Taking five days off to spend in Sedgefield may seem like a really stupid thing for both Rob and me to do at this time of year when there’s so much work to get through, but that’s what we did last week! We packed the boot full of blank pillow cases, fabrics, screens, inks and my iron, so that I could get stock ready for the Christmas markets running up to the 25th, and if Rob’s got his lappie he can work anywhere in the world.
It was very productive to work with none of the usual distractions, and we both got lots done. He was under strict instructions to exclude my ‘holiday’ face from all pics.
Back in Cape Town, we battle on with very high temperatures, too much sun and not enough water. Some of the new plants have managed to survive, however, and I am so grateful to have inherited a grey water system with the new house. I just need to remember to clean the filter more often, to avoid the mild reek of recycled water, but that is a very small price to pay for some colourful blooms.
I know, I know, a sad show by many people’s standards, but this evidence of survival is deeply satisfying to me. [Two asides: yes, there was once a swimming pool in the back garden, you can see a bit of the remains near the daisies that Eleanor gave me; the blue morning glories are ‘not my own work’, but they delight me nevertheless. My ex-husband was filled with contempt for them and said they were the worst kind of weed, but (a) I don’t care, and (b) he’s not here to see them anyway!]
Wishing you all a good week, however hot or cold it is where you are :-)
Nice piece of work 
Sometimes you just have to take yourself away and close the door to get something done. I’m glad it worked well for you :-). Sounds as if we’re having similar weather, and this is exactly the moment when my automated watering system chose to break down :-(
Oh pooh! Can you fix it, or do you have to get the automated watering system guy in?
I can fix it. I just unscrew the old timer unit from the tap, screw in a new one, attach it to the hoses that lead to the irrigation, and away we go. It’s basic, mechanical and battery operated, but a new battery didn’t fix the no-watering problem so I feel a trip to the garden centre coming on. Meanwhile, I have to get out there with the hose myself… oh, the suffering ;-)
We are not even allowed to use HOSES :(
I DREAM of being able to use my hose…..
We are not currently on water restrictions, and given that the Wet is about to start, I don’t think it’s going to happen in the foreseeable future. We can look forward to about 1500mm of rain in the next 6 months…
Jill, you always make me laugh. Thank you for that. xxx
You’re welcome. xxx
How marvellous to have a grey water system. I love the morning glory – they are beautiful and, like any plant, only a weed if they are growing somewhere you don’t want them
Exactly. And in the front garden, we have black-eyed susans – a cousin of the morning glory. Right now, if something is green and will grow rampant, I don’t care what it is!
Love the morning glory. I tried to grow some once without success. Maybe your climate suits them better or was it the slugs!
And here I was thinking I was one of the few crazy people who actually love them. According to Wikipedia, they were used by the Chinese for medicinal purposes – apparently they have laxative properties. Maybe I’ll make up a little bouquet and give it to the ex. :-)
Had heard the seeds were an hallucinogenic but I like them for the beautiful blue of the flowers.
I love your reasoning skills, Rebel Heart! That would make me love the morning glories all the more too. 😉
[wink]
-7 here tonight apparently!
holy crapola! that IS cold…..
A change of scenery is good for the soul. It increases productivity so you can justify the trip.:) I would love to be allowed a gray water system or at least rain barrels to catch some of this massive water we have in winter. Summers are bone dry these days. I loved my morning glories too. So did the rabbits. They ate them to the nub even though we put wire cages down into the dirt to deter them. Guess they have to eat too. :) Three cheers for ex-husbands. :)
Marlene, I’ve been going through some of your posts to try and figure out where in the world you live! Clearly it’s somewhere in the US, but I can’t zoom in any more than that…..
I love rabbits, too. Was actually discussing the possibility of getting a pair (not heterosexual though) the other day, but I ran out of energy when it came to thinking about hutches and feeding requirements and poo duties.
My ex-husband and I get on very well. Now that we no longer have to tolerate each other’s company, I think we can both see the qualities in the other that were initially appealing. :-)
I am now living in the Pacific Northwest just outside the Portland, Oregon area. Close enough to get to amenities, but with enough distance to have a small town neighborhood. We had the rabbits at my son’s house in California, north of Los Angeles. They were wild rabbits. I would get along fine with my ex too. If his children would have allowed it. We were together 24 years and to them, I never existed even though he treats them like he treated me. Sometimes you just have to save yourself. :/
Ok I see where you are now. Quite close to Canada, too! I’m quite ignorant about the geography of the States, my apologies.
I have heard about difficult stepchildren. That must have been very hard. :(
We can get to Canada with a 5 hour drive and 2 hours on the ferry. It’s lovely there. I loved my step children and their children with all my heart. My own children remind me the steps were very broken before I showed up in their lives and there were things I couldn’t undo. Not something I ever write about. Maybe I should.
Is it possible that you had a good and happy influence on their lives that they are only now, with hindsight, starting to realise? A bit of maturity can go a long way. <3
One can only hope. I wish them all well either way. You can’t stop the love no matter what. I have to give it, they don’t have to take it. That’s life. :)
Indeed.
I love blue morning glory. It’s prolific in Greece. I grew some from seed this year only for it to fail when I transplanted it. What a sensible idea to go away to work. Good luck with your sales.
love the view