I love this time.

Well my goal of learning how to use my slow cooker has been completed.  Mastering it may take time, as all things that require mastering must have.  Even though I’m trying to slow things down, I’m finding that instead of twiddling my thumbs, I have more time to concentrate and slow down to enjoy the things I love and want to do.

Right now I’m working on espalier-ing my backyard!  This past summer we did a smooth white stucco over the cinder block walls to make it less jail-like and put red brick along the top. To cover the wall with green is the goal, and so in came my trusty and amazingly talented handyman Dennis who put training wires up to start my espalier projects!

I stopped by Rust & Roses and picked up the iron compass trellis – I think it’ll look darling with some florals climbing up.  The left will be a dwarf fruit tree of some sort I’ll train to grow against the wall but it’ll probably take 3 years and I can add another wire as it gets taller.  The right will be all jasmine to be planted in February.

I’m also going to use an old window pane door I bought last year, pop out the glass and use it as a trellis for my climbing roses that will crawl up our large shed.  Who knew I’d be so into this plant thing.  My 20-year-old self would be rolling her eyes at me right now.

Diana Elizabeth is modeling for an upcoming issue of Emma.  It’s a new magazine and she’ll be modeling floral pants.  She loves printed bottoms!