Kitchen update part 3

WHEW! The cabinets are up and I am waiting on the counter tops . It took five days to assemble and install the cabinets. We had to trim two inches off the bottom of the base cabinets to accommodate the concrete bases that were built up to keep them off the floor. The two cabinets by the stove area were installed directly onto the tile floor so no trimming was necessary. The tiler will resume tiling when all the counter tops are in place.

Joy Joy Joy!

pink cassia

remember this landscape a few months ago?

garlic vine buds

Mango.....fruit of the Gods

a tree orchid I picked up somewhere a few years ago

There is a feeling of joy and contentment in the garden today. Joy of seeing the grass regenerating, flowers budding and blooming, fruit ripening and new leaves on once what were bare trees. My once scorched landscape has softened into shades of green. The rain has been scarce and I am hoping that it will become plentiful in the next few months. My sweet mangoes are ripening and every morning I look forward picking them up off the grass.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day April 2010

this hot pink frangipani has been growing in a pot and is waiting to be transplanted

On Tuesday, I visited my mother Miss Rose from whom I have inherited her love of plants and gardening. She had several containers of amaryllis that were in bloom for several days. I managed to get a few photos of what were the last blooms. My mother loves her plants and loves to garden, even with a bad back she still manages to create pockets of beauty around her garden.

the rain lilies are now out after the recent showers


Welcome to Garden Bloggers Bloom Day where garden bloggers from all over the world post what is blooming in their gardens on the 15th of every month. It was the brainchild of Carol from May Dreams Gardens who has encouraged many gardeners to post photos of their blooms. To see more of what is happening please visit her blog.

April Showers

Bombax cuttings I made last year are now blooming in their pots

Bombax is also known as the shaving brush tree, it really does resemble a shaving brush

the Barbados Amaryllis

pink cassia in full bloom stands out amongst the tree tops

We finally had some rain showers the past few days, it is not enough however I am happy. The garden has a spring like air since the recent showers. The grass is making an effort to regenerate and hopefully soon it will be all emerald green around.

With the lack of rain the past three months, it has created an awareness in me that the world's water supply is threatened on a daily basis. Many countries are experiencing shortages, some are being devastated by drought while others are trying to recover from serious floods. We are facing extreme climate changes that some say have been the fault of man while others say that is the natural cycle of things.

I believe that we have all contributed to some of the changes and the natural changes appear more pronounced than before. The raping of the land for development, timber and mining is continuing with such frightening rapidity is fueled by the hunger for wealth. I sometimes wonder how much money does a person really need to live a sustainable life.
Man is so blinded by his quest for wealth and power that it seldom dawns on him that without trees and water, life will not be sustainable. I ask myself from time to time, how can I attempt to live a a simpler life? I will now make a conscious effort to

• think before I purchase and ask myself what damage am I contributing to the environment

• grow more of my food thus reducing the packaging

• recycle and give away rather than throw away (and hoard)
  

• look around my immediate surroundings to see what I can do to improve and contribute to a better environment.

• I will plant more trees, trees give shade , help cool the atmosphere as well as promote condensation that is necessary for rainfall.

• spread the message about protecting the environment, think it, live it, and breathe it

I have just finished reading and viewing Newsweek 100 places to remember before they disappear. This was an eye opener and disturbing. No person nor country is immune to this phenomena. Perhaps we need to see for ourselves rather than hear from others.

Friday's blooms are full of grace

These stunning white water lilies are called Alice Tricker developed by William Tricker in 1939. They are extremely fragrant and are the stars of my pond. The blooms measure approximately seven inches (18cm) in diameter. These I find are very difficult to propagate.

It has been overcast for several days now with very little rain in my locale. I am still hoping for a serious downpour to quench the dry earth in my garden.

Have a great weekend and happy gardening!

Kitchen update part 2

The arch or alcove as one blogger correctly describes it, was the original fireplace where the household cooking was done in times bygone. The stove will go here, flanked by two base cabinets.

the ceiling is finally completed

I decided to go online and order my kitchen cabinets after waiting three weeks for a local man to start. I was tired of waiting so I decided to try my luck online. I was pleasantly surprised when they arrived. I had to pay the customs nearly the cost of the cabinets. It still worked out cheaper than getting them done here. I chose honey oak that was the most reasonably priced and I like the simplicity of the design. If I had chosen to have these made here they would have cost me an arm and two legs. I had been searching for many months for cabinets online in the event I had to purchase some. When I finally made up my mind to go ahead, I found a great website that was having a president's day sale. They were giving away a free sink base cabinet if you purchased over two thousand dollars, they were also giving a ten percent discount, free cabinet hardware of your choice, and what closed the deal was that they were giving free shipping to Miami where my shipper was located. I was sold on this company. I called them to ask about the free sink base offer and was told that any size was free if I purchased over two thousand dollars. Within a week my cabinets were shipped to Miami. I got them a week and a half later and they have been sitting in my patio for the past three weeks awaiting installation.

I had put this one together for a dry run.

I had the area above the arch tiled to use as extra storage for pots and pans that I don't often use. It is hot up there!


It has been four months or more and I am still without a usable kitchen. The tiler seems to like taking days off. He worked two days and took three off. He called me up yesterday morning and told me that he got up late so he won't be coming in. Mind you, he lives just about twenty minutes away. Well, I will wait and see if he comes today. Living on this island teaches you patience. Hopefully by next week I will have the cabinets installed and then I will have to do battle with the counter top supplier. Why? Well, the first counter top he supplied and installed was damaged. He later called to ask me if I would consider choosing another colour. I asked why? He told me that another client had fallen in love with the same counter top. I told him that I had already paid him for that colour and am keeping it. He then sent his men to collect the damaged one to see if he can salvage it for the client. Lucky for me I decided to redesign the kitchen by putting the refrigerator elsewhere. When the tiler has finished the arch the mason will come in to band the arch edges with white mortar. P.S. The tiler has just arrived, yipeee!

Au Revoir

pink cassia

frangipani

Blooming Friday has come to an end so this is the final posting for it. Thanks to Katarina from roses and stuff who started it all. This however will not stop me from posting on Fridays at all so please check in from time to time. Happy Easter to all!