Showing posts with label Olympics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Olympics. Show all posts

Monday, August 13, 2012

Adventures of the Unexpected Kind.....Travel Tips Please



Hello everyone, here we are post Olympics.......
It's all over for another four years.
Did you follow them closely, keep tabs on the medal tally or it's not your thing!
My boys were very interested and I watched from a distance. But I have to say to all those who competed whether you were a medal winner or not
CONGRATULATIONS
 you are amazing.
The dedication and discipline needed to get to an Olympic games is way beyond me......
Now if it was the "Sewing Olympics' I might be in there with a chance, hehe.....


A dear friend of mine turned @#!* oooooh recently and was having a celebratory lunch with friends on the weekend.
Although we had all contributed towards a gift of 2 nights accom at a luxury hotel (which was on her bucket list) I decided to whip up a little something........
Knowing of her love of bright colours and  her green thumb, it wasn't too hard to put something together. 





Choosing fabrics and placing the pieces always takes the longest amount of time.
 After that it's pretty much finished in a short space of time.....

Whilst my sewing made the RHS of the jug appear a little wonky I was happy with how it turned out......



I also  made a heart and hanger from some wire and it's apparent 
that I need to work on my 'wire bending' skills.....but it does what I need it to do quite well.

It was a very pleasant lunch and I'm pleased to say the birthday girl was very excited with her 'bucket list' pressie and my little jug of flowers.






We are marching boldly towards Spring and the weekend was no exception.....18 degrees on Saturday.
I spent some time indoors sewing then after lunch put on the gardening garb, grabbed a bucket and gardening fork and off I went.
It was jackets off in the sunshine, but jacket on when a keen breeze blew in.....

View from the front gate.....

3 Prunus trees flowering across the road are pink dots in the distance.




'But what about the adventures of the unexpected kind?' I hear you asking...

Come the end of the month I will be packing a suitcase wishing mine was as cool as this one.....  

 image courtesy of www.projectgameday.blogspot.com



No.1 son will be swapping ear muffs for head phones.....




We will be swapping this view for......


This view....

 
Image courtesy Jerry Ferguson Photography


 ......and we'll be leaving on a jet plane or some such and heading over to the 'City That Never Sleeps'....... 


I know, I know, I can hardly believe it either!!

I have been sitting on this bit of news for a few weeks, hardly believing it to be true, but it seems as though it is......

Somebody pinch me please, I think I'm still dreaming.....


This will be a trip on a fairly tight budget so no chauffeur to drive us here there and everywhere hehe.....

I have been reading all sorts of info thanks to Mr. Google as well as blogs of recent visitors to NY, but would really like your input.....

So, do you have any recommendations girls?

Things I must definitely do,
 must see places,
best little cafes,
You know the sort of things that make a holiday that extra bit special.

While No.1 is busy in the studio, I plan to get out and about see the sights and then some.
I'm going to turn into a sponge and soak it all up.

One minute I am as excited as little kid and the next I am apprehensive and worried.
 How I will cope with the crowds and noise and the weather?
 It's in the low 30's over there and here, well, it's meant to be 11 deg on Friday.......

We will be there for 4 weeks staying in the one apartment, so a good base from which to explore......

Have you had any adventures of the unexpected kind recently?
I would love to hear about them......

Thanks for dropping by girls, I look forward to reading any travel tips you may have for me....

And a big 'Cooeee' to all new followers and thanks for clicking that button. 
I always enjoy your visits here at Sweet Birdy Love.

Take Care,

Claire 
♥♥











Thursday, August 2, 2012

Flowers Everywhere .....❀❀❀❀❀



Hello girls, thought I better pop by and say 'Gidday'so you didn't think I had disappeared completely!!

We've been keeping up to date with the Olympics here.
I watched the opening ceremony when it was replayed last Saturday afternoon at a more respectable hour!!
It was amazing.... 
I can't imagine the hours of planning and all the rehearsals that went in to bringing it all together.
Well done Great Britain......

Anyhoo, some inspiration has been found in the Olympics.....
No I'm not planning on donning on the lycra and dusting off the rusty treadley or taking to the pool... 

I'm talking floral inspiration girls....

 


How gorgeous are the swathes of wildflowers growing around the Olympic Stadium?


 Pics courtesy  Daily Mail UK


Cornflowers    Poppies    Ox Eye Daisies

are just a few that have found their way onto my latest tea cosy.
Started late this afternoon it isn't finished yet.
 Just needs a few more flowers, leaves, seed heads etc.





Partial back view


I also have to send a 'shout out' to Anne over at Andamento for her part in this moment of inspiration, along with many other UK bloggers......

 Beautiful photographs of the countryside taken on Anne's weekend bike rides almost have me reaching for my passport......
If you haven't discovered her blog yet, pop over for a visit. By the way she's a dab hand at this crochet thing too.......





I've been out in the garden again this week.
 More weeding, pruning roses and shifting a couple around (fingers crossed they survive).......

Below:- a favourite oak tree
 Japonica, growing on the roadside 
Hardenbergia 'Happy Wanderer'growing 
over an old tree stump on the verge





Hellebores in the Wild Wood......




Still picking posies of Violets for my bedside table.
They're just starting to flower....





and somebody has been sneaking around outside.....

Jack Frost perhaps?.....



Today was a chilly one here 12 deg. I found it hard to get warm all day. Unfortunately, the wood heater was out this morning and being the first one up and about in the household......you get the picture I'm sure!!
But I can assure it's cranking away this evening...
There's a definite change in the air and I'm sure Spring isn't too far away..... or maybe that's just wishful thinking....

Anyway, I'll keep dreaming of beautiful wild flowers and warm sunny days as I throw another log on the fire....

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit.

Always good to hear from you.......

Claire 
♥♥♥