coming out of it.  

See you then.

...Judy...

Sharing today at:

Share Your Style Link Party

AND THE FAIRIES DANCED FOR THE LITTLE FROG PRINCE...

Times have been hard 

for the fairies 

these past few years. 

 What with the drought, 

they were not able to find 

many of their usual haunts

 in pristine condition.

 The mossy banks

 had dried up and 

the flowers that were their life blood

 did not thrive in 

such dry conditions.

 Then, 

finally, 

the rains came 

but flooding was a big concern

 and the fairies are not known

 for their swimming abilities.

  

When winter was over

 and summer began, 

hopes were high.

  But, 

the hot, scorching sun,

 made it almost impossible to

 realize a time 

when fairies, or humans,

 would be able to 

get back to the lives 

they loved.

  Until now...

With the spirit 

of Mary Lennox in mind,

 the humans in this story,

 along with their

 ever faithful apprentice, 

sucked it up

 and started the renovation of 

the Secret Garden.

  Always mindful of

 bad backs and aching joints, 

they persevered and 

were able to put it to rights

in short order. 

 (Well, that depends on whom you talk to)...

...not only did 

the Secret Garden

get an overhaul...

...so did 

the screened porch.

A new carpet 

of pea gravel

 was laid down,

 pretty little flowers

 were added to the pots and 

the fountain 

found a new calling 

as a planter...

...and Dickon 

would be happy to see 

that the animals 

have come once again

 to grace the garden and 

to drive away any predators 

that might be lurking around

 that could be harmful 

to the fairies.

The screened porch, 

or Summer Place,

 as it is called, 

got a good dusting and sweeping...

...the "starry sky" 

at night, 

looks bright and twinkly...

...fresh flowers, 

a pretty tea set and

 a new pillow...

...make the little bistro set

 look charming and ready 

for a shady spot of rest

 in the afternoon...

...or a dessert destination 

in the evening.

As a fairy peeks out 

from behind the door,

 a soft breeze 

moves the chimes and 

in the dappled shade 

of the old Twisted Tree, 

she begins 

to dance...

...moments later,

 the other fairies 

come out

 to join her...

...and if a human is lurking

 around the corner, 

you might hear a faint

 "Kaizie, the fairies are dancing" 

and seemingly out of nowhere, 

and every single time,

 a little black dog 

comes running to watch.

This little black dog 

has many quirks 

but one of the most endearing 

is the way his back legs 

start by his side

 in a seated position 

and, bit by bit,

 start to slide out

 to each side.

  This reminds one 

of a little frog and 

has earned him the nickname of 

the Little Frog Prince.

It is a celebration

 in the Secret Garden 

that has been 

a few years in the making

 and hopefully,

 the fairies,

 along with the Little Frog Prince

 and the humans,

 will enjoy it for 

many years 

to come.

"If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden."

Frances Hodgson Burnett

"The Secret Garden"

...Judy...

Sharing with:

Share Your Style Link Party