Bless This Mess...
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| Moon rising over Tahilla Farm in July. |
Hooley Dooley! Has it really been that long since I last wrote a post?? In case you thought I had fallen off the face of the earth...I am still here, in a mess of sorts. A good mess.
Before I start the 'mess' talk, I want to thank you for your kind words on the last guest post, A Military Wife by my DIL, Cherie Henriques. Your words of understanding and encouragement touched her deeply...and me, thank you so much. xx
Back to the mess....well, it's all happening..in the garden and in the house. Since my last post ( in May!!) we have planted a garden, Mr. H and two of my children have come and gone, our shipment from Vietnam arrived last week and with one week to go...Miss Claire is about to embark on an adventure a lifetime with the Peace Corp..in Africa..for two years. Oh yes, and just to make that beautiful mess even messier, we are throwing a party for the construction crew of Tahilla Farm..a way of saying thank you for making the long journey to Tahilla Farm so rewarding. The guest list will be somewhere between 50-80..I think, I will know more soon as the event is imminent. A few things on my plate? You betcha!
Bless this mess of a life of ours, I am grateful...every day, chaos and all.
If you follow me on Instagram you will have noticed it is just about impossible to see a photo without a mountain in it...which I never tire of viewing. I did manage to climb to the top of it with Miss Claire last month. Actually...it was more like her sprinting to the top and me straddling up the mountain between two walking sticks. I can tell you..it was a great feeling when I finally reached the top..and then watching her sprint back down the mountain as I straddled along. ;)
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| From a mountain top...in July. |
It's all about the garden...May, June and July
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| Plants arriving in May. |
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| Garden views early June. |
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| Porch views to a garden in July. |
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| Pots arrive from Saigon in July..ready for the garden. |
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| Capturing the sunrise in July. |
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| A garden grows mid-July. |
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| Miss Claire and Tika swimming at the local pond in July. |
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| My escape...whenever time permits. (which has been once this summer) |
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| Tika finds her napping spot with a view to the garden in July. |
Speaking of Miss Tika...
she is doing just fine!
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| Tika takes to the trails in July. |
And that's the news to date on this steamy morning in July.
I have missed sharing and writing and reading with all of you.
If you have sent me a note and I haven't responded yet,
please know you are not forgotten.
Really and truly!
I have been waiting for a rainy day to catch up..
which hasn't seem to come along this summer.
All in good time.
In the meantime...
wishing YOU a wonderful day!
Jeanne xx
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| Tahilla attire..hiking boots, garden clogs, gloves, clippers and hat and plenty of walking sticks... to climb a mountain. |
More photos on Instagram here
It's all looking so good! lots of hard work, but it sure does show! so glad you have all those good spots to sip a bit of wine in the afternoons and enjoy the view!
ReplyDeleteGot any interest in huge, pink iris or a coral day lily. i need to divide both by September and would be happy to share. Sadly, they do not have pedigrees, altho the daylily does come with a small story. email webb2206@hotmail.com if interested.
Webb...I would have loved either of your day lilies. I meant to respond to this back in July and already it is October. The nice thing about a garden is that there is always next year. Hooray!
DeleteFalling off the face of the Earth nowadays means check Instagram. :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos. Tika looks so happy! I see tall grass and think deer beds. Its good to know things are going well. Where are you going to put your easel? I see beautiful paintings there. The kayak for one is serenity perfection.
Thank you May...I have thought about the easel and all the painting supplies that are now tucked away in our basement. I am putting that on the list for 2017. ;)
DeleteJeanne! I am so happy to see a post from you pop up in my reader list :)
ReplyDeleteYour new home looks more "home" in every update, and I'm glad to hear Tika is enjoying being back with the ones she loves. Good luck with the gardening :)
Thank you Quinn...since this post the garden has flourished even in spite of a drought. It is now going to rest...I so need it to do that!! ;)
DeleteHello Jeanne,
ReplyDeleteTahiti looks so tranquil and peaceful. Tika looks like she is firmly planted and seems rights at home.
You have accomplished so much, I am in awe. Love those pots. I see you have kale growing in your garden too.
Lovely to see you post and wishing you continued joy
Helen xx
Thank you Helen! xx
DeleteMess....glorious mess!! Isn't life wonderful when you find yourself so caught up in the day to day happenings, and so many "routine" details have to go on the back burner, and yet you know those routines will happily reappear later to carry on where they left off. Jeanne, rest assured your regular posts on IG keep all of us in the loop of your life and all the beauty that surrounds you. I must say I will enjoy seeing the progress of the garden taking shape over the next few months! Good luck with the party...what a lovely gesture, one that I'm sure will be most appreciated by all who contributed to the "growing" of Tahilla Farm ❤️
ReplyDeleteThank you Susan! More photos of the garden to come...life is finally settling down. :)
DeleteLovely to see you back and many thanks for sharing the beautiful farm and surrounding landscape Jeanne. Good luck to Claire for her African adventure - where will she be? I'll be in Kenya in September - out in the Mara, my first time there but know it will have wildlife and awesome landscapes just like the other places I've visited on that amazing continent.
ReplyDeleteTika looks like she's settled in well. Your garden is looking good, and imagine bringing all those huge Vietnamese pots to New Hampshire - they must have required a lot of bubble wrap! I know your party will be a marvelous bash - I almost wish I was a construction worker with an invitation, haha!
Happy Summer - hot everywhere on the East coast - we're fading fast here in NC in the near 100 temps and the high humidity making for a heat index of 110F this weekend!
Come back again soon - you were missed.
Mary -
Thank you Mary...as I write in October, I imagine you are back from your trip to Africa. I hope it was spectacular! Claire has been posted to Botswana...the southern region. She is loving it...warms the heart. :)
DeleteHello, nice to hear from you with this present post. You have such a large domaine to take care... And this is summer ! So it is ok to let go of the blog for a while and to enjoy the air, the sky, the field, all that beautiful nature that surrounds you with the mountains in the distance. I too go kayaking on the lake but it has been a few times because there is always so much wind ultimately. When you talk about your children and husband who are away, I feel for you. I wish I could say more and in a better manner but my knowledge of english has its limits 😊😊😊 à la prochaine !
ReplyDeleteSo kind of you to write Joanne and I think you have a wonderful knowledge of English..I understand completely! Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. :)
DeleteAAH.. Jeanne.. lovely to see you pop into my computer today. Thank you for updates.. wonderful pics.. and to catch such enthusiasm in your voice.. soo exciting.. enjoy the celebration party and all plans going further.. ps.. did Henrietta make it to Tahille? x j .. wish you daughter safe travels to deepest darkest Africa please.. and to take care! xx hugs
ReplyDeleteThank you Jean! Henrietta is still parked outside our front door in Vietnam. Soon to become a permanent fixuture at a local seminary. We hope...xx
DeleteYes. You've been missed. The photo update is much appreciated. Lovely. Lovely mess. No, just totally lovely. Your dreams and Mr H's visions realized. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you Marielle...it's been a long four years but I think we have finally got to where we wanted to be. If that makes sense... ;)
DeleteIt's a lovely mess you have. The best type of mess. Your garden will look sublime when all the plants start to grow and come into their own. My brain is full of lovely garden images from our recent trip to England. Of course, nothing like that would survive here but I can't help dreaming.
ReplyDeleteI hear you Loree...wonderful to live in the dream and the photos of those English gardens. I imagine you could create something very special as well. You certainly have the creative talent. :)
DeleteTahilla is looking beautiful...congratulations on your artistry and hard work! And now for a few questions: Where will Miss Claire be stationed in Africa? Best (and admiring) wishes to her. How far away from Tahilla is that swimming pond? It looks enticing...I'd probably live in it during this hot, humid summer. Is it also where you kayak? I'm glad to see Tika looking completely at home already...is Tahilla proving to be her paradise? Is the porch open or screened? Enough questions for now...thank you for posting and best wishes with all that you are doing! Leslie in Oregon
ReplyDeleteHi Leslie..so sorry for the late reply to your questions, life got ahead of me, as it often does. Miss Claire has been posted to Botswana. The swimming pond is a five minute drive from our house. Yes, I often kayak there as well. Tika has acclimated and is looking very much at home at Tahilla. I am sure she misses her friends in Vietnam but is making new ones which will hopefully keep her happy for a few more years. The porch is screened in...we are in black fly and mosquito heaven come May and June. Screens a must! :)
DeleteJeanne I understand about the lack of posts. Every post of yours is a delight, never apologize. LOVE New Hampshire your posts bring back so many memories...I so wonder what NH is like for you after travelling the world...
ReplyDeleteThank you Cindy! I look at New Hampshire as my Northstar...a safe haven from the craziness of the world. Warms my heart every time I return...and stays with me for the days I am away.
DeleteGOOD GOD it is GORGEOUS!
ReplyDeleteEVERYTHING!!!
I will be flying into BOSTON next month and heading up to CAPE COD to see the SON with the food trucks...............will I pass by?Could you meet me at the highway exit?I need to LOOK AT A MAP........then the SON is telling me to fly from Boston to CAPE COD as the TRAFFIC is a bit much.......The idea of a four seater DOESNOT APPEAL.
Keep planting and dipping in that POND YOURSELF!WE will ALL want photos of the PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
XOXO
PS.Someone recently told me you use to write a FASHION BLOG???IS THAT TRUE!
Hi Elizabeth...you have come and gone from Massachusetts and by all accounts it looks like you had a fabulous trip! Yes...I did write a fashion blog, it is posted at the top of my page. CJ..Style Notes. A reminder for me to try again when time permits. xx
DeleteWonderful post I do feel like I am living there with you and to have put in a garden always, to me, makes a home complete. Enjoy it all you have put so much into the 1001 items which need attention.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lesley! :)
DeleteYou HAVE been busy!!! I love it when you share those beautiful moments at Tahilla Farm, Jeanne. It is such a special place. Stay cool, and keep those plants watered.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
L
Thank you Loi...little did I know in July just how much water those plants would take. It's been a journey...but they survived. Phew! :)
Delete"the garden and the house," the Tanilla Farm. And the mountains.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyable project from beginning to the present. Time to pause and enjoy the moments.
Simply beautiful.
Thank you Edgar... :)
DeleteLove seeing the progress you've made at Tahilla! You should be proud of the home you've created. And thank you so much for sharing your spot amidst the mountains with us. Sending love your way, Patricia. ♡
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Patricia, so glad you have enjoyed reading about it. More to come! :)
Delete