My goodness it's cold tonight and I'm tucked up nice and warm with the wood burner glowing and a few candles alight and a couple of the dogs by my side on the sofa! It's been trying to snow today and definitely not a day for being out of doors so it was a quick muck-out for the horses and feeding of chickens and back into the warm. I love snow and the silence it brings and was hopeful of a quite a lot but as normal we had just a few flurries. I think further up country the snow has been laying.
Christmas has come and gone and all that planning and anticipation with it! I have to say that this year was not one of the most enjoyable and for many different reasons so I am looking forward to the coming year with a view to changing a few things. It won't be major stuff just a few things to make me feel comfortable and more in control about certain situations in my life! Perhaps it's just the time of year as I usually feel a bit flat just after Christmas...well we will see! Roll on Easter I say, it's my most favourite celebration as well as all the anticipation of Spring and Summer. I been checking out a few of my favourite flower websites to get me in the mood and David Austin Roses is one of them.
This picture is taken from the David Austin catalogue. Isn't she beautiful? She is called St.Cecilia and I first saw her at the Country Living show in November. I thought she was peony at first as her petals were so tightly compacted but after chatting with the helpful lady on the stand, I realised that she was in fact a rose. I think it is a must for one of my borders this coming summer.
Sarah Raven's Perch Farm is also quite close-by to where I live and I have been taking note of the opening days for her garden and I see also that there is a food market on these days. These dates are going into the diary! This is one of my resolutions, to write everything in the diary! So often I see something I want to do and then promptly forget about it! Hopefully this will rectify matters! There are lots of unusual seeds and flowers on her website so well worth a look if you favour the slightly more unusual in the garden! I quite like the look of her selection of seed potatoes although I still think I will grow my organic Colleen!
This is a picture of my garden last winter and a reminder of the snow that we had!
I guess there's still time!
What a lovely place you live in. That front door is so pretty. I often feel a bit "deflated" after christmas too, not always but sometimes and I certainly have this year so although I adore Christmas, I am glad that it is all over for now and I look forward to the exciting changes that the new year may bring. So you have horses? We have been thinking about the possibility of getting one this year. It's a little bit daunting and its not 100% yet. We are learning as much as we can first. I am also thinking of the garden already and what changes I am going to make there as last summer was our first summer in this little house and some things were planted in rush. Hope the new year brings you all you want and more!
Posted by: kelly | January 04, 2008 at 08:24 PM
Looking at gardening catalogs this time of year is such a perfect activity. I love the St. Cecelia roses.
I do some minor gardening here in Tucson but am not as into it as I was at home in the South. It's hard for me to get excited about the desert plants but I do have some roses, lavender, Thompson seedless grapevines, and a few other things that bring me joy. When we move back home to the South, I plan to grow all the things I love again--like peonies.
Posted by: June | January 05, 2008 at 01:31 PM
Hi Jane
A very Happy New Year to you! I have just lit our woodburner and am about to settle in front of it with a cup of tea and a slice of Christmas cake - yes, there's still a little bit left!
What a beautiful rose. I have a very old one in the garden which was a cutting taken from one in my mum's garden before she moved. It dates to around 1950. It has the same tightly layered petals and is a gorgeous pink - the perfume is wonderful!
I hope you have a really great 2008 - and yes, roll on Spring!
Clare x
Posted by: Clare | January 06, 2008 at 04:15 PM
It is cold, isn't it? We did have some snow but nothing worth noting as it was gone within a day. I love snowy days where everything is quiet and muffled, but bright too. The light changes completely. Can't you tell I was a snow-baby!
Hope you have a fantastic 2008 :)
Posted by: Tash | January 07, 2008 at 07:05 PM
Happy New Year Jane. I think I am just getting over the same flu bug you had before Christmas. I have never felt so poorly. It's a stinker isn't it?
Those roses are just too delicious for words and yes I would have thought they were peonies too!
Hope 2008 is a good one for you honey :-)
Posted by: donna | January 07, 2008 at 07:24 PM
Happy New Year to you! Those roses are a dredam...what a sight for winter-sore eyes! Your snow-sugar-frosted garden does look pretty, though. Still, it is too cold...I'm trying to think spring thought :o) Wishing you all the best in 2008--love, blessings, peace and JOY! ((hugs))
Posted by: Tracy | January 08, 2008 at 12:45 PM
I wish you a very Happy New Year, Jane! Your snow covered garden is lovely - here's hoping we both get a little snow before the winter is over! We've been having lots of rain here (as I've heard you've been having). It's just cold, damp, wet and rainy most of the time. At least it's woodstove time! =)
Posted by: beachy | January 15, 2008 at 12:01 AM
Hi Jane
Happy New Year! I have the David Austin rose book and dream of having an old-fashioned rose garden. I think that St Cecilia would be perfect in your garden.
Keep warm and enjoy planning for the spring ~ it will be here before you know it.
Marie x
Posted by: Wild Rose | January 17, 2008 at 10:19 PM