A long time coming

At last a moments respite. We've had a 2 day week here, which is ridiculous by any measurement, but the pressure it puts on work gets balanced out by the pleasure of good company and rest. I often remember my trips by the colours, textures and patterns of the things I found there so I'll leave you with some images of my last big trip before leaving for the loong weekend.

Paul Smith would be proud of a stripe like this.

I just love the dainty twirl in liquorice red against that tree snake green.

Same composition different plants

A Strelizia

Next week it's back to the grindstone but I'll finally be able to share with you some of the cool plants I came accross on the Wild Coast and the local take on them. Look forward to seeing you then.

Blooming Bush!

I've been fretting about my ribbon bush ever since I planted it about 3 months ago. There has been no sign of flowers ever, and I mean, nada, not even buds. I went on holiday and you've guessed it...my baby's blooming.




Next week I promise some more pics from my trip.

(I think my blog is in danger of becoming a retrospective.) Have a good one.

Clay fingers

I'm always happy to get my hands dirty and part of whats been keeping me out of my garden has been this:

These tiles are the first of a series I'm doing as a 'splashback' for my oven. the theme being "things from my kitchen" & "things from the sea. The idea is that the use of colour will unite them.

Then...my tagine. Only big enough for a single serving I'm rather pleased with the result so far.

Bad bloggers & killer ladybirds

First of all apologies for my long absenses. I am finding myself very streched for time I'm working on some things for a ceramic exhibition etc. Again I hope to show you soon.

Read all about it! Ladybird killers on the rampage! Read all about it!.. here.

In the mean time down here in Cape Town the Capeflat gangs have had to move over for a new generation of scary characters, the Harlequin Ladybird..

Pic and more information from the Harlequin Ladybird Survey website

Roadtrippen

One of the first stops on our trip was the Port Alfred Coffee Shoppe along the R72. Stocked with lots of local produce and craft it also serves a descent cuppa.

When last have you seen pumpkins and cabbages looking this gorgeous and at this price?

Tu-tu Dainty

I've come back to a garden that is largely bedding down for winter but to my delight I have another flush of roses and Dainty Bess is one of my absolute favourites. An old fashioned rose, it was also my gran's favourite. She was a ballet dancer and you can see the resemblance can't you.

P.S. on my delightfull holiday I learnt quite a few things about the plants on the east coast, which I will share during the course of the next few weeks. I have to do some research to fill in the gaps. See ya.

Cows & bicycles

While I lost myself in a world without electronic media, reading Barbara Kingsolvers 'Animal,Vegetable, Miracle' ; hiking, fishing, napping - as one does on a fabulously long holiday, the world without me, went to pots.

It seems nobody has yet managed to win the Zim elections, BA have seperated 28000 pieces of luggage (4 of which should have been on holiday with us) from their rightful owners and even India's cricket has taken a serious turn for the worse and that's just off the top of my head!

After chasing each other around in circles for a bit of afternoon entertainment Wild Coast style, these two went their seperate ways amicably.

It feels like I've been away for a century and maybe I have, but rest assured I'm back to help where I can.