That's the way the water trickles....

Everyone knows the saying 'it never rains, but pours'! Well, here's a whole new connotation to that as well as to the one that goes .... 'water, water everywhere!" (it actually continues, '...and not a drop to drink'! Well, not totally the truth - but, really, would you drink the water off the floor??!)  Wasn't, moi... I swear, my husband swears it wasn't him either.  But... when the hot water tap in the main bathroom 'dripped' (was that running?)  long enough - somehow, who can tell...the plug sort of floated off the basin edge and plugged up the drain.  Water, naturally, started to accumulate, steadily overflowed and spread hungrily acoss the bathroom floor, out through the doorway and eventually, all over the bedroom laminate!

There really was, water everwhere!  End result is, the floor has been replaced (with a much better quality one and in a colour, I now much prefer, even though I had chosen the original one too!)  The silky carpet -thank goodness is washable... but, it did shrink a tad.  (Water was hot, you see!) End of the water saga....

Except, it isn't really.  Or rather, not altogether! Now we have moved on - to installing the water feature  (I have only waited to have this done - for about 3 years!)  in the front garden.

Episode 2:  The bowl is visually not standing completely horizontal - so insert bits of broken floor tile.  Aha, bowl is now perfect.  But now.... the huge vase is listing to one side, much the same as the Leaning Tower of Pisa!  Well, alright, husband now inserts, more  bits of broken tile... and voila the Vase is finally standing more upright - and the water flows gently over the edge of the container quite evenly  (now) over the lovely curves of the Vase, down into the bowl. 

It may not be technically correct all this - but the electrical cord is at least buried in a pipe (that part is correct!) and is hidden under the paving bricks which were painstakingly removed and replaced - surprisingly neatly!  (This part is also correct - yay!)  Tile insert procedure,  to correct "leaning tendancies" of said water feature - not quite correct (I am sure! ) But, it is looking beautiful, inviting guests up the path to enter the Tea Parlour and slip back in time, into a much gentler period. 

Who am I to criticise - I am just grateful, this trickle is entering the bowl, and being pumped back up again to commence a repeat performance of trickling over the side again, and again, and ......  At least, no flooding will occur this time round.... (Still, I do maintain .... the original trickle 'originator" of aforesaid incident - it was not I!)

Conclusively though, my observation confirms that there really is a very definative difference between 'uncontrolled' water running, and 'controlled' water overflow.... Hmmm?

I felt my Heart Soar...!

Today, the sun is gently warmer - still cool in the shadow's but the sharp nip in the air has been tamed.  I hung my washing with a lift in my spirits - and feel that Spring is truly just around the corner!  I have had the sprinkler on and moved it from time to time from one bed to another.  I just know that the Inca lilies and the butterfly bushes are thanking me!  I shall soon see their lovely blooms thrusting up above the green patches of leaves I was so generously watering today.  I am determined to sweep away all cobwebs of doubt and negativity from my life as Spring approaches.  In my soul, I know as she approaches, she brings with her new Life, Hope and the promise of Happiness.  To be one of the 'advantaged' I need to be open to receiving her with just the right frame of mind.
I watch the little lizard's darting about amongst my Fairy village, in my Rockery Island, like benign dragons.  They perch themselves upon the higher rock edges to sun themselves, turning first this way - then the other, and I can smile, because I think even they feel the promise of tomorrow.  Each day is a new day - and each day offers us new beginnings - but somehow - the approach of Spring, offers an abundance of new beginnings like no other season does! 
I welcome Spring this year with a new heart (Literally, since it is on the 26th of his month that I suffered my two heart attacks, exactly one year ago!)  I never thought I'd be so full of Life, so much more adventurous and so much more determined to make my Life matter!  I am filled with Joy, and feel totally released in the aftermath of a tragedy, into a resurgence of Life - bursting with eagerness!  Life moves in cycles, we just need to cultivate a tenacity and patience to wait out the difficulties so that we can embrace the Blessings!

A Step into the Past...

The 'unexpected visit to the doctor's' (ending in the forced wearing of bandages,) - 'relocated' (somewhat abruptly,)  a proposed Hostessing of a Victorian Tea right out of my Tea Parlour!  The group of Ladies felt it would not be kind to allow me to have to serve them Tea, (as well as having to Bake for them!) under the 'sad' conditions.... So, alternative arrangements saw us pay a visit to a Victorian House Museum, instead. 

I was not complaining.  It was a visit - which on a previous occasion - I had had to forgo!

A number of years ago -the Quilter's group I belonged to at that time, paid a visit to "Lindfield House" -  But, I was ill that day, so I did not have the pleasure.  I suppose, in retrospect - I could have gone on my own at any given time after that day.. But, it is never the same is it?  Always a fun thing to do, when you can share side comments and enthusiasm and passion about something with others of like-mind, isn't it??

Dressed as near as possible to 'Victorian'  (not difficult, actually since all things Victoriana live in our stores again!!).   I was dressed, indeed - as a very much more Modern Victorian - with pretty finger-less black lace gloves added to 'embellish' the said tragic bandages - 'Tea and a Tour' at Lindfield was an experience I was determined to enjoy.  And, so I did...!

Katherine Love, is the third generation of the family to inhabit the sprawling 22-roomed Herbert Baker designed house.  She lives and breathes Victorian charm, gentility and authenticity into your 'step back into the past'!  Choosing to dress and assume the part of a Parlour-maid, who appears at once both retiring - as well as efficient in manner;  Katherine walks you through time as you meander in and out of the eerily furnished rooms!   One almost expects to hear the voices of those who may just have left the self-same rooms only just seconds before  you are entering them!

I was able to indulge every fibre of my being and Romanticise away,  to my heart's content!  The ambiance of the house, the smallest of details right down to the Victorian Ladies' Newspaper in the main bedroom's verandah alcove - where the Lady of the House would perhaps have received a Lover (if she had one!) to the boiling urn in the kitchen, together with the delightfully light scones the 'Parlourmaid" set before us for tea, to the musty quiet and bookish smell permeating the Library - it all spoke such volumes to my soul.  I simply lost myself (very happily!) to that 'other time'. 

Sheer bliss for my writer's self ... I do declare!  My soul felt f-e-d!

Now... before I do get so carried away 'with the fairies' that there is little hope to retrieve my senses ever again - I am quite aware that not everyone thinks this to be so wonderful.  However,  even those Ladies in our party, who perhaps but for my suggestion, had had no intention of ever visiting Lindfield, had to agree that the experience had been worthwhile. 

I am perfectly as modern in my outlook on Life  as the next person - having grown up in the liberal 60's and 70's ! (It is my 'Nurtured half" which begs this intrusion and   'immersion'  into the past.)  I ache for a return of some things from the past - I do!  Let's be honest here and face facts.  There is a part of modern society that is brashly wanting of even the smallest modicum of all gentility of late - and 'visiting the past' makes it all the more starkly  obvious - and still I hanker for it.

There is nothing sacred in the 21st century - and that is a little sad.  The comparison for me would be like comparing a Lady who wears a pretty garment, and flashes a little bare skin (in just the right quantity) to entice one to look at her more closely - as opposed to someone who is starkly naked and has bared all (including the contents of her empty soul and mind) for all to see.  One can only find it all lacking in taste, somehow!......Give me Victoriana and my spirit soars!