She sees Seashells by the Sea

I'm back at ceramics. I started a little vessel inspired by this shell. I really love the textures and the colours. Bone whites, sun bleached pinks and mauve's with strong dark chocolate contrasts.


I'm not entirely happy with my hand carved textures but I'm adopting a wait and see approach. Once the underglazes etc. get fired I'm hoping it will look less contrived.

The bisque fired bowl.

Lizards, Snails and Puppydog Tails

Gardens are definitely for ... boys

FoodFacts

Gardens are for...educating Heloise

The Humble Carrot has quite a history:
The Greeks called the carrot Philon or Philtron from their word philo that means loving, although the current word we use has it's roots in French.
We can thank the Dutch for our sweet orange carrots ~ developed in the honour of 'The House of Orange'

Some other weird facts:
- Carrots were originally red or purple
- During the reign of James 1 fashionable ladies often wore carrot foliage as decoration on their hats (very weird)
- Carrot stew precedes Viaggra as an aphrodisiac (TeeHee)
- Someone out there is trying to create a 'rainbow' carrot
- and if it were used as a biofuel it would take approximately 6000 carrots to drive one mile

And that's only scratching the surface.
All this and more from the invaluable Carrot Museum

Go on dig up some dirt this weekend you never know what you might find.

Back to reality

Gardens are for...proof.
'The grass is greener on the other side' is based on fact ~ I should know.

A Little Interlude

I can't resist.
Crocheting was a hot topic on some of my favorite blogs (freshly found & skinny laminx) last week and I just has to show this off.


Henriette who is a colleague of mine, brought in this beautiful blanket she made for her youngest daughter over the holidays.


I'm in love with the soft powdery combination of buff, the softest of pink and mellow greens and the gently scalloped edging. Need I mention the sweetest little flowers! I think I need to go for lessons.

Gardens are for...

I have a large leather chest in which I stash all sorts of dress-up goodies, it makes for hours of entertainment and delight.

... Flights of fancy

Gardens are for...

...cats, toys & swimming towels

The Odd Stillife

Last year was a bit of a dud year as far as achievement goes, and I spent a lot of time at the end of it reflecting the downfall of my 'empire in the sun'.

No fabulous book
No cleverly landscaped garden
No veggie patch at all...
you get where I'm going.

Sometimes though the problem is your frame of reference, not your reality.

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes."

Marcel Proust

Gardens are for....Boogyboards and chives

So the book goes on to simmer and I'm going to enjoy where I am.
My next few posts are going to be about what my garden is really there for.
Laugh, cry and enjoy with me.

Looking Back Before I Move On

"Rudolf" is my husbands pride and joy and I have been threatening for years to include him in the festivities. Tinsel is a marvelous thing.

The silly season is finally over. Aah and what a season it was! A belated happy New Year to you all as I try and fit my larger posterior into last years chair and look forward to 'healthier' happier and a more comfortable seat this year.