Friday, April 30, 2010

A Scented Home and a Winner!

So you want to know what 191 buttons looks like? Well, it looks like a lot more than this! Hang on folks, I'll get to the winner at the end of the post. I hope you can bear with me while I tell you about the sensory wonders of spring in the south of France... Just over a year ago I was getting frustrated by the visual nature of blogging, and wishing that I could give you an idea of the sounds that were defining my life as spring arrived. And this year it's smells! We've always adored this unsassuming bush outside the front (side) door, which bursts into flower at this time of the year and scents the night-time garden. It's an ornamental olive - it produces no useful fruit but the smell, particularly at night, is quite astonishing.
This year, prompted partly no doubt by books like Sensual Home and also Simple Abundance (which is all about the senses at the moment), I've been bringing more and more scented plants into the house. In this photo the olive was beginning to wilt, but it still smelled as wonderful, so I kept it there for a while!I also put rosemary twigs onto the front door wreath, which is becoming as ever-changing as my displays indoors - it's good to have a wreath that looks fine alone, or with additions if I have the time. It was great to sniff at it every time we entered the house!
I enjoyed my blogging break and it couldn't have come at a better time - three weeks after ending treatment for the horrid old thyroid virus, it came back again! However, this time my doctor and I knew the drill, and got the tests done and the appointment with the specialist almost before I started feeling ill. I am so, so grateful that I am already feeling well under treatment, and that I won't go back to the ghastly state I was in over January and February. So I got to vist some of your blogs, but not quite as many as I'd intended, given the circumstances. One blog I've loved but just CAN'T leave a message on, due to its spam blockers not liking my wanadoo.fr email address, is Andrea V's The Art of Home. Andrea, I've tried, but I can't find a way to get through to you, except for this! Very frustrating. Anyway - super blog and I'd have lots to comment on if only I could...
j
Is anyone still there? Would anyone like to know the winner of my 191 buttons and 191cm of crochet lace? Oh, you would? Thanks for holding on in there...
j
It's my eighth commenter, The Madhouse, and if you can think of a blogger who deserves it better, then maybe you havn't met the mum of this particular family! Please do email me your address, Jen, and I'll send off the buttons (ready counted) and the lace (still to be sorted), and maybe then see them appear on some of your creations!
j
I'll be back tomorrow with another wonderful scent just for May Day. Have a wonderful weekend, folks.

17 comments:

Elderberry-Rob said...

Glad you're back Floss but sorry to see the virus is back too.

VintageVicki said...

Sorry to hear you've been ill again - hopefully this time its been caught in time.

Well done to MadMummy :)

Michela said...

(who cares? ;-)
Hi Floss, sorry to hear that your nasty virus is still causing you problems.
Your fake olive looks great and matches perfectly with your green candles!
Many congrats to the MadMummy, I've read what she's gone through and she deserves each one of your beautiful 191 buttons!
xxxx

Serenata said...

Congratulations Mad Mummy!

Sorry to hear you have been unwell again Floss. It must be really knocking you about. {{hugs}}

Elizabethd said...

Oh, so sorry to hear that you've been unwell again. You've had enough this year.
Your bush looks familiar but not sure what it is. How lovely that is so scented.

Lululiz said...

I love your idea of the rosemary wreath on the door!
I can't believe the virus came back again, how awful for you. At least you got the treatment real early. Hopefully this will be the last time you have to go through it all. xx

Autumn Mist said...

So glad you're back, and sorry to hear you've been poorly. I think it would be brilliant to have 'smellavision' on our blogs. Think how great it would be when someone tries out a new recipe or when we bring beautiful flowers in from the garden...

Dawn said...

Sorry to hear you are poorly again.
I know what you mean about blogs being visual - every day when I walk the dog i hear skylarks and would just love to share them on my blog!

Lola Nova said...

How frustrating to be dealing with your virus again, I wish you speedy recovery!

I too have been enjoying the perfume of spring, so many wonderful smells and sights! I'm off to check out your links, thanks for sharing.

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Sorry the virus is back. :( Congratulations to the winner!. I love the smell of Rosemary, and have tried to grow it a few times with no luck. I buy a pot of it already planted and is dead within a short time.
Have a great weekend and take care of yourself.

maryannlucy said...

Sorry to hear you are not well again, but pleased to hear that you were able to tackle it quickly. I hope you are feeling better soon x

Unknown said...

Sorry to hear of your thyroid problems returning Floss, you must be good and fed up of it by now. Congratulations to Jen, It could not go to a nicer and more deserving person! Love your smellies, I could actually almost smell they delicious aromas! Happy weekend to you Floss! Suzie xxx

Me and Ma said...

The rosemary looks so pretty on the door Floss ! Hope you feel better soon :)

andrea said...

oh dear, sorry! Tis a bit confusing seeing as you were able to leave a comment last time around. See what I can do about it. :-(

andrea said...

I updated a few items in my blogger account Floss, so I hope that does the trick. I like your rosemary garland by the way. Amazing what a lift herbs and scented foliage can give to the atmosphere of a home. Nice place you've got there.
Andrea

Julia said...

I hope you get back to par soon, no fun feeling out of sorts.

My lilacs are in full bloom as are the Lily of the Valley. I love their fragrances. I love all the fresh, pure fragrances that come with Spring. Tomorrow my mom, sister, and I are headed to a Lilac Garden. Can't wait to stick my nose in bloom after bloom.

Congrats, Jen! What will you do with 191 buttons?

Jill said...

Well done to the winner, glad youre feeling better

Hugs RosieP x