A Creative Mish Mash........

Who pulled the plug out when I wasn't looking?

I had the day planned and all was going well until I got home from town and then it all went awry......

A 4.15am start didn't help.

 Hubby and son needed to be driven to the airport for an early morning flight north.....

Away for the weekend they'll be enjoying 26 degree days up in Queensland.

Still it gave me the chance to have a breakfast catchup with my sister. Get some shopping done, goods exchanged, shoes ordered  fabric bought sort of stuff and get home and still have half a day left to sew......right?!

Ha...

Someone pulled the plug once I got home and did a few jobs.....crank up the heater, wash bought fabrics, put away shopping, pat the cat and have lunch that was it.....

So here I am.....finally posting after uploading pics for the 3rd, yes, 3rd time, grrr!

A mix of recent makes......tea cosies for an order, a little stitchery and some seasonal stuff to follow.

Grab a cuppa, I'm playing catchup here girls.....

My latest stitchery 

'Miss Mousie'

Makes me happy looking at all the bright, cheery colours.

Something a little different for me and a little wire heart hanger instead of the Silver Birch twigs I have been using.....

It is looking for a new home, just email me if you would like to know more.....

Bluebell tea cosy.....love these colours.

I planted some Bluebells in the Wild Wood last season I hope they flower this year......

Last Saturday it rained...... It was beautiful, the golden, coppery tones of the leaves still hanging on made my heart sing....

It was the sort of day where I couldn't wipe the smile of my face. 

We definitely needed the rain (almost 3 inches) and listening to it on the roof or watching it fall whilst cosied up at home or in a cafe having coffee is just the best.

Definitely soup, stew and dumplings weather.....

Love distorted rain on windscreen effects......♥

More happy colours.....

Love a little woodland scene,

"The woods were buzzing with the news.

 Mr. Whiskers was holding a tea party and everyone was invited...

But the wise, old owl knew every trick in Mr. Whiskers book

 he'd seen it all before....."

 and there had to be more Foxgloves too....

Taken before I headed away recently, our Maples put on a wonderful, fiery red display.

There were still quite a few leaves doggedly hanging on when I returned home, but this week......they're almost gone.

I love the carpet effect they create underneath the tree.

The last cosy to show you.

Head over to

The Empty Nest 

face book page and have a look at my inspiration

Now I've done the fun part of the cosies, I 

 need to crack on and finish them off.

Of course with cold, wet Wintry weather, soup is a must.

I dug up some overgrown Parsnips to see what I would find.

Well, as expected they were monster size, half of this one was cut  off by the shovel!!

 I chopped and cut off the fibrous centre and just boiled it.

Then I 'zjooshed' it up with the stick mixer, threw in a knob of butter and tasted it.

It was surprisingly

 AWESOME

So I then turned the puree into soup.

If it had've been a dud, the chooks would've enjoyed a hot meal, but I have enough soup to last me for a couple of days and there are still more Parsnips in the garden.

No.1 on seeing me serve dinner that night, wondered why I had cooked so much potato mash!!

"Would he like some?" 

"Well, seeing as though you cooked so much I better have some"

"No wait a minute" he exclaimed "what' in it?"

Almost got him, hehe......

I love cooking on the wood stove in the gathering twilight and just looking out at the hills.

Wanted to share my view with you even if it is a little dim outside....

A final pic to share......an op shop find,

 the last day in Byron Bay.

I wandered through those op shops for 3 days, just browsing as you do.

On the last day I spied the polka dots and vintage green....be still my beating heart!

A chipped spout and crazed glaze on the inside did not detract from it's beauty......

50 cents really?

Wasn't until I got it home and had a good look, that I could see the Beswick Ware stamp on it's bottom.

I also found a copy of

 From Lark Rise to Candleford

just my sort of book, loving it.

Oops, almost forgot to show you my new door mat.

Lifelike isn't it?

Guess who nearly got stepped on?

It's time to feed the chooks, throw another log on the fire and think about what's for dinner.

Soup perhaps?

Most definitely....are you a Parsnip lover or hater?

I have just discovered that

Kirstie's Vintage Home

is on the ABC on Thursday nights.

Squeeeeal with excitement.....

I read about things on UK blogs and then it takes months to find it's way Downunder....

So don't ring me at 8.30pm 'cos I won't answer!!

Ooh, hello it's just started to rain, I didn't expect that.

I do love Winter.....

Hoping you are all well and feeling creative and inspired.

Take care,

Claire X

Surprise, Surprise........

Hello everybody...... late this afternoon I took a walk around the garden and found a couple of surprises.

It's been a somewhat chilly weekend here and a busy one to boot.

There's been coffee out with friends, soup making,a BBQ and a bonfire and No. 1's last gig before we head off at the end of the week.

It was nice to have some time to enjoy the beauty that is unfolding daily.

The Kale which I planted quite a few weeks ago, has started to put on some growth.

I thought the frosts may have finished it off, but it has survived..

In the 'plant pot graveyard' there are a few 

Grape Hyacinths bravely putting on a display.

This is the last year..... they're going into the garden by the Daffodils when they finish flowering.

I love the blue......

The Manchurian Pear is now in full flower and the leaves are starting to pop out here and there.......

On a sunny day a hum of bees busy themselves amongst the blossom.

It is a beautiful shape and quite a  size now.

I don't have the heart to chop off the lower branches.....

But it would certainly make mowing around it easier!!

The chooks enjoy scratching amongst the fallen leaves...

plenty of tasty treats to be found.

3 metres away there is another tree of the same variety and it has only just come into bud!

The flowering Quince is quite a tangle of branches and thorns but the beauty of the blossom seems to go on and on and on......

A skeletonized leaf...

delicate and beautiful in it's decaying state

The first surprise I found was this Hellebore.... a birthday gift to hubby.

 It was planted rather late and I didn't expect it to flower this season but it has settled in nicely and obviously quite happy living in the Wild Wood.

The markings are amazing.
 Next season we should get to enjoy quite a display from it....

Surprise number two...

What is this little plant?

From a distance I thought it was a weed but as I got closer I realised that it was actually a Bluebell....yes it certainly is.

 I  bought some bulbs some time ago and they sat on the laundry bench for quite a while.....till one day I managed to drag myself away from the sewing machine and out into the garden.

They were planted in the Wild Wood where I hope in time they will spread and create a carpet of blue.

Tough little plant that's for sure.

There are bunches of Jonquils yet to be picked and enjoyed before I go as they will have finished flowering by my return.

The pale, creaminess of the flowers and their perfume is divine. 

Surprise number three.......at first I thought the chooks had made a rather deep depression as they like to dust bathe in the garden, but on closer inspection I realised that some furry little critter has made itself at home right under our noses.

 I love cute, little, furry bunnies as much as anyone else BUT!! 

Now bunnies are not known for their cleverness.....just look at Peter, prime example....yes?

But this bunny must have  a death wish as this is one puddy tat

who won't put up with wabbits living on his patch...

So be warned bunnies!!

 And tigger lift your game!!

The burrow is to the left of the window

There's a busy week ahead of me and I'm sure the days will   merge into each other.

I'm finally packing up my Janome and all my sewing bits and bobs. The house has never looked so tidy, hehe.........

There are lists being made of things to do before I go and things to pack and take away with me.
Thankyou for all your suggestions of portable, crafty things to do whilst travelling...

I hope you have had a wonderful weekend, I would love to know what you've all been up to.
Any surprises?...

Thanks for visiting and take care,

Claire X