Silver and Green Gardens

Add grey and silver to your green garden to enliven it.

Most grey and silver foliage plants come from hot, dry places- so make sure they have well drained soil and full sun. Poor, light soil is no problem. If the plants are in shade they will not look their silvery best.

These succulents are nearly always out of the sun, so have reverted to almost green.

A lot of silver and grey plants have weak looking yellow flowers which need to be clipped off in order to maintain the neat shape of the specimen.

Contrast the grey with a strong green or a blue/mauve.

Pyrus salcifolia is a small tree that contrasts well with the green backdrop in this garden.

A formal garden works in all seasons with a mixture of grey and silver. Olive trees and Santolina, here, make sure this formality is not dull. The clipped form brings the shape, essential in any good design.

Helichrysum or curry plant is a silver plant that works well in the herb garden next to sage, another of the plants liking it hot and dry.

Lavender, of course joins many other common plants that can be used for silvery contrast.

If you have a sunny spot for potted plants, Dusty Miller, a cineraria, looks great with purple petunias or similar, it's lovely toothed foliage great all year.

Should you have no flowers at all this mixture of grey/silver and green will look brilliant.

The words and promises of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times over.

Psalm 12 verse 6 New Living.

 

Silver jewellery on a green plate.

Hope for a New Year

Hope: An attitude of expectation that something GOOD will happen in the future. Romans 15.13

A new year means new possibilities. Be on the lookout for opportunities that lead to new positive places, points of view and new ideas that fill you with hope.

It's summer in New Zealand, this doesn't mean settled weather so we must take every opportunity to enjoy the sunshine.

Eat all the seasonal fruit and vegetables while they are available, preferably outside!

There are roses and lavender in the garden, pick them continuously to enjoy their fragrance and ensure that they will produce new buds.

Dare to hope in a new and brighter day.

Flowers are always inspiring and have led to some great art and design.

Use edible pesticide free petals or flower heads in salads, for e.g. pansies, thyme flowers, rose petals, lavender buds, nasturtium and geranium, or pelargonium petals.

Salade du potager aux fleurs: Garden Greens and Blossoms Salad:

1 handful of snipped chives or a finely sliced tiny red onion

6 cups of mixed salad leaves such as butter crunch, red oak, curly endive, rocket, torn into pieces

several freshly picked flower heads, torn into petals

VINAIGRETTE:

2 tbs red wine vinegar

squeeze of lemon juice

1 tsp Dijon mustard

salt and pepper

1/4 cup olive oil. Whisk until the mix emulsifies.

 scatter top with toasted hazelnuts chopped or whole if you like, for extra crunch.

This year learn to rest:

Daydream, feed your imagination.

It's not your possessions or talents that count but what you do with them.

Keep looking at nature for inspiration, Picasso once made a print from the skeleton of a fish he had just eaten for lunch!

If we believe, though, we'll experience that state of resting. Hebrews 4 The Message.

CHRISTMAS JOY.

          A big shout out to all you lovely readers: Yay!     And Thank You!

 Home made decorations and gifts are really much more in the spirit of Christmas than store bought.
However we don't all have the luxury of  the time in which to make and create gifts.
I usually leave it too late- October or November are the months best suited to plan and collect materials.
Ha, but we can always look at what others have done and enjoy that if we have left it too late.
A batch of jam,  pickle,  or sauce can still be produced in time though. Fudge or nougat too.

                       Simple looks great doesn't it?

Suddenly, God's angel stood among them.

They were all terrified. The angel said

" Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event

that is meant for everybody, worldwide:

A Saviour has just been born in David's town,

a Saviour who is Messiah and master.

This is what you are to look for:

a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."

At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises.

 The Message Luke 2.

Leftover Christmas Turkey, Chicken or Pork

to be eaten on Boxing Day:

The Joy of Christmas is that God came into the World as a man so he could become our Saviour.

Great and Wonderful News!

All the best for the new year, hope to see you soon, G.

Shabby Collage Roses

Finished at last

Thanks to all you bloggers out there who have posted your artistic endeavours online, I have picked up paintbrushes and various media again, after years of being busy with life, and been encouraged by your stories to get creative.

This is a look at what begun with a few pieces of paper taken from an old magazine and has developed into basically a kind of shabby style of work. Shabby in the decorative sense.

Here's a look at the process:

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

A bit more

These details show the textures more clearly.

Thank you so much for your inspiration.

More are on the way, but just like with you, time is limited.

I have 1 hour a week to spare. Can't wait to see how the next one turns out.

Please feel free to comment and critique.

HOPE,

an attitude of expectation that something good will happen in the future.

Romans 15.13

Remember the only thing to doubt is your self-doubt.

Give what you have been dreaming of doing a go.

In The Pink

Pink, Rose, Apricot and Blush Evocations.

Evocations:
Imaginative re-creations or mental imagery.

There is something about this group of colour-words that calls to mind tastes and smells. They conjure femininity and sweetness. Atmosphere is created simply by the words, and images that are called to mind, but these are added to by visuals with these tones and shades. This ambience has the power to transport us away from the ordinary into dreamy settings, old and new. How cool!
Take a few moments to wallow in PINK:

Tickled pink: to be happy or delighted. In the pink: to be in good health.

Our Home In Late Winter

San Francisco cafe with pink blossoms

.

Sweet Pink Treat.

Simple strawberry sauce and ice cream:

500g strawberries, washed, hulled and sliced

2 tablespoons caster sugar or Splenda or stevia equivalent.

2 tablespoons of orange juice

500 ml vanilla ice cream or frozen non-diary substitute

A few blueberries or whole reserved strawberries

Put strawberries in a pan with the sugar and juice, simmer on low 5 min until soft and juicy.

Refrigerate.

Put half the cooled mix in a processor, blend for 20-30 seconds.

Spoon the softened ice cream into the processor, pulse until mixed with the strawberry sauce.

Pour into a rectangular plastic container and freeze for 2-3 hours or until set.

Serve the treat with reserved pink sauce and a few blueberries.

Serves 4       YOU CAN USE FROZEN STRAWBERRIES. 

Last Pink Pic:

Trelise Cooper(NZ designer)Pale Pink Dress. Swoon.

I pray for good fortune in everything you do, and for your good health, that your everyday affairs prosper, as well as your soul!
3 John 1-2 The Message

Blue and White Delights

These Two are a match Made in Heaven.

Think blue sky, white clouds. Mediterranean Sea and whitewashed Greek hilltop houses.

The oceans, sailors, and their navy blue and white striped tops. Fresh and clean, bold, always a success.

Smart, timeless as a white shirt with blue jeans.

There is an infinite variety of pattern and design, especially in old crockery and fabrics.

With china, mismatched makes it all the more charming.

Most of the older ware can't be safely washed by machine, but it's worth owning some anyway!

Like this lovely piece of BURLEIGH Ware.

Or this stunning Victorian dinner plate. These pieces have been picked up in vintage stores , garage sales and flea markets for a few dollars over many years.

More white and bluetiful.

Remember if you like this it can be collected slowly with very little cash

"Discontent with what you have and are, will direct your thoughts inward and generate depression"

Chase away the blues by  giving thanks for everything you are and have.

Simple joys like bright orange slices on a blue plate brighten a day at home or a picnic in the garden

Moroccan Dessert Oranges: Slice the oranges over a plate to catch the juice.

Make sure there is no bitter pith left on them.

Sprinkle with a little cinnamon and mint, and orange blossom water if you have some, and a smidgen of castor sugar. Chill. Eat slowly with a fork - This has a very exotic flavour that goes nicely with almonds as a finish to a Moroccan feast. Or use as an extra healthy snack.

 

Daniel 10, 18 -19

One in human form touched me and strengthened me.Don't be afraid He said " for you are deeply loved by God"