It really deserves a blog post of its own. In our recent visit to Valladolid, I started to snap a few photos of my mother-in-law's garden. I've always loved this little, energetic, unique woman from the very first day we met and she welcomed me directly into the family. Everyone loves her and she is totally and utterly individual - OK, bordering on bizarre and eccentric! She can't pass a flower bush or tree without sticking a bit of it in her hair; she has an amazing collection of potions containing herbal remedies and oils; she collects elephant ornaments, but only the ones whose trunks are up in the air; she loves and collects old linen, lace, cups and glasses but also a range of utter tat and rubbish that is beyond belief - all with enthusiasm and wonder. She is full of childish whims and fancies and values. And as I looked around her garden, I could see her reflected perfectly in what I found.
Please enjoy and smile at the things she has lovingly, and with huge amusement, collected and arranged around her little piece of home!
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| I'll introduce you gently...nice ducks |
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| And a lovely photo of Ruy and his grandfather from many years ago. This adorns a wall of the logshed. |
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| Ceramic figure, with leaves (slightly dead ones) |
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| Log pile with hidden plastic sword - the blue brush may be just an accident... |
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| An ladybird as a garden ornament...rather old, but not unusual, I grant you... |
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| A favourite glove... |
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| Strange ornament...and an abandoned sock from one of my children when they were little. |
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| Hmmm, not exactly Christmas time but never mind. |
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| Toadstool house found in a car boot sale and lovingly cleaned up |
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| Intricate collection of old chains and a sweet little doll... |
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| This takes some explaining.... |
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But my mother-in-law is absolutely in love with the Teletubbies,
so hopefully, Lala counteracts any evil intent of the above witch! |
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| And we have Po too, just to be on the safe side.... |
I challenge anyone to produce a stranger collection found in a garden they know!!
I think I would get along very well with your mother-in-law, Annie. Her garden is planted with what I can wit and whimsy. Loved this post, which did bring a few gardening friend of mine to mind.
ReplyDeleteI'd love everyone to meet her, Penny and I'm so pleased her humour shines through this post. I really treasure friends and family whose view on life is so much fun! AX
DeleteShe sounds a real sweetiepie
ReplyDeleteShe absolutely is...infinitively splitting so! Axxx
DeleteCan you do a blog on her remedies please.
ReplyDeletePromise to gather the info next time I see her. Axxx
DeleteA follower of childish whims and fancies! Sounds like a good recipe for a happy later life to me.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, Nilly - it certainly seems to work for my mother in law! Axxx
DeleteI just love the eccentricity of her garden. What an interesting character she must be.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely one of a kind, more's the pity. We could do with a few more like her, Ayak. She doesn't stand any nonsense, either! Axxx
DeleteWhat a wonderfully whimsical collection, Annie - a child's paradise. :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat fun for any age, if a tad unusual, Perpetua! Not your average garden, I think. Axxx
DeleteIs the witch a Pelham puppet?? I used to collect Pelham puppets... I've always wondered where I should display them... now I've been given ideas!
ReplyDeleteSx
Now that is a question I can't answer, Ms S. I have no idea what a Pelham puppet is or whether one could have found its way to a flea market in Valladolid. However, I approve of the display idea! Axxx
DeleteI realise I havent been reading blogs during the last week while I have had an old friend visiting...so I'm so sorry I somehow missed this little gem Annie. I love the garden, particularly the witch and the tele tubbies. I also just adore the idea that one of your children lost a sock many years ago, and there it remains...perfect. She sounds completely wonderful, and I am sure that one of the reasons she accepted you so readily into the family, is that you are just a little crazy too ! Lots of love Jxxxx
ReplyDeleteGreat garden, isn't it? I can't honestly say if the sock was 'lost' or purloined for the express purpose of displaying it in the garden....
DeleteI have no such intentions for my own garden and find it very hard to believe that you think I am crazy in any way whatsoever....can't think what gave you that idea....and am, of course, secretly delighted that you do think so. Love to you too, Axxx