Sunday, October 14, 2012

Where has all my blossom gone....

.....its blowing in the wind!!!! 

...and I must say it did look very pretty whirling and dancing across the lawn like snow, usually it gets to stay on the trees a little longer than it has though.

The lovely Spring warmth, blue skies and windless days have gone....we have the fire roaring along and we're tucked up indoors! 

Outside at the back of the house, the rhodo's and a green viburnum are making a lovely show.  Looking through the bathroom window with it's opaque glass it's like looking into  a big frothy pink piece of candyfloss...






How would you ever choose a favourite flower!  Each season seems to bring one you look forward to...at the moment the Solomans Seal is making its demure appearance, some people regard this plant as a weed as it spreads quite readily but I adore it...it's so graceful with its arching stems and flower droplets.  It lasts for ages in vases so I pick armfuls of it for inside..its especially lovely in tall containers or put up high so you get the full benefit of it's graceful stems.


I have often wondered how this plant got it's name, after a bit of reading it appears that when the roots are cut transversely the patterns revealed resemble Hebrew characters.  It is also said that King Soloman who knew and believed in  the virtues and diversities of plants has set his seal on it in testimony of it's value to man as a medicinal root.

One herbalist of old thought that it's name was given partly because the root bears markings like a seal - but more because of it's use in sealing up and healing of old wounds, broken bones etc.



This year the wisterias on the verandah are just beginning to flower (last spring some vandalistic little sparrows cut off most of the buds for fun! this season they haven't been interested in doing that...maybe they have grown up a bit!!!)


I have had another session of chemotherapy so have had some knitting time, the second little 'rainbow blanket' only needs a couple of rows to be completed. 

Next project i think will be this x-stitch pattern I bought earlier in the year.


cute aye!...I love the way they are sneaking along....going where?....to do what?........ something naughty for sure!
 So some happy stitching hours ahead.



Tulips from a friend.



"Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love.  It will not lead you astray."

(rumi)


Have a happy week doing what you love.
x
 





Saturday, October 6, 2012

snow in October!

yes!!! snow in October! and it was so pretty...it only lasted for the morning...but a little lingered in mossy pockets ...



until early afternoon.













The rest of the week the weather was pretty nice....all was peaceful down at the pond ..it was very exciting to spot some baby fish in there.



Every year we have a pair of Blue Herons return to nest in the big trees behind our sheds.  In previous seasons they have treated my pond as a 'take-away' outlet! they literally drop in for a snack ...and my poor wee goldfish just keep disappearing...I hope that's not the case this spring.

 
 where the wild things live....



..my garden isn't a tame one.


A lovely wee clematis...I think it's Alpina...but I'm not sure.

I have been doing some more knitting another little baby snuggle blanket with 'stash wool'..


This afternoon some sea air was  required so a quick trip to Fraser's Beach, the sea was quite rough today...the sea spray was whipped up and it all felt so good....




To live content with small means
To seek elegance rather than luxury,
and refinement rather than fashion
to be worthy, not respectable.
and wealthy, not rich
To study hard, think quietly,
talk gently, act frankly
To listen to stars and birds,
to babes and sages with open heart
To bear all cheerfully,
do all bravely,
await occasions,
hurry never
In a word, to let the spiritual,
unbidden and unconscious,
grow up through the common
This is to be my symphony.

William Henry Channing




 
 
In the porch a little basket from my daughter with hellebores and auriculas.

Have a happy week.
 

 


Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Knitting up a rainbow.

The past couple of weeks have held many new experiences for me and having chemotherapy was a bit scary for the first time.  Knitting is soothing for me so I have been knitting up some gorgeous 'stash' wool!!  It's like knitting a rainbow, just simple stitches over and over but the colours are vibrant and happy and all go together to make a bright splash...think it will be a cuddly rug for a little child.  I have finished one and started on another.




The garden is putting on a lovely show for spring!! lots of blosssom and plants emerging !!!! very exciting!


Take time to find something beautiful in each day!





beautiful sky!

crabapple blossom




"And Spring arose on the garden fair;
Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;
And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast
rose from the dreams of its wintry rest."

-Percy Bysshe Shelley


Lots of parcels and cards arrive daily in my mailbox....


exquisite embroidery on a little sachet.....


a beautiful hand painted brooch


and so many other touching gifts, cards and emails.

I put the finishing touches to the mirror frame I had been painting, after a coat of pale colour I used a dry paint brush dipped in white paint to skim over the flowers ...and I really like how it has turned out.


Today I made up a wiggly woggly cushion for the house  at the sea, the stitching is thrifted and in a frame...and it was round....so I ad libbed the stitches and colours and squared it off!! then using 'stash' fabric made the cushion...our house is at the sea is a bit wibbly wobbly and so is the couch the cushion will live on...so it will be very much at home!


" Do small things with great love"  [Mother Thereasa]

Tussie mussie from a friend.