sitting still

My car is parked, the house is quiet:  time to just sit and think a little.

It has been a very busy year with some stress and sadness and lots of happiness.

As the year ends I guess I could look back and analyze what I have achieved and what I have failed to do (or done badly) but I think I shall just look forward.  There is nothing I can do about the past but the future is mine: I hope I can be creative, maybe a little better at housework, a good wife, mother, grandmother, neighbor and friend.  I know it will be a busy year: that is the way I like it.  

HAPPY NEW YEAR - MAY IT BE A GOOD ONE 

Gardenia

There is no time for stitching at present but each day the garden produces something very special.

today this beautiful gardenia bloomed for the first time.

Isn't it glorious.

Water Lily

It is Sunday evening and we are relaxing after a lovely day with family.

We have had a problem with our internet again so I didn't have a chance to wish my followers and friends a happy Christmas.

I do hope everyone enjoys the holiday season and feel refreshed and creative when this busy time of the year is over.

Yesterday my water lily bloomed for the first time.  It is always so exciting to achieve something new and I have wanted to try to grow a water lily for years.  Success!

Summer Solstice

Today is the longest day of the year: the summer solstice here in Australia.  

It is also my birthday and I have had a lovely day.  Several emails and calls from friends and family were great and then this evening I saw my husband's Aunt and Uncle (in UK)  on Skype which was good.  As usual on Wednesdays I minded the little twins, Chelsea & Caitlin and my father in law is staying with us.  

 

These days we don't buy presents for each other unless there is something we particularly want.

The pic on the right shows what I received from my dear husband.

This little raised garden is outside our bedroom window and has always been really messy.  I have been wanting pebbles to finish it off and so this week I received 12 bags of pebbles.  That is what I call a perfect gift.

Oh, by the way, the first pic is of a Santa I made last year.  It is my own design and is called Swaggy Santa, reflecting the Australian bush. 

The spirit of the season

 As Christmas day approaches the days are busy and mostly happy but yesterday, Sunday, I popped out to a local shopping centre to buy a couple of things.  At the entrance to the car park there is a pedestrian crossing: as I turned in there were two young women chatting, one of them standing on the crossing. If someone is on the crossing motorists are required to stop.  I wound down my window and politely mentioned that this lady was standing on the crossing.  Her friend apologised but the young woman who was on the crossing told me what I could do, in most unladylike words.  You know it really upset me: it kind of stained the day.

On the other hand I have received some gorgeous hand made cards in the post and some lovely goodies from Judy and today a parcel arrived from Corrine at http://dosfishes.blogspot.com/.    I have always enjoyed Corrine's blog and love her approach to her art.  Corrine recently opened an etsy shop and I took the opportunity to buy myself a gift.  It arrived today and I will try to take a pic tomorrow and show you.  

I have been trying to finish off a few small items each evening.  The first pic is Polly Pinkeeper.  The second is a button embellished with beads and buttons.  The last is another toggle using an aboriginal designed fabric.

This pretty button is silk ribbon on silk dupion.

Very sweet I think.

Some of my Santas