Exactly a year ago I decided to try painting mandalas. This was my first one and I had such a pleasant time getting lost in it. The original is quite tiny (and missing at the moment!) It must still be packed away.
This past weekend I planted my nasturtium seeds in their starter pots hoping for blooms like these. When/if they bloom I'll share the pictures on another Blooming Tuesday.
Have a wonderful week!
From a few$2.99 seed packages in May, these delights: Nasturtiums in a swath across the front bed for end-of-summer glory, and Shirley Poppies that have bloomed for weeks, silken and lovely.
And I am enamoured of my pear tree, only a couple of months ago in blossom...
and now laden with ripening fruit.
Alice in Wonderland-like, one idea threads unexpectedly but logically to another. "Creative re-purposing" leads to fine china being stuffed with pencils and paintbrushes, and vessels re-purposed leads to domestic economies. Not the economies of nations, but of one household, in the spirit of environmental conscience. Leading to the concept of Magic Thinking, which is not generally considered to be a compliment to anyone's intelligence.
It began with wanting to continue to enjoy a nice deep relaxing bath every day, but not wanting to waste water. How about having the baths and saving the water to pour on the garden, which has to be watered anyway? One could use the plastic jugs that otherwise go to recycling - the kitty-litter and liquid laundry soap containers. The benefits immediately presented themselves to be listed on a satisfying check-list -
bath (check)
wise water management (check)
flowers watered! (check)
nice arm muscles from carrying jugs up and down stairs (check)
who needs a Stairmaster! (check)
and so on, virtue upon virtue.
In June I started saving the plastic jugs instead of sending them to be recycled. I filled up about 10 of them after a bath, ran out of jugs and there was still water in the tub. Tsk, tsk, the waste. The next morning I carried the jugs downstairs and emptied them over the flowers. Very hot day, with thunderstorms in the evening. Flowers very well watered indeed.
Ran not such a very deep bath the next night, saved the water afterwards, and carried the jugs downstairs. The flowers didn't need watering, they were well soaked from the previous night
and the next band of thunderstorms was on the move. The full vessels sat there on the front deck, and so the pattern continued through July.
Now for the "magic thinking": I didn't even have to fill up the jugs any more, I just stood them at the front door and uttered my intentions to the sky. It has rained almost every day and the garden is very green indeed.
Ah well, I don't need the exercise after all. I am supposed to Do Nothing for two weeks after next week's surgery, then the summer will be over. The lawns and gardens are marvellously green and the pear tree is heavy with fruit, faintly gold (delicious pear-tart recipe
here).
I have nearly finished up the next fairy book, helped by the memory of the little fairies who came to visit earlier in the summer at Sovereign House:
the stylish,
the small
and best friends,
observing every detail,
and undeterred by weather.
Best wishes, fairy followers all.
So pretty. Such lovely colors. Hope you find the original soon. Too often I tuck things away for safe keeping and do too good a job of it. Years later the safe (and very lost)object resurfaces.
I like the way the tendrils of the nasturtiums sneak out of the mandala. I find mandalas scary and frustrating. I haven't ever gotten into the meditative part of it. HBT.
Ohh such wonderful mandala!!!!
I have this one in a most beautiful card! (a large one!)
Too beautiful to send or give away!
Happy Blooming Tuesday!!!
♥♥♥
>M<
Very pretty take on a mandala...it would make a nice tattoo, too. I love nasturtiums but have never had them grow for me (me and my plastic garden...see an old post...)
Oh funny, this is a compliment: I saw the mandala and thought it was a gift from Marianne!
You did a beautiful job on it and this is one of my favorite flowers.
I thought it was from Marianne too! Oh it's sooooo lovely.. i love the colors and the vine...
BEEE-U-TEA-FULL! Lo, this is wonderful....and definitely a day-brightener.... not snowing on this Coast - but - rain, heavy wind and brrrrr.....cold temps.
My only sun today comes from your gorgeous Mandala!
Stay warm, my friend - Winter HAS to leave eventually..... (?)
Love,
♥ Robin ♥
This is so pretty! I love nasturtiums - caterpillars do too!
oooh, i never saw this before (now that i consider myself a laurel expert of a fan).
did you copy this idea from marianne? :)
ps soon soon sooon sooooon
Between you and Marianne, I am finding I want to try another mandala. This is really pretty with the flowers and tendrils swirling about! Great colors also!!!
i am not sure whether i knew you were a mandala lady, but whatever you do is great!
That is beautiful!!!!! Such a lovely job...first one? Hope you have a fabulous Wednesday!
Oh my goodness, I love it. So creative and colorful. Love the way everything twist, turns and winds around. Great piece.
This is so tranquil and lovely...I love those delicate tendrils...they guide my eyes through the piece...:)
It's wonderful!Love the colours!:)
Gosh, this is pretty. The colors are so refreshing and uplifting. I've tried making mandalas on the computer and gave up. Maybe I should try again.
Thanks for the lovely post!