sweet

Sweet, freesia scented roses,
 flowering over and over

 

A tangle of sweet little oregano flowers and parsley seed heads,
all happily self seeded and surrounded by concrete flagstones.

The excitement of a new bread maker,
 not a broken down often repaired breadmaker,
 not a hand me down doesn't heat properly breadmaker
 but a brand new breadmaker.
 Sweet.

Heide

Sitting in the shade in the front garden

enjoying the colours and sounds and drinking good coffee and 

reading this book.

Have you ever been to Heide in Melbourne?

I can't believe I never have even though I have always known it was there.

Relaxing

So the time between Christmas and new year is a quiet time for us.

We don't have a shack to race off to,

everyone is on holidays,

and gradually the sleep in - breakfast late - hang around - life without a plan days become the norm.

It takes a while because Stephen and I both worked right up until Christmas, 

the kids are there already,

 Louis has been on holidays for 7 weeks, Andy for 3 and Kate for 2 

but us oldies will get there.

I really do treasure this time when we are all here together.

 Andy leaves home to go to Uni  this summer, big changes for him and for us. 

Kate will be the only one left at home. 

Big changes.

Nanna nap

 

 Glorious summer weather here but I am so tired today I haven't really made the most of it.

Some knitting, some reading , some snoozing and a little weeding.

Obviously I need a quiet time, it has been a busy year.

Or maybe I am reaching the age of the Nanna nap, such  a decadent luxury.

Ahhhh, Boxing Day

Boxing Day.

Pick up the wrapping.

Set things to right.

Sitting.

Reading.

Eating.

Talking.

Snoozing.

Hunting out some lunch.

Looking over the presents.

Ignoring the cricket, unless it's going well.

Rallying for dinner and making something nice.

Ahhh, Boxing Day.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas my dear friends.

2011 has been a big year for me with not a lot of time and inclination to sit and chat as real life played out all around me.

Thank you for still coming here to read and share and maybe next year we can spend more time together.

Have a wonderful peace filled day with family and friends.

hello

Monday morning, raining, house full even one sleeping on a mattress on the floor.

 I can hear my husband ironing his shirt ready to go to work but everyone else is home today.

The Christmas cake still isn't made but I found a recipe called the "Night before Christmas  cake" which has a whole jar of fruit mince in it so it should be yummy. 

I'll let you know.

 

 Most of my dolly  work is done but it is difficult to stop, it is so much a part of the rhythm of my day.

Some presents are organised some are not but we will get there.

The unsettled Christmas feeling of the past few years has disappeared and we are now enjoying an Advent where everyone helps make Christmas rather than just the mum.

 Christmas with teens and adults is good and just as full of twinkling eyes and secrets as Christmas with little ones, it's just different.

I hope your Christmas preparations are where you want them to be and if you are feeling stressed just remember this time next week will be Boxing day, one of my favourite days.

berries

Christmas time in Tasmania also means berry time.

Our youngberries are coming on nicely and our strawberries are colouring up too.

As a special treat I have ordered a Hilbarn Berrie Box to supplement our own offerings.

thirteen galahs, update

 

What does it mean when 13 galahs land on the wire outside your house 

and pose and preen and

 talk in quiet, whispering voices?

I think it means it is going to be a very good but unusual day,

 that you will get lots of things done and crossed off your list,

 that the line at the post office will be short but happy,

 that the pixie who might also be son #2 will hang out all the washing to dry,

 make you cups of tea when you look in need of a boost and

 also cook dinner tonight.

Yes 13 galahs is a very lucky sign.

EDIT: turns out that 13 galahs is in fact lucky. Not all my wishes came true but I did cross lots off my list, the line at the post office was long but the company was good, the pixie did hang out the washing, made me a cuppa and suggested what we could have for dinner tonight.

Wishing you a Hulot-esque day!

Friday in summer

drop what your doing, push out the chair 

and walk away from the tools that help you do what you do

head for the front  door past the Advent candles

it's cool on the front step and you just love that shade of purple with that shade of red

down the side path past the aggies, and the fuschias in their ballet costumes

be astounded as always by the sheer audacity of these poppies that plant themselves where they please,

 open all pink and fluffy and frivolous 

and then become these amazing seed pods.

always astounding

worry about the lobelia that seems uncertain growing in a pot surrounded by garden

back through the front door

past the slightly daggy advent calendar to the kitchen to put the kettle on 

and gaze out the back window while it boils

 and wonder when it was that you became a person with a couch and rug in the back garden

 and marvel at the buddleia which will not stop flowering.

kettle's boiled, tea's made, blog's written and I am feeling Friday in summerish.

maybe it's time for a G and T.

It's late.

 Everyone is in bed.

 I'm not.

I am listening to this  through the headphones and trying not to sing out loud.

Can you believe this was made 27 years ago!!!!!

 

Source: daytobeyou.com via Jenny on Pinterest

Doileys in the sunshine

I have had a doileys in the sunshine kind of day.

( This is a good thing I think)

How about you?