Villandry Garden of Love

http://testvillandry.ecritel.net/

This is one of the places I dream to visit.

Peter Paul Rubens' Garden of Love

William Blake's Garden of Love

Garden of Love

I've been thinking about the Garden of Love today, as I was digging in my garden. Making a garden is a labour of love, and love, like a garden, must be nurtured and tended to. It was hard work with the pick, and as I turned over the soil and pulled out broken roots and rhizomes, I alternated through various states of presence and reverie. When working with a pick, you must always try and be present. They are such heavy tools. If not mindful of its weight, of the heaviness of it in your hands, and it is very easy to hurt oneself. So most of the time I was very present, and because of this I lost track of time. The first photo shows the outcome of my labours. A garden bed that is almost ready for planting. The second photo shows what was there before. I'm not sure what sort of plants they were, but they weren't very beautiful. The earth was full of their rhizomes, and I'm hoping that they do not reappear! I plan to plant a Weeping Cherry, that will grow heavy with snowy blossoms in the spring. Also some Azaleas. I had originally thought that Alba Azeleas would be lovely, with their crisp white flowers, but today I saw an Azelea that had soft pinky-lavender flowers that was just beautiful. So perhaps I'll do a mixture.

Love, like gardening, takes effort. To start afresh, requires thoughtful reflection of what was before, and why it wasn't working, why it had to change. Gardening like love can be satisfying, and if our garden is beautiful, then we may find that our ego attaches to it.

If our garden is edible, then there is a different pleasure that we derive from our garden. A hark back to a more self sufficient way of living, perhaps? A sense of connectedness to the earth, maybe? Despite gardens and lovers, we are ultimately just who we are.

Wednesday Market at Mornington

It was a beautiful day in Mornington - the sun was shining and the stall holders were jovial. Sophia chose a pair of rose quartz and girasol crystals to take for show 'n' tell at childcare on Friday. We have Alice the bear with us this week, so we had to do something adventurous today!

Elara Claire - born 7th October 2009

My little star, my divine baby Elara.

Elara - a Greek mythology name. A lover of Zeus who gave birth to a giant son. The name of one of Jupiter's moons.

Claire - French variation of Clare. Latin for 'bright'. Luminous, simple and strong.

Made with Love

I have a dream that one day I will open a shop dedicated to love, wherein people with loving hearts will be able to find the perfect gift for those they love. Romantic love. Platonic love. Baby love.

My shop would be called "Made with Love" and it would have a special exhibition space attached to it where artists interested in themes of love, including love lost, could exhibit their works.

In the shop itself, I would have a beautiful but select range of sensual fragrances and body lotions, locally made jewellery, prints, cards, lingerie...

A dream to dream a little longer.

Handorf Chocolates...

Today Sophia and I went for a walk to a little chocolate shop near home. I bought 3 lovely Easter eggs and a small packet of truffles for tonight. It is such a gorgeous little shop and I thoroughly enjoyed my cafe latte and complimentary truffle!

Sophia Grace - born 7th November 2006

Insightful reading...

There are quite a few interesting books that have been inspiring me of late...

• How to have a Beautiful Mind by Edward de Bono
• Coach Yourself: It's your life, what are you going to do with it? by Anthony Grant, and
• Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart: Thirty True Things you need to Know Now by Gordon Livingstone

Each one has some really interesting insights about how to relate better to others and also how to better understand ones self.