Thursday, July 17, 2014

uncommonness


'what is this honey?  i asked, peering down at the tiny, lump of dirt, moss and spines on our porch...




chuck had been working around the yard, and when he got to cleaning out the eaves, he found a tiny garden growing. two teensy cactus nestled in a bed of moss. he gently scooped (rescued) the wayward plants out and brought them inside, for me. thank you little birds for dropping your seeds, thank you cactus for persevering (we don't have cactus here!) and thank you husband for knowing i would LOVE this.


X   X   X


i've done very little shopping to get ready for my trip (i'm going to the shetland islands if you are new here ((welcome!)). next week!!) but today, i bought a top, this summery lace inset lovely from 'odd molly'. and, at home, i couldn't resist any longer and had to cut this rose growing in my garden...


to enjoy inside, all these blossoms on one stem! 


this is the business end of the rose. the thorns had to be removed before i could hold the stem for photos. i think they look like little shark fins ;)


and it seems my knitting looks like a baby sting ray! maybe spending too much time at the beach and pool, hee hee. but grateful for and enjoying these summer days. i hope you are too! (unless you are having winter, then i hope you are enjoying that!)
 xxx lori

33 comments:

  1. Yay Lori! That little guerilla garden in tres special!
    and yes, your knitting does look exactly like a sting ray! and you grow amaaaaazing roses!
    I'm so sorry , I think we won't get the bento bag and music to you in time!
    Have a wonderful trip and I can't wait for the photos! x Jo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. dear jo, now you and the girls have given me something to look forward to! whenever that delightful package arrives will be the perfect time.

      i cannot take credit for these incredible roses, i was lucky to inherit them when we bought our home. i just water them and speak gently, 'please grow'. it helps we live in a perfect temperate climate for rose growing and other things. xo

      Delete
  2. i just started watching Shetland (the BBC show), that area looks beautiful, hope you'll share photos :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oh! i love that show too! i won't be here on the blog until i return, but maybe will be posting on instagram from shetland :)

      Delete
  3. Love your new top! Hope your cactus will enjoy it's new home.
    Enjoying a very warm few days here, it's easy to just go up in altitude to find some cooler fresh air but I do so wish we had the option of a dip in the ocean too!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you emma! it is so beautiful where you live, i LOVE your mountains and green. i know you never take it for granted. i try to do the same here, even after living beside the sea all my life. the good thing is we can always make visits.

      Delete
  4. Beautiful knits by the pool side Lori- love all your photos today!

    ReplyDelete
  5. That's a very pretty top! I've got a lot of shopping left to do too. I guess we'll both be scrambling at the last minute.

    And isn't it wonderful to have a partner that really "gets" you. I love the little hidden garden Chuck salvaged for you.

    Does that rose smell as divine as it looks?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. the rose does! i wish i could bring it to you!

      i am saving up my shopping for shetland, but i do have to pick up a few toiletries, small things still...there is always that last minute (adrenline!) rush :) i think i don't really begin to relax till after reaching the airport (and going through security). then, whew! see you soon!!

      Delete
  6. Lori, the roses are spectacular in both their beautiful blooms and their protective thorns. Wow!

    On a quieter note, I really love the miniature garden that the birds delivered and Chuck rescued. And your new white lacy top really suits you. Lovely.

    You are wise to enjoy those relaxed hours near water, as you do a little resting up before The Big Trip.

    xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. dear frances, thank you. the restful photos are my attempt to keep calm. i am actually having a difficult time, excitement is taking over. 5 more days to go, i guess i will have to rest on the flights over :)

      Delete
  7. Love that new top, and beautiful roses.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love your top, roses, cactus, and pool side knitting!!! I can't believe how close your trip is!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. They DO look like shark fins and baby sting ray. wow, love it

    have a wonderful wonderful time in the shetlanks...knit to your hearts content

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. haha, thanks mim, i'm glad its not just me! thank you so much, a knitting trip, i would never have dreamed!
      (but the landscapes, wildlife, birdlife, people... so looking forward to it all).

      Delete
  10. Great shirt--and craziest rose ever! I love the way things grow where you live.Can't wait to see your reports from the trip.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. we have MANY international growers here for that reason! it is definitely the weather and not me that produces fantastic roses! there should be plenty of postings on ig!

      Delete
  11. Hi Lori! I have been enjoying reading your posts while drinking my morning tea. Your bressay dress is breathtaking! It is so wonderful to read about your preparations for that Scotland trip. Me and my husband are dreaming about another trip to Scotland. We have visited twice but never the Hebrides or Shetland islands.Maybe one day :) I wish you the best of trips there Lori!! I am anxiously waiting for pictures and stories....
    ps. Your baby cactus looks powerful and fragile at the same time. What a lovely combination!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi anu! thank you for your visit, i am happy you are here. thank you for your good wishes for our trip, it seems i've been waiting so long and now it is here, only 5 more days. there will be posts on instagram from shetland, and eventually when i return, more photos here. i hope you and your husband do visit someday!

      Delete
  12. Your summer days look beautiful! I love the new top, and the baby Cacti are precious! You will have to show us their new home!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you sarah! i knew i was forgetting something, it's cacti (embarrassed) the plural of cactus. i have replanted my baby cacti and will surely share soon. :)

      Delete
  13. Dearest Lori,

    Another post which could best be described as a feast for the senses! I'm always happy when I see a post of yours popping up in my newsfeed. Each one is an aesthetic thrill.

    Will you be posting whilst away in Scotland? We'll miss you.

    Stephanie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you dear stephanie, you are so kind. are you on instagram? i resisted for a long time, but circumstances (my girls photo by the sartorialist) caused me to join. i along with a few others, gudrun johnston, maryjane mucklestone, kathy cadigan and claire dupont, maybe nicole dupuis, will be posting there (maybe more i'm not sure about). i won't be back here until after returning. xxx

      Delete
  14. Just popping by to wish you the best trip ever! Have fun!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Dear Lori, Each photo I see here offers a unique vision of beauty, such uncommonness indeed! Sending you big, big hugs as your journey to Shetland gets closer. So exciting!!! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  16. Love.Love.Love. your new top. I just spent 1/2 hour admiring everything from that shop.
    I started a blog, only one pic so far.

    ReplyDelete
  17. The cacti are really cute - will you put them in a pot and try to keep them?

    ... and the roses are gorgeous! Such a wonderful time of the year, when the roses are in bloom.

    Have a lovely trip!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Beautiful photo's. Love the rose photo's :) when I lived in Spain we used to have pink coral looking cactus in our garden. It is the one thing I really miss.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love, love, love your shirt!! And I would so wear it myself!!! I don't remember seeing it in Shetland. Was I just so entranced with Shetland to not notice it????

    ReplyDelete

xoxo lori