Gardening Addiction

Mary, Mary, quite contrary,

How does your garden grow?

With silver bells and cockle shells,

And pretty maids all in a row.

-- Anonymous

I have found a new hobby that is quite addicting. I have begun to garden. I can’t seem to stay away from the garden center too long. The seed packets advertise blossoms that could make me THINK I could create a secret garden. And what would be in this secret garden? SILENCE!!

There are many versions of the Secret Garden movies, but this one pictured above from Hallmark in 1987 is my favorite.

I wish I had a garden like the ones that are at the Old Parliament House. But I will settle for what I have accomplished so far.

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Of course accessories and makeup can be inspired the flowers and nature.

The organic blush on the right is from Physician’s Formula. The soft colors of the eyeshadow quad from Chanel is appropriately titled “Garden Party”. Clinique has a line of lip products that are a cross between a lipbalm and lipstick called Buttershines. “First Love” is my favorite.

I am embarrassed to admit that this is only a sampling of my floral costume jewelry. Some is from Forever21 and an accessories store here in Australia. I am so glad that big rings are still in fashion, even though after the fad is long gone I will still be rockin’ it! It is nice to be over 30 and not care what people think about what I am wearing.

There are no soft muted nail polishes in this bunch. Garden colors should be vibrant. L to R Essie’s Watermelon, Eclipse in Purple, and OPI Banana Bandanna.

You can never have to many books about flowers. I started to collect these when I was 12 years old.

I have taken to wearing a hat when taking my son for a walk.

Fall into Spring

Spring into Fall

 

“Spring had come once more to Green Gables--the beautiful capricious,

reluctant Canadian spring, lingering along through April and May in a

succession of sweet, fresh, chilly days, with pink sunsets and miracles

of resurrection and growth.” – Anne of Green Gables

Here in Canberra, Australia, we are in Springtime while most of the world is enjoying the Fall season. I have to admit I am a bit envious. I love Fall. I love the smells, the colors and the weather. I woke up this morning determined to embrace Springtime down under.



I pulled my lightest and pinkest blouse to wear.

These are photos of my little boy at the Rose Gardens in Canberra this Spring.











     

Sunday's Child

Like two cathedral towers these stately pines
Uplift their fretted summits tipped with cones;
The arch beneath them is not built with stones,
Not Art but Nature traced these lovely lines,
And carved this graceful arabesque of vines;
No organ but the wind here sighs and moans,
No sepulchre conceals a martyr's bones.
No marble bishop on his tomb reclines.
Enter! the pavement, carpeted with leaves,
Gives back a softened echo to thy tread!
Listen! the choir is singing; all the birds,
In leafy galleries beneath the eaves,
Are singing! listen, ere the sound be fled,
And learn there may be worship with out words.
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I snapped this photo in the Garnison’s Kirkyard by my home when we were living in Copenhagen, Denmark. While it might be thought gruesome to push my baby’s pram there, it was quite acceptable in Copenhagen. This is a headstone marker for a pastor of a church. My favorite thing about this poem is the lines about how there may be worship without words. When I was an overwrought preteen, I found poetry as an emotional outlet. This was a poem I kept in my scriptures and I would read it on Sundays at church. It made me long to be outside and to be by myself. I found myself overshy and intimidated at church. Nowadays, I am busy chasing my son, who wants to escape the chapel and go outside. Sometimes I let him and I do not feel guilty one bit.

When I think of Sunday accessories, I think of things that the older women in my generation would have used. This is one of my old fashioned handbags that I love. The pink lipstick is an appropriate shade that keeps the women at church from frowning in disapproval. The pearl bead necklace was my great grandmother's and though it is not real, I love thinking of her when I wear it. She was a Greek immigrant and not wealthy, but she must have thought this necklace was worth something in memories.

I always have a book of poetry tucked in my purse or baby bag. One of my favorite poets is Emily Dickinson and I am drawn to her poetry on Sundays. Maybe because the cadence of her words are not hurried or heavy, but soft and slow, not unlike how I viewed Sundays when I was a child.

On Sundays, my parents were particular about what we could watch on the television. The Sound of Music was deemed worthy. It must have been the nuns that made it acceptable!!

Never a Ballerina....

That very night, I dreamed that I was a ballerina, and spent my whole life dancing like a butterfly, to the sounds of Tchaikovsky’s lovely music. – Anna Pavlova

When I was four years old, I had a few ballet lessons and then it ended when my family moved to Italy. I admired ballet dancers from afar. Also, with seven children in the family, money didn’t stretch far enough for lessons. I would daydream about wearing the shoes and the costumes from the Nutcracker. I saw my first professional ballet a few years ago. It was Romeo and Juliet at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow. One day I hope that I have a little girl, who might have an interest in ballet, but for now I am content with wrestling with my two year old son.
Enjoy the photo montage inspired by the ballet.

Here is a Mineralize Skinfish with the name Petticoat and a perfect pink lipstick names Rose Divine by Christian Dior. The eyeshadow is by Guerlain and gives the softest colors to your eyelids.


These are two pretty nail polishes by Essie: Adore A Ball and Pinking up the Pieces.


I love my ballet dancer pendant and my oversized butterfly ring. What can I say? I love bling.


I heart this tank top.


My little sister took this purse with her when she saw a performance at the Danish Ballet at the time she visited me in Copenhagen.

The perfume is by Michael Kors, called Very Hollywood. It smells like Spring, and I wear it all year round.

Seasonally Challenged

There's a certain slant of light,
On winter afternoons,
That oppresses, like the weight

Of cathedral tunes. - Emily Dickinson

I read in the Canberra Times a short while ago, that indicated that we are halfway thru the winter. Being new to Australia, I find myself at a bit confused by the seasons. Back home in Utah it is, in the 100's, gardens are blooming, and everyone is wearing the light weight clothing. It makes me a bit sad to look outside and see the dull, cold, wet, and gray day. I found that I needed to surround myself with the items that made me feel warm and cozy back in Utah, Denmark and Russia. The first thing I pulled out was a December issue of a Victoria Magazine and enjoyed the view of the following pictures.



My next action was to put one of my favorite movies on the television. It is based on a Thomas Hardy novel called, "Under the Greenwood Tree". It stars Keeley Haws, of "Wives and Daughters" movie fame. She plays a teacher will many romantic possibilities in a small English village. Throughout the movie, a greenwood tree is shown in different parts of nature's seasons. Unlike most Thomas Hardy novels, this story has a happy ending. It is a movie which will make you sigh. Now I must adorn myself to finish off the feel of winter in August. Here is my red mod style coat that I love probably a little too much.


Dark jewelry made with marcasite is something I collect.
I love the holiday packaging of cosmetics, there is my Chanel smoky eye compact and the nail polish is Rouge Noir. I must be channeling the 1920's with these colors.