Time flies

 Oh so fast don't they say when you're having fun. Now I ended my last blog with a mention of something exciting on my calendar and this was it. On Sat 12th I had the pleasure of joining a lovely group of ladies in the basement of Bread and Butter Letter on Krd where Sarah of Sew Love tea do had organised a workshop . As you can see we were greater with a large table piled high with all sorts of fabric and fibre goodies.

 We beavered away at making. The idea was to make zines from the fabrics and bits and bobs. There was such a range of stuff to choose from and as Sarah is a recycling and up cycling guru we were doing the environment a great service as we put our creative juices to work and interpreted the theme in our own way.

 You may already know about my obsession with doilies so when I saw this doily in amongst the array I pounced on it and that was me sorted. I had taken some of my own stuff and chose some fabric and lace to decorate my page with birds and thoughts. The embroidery reads Birds of a Feather and I have decided it will be the cover of a zine of sorts on this subject. You know, birds of a feather craft together, that sort of thing.

 Speaking of doilies it was time to deal with the increasing pile of said items that I have continued to gather from op shops. The more robust ones were pegged carefully on the line in the sun.

 The more delicate ones were spread on a large piece of towelling on the spare bed where the sun did its job and dried them beautifully. You can see my dear Casper keeping an eye on them. They look so pretty spread out like they would if made into a bedspread. Another idea .

 A closeup of their delicate loveliness.

 Just one pile dry and ready for a wet day when I might feel like doing some ironing.

 And then there were 6. I have not been in the lineup to show my blocks for the club project. What with all the packing and shifting I lost my momentum and I can't even say at this time where my blocks are.

 Margaret, who was guiding us and supplying the patterns had laid hers out and was showing us how to join them up. Oh well, maybe next year.

 Time out was another project day using leftovers from other set crafts we dabbled in our hearts desire.

 Some quilling on a tile.

 Some paper collage.

 An aray of crafty delight at the end. The circles are my dabbling at sewing them onto a calico bag. The circles were left over from my flower making day and some took the opportunity to make some more of these.

 Yet another project I am into is to transform this garage sale find of a crochet lampshade from goodness knows when. I remember in maybe the 70s. anyway I saw an idea in a house magazine and

 as I had this wonderful array of pretty buttons and beads I set to work. I chose shiny ones and glassy ones so they will reflect the light.

 Can you see what I can see. The possibility of a gloriously fantastical chandelier to hang in the hallway.

 As the days and weeks are passing I am taking delight in the growth of the leaves on these trees. Just looking out of the lounge window and embracing the beauty.

One of those trees is the Liquidamber. Another favourite of my with its fresh green summer robes which turn into a fantastic rich display in Autumn. And this is where I'll leave you today and hope to make it sooner rather than later when I next visit. Thankyou for dropping by and blessings, Trills

Yesterday,Today and Tomorrow part 2

Here I am again . Its tomorrow and I am managing to get down to blogging again. As you can see I have been trying to create a personal header but didnt get very far. Well for now I will get back to yesterdays wander around the gardenAdd caption

Our new home is going to take a while to get to where I'd like it as the bus is coming first these days as we work to improve the facilities ready for our trip to the south Island next Feb/March. But as you can see our classic cars are snug in their garage now that we have a garage sale to downsize our furniture etc as this house is only half the size of the old home. I also found a lovely outdoor setting to start the developement of my little French courtyard outside my studio.Add caption

There is a couple of extra chairs that we think fit in so they were rescued from the garage sale and the bench has followed us from Manurewa over 20yrs ago. The Wisteria is lovely even after a harsh pruning. And I have started repotting the pots but still lots to do.Add caption

A closer look at these beautiful bloomsAdd caption

I was sitting inside my studio in a little corner I have set aside for  contemplation and the sentence I was contemplating from a recent sermon was " What stirs your spirit". Well I looked out the window and this is what I saw and my spirit was stirred.

Yes almost as much as Cherry trees. Isn't the wonderful. Cherries have always been my favourite trees and I had quite a few more varieties in my old garden and my gardens before. These two Awanui Cherries have been beautiful this year.Add caption

This one is right in the garden and I have great plans for clearing around it and planting lovely shrubs that like dappled shade like azaleas and more abutilons. I will have to be careful digging though as there are graves of cats and rabbits that have blessed our lives and moved on.Add caption

Now if you can put up with the funny light in these 2 pics I had to take a drive down this little road on the way to Waiau Pa a couple of weeks ago just to drink in this wonder.Add caption

The whole road os boardered on both sides with Awaniu Cherries and I had seen it before and now it is a yearly pilgrimage. Unfortunately I didn't realise my phone camera was on incandescent but hope you can capture some of what I delighted in.Add caption

Another favourite tree is the Tulip Tree and I had a big one in my old garden that had just started flowering last year and Dad had also olanted one here but unfortunately the wind did too much damage and we lost it but I do have this little upright variety that I planted back in the beginning but it hasn't grown much. These are its tiny new leaves. Arn't they darling and I love the shape. The floweres of these trees are a wonder to behold. Almost iridescent as they glow a creamy yellow and are tulip shaped standing up on the branches.Add caption

This line of alders will soon be a very lush  and abundant greenness for the Summer and will grow outwards so vigourously they will need a heavy pruning again.Add caption

This little group comprises 3 common Cherries and an Oak that have selfseeded and they will have to go along with the Ash tree at the centre as you can just see the boxing around the vege garden that willbe after I weed it and plant some goodness. I would also like another bed for small soft fruits like berries so something has to give.Add caption

Add captionThis pretty Japanese Maple will get a reprieve for now as it is so pretty

This is the beginnings of my cottage garden with cosmos, phlox, something pretty I've forgotten the name of  and a Scabiosa. I love these pretty floweres and nabbed this plant from a roadside stall along with a few other things. I paid of course. I just thought about that word nabbed. Add caption

Heres a closeup. can't wait till its a big clump. The plan is to plant several Austin roses in the middle of this bed and some more cottage garden plants in between .Add caption

I will have to be thoughtfull about plantings though as this is now our water supply. They are huge tanks and at present full of water since last nights rain collected from the barn roof. We will probably set up some other sources of water for the garden too. DH plans to build another shed so that will have a small tank to catch the water.
Being on tank water takes us back to the early days of our marriage when we were farm workers and shifted every June 1st to the next farm job with another old farm cottage with dubious water supply. DH always cleaned out the small tanks and we survived along with our babies. One wonders at the fuss made today about such things.Add caption

Today the wind has been blowing a gale so I spent the morning in my studio, just fluffing around really. I made a long list of tings to do for the bus like new cushion covers out of Kiwiana teatowels, finish the seat coushions for the seats by the table, decoupage the walls of the bedroom area and new curtains for there too. Not to mention the list for our new home. The page is full with no cross offs yet so I better get myself into gear.
Add caption

Add captionI love that I only have to pop across the sheltered porch way to my studio and I love that we have a porch. I've never had one before. You can see through the other door that the clothesline is also nice and handy with a pathway so my feet don't get wet. There are so many things that are just so great about our new home. All thanks to my Mum and Dad. My heart is full

Lets have one more look at the Wisteria and drink in its loveliness as these winds today are doing their best to blow all the blossoms away. What a blessing photos are for recording the beauty of this world.
I wonder where I'll be next post as I have a few exciting things on the calendar.
Till then, thankyou for dropping by and blessings, TrillsAdd caption

Yesterday,Today and Tomorrow

 Well yesterday morning I was a bit like Casper and didn't want to get out of bed. The previous few days had left me exhausted and I had preclaimed this day for recovery

Then my swing seat beckoned. I just love my swing seat and the morning was lovely and sunny with just a light breeze so I  reclined and thought about the days just gone

 Friday our classic Triumph cars were part of a wedding fleet. After days of cleaning, polishing, and a new clutch for DH's we were proud to play our part in the bride and grooms big day. Mine is the one on the right

 and this is DH's . If you are an Aucklander you may recognise the building. Yes it is the old elephant house at Auck zoo which is now an events venue.

 The whole fleet.
Saturday we went to an 80th birthday lunch but I'm sorry I didnt take any photos of the lovely gardens at the venue. My phone said no.

 Sunday we were up very early but I dont think I can say bright. DH left 6.45 on his tractor towing his big trailer and embarked on the 2hr journey to Ambury park at Mangere for their yearly festival where he and his vintage tractor club would give rides all day. I left and hour later to join him and spend the day in the ticket booth. Wow what a busy day. The queues were endless but it was so good to see so many families out enjoying the day. I just managed to take these pics near the end when the crowds dwindled.

 This is my DH coming round for the last time, then it was packup time and the long journey back home. I beat him of course and he rolled up nearly 7pm. So hence were in recovery mode today.

 Now as ai recline here I am looking out at the surrounding trees and gardens. Its hard to believe that 20yrs ago this was all a bare paddock. It was my dream to plant a park and there it is. Mostly now in the new neighbours place but if I look behind me

 there are the trees and garden my Dad planted. Trees are my passion and I especially love deciduous trees and their new leaves when they are so fresh and tender. This bare looking scarlet oak I'm sure must be sprouting new leaves. Lets go and look

 Yes ! Just look at these beautiful delicate leaves and even some catkins

 This is one of 3 common acorn oaks which I love and were grown from acorns by friends of mine.

 and in its shade these lovely cinerarias

 Lets look more closely at that oak. Such a lovely fresh green. I love it.

 All about the gardens there are baby trees that have self seeded with the help of the birds and this Cherry will be allowed to stay. I'm not sure what sort it is yet

 Maybe its another one of these Awanui Cherries. We have 2 like this one at the gate.

 This is the gateway to our new home

 with a Copper Beech just coming into leaf. This was one of the first trees I planted nearly 20yrs ago but they are so slow growing that most other trees have overtaken it

 This was DH's dream, his large barn and luckily it is on the right side of the new fence and closed to our new home

 there it is. Our little cottage that my parents had built and enjoyed 7 happy years there. Then it became our daughters home for some years until she moved to the city. We also had a patchwork supplies shop in my Dads garage called Wisteria Cottage. That is now my studio, yeah!

 Just looking left over the fence and drinking in the beauty of these Abutilons. I'm planting some more in my new garden. I love their jewel like lantern flowers.

 I still have my Ginko tree and here are its baby leaves. I'm looking forward to keeping track of the trees through the seasons and spent a good while doing the rounds of the garden which was very restorative but I think this will do for today

I will be back tomorrow with the rest of them. It was time for a second large mug of frothy coffee of my favourite kind and more reclining . See you tomorrow,
blessings, Trills