Friday, November 6, 2015

"Living is not enough" said the butterfly.........




....”one must have a flower (or two) as well.”

Not to mention another 'must have'.........the comfiest of swing seats perfectly placed where one can sit, enjoy a cuppa, gently swing in the glorious sunshine and drink in all the beauty of an unfolding Spring, around a pond!!

We are home again. Yes indeedy, I live to tell another tale. If you recall from my last post I was a li'l anxious that I might meet an untimely end. You will be pleased to know (but then...perhaps you may not.....) there were no home baked, arsenic-laced cakes left at our bright pink, front door. I live yet to see another day and write another post!! Now....isn't that the best news you have heard today?? =)

We are home again in our strange li'l ole abode.....AND.....enjoying all the sweet, sweet blooms that Spring has kissed in our garden. Spring is truly beginning to perform the most spectacular of shows. A show, I might add, which is a delight to the eyes. My husband is healing remarkably well after his major operation. At this point of time my husband's test results are positive; there will be no need for follow-up chemo or radiation. Of course he will have regular visits with his oncologist and surgeon to see if there are any changes; but for now we are just soaking in the good news and grabbing the simple things of life with both hands.



And what better place to soak up life and recuperate than spending time whiling away the days, sitting in our garden swing overlooking 'his' pond. If you like, you can read about my husband's dream of a pond and how this magical place came into existence here. Indeed our garden swing is rather akin to us sitting in prized seats in the grandstand with the exquisiteness of Spring unfolding before our eyes. It is beautiful!!


The Irises do look rather fabulous at this time of year.



The pond is truly the best place to recuperate; to spend a day.........or week.......or month or.........










Yes indeedy......not a bad place to recuperate.....not bad at all. I'm supposing we could do a lot worse!


Somehow it wouldn't seem right unless my shadow, Maisie made an appearance, now would it??

The paddock next to our plot of land is ready for the planting of potatoes. I did ask our friendly neighbouring farmer, if perhaps he could plant a field of beautiful, Monet-esque Irises.....but alas.....no.....it is not a field of beauteous Irises I will gaze upon this Summer, but a field burgeoning with the humble spud. Sometimes 'tis such a pity one has to eat!!

As for me, as my husband is under strict doctor orders to take it easy, I have been looking after him and enjoying the garden as well. Not a lot of stitching has been happening, though I have been fiddle-faddling with some pretty flowers. Mmm...just practising my creative, floral skills for the next "Flower Show of the Year". =)

Oh I do love to pick a pretty flower or two and plonk them in a pretty vase.....but you knew that already!


And....as you know......I do love to play with pretty ribbons and flowers.



Who needs vases anyway??



Not I........it seems!!




Violet-blue Irises abound in our garden!



Kitten-faced pansies always look dazzling resting upon swirls upon swirls of luscious ribbons.





They seem to grow like weeds in our garden.





It is John Thomas Ouseley who once said.....

"The beauteous pansies rise in purple, gold and blue,
With tints of rainbow hue,
Mocking the sunset skies."




Gotta, gotta love the sweet faced pansies....not to mention a pretty, pansy teapot!!



And.....one just has to add a doily or two.



And.....perhaps a pretty plate.





It is William Shakespeare who penned......

"Pray you, love, remember.
And there is pansies, that's for thoughts."



It is hard not to smile when one's eyes glimpse a pretty pansy.






Oh dear.......soooo many happy snaps. I did warn you that I have been fiddle-faddling a wee bit!! Besides, I need to hone perfectly, my floral creative skills before the next "Flower Show of the Year"!!!!!!


As I sit with my husband overlooking 'his' pond I am thankful for the wonderful mercies our Heavenly Father has bestowed upon us. We are humbled by all of you whom have sent petitions heavenwards to the Good Lord on behalf of my husband and I.....we express to each of you many a heartfelt thank you!! For all of you whom have sent positive thoughts and those big, warm hugs that have wrapped around us and engulfed our souls with love and kindness.....thank you. Each one of you has truly helped us through the most challenging of days. I am humbled by the generosity of spirit of each one of you. The blogging world is truly filled with the loveliest of souls.

But.....for now there is a small matter of  recuperating, basking in the joy of each day and perhaps even a cuppa (or two or three or.....) swinging in our oh so comfy swing seat, in front of the pond.



Have the most wonderful weekend, everyone. Until the next time.........

42 comments:

  1. Your garden, and photos, are beautiful. Thinking of you and your husband and sending lots of good wishes as he recuperates.

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  2. So happy for you both. Great news. I had to race to the end of your post to let you know how joyful that is to hear the good news. I will go back and read the rest of the post now. :]

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  3. Dear Kim! Oh, what JOY to visit with you today...your cheerful spirit is so infectious, and how I enjoyed all your beautiful flower pictures...I see you love pansies and oh! I do too...they are such happy wee flowers, and those colours are indeed gorgeous...aww! And your pansy teapot is perfectly adorable!
    I am so, so thankful to hear your husband is healing after his operation...praise our Lord for this! And Spring is such a wonderful time of year to relax in the garden...especially one as beautiful as yours!
    I pray your weekend is a truly lovely one...sending you much love, dear Kim!
    Hugs always!
    Kelly-Anne

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  4. Great news, so happy your husband is recuperating. Love the pictures of the flowers, and that really pretty pansy doily.

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  5. Glad your husband is doing well, may he continue to mend. Sitting by that pond just may do the trick! It is gorgeous, it belongs in a magazine.

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  6. What a nice vacation for my eyes! I'm so glad to hear that your husband is doing well. Thank you for sharing your beautiful pictures!

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    1. Thank you, Colleen for your sweet comments. Kim xx

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  7. Glad to hear your good news!Hope your husband does well!Lovely garden. Love all those lilies!AriadnefromGreece!

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  8. One word...exquisite!!!!! I adore pansies and this post took my breath away. SOOO lovely.
    I want to put your photos in a little book to be enjoyed.

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    1. Really?? You are very kind. Pansies are the sweetest flowers aren't they. Thank you for visiting....hope you are having a lovely week. Kim xx

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  9. What a beautiful post !!!!!!!!!!!
    Anna

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  10. You are the most creative person I have ever known. Everything you touch is so beautiful. I am so happy to hear the good news about Your Hubby. I will continue to say prayers for a fast recovery and I agree what better place to do it than enjoying the beautiful pond that he created.

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  11. My darling kim, what gorgeous shots and what a wonderful post, the colours of your flowers go straight to my heart and your pansies almost moved me, thank you for the joy you gave to me, my sweet friend !
    So glad that your husband is feeling better I wish to both of you a happy end of the week,
    with dear love
    Dany

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  12. So beautiful! I am sure you are most relieved to be back home! Take good care, Lynn

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    1. Yes, it is wonderful, Lynn, to be home and relax and enjoy our garden. Thank you for your lovely comments. Kim xx

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  13. Best news ever is of your husband and definitely followed by your not being poison by a cake :)

    What a gorgeous garden, Kim, it's like out of a fairy tale and the garden is magical with Maisie being there. I always love how you mirror that inside of your house as well. Perfect for a cuppa and diving into an adventure within the pages of a book.

    -Soma xx

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  14. You always create such beauty & loveliness to surround yourself with dear Kim. Such a beautiful post - that photo of the pond with the flowers & the glimpse of your hubby sitting in his swing seat in the background reminds me of a Monet painting. I am so sorry I missed your last post - I honestly do not know how that happened but I have re-read it now & gotten a giggle or two & am so glad no arsenic-laced cakes were waiting on your doorstep!!. I was thinking of you both the other day & imagined how gorgeous your garden would be at this time of year - such great therapy for you both to enjoy. Pansies are one of my all time favourite flowers but mine here have now succumbed to mildew so have been pulled out. Have a wonderful weekend dear friend x x x x

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  15. What a blessing! Thank the Lord your hubby doesn't have to endure all 'that' . It doesn't happen often I'm sure. I'm so happy and relieved for you both. Now let's talk about those flowers . So very gorgeous. Your pictures are always so stunning. I do love pansies but seem to miss them every year. By the time I clue in, it's too hot for them. Oh well, next year ; )
    Enjoy that lovely pond. I'm sure you do. Potato blooms aren't so bad.....

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  16. That is VERY good news. Time to appreciate the benefits of all your hard gardening work of earlier seasons - what a treat your garden is.

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  17. I am so very glad to hear that your husband's test results are positive and he is recovering well. I always marvel at your ability to spread joy and happiness through your blog posts, regardless of what is going on in your life. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your pond and garden (and your floral arrangements are divine!). J x

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  18. Such good news - wishing your husband a speedy recovery and very good health. What a lovely garden and lovely, lovely crocheted pansies.

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  19. What lovely, peaceful pics. Great news about your hubby and that
    the news is positive. I do believe you have Monet's garden right at
    your door step there. How beautiful are your flowers.
    Cheers, Anita.

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  20. It's just wonderful to hear that your husband is doing so well after such a frightful time. He couldn't ask for a more positive sweetheart to care for him now. You know I just love that gorgeous pond he has created, and I'm such a fan of iris so looked longingly at all those photos ;) Love the shot of the iris in the water! You are a marvel Kim. Sending you a warm hug across the miles! Now get that tea tray and yourself down to the pond swing and enjoy yourself once more.
    Wendy xox

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  21. Great that things are going better with your husband.
    Wow, beautiful pictures of the pond and the wonderful flowers in your garden.
    The doilies are just as beautiful as the violets.
    Great post, hugs,
    Loes

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  22. YAH!!!!!!!!!!! I enjoyed my virtual walk through your garden today:)

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  23. Once again, you have sent our senses whirling with your beautiful photos! Pete looks so peaceful in front of 'his' pond on your swing. Enjoy the sun and the Lord's healing power through His beauty. You two are loved by many and getting special hugs from me! XOXO

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  24. So happy that I checked in today to learn of the good report from your husband and to thank the Lord for answered prayers. You have a lovely place to take it easy this spring and devote time to one another; to regain strength and just enjoy life. All the best.

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  25. I'm so, so glad to hear your news! Nothing could be better and with your stunning garden and wonderful creations there could be nowhere more lovely for your husband to recuperate :)

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  26. Dearest Kim, how could we not have found each other in the blogging world prior to Stephanies Teacup Exchange? We are soul sisters in so many ways. This post just speaks to me on so many levels and your pansies and irises brought a tear to my eye. My Mum loved both and we nurtured hundreds of them in our garden for some years after she passed away as a tribute to her, but drought here, put an end to them. The garden lives on in other ways though, and my husband and I have had a long held dream to build a Gazebo, surrounded by roses, French lavender, pelargoniums, jasmine and giant jade. This year we built our little Gazebo, and slowly, slowly now comes the rest, just like your husbands pond. A Tuscan Gold rose on the weekend, as well as a pretty yellow ground cover rose. Some Star Jasmine along the boulder wall, and some bromeliads close by under a canopy of Poinciana. French Lavender planted all around the perimeter, and two rescued and beautified wrought iron chandeliers to hang from the ceiling. We sat there companionably during a thunderstorm three nights ago, and it was like being transported to another world. These moments are memories in the making. I hope you and your darling man, have many similar moments. I'm so glad to hear you've had positive news regarding his health. I'll be praying for more of the same for you. Love, Mimi xxx

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    1. ....I suppose it is because there are a gazillion of other bloggers transversing through blog land, Mimi. The joy of living in Tasmania is that Pansies flower for months on end down here and of course the Irises put on the prettiest of shows. Your gazebo sounds a dream. How lovely to sit there with your husband and drink in the delicious scent of a thunderstorm punctuated by the glorious fragrances of your Lavender, Roses, Jasmine and Giant Jade. It does sound rather like heaven. In closing I must say it is a delight to have happened upon your happy space, a place which I intend to visit over and over again. Kim xx

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  27. Oh, such wonderful news, Kim! I am truly happy for you both and this beautiful post has made me truly happy, too! Such a feast for the eyes- I thought your garden was a painting at first, and then I looked closer and realized it was real......so, so beautiful! What scrumptious little arrangements you have made with your flowers, too! So very sweet. Enjoy these lovely spring days and thank you for sharing them with us here in the soon to be wintering north. It is balm for the spirit on these short, dark days. Sending you blessings and hugs xo Karen

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  28. Hello Kim,

    The best news for you both, convalescing in the garden is just what the Doctor ordered for you both. Could you please tell me what is the pink flower that is blooming in the bottom left hand corner of the 11th photo. I was just thinking of all your flowers and how they are all in vogue on top of cakes at shops now.Enjoy the garden, I bet the bees absolutely love your place. Don't worry about the humble spud growing, I read last night about how the big ugly company M manipulates the humble spud.

    Happy days.
    Bev.

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  29. Wonderful news, Kim!!! Your gardens and pond look so inviting. Tranquility and peace in every direction; a fine place to recuperate.
    Sending my Best Wishes...


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  30. Kim, I am so glad that your husband's operation went well and he is on the road to recovery. And what a beautiful serene place to rest in. And the flowers are gorgeous! Hello to little Maisie!

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  31. I am so very glad to hear that your husband is doing well and that the prognosis is good. Now he (and you) can sit and enjoy that lovely pond and those amazing flowers and just be. (oh...and as for the potatoes....they DO have a beautiful flower, but you have to look close).

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  32. Gorgeous post Kim and such a lovely garden to relax and enjoy. One can only feel better in such surroundings. So pleased to hear that surgery went well and you can truly enjoy the Spring.

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  33. Beautiful garden and beautiful flower arrangements so wonderful! So glad that your husband getting better.

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  34. So very happy to see your hubby home and sitting by his wonderful pond. Wishing every day that he will improve and feel better. Surely all that beauty around you will help in his healing. You have all your pretties around you too. Welcome home and wishing you both all the very best.

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  35. Another LOVELY post............. the garden is such a restful looking place. It can't help but cause healing to continue to take place. AND Monet would feel right at home in your gardens. Pansies are my absolute FAVORITE posies. What a pleasure to see so many all at once. Thank you for sharing them.

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  36. Your garden area is absolutely amazing...some of the photos look more like paintings...new here and looking around some more :)

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  37. Wishes for continued good health for your husband. Your garden and pond are beautiful especially since our color theme right now is brown. :-)

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  38. Goodness, your gardens are spectacular. If this were my view, I would never leave home!! Your cut flowers are so beautiful, I always enjoy displaying my flowers in unusual containers. Gorgeous blues and purples, I just recently planted my fall/winter pansies, fingers crossed they come back in spring!!

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