Once Upon a Christmas Tree

Hello all you lovelies, oh my goodness it's been a while since I last chatted. I don't know why; I enjoyed the most wonderful time away with my family and upon returning home I suppose the days just slipped by. Anyway, before Christmas comes aknocking on my bright pink, front door I thought I might pop by quickly.

It's that time of the year again. Unless you have been living on a deserted island with no telecommunication connection......it's Christmas time. Yes indeedy everyone everywhere is busily preparing for the season of goodwill to all men (and ladies). Even here in my humble abode there is an air of sparkling and twinkling Christmas cheer.

Do you remember my Christmas tree of old?? I wrote about my oh-so-beautifully-elegant tree waxing lyrically about it here, if indeed you are interested in a rollicking Christmas tree tale of  my rather idiosyncratic tendencies of 'must-having' the perfect tree. Well, my oh-so-beautifully-elegant Christmas tree is no more. No it hasn't been banished to some dark, hidey hole......it is standing tall and ever so elegantly in some other family's home. Last Christmas I sold it together with all the decorations that bedecked it. I know, I know, 'tis a demented gal that I am........but you know what, for the last few years I had become weary of clambering up and down the 9ft tree over and over; and over again, precariously teetering on a ladder with garlands and lights in hand, risking life and limb. For the last forty years or so my tree decorations were red, green, white, silver and gold so I decided now is the time for a different look, a different aesthetic. My home is oozing with all things coloured pastel, so I threw caution to the winds and at the risk of my daughters never talking to me ever again, I just did it! Yes indeedy, I posted the whole kit and kaboodle on one of the local selling sites here and before I could change my mind somebody bought it. As soon as I posted the advertisement a big and bold SOLD sign appeared in less than a minute!!

"Oh dear, what have I done!!!" It was the quickest sale ever in the annals of the 'Sharman's Wares to Flog'. I must say I was shocked, even a little depressed that my beautiful tree with the ethereal angel looking down upon me from on high was never going to grace the parlour ever, ever again. Sorry for the histrionics........but I was rather attached to my tree. But you need not worry, I am okay, I am rather loving the parlour's new pastel Christmassy look.

Over the last few years I have searched high and low for a lovely white, elegant tree but could not find one to suit my persnickety sensibilities.....at least one that would not require a mortgage on my very little humble abode. Last week, quite by accident I happened upon a tree that I love. Believe it or not there is not a leaf nor a pine needle to be seen, clinging to the naked branches.....it is actually a bare tree with LED lights. Shock!! Horror!! Quite a change for me but you know what I love it! I love this new look of simplicity and it is more suited to my white and silver and pastel aesthetic. No ladders needed, no moving furniture around the entire house to fit the tree and the new tree decorated within a couple of hours....I can't tell you how deliriously happy I am about that!! AND.....I might say my good husband is beside himself with great joy at the prospect of never, never having to help me unwind blasted lights and garlands and wind them around and around the tree, ever, ever again! Why, me thinks our happy marital union might just well last for a few more Christmases!

Quite a change from the the heavily decorated, BIG tree. BUT.....I am rather enamoured with my little 'bare' tree.

Starry, starry night.

Though the sprinkling of Christmas lustre throughout my humble abode is definitely less this year, nevertheless it is always joyous to sprinkle some shimmer and sparkles here and there.

As my pretty, embroidered curtains draw closed on yet another year, I would love to say thank you to each one of you whom has visited my little place throughout the year. Thank you for the gift of your visits and for blessing me with your sweet comments each time. I know I have said it before but you all truly make my heart sing! May your Christmas be filled with wonderful wonderment as you celebrate with your family and friends. May your Christmas shimmer and sparkle as your joy touches and brightens others' lives. I for one will be cherishing the peace I am blessed with as I reflect upon the real spirit of the joyousness of Christmas......Jesus'  'Birth'day, the miracle of Christmas.♥

Until the new year........

Much Ado About Spring

There is always much ado about Spring, isn't there, and quite rightly so. It is a season that holds so much promise as each day a new floralicious pretty, unfurls. It is a season that shoos away Ol' Man Winter's icy stranglehold and gently warms the landscape, and as if by  magic sprinkling it with a delicious piquancy of both perfumes and colour. Each day rolls slowly by gently leading one to a wonderful expectation of lazy Summer days.

As you may have guessed by now, Spring is celebrated with a feverish excitement here in my humble abode. I walk most days in the garden with my trusty spaniel shadowing my steps, and when time allows it sit awhile before the pond either with needle and thread in hand slowly stitching some pretty, perhaps reading one of  those "can't put it down" kinda books, sharing morning or afternoon tea with my husband who enjoys a brief respite after tending the garden, or indeed just sitting, reflecting on most anything.

I cannot believe the season of Spring is almost over and is strolling towards Summer. Once again the garden has gifted me with the most delicious of  floral delights. It never fails to extend it's hand and present me with the most beautiful of bouquets daily. Bouquets overspilling with Daffodils, Bluebells, Pansies, Irises, Ixias, Foxgloves, Orange Blossoms, Lilacs, Clematis, Forget-Me-Nots, Granny Bonnets, Wisteria, Love-In-The-Mist.......(don't you love this name.....it evokes many thoughts of all manner of amorous goings on deep within the steamy mist. =D ), Roses....the floral parade marches on and on.

Spring is not only a season celebrated by me, all the critters seem to feverishly celebrate the song of Spring. The chubby bumble bees, the lady bugs, the dragon flies, the fish in the pond, the sweet little birdies......all are frenetically darting from flower to flower doing their Spring thing.

As the days slip into Summer let me share with you just a few (well perhaps more than a few) delights from the garden with which Spring has filled my basket.

My trusty Spaniel, she rather loves flowers too. Isn't she the sweetest pup??

Of course when Maisie is not inspecting the beauty of each flower she is off chasing the ducks in the early mornings.

There has not been much 'ado-ing' concerning my garden quilt. Very little stitching of it has been enjoyed of late so this week I decided to plant some Foxgloves......well one to be exact. My goodness this little flower took ages to manipulate each petal, each leaf.....some twenty six hours....but whose counting....I AM! I suppose I will 'plant' a few more of these pretties, though I am not looking forward to this as they are so very fiddly to fashion.

Around these parts Foxgloves are usually seen everywhere but this year they haven't appeared. I believe the powers that be have deemed them to be weeds so have eradicated them......but what do they know. If they are considered to be weeds then they can take over my garden anytime. I love to see these pretty, tubular bell-shaped blooms pop up in the garden each Spring.

Slowly, slowly do the flowers on my quilt grow.

Why, as it is Sunday afternoon me thinks I will enjoy a little slow stitching right here in my sewing room and watch the black and white roving kaleidoscope, spectacle that is outside my window. I have auditioned some pansies tickling their toes in the water, so perhaps I will begin to stitch these pretties. A little stitching, then me thinks a spot of afternoon tea on the swing seat beside the pond. Sounds like a most excellent idea if you ask me. Aah.....don't you just love lazy Sunday afternoons?? I know I do.

Later this week both my daughters are flying in and we are all off for a little holiday in Hobart, the capital of Tasmania. I am so very excited.  With one daughter living in the USofA and one daughter living in another state way up north,  it is always a joyous occasion when we are all together. It is a rare occurrence these days for us all to catch up. I will be away from my little place for a little while but will visit all your lovely places when I return to my little place.

Before I scurry away for a little stitching let me say thank you to all you lovelies for your sweet comments re my last post. Each one of you bless my days. May your week be blessed with sprinkles of beauty.♥

Until the next time...........