When I was a young girl, I loved the book, Harriet the Spy. The book is about a smart and very unique girl, Harriet and her past time of carrying a notebook and spying on people. I remember that she followed her nanny around and that she visited a conservatory and another place that had velvet wallpaper. The conservatory and wallpaper memories may be false but the nanny stalking was confirmed through Internet searching. In any event, just let me have my conservatory and velvet wallpaper. Harriet, spying her way through New York City was an experience far removed from my almost semi-rural upbringing with my five brothers, parents, dog, many cats, and homing pigeons.
I too, love to observe people. I’m pretty good at it, which is not bragging because as a psychologist if I did not have this skill, I would be incompetent. On my neighborhood walks, I sometimes find myself using my observations of peoples’ homes and gardens as clues about what the inhabitants might be like. It is kind of a mental puzzle that I do without really thinking about it.
There’s a house I’ve walked by probably thousands of times in the 13 years I’ve lived here. Several years ago, I noticed that the rose garden had gotten overgrown. I could tell that it had really well taken care of at some point due to the number of different varieties. The house also looked a bit in disrepair. A couple of years later, I noticed that the yard had gotten cleaned and new plants had been added. The house got painted and updated. I figured that the house had been sold by an elderly person who had loved gardening but was no longer able to do it and then purchased by a young couple. I used to pass their lovely yard and think, “The older lady [in my mind she was female] would be so thrilled to know that someone cherished her garden and nurtured it back to it’s full beauty.”
This is the scenario I’d developed in my head and it stayed there for a few years until two days ago. Two days ago, I actually saw someone who lives in the house! And she was working in the yard! And she was an energetic woman who looked to be in her early to mid-70’s.
Okay, my new story is that she had gotten seriously ill several years ago and then she got better. Now she is enjoying her home and her garden more than ever!

The rose garden is not yet in bloom. It can be seen in the right foreground of the photo. Also, the other side of the house has prettier plants but that was where the woman was working. I took this photo from across the street. I may be a spy, but I am not a stalker.

I took this photo a few weeks ago from the same yard. I still haven’t been able to identify the flowers next to the primrose. Just as well as I have no room to plant anything new in my yard.
I like to check trollies in the supermarket!!!
That is funny! Well I can tell you that if someone has their peanut butter jar set right next to their apples, he/she is probably from the U.S.!
Lol a good Aussie would have the vegimite jar!!! Next to the bread!!!
Some day I will try vegemite on toast (gluten free, of course) but for today, I will stick with peanut butter on apples.
Ha! Helen, that’s funny. My husband and I make up stories about people too! Usually when we’re at the beach with nothing better to do. It’s fun. Did you chat with the woman, Elizabeth?
Mogatos, I can’t believe I didn’t talk to her. I can’t remember my reason. I must have had a good one because I often chat with neighbors when they are working in the yard.
Love it MyEyes. And welcome to the domain of the stalker. I stalk and secretly photograph medical professionals. And years ago I stalked ex boyfriends. Lol
Ah, ex-boyfriends. I don’t know what I would have done with all of this technology.
NY Stalker, it was my house you walked by, only I’m ~3000 miles away from there, not 70 and the roses have not been neglected for 3 years just the last year. They need pruned and some TLC. The back yard behind the privacy fence also needs major weeding and better control but, like your neighbor in time I too will be vigorously back out working in my yard 🙂
Too bad your furry children do not have hands or they could be taking care of this for you until you are up to gardening again.
On second thought, they looked like they were right where they needed to be when I saw the photo you posted yesterday.
This completely made me think of Auntie Blanche. She could garden the socks off most people.
P.S. Vegemite is yummy. I had a teacher in high school who had Australian parents. She brought us in Vegemite to try, and I liked it. Maybe I’m the designated American who will eat it.
Yes, it is Auntie Blanche reminiscent. Then I ran into the older lady wearing a thong. This also reminded me of our dear auntie.
I was thinking about Aunt Blanche as I struggled weeding on a hilly area.
I agree with Beth’s comment….however, her property was flat (Earlington Flats) and the soil seemed to do well because of the floods that covered it every year until flood control was obtained.
My argument is totally feeble. Blanchie was champion of the bean field. We were lucky if we picked 5 hampers per day. Blanche picked 25! Of course, she never stopped to go to the bathroom….wrong blog, now I’m back to no undies.
So funny. And yes, even on the fertile Earlington Flats, Blanche was a marvel. The best chefs get to use the best ingredients, right?
This blog is turning into the battle of the comics. I love it.
Me too!
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