The Funnest of Weeks♡

Hello lovely lovelies♡ 'Tis Sunday again♡ Did you enjoy a pleasant week?? I did. My week flew by in a whirl of birthday celebrations and surprises; and the piecing of the backing of my Hydrangea Cobblestones quilt. Birthdays♡ They are a big deal in my family. Birthdays are always a special event. All stops are pulled out to see that the birthday person celebrates in the way they desire. When my girls were younger they never went to school  on their birthdays. They were treated like princesses for the day. My two girls and I (Pete always went to work......how sad) always celebrated their birthdays however which way they pleased......(well, within reason....=D ). I always said to their teachers that life was too short to have to go to school on your birthday. The girls have fabulous memories of 'wagging' school and enjoying their special day to the hilt. It always involved going somewhere fabulous and enjoying delicious food, worthy of such a momentous celebration. My birthday this year seemed to carry over a few days; morning teas, afternoon teas, lunches, gorgeous gifts, flowers......feel totally spoilt♡ So blessed♡

Between much too many cups of tea in pretty teacups and much too many pieces of several birthday cakes, I actually enjoyed some sewing, too. I stitched the backing of my quilt. I used fabrics from my stash, and also the extra fabrics from the same line of the hydrangea fabric; at the time of purchase. The fabrics are the Cottage Bleu Collection designed by Robyn Pickens; so they all dance beautifully together. At the time of purchasing these fabrics, I had no idea what I was going to do with them, so I purchased 1/2 metre lengths of some of the co-ordinating fabrics. When my eyes first espied the hydrangea fabrics, I just had to have them with not a clue what I would make. Thankfully all fabrics have been utilised, so all's well that ends well.

I stitched together large patches of fabric together in a fairly haphazard fashion. When the stitching of the backing was finished, I then hand stitched hydrangea octagons along some of the seams to add a bit of visual interest. I am that gal who never really over-thinks the backing of a quilt, as to be honest, no-one ever really looks at the back.......do they?? Of course, I suppose those with judgmental, imperious and exacting eyes, who pick up a quilt and inspect the quilting stitches on the back do, but truly, no-one who has walked along the path of life with me ever has. =) They are always bedazzled by the front (at this point my tongue is fixed firmly in my cheek). =D In saying this though, I do try to back a quilt with a complementary fabric, but I have been known to use the odd old sheet or two.

Oh dear, I did get a little carried away with the happy snaps didn't I??!! But, put a camera or in this case, a phone, into my hands and I get lost in a gazillion scenarios of capturing that one perfect short....or two...or three...or...!! But you kinda expect that from me; right???? Who knows, by the time the next birthday swings around again, my enthusiasm for capturing happy snaps will have been curtailed.

Who says that flowers are the prettiest when in a vase?? Certainly not I. Me thinks beautiful gift bags, boxes and the like, are the perfect receptacles for a flower or two♡

Thank you for your beautiful visit and taking the time to have a bo peep at what I have been up to this week. Perhaps this week there will be less cake and a little less tea......but then perhaps I will just keep on partying....as there is still a lot of cake. Wish oh wish I could share a piece or two with you. But I cannot, so it just means me and My Pete will just have to see that it is not wasted. Goodbye waistline.....not that I have one! =) Have a beautiful week. May you bloom a little, each day♡

Until the next time.......

Linking this week to Kathy's, Slow Sunday Stitching, Judy's Design Wall Monday and Frédérique's, Quilting, Patchwork and Applique.

Colours of Summer

Hello lovelies; welcome to my sunny part of the world. Thank you all so much for the lovely comments you gifted me last post. Yes, the lavender field is truly breathtaking, but alas, the day after my little photo shoot, my neighbour farmer harvested the lavender; so all the gorgeous lavender hues have disappeared. BUT......all that glorious colour will return later on in the year. Perhaps my Japanese pretty will be quilted and finished by then.....perhaps. =)

These last weeks have been filled with sun-drenched days. Each day the countryside has been bathed in glorious sunny hues with wide blue skies that stretch forever. The landscape is dotted with breathtaking, dancing summer colour. The sights and sounds and fragrances of Summer are always a delight. I have been enjoying all those happy and warm sunbeams bursting upon my li'l humble abode and its environs. The garden is flushed with glorious colour.

The Dahlias are yet again abloom in bright, happy colour.

The Cosmos are sashaying in shades of pretty pinks.

The roses are still smiling in pretty pastel hues.

AND.....of course the Hydrangeas.....well....they are doing their beautiful Hydrangea thing. =)

AND...of course, the pond is ever a restful retreat, casting it's magic upon all whom sit awhile.

It really is tough living in this paradise. =)

January found me socialising a little more than I usually would, as I celebrated a BIG birthday. Yes indeedy, this gal from down under turned 60!! Such a happy, wonderful and sunshiny, kinda number. So much more happier than the number 59......not that I ever was 59. You see, for the past year I have been 58 and 13 months, 58 and 14 months, 58 and 15 months etc etc.........until the wonderful numerals 60 appeared on my horizon. I can't really articulate why I dislike the number 59 so.....I just do.

So....this little while I have been enjoying the company of dear family and friends; birthday dinners with lovely friends, hanging out with my daughter and son-in-law who flew over land and sea to help me celebrate; to the grand finale......a surprise birthday dinner in a rather lovely restaurant, where beautiful family and special friends waited for me to say.....SURPRISE!! I didn't suspect a thing; I truly didn't. My dear husband and all those sweet friends of mine, have been plotting and scheming the last few months. They have all been involved in all manner of chicanery and subterfuge to organise my celebratory dinner. My sweet friends are all terribly adept at lying; as is my husband. Who would've thought my husband, who just happens to be a school chaplain could utter so many falsehoods. I wonder, will I ever be able to believe anything that is spoken from his mouth again. =) I do believe that if the day jobs, of all those whom were involved don't work out, there will always be a spot for each one of them in the secret service of their country. ALL would make the most excellent of double agents!

Me and my beautiful friends........oh, and my wonderful husband.

I received many beautiful gifts, from books, pretty doilies, beautiful jewellery, an ever-so-chic clutch, bouquets of flowers, a beautiful writing pen and ink set with various inks and nibs, pretty fabric, to a gorgeous crochet hexagon throw. My family and friends know me so very well.....'tis an utterly spoilt gal that I am.

My friend, Michelle, with whom I have been friends for over 40 years had been crocheting this hexie pretty for a little while. Isn't it gorgeous.

The garden is so welcoming of my crochet hexie woolly. No matter where it is placed the pop of bright and happy colour is perfect. Oh look.....there's my gardener......and a clever one he is at that. =)

My pretty looks amazing on both sides!

Love the reflections in the pond.

It's not at all obvious I am in love with my gorgeous, hexie crochet pretty, is it!!

Beautiful flowers were gifted to me.

A birthday cake is the perfect finish to a birthday celebration, is it not??  I was surprised with a most amazing birthday concoction, whipped up by a cake baker/decorator extraordinaire. It was truly an amazing cake and so very delicious. It was a rich, chocolate mud cake with icing of a patched hexagon quilt covering it, complete with buttons, needle and thread, scissors, thimble, flowers. I of course cried when I saw it. I could not help but stare at it for a very long time. I did not want to cut into this work of art. When eventually I guided the knife through it, I cut along the hexie pattern much to the merriment of all those who were watching. I quite simply could not hack into it.......it had to be cut with precision and care.

Isn't it a vision of pastel loveliness??

At my friend's home (another birthday celebration) ......little Eli (of  "One-Eye Eli fame) was most impatient with my cutting of the cake.

Though I was gifted with many beautiful gifts, it struck me that the collection of many beautiful moments were far more precious. Many moments filled with smiles and laughter. Many moments filled with love and hugs and joy......and a few tears. Many precious memories, skipping down the yellow brick road of friendship, with each gorgeous friend, at various stages of my life. These past few weeks my fine bone china, tea cup has runneth over with beautiful moments of love and friendship. Old friendships.....new friendships......all have added  beauty to my life. Indeed I cannot imagine my life without these dear friends, and of course my wonderful husband.

Sitting here reflecting upon the friends whom bless my days, I am reminded that each one brings beauty to my life. Each beautiful friend, at different times has shared the "best of times, the worst of times". Each one has laughed with me, cried with me, encouraged me, and at times carried me. I once read that "friends are God's way of taking care of us"; how very true! Indeed, when I count my blessings, I count my dear friends, twice. My beautiful friends remind me that it is a blessed gal that I am.

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