Skipping Around The Garden Path♡

Hello lovely lovelies♡ Sitting here in bed ('tis Sunday morning) looking out the window at all the cosmos blooming in pink profusion. They are such happy flowers.  A little observation sitting here enjoying my morning cuppa. All the cosmos petals are facing to the east waiting for the sun to rise. I hadn't noticed this before. Mind you if I was a flower, I too, would wake up with my face in search of the sun waiting for sunbeams to shine upon me and warm me up. It is a universal truth that sunflowers turn to wherever the sun is; but cosmos??  I wonder if this fact is ubiquitous worldwide or just for the cosmos in our little plot. Who know, perhaps our garden is a magical one. =)

I have looked out my windows a lot this week, thinking upon Ukraine and her people; thinking of those whom I know are struggling with life......thinking, thinking.....praying, praying. It seems these days I spend a lot of time talking to God about all manner of things. My prayer list seems very long of late.

At the moment, here in my humble abode every window has a lovely view. Late summer/early autumn views are so pretty, calming...restful. Views of cosmos, hydrangeas....and far off into the distance forests of trees; and mountains rising up to the heavens. Very soon, the canopy of green will slowly change into glorious autumnal hues; trees standing tall, statuesque with the naked limbs silhouetted against the landscape. Looking through the windows reminds me to  be thankful. I can't quite shrug off the feeling of guilt, though. Looking out the window as I stitch, I am thankful for every day I have been given. To cherish every moment; for every day is a miracle is it not?? One never really knows what tomorrow may bring. My heart is both thankful; and filled with sadness at the same time, for all who are facing what seems insurmountable difficulties. Is there ever a time in this thing we call life, when conflicting emotions do not sit side by side and wrestle each other?? I really don't think so.  

But......I have spent moments of my week capturing those views. Capturing still life moments....a moment in time. Moments of time, ever fleeting.  I am struck by the thought that windows shining with sunbeams create beautiful reflections. Probably a 'no-no' to professional photographers but I rather love to see what reflections are captured in an instant.

Many bunches of dahlias were picked this week. Glorious colours.  At the first sighting of Old Jack Frost the dahlias will flee with horror and dive deep down into the earth until next summer. Much like me, really. I have been known to flee with horror, dive under the bedcovers and ignore the undeniable presence of Jack Frost. I wouldn't mind at all hibernating through winter under layers of pretty quilts to ward off the freeze. So not a fan of Jack Frost! But, I must say he does sprinkle beauty in shards of ice everywhere catching sunbeams, capturing shadows of rainbow colours in the reflections. Many, many hydrangeas were picked also. I am bringing many bunches inside, joying in the metamorphosis process of the hydrangeas changing into earthy hues of autumn. Fingers crossed that some will dry in that gorgeous way that only hydrangeas can; leaving behind crinkly, paper like, dried petals. There is no rhyme or reason; some change beautifully, but some are a dismal failure.

Care to see the view from my windows?? =) 

As I have been sitting looking out my windows, I have been covering more little pentagons with pretty scraps of fabric and stitching all these pretties together. Four blocks are finished, with two blocks having been prepped in readiness for some stitching later today. Then there will be only three blocks to do. I haven't joined any of the blocks together yet as I don't know whether or not I want to add something else to the centre of each block. The pattern has embroidered details but I'm not a fan. I rather like the thought of nothing at all in the middle. I could do small dresden flowers in the vein of the pentagons; but I also like the notion of lovely quilting designs instead. This would give the quilt a modern aesthetic, which I rather like. Don't need to make up my mind yet, though. For now I will just keep on playing with little scrappy pentagons. 

I have named this quilt 'Skipping Around The Garden Path' with homage to the memories of a little girl skipping around paths skirting formal gardens. All the little connecting pentagon wedges remind me of a formal garden design. As I stitch around each wedge it feels as if my fingers are skipping around each flowery pentagon with needle and thread.

Those of you of a certain age, do you remember the skipping ropes we had as children?? You know the ones; those with pretty patterned, wooden handles at the end of colourful rope?? I wonder, are there such skipping ropes anymore?? I suppose the ones that are sold these days are those "Jump Rope for Heart" get-your-heart-pumping-cardio-workout kinda ones. Much to my chagrin, I can't really skip now....how sad, but such are dem old knees of mine. Only in my dreams do I skip or run with skipping rope in hand along the garden path. Oh to be a child again. =) Oh, skip that thought.....I rather love where I am now at this stage of life, in this little place. I don't really want to go back and do it all again.

Before I go, the name of the lady my Pete pulled out of the hat for my little giveaway, is LJ. How exciting! Linda, if you email me your address I will pop the sweet little purse and all the other goodies in the post later on this week, and it will wing its way to you.

Please take care this week, lovely ladies♡  This coming week, may there be sprinkles of smiles filtering through the darkness of these days♡Each day seems to be more shocking than the previous one. May we fill our days with thoughts and prayers, wrapped in yellow and blue, sending them on the wings of a dove to the people of Ukraine♡

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

Linking this week to Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching

A little bit of everything and not much at all, really

A lovely welcome to my little autumnal place♥

What have I been up to this last little while?? I suppose a little bit of everything.....and not much at all, really. Oh, I have been busier than a bee, but it's just that I don't have a lot to show for all my busy-ness.

Autumn is casting it's beauty all around the place. The countryside is decorated with trees showing off their autumnal hues. Everywhere is cloaked in the gorgeousness that only Autumn can conjure up. It is as if almost overnight the trees have decided to put on their show. Before too long gust force winds that visit often these days, will strip the branches of the leaves causing them to rain down upon the ground forming a mosaic carpet underfoot. The scrunching of the leaves under one's feet is truly a magical sensation.

The Cosmos and Dahlias too, have been delighting us with more pretty colour. I suppose they must disappear sometime soon, but for now I will eke out every last bit of enjoyment, whilst I can. How pretty the flowers look with french ribbons coquettishly dancing around them whilst resting upon a bed of crisp autumnal leaves. Truly, my heart smiles....yet again♥

There has been a little building happening here, too. My husband has desired a fernery for those plants that need a little warmth and nurturing in the cooler months. For years now he has been squirrelling away windows and wood for such a project as this. He tells me he has been having the best fun.....making it up as he goes along. I call it 'Pete's Folly'.  As a gal who has always hankered after one of those conservatories that grace  Victorian and Edwardian buildings of old, this will be my own little glass sun catcher. A humble one, yes, but nevertheless a little greenhouse showcasing mismatched windows and whimsy. I am loving the progress of this little building. I am loving the mismatched windows, the peeling and cracked paint; the higgledy piggledy nature of this folly. Me thinks it might not only be used for warming up plants' toes and protecting them from Jack Frost, but it would be an excellent place in which to enjoy many an afternoon tea party.  A small afternoon tea gathering mind you, as let me make it clear this folly is a simple one. It is going to have windows all the way around so as to catch the views; the veggie patch, the garden and the paddocks and mountains in the distance.  'Tis very early days yet.....so watch this space!! I cannot wait to see it finished. In my mind's eye I am styling it already. I have mentioned to my Pete that his folly is going to be the most excellent of props. =) Of course he just did what he always does when the subject of props and styling is chatted about......he just smiled.

The Hydrangeas have been fading to shades of blue green, crimson, magenta....all in different stages of fading for their autumnal display. I love how Hydrangeas fade for months on end during the Autumn and Winter seasons.

Yes indeedy, Pete's Folly is an excellent location for a photo shoot or two. What say you??

I have been enjoying a little applique this last little while, as well. I have appliqued most of the baskets of my Buds in the Basket quilt. So I suppose with small moments of daily stitching there has been an accumulation of a lot of stitching, really.  I fashioned oodles of leaves and circle buds to be appliqued onto the baskets.

There are only three baskets to applique now and then I can join them all together. As it is Sunday tomorrow I will enjoy a little happy hand stitching, perhaps in the afternoon. I am still dithering how to border the baskets. I suppose a border of puddles of scrappy fabrics would be the way to go, but I am thinking I might just use one fabric with flowers blooming all over. Cutting  oodles and oodles of scrappy fabrics and then stitching them together is not something I really want to do, as the last couple of weeks I have been cutting and stitching tiny scraps of fabrics together on a project for one of my stitching girls. Besides, I have used a border of scrappy fabrics previously for two of my quilts and this time I might mix it up a bit.......decisions, decisions?

Anyway........'tis delightful to have you visit my little autumnal place. I hope you are all enjoying a most beautiful weekend. Sending all you lovelies a little love, swirling around and around on the wings of those blustery, autumnal winds.♥

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

Linking up to Kathy's, Slow Sunday Stitching.