Hello, how the devil are you all. Be warned this is a rambling post.
The other day I had to answer some interview questions and I said that one of the things about this old place that is great in the hot summer months is the old Moreton Bay Fig Tree…a huge old thing, where we have a hammock precariously hung …a great spot to swing and read in the cool…
Later on I was in the garden, which I must say is in need of weeding and a little ahem rough around the edges when I got to digging under the old orange tree…and I thought actually this little gem is a pretty good asset too…
We found this old dear when we had moved into the cottage, all was white, floors were stripped, kitchen and en-suite were in but that was about it… and after the initial zap by a local gardening firm who had to dig in the undergrowth to find the lawn the garden was looking far from good….very bare and very very neglected.
It was a hot and dry summer and I thought there was not much hope of ever getting this place looking good…and for sure I quickly threw all my dreams of an English style garden heaving with laden David Austin roses and things that basically need much water swiftly out the window.
But, when the winter came there were a few redeeming features to the garden, first of all after sitting in many a sloping garden we realised that our 'landscaped' (and I use that term very loosely) flat garden was a boon around here.
And as we worked, interspersed with my whining, we strangely began to come upon the idea that this old place must once have been very much loved….you see, one day clearing the weeds that were thigh high on the right side of the cottage we started to discover the basis of someone's planning…we found a path, we realised that the old blue bench, though particularly hideous had been placed precisely to get the winter sun, the laundry line sitting in the breeze just where the sun hits all year round…and the remnants of what we think was a veggie plot.
…and then we found the tree…it was sort of hidden under weeds, strangled by overhanging stuff from next door and it was full of dead branches, abandoned through years of neglect…at the time it had the odd tiny little green fruit on it which being from a land where ya oranges tend to arrive on an aeroplane and certainly don't grow in your garden, we thought they were limes…
So I stripped that thing back…you could almost hear her sigh as I pruned back the old dead wood zapping her back to life.
Now she still doesn't give us an abundance of fruit, it is definitely a ratty round the edges orange tree…but to sit up here warmed by the winter sun…it's one of my better discoveries…
Well anyway, after all that I actually came here to talk about vintage plates.
Really?
Nooooooooo!
Yep, knowing that you all sit around breathlessly awaiting the next addition of my treasure hunting escapades I thought I'd get some blue and white and vintage china going on…under that orange tree…in the sun…
Sooo, the blue one with the gold is one of my favourite old vintage pieces though I think I seem to write that everytime I mention a piece of old china on here…I got it while shopping at Anthropologie while overseas *wink *wink (yeah in my dreams, I got it from Salvos).
It's a Meakin, of course from the Old Country, the gold gilding mostly faded away now and with a name like Florida Sol, I think it may well have found the right home under that tree.
I love these old vintage beauties…stacked up in a tumultuous pile…and believe it or not, do not gasp, I love the ones with all the colour…
…but today's theme, for some reason was blue
…and the other one, a sweet as little platter, no idea where I found it, oh yeah it was Anthropologie, Johnson Bros, lurving the old painted flower…funnily enough named Moderne…sweetly ironic dontchya think?
Righto I seriously have to get myself outta here
…the BC Boys will shortly be home from swimming about ready to eat the house…
I have a chilli that's been sitting in the slow cooker all day getting spicy…
See you around ladies
p.s. totally off topic, but if any of you have a Black Bean Soup recipe up your sleeve I'd love it (remember I am a slap and dash kinda gal, no fussing…I was thinking about this one, but would love the real mccoy, cheers)
oh and there is a ROCKING GIVEAWAY going on here, check it out
care package winner announced soon
vintage table, tablecloths, stool, jugs, sundae dish : thrifted
vintage china, cutlery : thrifted
white glass : IKEA
oh what a tranquil setting in a good old Aussie backyard.
Delightful Sarah x
What a lovely post Sarah….I really liked the bit about the thinking how your house must have been once very much loved….your house must be so happy that you are living there now :)
I did enjoy arvo tea with you, thanks for having me! As much as I love you vintage plates, (very cute ones there), I really enjoyed hearing about you uncovering your garden! Your old orange tree sounds like a gem, once they get to a certain age though, it is hard to get them fruiting like a youngun again… You could always graft some other citrus onto it?? A lime, mandarin or lemon maybe?
Anyway… dinner is calling me aswell, so have a great night, I hope your chilli is delish!
:) Flick
I enjoyed this rambler of a story..and will say it again–you know how to take a picture girl! You are my hero in that department! Thanks for the tip earlier. Have a great Aussie day!
Amy
Every single image is lovely. What a treat this has been.
Enjoy your day Sarah,
Rene
Thanks Sarah, I enjoyed “arvo tea”. I am rather partial to that last little jam jar. You are so lucky to be able to enjoy the great out doors. We are freezing our butts off down here in the South of this here Great Southern Land.
Love afternoon tea, esp at BC
I’m no expert gardener but I understand the trick with citrus is to feed them… slow release pellets esp for citrus will do… around the trunk but also around the drip line that’s where the branches reach out to…they are hungry… so give em heaps!
x de
Hey, those lights are absolutely lovely! Did you make them yourself? (of course you did :)
Thank you Sarah, for a lovely morning. I enjoyed visiting with you under your tree.
Debbie@houseatthelake
What a wonderful suprise to find a treasure in your backyard!! Love the tablescape and the glass jars hanging! Have a fabulous day!
Easiest black bean soup recipe, ever.
One jar of salsa
Two cans of black beans
Two cups of chicken broth
Heat salsa in large saucepan. Add beans and broth. Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer, cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Puree about half in your blender. Serves four. Top with a dollop of salsa and a dollop of sour cream if you are feeling fancy.
I just had afternoon tea with you, in the sun in your back yard! You have the gift Sarah – I was right there, not just seeing through your words but that wonderful realisation about the heart of the garden, that it had been loved.
What a splendid discovery!! I love your tea area, the wonderful glass jar for a candle, the ratty but wonderful dishes. :-)
Everything is so cute… I love it!
You are so funny, I love the way you write. How wonderful for you to have discovered an ORANGE tree, yeah, like Great Britain, our oranges arrive on an airplane. I would so love to have an orange tree in my yard.
Hugs, Cindy S
GOSH. What a lovely escape from the gloomy day we are experiencing, here! First day of summer holidays for my kids and it is going to storm, big time! Oh, well, good movie day : ) Your little garden is precious and I can only imagine having a wee orange tree, as our winters are much too cold. All of the details are so vividly presented–the candle holders, the beautiful mixed-up plates, the pretty linens. Scrumptious!
xx Suzanne
such a restful setting…
What a gift of story telling you have, Sarah. Such a gift! Not to mention your artful photos…It was really nice to see another portion of your life in the Beach Cottage by inviting us outside with you.
Thank you for another exquisite posting…. :)
Oh, and I, too, am very partial to that sweet jam jar!
Hugs ~
laurie@heavenswalk
Yes I love the aussie backyard , we too have an orange tree but after 4 years this is our first year with fruit . We’ve had a terrible lot of orange stinky bugs these past years. Anyway…I managed to kill the lot and this year …Yeh..Oranges. love the post Sarah.
I also love collecting plates of all sized. Even if I can only afford one ~ it still brings me great joy. Thanks for the lovely post.
I just put the kettle on . . . come join me – no garden but a lovely lake view.(and mountains)
Lovely sharing tea and enjoyed your rambling very much!
You always make simple things look so romantic and easy….you can just picture yourself there just by reading and seeing your photos.
Lovely, Thank You!!
Sarah what a beautiful tea! I am in Florida and we adore our citrus. Feeding it 3 or 4 times a year will bring great results. For black bean soup I would saute some chopped onion, green pepper and garlic, add two or three cans of drained black beans. Then add a can of tomatoes, some oregano and a dash of vinegar and salt and pepper to taste. If you can get cilantro throw a little of that in too. If not, you can leave it off. Add a little water if needed and heat through. Puree about 1 cup of the mixture in the blender and then pour it back into the beans to thicken it. Serve with a dollop of sour cream and a slice of lime. Yumm.
I think your yard is lovely Sarah! And there are some awesome bean soup/stew recipes in book The Kind Diet, Veganicon, and Clean Food. They all have delish recipes I think you and your family will love! :D
What a delightful place to have afternoon tea!!
Well MS SARAH…..once again you have transported MOIS to a place FAR FAR away from my own garden…
OMG with the never ending drought we have had in melbourne & water restrictions…my garden..(which is BIG)..looks HIDEOUS!!! front yard okay…back yard BLAAHHH!!~~
anwyay…love the plates…looks a lovely pleasant & relaxing setting…
ps..thanks for the “egg” tip…hey I even managed to BOIL an egg or two!!
xx andrea…with the little swallow chanel tattoo placed strategically on my wrist…with LOTS of stares…I just tell people it is my little “MID life crisis..”..it keeps em guessing!!! lol..
Hi Sarah, Boy is it raining here in good ol’ England but I have just been back home in a good ol’ Aussie back yard under a lovely ol’ orange tree. How lovely that you discovered her and the love that obviously someone had once put into the Beach Cottage garden and now you are there to put love into it all over again. That was one charming post. Bye for now.x
Oh what a wonderful afternoon tea, thanks!!
Looks like a wonderful spot to sit in the winter afternoon sun. Fabulous that you were eventually able to find the ‘bones’ of the original garden
Alison
A lovely garden to go with your amazing cottage? How nice! Can’t wait to see the pics of the garden as you bring it back to life too.
Hey, Sarah, I DO have a great black bean soup recipe, as a matter of fact, I’m making it tonight. Here’s my link, it’s authentic Cuban from Miami:
http://southernhospitalityblog.com/cuban-black-bean-soup/
Good stuff! The sofrito really doesn’t take long to start, & then I just dump the chicken broth all in with it and the beans and simmer. I don’t spend a lot of steps on it.
We have a bush lemon tree in our yard (paddock).
I just love it every winter I make tonnes of lemon butter and lemon tarts and lemonade- such a useful little tree.
I love your collection of odd plates, I have a collection of cup, saucer and plates that I have picked up at op shops and garage sales. It is fun to set all the odd sets around the table for morning or afternoon tea.
Love everything Anthropologie and to find a piece at Vinnies would be a dream. Unearthing treasures in an old garden can be fun, you never know what little treasures are lurking in the undergrowth.
Aaaaahhh, how lovely…I’m perched on a different coast, half a planet away, really touched by your words and images. There’s something about witnessing beauty – it descends with a quiet grace into one’s heart, I think – and I thank you for your contributions to my heart today…
~Susabella
Lovely!
Made your inspiration board my ‘ Favourite blog Friday’ today. ;)
I love your cottage and seriously need you to visit my little beach place in NZ to give me some pointers on what to do with a very small place.
But in the meantime what colour white do you normally use, guessing Australia have the same brands we do.
Backyard from hell when we bought our place? Tick. Uncovering the care and hours of hard work by another possessed gardener? Tick. Sometimes, I felt like an archeaologist on a dig at our place. Or a soldier in Vietnam. The first job we had to tackle was chop out the running bamboo that had clogged the entire backyard. No more bamboo at our place now. It’s all at the neighbours’!
Lovely lovely images – I am a big fan of jam jars as vases! It’s amazing isn’t it what a garden can divulge? Lou x
How wonderful-just like “The Secret Garden”. It must be so rewarding to bring your garden back to life!
That last plate is so beautiful!!
how come i didn’t get an invite? you know how i love a good garden party….