Those of you who have been reading and following for some time know I live in a teeny tiny house with a teeny tiny outside space that I have over four summers experimented with. First I planted some climbers and perennials in the sour and empty soil. I buried garden waste for a year, planted lavender, thyme, mint, parsley and other herbie type things and watched as over a year everything began to grow at a rate of knots.
Then last summer I decided to grow my own vegetables and turned the teeny-tiny courtyard into a salad lovers nirvana. Everything grew extremely well but I had nowhere to sit and enjoy the lovely summery days and evenings.
As I live a stones throw from the best farmers market in the country with a full and exciting complement of organic vegetables, this year I decided to claim back the space and make myself a lovely outside room for the wonderful summer, which I am told, is about to descend on the southern hemisphere.
This is my aspirational picture:
Now I know I can’t have much of what is going on in there – the courtyard is half this width to start with – nor do I want to spend the summer heaving myself up and down off the ground – but the colour and the texture and the ‘come hither’ vibe is what I’m going after.
As Robbie Burns so famously said
“The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft a-gley.”
Hey-ho!!
The garden was left to wither and fester and give up the ghost over the long hard winter not yet entirely passed, so that the spring clean would be a bit of a doddle. [Throw in another ‘Hey-ho!’ if you feel so inclined round about here.]
I bought six super large trash cans, thew away the lids and planned to fill them with my super composted soil and distribute said trash cans tilled with super soil on top of the other grey concreted areas surrounding my teeny tiny house and introducing some much desired green into my daily viewing pleasure.
Working in this teeny tiny space was tantamount to trying to do jumping jacks in an outhouse
That photo was taken the day I started work.
The plan – have I told you yet? – was to remove all the built up gardens and make more space for a larger table and four chairs and just to have the newly potted jasmine and some smaller pots of colour and maybe a few cloths and dangly things and some bright coloured cushions on top of some new chairs and don’t forget a nice new table with maybe a pretty lacy cloth draped beguilingly over it …….
The rusty old fence would be painted in a fetching shade of blue-green and the concrete slabs power blasted clean and maybe painted a fetching brownish-greyish shade to ground everything. The magnificent Boston Ivy would be cut back severely and put in a tub. The magnificent jasmine would be encouraged to keep as many of her tendrils as possible and would also be tubbed. The rest would be sacrificed to make way for smaller, tidier, newer and more colourful pots of flowers.
A word about the trash can utilisation – are you curious? Trash cans are affordable – clay pots the size I need are not. Trash cans also keep the soil damper than clay pots which are inclined to dry out quickly in the heat. Holes are drilled around the sides, about 30 – 50 cm from the bottom, depending on the kind of plants that are going in. Then pebbles are poured into the can, up to the hole height. This is the water catchment area. Excess water drains out the holes. Fill up with soil and good compost and plant away. It worked a treat for me last year, though I was using smaller tubs rather than trash cans, but the principle is the same. Place smaller tubs in front for maximum disguise and over plant for maximum effect.
This was the scene after four months of zero sun in this courtyard and constant rain and icy temperatures. All that is alive is my hardy and much loved jasmine and a rather bedraggled and woody lavender.
A month later it looked like this
And I’d hit the wall – the built-up garden was maybe a metre smaller than before, the six trash cans were all filled with rich black soil, planted up with native shrubs and some petunias and lobelia and lined up outside the kitchen door, where in time to come they will offer me a nice screen between my kitchen exit and my neighbours front door.
Black garden bags were filled with the dead and dying – the aged garden furniture was designated new status as pot holders, every available container was planted up with a mixture of pansies, lobelia and petunias and random self sewn herbs and vegetables from last season.
Three more trash cans had been purchased, filled with soil and heaved on top of the remaining garden beds, because there is nowhere else to put the unwanted dirt.
I’ve realised that my original scheme is going to require some creative thinking. So far I have images from the movie ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ going round and round in my head. This requires me to pour a trowel full of soil into my pockets, and every morning as Siddy and I wander through the green and leafy surrounds of our park, to shake said soil loose and leave it there. I’ll have the remainder of these built up gardens gone in about half a century I guesstimate.
But, never give up, never say die! In the meantime while I work away on that plan, here is what I’ve come up with for this summer:
What you can’t see from the above photo is that the trash cans are planted up. There is a Meyer lemon, a Papa Meilland rose and a winter flowering Viburnum; each one surrounded by hanging petunias and lobelias and pansies – come Christmas it should be a riot of colour, a sensation of scents and all the plastic containers will be invisible.
Except I bought $12 plastic chairs. Not knowing yet if I can remove the remaining built up soil without the rusty old iron fence falling down or the old brick wall at the back toppling over, I thought it best to hold off on my super-dooper wrought iron bohemian style table and chairs this year and make do……. and these are surprisingly comfy.
This is my chair – that’s my book keeping it safe for me.
The heat pump engine is mostly hidden beneath a bench which holds all the pots that are coming on as replacements as required. It also holds a sun-drenched corner kept especially clear so one pampered kitty can stretch out and get his daily dose of vitamin D.
Siddy has claimed his chair
It’s a work in progress and all I can say is that one of the blessings of living in a teeny tiny house with a teeny tiny courtyard is that one spends a great deal of creative time making things work. This courtyard works as long as no more than three people and a puppy and a cat are here at any one time. Although, if you fancy dropping by, we could squeeze a fourth onto the step if pushed – there’s a spare cushion. 🙂
And I’m sorry if you came by looking for the give-away – it will be up in a few days. Promise.
And for all Siddy’s fans, here’s a smile especially for you
Isn’t he just gorgeous?
Thanks for coming by today, I love that you did!
This is gorgeous, Pauline. I loved reading about the not-so teeny tiny makeover of your teeny-tiny courtyard. It sounds like it is still a work in progress so I look forward to further updates. The before and after (as well as the goal) pics are amazing. It looks like a lovely place to sit and read. I hope you have been doing lots of that! Enjoy.
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Oh, you’re a miracle-worker! I always admired how you’ve made the inside of your home so colourful and homely, but now you’ve done it outside, too. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. Wishing you many happy summer evenings sitting out there reading or crocheting.
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Pauline, you mentioned several times that you had a tiny courtyard which didn’t give you much room to garden but I had no idea just how tiny it really was until now. I really like what you are doing in that space. Placing planters up on levels to grow and fill in will give you so much more privacy and it will be a breath of fresh air, literally, to sit out there during the summer months and feel you are away from every one.
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It is tiny isn’t it – I realised most didn’t really understand how tiny even though I once gave the measurements 🙂 I guess it’s hard to get your head around. I am having moments to enjoy it very much now the weather seems to have settled for us.
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Never say die indeed! Pauline, I would be absolutely delighted to sit in your beautiful garden with you. I’ve lost homes, rented homes, lived in tiny places with teeny gardens, and I’ve always believed that wherever we go, we can make any space as magical and gorgeous as you’ve done here with a healthy dose of imagination and creativity, both of which you clearly posses. Siddy’s face says it all! Have pots (or trash cans as the case may be) will travel, right? Lovely post, just what I needed to read today…thank you 🙂 ❤
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Yes – that is it entirely – Have pots will travel! Or stay – whatever arises! 🙂 Thanks for coming by xoxo
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Ohlalalala, look at what you did with that lovely little court yard. It is beautiful and to be honest much better than the inspirational photo. I love to read the whole story and see the end result. Green fingers, so clever with using the most of the space available and a lovely beauty for a dog friend: multitalented I’d say! Thnak you ofr sharing, xo Johanna
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Thank you for coming by Johanna, it is a work in progress and may yet end up looking slightly more blingy…. 🙂
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Hi Pauline (I’m waving feverishly) way yonder there in amongst the flowers. Hard to believe this is your spring garden. Yowzer, things do grow fast there. I’m a big fan of petunia too, since they perform well all summer. I planted Orangey/Coral this year with bright orange and pink geraniums. Ka-Pow! I loved all the colour. You and Marlene could be completely dangerous given unlimited garden space. It would be Eden in no time. I do love the colour of the trash bins you bought too, very clever substitute. My favourite pots last year were self-watering. I’d fill a small hole in the bottom, the plants seemed to love being watered from below.
Oh the smell of Jasmine must be heavenly all summer! Yet another thing we can’t over winter in our climate, drats. Young Mr Siddy is so irresistible, it’s had to imagine how you get anything done at all. What a silly grin he’s giving you, like when we’re kids and someone tells you to “say cheese” LOL. Sending lots of love. xo K
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That sounds like a lovely bright colour selection Boomdee – My plan was to stay mostly with blues and purples with patches of yellow and red tossed in – but many of the petunias grew up pink! So pink and blue and purple it is! I found last season my garden seemed to appreciate very much the water below scenario too – it makes sense when you think about it. Unfortunately the jasmine takes a bit of a break after this initial burst. It will be quiet over December and January and burst forth again in late summer. It often blooms for a great part of winter too which I really appreciate, takes a small break in late winter, early spring and starts all over again 🙂 I’m going to plant another one to climb over my car port.
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Pink and Purple sounds perfectly youthful and that suits you. Whenever I see red and purple together, it reminds me of the Red Hat Society. Do you have them in New Zealand? It’s a group of senior ladies who wear red hats to their social events. (type Red Hat Society into Google Images)
You’re whole house will smell like Jasmine when you open the windows! I’m so envious. xo K
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Wow, I loved your aspirational picture and your final space is, dare I say it, even better (as you say, all those pillows to get up from and to cart back in every evening…). It all looks really good and comfortable and enjoyable. I nice little haven! I think I’ve got you back in my reader again! It’s funny you’ve been working on getting the garden upend running and I’ve been working on closing mine down! Siddy has quite a grin. I almost didn’t believe it.
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I love seeing the opposites happening – it reminds me the world is a big place full of many different experiences. Blogging brings us together in a way nothing else ever has before. Penpals on steroids 🙂
You might see several comments where I’ve tried to explain Siddy’s smile – he has it down to a fine art now and turns it on whenever he wants treats or attention. It works quite well for him 🙂
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I think the idea he has learned it is a little frightening. What else might he do? Smiling, he looks a little bit like Billy Connolly. You’d better watch the little guy or he’ll go on a comedy tour!
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What you on? If I cross my eyes and stick my tongue out just so, I can maybe just see a teeny hint ……
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lol. It’s the coloring.
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Pauline, so surprised to see the finished product! Time has flown and uou worked miracles, my dear. ♡
The flowers are so pretty and colorful, all in bloom. The photo is Siddy, looking proper was adorable and his smile very cute and funny. I like the way he looks expectant of more good things like a kid on Christmas morn. 🙂
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Thank you Robin – the flowers have grown very well, I bought half of them quite a while back and they have had lots of time to grow big and strong. You are correct – Siddy believes only good things come to him and he is constantly waiting for the next good thing 🙂 Like walks and treats ……..
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What a saga this is turning into–and you tell the story so well! I like that you’re so creative and that you’re willing to completely re-think things as you go. You really have a green thumb–I can’t believe how lush the plants are! And look at the funny pup smile! Cats tend not to smile, I’ve noticed . .
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I was momentarily crushed when I realised that soil wasn’t going to be all gone in half a dozen trash cans and two days Kerry – my ability to measure volume is obviously way off beam! My daughter said to me, it can still be done, it will just take a bit longer… she is very wise. I was just saying to another comment that we think Siddy has learnt how to smile by observing our response to him. He gets happy and excited when we laugh as he thinks he makes that happen. We smile at him all the time and he has learnt to soften his face and show his teeth and wait for good things to happen – they usually do 🙂 His natural happy face is different, he has a big open doggie smile when life is good and wonderful…..
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That courtyard has come up a treat! So pretty and inviting 😍. Siddy’s smile is adorable x
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We think Siddy has learnt how to smile from observing us. When we smile we show our teeth and our faces relax – and he has learnt to do this too – he does it when he wants something…….. He will come and sit in front of me and put on his smiley face and blink and tilt his head and wait – until he gets what he wants. Works a treat for him, so why not! 🙂
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My goodness he is a clever one 🙂 as well as adorable lol
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Trash cans are a great idea, I’m going to need some big pots for the hydrangeas I’ve grown from cutting this year and was concerned enough pots would be wildly expensive. Will go out see what else I can find. Lovely to see Siddy as always 🙂
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Trash cans work really well if you can get past the plastic look of them. And I find planting trailing annuals around the rim helps the disguise aspect too.
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Pauline, I was captivated by your story from the start! You are so clever, so hard working, and have achieved such a beautiful result.
I always learn so much from you.
You deserve every peaceful, happy moment in this lovely space.
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Thank you Anonymous, that is very kind. But really, I’m not that hard working, just determined 🙂
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Aloha Pauline! I love your vision and your manifestation. It’s good to see you kicking into summer and Siddy is gorgeous. I’ve been away from cyberspace for weeks now, working on termite damage and the plastering and sanding and painting required. Too tuckered to blog. Eventually I’ll get back to it, I think. Meantime, it’s sure good to check in with my favorite New Zealander. Love and big hugs from Hawaii, Christi
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Aloha Christi! You have been missed! I hope the house will soon be ship-shape and sea worthy and you can return to a more leisurely life style – and a bit of blogging! Young Siddy grows ever more charming and handsome – he is such a great boy, I can’t imagine life without him! Take care and don’t over do it over there. Arohanui xoxo
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Well, Pauline, I think you are quite creative and innovative! I love what you have before but you are correct, sitting on the cushions would have been difficult for an extended period of time. Now what you have created is fantastic- very useful and pleasing to the eye. I love the idea of the trash cans. You are correct, the price of them is much preferable to the price of any type of clay or decorative pot. Good job. You inspire me to want to go work in the yard. Oops I forgot it’s winter here. (Of course that argument doesn’t fly much in Southern California as we’ve had some beautiful sunny days with highs in the mid 80’s!)
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I think you are having warmer days than we are. Our weather is so changeable and unreliable – I am surprised everything has grown as well as it has. I have a month to get it the way I envision it for Christmas – fingers crossed. I’m guessing you could sit outside in the evenings at mid winter at your place – maybe a wee fire to warm the cooler air 🙂
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looks good real good. Kisses to Siddy and yes he is. I think your courtyard might be about the same width as mine but perhaps a foot or two longer. It is great what can be done in a small space. I love your courtyard and mine too. I dig compost into mine every 2 or 3 years and the soil is lovely. I have a Moonflower growing this year. 😀
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Our courtyards are really just blocked off walk ways aren’t they. The reason mine looks a foot or two longer is because that is the amount of soil that I dug out of the back bed. I gained about a square metre in space for all my hard work – but it has made a difference! I grew moonflowers in Hawkes Bay for a couple of years. There was a full eclipse in the middle of the day and everything went silent as dusk fell…… the birds were quiet, everything was eerily still – and the moonflowers opened and wafted their scent every where. It was amazing!
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Wow! I never thought of Moonflowers doing that because of an eclipse! From what I have read, the scent would have made everything VERY amazing! 😀
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Siddy is gorgeous, but that garden is gorgeous-er! Wow! I am so impressed. It’s already a sanctuary. Oh Pauline, what you have done is wonderful. This has been the most thrilling post ever, to see this space transformed so much into the kind of space you were hoping for. I would be happy to share this loveliness with you one day, and take up that spare cushion. Hugs and happiness. ❤ ❤ ❤
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Gosh Crystal I see you have just had a long wander through, I had no idea you were mia for so long 🙂 Now a visit – wouldn’t that be the grandest thing – I’m sure Siddy would even give up his chair for you 🙂 Welcome back and now I’ll head off and catch up with where you have been……..
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Yes, Pauline, I find that I pick one blog at a time and read through. Some of my best blogs (like Derrick and Curt) write constantly, and I will never catch up. But I hope they can forgive me. I can’t believe I was mia from your place for so long either, and I’m hoping you’ll forgive me as well!
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No forgiveness required Crystal – it is always lovely to see you come by and have a chat. And we get to catch up on your blog and others too from time to time – it makes it all very neighbourly I feel.
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Early says that Suddi is shining a bit too brightly there. You are depriving him of something delicious to roll in apparently and that smile is altogether too shiny. It obviously hasn’t had access to a dead wallaby like Earl has
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No dead wallabies here, move along, nothing to see here…… I do think Siddy may have had his bath that day or the day before – but he is naturally shiny it’s all his happiness – it’s just shining out. He’s the epitome of Roald Dahl’s quote ‘If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.’ Sorry Earl 🙂
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Is that why Earl always looks like he has been dragged through the brambles backwards? 😉
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I say nothing!
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“Hey HO!” I am going to send you my horticulture and my landscape design diploma’s as you nailed the brief in one Ms Pauline. You just knocked me off my chair with that fantastic use of a teeny tiny space and I love it. I even love the petunias and if you know me, you know I HATE petunias. You dun good Ms Pauline. You dun better than good, you dun MARVELOUS! I am inspired, in awe and in the throes of bliss. Your garden space is magnificent. If I ever drop round to visit I am going to pretend that I am a Jehovah’s witness at your neighbours door and when they shuffle me out the back into their own teeny tiny courtyard and lock the door, You can funnel and syphon my cup of tea over the fence. I LOVE it. It is “poific” and you are the queen of garden design. I bow to you :).
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Really? Wow! I’m knocked over as well – that is so cool to know. But wait til it’s finished and all the sparkly bits go in and now there’s even the thought of painting a floor rug…….. In defense of petunias: they keep bugs off your tomatoes – I had zero bugs last season because I underplanted the tomatoes with them. And these are trailing petunias therefore excellent for my needs. 🙂
Thank you for you effusiveness and kindly words, I am most happy! 🙂
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You are right to be happy. You did a splendiferous job 🙂
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Blush, curtsy, smirk 🙂
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Just tucked you into today’s blog post I loved it that much 🙂
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He also says “what is a bath?”
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😀 😀 😀
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wow what a beautiful back yard and lovely plans! I love the idea of Jasmine it smells so good. Siddy is adorable!
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Thanks Lynn – I love Jasmine and now have three of them around this place – and am plotting space for a fourth 🙂 You can never have too much jasmine!!
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wonderful! I agree
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Pauline, I’ve been smiling and laughing and sighing throughout this post. What an amazing transformation! I’m enjoying the image of you sitting in your chair reading a book, sipping your tea perhaps, and glancing at Orlando as he snoozes in his specially-designated sunning spot. Siddy looks quite proud to be sitting in his new chair. Ah, to be a pooch in your home. It’s a special life.
When I first saw your aspirational photo I thought “I wonder where she found the extra space” as everything about it is so you. Then I laughed at the work involved in heaving one’s older self from the ground. I’m not sure when getting up off the floor became a multi-step process for me, and that was before foot surgery. Good grief I miss my nibble days. Anyway, I digress.
You’re writing is so warm and inviting. I feel like we’re having a nice chat and sharing pictures and I can almost reach in and give Siddy a good scratch under his adorable chin.
Your courtyard garden and seating area is inspired. I love your clever use of the affordable trash bins, especially the gravel and drainage system below. I wouldn’t have thought of that. I hope one of your beautiful light catchers makes it out there too to catch all the sunlight that will now banish your rain further more, not to be seen until you say so.
I giggled at the thought of you shoveling spades of soil into your pockets for your daily walks to the park. We often see signs at the curb saying “free dirt” with piles of excavated soil and gravel from someone’s garden project. I don’t know if anyone ever takes it. Even rented dumpsters for construction projects ban heavy soil and rocks. It’s a dilemma.
I know you’ll enjoy this wonderful spot and will continue to add your own special brand of charm. In my own experience, artistic people are never done. It’s the moving around, tweaking, adding and subtracting that make the process so enjoyable, or at least that is true for me.
I’m cheered immensely by your post. xox
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I’m glad you came by and wandered around the party Alys – it’s always such fun when a new post goes up and everyone interacts. You are spot on with that question about wondering when we lost our nimbleness ….. I used to always sit on the floor, I didn’t really like chairs that much. I would leap up and down quickly and yes, nimbly. Now it’s a work of several minutes and, as you say, a series of steps to attain my feet again. Sigh! It’s definitely chairs from this point on for me anyway! I wonder if I returned to my yoga practise, as I keep threatening to, if that would make a difference. I don’t like getting stiffer and stiffer at all! I saw a ninety year old woman doing yoga a while ago on fb – she looked pretty much my age!
There are still many additions to be made to the garden – the blingy things and cloths and so on but I’m waiting until I’m sure the rain has finished and the winds [we have dreadful winds going on] die back. Even though the courtyard is very sheltered, the odd gust gets in and blows everything around.
Fran taught me about the drainage system for the containers – she is a fount of knowledge and I should have given her credit in the post!
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Your garden is beautiful, Pauline. I love it. It reminded me of my Mother’s garden back in the province where my siblings and I grew up. Although everyone in the family is allergic to the smell of flowers, still my Mother plants them around our home and everyone gets to sneeze, cough and appreciate all the lovely blooms. Sadly though, none of us kids inherited her green thumb. Still we all try to put in some fresh flowers from the market in our own homes now. A simple gesture to remind us of our Mama.
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Goodness Carrie, I can’t imagine being allergic to the smell of flowers – how awful for everyone. Does this mean you can’t be carried away by a scent to childhood memories and such like? I love that your mother continued to plant them anyway – a life without flowers is a sad life indeed!
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Oh no Pauline, my siblings and I love flowers and we reminisce about having them in Mama’s garden. We just don’t go near them so much and sniff. Sniffing is the problem so we just adore them at arms length. The scent of them always remind us of our Mother and her garden. Most times I buy fresh flowers from the market and have them here at the condo. My favorites are stargazer lilies but I don’t inhale their scent so much to avoid sneezing and the subsequent cough that comes after.
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Hi Pauline, your inspirational picture is right up my street – I love the bohemian vibe and the vibrant colours. You have been so creative in transforming your space, the trashcans are are an inspired idea – not only practical as planters but they are a pretty colour too 🙂 It’s a perfect haven for a summers day, no wonder Siddy looks so happy!
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The picture is great isn’t it! That ‘shed’ is just a flat piece of wood, did you notice that? It made me think I could use paint and mirrors to make an illusion – and I still might!
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Oh wow, I totally didn’t get that, I just had to go back and have another look – that’s so clever, you should definitely do that!
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That might be a small space, but wow … you did a lot of work … and it looks great – but I hope Siddy allows you to occasionally sit on the throne. Great work, Pauline! … and with summer approaching, a wonderful place to have a refillable glass of NZ Sauvignon Blanc.
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You are right there Frank – I think even if it rains I’ll sit out there under my brolly and sip on a little something!
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That a way!
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I love what you have done with the small space you have and like the bohemian style you were trying to achieve. Give it time to evolve and you will probably get there. I’m fascinated at how you’ve let the plants screen in more of you courtyard. My area is slightly larger and still trying to get the feel I want. Maybe next summer. Siddy looks like he just came from the groomer, he is so beautiful, er, I mean handsome. Grand photograph of him. My Schatzie used to love to sit in chairs too. They don’t know they are not people. 🙂 I love that you are carrying dirt in your pockets to take to the park. That tickles my funny bone. We are going into winter now and I’m loving every rain drop. Hopefully, I’ll be ready this spring for the kind of changes you are making. Are you doing the lifting alone or do you have a couple of extra muscles?
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I’ll get there Marlene – I have some light catchers ready to go in – some wind chimes too and a few other blingy bits. I’m looking for a nice piece of fabric for the table and thinking the throwaway idea of painting a floor rug on the concrete might be fun too……….. a busy summer! Danella Joy helps a lot – she is incredibly practical and clever at problem solving – and we heave those big tubs of soil around together.
I hope you will have a lovely restful winter time, pottering about indoors and making nice things for yourself and others to enjoy.
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Oh, yes, I too love the idea of you shaking dirt from your pockets. Brilliant, ha ha!
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It could happen! 🙂
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Marlene, there’s been a wee conversation going on here and Alys tells me you painted your white plastic outdoor chairs. So of course, I have to ask, was it a success, and if so what kind of paint did you use? Did you write a post about doing it? Please can you share the link if you did.
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Yes, I did paint my chairs. They make a spray paint at the hardware store just for plastic. It took a couple of cans and a little time. Doing one side first then the other. Quite easy. Not that expensive either. You ask the hardware people and they will direct you to spray paint for plastic. They still look pretty good with all the heat and the rain. I’m a demon with a spray can. . 🙂
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Thank you Marlene – I shall look into it for future reference. 🙂
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It’s so beautiful. The best WIP I’ve seen!
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Wow!! Thank you – that is a wonderful comment 🙂
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What a beautiful transformation, Pauline! It’s so you! And Siddy…oh, I just want to kiss that little face! ❤ ❤ Enjoy your lovely space!
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Thank you Jill – isn’t he just gorgeous! Can you imagine living with so much happiness and positivity every minute of the day ‘The World According to Siddy’ is a grand place.
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Thank you for allowing me into a piece of your world!
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Wow, wow, WOW! It’s absolutely wonderful and so inventive for a small space! I’d never want to come in and you’ve got your privacy too, by the looks of it. Love Siddy’s ‘smile’. And I second the flowery rug idea too – you should go for it!
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Yes, it’s very private thank goodness. The flowery rug idea is catching a few followers – it will have to happen!!
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That is one fabulous make over. I do think you need to add a scent button to your blog though.
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Great idea!
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Hey Geoff! I can well imagine a time when the scent button is an option – I’m sure there’s a story in there somewhere for your verdant mind! Thanks for the visit – and for the tweet. That is very kind! I still have to work out how to get into my account and actually use the thing – it tells me ‘No’ whenever I try – and I don’t care enough to want to make it change its mind.
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I’m not sure I see the benefits of Twitter yet but I guess I’m in there now. As for the prompt hmmm you may be onto some thing!
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Well done, the courtyard looks fantastic now and you certainly seem to have earned Siddy’s approval.
xxx Massive Hugs xxx
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Thank you David – And yes, Siddy is very happy 🙂
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A brilliant, inventive, transformation, Pauline. I see why you and Jackie get on so well. Bringing soil back from the park had me screaming with laughter. Now, who could have been the official photographer? 🙂
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Of course I appreciate the fact that Jackie has a garden a thousand times bigger than mine – and, lucky girl, she has you Derrick as her OP and assistant gardener. I have Siddy as my assistant and Danella Joy is of course our OP – except I took the shot of Siddy on his chair in the garden. I’m quite proud of that one 🙂
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It was a good pic of Siddy
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Thank you 🙂
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Taking soil to the park – even better!!
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I knew what you meant!
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I was thinking of my old lady in Pimlico, of course
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Oh yes, I vaguely remember that story – please remind me what she did
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http://derrickjknight.com/2015/09/29/earthworks/
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Good lord I should have recalled that story immediately! No wonder you hooted with laughter – isn’t there a great symmetry about this. She carried her soil in her handbag from Battersea Park and I may well end up carrying mine out to Kew Park [even the name strangely fits] half a world and half a life time away! I’ll have to buy a handbag!! 🙂
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Amazing
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Hello Pauline, I love your teeny tiny garden, I envy you at times, this year has been tough trying to get it all done and I think we would all like something in between sizewise. What you have achieved is so colourful, using trash cans is brilliant. Look forward to seeing more.
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Hello Jackie – lovely of you to drop by . 🙂 This size is certainly easier on the nerves – and pocket – but man there are days when I wish I could just stretch out a bit! Still, I’m very fortunate there is a beautiful park two minutes away and Siddy and I go there every morning and drink in the changing seasons and the colour and space. This is just for sitting and pondering as Bruce said.
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I used to have a garden in London,that was just the right size, but of course I wanted a larger one then! So glad that there is an open space nearby for you and Siddy to roam through the seasons.
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I know! I once had a cottage by the sea, it was almost perfect, but not quite so I left. Sometimes we learn the hard way……. Now I say what I have is what I need and get on with making it as good as possible. The park is like our own garden – Siddy certainly thinks its his anyway as he greets every one who comes in …. and we don’t have to mow the lawns!
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Just a thought– what about an old mirror or two strategically placed to bounce around the light and give the impression of more space? I am rather keen on this wheeze and get mine for a couple of quid or so, from our local amenity dump. As for the park, well as long as Siddy thinks it is his, and somebody else is mowing his lawns what more can you ask.
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Great minds Jackie! I had said that earlier to someone somewhere here – I decided to go hunting for a couple of old mirrors and use them as you do – if the illusion of space is required anywhere it is certainly here! I’ll let you know how I get on.
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It’s wondrous, Pauline. A hey-ho from here. It’s a place to sit and ponder, and each new leaf is a thing of marvel. Well done. Yesterday I planted 13 lettuces in a tiny patch. I go and look at them every quarter of an hour. Such is the pleasure and joy of life!
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There’s nothing quite like growing your own food is there! This year flowers will suffice for me – and the bees have been gathering today too – this makes me very content!!
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Bees can give quite a buzz!
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🙂
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Wow, Pauline – you have been busy! The garden is looking absolutely brilliant – a wonderful personal space – lucky you!
I laughed out loud at the vision of you scattering soil in your local park – what a hoot. I think your trash cans are inspired.
Wishing you many tranquil summer evenings sitting in your verdant space reading away to your heart’s content xx
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Thank you Jenny 🙂 I’ve just spent a delightful couple of hours sitting outside as the sun dips lower and lower. It’s just gone 8.30 pm and the warmth of the day is still here, the sky is still blue though the light is dimming. It’s my first summer evening of the season and it has been wonderful! 🙂
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You’ve said that beautifully. I can picture all of it, and I’m smiling as I do. That you’ve sat out there till dusk says it all: you’ve made yourself the perfect resting spot. xo
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Thank you for cheering me on Alys xoxo
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xox
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I would be so content in a small garden with a Siddy for company. As it is I have a couple of acres and 72 is getting too old to keep it going. Yours looks so comfortable.
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Though open space itself is very nice, and there are times when I would love to have just a tad more room – I do appreciate the smaller space as the years creep up – much easier to manage! And yes, every one should have a Siddy!
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Many a difficult hour
Of lift and tote and scour
Went into creating this shower
Of sunshine and blooming flower;
And now a contented meow-er,
A cute- as-a-button bow-wow-er
And Pauline, the creative power,
Enjoy a resplendent bower!
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I’ve got a comfortable, if tiny home; a large tailed cat from Maine who sings and gurgles when content; probably the happiest puppy in the entire world and my own Official Photographer – all I was lacking was my very own Poet Laureate.
I lack no more 🙂
That made me gurgle with delight, thank you Cynthia, you just made my day xoxo
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Love what you’re doing with the courtyard, very nice vibe (I laughed at the plastic chairs because damn they are comfortable aren’t they! And practical. We kept ours even after we replaced the outdoor setting with a timber one. 🙂 I just wish they came in purple!) and Siddy’s face is so adorable and happy! Smooshable!! xo
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I was amazed at how comfy they are…. I was putting my backside in chairs that cost $75 – $100 each that were rickety and narrow and not comfortable – then I staggered into a pyramid of these things and thought to give one a sit test and wow, PASS!! Wouldn’t colours be great on them – I wonder if they can be painted ………… Siddy is the happiest dog I have ever known – I just adore him!
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Marlene painted hers. She had a story about it. The poor woman next door, suffering from Alzheimers, thought Marlene was stealing her chair. Marlene cleverly painted hers a different color.
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Thanks for this Alys, I shall ask Marlene how she did it. Oooh exciting!!
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Pauline, you have worked wonders with your tiny courtyard, it looks beautiful, so bright and fresh. I love how your indoors flows to the outside. Your hard work has paid off in time for summer sitting…..oh and I’m happy to perch on the doorstep, put a cushion under me bum, and I’ll be fine 🙂
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Lovely, come on over and set a while, we love to make new friends 🙂
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Looking good… and OMGosh… those photos are amazing! 😉
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😀 Oh, did I forget to give credit to the Official Photographer? They sure are great!
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What a transformation. You’ve got a beautiful tranquil spot now.
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Thank you – tiny but welcoming 🙂
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Siddy is beyond gorgeous and into precious gem territory. He’s the best little Siddy ever! I love his smile. Your garden looks great. All the color and smells from the flowers will certainly be cheerful and make both you and Siddy smile.
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We all decided we like that saying and will adopt it immediately. ‘Siddy is the best little Siddy ever!’ he smiles and puffs out his chest and runs to sit by his treat drawer…………..
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He certainly is gorgeous 🙂 Love what you have done with your containers, I look at our big rambling garden/pile of weeds and wish sometimes for the love wee courtyard garden I had in my last place! And you know I love Bohemian, that picture is just a joy 🙂
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It’s looking pretty if not at all Bohemian Wendy – maybe when I’ve added the table cloths and the dangly bits and bobs and a wind-chime or two it will look more the part. I’d love to paint a flowery rug on the concrete floor 🙂
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Oh you MUST paint the rug!!!
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It is a good idea isn’t it! 🙂 I’ll have to start collecting colours …..
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oh, wouldn’t that be nice!
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