A thirty year life

13 Feb '07 10:28 am

We moved from our farm home of thirty years, six years ago now .We found out recently that our old house and my garden had been destroyed .I returned to have a look ,but Smiley could not do it -.We had brought up a family ,and one of them said to me " My city friends would have given anything to have had the childhood I had ."
I thought I'd share the pleasures we'd enjoyed.
The first was taken more than ten years ago - a group of pedigree cattle breeders having lunch in our back garden .
Dixie.

13 Feb '07 10:31 am

This was taken from nearly the same angle -the side of house -
Dixie

13 Feb '07 10:32 am

And this from the side of the house.
Dixie.

13 Feb '07 10:42 am

Now it looks like this .The group of people would have all been to the left of the structure - Smiley built it for beans and grapes.The orange tree is still standing -the only tree left.
Dixie

13 Feb '07 10:45 am

This is the front of the house from the driveway.It was 100 years old .
Dixie

13 Feb '07 10:47 am

To the right of previous photo .The podranea put on a magnificent display each summer (The pink creeper on fence)
Dixie.

13 Feb '07 10:55 am

In the foreground ,perennial phlox, dahlias-'yellow star 'and 'Jessie' -archway dripping with clematis montana in Spring.Through the archway was my main Dahlia bed.The blue salvia were a nuisance in that they seeded everywhere,but look fine in the photos.
Dixie

13 Feb '07 11:01 am

I am standing where the previous photo was taken .One dahlia stands timidly -the cattle have been here .
Please don't be sad ,anyone ,though I suppose it is a sad story -People will always be ignorant ,and some have no soul.
I am very happy where I am now.
Dixie.

13 Feb '07 11:16 am

Dixie, It's a sad thing - old houses have little value in this silly country of ours. I think some in NZ are the victims of our far-too-short history, and just lack the imagination to be part of history. You must be feeling quite blue!

My friend recently had to move from her old home (a rambling old villa) to a smaller, more sensible, more modern house. I went back with her a few times - we were allowed to dig out prized rhodos, and roses. I had lots of 'fun' trying to dig though her twenty year old weed mat. I was determined to dig up those bulbs! Of course, they'd been popping through the weedmat for years, when they needed to - no problem!

My friend has now stopped going back, initially she was quite sad when she'd see what the e.g. bulldozers were doing. She'd drive past to peep, and feel very blue.

Our gardens are like an heirloom quilt, though - with bits and pieces from old gardens, friend's old gardens, and the like. There's one friend who I regret I've completely lost touch wth, but she gave me my very first peonies. Maybe one day we'll catch up! She may have forgotten, but her peony rose, a deep cherry pink, hasn't!

Thanks for posting your before and after pix. And while I'm chatting - I've totally given up on the New Zealand cricket team! Humph!
Cheers

14 Feb '07 2:09 am

Dear Dixie, I feel/share deeply your sadness when you look back at these nice photos of your Past . But since you realize how happy you are NOW , wouldn't be more wise to stay in " the Here and Now ", where you truly belong? So! Be creative, open-minded, joyful, optimistic, loving , and positive in your Here and Now, and let the Past be the ended past.

A thirty year life

A thirty year life

dahlias

View from house

Now

The front of the house.

right

through the archway

An Empty space.

something old, something new...

The ended Past..