A walk in the garden

Most of yesterday was taken up with traveling to the hospital clinics and Drs. Over the past few months I seem to have developed what is being loosely referred to as an Autoimune/Fibromyalgia thingy, as they continue to rule out other possibilities. 

We are very familiar with Fibromyalgia, our daughter have had it for many years though now thankfully almost free of it, so I am trying to push it aside or push through it depending on the day, and be as normal as possible.

So on returning home yesterday, And after a spell of feet up and refreshments, I took a stroll in our garden, so Spring green at the moment.

The wonderful blossoms of just a few weeks ago have flown on the wind and 

Now the last of my three grand beauties has awoken from its Winter slumber and is dressing in her green finery. This is the Scarlet Oak between the Cherry and the Liquidamber. Trees my Dad planted when they set up home here in this cottage nearly 20 yrs ago.

This wonderful Copper Beach was one of the first trees I planted in 1994 when we first shifted to our bare block of land. They are very slow growing compared to the 3 in the last pic. I have images in my mind of the magnificent ones I saw in UK. I'm so glad it is now center stage living down here now in the cottage.

Unlike so many other trees, now belonging to the new neighbors living in our old house next door. It has been hard sometimes, seeing an old favorite tree being cut down. They ring barked this Robinia Rosa that you can see flowering beautifully. I am chuckling to myself as I note his plans are thwarted, and hoping that now he sees its beauty revealed it will be given a reprieve.

Wandering among the trees in the dappled light is such a soothing blessed salve for mind and body.

I love these Abutilons that seen to love there spot under the branches of the trees, and the spot of purple cineraria sparkles among the bright contrasts.

I did have great ideas of a mini stumpery when these Poplars were felled, but alas, like many things, it has remained in the ideas basket. These big stumps began as 4 twigs that I stuck in the ground to just take root, then they would be replanted. Fast forward 20yrs they were a huge and becoming dangerous group which had to be dealt with. Now it has been suggested a small orchard could go here, the stumpery idea is pushed aside for this splendid idea, as I have yearned for an orchard.🍏🍑🍐🍊😍😍😍

Back out into the sunlight and I am delighting in my cottage garden as it flourishes with Spring growth. I watch eagerly each day for the first rose to bloom. The Iceland Poppies, and Tulips have been glorious, and the Aquilegia I planted last year are now flowering.

And I was so thrilled to see this brighter flower among them . They are such delicate pretty flowers, so much a part of the traditional cottage garden. I also found Shirly Poppy plants this year, so I am eagerly waiting for them to flower.

I took this pic a week ago from just below the Sweet Pea bed looking up towards where our new garden bench sits. A welcome addition to the garden. The Sweet Peas are now taking off, so O look forward to another fine show.

Newcomers to the garden have been some daisies among more Dahlias around the birdbath where I have extended the garden. This area with be a bit louder in colour.

Down the back paddock a neighbors bovines are mowing the grass for us.

And close to the house the pots are beginning to flourish.

I loved this wonderful cloud. What I would call perfeck.

After all that heavenly blessed garden therapy I think a toast is called for, so cheers! Here's to the gardens everywhere that delight the senses and soothe the soul. Blessings to you all, love Trills,xxx

A walk in the garden

Most of yesterday was taken up with traveling to the hospital clinics and Drs. Over the past few months I seem to have developed what is being loosely referred to as an Autoimune/Fibromyalgia thingy, as they continue to rule out other possibilities. 

We are very familiar with Fibromyalgia, our daughter have had it for many years though now thankfully almost free of it, so I am trying to push it aside or push through it depending on the day, and be as normal as possible.

So on returning home yesterday, And after a spell of feet up and refreshments, I took a stroll in our garden, so Spring green at the moment.

The wonderful blossoms of just a few weeks ago have flown on the wind and 

Now the last of my three grand beauties has awoken from its Winter slumber and is dressing in her green finery. This is the Scarlet Oak between the Cherry and the Liquidamber. Trees my Dad planted when they set up home here in this cottage nearly 20 yrs ago.

This wonderful Copper Beach was one of the first trees I planted in 1994 when we first shifted to our bare block of land. They are very slow growing compared to the 3 in the last pic. I have images in my mind of the magnificent ones I saw in UK. I'm so glad it is now center stage living down here now in the cottage.

Unlike so many other trees, now belonging to the new neighbors living in our old house next door. It has been hard sometimes, seeing an old favorite tree being cut down. They ring barked this Robinia Rosa that you can see flowering beautifully. I am chuckling to myself as I note his plans are thwarted, and hoping that now he sees its beauty revealed it will be given a reprieve.

Wandering among the trees in the dappled light is such a soothing blessed salve for mind and body.

I love these Abutilons that seen to love there spot under the branches of the trees, and the spot of purple cineraria sparkles among the bright contrasts.

I did have great ideas of a mini stumpery when these Poplars were felled, but alas, like many things, it has remained in the ideas basket. These big stumps began as 4 twigs that I stuck in the ground to just take root, then they would be replanted. Fast forward 20yrs they were a huge and becoming dangerous group which had to be dealt with. Now it has been suggested a small orchard could go here, the stumpery idea is pushed aside for this splendid idea, as I have yearned for an orchard.🍏🍑🍐🍊😍😍😍

Back out into the sunlight and I am delighting in my cottage garden as it flourishes with Spring growth. I watch eagerly each day for the first rose to bloom. The Iceland Poppies, and Tulips have been glorious, and the Aquilegia I planted last year are now flowering.

And I was so thrilled to see this brighter flower among them . They are such delicate pretty flowers, so much a part of the traditional cottage garden. I also found Shirly Poppy plants this year, so I am eagerly waiting for them to flower.

I took this pic a week ago from just below the Sweet Pea bed looking up towards where our new garden bench sits. A welcome addition to the garden. The Sweet Peas are now taking off, so O look forward to another fine show.

Newcomers to the garden have been some daisies among more Dahlias around the birdbath where I have extended the garden. This area with be a bit louder in colour.

Down the back paddock a neighbors bovines are mowing the grass for us.

And close to the house the pots are beginning to flourish.

I loved this wonderful cloud. What I would call perfeck.

After all that heavenly blessed garden therapy I think a toast is called for, so cheers! Here's to the gardens everywhere that delight the senses and soothe the soul. Blessings to you all, love Trills,xxx

The Jean bag story

One day I had the notion to make a bag from an old pair of jeans. I chose a pair of op shop jeans and set to work, cutting off the legs, and decorating, embellishing, or as I like to call it, tittivating, using my vast resources of patchwork fabric.

This was the result and a great success it was.

I chose a granny chic theme with pretty fabrics and made pockets inside as well, and used the legs for the handles. It was a most trusty bag for a couple of years, but started to look a bit too shabby. Back when I made it I became so inspired that I was scouring the op shops for likely candidates for further bags with presents in mind.

I started these yellow jeans but got stuck on the tittivating, so this is as far as they hot.😏

And just look at these fabulous pants that didn't get very far either.😏😏

This iddy biddy skirt was already embroidered and I was determined that it would become my iPad carrier on a planned trip to UK.

I zip lined it with tartan fabric but before I could get the handle on my trip had to be cancelled when I buggered my knees.😢😢

Then I was inspired again when we were preparing for our Alaskan cruise and inland tour. I needed a good sized bag for the coach and train journeys and dug out a favorite old pair of jeans that I had hoped to wear again. Certainly roomy enough, and I got busy tittivating it as you can see, quite grandly. A bit too grand for me, I decided and didn't take it.

The backside I thought was suitably attired but didn't pass muster with either.

For the lining I used some op shop tartan pants. Maybe pjs, with voluminous pockets that I incorporated into the layout. They would be so good for hiding special cargo. Alas the bag was not finished and sits waiting for a rehash of the tittivating and handles.😉😉

These pretty jeans await their transformation.

As does one leg that was blessed with a very neat pocket. A small bag with one long handle me thinks and lined with this lovely pink gingham from an op shop shirt. They are another story.

Meanwhile, I am determined to keep up the momentum I found on finding a pair of linen jeans just last week. And look how far I've got. The lining is pinned in with pockets and being cream linen I thought it begged to be tittivate do in French shabby style. So here we are, with bits and bobs of this and that, some I showed yesterday.

There we are. The story so far. I must get busy with needle and thread. Bye for now

And blessings, Trills xxx

Still October

Just! I had such good intentions. What time of day is best for blogging? Do I have a spare hour? I should be doing something more important. Sometimes I get really excited about a subject and itch to blog about it but the time is not right, then other things get in the way.

Life is busy, and for this I am thankful. A lot of the busyness is with my favorite activities, re, gardening, crafting, op shopping. I am enjoying retirement immensely and am so thankful for all that we have, are and are able to do and where we live.

Today I was up early needing pain relief. I have developed some sort of autoimmune thingy, possibly Fibromyalgia, but we may find out this Friday when I see the specialist. It is a bugger! Some days are ok but others are crapitty crapp as Dottie Angel would say. 

But today after breakfast I ventured in amongst this heap of plastic fabric party tent. We borrowed it for Kerry's birthday back in Feb. it was a very windy day and most of the ties tore off, so I have had the stuff needed ever since to fix it.

Now here I am in the garage where there is enough space to sew the ties on. I don't know why I had kept putting it off. I was worried my machine wouldn't be up to the job, but she whizzed through the job in no time at all, and very easy peasy. A good job done. Now we can return it to Kerry's brother.😊

I then dived into my studio, all energized and ready to get on with some Jean bag making. The light one was a pair of linen jeans that jumped into my basket at the op shop. Yes! I need one of those grocery baskets when I enter.😜

These are some of the jean bag WIPs. Plus my old well worn bag on the left. Some are far too short denim mini skirts I have removed from their shame. They are great to use as there is no crotch to negotiate.😉

The linen bag begs to be French shabby embellished.

Don't you just love this fabric. From Spotlight no less! Just perfeck for using in stitching crafts.

And these Nottingham Leavers Lace have been patiently waiting in their bags since I purchased them in UK in 1988. YES! I KNOW!! I think I'm ready to use at least one of them.😊😊

Lunchtime came and went with more anti flams and a rest, but I really wanted to clear a few weeds from the garden. I managed a half hour until my body screamed NO! ENOUGH!! And I just had to retire for a rest.😒😒

So a little comfort food and drink ( just ginger ale)😜 

So here I am resting and gathering strength for a garden watering session after tea. The trees are greening up nicely. I love the fresh Spring green. The garden is also very busy with birds raising their young. The garden is such a joy, as is our home and my studio. In fact our life, even with its hiccups and hurdles is a joy and such a blessing.

I hope you are experiencing abundant blessings and joys, wherever you may be.

Till next time, blessings and love, Trills, xxxx 😊😊😊