Under a mackerel sky

A jolly good morning to all my followers. Yesterday morning on rising I caught site of this sky as I opened the curtains. I hurriedly donned something warm

Grabbed my cuppa and my banana and something to cover the damp chairs and set myself up on the deck to watch the day evolve.

What am I wearing, you may ask. I found my happy coat or poncho at a stall last weekend. It is made of an old candelwick bedspread decorated with colourful doilies and baubles and just called to me so joyfully. I thought, what a joyfull way to start a day by donning this happy coat.

So it was a sublime breakfast we had, watching the clouds shift and drift. We always remember the mackerel sky mentioned in a programme from many years ago and are quick to announce it to each other and admire it.

I drank in the silent performance that filled the sky

Even padding my way around to the back of the garage to embrace the southern view. 

The morning before, that was Saturday, I was also sitting on the deck very early, but it wasn't the sky I was watching it was the gate, waiting for Janet to pick me up to go trawling garage sales. There were a few to get round and we had to be on the ball. I was given the adverts to keep track of addresses and times. It's a serious business you know. 

After a couple of hours we trawled back to Janet's for much needed coffee and sorting. As we both go for similar vintage stuff including doilies and we had come across a box full we bought the box together and agreed to be very civilised and take turns at choosing articles while we supped. Along with the other purchases I made I came home with this box of goodies. You can see the 50c tag on the large table cloth on top.

These hoops will be the frames for wall hangings. Yes indeed. One day.

This ditsy little basket is so cute and will be a very handy dandy addition to my collection.

This pretty little picture frame will go lovely in the spare room one day, when I get sorted in there.

The Kate Greenaway books were a steel at 50c each.

I love the pictures and the apple branches surrounds and never to be lost words and rhymes.

Then there was the doilies of course with one like those on my happy coat. Maybe I'll add another.

Look at the delicate crochet around this one.

These 8 cerviettes had never been used and will be perfect to go with my vintage dinner set.

I just love this small vintage tablecloth for the bus.

This is a very functional one for the bus, though I could embellish it. Yes, that's a good idea.

This delicate one needs no embellishment, and I think is suited to a ladylike afternoon tea, don't you think.

This is something different and I chose it for just that reason. It is still stiff and new and I think probably made in some small village in a developing country where the ladies of the village gather together and stitch these beauties to be sold in our countries, I'm hoping ethically, like Trade Aid or similar. Just look at the beautiful fine stitches. I shall care for it and maybe it will go under a pot plant and I will connect with those ladies whenever it catches my eye.

This is a very old piece of fabric left over from one of the old ladies historic projects. What will it become?

So the line was soon full again with all my treasures

Including a couple of op shop blankets and things.

And things

As we are still in great need of rain I save the rinse water from Gentle Annie and use it to water the garden. This is me and my bucket doing the rounds.

Another brilliant find of the morning was this , well what do you call it. A thingy for the garden or for my sort of French corner where I hope to stand it in one of my large terracotta pots and plant something beautiful in front of it.

Back to the mackerel sky day that was yesterday, Sunday. After an amazing time at church, followed by a trip to my daughters to help her prepare for her trip to China, which included a shopping trip, then home to Kerry with something for tea. Relaxing in my corner of the sofa I looked up and this is what I saw. A reflection of the sunset, so of course it needed to be embraced.

And embraced

Oh my goodness me

How glorious is our God.

Delighting our eyes, stirring our souls . Blessings to you all, Trills xx