Art for Heart's Sake

Yay, It's Saturday Night

Hi honeys, yes it's Saturday night and I'm relaxing here with a glass of gorgeous red wine while dinner is cooking.  I had an okay couple of days at work - yesterday I had a few tears of frustration at times because I just didn't want to be there, I desperately wanted to be in my garden.  Today was a bit better, I forced myself to focus on ''nothing is more important than this day'' to get me through and it worked pretty well until about the last couple of hours.  I sold less today but I filled my time by handwriting some of the beginnings of my gardening book.  I started a couple of weeks ago by writing how I began gardening and now I've moved on from my first home garden with my mail order nursery, through to my time in Singapore and now I'm ready to start on the creation of the garden on this property almost 9 years ago.  I think if I can focus on doing this my work days won't seem so long or as frustrating.  I'm not meant to be doing ANYTHING except watching for customers but I will go insane if I try to continue doing that so surveillance cameras or not I need to look after ME.  I keep one eye on the possibility of customer coming in when I'm writing and stand up the second I sense someone is about to enter.  The entrance is very open (there isn't a door or anything) so that bit isn't hard.

More tomorrow my gorgeous readers.  Smiles..

Yikes, To Work I go!

Hi honeys, boy this week has gone fast and I'm leaping off to work this morning so this will have to be very short. 

I managed to get 3 more tealight holders made yesterday, plus I started some gift tags that I'm pretty happy with.  I'd like to be able to make about 6 more but I'm not sure I'll have time before I have to post everything Tuesday morning.  I'm working today and tomorrow and then on Sunday I have to spend the morning trimming the hornbeam hedge and the pm going to John's choir thingo.  I am going to take some photos and video too.

I must fly, so sorry this is short!  Dang and blast it.. Smiles..

Oh My Goodness.....

....it's FREEZING!!  A cold snap has just swept over us giving us a bit of rain, cold temps and, oh blast and bother, snow on the hills behind Nelson and the Western Ranges.  This means FROSTS are coming over the next few nights because the skies are destined to clear this pm.  I am not a happy camper because I'm worried about my fruit trees.  I think from memory a) the frosts have to be pretty harsh and b) there need to be a lot of them in a row for it to really affect stonefruit so I am hanging onto that hopeful notion.  All of my fruit trees are in blossom right now except the apples so everything is crossed!  Aaaggghhhhh.. I also need to pick my first asparagus spears because they will go mushy otherwise.

I've had my hair trimmed this morning and it looks fabulous.  The last time Lisa cut it she brought my fringe down over my forehead which simply doesn't suit me at all.  This time it is swept to the side and fairly short with lots of layers over my entire head.  It feels so lovely to have my hair off my forehead again except for wispy bits.

I have good news about the shop down south that wants some of my tealights.  She wants 9 and also some gift tags.  Yikes, I need to get creating quickly because I need to make 3 more tealights and I have NO gift tags to send her.    I'm so excited and just hope I can get my tealights to her in one piece.  6 of them weigh 1.2kg so I also need to find a way to send them that won't cost me an arm and a leg.. hmmm. 

Yesterday I finished weeding the artichoke bed and moved onto another raised bed so at least I have an area where I can start planting late spring crops.  Yay!!  I also started trimming the hornbeam hedge... 2 done almost, 108 to go!!  Crikey!  A cup of tea is calling and I will take it to my studio and start creating.  Smiles..

Eeeeek Where to Start?

Hi there, it's Wednesday morning and I'm about to have a much needed cup of tea!  I am in a complete quandry - where to start in the garden, nursery, or just everywhere!!  There is nothing like having a huge amount to do to make you want to do absolutely nothing!  Add to that the fact that I am dog tired and you have a horrid combination, giggle.

I am about to make a list of EVERYTHING I need to do in the garden and be very strict about prioritising it.  The vegetable garden is a top priority, as is my nursery, as is the main perennial garden... errrrmmmmmmmmmm hang on, that's EVERYTHING, major giggle.

One thing at a time honey or you will go mad and get nothing done!  Humpphhhh...  I've just sent an email to the most gorgeous shop just outside Christchurch that I visited on Saturday when I was down there.  The owner (an award winning florist) overheard me mentioning my art etc and she asked if I would be interested in putting any of my creations in her shop.  I am so excited so I've sent her some photographs of my tealight holders etc.  Fingers crossed as it would be such a privilege to have my wares in such a pretty shop.  She stocks crafty creations from local artists etc and it has the most amazing atmosphere.  A big part of the store is soy candles of all types and soy tealights! 

I must have my cup of tea and then leap out into the kitchen garden.  Smiles..

Tiggy Tired!!

Hi honeys, it's 3.50pm on Tuesday and I am soooooooooooo tired it's ridiculous.  I slept pretty well last night and managed to get to work in one piece bodily if not in mind.. giggle.  I can't believe how tired I am!  I worked at the Outlet Store until 2pm and then met Jeanne (friend who brought me back from Christchurch yesterday) for a coffee in the mall.  I got home around 20 minutes ago and am just coming back down to earth.

Tomorrow I was meant to be going to physio but I truly need a day at home to sort my brain out re my seed sowing, my vegetable garden and perennial garden.  I desperately need to make a list, prioritising the things that are really important so I can get them done first.  The hornbeam hedge is first on my list.  More tomorrow when I'm a bit more sane.  Smiles..

Hi Honeys, Home Again!

Hi there, just a really short post for today.. I'm home, got here about 3.30pm, dog tired but pretty happy.  I've been really busy ever since.  Jeanne, my friend is here for tonight and tomorrow night and I will admit I am pretty worn out, genuinely worn out for reasons I'll go into later.

I'm off to work tomorrow morning so I might not post until later tomorrow but just know I love you all loads for reading my blog posts (I don't tell you how much I love that anyone reads my daily blurbs), it means a lot to me!!

It's lovely to be home, oh so lovely and oh how I missed it and everything that goes with it, especially hubby, Monty and Chester, plus chooks, bunny, ducks and birdlife.  Crikey how lucky are we to be where we live??!!!

Much love and hopefully more tomorrow pm.. Smiles.. big oh my goodness in my own bed ones!!

Hi and oh my goodness what a time I had on the beach at Birdlings Flat yesterday!! We must have been on the beach for over 3 hours in total with a break for a snack in the middle. My girlfriend, Jeanne was picking up stones for me too so it will be even more exciting when I look through them when we get back to Nelson tomorrow (Monday). I went to see my stepdaughter Claire after that, then we had a relaxing evening at home. I'm not sure what we are doing today except we are going out for lunch I think. More tomorrow when I get home as we are leaving reasonably early as it's a 5 hour drive and I have things to do before work the next day. John is in his first choir performance this pm in Nelson and I'm sad I won't be there to cheer him on!! Go get them honey, you'll be wonderful!! I will get to hear him next weekend. Smiles...

Hi from Christchurch!!! I'm staying with a friend for the weekend and today we are going to that fabulous beach I told you about and I'm beyond excited!!! To be able to collect stones to my heart's content is such a special happy place for me. I have no idea where my love of stones comes from but it is cemented in my soul!! John is holding the fort at home, bless him and my friend is driving me home (5h hour drive) on Monday with my stones, bless her! I flew down after work yesterday and am pretty tired today but that's okay, nothing fresh sea air won't fix!! More later honeys. Sorry about plain text but I'm using john's iPad. He gave it to me to bring away

I'm Excited!!

Hi, it's Friday morning and I'm running (literally) out the door to work in a few minutes.  I am feeling excited because I am flying down to Christchurch to stay with a friend of mine and oooooooooh mass excitement because, yes oh my goodness, I'm going back to Birdling Flat to collect more gorgeous colourful agate stones.  I can't begin to tell you how much this means to me.  Ever since I set eyes on the stones on that beach back in May I've longed to go back there.  I'm flying down tonight after work and my lovely friend is DRIVING me home on Monday because I can't fly home with a load of stones in my luggage.  She has friends here in Nelson so it works out really well. 

I can honestly say that the simplest things in life, like collecting pretty stones, truly makes me incredibly happy!  I can't wait to set foot on that beach again and it will be lovely knowing there is no rush.  I'm going to stop in on my 31 year old stepdaughter Claire in the late afternoon to say hi too (she lives in a care home because she has cerebal palsy).  I'm going to find some extra special stones just for her. 

This will be my first ever ''girly'' weekend and I'm looking forward to it.  It's lovely that John will be home to look after the animals, thanks honey I miss you already!!

I'll update you while I'm away.  Big big stone-happy smiles.... Crikey giggle...

Lots to Do today!

Morning on a lovely fresh-air Thursday morning.  We had quite a bit of rain yesterday and overnight so now the air feels really fresh and clear.  I think we are in for a few more showers today but at least the sun is out at the moment.  Everything is so boggy underfoot!

I survived my trip to the dentist, my filling was done, teeth checked generally and xrays taken (haven't had them done for a few years).  I have to make another appointment to get my teeth cleaned but that will have to wait for a bit longer while we recover the bill.  Phoop.. I sort of understand why they are so expensive - after all who would want to look into other people's mouths all day - but even so!!

Today I have a list of things to do that is about a mile long.  I have a very busy weekend coming up and I need to be totally organised by the end of today because I'm working all day tomorrow.  I will get there!  On top of that I realised yesterday that our big chook house is leaking (capillary action from underneath we think) and that is a bit of a problem because it's not good for chooks to be inside a damp house.  Each of the leaks is in the corners and it seems to be coming up from the bottom edge.  John sealed the joins with silicone sealant but we didn't paint the bottom edges of the house where it sits on a separate base so that must be the problem.  In order to fix it we need to put the chooks somewhere, take the house off, tip it up and paint it with something waterproof.  I can't see this happening until the weather is more stable so I just have to hope they will be okay, dear wee reasonably elderly souls.  One of the leaks is in one corner of their nesting box (which is a big area for such small chooks) so I hope they don't decide to roost there if they are thinking about laying ever again!

I must fly (chook joke, giggle) and start on my list.  Smiles..