Sunday, 9 April 2017
Skooter is on day 9 of 10 inside and has to spend part of every day in the bathroom so that the other cats can go out for awhile.
I noticed to my delight that Allan had bought us a new box of Builders Tea.When I commented on this, he said that enough work had to be done to deserve it.
I embarked upon more front garden weeding to earn some Builders Tea and another reward that I promised myself: When I get the front garden done, I can turn the compost bins before weeding the back garden. Allan took it upon himself to weed a difficult corner by the back patio.I am impressed. This area requires crawling underneath a thorny rose. (The big trunk is the blue potato vine, Solanum crispum ‘Glasnevin’.)
My accomplishments:
Oh well! You can see I did not get to erase “front garden” from the work list.
I was tired and sore and pleased to be indoors with time to read an entire book (one with lots of photos) about The Rural Studio.
How very cosmic is was that I discovered the fascinating topic of Samuel Mockbee and the Rural Studio.
First, Our Kathleen sent me a link to a fascinating piece of real estate.
The listing mentioned Mockbee and the Rural Studio: “Enter the gates and you enter a private garden like no other. 100s of plants in containers, a grove of bamboo, mature trees and beautiful one-off gazebos and garden features. All of this is anchored by a grand pavilion made from steel and found materials in the grand style of The Rural Studio and Samuel Mockbee.”
We went to see it and were thrilled with the use of recycled materials to make structures and garden art.
At about the same time, at Kathleen’s recommendation, I had read the book Deep South by Paul Theroux. It had mentioned the Rural Studio in a way that piqued my interest.
I read online about Samuel Mockbee and then watched a video about his work.
Now, through interlibrary loan, I had the book to read.
Just look:
I love him, and it breaks my heart that he died of leukemia at age 57.
Fill your eyes with these homes, and get the book to see much more.
A wall of light made of old car windshields….
…reminded me of the gazebo at the place for sale here on the peninsula that had one end made of clear floor mats from cars!
At the artist’s retreat for sale north of Ocean Park:
I have ordered one more book to read on the subject.I wish that in an alternate timeline, I could have been a student there during the Mockbee years. They have a Rural Studio blog, which I will try to find time to follow.
I loved the tour of the place for sale here, it is very close to us and I’ve always wanted to peek inside. Thanks for the continuing story.
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I still imagine living there.
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I have just acquired a packet of Darjeeling and am going to drink it whether I have worked hard or not. Liked the catspaw shot.
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You deserve it for all the miles you have bicycled this year.
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Interesting post from start to finish. You definitely deserved the Builders Tea. I’d never heard of the Rural Studio until you mentioned it. I did explore your link. Oh, and I am shocked. Just yesterday I picked up four clay plumbing pipes to plant and I see you’ve already done this very thing. Wow. I want to plant mine with plants that will cascade down the pipe.
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Thank you! I do love planting in old clay pipes.
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