Hello there!
Following on from last week’s knitting sampler, I was going to show you my Mum’s embroidery sampler today. But I’m keeping that for later.
Instead, I’m taking you along to a Pick-Your-Own flower garden. It’s just outside our village – 10 minutes cycling at most. You can borrow a spare bicycle, if you like. All we need to do is adjust the saddle to your height and we’re good to go.
Through the tunnel underneath the ring road, left and left again and we’re in a lane leading past several farms.
A short stop to say hello to a few grazing cows. Hello girls!
Hop on again, cycle two minutes more, and we’re there.
‘Have a nice day’, the sign says. ‘Open 24/7’. And ‘Relax’ and ‘Enjoy’, too. And that’s exactly what we’re here for – to just relax and enjoy this beautiful spot for a few moments.
The owner comes up, apologizing that there isn’t very much to pick anymore at the end of Summer. I reassure her that it’s fine. We don’t need a huge bunch of flowers. Just being here is a treat in itself. And I can see that there are enough flowers left for a posy.
Besides, there are loads of ornamental gourds as well.
Displayed so attractively. And so many different shades, shapes and sizes.
Basking in the sun, on the very last day of Summer, the garden is filled with butterflies…
…bees and buzzing.
I can feel my heart-rate slowing down already – just what I need.
For me, it works like this: For a while I’m chugging along nicely. Then work/life gets busier, I speed up, am immensely productive for a while and think I’m doing great. But I start forgetting to take breaks, to exercise, and to relax intentionally in the evenings. And suddenly I’m not feeling so great anymore.
It’s an old familiar pattern. Nowadays, it usually isn’t too long before I recognize it, fortunately. And I’m better at thinking of ways to slow down again than I used to be.
So, that’s why we’re here in this PYO garden today. Let’s enjoy it a little more.
Everything shows that a lot of loving care and attention has gone into the garden. It’s not just the flowers and plants. Hidden between them are a few lovely surprises, too. Like this adorable chicken.
Well, it’s time to head for the wooden shed, where the secateurs, the guest book and the money tin are. It’s painted black as many traditional outbuildings around here are.
Inside, the same loving care as in the garden is apparent. It’s in the small, whimsical details.
Now, let’s hurry home, before the flowers wilt. I’ll quickly put them in a vase and put the kettle on. I hope you have time for a cuppa? I’d like to show you something else I did to slow down and relax – I cast on a simple pair of socks.
For me, sock knitting is one of the most relaxing things to do, especially using self-striping yarn.
I’m making these for a friend’s Birthday in early October. I haven’t knit with this yarn before and am not entirely convinced it’s suitable for socks, although it is sold as sock yarn. It’s Rellana Flotte Socke ‘Ariana’ – a single ply yarn with ticker and thinner (some really, really thin) bits here and there. Very soft and slightly fuzzy.
I’m giving it a try because of the beautiful colours. Time will tell if it’s a wise decision. My friend won’t mind being a guinea pig, I’m sure. If the socks shrink and felt, I’ll knit her another pair (or two).
Well, that’s all for today. Thank you for visiting. And with everything that’s happening in the world right now and alongside everything else you’re doing, please remember to rest, relax, knit (if you’re a knitter), and look for things to enjoy.
Hello Marijke,
your name keeps me thinking of the famous song by Jaques Brel — the German singer Klaus Hoffmann sings it in his language, too), is yours a different name or is it just the spelling?
Anyways, I always loved it…
Finally, I wantesd to send you a huge “thank you” for your blog and the posts, all of them!
They are so inspiring and I keep telling myself, that I should comment about it, but life seems to be getting into the way all the time.
Today I took your words to heart and decided to rest a bit and just enjoy things.
Thank you so much for the reminder and your uplifting and thoughtful posts.
All the best – von ganzem Herzen
Ah, yes, Jacques Brel’s lovely ‘Ay, Marieke, Marieke’. I don’t know the German version – I’ll look it up. In a way it’s the same name: both are variations on Mary or Maria. But mine is pronounced differently. I think a German speaker would pronounce it Mareike, an English person something like Maraikah. And thank you for your really, really lovely comment. It means a lot to me.
Thank you, Marijke.
What a lovely way to greet me in the morning. The flora and fauna are beautiful and seeing the colorful cosmos reminds me to pick up some seeds for planting amongst my veggies this season. I usually have nasturtiums, California poppies, sweet peas and cosmos, but am out of sweet pea and cosmos seeds. I saved seeds from the others from last season.
I am just starting my garden after the hot Summer hiatus and seeing your photos reminds me how special life is and how I, too, need to take time to relax and enjoy.
I am also going to try knitting my first pair of socks this season. Wish me luck.
Now for my morning cup of coffee and some early knitting.
Take care.
Tory
Your gardening plans sound great. I hope the weather in your part of the world will cool down soon. Good luck with your socks!
Lovely, lovely, lovely! Thank you! I love spending time with you.
You’re more than welcome, as always!
Lovely! Thank you for taking us with you.
I’m starting my second pair of socks today.
And thank you for coming along. Happy sock knitting!
Once again, you’ve made such a pleasurable moment for us.
Thank you! As the Dutch saying goes: Gedeelde vreugd is dubbele vreugd. (A joy shared is a joy doubled.)
Beautiful photos, lovely flowers, wise words. I look forward to your posts every week, Marijke. I also bought a ball of self-striping wool this week to try knitting a pair of socks. Looking forward to reading about your post about your mother’s embroidery sampler. Have a relaxing weekend
I’m taking photographs of the embroidery sampler today. The coming week is going to be another busy week – hope I can find the time to write up the post. Thank you for another lovely comment. It means a lot to me that people are actually reading my musings. A good weekend to you too, and happy sock knitting!
Lieve Marijke,
Je neemt me bijna lètterlijk mee met de zeer prettige sfeer en toon in je posts.
Even weg en meereizen in jouw leven. Fijn!
Liefs, Mariek
Ha, wat fijn dat je er weer bij bent. Als we niet in het echt samen kunnen zijn, dan maar virtueel, hè? Een goede week gewenst!
Such a lovely read! Since I love to garden, I chose this post as my first, and what a treat! I look forward to reading the others, and I already know that I shall savor every word.
Thank you for helping my day get off to a pleasant start, Marijke!
Hi! How lovely to see you here! Thank so much for your kind words. If you’d like to read a little more about gardens (our own garden), you could click on the tag ‘garden’ on the right-hand side of my website. Just scroll down until you see the word ‘tags’. There is a ‘word cloud’ underneath it, where you’ll find the word ‘garden’.