Working hard...?

Well, not really - most of the time I'm just thinking about it. But today I brought out the spade and garden fork to do some digging.

During summer I've bought some plants with the intentions of planting in the garden and not done anything about it until today. 

                           

I've had this vacant place in a flowerbed just in front of the living room windows (it's the spot of bare soil between the Phlox and the weed next to the big stone) and I thought it would be perfect for a shrub. I chose a Philadelphus coronarius  (in Norwegian also duftskjærsmin). It will flower in July (hopefully next year) with white flowers and give a wonderful scent.

The info on it says it needs a sunny spot with light warm soil, and that it will grow to be 2-3 m high.

In the photo to the right the shrub has been planted and duly watered.

The weed is still there though, I'll get to that shortly - eventually.

OK, that's one down, six to go.

For a good cause

When sorting through the stuff from the upstairs cabinet I found a bag of nicknacks bought at the charity shop. The items in it still had the clumsy newspaper wrappings from the store and I couldn't even remember what it was.

As I started to unwrap the small packages it came back to me; how I had pondered back and forth whether or not to buy these things and at last come to the conclusion that I had to have them. 

I realize now how important it was! 

Some of it no doubt will have to go straight back to charity. 

It is a comfort then that at least I've been supporting a good cause.

Moving in

The floor of my daughter's bedroom has been painted, it has dried and I have started to move her furniture back. 

When my daughter came home 

(she's been away for almost two weeks - so lovely to see her again) 

she was super excited about the floor. 

'How did you know I wished for a turquoise floor, mom?' she wondered. 

She had only talked about it a dozen times, that's how I knew!

I love the color too. It looks better now with furniture in the room. 

But the color of the floor does something about the color on the walls and ceiling that I had not anticipated. 

Anyway, can't dwell on that now. 

Look how the sunshine pours over the desk. 

We're  going outside to enjoy the summer and warmth of the sun.
Cannot believe it's already August. 

New floor

Take one favorite color and find the color code for it...

... then clear the room which floor needs to be dealt with...

... buy a can of required paint...

... shield the skirting from splatter by putting up painter's tape...

... start in the deepest corners and paint your way...

... towards the doorway leaving you a way out...

... and there you have yourself a brand new turquoise floor!

Clear out

I have plans for my daughter's room so I cleared it all out.

                       

It started out like this however, quite a lot of stuff that I needed to move around. Some of her things and furniture I moved to my bedroom (which is a lot smaller than hers), some downstairs to the living room, some to the newly cleared out upstairs closet, some to the upstairs hallway and some to the bathroom!

Finally it was empty.

It's packed everywhere else, though!

The bookshelf on the floor was dismantled and taken downstairs to the living room. Now it's a great opportunity to sort through the books and all the boxes of papers.

This is about the amount of stuff  I got to get out of the house so as not having to store stuff in bags and boxes on the floors of various rooms. Doesn't necessarily have be this stuff, so I have to go through it all.
My goal is to have everything in a place of its own in a cupboard or closet.

This picture is from the upstairs hall. As one can tell it's extremely cramped right now, the big mattress taking up most of the space. The door behind the box and the mattress is leading to the closet and in it I keep the buckets. And of course, now I needed one!.
And if you are in need of doing some office work while using the bathroom, hey presto! here's a desk at your disposal!

Pink garden

When I started out gardening four years ago I had an idea I wanted it white. This isn't exactly how it has turned out though.

Most of the flowering in the garden right now is pink.
Here is a Cosmos bipinnatus (in Norwegian also Pyntekorg).

Here is a Phlox Paniculata, it has just started to blossom. Planted last summer. 

Astilbe japonica, also planted last summer (or maybe the year before). By the size of it it looks like it was planted last year.

Our garden has to make do mostly on its own. I weed now and again, and mow the lawn, but that's about it. This year I haven't even given it fertilizer. No wonder growth is poor.

I've said it before; I think the New Dawn Roses are best plant in the garden. It's growing and blossoming from early july and through the summer almost entirely on its own. Planted during our first summer here.

Good morning

Starting my day with a slow breakfast. Would have preferred to have it on the terrace but it's a rather dull morning outside so I stay inside. 

I'm planning my day, make to-do-lists, tidy a bit in the kitchen, have another cup of coffee.

Calm and quiet. 

It's vacation.

Morning is the best part of the day; then I've got all the time in the world 

and not a minute of it is yet wasted. 

HAVE A LOVELY DAY