Hello lovely lovelies♡ I'm sitting in the parlour, this Sunday evening (have been most of the day, actually) where as I looked out the window throughout the day, the vista as far as the eye can see changed from rain and mist....a little sunshine.....but as quickly as the sunbeams penetrated through the thick clouds, the happy beams quickly disappeared. The weekend has been one where cosying down inside has been the thing to do. The parlour, my place of choice in which to recline and relax.
The parlour 'tis the place to be on a chilly day such as today. 'Tis a lovely space. A calm and restful room. 'Tis a space filled with treasures which have been collected over the years. Paintings, prints, rugs, sofas, chairs, lamps, quilts, tchotchkes.......gifts made for me by my girls when they were children.....books........oh yes, we cannot forget the books. There are many bookcases with many a book jostling for space. These inky treasures are everywhere, waiting for me to revisit them once more. For I am that gal who revisits favourite books over and over again. They are old friends to me. Some books are as delightful today as the very first day I picked them up. I can remember the thrill and excitement of picking up a book for the first time and embarking on a new adventure within the pages bound by a wonderful binding. Oh, how I love the binding of books! Books that I read over and over in my childhood....my teenage years....they are all old friends that have fed my imagination and soul through the years. And....talking of books I have just started to read 'The Bookbinder of Jericho' by Pip Williams. I recently read her first novel 'The Dictionary of Lost Words' and loved it. Though, I must say there were parts that were heart-wrenching to me. I cried many a tear reading this book. I wonder if 'The Bookbinder of Jericho' will pull at my heartstrings??
Pete and I have sat in the parlour most of today......and yesterday, actually. We have both been in the car travelling here and there for most of the week, so we both desired to relax and not move too far from the fire. The weekend was one where it was too cold to venture outside. The glow of the fire with the wonderful warmth was too enticing. So, we read, chatted, drank copious cups of tea, nibbled on home baked biscuits and cakes. Oh......and I captured a few happy snaps. =)
I have worked on the wee poppet's quilt, too. I will join Kathy's, Slow Sunday Stitching party later. The diagonal quilting is finished and I am now quilting the border. I was going to have the quilting stitches march one behind the other in straight lines around the border but I changed my mind; having decided to hand quilt around the centres of the flowers and leaves. Not every flower and leaf, but here and there. The border fabric is flourishing with stylised 'Corymbia Ficifolio' an Australian flowering gum tree, so I thought quilting stitches do-si-do-ing around and around the flowers and leaves would look more fun than straight lines. I have sat in front of the fire all afternoon and happily hand quilted away.
This cold and rainy Sunday I have enjoyed a pleasant day sitting in the parlour with my Pete; reading and hand quilting my wee quilt. This morning I lit many, many candles adding a warm, ambient glow to the room. It is always my aspiration to add beauty wherever I am. =) Yes, I am that gal who must have a plethora of candles flickering, illuminating the room with the softest light, with reflections dancing in the glass and mirrors. Love, love, love a room aglow with soft candlelight. Oh, I must tell you a funny story about me and my penchant for candles. When we first moved to this little corner of Tassie a farmer drove by one very dull Sunday afternoon and looked in and to her surprise saw our little home alight with a plethora of candles. Apparently she loved what she saw. She went home and told her husband of what she had seen at our home and insisted that they buy a lot of candles. His response?? "What on earth do we need candles for???? We have electricity!!!!" Oh dear. I'm guessing candles are kept in the farmhouse for only those times when power outages darken their world. How sad. Life is far too short not to have a million and one candles aglowing; don't you think??
If you were to peek through the window into the parlour this evening, I wonder what you would see?? Why, like my neighbour farmer all those years ago you would see a room bathed in the softest of candlelight. Of course, I would invite you in. You could sit in a comfy sofa and warm your tippy toes by the fire. Oh, and you and I would partake in some tea and cake. Why, Pete would pop his head around the corner and say g'day. Doesn't that sound delightful?? So, so love my restful, homely little parlour.
Anyway........have a lovely Sunday, lovely lovelies, when it comes aknocking at your door♡ Take time to drink in those moments of beauty; and be thankful for those little joys of light♡ Perhaps light a candle or two♡ I'm about to snuff out the candles and go to bed♡
Until the next time....................
