Sunday, January 11, 2026

Hello, Sweet Peas♡


Hello, Sweet Peas♡ Another week of summer has drifted by. The weather has finally begun to warm up and I must say I'm rather pleased about that. The hydrangeas are  beginning to turn blue (they've taken their own sweet time, though) and the froth of  sweet peas?? Well, these pretties are flowering like there's no tomorrow.


The funny thing is, the sweet peas we planted have adopted a slow bloom approach, but those seeds which the wind swept  up in a gusty swirl and scattered everywhere are a messy, tangled parade of gorgeousness. Every morning there is bunch after bunch to be picked both to perfume and beautify my humble abode, and also to share  with friends. The more I pick the more they flower. This year the sweet peas are 'Super Blooms'♡



Some of you last week commented on the buddleias, thinking they were lilacs. It's easy to mistake buddleias for lilacs as they are similar in both form and colours. And, both have the sweetest of scents. At this time of year buddleias are also stars in the garden. And there is always a flutter of butterflies fluttering from flower to flower, delighting in them.






Another week of birthdays. Another chocolate frosted chocolate cake baked, with lashings of cream and strawberries. Oh, the cake for my dear friend's birthday afternoon tea last Sunday?? 'Twas delicious.

So, another chocolate frosted, chocolate cake with lashings of strawberries to celebrate the birthday of one of my sewing girls from years past. Those of you who have followed my stuff and nonsense all these years will be aware of Holly, who came to the 'Kim Sharman School of Stitching Excellence' for nine years. 

The eight year old little girl, with hair in pigtails and feet resting on suitcases to reach the pedals is now sewing up a storm. Holly is now studying a business degree at University and has started her own little sewing business with the dream of making a living doing what she loves.  And.....I must say she's whipping up a sewing storm here in our little community and further afield. It's exciting to watch her excitement...her passion, with all things textiles. And, to think it all started years ago, a wee little girl having fun with needle and thread, with a little guidance along the way.

Another funny aside emanating from those days when the school bus would hurtle along our country road, screech to a stop outside our humble abode, ejecting eager sewing students. Pete was working in the front garden this week when a car stopped and a friendly voice said "hi Pete". It was a neighbour. She went on to impress upon Pete to tell me that her son, another one of my favourite students back in the day, had just recently shown his girlfriend all of the projects he had fashioned. Apparently they are all still in his room. How sweet. A young man keeping all his 'treasures' from his boyhood sewing days and showing his textile works of art to his girlfriend with much pride. It makes me smile.

This last little while I've been reading and perusing some fabulous books. A wide assortment of books. I must say I love to read memoirs... autobiographies, as this genre gives me insight into people's lives; who they are, their insights; their life experiences.  When I pick up a memoir Atticus Finch comes to mind ........"you never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it".  So very true. I still remember reading Harper Lee's To Kill A Mocking Bird when I was a high schooler. It was my favourite novel on the list in the school curriculum. It still resonates with me today,  fifty three years later. I have reread it many times. It's one of those books I love to revisit, as rereading a much loved book is akin to visiting with an old friend.  I listened to a few podcasts this week. One of note is one with Michelle Obama and her brother, Craig Robinson, interviewing Jonathan Capehart. Having read his book I knew I would enjoy listening to his story; and I did. He's a wonderful storyteller.

This week I finished crocheting the sleeves onto the denim jacket. I love it. And, after refashioning it I will wear it a lot more than I have previously. Lin and Julie commented last week that a touch of embroidery and perhaps a crochet flower brooch would look rather spiffy. And, I must say, I concur. I can see in my mind's eye some embroidered flowers escaping from a pocket, or perhaps dancing on the collar. But for now, me thinks I'll leave my denim jacket as it is. I shall partake in a little omphaloskepsis re the embroidery. =) Watch this space.





Another week strolling in the garden, snippety snipping bounteous sweet peas, eating cake, drinking tea, crocheting, reading......pondering, laughing, crying (well, some stories that played out  this week compelled tears) praying, questioning........and at times, thinking of you♡ Thank you for your sweet visit, sweet peas ♡ Care to share a cup of tea in a pretty teacup and nibble on a lemon curd biscuit, or two; with me??

Let us, you and me drink tea, and shine our little light♡

Take care, lovely lovelies, lovely friends♡ 


14 comments:

  1. Gorgeous sweet peas and buddleias Kim !
    I try to have some but the soil or dry air in Summer won't let me :(
    Your jacket is perfect !
    I've read Lee Harper book some years ago, great book !
    Have a lovely week !
    Hug
    Anna

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  2. It is always lovely to stroll around your garden. Those sweet peas are gorgeous and the variety of purples/blues of the buddleia is lovely. How nice to get an update on past students. Your jacket turned out amazing. I too love 'To Kill a Mockingbird' . I haven't read it in a few years. Probably time to revisit it!

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  3. When my daughter was little, we called her Sweet Pea. We tried several times to grow butterfly bushes in our garden but they always died over the winter. My sister in law grows them with great success in her yard. I wonder if the walnut trees on the property behind us kills them off…
    Your “new” jacket is a fun addition to your wardrobe.
    I love it that my daughter caught the crafting bug. It seems you have passed on some inspiration to younger folks in your neck of the woods too.
    Gail at the cozy quilter

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  4. Dear Kim, I hopped over to your blog to read about your week. Sweet peas do take their time, especially up north where we are. Tried them last year again, when did they decide to grow and flower? Just before the really cold and the snow! Hopefully some dropped seeds are waiting in the soil to start growing way before we can get out into the garden and surprise us this spring with some flowers.🌺 Sending you hugs 🤗 and ❤️

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  5. Your crocheted sleeves denim jacket is so lovely--nice work;)))
    We are having dark, gray days here for the most part with sprinkles of
    rain here and there...Winter by the sea, I guess..
    We will be bringing Helga in for her tune up this week; a little day
    out and perhaps a nice luncheon on the way back...
    Hugs, Julierose

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  6. I am in awe of your luck and love of flowers: such gorgeous colors that are so YOU! ( We call the buddleias, the butterfly bush.) All this time your enthusiasm and sweetness led me to believe you were a sweet young thing. You popped my bubble when you mentioned reading Atticus Finch 53 years ago. You are about my age, but so youthful and positive. I guess the spring colors added to the vision. I worked with struggling students at a high school and thus got to read and reread To Kill a Mockingbird many times, yet still loving how it resonates with current times. Love your crocheted arms of the jacket. Perhaps I should do the same. Sending "hugs"!

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  7. I didn't realize that your buddleias are another name for my butterfly bush. I also didn't realize that they come in so many different colors! So pretty. Your denim jacket is wonderful I love how you have updated it. I didn't know that you used to teach sewing in your home. I guess I haven't been following this blog long enough. How wonderful that your students are still so proud of their accomplishments and are using the skills you taught them.

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  8. I have to admit the word omphaloskepsis sent me to Google to see what it was. And I laughed out loud when I read the definiton. I bet the smell of the sweet peas is heavenly. I never had much luck growing them. And the size of your buddleias is amazing. They die back to the ground here most years, so they never get as tall as yours. Hmm, lemon curd biscuits sound delicious. A spot of tea and some biscuits would be welcome right now as a spurt of snow flurries just passed through.
    Pat

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  9. Your beautiful flowers and crocheted jacket sleeves and stories of what your sewing students are up to now poured a bit of perfumed oil on the turbid waters of my soul this morning, Kim…I’m glad you are surrounded by an island of flowery peace; we who love to visit you there can draw strength from all that beauty…Hugs, Nancy O.

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  10. Oh yes, you know I would like to come right over for tea, and maybe some crochet lessons, too! Your jacket turned out beautifully, Kim. Some embroidery added to the pockets would definitely be fun! Love seeing your sweet peas and buddleias, too - such beautiful color!

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  11. Sweets peas would be my favourite flowers, I just love the scent, but I've never had any luck growing them. When I pop in for tea and cake I'm sure you will give me a big bunch to take home.

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  12. Me gusta mucho leerte y tomar té contigo, disfruto muchísimo de tus bellas flores y coincido con tus amigas, ésa cazadora necesita tu toquefloral especial. BESICOS.

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  13. the jacket turned out perfect. I love listening to Jonathan Capeheart and Michelle Obama also - your tea and cookies look perfect!!

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