Rosedale

A little over a month ago we moved out of the church manse and into this beautiful seaside home.

We didn't move too far - about a mile and a half away from the manse.

The move went well and David and I have been working every spare minute emptying boxes, re-positioning furniture and trying to get things organised.....still quite a few boxes in the garage to sort through, but I am sure we will get there one day.




The removal men were fantastic at getting everything in to where it needed to be, and with David helping too it was done remarkably quickly. 






I felt a little redundant on the 'move in' day - so I took a few photos for us to look back on in years to come. Well when I say a 'few', I actually took well over 100 photos!

I couldn't possibly include them all, but here's a small selection showing some of the garden and house and a little taste of the area where we now live.

The 3 minute walk down to the beach - plenty of benches to rest on if the walk proves too much!

Walking back home along our beach - well we don't own it  - but there is only ever us on it!

The front garden has three raised planters full of pansies - absolutely beautiful.

Yet despite my efforts to keep them regularly fed and watered - one of the planters has succumbed to the heatwave.

(Yes I know heatwave and Scotland aren't two words normally put together - but we have been enjoying this weather since May!!) 


I do have a soft spot for pansies, they remind me of when I was a little girl and my dad showing me the funny faces on them...quickly followed by a horticultural lesson of deadheading and seed collection! 

Anyway, feeling sorry for the wilting pansies I have hopefully salvaged them - taken them up, deadheaded, re-potted, fed and watered and hoping they will survive. 

Both my mum and dad were keen gardeners - and it's at times like this that I am so glad they shared with me their gardening knowledge and tips -  lessons learnt at a young age have stayed with me - I think they may be a wee bit proud of me.

Looking a lot happier now!

People who know me will appreciate that my fingers are already twitching to get into the garden and create something new. Don't get me wrong it has been a lovingly tended garden and I don't really have to change anything.

However, I do have a habit of cutting out borders and moving shrubs around and around, year upon year. So watch this space! I can't wait to make it our own. 

But for the present time I am learning to be patient and to wait and see what the garden gives...


it is already giving more than we imagined....

the current heatwave is certainly helping me sit and plan rather than work in the garden (or maybe I should say -  sit and crochet!)

 and because we have an abundance of garden birds, I am finding myself indulging in a spot of bird watching....

I am actually really enjoying this.............maybe I could be the next Bill Oddie?!

Planning the garden isn't enough though. I need plants on the patios. 

Yes we are blessed to have two patios! One where we dine, chat, entertain and so on ....

and the other which has been affectionally renamed by yours truly as the 'courtyard garden'.

It isn't a courtyard in the true sense of the word, but I like to imagine and dream that it is.
I love this spot, taking time out to sit and read with just the buzz of the bees and the song of the goldfinches for company.

In terms of the garden, this year is so very different for me- the planting scheme is unplanned and my plants and pots will comprise of whatever bargains I can find in the sales - it will make for an interesting display.





Not having any containers was a minor inconvenience - but all was not lost. 

David's upcycling of the bedroom pelmets combined with a huge discount on hanging baskets from Dobbies resolved my dilemma. 

Between us we have created a little place for colour to run riot! 

Ta Da!!

 Never have I filled containers with so many random plants before - I can't wait to see what happens.


Our new house is just perfect.  It has been lovingly cared for and feels so much like home.

 We are so thankful that Harry and Carole (the previous owners) are not too far away and more than willing to answer any questions we have had and probably will have in the future. 

Over the coming months we will beginning to make 'Rosedale' our very own. Maybe a spot of decorating, and if the weather cools down maybe a spot of shrub moving. David has already started to create a workspace in the shed...

ooops wrong photo haha ....
                                      ...this is more like it....

however I think it makes a perfect bird hide.....

There'll be more photos of our home and garden at a later date as we begin to put our own mark on it.

But for now I am taking a moment to pinch myself. Maybe it is too much sun? Or too much dreaming in the courtyard garden....but I keep asking David - "What have we done to deserve this?"
His reply "We haven't done anything to deserve it - it's all by Grace."

I am so thankful to be living in such a beautiful, peaceful place.

Oh and the name 'Rosedale'....that is what the house was called in a former life when it operated as a B&B....we are not decided whether to keep the name or not...? That's something for us to ponder on.......although it does put us on the map for folks to find us. 

...and yes, we are that close to the beach!

Google says that Rosedale is now closed. Well as it was, that may be so - however, the Rudges say...don't be strangers....if you are passing our way, our door is always open and we would love to see you.