Wednesday, November 13, 2013

A garden for a Fluffy

Good afternoon dear friends & readers

When I  stand on my cottage deck & look up the length of my section I can see the spot where the fat fluffies grave is.
It always bothered me somewhat, that it was just a patch of lawn with the stones on it made for me by my dear friend Carolyn
It always felt that someone in our lives of such significance should have a more memorable resting spot


I had tossed around the idea for awhile now to make a small garden around the area
When we first moved here a lady from further on out my road would sometimes come & gather fruit off our trees.
It appears the previous owners used to let her & I was more than happy for her to continue as fruit was one of the few things she could digest with no problems 
We developed a kind of disjointed friendship over the years but often she would call in just to see the fat fluffy

So what do ya reckon Mum ???

Over the years I knew not to get offended when she plainly told me "No, I dont want to talk with you today, I have just come for a pat with Nero" -  more often as not... this suited me to a tee

I am hiding today & I am NOT receiving visitors thanks !!!!!!
...though I am not sure the fat fluffy was always receptive to her attention!

So  I came home recently to find a most beautiful handmade card & a granny smith apple tree left on my doorstep ... she had written the words "never will I pass your gate again & not think of him..."
It seemed like the perfect time to mark his resting spot


I couldn't think what flowers to plant until, in the middle of the night it dawned on me - of course, forgetmenots & catmint - yes, he had a fascination with cats, bordering on obsession 




And as he loved to chase the grannysmith apples (he thought they were balls), the tree was just perfect :-)
Not great photos unfortunately but I am hoping when the catmint & white shasta daisies bloom it will be lovely

It has been 6 months now since he passed away.  I still miss him like it was just yesterday. 
  

These have been busy November days & many late nights - some spent on the floor making up batches of potpourri 


There were 2 orders for Hettie Hen Doorstops that were flying out to Australia . . . the customer didnt want me to weight them as she was already very overweight in her luggage . . . 

I usually weight them with a broken brick so these two felt like a feather with nothing in them
Back on the floor again, this time making christmas stockings for the Cottage


These two little sampler needlecases (A Country Friends design) finally got completed & are stock for the Cottage



I managed to fling together a small christmas mantlepiece late last week before a busload arrived . . . the month had kind of slipped away on me as I usually have a christmas display done well before now . . . 







Not really the grand vision that I had back in February for my display this year . . .  but gosh, where did the in-between months go to ???!!!


Sometimes when you rush through your days like a half crazed person (as I do) you dont get to see & appreciate the beauty & the growth in the garden ... I took my camera for a little stroll yesterday to try to capture some of it & share with you . . .




The roses are just coming into full bloom now - mine are a little later this year 


The lavender path leading to the pond has a gentle haze of mauve as the lavenders come into flower



The water lillies are looking beautiful on the pond right now ...




And some of my water iris's are flowering also




"surely you must have a gardener?" a customer asked me last week
"yes" I replied "there are 3 gardeners here...  me, myself, I..."


It is a pretty time in this part of the globe although things have taken a hammering from the strong winds we are experiencing lately
Thanks so very much to you all for popping by  :-)


I am off to "park up" with a cuppa & unpick a dollies dress
Wishing you all a great rest of the week  :-)
much love/hugs/friendship,
Julie x0x0x

15 comments:

  1. I am hopping a plane to come visit!!! OMGosh your land is just gorgeous!!!!
    What a sweet and tender resting place for fat fluffy! I know you miss him so much. This is just such a wonderful memory you have and it fits so nicely with your land.
    Julie I am loving all of your makes. Those stockings are my fav!!! I told myself last year when you were making a needle case that I need one so badly and need to sit down and make one. Here you are again showing yours. I must get to making one this time.
    I thought you would be up to your eyeballs in wedding details so I haven't popped by, but you are a worker bee, always buzzing around making pretty things.
    Amy

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  2. Tears, tears. What a beautiful gesture from Nero's friend! Love the garden for him.

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    1. Thankyou Claire x0x How lovely of you to comment .... how is your beautiful old dog doing??? Hope all is well in your world my crafty friend x0x0

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  3. Oh Julie, I got a lump in my throat, I understand how hard it is to say farewell to our friends, furry or not. I love the special place you have created. In my unpacking the other day I found my framed photo of my beloved dog, she passed 9years ago, you never forget them & always love them.
    Love all the makes, the chicks are characters! Your garden is looking fabulous,, the wedding will be wonderful there. Have you made a new garden with the gate & parking sign?

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  4. It's a cold and frosty morning here so your sunny plot is very welcome. That half crazed woman is so crafty...love those stockings, just imagine if she was fully crazed! xx

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    1. Oh my gosh Ethel - it doesnt bear thinking about .... if I was fully crazed that is !!!! Though I feel like it somedays !!!! Thanks for popping by - your christmas makes lately are amazing x0x

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  5. I love your idea for a remembrance garden for Nero, it's beautiful and the gift of the apple tree is just perfect. You have been very busy making things, I like your hen doorstops especially,, hope you will have time for yourself to enjoy your beautiful garden - it really is looking very well cared for Betty

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  6. So many beautiful photo's Julie... you are a real inspiration! Your garden is looking fabulous. I received my parcel of goodies yesterday they smell wonderful and thank you so much for the seeds which are packaged so cute! Hope you are having a great week

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  7. Such a sweet story about Nero. He was really loved. Love all of your projects. Makes me excited as I slowly start to become one of "those" ladies who just loves to sew! Love the lavender too!

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  8. Hello Julie, got a lump in my throat with reading about Nero.He will always be remembered. His garden is very "apt" it will look lovely when there is more growth.Love all your "things" you made. The garden is beautiful. Hugs Shirley

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  9. The new garden for Nero is beautiful-still laughing about the cat mint! Love the Christmas display. The garden is looking gorgeous! Enjoy the weekend, Michelle.

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  10. Hello dear Julie
    What a beautiful memorial garden for the fat fluffy - he will know he's in heaven - attracting the cats to his little patch!!!
    What a thoughtful lady - no standing on ceremony - doing it her way with love for her canine friend and out of kindness to you.

    Your garden is inspirational, love the different areas and levels.
    A gorgeous Lavender Walk to the pond - I've always wanted one of those.
    The garden seat is just what I want at the top of my steps in my little garden - did the Mister make that for you Julie?

    You've been terribly busy knocking up exquisite creations for your shop - some lucky visitors are going to have a field day doing their Christmas shopping!
    I really envy your energy levels - I used to be like that but all of a sudden age has crept up on me!! LOL

    Thinking of you through all the preparations for the big day - take deep breaths and get some rest in between everything else.
    Wish I was closer and could be of some use to you!
    Hugs and love
    Shane XOXOXO

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  11. Hello dear friend, I am so glad that you have made a memorial garden for Nero. I was thinking that perhaps you needed to do something like that & what you have created is perfect. I am have been sitting here picking forget-me-not seeds off my sleeves..it takes ages but if you don't, they don not just come off in the wash!! They will gently self-seed for you year after year. Your garden looks charming & that wheel barrow is such a blaze of beauty. I hope all the wedding preparations are going smoothly. Thinking of you often..much love Catherine x0x0x Oh by the way I just realised yesterday that I had tried to send you a txt about the honeywort weeks ago but the sending failed & I didn't realise. I have been harvesting seed again today & will get them away to you very soon.

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  12. Nero's garden looks wonderful and I know it will look even more beautiful once everything grows a little. Everything in your post is beautiful as usual, your garden is amazing. I love all your makings too, the Christmasy things are just lovely. Hugs Wendy

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  13. The garden for your big fluffy looks perfect. It sounds lke he would have loved it a lot. The rest of your garden is looking beautiful too. And busy making such gorgeous treasures for your shop - whew you have so much energy and so many wonderful creative ideas :-)

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Hello, & thank you for taking the time to comment on my posts - I read and appreciate each and every one of your comments :-)
I always prefer to reply to your comments by email unless you are a no-reply-blogger in which case I will reply to your comments in this section here. Thanks so much for stopping by to read & comment on my blog x0x