Drink Tea and Do Some Knitting

Very good advice if you ask me. I have been enjoying many a cup of tea this last little while and I have been enjoying knitting my aran woolly. Is it my imagination but does one seem to drink more tea when knitting?? I have been hellbent on finishing my jumper. Since I last 'chatted' with you, when a menial chore demanded some of my attention I have repeatedly said, "just a moment; let me finish this row". I always remember my darling mum saying to me "Kimmy (no-one but my mother ever addressed me so)...always finish the row you're working on before you put your knitting down." Wise woman, was my mother. So.....because I would never in a million years think of disregarding her wisdom, I always finish the row. =)

My single-minded determination of knitting till I reached the woolly finishing line, with both knitting pins raised high in the air, whilst rather exultantly shouting hip-hip-hooray; has reaped wonderful rewards. The constant clickety clack of the needles has resulted in the completion of my aran woolly. A huge sigh of relief at this juncture. This jumper really took an age to knit, and I might add I am not in the least bit sorry that it is done.

It is a jumper which oozes cabled texture and is a long one.....it covers my derriere. It is a bulky knit, perfect for those early, wintry morning walks where the landscape is shrouded in a veil of mist. 

These last couple of days the mornings have been unbelievably beautiful. These mornings when the sun's rays send beams of light through the maze of mist is truly a most splendid sight. These misty mornings delight me. They declare God's loving kindness to me. Each morning is a gift from Him to me. It is these mist-filled mornings that God's awesome handiwork brings a tear to my eyes......they humble me. I will never tire of seeing the majesty of the sun rising each morning, kissing me on the cheek.

So.......me thinks whilst roaming around this little patch of paradise that I call home, on those early, misty morning meetings with my Heavenly Father, my aran woolly will keep me toasty warm.

The garden is still being a bit of a showoff; not that I mind of course. The Cosmos are still 'cosmos-ing', a few of the roses have decided to still astonish with their beauty and the Easter Daisies are in bloom delighting many a bumble bee. The longer the garden gifts me with beautiful blooms is just fine with me, thank you very much.

Little pink, orchid-like impatiens cover the ground everywhere, like a carpet. They too seed like weeds every Summer. These pretty flowers though, will soon disappear.

I cannot tell you how much I am beside myself with great joy with the completion of this woolly. My poor ol' pea brain no longer has to perform cranial gymnastics. My muddly brain pan no longer has to think about RT, LT, MB, C3, BC, FC, C4B, C4F etc etc., or indeed which row I am up to. Thank goodness for that! Though, would you believe another aran pattern has caught my eye. I know, I know.....what am I thinking!! But.......for now the most taxing thought in my muddly brain pan is in which pretty teacup will I drink my tea?? =)

Until the next time.......

A Carnival of Flowers

It all started early one morning. It was a simple thought in my mind. A simple thought to gather some flowers to dream up a still life; to capture my floral imaginings with my little camera and post it to my friend as a birthday greeting. Well that was the intention......BUT.........about two hours later it seems many, many still lifes of a carnival of flowers, magically unfolded! How does that happen?? =)

Oh, how I adore capturing real, painterly still lifes, abloom with gorgeous blossom after gorgeous blossom, with my little camera. Oh, how I adore playing with  floral arrangements, haphazardly arranging them together so that they dance in unison, not vying for singular attention but, en masse, content to shine in a rhapsodic and melodic bouquet. AND.....always, always, a background of messy puddles of beautiful fabric; in this case patchwork curtains in a selection of Tricia Guild fabric, which gloriously festoon the windows of my sewing room; is quite simply, the icing on the cake! Let the carnival begin!

Some of the roses have decided they are not finished with the parading of their beauty. Whilst some are beginning to close the curtain on their performance for this year, others, such as these glorious buttery yellow and pink roses are reaching their final crescendo. Indeed, for some reason or other these two rose bushes have saved the best till last.

Amazingly, the Hydrangeas are still producing new blooms. I went to gather a few and came in with about twenty stems. The size of the Hydrangea in the middle is twelve inches across......amazing!! Oh those pink roses; the fragrance is divine!

And then there are the Hydrangeas with a few of the buttery yellow, roses haphazardly thrown into the mix.

Be still my beating heart.

The softest blue-mauves and softest buttery lemons are the best friends, are they not??

But wait......those sweet Easter (Michaelmas) Daisies clamor for a happy snap or two. Their pretty, little, purple cluster of faces always make me smile.

And......one must not, must not forget the Cosmos. How can one forget the Cosmos?? Every year these blossoms of happiness pop up without any bangs and whistles; their only aspiration is to bring a sense of joyousness to whomever gazes upon them.

This floralicious carnival cannot close till the Dahlias frolic in their tutu-like, pretty petals. In their minds they are the stars of the carnival. The riotous colour of these prima donas certainly bring a festive spirit and irridescence to the carnival of flowers, but, I don't know.....as a top-liner of this show, the pretty blue Hydrangeas with the soft as soft, buttery yellow roses, must surely factor into the equation.  What say you??

There you have it. Early one misty, Autumn morning a few pleasurable hours, capturing the exhilarative beauty of each petal, of each flower, and puddles of a patchwork curtain; all singing the most lyrical and brightest of songs. Indeed, a cavalcade of deliciously coloured blossoms, a carnival of flowers filling the air with merriment and gaiety and many, many smiles.

Until the next time.......sending you a li'l smile to cheer your day.

Linking up this week to the lovely blog, Floral Passions: Floral Bliss, where all things botanical are showcased.