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....

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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 

♥♥♥

  

Market Report

Hello there, time for a market report.....

Sheep sales were up this week, hehe.

Oops, sorry, wrong market report.

Saturday was the monthly market in Bright.

It started off with a very foggy drive, I had to slow right down as I could barely see two metres in front of me. Fortunately, there was no traffic on the windy road so I could take my time. 

Once the fog lifted it was a beautifully, sunny day.....

I made some camper van zip purses using recycled blankets.

Some camper van brooches too....seems to be a recurring theme here!

I finished the Daffodil tea cosy and lined it with yellow and white polka dot fabric

I forgot to pack my teapot to display the cosy so  

used scrunched up plastic bags to fill it, hence the wonky shape.

It found a new home with a neighbouring stall holder who had fond memories of learning the Wordsworth poem at school.....

Anyone for a cuppa?.....

,

 Due to recent rain it was a little muddy underfoot.

The river was well up and flowing very fast. 

I've never been around to see it this high. 

Not surprised there weren't any ducks braving a swim.

Although sales were well down on last months market, I covered my costs and then some.

When all was packed up I made a quick trip to the local Op shops, one of which was closed due to lack of volunteers.

(They've headed North for the Winter)

Come on girls this just won't do, hehe.....

I then headed over to Ginger Baker, a little gem of a cafe situated at 127 Great Alpine Rd. 

If you are in the area make sure you pop in, it's wonderful

 A nice way to finish the day.......

Stall holder and all round clever, crafty person Lauren and her lovely friend Mel met me there. 

I decided on coffee and carrot cake, yum.....

Check out these amazing light shades.....pasta sauce jars.

Recycling at it's best.....aren't they great?

Have a look at that cake display.....double yum.

While I ummed and aahed over what to order guess what Lauren and Mel were doing?.....

.

Playing with my camera!!

Sneaky girls...you crack me up

That's Lauren on the left and Mel on the other left!!

Lauren is off working and travelling for quite a few months, venturing to the Middle East first and then the UK.

Safe travels Lauren, I will miss you.

Hope to see you at the market Mel and maybe you'll be having a stall one day!

All in all a good day, lots of fun, laughter, chit chat and CAKE.

The lovely weather has continued, so today was spent out in the garden.

 Mrs Brown was there to help once again.

I weeded, pruned, shifted plants around and had a rather splendid time. No.1 mowed/slashed the green stuff and in a day or three we could just about bale it!!

 Certainly looks alot better.

    

The Violets have been taking over and much in all as I love them and I once had an Auntie Violet, they have  become a bit of a nuisance.

 I picked a lovely bunch before I pulled the plants out.

 Barely made a dent in them!

I'm hoping to get some more gardening done this week before the wet weather arrives. I'll give the sewing machine a bit of a rest, although some play time might take place!!

I'll pick more Violets as I love vases of them on my bed side table and of course there'll be all the usual house work and boring stuff taking place, but who wants to read about that?

I hope your week has some fun in store.

 Let me know what you're up to, I'd love to hear.

Thanks for popping by and saying 'hi', it's always great to hear from you,

Take care ,

Claire

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What a Difference a Week Makes.........

Turn back the clock a week and we were having quite heavy frosts, followed by beautiful sunny days.

Frost creates wonderful icy outlines on the Violets.

Beautiful, sweet, scented flowers.

Quite a few little posies find their way onto my bedside table before Winters end........

One week later, the temperature is up around 20deg. and gardening outside is definitely a T shirt job.

It's hard to stay inside when the garden is calling and all the jobs you have been ignoring over Winter are still waiting............

I have been busy working in the vegie garden, barrowing loads of manure from the paddock. Preparing beds for vegies and flowers.

I noticed the Rhubarb flowering..........love the combination of green and pink.

You would almost think it's a new strain of cauliflower !

More green and pink in the shrubbery.

This dark pink Camellia is my favourite.

Where did I put my secateurs?

I need to cut some and bring them inside.

When my favourite Camellia is in flower I just have to fill this vase full of them.

It belonged to my mum and I don't really remember her using it when I was a child.

I think it was always full of old keys, hair pins, a few coins and maybe a couple of stamps!!

I love the turquoise with the deep pink.

The little clock on the right, once belonged to my father in law.

I wish I had asked him about it's history ................ beautiful colours and delicate flowers.

"A house with Daffodils in it,

is a house lit up, whether or no

the sun be shining outside."

A.A. Milne

All this sunny weather has my thoughts turning to Spring and therefore Summer and it's coming out in my crafting.

A sneak peek at a WIP I started this morning.

It had to be Sunflowers, I love them and grow some each Summer.

They're bright and cheery and the bees love them.

Yes, those little brown things are going to be bees ..................

Tigger is enjoying the warm weather too and what would be more fun than a roll in the dirt.

Get covered in grass and leaf litter and head inside leaving a trail behind you............

Thanks Tig, I love you too.

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So this is a little bit of what's happening here at Sweet Birdy Love.

You all know how much I love Winter, but the warm temperatures, blue skies and bees buzzing about has my mind racing ahead of me.

I'll just have to slow down and take one day at a time and make sure that when the warm weather arrives I'm ready for it.

Thanks for stopping by and I'm linking to Winter Wednesday over at

Hazel Dene.

Head over there and take a look for some more wonderful Winter posts.

Till next time, take care

Claire X