Don’t Look Back

At last – an evening warm enough to sit in my garden and blog with a nice cool drink close to hand.  Although it’s definitely not as neat and pristine as when we moved in, there’s still plenty of colour and thanks to all the rain we’ve had, the grass has remained nice and green …

The bronze fennel is ENORMOUS and makes a nice backdrop to the hydrangeas and agapanthus.  Some people might think it a little odd to have a row of pots at the front of the border, but there are two very good reasons for this ….

And here’s one of them!  Yes, given half a chance those naughty newfies love to rummage through the plants to see what they can discover, and in the process flattening everything in their paths.  The pots act as a sort of barrier and do at least slow them down a bit!   Look at the little box hedge too – it hasn’t recovered properly from Miss Tilly’s antics!  She tried to run along the top (spot the indentations) and eventually fell through (the missing bit towards the left side).  It wasn’t all her fault though as she was being closely pursued by Daisy at the time – they’re as bad as each other!

Meanwhile I’ve been busy working on the first pattern for the September magazine  – that’s it above.  Reflecting the change in the seasons, rather than summer florals I’ve stitched some nice plump looking succulents and added some peacock feathers too as they felt most appropriate for the quote I’ve chosen.  I’m not sure where I first came across this, but it definitely resonates with me.  In common with just about everyone I should think, I have some regrets – wonderfully expressed in these words from the Book of Common Prayer …

I have left undone those things which I ought to have done; And I have done those things which I ought not to have done;

But there’s no point in dwelling on the past – after all nothing can change what’s already  happened, so for me this is a very positive quote, reminding me to always look forward to all the exciting times to come.

And this quote felt most appropriate for September – always an exciting month  I think, as everyone returns energised from their holidays ready to begin the new season.  I do enjoy autumn with its lovely colours, the aroma of drifting woodsmoke on the air, hot chocolate and sleepy newfies snuggled by the stove.   That’s a little way away yet though, and hopefully there’s still some summer left to come.  In any case I do hope you like this new design, and the pattern will be in the September issue of the Bustle & Sew Magazine which will be published on the last Thursday of August.