Welcome to The Willows Journal
Come in.
The kettle’s on.
Somewhere there’s a vase of flowers that really should have had the crispy, brown ones removed yesterday, and if you’re really lucky there might still be a slice of cake in the tin, but the tea is hot and fresh, and there’s plenty to share.
Life at The Willows isn't picture-perfect. Sometimes the tablecloth needs ironing, the local possum wins the battle of the wills between me and it in the garden, and not every recipe turns out as I'd hoped. But I've discovered that beautiful gatherings and a welcoming home have far more to do with generosity than perfection.
If you’re wondering how to create a richer, more connected life in the second half of life, I hope you feel at home here.
I am building my community by issuing one invitation at a time, seeing what works, and what doesn’t, but having fun and enjoying the process along the way.
I’d love you to join me, there’s always room at the table.
Where would you like to wander?
Gatherings
Relaxed entertaining for ordinary people.
Inspiration and themes and reflections on how well things worked can be found here, from a cosy soup dinner for four, to a Christmas in July extravaganza for thirty.
Home and Garden
Creating a thriving garden and beautiful home on a budget
I have promised myself to not kill off yet another garden.
See how many plants have survived my ‘care’ here, and the lessons that I am learning
Spoiler: The Lavender is feeling nervous, the caterpillars are well fed, and I’ve had to ban myself from FaceBook Marketplace for the wellbeing of my budget
Notes from The Willows
Musings and observations, some deep and meaningful and others, frankly could have stayed as a shower thought.
Catch up with the latest news from Notes from The Garden
I told my ranunculus seeds to ‘bloom where they’re planted.’ They have wilfully ignored me. But after weeks of staring at soggy Adelaide soil, the hyacinth buds have finally emerged