..thanks to this gorgeous gift! Thank you so much K.
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..thanks to this gorgeous gift! Thank you so much K.
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Every now and then I get the urge to clear off this space..  It gives me a lovely feeling of making a fresh start, or of a clean slate or in the words of Liz's yoga teacher 'the magic of new befinnings'. Just a tiny boost, bit nice. What simple thing gives you a little boost. And can you do it today? ..at dawn this morning. I took half an hour to sit by the open window and savour it.  What else to do on a wet and sindy Sunday in August, but bake a few cakes and listen to some music.. Today's edition of Private Passions was particularly good.   I did have about 15 minutes of sunshine one day last week, but the real bright spot was the great news from MaryB and her obvious delight at getting home from hospital (see comments on last post).  We have these stores called TK Maxx which sell ends of lines, the most incredible kitch, italian and chiese foodstuffs, very torn jeans (shredded in faat) and some high quality brands at very reduced prices. An amazing place to wander in as they sell absolutely everything! In the spirit of treating the commercial world like a museum I occasionally go in for a browse.. I found this lovely towel  which is reversible  and this pretty plate.  I also got a new shower curtain and felt very happy. ..of the very tame robins which used to eat out of our hands many years ago? In recent years the robins in my garden have seemed very shy but this little one has been hopping around my feet for a few days now..  A whole day of sunshine. One of my favourite garden jobs - mowong the paths through the meadows.    Then feet up. I even had twenty minutes in the hammock. .Yes, I know some of you are basking n the sun....but this was the weather when I had my friend to stay recenrly!    What do you see when you first open your eyes in the morning? If you are very lucky it will be the face of your beloved. Or is it used tissues, a dirty coffee cup, random clutter, clothes in a heap or a stain on the ceiling (I am embarassed to think how long I lived with that once upon a time!), or do you look at something that needs fixed, that could be easily fixed and that should have been fixed a long time ago? Make the first thng you see something beautiful, or happy, or funny - a favourite card, a flower, a photograph which makes you smile or feel grateful. Or create a little still life with all of these, and it might only take ten minutes. Start your day happy. Whyever not?  Geranium Ann Folkard with it's lime green leaves and graceful habit is another I woul not be without. ..and interesting in its way but summery? 11 degrees (51.8 F) when I left home. It did brighten up a bit on the way back but was still chilly.   Wouldn't it be wonderful if MaryB and Cathy could send us some sunshine from Texas and North Caroline?
Wishing you some sunshine this weekend.. to raise a family. Well appointed, vanilla scented residence in a quiet area.   Something tiny is nesting here. I can't make out whether it is a blue tit or a coal tit.. ..of Danish aesthetics. This charming display was in a covered lane ourside a shop - not for sale as far as I could see - just for beauty. Candles in dayrime is a very Scandinavian thing I have copied many times.   I have also found myself removing things and I replaced the lively paintings I usually have here with a simpler drawing of a lovely girl called Cecily who worked as a waitress in York and who I asked to sit for me.  Are you ever influenced in this way by your travels? The tulips and some sunny days were lovely to come home to..  Just half an hour from home is Benmore Botanic Garden and my sister and I had a beautiful walk there in lovely sunshine yesterday. I had exhibitions there and Barry was a garden guide, so lots of happy memories.      ..hello Spring!   And Happy Easter everyone.   (I have never been able to take a good photograph of this painting. It is called Freedom and is a very vibrant, clear yellow,) ..find me having that all-inportant first cup of coffee at the bedroom window.  Often with pen and paper. I love a slow, thoughtful start to the day. Do you, when and if you get the chance that is! I hesitated to press Publish on that last post. I am still not sure if it was the right thing to do, but war weighs so heavily that I feel compelled to mention it although I know it is not the kind of content you expect here. Being an informed citizen is important but watching people kill each other, as it hapens, crosses a line... Meantime, thankfully, the tulips suffuse with yellow and the chaffinch visits the bird feeder. Beautiful.  ..has been fun to do. Maybe a bit premature but away with the fur throw and the brushed cotton bedding and in with a bit of spring colour (extra layers still to hand of course!)    I do think what you see when you first open your eyes in the morning should delight you..picked from the garden and sparking joy.
Since I wrote this earlier today it has snowed! ..and a variation on the kitchen shopping makeover. Free and very easy. Is there a place in yourc home that could do with a bit of a refresh? Maybe a shelf in the siitting room, or a corner of the bedroom? Or a table top in your entraneway. Decide on a colour you love that will give you a lift and go around the house and into all the cupboards to find objects of that colour and make a little arrangement of them in their new space. This surface in the sitting room has had the same things on it for years, and although I still like it, they say a change is as good as a rest and I think there is some truth in that..   I had not intended to chamge the painting until I remembered a series of green paintings I did when I was learning how to use Chinese brushes then I just had to add the red candle - a little bit of opposite colour always sparks joy, and it echoes my red 'chop' which I used on the chinese brush inspired paintings, and which reads 'still learning'. What colour will you choose, and I wonder what you will find.. A morning of sunshine, kind words of encouragement from lovely blog friends and all is well. First lunch out of doors this year. I hope you had sun where you are, and time to relax in it.   ..and a totally free and almost instnat kitchen makeover.  When I unpacked the shopping today I kept out on view everything that was yellow and put out of sight everything that wasn't. I put things I wanted close at hand in a yellow carrier bag and hung it on a handle. I found my yellow apron and chose a few yellow cards from my lovely collection.
Just for fun. Next week it may be red. Or green. Tomorrow I will go and find some branches to put in the yellow pot. Thank you for all the recent links to colourful shoes ad slippers! I have recently discovered Kettlewell Colours and am awaiting my second order from them. They do have a sale on just now..  Meanwhile there is colour around the house to enjoy.
..on a recent woodland walk   and waiting to say good morning again  |
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