Some hours, days, or weeks, the exchange of pleasantries is drowned out by the not-so-pleasant. Or they’re just downright challenging to describe in favourable terms instead of inflicting you all with a burst of rantings and ravings and having my thoughts drift into a negative space, as they do occasionally. I thought it was an opportune moment to spring into action and put some of that energy into painting a few interior walls. As we all know, changing the colour of interior walls has a snowball effect. Luckily, we don’t have enough space, so redecorating becomes all-consuming or expensive.
Honestly, I enjoy painting and viewing the transformation of a room. I have always taken the bull by the horns and learnt how to do things I didn’t think I had the skill to accomplish. Mind you, not all that I tried was a success. One task I managed to learn was to paint the interior and the exterior of a house to a reasonable standard. The first experience was over thirty years ago when I was single with fewer funds; I learnt how to do basic house maintenance the hard way when I owned my first home, as it required a huge amount of love and attention. I set about learning the art of painting by painting the house exterior. While busy scraping off the old paint and slapping on the new, I realised I had an audience, just one young local lad. He was no higher than a grasshopper, though he had a voice that carried a fair distance. Yelling out to me from the safety of my boundary fence, “Hey lady, you not got a fella to do that?” after my initial surprise, I gathered my thoughts and replied, “I tied him to the kitchen bench”. To be fair to the lad, a Pakeha woman living alone, with no man in sight and no children, was not the usual household in my neighbourhood. For days after that encounter, there was a stream of children quickly scootering past my home, trying to see what I was up to next. At least that summer school holidays I was their entertainment if just for a short while.
Back to the here and now, I’ve put away the paint roller and finished for the day, and I’ve managed to scrub off half the paint tin from my hands and other parts of my body. Now it’s time to have a rest and throw together a few words and a bunch of spring flowers. So here are a few blooming flowers to boost your mood and, of course, mine too.
Aotearoa in Spring
Blooming Blossoms
Not all things that hang from trees in Spring are blooms
Freesias
Life at No. 22 
Oh Suz, these are brilliant! Your magnolia really appeals to me too. Lovely to read how you provided the entertainment to the local kids 🙂 Thanks for brightening my morning.
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Thanks Deb, and yes I have a few stories regarding those local lads and their sisters 🙂 Like the time I made some ginger beer and gave them a glass after they helped me out for a little while. Only to hear them yell out to their parents, “That lady gave us beer”. Oh my gawd, I was expecting an angry knock on the door 🙂 It didn’t eventuate thank goodness!
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Oh Suz, that is funny!
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Yes, I had some interesting experiences in that neighbourhood and my backyard was a refuge for some kids from chaotic homes. Even if it was just to carry a weed to the wheelbarrow for me with gingerbeer being their reward.
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There are a few ways of lifting your mood, Suzanne. A pretty new room sounds good to me. Full of spring blooms 🙂 🙂
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Jo, I was very spoilt last week to receive a bunch of beautiful blooms from two lovely cousins. The new colour which is very subtle and airy certainly put a smile on our faces. A good excuse to go shopping for a something new to go in the freshly painted room 🙂
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Hi, Suzanne – I have mentioned this before, but your photography is absolutely stunning. It is definitely show-worthy!! You are extremely talented!
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Thanks Donna, your comments are always appreciated even if you do repeat yourself. Sometimes us bloggers don’t always come up with an original comment all the time. No problem at all, just lovely to hear from you.
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Lovely colors and blooms, Suz. Just like that, our spring has become yours… Where does the time fly? I hope the colors and sweet smells (except for the paint one) lifted your mood some. I’m not having the best weeks myself, so your post was a welcome reprieve. 🙂
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Hi Liesbet, the time does seem to be going by so fast even though seemingly the world as gone on a slowdown in pace. I hope your week picks up and I suppose our bad ones make the better weeks seem a real treat. The change of colour is great and it feels more our home now with small changes.
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You sound like you are embracing Spring on every level. I have some ceilings to paint and I have procrastinated on them for long enough…..next week I too will be covered in paint! 😉 At least things will look fresher then. Happy painting and Springing! Mel
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Thanks Mel, yes I try to be positive though don’t always succeed. I laughed at the thought of you too being covered with paint, it’s fun, like being a kid again. A legitimate reason to get messy 🙂 Happy painting to you too. Look forward to reading about it.
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Hmmmm, doubt that I will ever write about painting… I am usually so tired and disgruntled by the end that I just head straight for the wine bottle!! 🙂
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Yes, after writing that comment I thought what was I thinking 🙂 I love the new look which counteracts the act of painting!
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Thank you for your flower photos, Suzanne. They are a joy to behold. I can see you are sizing up your next painting project there – old bicycles. 🙂 So are you happy with the results?
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Hi Tracey, I got so excited when I saw the cycles in the tree, loved that villages creativity. Les didn’t seem that excited as me, when he realised why I was talking so fast and pointing. I can’t remember what the name of the North Yorkshire village.
I’m very happy with the paint results, so much lighter and airy.
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What? He didn’t even humour you! I love those bikes.
So nice to have a freshly painted room.
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Lovely to be reminded of spring on the first day of autumn. Despite that, it was warm enough for me to sit out in the garden with a book yesterday afternoon.
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Changing colors do have a way of lifting the mood. Those red flowers looked so much like chili peppers, I did a double take. Love the poppies! Enjoy your blossoming spring.
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Gorgeous signs of spring Suz. I had to chuckle at the wee boy and the kids coming to watch your progress. It reminded me of the summer Mum and I painted our house. Got a great tan but I’ve never been a big fan of painting since. I hope your smile is back.
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Thanks Wendy. I can’t say that I am a big fan of painting and there is an art to doing it correctly. What I do love is the finished look and it changes the whole interior. We had an awful blueish/turquoise colour and I wanted a light airy look even though one wall is all windows/door so it had to go.
Good memory of you and your Mum. Weren’t you an extraordinary teenager for helping instead of escaping on foot or bike 🙂
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Mum could be fierce some times 🙂 I always like the idea of these things but I lack commitment. I’m a good starter but less of a good finisher.
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What fabulous photos! And I love your retort about tying a fella to the kitchen bench. Good one!
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Thanks Anabel, what amazes me is that I remember that moment like it was yesterday. Geeze, I must be aging!
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Lovely signs of spring! I really, really need to have a house in both hemispheres 🙂 .
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Now that would be fun, we entertained that idea for quite a while. Not possible now though it was a while ago. Never say never 🙂
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