You normally have to be bashed about a bit by life to see the point of daffodils, sunsets and uneventful nice days.
Alain De Botton – Philosopher
It’s been an eventful few weeks – all the changes at work are becoming very real now, and all the legal issues around my friend’s death are nearly done. I’m recovering well mentally and physically, though there’s a while to go yet – I know I’ll get to where I want to be – and can regain my inner and outer calm soon 🙂
I’ve always loved Daffodils. I lived in flats for many years and often had vases of daffs around the house.
Once I got a garden (with a house) they were the first things I planted – there are many species around by garden. My tête a têtes are always the first to flower (in late January this year!) and when they do – I know Spring is on its way. There’s a great show from my crocuses and irises so maybe they’ll be in the vase next week.
I’ve also got some wall flowers still flowering from last summer (in a very sheltered part of my garden) – so I wanted to showcase them too.
In a Vase on Monday – tête a tête daffodils, wallflowers, helichrysum, curry plant and rosemary – 29 February 2016
I picked dark green rosemary and silver grey curry plant because, I liked the contrast of colours and textures. I thought they all went well with the blooms and Vase.
Herbs and spices are a huge part of our cooking. We’ve got 10 different kinds of mint in pots so it doesn’t spread around the garden. My chap has been taking care of me by cooking great food – it’s one of the ways he shows his love for me (and others). I wrote about him and all the other ‘chefs’ in my life in December.
- In a Vase on Monday – Love and rosemary for remembrance – 31 December 2015
The helichrysum had very small yellow flowers, and it was only it seems appropriate, that it is used in ‘Everlasting’ and ‘Immortal’ Essential Oils.
The Vase is actually a recycled glass tealight holder which I bought at The Eden Project in 2014. It’s made an appearance before:
My Chap and I have been making plans – we’ve booked a holiday to Cornwall in May. I’m sure we’ll be visiting The Eden Project again, Heligan, Caerhays and some of the other great gardens of Cornwall – we didn’t get to Lanhydrock last year but will go there definitely. I think we’ll be spending alot of time by the sea too.
I’m hoping I can get some more garden ornaments on our trip. I’ve got quite a few rusty iron flowers and other decorations around the garden. I really must write about them in a blog – as they’re carefully chosen, with memories and love associated with each one.
In a Vase on Monday – 29 February 2016
Cathy at Rambling in the Garden has a wonderful vase this week in a Japanese style and has written about weddings and promises. Do have a look at everyone’s vases from around the world and join in if you can. These vases and all the blog writers lift my mood and inspire my planting 🙂 Thank you so much everyone – I’m trying to comment more in 2016.
tête a tête daffodils, helichrysum, and a new variety of Daffodils 😉 – 29 February 2016
Today I am thinking of promises made both long ago, and more recently but most of all – promises for the future. I’ve only ever tried to do my best – I hope I have.
It seems appropriate to dream on the ‘extra’ day we have this year. My ideas about what to do this year are coming together – which is helping me feel more content, but it’s scary at the same time. I just know I need to be brave – and take the first step. I know I need to believe in myself and ‘seize the day’.
As ever, My Chap is always holding my hand (sometimes metaphorically) through all of life’s adventures on the ‘nice, uneventful days’ as well as the most challenging days. I would have been in a real pickle if he hadn’t been here in 2015.
I am dreaming of the sunsets by the sea in Cornwall. I hope things will be clearer by then… and I’ll be feeling less ‘bashed about by life’.
Have a lovely week – what have you done with your extra day?
Carpe Diem
love
Bec xxx
Views from my garden bench 
Glad things are calming for you….I also love daffs and can’t wait for mine to bloom in a few weeks I hope….beautiful vase and the tealight holder is perfect!
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Thank you I’m feeling better in myself – a lot of change at work and lots of anxiety but I’m going to try to my best to do my best for me and my Chap. The tea light holder came in lots of different colours
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The teal glass complements your lovely daffodils and wallflowers, Bec. I like the metal daffodils as well. I just saw some wallflowers in a nursery, looking pretty, but I just think of all the wallflowers I have killed in the past, we don’t seem very compatible. They smell wonderful, though. It was just a regular Monday for me, how interesting to think of Feb. 29 as a special day, I did get my usual blog posted, meeting attended, weeds pulled. so a good day.
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LOVE daffodils 🙂 I really need to get some to brighten up the house 🙂 I’m glad that things are settling down x
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Yes buy some 🙂 I’ve planted lots of different kinds around the garden – fingers crossed they flower as it’s been so wet (quite a few other bulbs have rotted)… A lot of change at work (merger) but I’ve made some decisions and I’m recovering from last year… Hoping for the best 🙂
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I suffer from mental health issues and I find flowers always work a treat for perking my up a little bit. I’m really glad you’re getting better though, I hope it’s all completely done soon x
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What a thoughtful post, Bec- and I am sorry that your friend’s death had legal implications as that of course makes a tough time even tougher. Sharing the quotation alongside your vase was very poignant in the circumstances so thank you for your openness. The greeny-blue glass vase was perfect for the T a T and the grey foliage of the helichrysum and curry plant – and I love the metal daffodils! They are just the sort of things I like to add to my garden and am always on the lookout for – I look forward to seeing what else you have or find. Sending you healing and strength for 2016 x
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Lovely. 🙂 We headed north to watch friends make maple syrup.
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Thank you Judy – wow brill – I looked on the internet to find out how to make maple syrup 🙂 I had no idea how it’s made – so thank you for this – have a lovely week xx
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I do hope things will improve for you soon Bec, your daffodils are lovely, they are difficult for me to grow here as there isn’t enough summer rain. Cornwall in May will be wonderful, we used to go every year for a week at the end of May; the weather was mixed but we always had a wonderful time. Do write about it.
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Your vase is lovely Bec. But what really made me smile was that picture of your daffodils next to their metal buddies! 😉 All the best for you with coping with the changes you are facing. Cornwall in May should be really good!
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Thank you – I really like rusty iron garden ornaments 🙂 I got them at the Rhs tatton park flower show a couple of years ago… Yes I hope so too – 2015 was horrendous and 2016 is turning out tricky… But I’ll get there (wherever that is :-)…. I am SO looking forward to Cornwall. Have a lovely week 🙂
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I love flowers for the great photography moments. Never keep them at home because I’m terrible at looking after them mainly.
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I take lots of photos of flowers 🙂 im really rubbish at keeping house plants alive though – they fair much better in my garden 🙂
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What beautiful flowers. I think there’s something really cheerful about Daffodils, they represent Spring and new beginnings, so I think it’s an appropriate thing to include in your vase – Especially on a miserable Monday! Hope you have a relaxed time in Cornwall xxx
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Thank you holly – 🙂 the daffodils are still blooming 🙂 definitely cheering me up xx I love Cornwall xx really looking forward to it x
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