I have two tables in my Garden Cottage Studio.

The table the roses are on we now refer to as ‘the blue table in the Garden Cottage’.

The blue table has had many lives while living with us, and most likely many lives before Michael and I bought it at the market in Lismore, New South Wales.

January 2003, I was very heavily pregnant carrying Liliana. Michael and I had spotted the the blue table, an oak dresser and a smaller table at a stall and agreed on a price for all three with the stall holder. The deal was sealed with a good old fashioned handshake and the arrangement was that we would return after doing a lap of the market – although it was more like me doing a slow waddle and Michael patiently walking along beside me carrying the fruit and veg we had just bought.

When we finally returned to the furniture stall there was no sign of the stall holder. If you know the Lismore Market, you’ll know it is held in the undercover carpark; in January, it is so humid, and if there is no breeze it is horrible. Cut to overhearing the neighbouring stall holder calling our furniture stall holder in a panic, saying “You’d better get here quick before you lose the sale, I’m worried she’s going to have the baby at your stall!” Michael found me a chair, the furniture stall holder appeared out of nowhere, took the cash, and Michael and I giggled all the way home with the blue table strapped to the roof racks and the other table and dresser in the back of the ute. The furniture we bought that day always makes me smile, and Lil was born nine days past her due date. Crisis averted.

The blue table has travelled from New South Wales to Victoria to Tasmania. Apart from cleaning it, we haven’t painted or adjusted it in any way since we bought it. It has been a kitchen prep table, a hall table, a craft table, a study desk, a breakfast table, a table to put the tv on. It’s spent time in the cottage, in Liliana’s cubby house/Garden Library, and is now at home in my Garden Studio. It feels right that this blue table is in the centre of all the flowery goodness that is happening in there, which is why I have chosen it for my new Blog Journal header photo. The roses on the table are Perpetual Roses that Michael had picked and laid on the table for me.

Love from the Garden,

Jude x

I’m sending out my monthly newsletter soon, click here to sign up if I don’t already send it to you.