My back door is really where everyone enters, so it's there I've stuck my bay-leaf Christmas wreath. A bit amateur, not much bling...
...but bling would fade quickly here. I have to introduce you to the third party in our playtime, as yet un-named. Did I say 'playtime'?
Sad as it seems, unemployment is my preferred state, or, to be more accurate, my default state. There was once a time when bookselling mattered everything to me. I worked for many years at the first children's bookshop to have been opened in Australia, in 1960:
The Little Bookroom. It was regarded as one of the best in the world, and it's still going well, under new owners. I loved it immensely, despite the hard work, and I had no plan to get ahead of it, for I was already where I wanted to be.
But here am I now, fluffing about all day, making vases of flowers, parenting a kitten and a doggy. Here, in Melbourne today, after a couple of days of cold and heavy downpours, it's been 20 degrees ( my favourite degrees ), the sun has been beautiful, there's been no wind, and I know I really don't care very much about what they call working, though I'm not supposed to say that, and in truth, I have been 'working', in my own way...
...just as whatshername is.
It's not much. I can't pretend to be a gardener of repute. Mostly, days in the garden are a sort of mucking- about thing I do because it's about all I CAN do. Why is it, that among all the people I know, I am the one who's failed most successfully to have anything like a normal life? Who is missing some sort of ruthless ambition? Who's been blessed with the chance to play? For play is essential for life, isn't it? I played about with some flowers on a door-step today, one of only a handful of skills I possess...
...apart from dog-loving. Zara and Our New Kitten are hitting it off wonderfully. Oh, these little things, they mean more to me than being rich or being someone or being noticed.
Not every day, of course, is as easy as this. Ever since, as a little boy, I used to bring my mother home flowers I'd picked, I feel a certain path was already laid out...
...life isn't always about being right or being on top, or being enviable. It's just about BEING. Our puss-cat with the mauve-olive eyes and a rubber ball to toss about, would totally agree. It's about BEING and it's about being happy, even if there aren't any consequences.
I couldn't agree more.
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DeleteSo distracted I was by the end of your post that I forgot to mention how lovely your wreath is. The only bay leaves seen in my part of the world are rather dry and dull looking.
ReplyDeleteYour newest family member is sweet.
The bay tree is looking so well - new growth all over - but we've had a wonderful winter/spring. I feel I don't really have any handicraft skills, but we have to do something, huh, to wake the dead, I mean, liven things up...
Deleteyes, our little pussy cat is charming. Thank you.
I would not mind doing nothing in 20 degrees. Finest temp around I agree. Love the bay leaves wreath!
ReplyDeleteVous etes mon ami, Roger. All day, it should always be like this, easy.
ReplyDeleteI like your bay leaf wreath. I like simple. It looks like a nice day to putter and play around. We are out of school because of ice and snow. Our small southern city is pretty much at a stand still. Enjoy your time. I think you have a good handle on what is important in life. Bonnie
ReplyDeleteThank you Bonnie for what you've said. Stand still must be nice, in its way, a chance to take stock. I hope you have a marvelous Christmas my friend!
DeleteYour bay leaf wreath is nicely done and it will dry very well in place. My bay tree needs to get a bit bigger before I can give that a try. Your new kitten is adorable.
ReplyDeleteShirley, this year the weather's been unusually benevolent - apart from the odd wind-storm! Our bay tree is looking splendid. It's one of those plants, that at its best, epitomizes good health. I'll let my kitten know she's adorable!
DeleteDear Faisal,
ReplyDeleteYour bay leaf wreathe is fab! I really like that as an idea. We have a large bay tree in our garden in Melbourne and I think it makes the prefect solution to use its leaves, given that Christmas in Australia is warm.
I like the look of your new kitten. She needs an elegant name to go with that elegant tail of hers!
Dear Kirk, the little kitty-cat is called Biscuit, who'd become mine if all else fails. She and Zara play chasey EVERYWHERE, share food bowls and seem to be able to rough it up remorselessly with no-one getting hurt.
DeleteThank you for the compliment. Bay trees can be so handsome, let alone useful. Cheers Kirk!
Faisal, you have a lovely talent for putting things together - flowers, greenery, your blog posts. Always gentle, always interesting, the world could do with a bit more of this.
ReplyDeleteI don't know, Carol...there really is a lot of beauty in the world, and I'm lucky to witness it.
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