Last years garden highlights

A month into the new year, and a month closer to the start of a new gardening season. At our allotment complex the official start of the season is somewhere at the beginning of April.

I haven't been in the garden that much lately. Only once or twice, to clean up and plant bulbs (several varieties of tulips, daffodils, alliums and crocuses). I bought bags full of them in the sale. To me they are really difficult to resist :-)

Somehow there is always something to do in the garden. My daughters help me out whenever they can, but they prefer to come when the sun is out and the temperatures are mild. Which means that in winter I work on my own mostly, wearing my warm boots, a thick sweater and my wax coat. They never fail to keep me warm. Whenever I take a break, I warm my hands at the ancient stove in my garden house. My boyfriend accompanies me now and then. He does those chores I don't really like (hurray!). He cut back Paul's Himalayan Musk in one of the trees (a rambler rose), repaired part of the roof of the garden house, and got rid of some thick root sprouts which grew out of the hazel tree. 

When stretched out on my sofa at home, I leaf through garden magazines and books, in search of inspiration. I use last years photo's to see what worked well and what has definitely got to can change. In this post you can see last years garden highlights. I chose the photo's that I liked best. I hope they inspire you too.

Next time I will take you to Great Dixter gardens in England.

Happy month of February!

Love,

Madelief x

A wonderful year

It's probably too late to wish you a Happy, Healthy and Sparkling New Year, but since this is my first blogpost of the year, and I think the time is always right to wish someone 'all the best', I will do it anyway:  
A wonderful year to you all.

The girls and I had a lovely Christmas. What a joy it is to stay in bed late, to have enough time to read a book and do some baking. I made our traditional Christmas Bundt cake, and the girls baked a chocolate mousse tart. They even made their own chocolate leaves. I was SO proud. The tart looked really good and the taste was divine. 

My boyfriend and I made some beautiful walks. One along the river Merwede in Gorinchem, with the trees covered in hoarfrost, the windmill set against the blue sky, on a cold and wind still day. 
When stranded in Dordrecht, because the train wouldn't go any further because of the snow, we walked along the canals and past the harbour. My favourite walk was the one we made along the beach. It was so quiet, the sky and sea seemed to merge, and there was not a ripple on the water.

I hope some more beautiful winter days will follow, before the spring sets in.

Next time I will show you last years garden highlights. Wishing you happy weeks ahead. Before I forget: thank you for your kind Christmas and New Year's wishes. I hope I will find more time to visit your blogs this year.

Love,

Madelief x

If you like, you can see more photo's on Instagram.

Merry Christmas

 
 
To me the last weeks up to Christmas are often among the happiest of the year. I love to decorate our house and the Christmas tree with the girls, do a spot of baking, work my way through a pile of cookery books and magazines on my bedside table, and visit one or two Christmas fairs. It's the jolly songs on the radio too, the magical window displays in the city centre and the lights in the trees and houses, that catch my attention as I cycle through town.

Last Thursday morning, when on my way to the station at six thirty, to catch my train to work, a bearded young man on a bicycle, headphones on, passed me by, singing Rudolph the red nose reindeer at the top of his voice. A moment later I could hear the distinctive sound of sleigh bells ringing..... A broad smile appeared on my face. It's small things like this, that bring happiness, and make the start of a day and the weeks up to Christmas special.

And now, on Christmas Eve, with a Bundt cake in the oven, a mushroom soup simmering on the stove and the girls in front of the telly watching a film, I sit behind my laptop writing this post to you. Before tomorrow's celebrations start and we will all be busy,  I want to wish you a Merry Christmas. I hope you will have a wonderful time with friends and family.

Thank you for visiting my blog too and for  leaving such sweet comments, both here and on Instagram. I very much appreciate it.

Love, Peace and Joy,

Madelief x

Photo's 1, 2 & 3 were taken in Bruges, photo 4 and 5 at the Exhibit 'With love to Audrey' at the Gemeentemuseum in The Hague, photo 6 to/incl. 12 at the Marienwaerdt Christmas fair. The other photo's were taken at my home.