Thank you, everyone, for your get-well wishes and for saying that you liked the garden! It also makes Andy happy, Andy the secret comment reader. He sneaks in and reads all the comments very excitedly every day. He especially likes it when, unlike a recent visitor to our back yard who said, unimpressedly, "Well, it looks . . . like it'll be really easy to take care of . . .", you think he is a brilliant genius for even thinking of a back-yard solution like this in the first place. Honestly, although I was very nervous about it at first, I am so totally loving the back yard. I highly recommend it as an option for ease of care (because yes, it will be easy) and pretty, sort of French-park feel. That front patch of dirt in the photo on the previous post is the regular herb/veggie garden, just outside the kitchen window. That will get planted if it ever gets warm out. In those big pots I planted (er, I mean I picked out and he planted) three different lavenders and an assortment of standard herbs -- thymes, oreganos, sages, sorels, your basic yummy-smelling potager-reminding stuff. I thought it would be kind of cool to be sitting there in your Adirondack chair, drinking a mint julep, reading the latest selection from the Book List, smelling some delicious herbal aromas.
All the selections I made for the yard had to be sort of Frenchified. Red geraniums for the window boxes, periwinkles and grayish tarragon-looking stuff for the ring around the tree, more lavenders coming. I have to say, there was something really fun about imposing the French-ish constraints. I tend to get so overwhelmed at the nursery, and by the yard in general. I like the idea of gardening better than the gardening itself, I think, especially after the first weekend. My foot just doesn't want to cooperate in the garden. Though I do like a very nice garden. So usually I'm sitting out there twitching instead of relaxing because in order to have it not be unruly (especially here in the Northwest, where stuff grows to monstrous proportions [unless it's grass in our back yard]), you have to work on it and plan it all the time. There are just way too many variables for me. But this whole gravel backyard is an experiment in restraint and I truly am looking forward to taking care of it, because I know that I only allowed in what I felt I could take care of well. Do you know what I mean? Like, I could've chosen only blue things, or only cacti, or only things that started with P. And it was kind of nice to work within those self-imposed limitations -- not at all something I'd normally do. Sort of reminds me of Back Tack III. And that sort of reminds me of how uncomfortable the criteria they've set out naturally make me -- I never work in black and white, which is why I wanted to give it a try. It will be such an experiment. Except that I have to make something for Ms. Back-Tack-Half Nicole, so I also want it to be really really really good -- yikes, no pressure there or anything!!!
Above -- pretty postal things! Aw, such great mail! Some I bought -- the cool hostess apron at bottom from my coastal-living friend Carrie at Sommer Designs, and the vintage-green-and-orange-fabric Penelope bag by the wise and crafty Blair. I like to think of her affectionately as Wise(ass) Craft Blair. (She sent me some pudding, too, butterscotch and vanilla, fat-free, sugar-free. What are you trying to say, B? She's not speaking to me because I bought the pincushion she wanted so she has to communicate with me through skinny pudding, I think, and apparently she is saying, "Get off the couch and plant your own damn plants, bubble-butt.") Other things were gifties, too -- books from the Book List from the very generous Jamie (do you have a blog Jamie?), sweet Jenn, and literate, wonderful Jane. Jane also had a Green & Black's butterscotch-flecked chocolate bar in there -- that was gone right away, so it's not in the picture. Tea and a lavender drawer linen from Carrie, and a strawberry pin cushion; and felt and buttons and other smaller wonderfulnesses from the happy Chicken; an awesome blue-rose apron from Blair (she really does love me after all); a ring to match my bird's nest necklace from Lindsey; vintage fabric from thrifty, crafty Hillary; and this, the reigning princess of all aprons from Lisa. God I hope I didn't forget anything. IT'S TOO MUCH!!!!!!! But I can handle it.
I was dinking around with Photoshop and found this "poster-edge" function which automatically does this kind of thing to your photos, which I thought was cool, especially if we, like, want to start a band called Organza Apron or something. We could play ukuleles and pennywhistles and pass out apple cider at our shows. We'd of course make all our own costumes. We'd ride vintage bikes from venue to venue and charge people in peonies. Our groupies would sit in the audience crocheting, and we'd always do the Hokey-Pokey for an encore at the end of the night. Who's with me.
I'll play the kazoo! Or maybe the cowbell, I can't decide. I think we should bring our dogs on tour too.
I'll bring my kazoo!
Oh too funny, Lucy! You were quicker than me!
ok, I'll talk to you. You're just too cute not too. I'm thinking tea towel stands at the shows, instead of T-shirt stands. If "The Knitters" can do it, why couldn't the organza aprons???
And regarding the fat free aspect of your package, we do sugarfree fat free simply so we can do more of it. We're all about guilt free excess around here.
can i be the lead singer?
Lovely goodies. Where do I sign up for band auditions?
I love the name, I already have visions of a cool logo... :-)
first thing, the yard: so great. I love pea gravel. Have you visited Blue Heron Herbary on Sauvie Island? They specialize in lavenders and local colour. Heavy on the local colour. I love it there.
second thing, mail: whoa.
third thing, band: the dressform needs an instrument. Tamborine? I think so.
Can I play the mouth organ or jaws harp?If we are charging in peonies can we give change in french lavender?What yummy packages.I can't wait to get my Margaret bag from Wise(*@&)Craft Blair!
Lovely lovely goodies. Uh, might want to lighten up on the cold meds though. Have a great day!
Lisa, of course you are the lead singer.
Cowbell!!!! Hee.
And yes, change in French lavender. And if people MUST throw things at us on stage we'd prefer rose petals. I'm just sayin'.
And Chris, unfortunately this is just straight-up weiro Alicia. No cold meds. I need cold meds.
I love your Organza Apron idea! I will be at every show!
Also, I thought the yard looked fabulous. It looks like a magazine yard now. Very clever ideas.
Organza Apron ... the mostest best band EVER! Yeah but you have to have an old fashioned kazoo!!
Love all yopur gifties and your garden (again hubby and I desperately wanted that garden so I am totally "green" with envy and I will be hanging on to every word that you and Andy preovide about its magnificent progress)!!!
Ha ha! Love the band idea! Looks like you've got Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell up there in the left hand corner. I'm reading it right now - it's wonderful!
Hey, I'm in! I'll play the galvanized wash basin bass with yarn as strings with a broomhandle as the neck thingy.
yes, but what is the story with the tea set in the picture? or should i call it a "tea set"? it's freaking me out! is it real? i must know.....
oh my god.
i just laughed hard and loud with tears in the eyes at the visual.
i. am. with. you.
do the hokey pokey.
just do it.
I have my own apron, can I join? Maybe I could just shake a maraca or two?
hee haw! my feet are stomping and i'm alreadying singing..."turkey in the straw..la dee daw dee da..."
that apron is a show-stopper! love it!!
lol i'm with you.
been following your garden endeavors (sorry to busy to comment) but i think it's quite lovely.. good job, andy!
what an excellent album cover!
I am reading about your garden with great interest, as we have the Seattle version of your challenge around here: back yard = mud + moss, front yard = burned out grass with bonus dried out patch where rain can't get through the tree branches. gravel is sounding better all the time, especially with lovely frenchy garden vignettes.
I would SO queue at the stage backdoor for autographs
Oh, funny, funny. Thank you. What the exchange rate for peonies? And could I play the spoons? And wear cotton lawn instead?
I'm joining too - I'll be the freak up the back, dressed in head to toe Amy Butler fabric dresses of own design (but with a cool fifties edge, and lashings of perfect red lipstick and liquid eye liner) playing one of those strange instruments made out of wood, with bottle tops nailed to it which the player shakes... I think.
Ok, so I just googled and it's called a Largerphone! Brilliant!
http://www.wongawillicolonialdance.org.au/ausfolk_articles/bush_percussion.htm
Oh, and I too have just noticed the JS&MN connection, which very odd as I mentioned that today in blog too. There must be that ol' English magic in the air.
Rightyo, I'll stop babbling. Off I go, tra la la la.
Aren't you a lucky girl! Look at all those pretty presents.
The garden plan is a good one, Andy. Just make her take care of her own geraniums! :-)