Wednesday 27 October 2010

My Garden

I’ve not yet had a garden to call my own, so I like to improvise.



My trusty corkboard has been my garden for over ten years. I change the photos depending on the seasons. I often take random ‘stock’ photos, if you like, of shapes and scenery which pleases me, a habit that has lasted since I was an Art student. These now live tucked under the bed in various collections, waiting for the day I bring them out for a moment of corkboard glory.


My cat Abigail rather likes gardens and doesn’t mind if they are fake. She will sit in them, or in front of them, regardless. She considers any surface to be hers, especially if I am taking an interest in it, more so if there is a keyboard on which to lounge.


Once parked, so to speak, Abigail will survey her kingdom (or is that queendom?) until I move her away. Then she will give me A Look (and cat owners especially will know the one I mean) and retreat until the next opportunity presents itself.

So sorry I have not been around much recently. I would like to blame it on the following: crisp autumn days, dark mornings, busy bee work, lindy hop, the Victoria line, the silly new trains on the Victoria line that break down if anyone breathes on the doors, collecting conkers, a preoccupation with walking, Hi-De-Hi, Agatha Christie on the Telly, dark evenings, lack of Twirl bars, rubbish home computer, searching for various items in the Room Time Forgot, Disaronno, and eating cupcakes in Westfield shopping centre. Normal service shall resume soon.

40 comments:

Summer Frey said...

Ha, love your list. I think Disaronno alone is a good enough excuse, and one we should all respect. :)

Melody said...

I like this idea! Where I live, the changing of seasons is very muddled (think: very few colored leaves for autumn, no snow for winter). I kinda like the idea of putting together a board for what it's SUPPOSED to look like. :)

Jenny Beattie said...

I miss Autumn. Here we are at the end of the rainy season, which is one of three seasons: hot, very hot and hot and wet.

I love your garden mood board.

Anonymous said...

Abigail considers any surface to be hers because they all are.
I’ve missed your blog posts, but I appreciate them when they do arrive.
Please put me down for a cup cake.

Have a nice day from Boonie

Joanna St. James said...

a cork board would suffice so how do you like your disaronno? do they still run those ads?

Joanne said...

Abigail is looking very Queen-ly surveying her lands. And I love your changing vision of a garden, my little vegetable garden has been cleaned out for the fall and winter, not to reappear until next May :/

Unknown said...

I can see why you wanted to grow up to be a cat, lovely photographs. And thanks for your kind words. Carole.

Olivia J. Herrell, writing as O.J. Barré said...

What a great idea. I love your cork board! Happy Autumn!

And what a lovely cat. Bugsy says to tell Abigail hello. :)

that rebel, Olivia

Jayne said...

Summer - I think I need to respect Disaronno more, and not think I can glug it!

Melody - Putting together a perfect garden mood board is fun. Do try it!

Jenny - Hm, I think I would take hot over very hot, and especially over hot and wet. My hair would be a giant frizz.

Boonie - Aw thank you! You are definitely down for the best cup cake.

Terri Tiffany said...

I read through your list, hardly understood half of it but thought it really sounds worth it to be caught up in!

Talli Roland said...

You've been busy busy! I can totally relate to the cupcakes at Westfield. I have indulged there one time too many.

And such a cute kitty!

Anonymous said...

I like your improvised garden and there is a lot to be said for it; my real garden is wet, cold and a bit sad-looking.

All that walking sounds good and should mean that you can feel justified in an extra cupcake or two.

Happy Frog and I said...

I would never have thought of putting together a garden mood board though it makes perfect sense now you say it! Lovely photos of Abigail too. I shall be away from the blog a lot next month, it happens, bloggers understand! :-)

Ann said...

I love your garden. It is so well kept. Such beauty and all without wearing your fingers bone with the up keep. Lucky you.

Abigail is looking particularly cozy and comfy too.

Ann said...

Love a twirl bar... and hate the Victoria line. Laughed at your dismissal of their new trains! You do have a LOT of stuff stored under your bed. A x

Deborah said...

You have a gorgeous cat --- love her coat of many colours --- very autumn-y. And, the idea of a picture garden; brilliant. We are going through a great autumn on our side of the Atlantic Ocean. Although, it has begun to drizzle. Ah well, at least we don't get too much snow here. Take care and have a cupcake for me.

Old Kitty said...

Those new Victoria Line trains seemed to have disappeared!! LOL! Oh well now I know why! :-)

Awwwww you have the most unusual garden!!! It's lovely and if wonderful Abigail approves then it's just the best ever!!

Not only is Agatha Christie on tonight but so is Wonderland on BBC2!! TV watching bliss!!

Enjoy the rest of the evening! HELLO BEAUTIFUL ABIGAIL!!!
Take care
x

Fran Hill said...

I can really see how a lack of Twirl bars could stop you blogging. Go get some, now!

Anonymous said...

Abigail looks quite cross! Bless. My cat Tarragon is my princess and she gives expressions like that :O)

N. R. Williams said...

Nice to meet you Jayne, thank you for your comment on my blog. I love your pictures. And I'm following.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author

Mystica said...

I can understand. The Agatha Christie on the telly here in Melbourne as well is disastrous because it puts paid to all the work that has got to be done!

Colene Murphy said...

I really hate dark mornings. SO hard to wake up. Your Abigaile is freaking adorable!! Love her cute face!

Unknown said...

You have me wishing my garden were photographic rather than 3-dimensional, too! I planted fava beans way out in the back, where I'll have to trudge 30 extra feet to tend them when it's cold and rainy.

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

It would sure be a heck of allot easier keepin' your garden than my acre of flower gardens here on the Ponderosa! Heeehehehehe!

I love the idea and obviously so does your beautiful feline. She's just gorgeous sweetie!!!

God bless ya and have the best day! :o)

floweringmama said...

Ah, I love your list, what a great list of things to place blame upon ...

Enjoy your garden! :-D

Janet O'Kane said...

If you'd like some images of handsome chickens to scatter round your garden, just say the word. They're not very good in veggie patches (too much scratching) but your cats will be able to daydream about stalking them.

Clair Humphries said...

What a brilliant idea! Autumn is my favourite season and I love all your tree pictures with their orange and yellow leaves. Glad your cat seems to like them too :)

Sage Ravenwood said...

Autumn is the best reason of all for distractions. (Hugs)Indigo

Golden Eagle said...

I love your garden! It's amazing.

Haunting you as part of the Halloween Haunting at Theresa's!

fairyhedgehog said...

I love your pictures of Abigail. She's a really beautiful cat.

Len Lambert said...

Hi! Thanks for dropping by my blog...nice to 'meet' you too! I love your profile description...haha! I like your 'garden'!!!! :)The good thing about that is you don't have to trim or water them, they are always fresh!!! :)

Helen Ginger said...

Those sound like valid excuses. But... what are conkers?

In my office, I have an 8 foot by 5 foot bulletin board my husband made for me. I'd like to see what collage you could come up with for that!

Kristal Shaff said...

Your kitty is sooo cute!!! And I love your fake garden. So easy to take care of!

Emily said...

Jayne, your cat is so pretty! I love her colors-and her name too.:) Thanks for haunting my blog. Have a Happy Halloween!

Elena DeRosa said...

Boo back at ya! Thanks for haunting my blog...love your garden and the name Abigail too!

Jennie Englund said...

Hi Jayne!

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Boo!

I'm here, haunting you back!

Anita Saxena said...

Thanks for dropping by and haunting my blog.

Maggie May said...

I can see that Abigail is a very contented puss and I love the combination of her and the little cork board garden. very artistic.
Maggie X

Nuts in May

Robyn Campbell said...

Fellow cat lover, Eh? We live on a farm with lots of those critters. :) Following you from Theresa's Halloween Haunting.

I love your homemade garden. It's lovely. And Abigail has great taste to like it too.

It's queendom, I'm sure. :)

Elizabeth Varadan, Author said...

I love the idea of a corkboard garden. How cool. I wonder if you could do other corkboard scenes: a day at the beach; a day in the park; etc. You've just given me a great idea about one way to bring a story scene to life.