tasha tudor

Spring Garden Walk has Me Thinking of Tasha Tudor

Posted by Barbara Techel
Spring Garden Walk has Me Thinking of Tasha Tudor
My dwarf lilac tree full of buds!

“It’s exciting to see things coming up again, plants that you’ve had twenty or thirty years. It’s like seeing an old friend.”
― Tasha Tudor, The Private World of Tasha Tudor

It is has been close to 60 degrees this weekend, though the wind has just shifted putting a bit of a chill in the air again. But ah, yes, that is spring – such a tease it can be!

Today I walked in my landscaped gardens which will be one year old next month. And I couldn’t help but think of Tasha Tudor. I discovered her about five years ago and became utterly fascinated with her way of life. She was a children’s book illustrator, lover of nature, tea, flowers, corgis, goats, birds, and living to the beat of her own drum. She lived a simple life and what some would say was a hard life for there was always something to be done around her property. But that is what made her thrive.

As I walked my gardens I felt the spirit of Tasha. I know I’ll have to get my books out again that I have about her. Even though I’ve read them oodles of times already, I’m feeling called to get lost in her world that I find to this day to be be magical.

Being outside and appreciating all that nature gives us is when I feel the spirit of her swirling in the wind. I could ride high on that feeling forever.

Mr. Finch right outside my writing cottage window

To see the buds blossoming on trees and shrubs just fills me fresh up with such hope – and reminds me of what is truly important. These simple, sweet moments of beauty.

My Cherry Blossom Willow tree should blossom soon
Mr. Squirrel drinking from the bird bath

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Wisdom from My Kitchen Windowsill

Posted by Barbara Techel

Wisdom from My Kitchen Windowsill

Every season I enjoy changing out the decorations on my kitchen windowsill. I must admit that Fall is my favorite season to do this. There’s just something so cozy and comforting about it this time of year, don’t you think?

For months now I’ve been wanting to paint a quote I like from Tasha Tudor on a piece of wood and place it above my stove. But it just never seemed to happen. Then on Sunday morning a friend came over- Rachel, a young woman I’ve known for quite some time, but would like to get to know better. She is just one of those people who has an old soul and I thoroughly enjoy talking with her. Our discussions are deep and meaningful which I really appreciate. She and I are working on offering some future workshops together which I’m really excited about. But I digress…

But it was because of her sharing with me how her favorite spot in her house is her kitchen and looking out her window that I knew my Tasha quote would finally make its way to my kitchen. Her view out her kitchen window is spectacular from some photos she showed me, surrounded by woods and her horses, where she also gets to see deer and other wild animals too. But she told me about a quote she keeps on her windowsill that reminds her to be in the present moment.

And that’s when I knew that I would find a photo of one of my favorite authors, Tasha Tudor (who passed in 2008 – oh, how I wished I could have met her!) and I’d include my favorite quote on it from her – ” I don’t believe in hurry.”  It is perfect sitting on my windowsill where I now see it several times a day.

And it’s a reminder to s-l-o-w down when I find myself trying to rush through life- but a practice of being more in the present and believing that everything will get done and will happen as it is supposed to, that I find this quote helps remind me of that. Every time I read it I immediately feel calm and at peace.

Thank you to Rachel for the idea it inspired and thank you to Tasha Tudor for the quote that I find much comfort in.

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This quote from another favorite author, now gone, Gladys Taber — as seen in Susan Branch’s (yet another favorite author of mine – and still with us!) book, Autumn from the Heart of the Home.

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A New Visitor to Our Backyard. Come See!

Posted by Barbara Techel

It was perfect last night in the low 70s for a fire in the chiminea. The humidity that had been upon us for quite some time, now gone, and a welcome relief.

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It was so quiet and still in our backyard with just a wee hint of fall in the air. The geese have started their nightly routine of flying overhead from the field behind our house, like runners gearing up for a marathon. There was also a Sandhill Crane family that graced us with their presence as they glided above our heads, too.

The sun, high in the west during the early summer, now shifting further down on the horizon. All this life of nature around me is such a comfort and feels like a warm security blanket wrapping itself around me. And cue my favorite song  I play over and over as fall begins to gracefully ebb it’s way to us…and which I’m playing over and over as I write this to you today.

…And we had a new visitor last night. One we’d never had before… A hummingbird moth! They are one what they call one of natures incredible mimics. They are fascinating to watch and not so afraid as hummingbirds tend to be. He was a busy, fast, little fellow so I had a hard time capturing him through the lens. But here is what I got for you to see and enjoy along with me!

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If this photo would have been a wee bit clearer, I think it would have been a much better shot.

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Here you can see the little guy suckling up the nectar inside this petunia which is hanging over the end of my wrought iron dachshund that sits outside my writing cottage door. It looks to me like the doxie statue is enjoying our new friend, too!

The hummingbird moth stayed around for quite some time and if anyone would have taken a picture of John and I it would have surely shown two smiles grinning from ear to ear as we enjoyed each moment with our new visitor.

Such are these simple moments that make my heart expand that I give thanks for. And I do hope that our new friend will come again. But for now, here is a short video I found on Youtube that I thought you might enjoy of the miracle that is the hummingbird moth.

And a quick update on the second batch of baby Robins in the hydrangea tree right outside my writing cottage window…they have spread their wings and flown the nest. I was a bit melancholy  this morning when I went out to water and they weren’t there. But I noticed one of the branches of the tree had broken, so I cut the hydrangea blossoms hanging from the limb, placed them in a vase, and I’m enjoying them on my writing desk behind the photo of a woman I greatly admire for living by the beat of her own creative and meaningful drum, Tasha Tudor.

Both serve as a reminder of how nature is always changing around us, the lessons of living a creative and meaningful life, and that life marches on…and that I need to get on with it too.

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Happy Monday to you!

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