A New Adventure Begins.....

A year full of 

possibilities,

 opportunities 

and creativity

 stretches ahead of us girls.

Are you excited?

I am and I look forward to sharing 2013 with you all.

The weather is warming up, we're looking at 40 deg. tomorrow eek!!

  Sulphur Crested Cockatoos  have been making their presence heard out in our paddocks for the past week. 

 Circling the house and screeching loudly when disturbed.

I'm worried they have their beady eyes on our ripening nectarines!!

Today, I stayed in aircond. comfort, plugged in the sewing machine for the first time this year and turned one into a pincushion!!

 I think there might be a flock of them here by the end of the weekend. Thankfully these aren't the noisy variety!!

With neither map nor compass I am heading in to new territory this year.....I think it's called an adventure!!

I'm enjoying the process and finding my way slowly.

No rights or wrongs, just following my instincts.

The holidays have passed and things were very relaxed in the 

SBL household.

 Christmas week was very pleasant weather wise and Boxing Day was spent with family relaxing by the Ovens River at Mt. Beauty...

 Home grown Nectarines were picked to share with friends.

Stone fruit would have to be my Summer favourites.

Sun warmed and eaten straight from the tree, what could be tastier?

The excess will be poached and put in the freezer to enjoy later in the year.

Let's head outside to see what's happening, grab your hat......

As the temps rise and things slow down in the garden, Gardenia Radicans come into their own.

These sweetly perfumed flowers find their way onto my bedside table and into the bathroom.

I love the pure white of these little gems.

Daylillies....here today and gone tomorrow, but a stunning

colour to enjoy whilst in bloom.

They don't seem to mind the heat at all.

The Hollyhocks, continue to flower and this lovely pink bloom reminds me of delicate, crepe paper flowers made in primary school.

Two big, fat buds behind the bloom are waiting to burst open.

Love the little 'frill' running vertically on them.

The Cherry Toms are ready.....

A few roses I picked to avoid burning in the heat.

Apart an initial burst of flowering they have slowed down, so it's nice to be able to pick enough to bring indoors again.

The first Zinnia of the season popped it's head up on the last day of 2012......

I've been thinking about the new year and what it might bring quite a bit.

I set myself a few goals...

 One of them is to to knit a pair of socks this year and I see that I'm not alone in this goal. 

I've been inspired by Alison over at Tweed Delights  who knitted two pairs of socks recently and can now join the 

'Sock Knitters' club....

Using time wisely and being more focused is another.....
it will be interesting to see how I go with that one.

I now have a 'Sweet Birdy Love' page on Facebook.  
If you would like to visit take the link, 'Like' my page and you will receive my updates.
I will put a Facebook buttony thing on my blog once I have figured that one out.....all tips gratefully received.

Well, here's to the start of something wonderful, thanks for visiting and I hope you are all well and enjoying the new year.

Take care,

Claire x

All Work and No Play etc..........

Hello girls, how are you all?

Finishing off some hand made gifts for Christmas pressies, or perhaps you're just starting!!

Bit like me leaving things till the last minute......

I'm busy stitching for the last market of the year in Bright this Saturday.......

I need to stock up on tea cosies and an old design has resurfaced but I have tweaked it a little and am a lot happier with how it looks.

I just can't seem to get enough of these furry, little, bumbling bees

The amount of roses blooming in the garden has dropped off significantly, so I have been enjoying stitching some....shame they don't have a scent!

 I have wanted to do a garden shed design for quite a while.....

I'm reasonably happy with this, but the next will be tweaked quite a bit.....I'll just see if this one sells first!!

Exciting news from the garden....my first ever Hollyhock has bloomed.

I have waited patiently and watched it grow and watched the ants crawling over it...not sure what they're after but it can't be good!

I've watched leaves get rust and shrivel but finally I have  a flower.... a beautiful red.

I love it combined with the purple/blue Larkspurs.

Julie if you're reading this, you were the inspiration behind me planting some Hollyhocks, so 'thankyou' x

The Larkspurs are also a first in this garden and have put on a pretty display. Their floppy habit is a little annoying as any wind sends them over, but it's been nice to see more variety and colour in the garden...... 

This morning's sewing was about something I had to do.....not necessarily wanted to but it had to be done. 

Fortunately, there was still time to play and I quickly snipped and stitched a little design onto a piece of the 'new' blanket  I picked up from the op shop on Saturday.

It's going to be a gift for an artist friend who has fallen in love with Zinnias after I gave her a bunch of them last season.

She loves bright colours and these flowers fit the bill.

I was thrilled with how they turned out....

I love orange and hot pink together, the black stitching tones it down a little but it is definitely bright!! Just a little more stitching needed to finish it off.....

A little friend who hitched a ride into my kitchen hidden in a bunch of flowers I had just picked......

Once the fun part of a tea cosy has been put together and stitched it's onto the mundane part of putting it all together and that's what I will be doing tomorrow.

 There is a little stack of them and the snipping, pinning and stitching takes quite a bit of time.

But, if I'm very good and get into it hopefully there will be more time to play. 

I am keen to stitch up some more Zinnias.

My self sown Zinnias are popping up everywhere in the garden, but where they should be. 100's of the seedlings are growing up through the gravel path and I must pull them out but haven't the heart too.....

The weather has been quite pleasant here this week. Saturday was rather warm but it has cooled a little since.

The nights are still cool enough to sleep well and pull a blanket up in the early hours.....

Rain is forecast for later in the week and the garden could do with a lovely 'natural' drink.

Well, that's it for me, I have a new issue of Mollie Makes, which I picked up this afternoon, so I want to have a browse before lights out....

Thanks for visiting girls and I hope you are having a lovely week,

Take care,

❀❀❀ Claire ❀❀❀

March Madness

Last Thursday March 24th. this was the view as No. 1 and I had coffee at our favourite Cafe, Sticky Tarts.

It was quiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeet, a couple of tourists had arrived early in preparation for the folk festival, but you didn't have any trouble getting a table or a seat.

Unfortunatley I didn't take too many pics over the course of the weekend. Guess I was having too much fun to even thin about getting the camera out. You all know how it is. You get home and think 'oops, no pics!!'

Looking down the street, hardly a soul to be seen.

We knew it wouldn't last long...........

24 hours later the 'joint was jumpin'

We had some rain on the Thursday which was really lovely and gave everything a spruce up.

So here we are back at Sticky Tarts on Saturday morning for breakfast, a slice of fruit toast and sourdough toast and my favourite mug for a coffee.

We put in an 'order' for good weather over the weekend and that's what we got.

Beautiful, sunny days, not too hot and lovely cool evenings.

Couple of spare sets around the table anyone like to join me?

We were in town early as hubby being chair of the committee had numerous responsibilities over the weekend.

None of this relaxing and enjoying the acts.......

Saturday nights venue for the community dinner run by the primary school.

Just setting up at this point, under the trees, listening to live music, a fun evening.

The wheelbarrow in the background is great for collecting dirty dishes....

The market on Sunday attracted thousands of people.

Lots of stalls selling a variety of different goods.

A nice shady location under the oak trees.

This is the Marquee down at the sports park where there were two music venues.

I took this early Sunday morning, alot of folk were sleeping in........

Tables and chairs were set up under the trees and there were food stalls so you could have a meal, rest your weary feet and enjoy the atmosphere.

A pic of the path heading into the sports park. It was lovely wandering along the path running next to the creek.

Meeting new folk, catching up with locals. All in all it was a very successful weekend.

Alot of work goes into the organisation of such an event and it couldn't be done without the army of volunteers and helpers who give up their spare time.

I've hardly seen my hubby for the past 6 months or more. He has spent each evening on the computer in his study, organising performers, sending out emails, taking phone calls. It's been full on.

Hopefully, we'll get some time together now that the festival is over.

Is he going to chair the committee next year?

Hmm, I haven't asked this question, not sure I want to hear the answer........

No. 1 had 4 sets over the weekend and had a ball. He loves playing in front of a home crowd and everyone is very supportive. Plus it's only a 5 minute drive home......

Things have really quietened down and it's back to the normal routine.

On a completely different note, in fact let's do a complete U turn here.

I just wanted to share these with you.

Smiths Flavours of the Nation chips, Lamb and Mint.

.

I spied these at the supermarket Wednesday.

Have I never noticed these before?

Has anyone else tried these?

I had to buy a pack, I was intrigued, can they really taste like lamb and mint?

And the answer is, well, yes, you get a real mint hit, but there is also a slightly meaty flavour in there too.

Don't think I'll be buying another pack, but I wonder who comes up with the ideas for these flavours......

Just a few pics from around the garden.

Early morning mist rising from the dam.

The Zinnias are still going strong

As is Old Fragrance rose, putting out a few blooms.

Beautiful fragrance and I love this deep pink.

Tig's exhausted after watching me hang out the washing.

Need to have a lie down and when it gets too warm in the sun you go and............

...........curl up in dad's sock basket.

It's nice and dark in the cupboard, it's comfy in the sock basket and just the right size.

Just make sure you don't close the door completely.......

I have also received this blog award from the lovely Jen at Buttons, Ribbons and other Things

It is an award given to bring recognition and give exposure to small blogs that have followers of less than 300 in number. If a blogger is given this award and they choose to accept it, they should then link back to the person who gave them the award, then pick three lovely blogs that they regularly read (also with followers of less than 300) to recommend to others.

'

Now I have to fess up and say that I have been meaning to make my blog an 'award free blog' as it's always so difficult choosing blogs to pass it on to and finding time to post about it etc. etc.

Anyway, I have chosen to accept this award as it gives me the opportunity to shine the spotlight onto some small blogs with fewer followers at this stage.

My 3 are:-

Suburban Jubilee

Little Woollie

Little Blue Mouse

Pop over and have a look at these blogs, say 'hi'.

It's always nice to find new blogs that are interesting and appealing , so go check 'em out....

Well, here we are the 1st. of April, eeek......

This week has just whizzed by, where did it go?

What have I done?

Well, I have done a wee bit of sewing, pics next week.

Bunny love is still alive and the numbers are growing........

I think we have finally recovered from the folk festival, thankyou for all your lovely comments on my last post.

Take a minute to say 'hi' and let me know what you have been up to.

Hope you've had a great week,

till next time, take care,

Claire X

On The Fifth Day of Autumn...........

On the fifth day of Autumn, I made scones.........

Nothing overly interesting about that, but considering the fact it's the most cooking I have done in many months apart from the usual meals, it is quite something for me.

I put it down to the weather.........Autumn arrives and the temperature drops. On Monday night the first official Autumn evening, I had to dig out my slippers a long sleeved Tee and some trackies to wear, it was chilly.

I looked longingly at the empty wood heater and thought 'not long now, just be patient'...........

On the fifth day of Autumn No. 1 son found the shed skin of a brown snake out in the yard. We bought it inside and measured it 1.25 mts or for you folks working in inches 49 of them, yikes......

"So where's the snake?" I hear you ask...................

He added it to his collection, now he has 2 snake skins.

The other one makes the latest find look rather small........

He's doing his Bear Grylls impression !

On the first day of March we turned over a new page on the calendar.

I love Puffins, there's something rather comical about them I think.

Isn't this a fantastic photo? It was taken by UK photographer Danny Green.

March already, time is flying by way too fast.

The last flush of roses and I just love pink and red together.

Might be a while before I can pick them again.........

Autumns harvest of Nashis, they have been lovely and sweet and juicy.

No wonder the parrots are hanging around.......

The Zinnias are still going strong and a sea of colour.

This photo doesn't do the colour justice.

They will stay in the garden till May providing food for bees and butterflies.

Two of our three chicks which hatched last December. They are a Dorking x Wellsummer at the front and a Barnevelder x Wellsummer behind.

They are at the bottom of the pecking order, but are very quick to react when one of the other chooks tries to give them a peck. They have grown very quickly.

It was wonderful to watch them growing as this was the first time we have had chicks hatch.

We are assuming we have two males and a female at this stage, time will tell........

On the fourth day of Autumn Tigger decided that the dirty laundry basket looked like the ideal place for a tired cat to have a rest.

So he dragged out a couple of wind cheaters to make just enough room for him to curl up in.

Autumn is really making it's presence felt.

The evenings are cooler,no longer can we sit in the great room with doors and windows open to let the evening air in.

I leave the cover on the bed instead of folding it back.

It's boots on in the morning to go and feed the chooks, the grass is too dewy.

No. 1 son feel like he has been robbed as we had a very cool, wet Summer and he loves the heat. Whereas I love the cool weather, rugging up, snuggling down going into hibernation.........

I hope wherever you are, you are enjoying the change of season and all that it brings.

'Delicious Autumn,

my very soul is wedded to it

and if I were a bird,

I would fly about the earth

seeking successive Autumns.'

George Elliot

Have great weekend and thankyou for taking time to visit Sweet Birdy Love and leave a comment.

Till next time, take care,

Claire X

Weekend Wanderings

Last Saturday saw the opening of our annual art show, which has now been running for 10 years. A great feat for all the volunteers involved.

No 1 son and I, headed into town for the usual weekend brekky of raisin toast and coffee and to do the newspaper quiz with a couple of friends. Then we headed over to the old court house to be inspired by the wide variety of art on display.

I certainly wasn't disappointed.

It was 10.15 when I arrived, the doors had been open for only 15 mins but there were already a number of red SOLD dots on a few pictures including Ruby Rose.

I must say I was a little surprised but very happy.

So, my sense of humour has obviously appealed to at least one other person.....

Actually, I shall tell you a little secret if you promise not to tell anyone else.........Promise.

Ok, then.

There was a little bit of insider trading going on .

The sponsor of the
art show dropped in prior to 10am as she had to go to work that morning and she snapped up my picture.

Am I going to argue?

By the official opening on Saturday night, my other 3 pieces which included two book covers and a softee had all sold, yippee.

So, I thought I would treat myself to an oil painting of the nearby waterhole.

No.1 and I often head down there for a picnic lunch.

It was painted by local artist Carol Walsh and I just love it.

I had taken a few other photos but was a little worried about posting them as I had not spoken to all the artists and gotten their permission. Thought I better err on the side of caution, not wanting to upset anyone.
Sunday morning I visited an open garden and did get permission to take photos.
Isn't the rose over the arbour just stunning, it's called Zephrine Drouin. The garden was a mix of Natives out the front and English style out the back.

Want to make a garden shed beautiful. Grow a rose over the side of it and hang framed succulents.

Isn't this a great idea?

The owner of the garden told me she has to 'replant' the frame every couple of years as it gets a bit overgrown.

And from my garden, these lovelies have just bloomed. They were from my mums garden and I think they are Species Gladioli. Any gardeners out there, please feel free to correct me.

They are making a splash of colour underneath the roses.

Just to make you all go "oh, they're so cute" I spied these two wire haired terriers on Saturday afternoon. Mum is on the right and her son on the left and yes I did ask permission to take a photos.

Oh, I actually asked the owner, not the dogs!!

Aren't they lovely just like those little ornaments that are so cute, but I never seem to find in this corner of the globe.

I could quite easily have 'dog napped' these two but I think there would be one very upset Tigger when he saw them!!

I have had a great week, all over my ills. Sorry to have a moan about it all last post.

Thankyou for your concern and lovely comments.

The Spring weather has had me out in the garden this week, trying to subdue the weeds. I think I am finally winning the battle.........

The roses are a picture, in fact, I have just picked a basketful and have a problem........not enough vases, so, I have enlisted the services of an olive jar.

It was sitting in the pantry and I thought it just the right size, despite it still having it's label on, it's doing an admiral job.

I have also tidied the spare bedroom in preparation for a visitor over the weekend.

Apparently, we are going to get some more rain, may be a couple of inches, so I don't think we will be venturing too far.

I hope to get back into a bit of crafting next week, as there are ideas for more pictures that need to be explored.

I hope you have all had a good week and all the best for a great weekend, wherever you are.

Thankyou for dropping by and leaving such supportive and thoughtful comments. I love reading them and do try and reply to them all.

Take care, unti next time,

Claire X