Afternoon Delight

What can make a beautiful Spring day even more enjoyable?

A letter

with a Royal Mail post mark on it,

one that has travelled thousands of kilometres across the ocean

a hand written letter from my sister in the UK...........

As this is a special occasion, I decided to set up an afternoon tea tray take a break from my sewing and head outside into the garden and enjoy the letter with a cuppa and something yummy.........

My sister and her family have just returned from a holiday to Tuscany and included with the letter was a lovely, little fridge magnet.

I love the picture, blue skies, sunshine, Sunflowers and a beautiful Villa..........

oh, I think I am a little envious.

I had been busy sewing another Sunflower tea cosy when the post arrived.

A moment of serendipity..................

While I'm outside let's 'take a turn' around the garden shall we..........

October and daylight savings has arrived.

The Wisteria is starting to open up, in a week or so it should be a mass of purple.

I think there will be quite a few cuppas had while sitting on the garden bench.

The perfume from the Crab Apples nearby is divine but what's that I can detect mingling with it?

Hmmm, Dynamic Lifter.............

Viburnum Plicatum, always puts on a beautiful display.

Crisp, white flowers line the branches, reminding me of snow on the boughs of trees.

Further along the shrubbery in the foreground is a Loropetalum .

It's a member of the Witch Hazel family.

It's pink 'shaggy' flowers and purple/green foliage contrast against a white May.

The roses are all in leaf with buds appearing.

Shouldn't be too much longer before I can pick a few flowers to bring inside.............

Around the corner is a Forest Pansy tree.

It's been covered in pink/purple pea like flowers for over a week and the recent rain hasn't dampened it's display, although there is a carpet of pink underneath it............

Let's take a closer look...............

In a few weeks it will be covered in heart shaped reddish purple leaves.

Throughout the drought it hung in, didn't grow all that much but has now put on some growth and looking so much happier.

Go Cats.............

While the AFL Grand Final was being played out on Saturday.

Tig was a chillin'........

Maybe he knew something we didn't !!

The boys were home for the weekend which is unusual for this time of year, so we turned on the TV, No.1 made 'killer Nachos' and we watched the Grand Final.

Well, I was sewing and watching, No.1 hung around till the food disappeared then went off to play some music and hubby was fully committed to the game.

Things have been a little quiet here this past week or so.

It's been very wet, typical, changeable Spring weather and I have found some of the grey, gloomy days haven't been the most inspiring when it comes to being creative.

Hopefully, this week will bring sunshine and the sewing machine will be whirring away once again............

Thanks for popping by and saying 'hello' .

It's always lovely to hear from you.

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.

---------------OOOOO-----------

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