Its A Wild, Wild Life.............

Hello there and welcome to Monday, a little late in the day here but Monday all the same.

I hope you all had a lovely weekend, I certainly did despite having to work Saturday.

I felt I needed some smaller 'makes' for my stall, so today I have been drawing, snipping ironing and sewing up some yet to be filled Lavender Bags.

First up I snipped into an old doiley and mixed it up with some polka dots.

I love the combination of colours..........red, blue and yellow, very vintage looking.

The rest of the Lavender Bags have wee houses on them, click on the pic to get a better look.

Lots of nice and bright,eye catching polka dots.

Sorry about the pants pic.............

Another three to be made up...............

So, after a bit of playing it's back to the usual 'makes' for my stall.

I'm thinking of doing another market next month, so I better stop talking about what I'm going to do and get on with it..........

I'd like to introduce you to a little visitor I found womble- ing around my yard today.

It's an Echidna, or Spiny Anteater.

I had spotted it out in the paddock yesterday and today it has come into the house yard.

It might be small, but it's certainly not slow.

They have very powerful legs for digging and they're like a mini tank barrelling along and not letting anything stop it ...........well almost.

A baby Echidna is called a Puggle ( although there is some dispute about this) I think that is such a cute name.........

I don't think our rooster was too keen to see it enter the chook run.

It followed the fence line till it found a space under a gate and disappeared into the orchard.

Wild life of a different sort.............

The late flowering Crab Apple is covered in a frothy, sea of beautiful blossom and some little beetley critters were enjoying the bounty.

No idea what they are, but there were quite a few of them, on the flowers and flying around and not just by the Crab Apple but in other areas of the garden as well.

If you have any idea what these beetles are I would love to know.

I did a search online, but couldn't see anything resembling them.

The roses are starting to bloom at long last and this beauty is Abraham Darby a stunning David Austin rose.

Wont' be too long before I can cut a few bunches to bring inside.

Fresh flowers in the house, on my bedside table and in the bathroom...........

There have been a couple of interesting visitors recently.

I found this young Magpie sitting in the garden Sunday morning.

It wasn't moving and it let me get close enough to touch it.

Obviously, it's just learnt to fly, but was struggling a bit.

It was still covered in alot of down with a few wing feathers.

I couldn't see mum anywhere and was worried that it had been abandoned.

I rang a friend who's a Wildlife Carer, Jo advised me to just keep an eye on it.

She said the Magpie mum would be around somewhere, but it was a warm day, so I put a dish of water next to it.

Mum eventually showed up and the baby followed her around the yard. I had to go out and when I returned a few hours later they had both disappeared.

It's nice having these interesting visitors, I much prefer them to the long, brown, slithery kind which can be found at this time of year !!

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It's been fairly quiet here in the Sweet Birdy Love household, with the boys being away for a few days but they will be home in a couple of hours which will be lovely.

I have been busy doing all those houseworky things that I have been ignoring for a little while, lol.......

It's been a dull, overcast day here and trying hard to rain. We haven't had any decent rain for close to a month and with the warmer days the garden is drying out. I don't want to start the watering regime just yet..............

I even did a load of washing and hung it out hoping that might help the clouds drop their load and give the garden the drink it needs, but sadly they didn't and the washing dried, hehe........

Well, I have some Lavender Bags to fill, so I'm off to do that now.

Thanks for swinging past to check out my ramblings, it's nice to have you come visit.

You know I like interesting visitors.......

Till next time, take care,

Claire X

P.S. It's raining, woohoo...........finally.

I can hear it running down the spouting, but more important I can hear all the plants enjoying a drink, hooray.........

Snip, Knot, Stitch

Hello there and welcome, thanks for stopping by.

It's been a little while since my last post, but I haven't fallen off the radar completely...........

Last Friday I looked out the window and saw the approaching storm, so I threw on my boots grabbed the camera and raced out into the paddock to take a few pics.

I loooove the wonderful inky blue clouds contrasting with the Pale pink prunus.

Well, the storm veered away from us and we just got a light shower, but the recent rain has finally put an end to the delicate blossom............so till next Spring.

Tuesday I had to head over to Corowa and on my way home, racing (within the speed limit) against the clock to get back in time for work, I spied this Canola crop.

As you can see it was an overcast day but this splash of yellow across the paddock was just stunning, so I stopped and took a couple of pics to show you.

As usual the photo doesn't do it justice, but for all of you who are experiencing a mellow Autumn

and perhaps needing a bit of colour to brighten up your day, well, this is for you.

Looky, looky what I received from a friend.

This cotton reel "tree" complete with lovely vintagey wooden reels belonged to my friends mum and he didn't have any use for them, nor did his wife, so he thought I might be able to use them.

Use them, are you joking, I just love looking at them............love the two little half reels on the top and bottom row.

I also received another little carry bag full of various cottons.............I was thinking of asking about any old tins of buttons that might be lying around, unloved and gathering dust, but didn't want to push it.

One day, when the spare room becomes my sewing room this little 'tree' of cottons will hang on the wall somewhere.

Ok, so I've been busy sewing, that's why I haven't been blogging, so here's a couple of pics of the latest 'makes'........

Some blanket bunnies and my little lop eared, cashmere bunny.

She's lovely and soft and loves to be cuddled, she has a sweet vintage embroidered heart on her.

Flip, floppy, polka dot ears and turn her around and what do you find?..........

Lovely vintage embroidery.............

I now have a basket full of cute little bunnies for my market stall on Saturday, so I hope there are some folks who have a bunny on their shopping list, hehe......

Another little zip purse, it just had to have bunting on it.

I am a 'bunting lover' from way back and not ashamed to say it and as the saying goes

In Spring a young man's thoughts turn to .........whatever,

well mine turn to bunting, so I think there might be more in the pipeline.

Ok, who's up for a little garden tour, well follow me then.

I was on the receiving end of some Camellias from a friend, aren't they just gorgeous.

The vase they are in weighs a tonne, so there's no chance of it tipping over.

Boots on we're going outdoors.

After the stone fruit the Nashi Pear is the next to flower.

Certainly has pulling power for the bees.

The Crab Apples are covered in buds and blossom.

I just love the combination of raspberry pink and paler pink.

I look forward to this every Spring.

As I wandered towards the shrubbery, lamenting the lack of variety in the garden what did I spy but this beautiful butterfly.

I started snapping madly, hoping to get a good pic of it but it was flitting and not settling so this was the best. Click on the pic for more detail as it was a stunner.

I don't know what sort it is, as I have never seen this variety around here before, so I was quite entranced by it.

A short tour, time for a cuppa.

It's been a beautiful day and we are heading for 25 deg. on Saturday, eek, I will have to expose arms and legs at that temp. Sunglasses everyone!!

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Thank you all so much for the kind comments on my last post regarding Dorothy.

Pets become part of the family whether they be furry, four legged or two legged and covered in feathers, so I do appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Now while you're all here, I want to tell you about a wonderful giveaway over at Little Woollie,

click on the link and scroll down to Jules giveaway post.

If you like crochet, you'll love this wonderful cushion Jules is giving away.

Hmm, maaaaaybeeeee I shouldn't have mentioned it afterall, hehe.....

Well, I'm off to bed, it's late and I've got to be up before Sparrow pop, so toodle pip

and till next time, take care,

Claire X

Spring Has Sprung..........the Tea Cosy Is Done

Welcome to September and Spring....it's now official

And the Sunflower tea cosy is finished............

ta dah.......

Green and white polka dot lining finished it off.

My creative advisor, aka No. 1 son, suggested it needed a Ladybird.

Thanks for the idea Rich, it has added a little something extra.

I love Sunflowers and I know I'm not alone there...........

There's a packet of seeds on the bench waiting patiently to be planted.

Busy bees doing what they do best.........click on the pic to

see the detail.

Turn it over and there's a saying by Pedro Calderon de la Barca

"Light enchanted Sunflower thou

who gazest ever true and tender

on the sun's revolving splendour."

More floral goodness.

A vase of deep, red Camellias, a little past their prime perhaps, but still beautiful.

They're not from my garden but that of a friend who has them lining her driveway.

Several different colours, all very happy and flowering profusely..........

Another little crafty project I finished this week..........

An order for a bub due in a few weeks.

Apparently mum and dad have a Kombi.

It was a bit fiddly to make on a small scale but I'm happy with how they turned out.

Somehow I don't think I'll go into production though.

Heading outside for a wander on the first day of Spring, the Crab Apple is coming into leaf and bud. It's at least two weeks early so I hope that means we get to enjoy the beauty for an extra couple of weeks. Hopefully Spring storms won't ruin the display..........

Prunus Elvins is already in bloom and as the weeks pass it will deepen in colour to a lovely pink.

As you can see by the blue sky (love the reflection in the dam) it was a perfect day.

A day in which I planned to sew up a storm but feeling a little under the weather this morning saw me spending more of the day in bed than I had intended.

Mid morning, I was up and at it and whilst taking things slowly, I did manage to do get a bit done and get outside and enjoy soaking up some Vitamin D.

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Well Spring, you are very welcome, although I am a little sad to say 'Farewell' to Winter, I know that there will still be quite a few evenings spent in front of the heater enjoying the cosiness ............

I hope wherever you are, you can enjoy the changes a new season brings.

Thankyou all for visiting.

As the week draws to a close, I hope it's been a good one for you and you have been inspired by the beauty around you.

Till next time, take care,

Claire X

Did You Know Dogs Laugh?

Yes, it's quite true, dogs do laugh, but they laugh with their tails......

They even smile too.

Wee Jock will be laughing and smiling as soon as he's had his walk.

Another little needle book I made recently (click on the pic to enlarge)

The quote is by Max Eastman.

Wee Jock is standing amongst the purple and yellow daisies with that 'look' on his face.........

How can you resist him?

Looks like someone should've wiped their muddy little paws.........

Two posts ago I commented that needle books were the 'happening thing'.

I think that may have confused some readers, thinking that it was the latest trend in Blogland.

What I meant was, it's the 'happening thing' here at Sweet Birdy Love......

Mind you if it were that easy to start a trend then I'm up for it, hehehe....

I'm in production mode for a market on Saturday and possibly Sunday morning (if I have enough stock left...)

Another batch of bunnies and a couple of different breeds amongst this lot.

They don't particularly like having their photo taken, especially when Tigger is eyeing them off.

They tend to be a little camera shy, but I love their cute little tails.

Don't forget "Bunny hugs are best"

If you haven't cuddled a bunny recently then you are missing out.

The last two days has seen us descend into some very Wintry weather. It got to 13deg. yesterday, brrrrrrr...........

So you know what that meant? Yes, it was time to light the heater. No 1 waited till I got home from work on Monday afternoon as he knows how much I enjoy doing this.

I stopped in at the shop on my way, to pick up a bag of marshmallows as mugs of hot chocolate with 'marshies' are mandatory when it's cold.

We've had quite a bit of rain which has been lovely as the garden was starting to dry out.

So nice to hop into bed and night and go to sleep with the sound of rain on the roof.

As you can see in the above pic, all the Maples are colouring nicely and the "Wild Wood" full of Silver Birches is turning a lovely, buttery, golden colour. The leaves remind me of crispy, cornflakes.......

This Crab Apple had a mantle of beautiful burnished leaves yesterday.

I should've taken a photo then, but it was raining.

Just a few left today but still beautiful in it's bareness.

The top of the Ben, covered in cloud.

Monday afternoon as the sun was setting it just brushed the tops of the hills, giving them a golden, glow.

I had to take a pic, unfortunately it doesn't do the view justice, but believe me it was beautiful.

I hope your week is going well and you have found moments of beauty, that take your breath away.

Thanks for popping in for a visit and to all those who take the time to comment, it's lovely to hear from you.

Well, I'm off to do some dishes, tidy up the mess I have made sewing and then get ready for work.

Till next time, take care,

Claire X

Sunday Morning Snaps

Thought I might try out hubby's new camera, I refer to it as 'the beast'! It's quite alot bigger than my 'pocket rocket' camera which fits perfectly in my hand bag.

Unfortunately my little camera is playing up so until some clever person can fix it for me, 'the beast' will have to do.

I took 'the beast' for a little roam around the garden Sunday morning. A beautiful , sunny morning, I was a little bit snap happy, but have just chosen a few favourites to share with you all.

These Tulips just keep coming up year after year, creating a splash of colour in my front garden.

The cat has his afternoon nap in this garden bed and the chooks often head around here when my back is turned and they scratch away the mulch but these Tulips keep on keeping on.

Their colour is stunning and the camera has captured it perfectly.

The standard roses above the Tulips are Camp David, beautiful ,deep, red roses, with that wonderful rich scent. I love them, they provide me with many blooms to cut and take inside and fill lots of vases with.

Crab Apples, don't you just love the combination of raspberry pink buds opening to a paler pink, mixed with the green leaves.

Click on the photos to enlarge and enjoy all their beauty.

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous.

The Nashi Pear is flowering. Love the contrasting little black 'dots' on the stamens inside the flower .

If you have never had a Nashi Pear, it's like a cross between an apple and a pear and they are lovely, sweet, juicy and crunchy.

Can't wait until the tree is fruiting.

When you are out in the garden working away and need a break, just grab one of these and sit in the shade and enjoy it, mmm................

Yes, more book covers . Three very different styles.

The chicken fabric has been sitting in my stash for way too long, so I whipped up a couple on Saturday afternoon while I watched the AFL grand final. I'm not a huge football fan (or should that be a huge fan of foot ball, hmmm! ) but this game had me on the edge of my chair for the last ten minutes or so.

In the end it was a draw and they have to come back next Saturday and do it all over again.

I was quite happy with how this turned out. It's a bit different for me but I think it's quite cute and I found a lovely saying to go with the picture:- "Man's heart away from Nature becomes hard." Standing Bear.

Whoever Standing Bear was or is, I think he made a very good point, don't you?

This week is a busy one with work, so not alot of sewing will be taking place. I will have to wait till Saturday before I can really crank up the sewing machine.

I hope your week is a productive one and full of creative moments.

Don't forget to take the camera with you and snap some of the beauty around you to share.

Till next time, take care,

Claire X