....some little wild things...

...walking down the paddock the other day we came across a nest that had been blown out of a tree a couple of days previously...miraculously there when my husband picked up the nest it wiggled and squeaked and two little dwellers were alive and well....

 

..its a very messy sparrow nest...they are not good house builders...

 

..luckily these wee fellows were almost fledged  and probably ready to leave home soonish anyway.

 

 

..magic moments!

 

..these delicate feathers had come loose in the fall.

And while talking of little birds our pet banty 'Chooky' hatched 5 little chicks this  week, we had put a mix of bantam eggs under her so some chickens have feathery legs and some don't. She has turned out to be a very conscientious little first time mother, and sort of growls at us when we pick her bubbies up.

 

..one of these eggs hatched but the other didn't.

 

On the donkey front...things are looking very scruffy as they lose their winter coats and put on their smooth summer wear.

 

 

 

I never tire of my garden, there is always something to entrance me, every season has it's treasures, the old roses are lovely at the moment.

 

 

The |Lavenders are flowering well.

 

 

Every week friends do lovely things for me, visit, garden, post me letters, give me flowers, send cards  and gifts, bring cooking and baking, I am thoroughly spoilt. This week a friend who sends me little sprigs of Central Otago Thyme also sent me some dried wild flower petals.  Another friend sent me a gorgeous hanky to have for the wedding. It is all overwhelmingly special.

 

 

 

 

It was very satisfying to knit up another teacosy, this time for our youngest daughter...It is a really pretty apple green but that hasn't shown up in the photo.  The adorning bits are the most fun to do...

 

and on the very day it was finished a friend I grew up with sent the little green teapot card....magic moments!

 

A gorgeous, velvety, apricot coloured foxglove that has popped up.

..and on the bedroom wall 2 more gifts from friends.

Have a happy week.

 

...of gardens and winged things......

The week has flown by as if it had wings, two trips to Dunedin in three days for oncology appointments, my lovely oncologist and nurses who care for me, lovely friends who have helped in the garden   (Angels...you just can't see their wings),

 

the garden is looking very  tidy, it has been a hive of activity preparing for Thrifty Foxes big day.

We have had visitations by winged creatures ....

 

...this beautiful moth...

which the candle bag on the table echoes...

 

...a card that flew in from a friend.....some very serendipitous (not sure if this is a word but I like it!)

moments have been occurring lately...

 

While we were relaxing on the verandah this little bird fluttered in to have a drink, such a cute wee baby...

 

...it was a little weary after mastering the aerodynamics of landing....

 

...so stayed to rest a while....

 

...before leaving for adventures unknown.

A friend came for an afternoon of dabbling in water colours....we had fun!

 

 

We had some chickens hatch....2 lots of 4!

 

 

 

I completed a  couple of projects, 

a little jacket ...

 ..a tea cosy for Thrifty Fox, it was so much fun to do!!! I made up the hollyhocks and I think it has a very 1920's look?  ...hopefully a little bit vintage, it's been parceled up and posted off..

The Beatrix Potter cot quilts have been delivered to the quilter, the new bedroom curtains have been hemmed, the sewing  machine has been put away (temporarily) and I have to say it was quite exciting to see the top of the table again !!!

 

"The wall is silence,

the grass is sleep,

Tall trees of peace their vigil keep,

And the Fairy of Dreams,

with moth-wings furled,

Sings soft her secrets

to the drowsy world."

(Ida R Outhwaite)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

mid November musings....

....I have had a lovely week, a dear friend came down from Auckland and stayed and we had lots of chat and catching up.

"To know someone here or there
with whom you can
feel there is understanding in
spite of distances
or thoughts unexpressed
that can make this
life a garden."

(goethe)

  

Sweet William

Yesterday another friend came and we spent the day together, a little looking through books, some stitching and a little shopping, a walk around the garden , a posy swap .... a perfect day.

 

posy from a friend....cute little bird popped in.

"If instead of a gem,

or even a flower, we

should cast the 

gift of a loving thought

into

the heart 

of a friend,

that would be giving as the angels give."

(G MacDonald

1824-1905)

 

I believe a lot of my friends are ANGELS....

As we were having a day together I made some of my favourite muffins, Lemon Crunch Muffins, very quick and   tasty and also quite ladylike!

Recipe

2 cups self raising flour

three quarters a cup of sugar

put these ingreds in a bowl

in another bowl combine,

75 gr melted butter 1 cup of milk

1 egg

grated rind of 1 large lemon

lightly mix wet and dry ingreds put into muffin tins

bake at 200deg c for 10 mins

while hot and still in tins drizzle over

a quarter cup lemon juice and a quarter of a cup of sugar.

....these muffins keep really well.

Serve on a pretty plate, with lots of laughter, a cup of earl grey tea and happy chat! and a little vase of flowers .....
I was so excited to see my friend forgot to do the photo with all of the above !!!

There has been some crafting this week too, I knitted up a bath mat from a thrifted duvet cover, I do love making these.

 

 

 

and so nice to stand on...especially barefoot...

 

or in soft red shoes!!

....and another little hat... I really have to stop!!

 

When shopping at A Little Bird Told Me (she is on facebook)

my friend gave my friend and I some old music and some little old battered much used hymn books, so delightful, it will be fun doing something with them..

the music will be good for cards etc and the wee books will look lovely tied with string maybe and gracing a little table....

...nice at Christmas.

Behind the leaves beside the path....

....in a hidden nest, more eggs were laid and some little thrushes hatched...

...hungry...

..I watch the mother from the kitchen window and she is so busy.

 

A lot of my |Viburnums are flowering ..this is a very lacy one....

... I love this antiqued one...its blush of pink and almost tarnished looking foliage looks beautiful in silver containers and just as it is ...

 ...in the garden.

 

This shy camellia was hiding away but too pretty not to be noticed.

Another visiting friend who makes the tiniest most exquisite tussie mussies gifted this little sweetie to me this week...

 

....how lucky am I!

 

 I have cut out and got ready to stitch up the Beatrix Potter quilt tops, will go and get on with that in a very soon moment!!!  it is sunny and warm and I have the french doors open, I can hear the fountain, the birds are singing , the donkeys call out every so often, there is a gentle breeze blowing the washing ... there is a faint hint of roses and lavender in the air...a simply simple and lovely day.

have a happy week.

xx

.