Saturday 18 August 2012

Through the square window

The words summer and holidays don't really go together for us in the life we lead now - running the B&B, growing our own food, courses on self-sufficiency and sustainable living - all of these things mean that summer is busy and work-filled, and our down-time tends to be in January and February.


So it is important to remember and treasure brief moments of peace and beauty amongst all the helter and skelter, to take time to stand and stare, if only for an inkling.


This morning I looked out over the sink into the garden and was happy that some of the flowers are revelling in the vagaries of our climate, in spite of the uncooperative weather taking its toll on the edibles. The Japanese anemones under the kitchen window are as tall as ever I have seen them, and the cosmos seem determined to outrun their neighbours.


This is the picture I must treasure in my head when my nerve fails me in those grey and drear months after the turning of the year, and I wonder why ever we chose this path in life.

Such moments are so precious that all the trouble and toil seem as nothing when compared with their fleeting beauty.




27 comments:

greenrabbitdesigns said...

I agree that is a pretty view from your window, you just have to take a snap shot of it in your mind and hold on to it for whenever it is needed. :)
Vivienne x

Anonymous said...

So great to 'meet' you and your lovely blog. I love the view from the window, your garden looks gorgeous!
anna x

Katy Cameron said...

Such a pretty garden, go out and soak up as much of that sun as you can while it's there!

Barbara said...

Yes it is beautiful so as well as the memories maybe you could feast on your blog photos in January too.

Carol said...

Lovely view from your window and a moment to treasure.
Our edibles have suffered (apple trees have never had so few fruits) but, like you we are able to enjoy many of the flowers.
Carol xx

Lyn said...

Beautiful view from your kitchen. much better than a view of a brick wall in the city!
xxx

Annie Cholewa said...

What a glorious garden.

I would live the life you describe in a heart beat. Far better than being tied to the 9-5, despite the hard graft that's requited

Enjoy your flowers x

Rowan said...

The view through your kitchen window is lovely. The Japanese anemones seem to have enjoyed the weather we've had this summer, mine have more flowers then I've ever seen before.

KC'sCourt! said...

What a beautiful garden you have
Julie xxxxxxx

Marigold Jam said...

The mental photo album is a wonderful thing enabling one to conjure up the sunny days even in mid winter isn't it? Our cosmos didn't make it at all this year too many slugs in the damp. Your garden view is lovely - maybe to aid your memory you could make a collage of some of your happy moments like these photos and put it up on the window sill in the grey winter days?

justjill said...

Japanese Anemone is a new one on me, beautiful. Garden centre here I come. We retired after 9 years doing b&b so I know exactly where you are coming from! Very enjoyable tho it was I am now enjoying not having burn marks from the steam press.

driftwood said...

wise words, store those summery images for wintery times x

Jane and Lance Hattatt said...

Hello:
We can so easily believe that there can be very little time for you to have moments to yourself during the 'season'. Running a bed and breakfast must, we imagine, be very hard work with hardly a moment when you are 'off duty'.

Eight by Six said...

its so pretty I bet you don't mind doing the washing up, I know I would'nt. Amanda x

Eight by Six said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
♥ Mary Janes TEAROOM said...

Such a beautiful view from your kitchen window...I do love Japanese anemones too and your garden looks enchanting although I can imagine this Summer must have been very testing for you. It has been an odd one, hasn't it? I think a few tranquil moments at your pretty window each morning is a must...
Susan x

Sylvia said...

What a beautiful view from your wondow, such lovely flowers in your garden !
Hava a nice Sunday,
Sylvia

Little Blue Mouse said...

Yes it's good to have memories of summer in the darker months.
Your jam should do the trick too!

Catherine said...

Hello Pomona...I have been meaning to pop in! after I realised that you had managed to present yourself once more (after the initial curtain peeping that is). Scrummy looking beans & toms & the no blight is certainly a bonus, especially at this point in the season. We are feasting on Farmer's Market celeriac just presently & yacon & impatiently waiting for the first tips of asparagus to emerge. Lovely to "see" you again. Much love Catherine x0x0x

Anonymous said...

fleeting they may be, but very very beautiful.
lovely to hear from you.
x

Tangled Sweetpea said...

Thank you so much for the lovely comments you've left for me over on my blog. I have become your newest follower. What a beautiful view you have through the little square window! Such a pretty garden. It is rather overcast and sticky here today too.
Victoria xx

VintageVicki said...

That is a lovely view - one to save for the damp dreary days of winter.

Lulu said...

what a lovely garden....It would be so nice to sit out there and just knit the Sunday away...:-)

Claire said...

Hey Pomona what a lovely view you have through your kitchen window......
Looking at your flowers has me wishing the warmer weather was here when my seedlings can start growing rather than waiting impatiently for some warmth....
It's been a while since I have visited, but I have had a lovely time reading through some older posts and seeing what's been going on in your little corner of the woods....

Claire :}

Claire said...

Hey Pomona what a lovely view you have through your kitchen window......
Looking at your flowers has me wishing the warmer weather was here when my seedlings can start growing rather than waiting impatiently for some warmth....
It's been a while since I have visited, but I have had a lovely time reading through some older posts and seeing what's been going on in your little corner of the woods....

Claire :}

Mrs. Micawber said...

Lovely blossoms, especially when seen while the hands are busy with mundane work. I hadn't heard of Japanese anemones until now.

I've been noticing, this year especially, how each year different wildflowers come to the fore - and that no matter how bad the weather something is certain to flourish. (For us this year it was the wild Queen Anne's Lace - which apparently thrives on heat and drought.)

Thank you for your lovely snapshot of summer.

Nicky said...

Great view - who could fail to be inspired! Even cleaning your sink would not seem so bad with this picture to look out on - or even better sit in it and stitch, knit, crochet?

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