A Little Giveaway

I'd love to host a little giveaway here as a thank you for any who still check in to see if there are any happenings on my blog.

I have been so quiet I know.

I had a bit of a drama with the delivery of my beautiful magazines. Thankfully all sorted now. But to cut a long story short I ended up with some double ups. New and never opened ready to share with three of you.

There is the October issue and November issue of our lovely Australian Country Style and also the October /November issue of Donna Hay. 

So if you are interested leave me a message, make a link in your own blog and if your over on Facebook make a mention there too. 

Open to overseas friends too.

Inheritence....

Today I am trying to get this lot sorted and somehow incorporated into my home...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overwhelmed much...

Christmas..3 days to go

 

 

Goodness, Christmas is here!

 

I can hardly believe that we are about to celebrate this season.  This year has passed in a blur of busyness.

 

 

Finally a little Christmas decorating has taken place as we prepare to begin our Christmas celebrations tomorrow with some of our family.

 

The decorations are streamlined and minimal this year - I just couldn't come at the whole decorated bit this year - the thought of having to put it all away was just too much.

 

 

In some ways I think I am the most organised I have ever been and I started way later than any other year.  It has been an exhausting week.

 

Just a few more little gifts to wrap and all will be complete.

 

 

A little baking has been done.  Hopefully a little more to come. 

 

We do so much at the shop that we just can't hardly look at by Christmas, so it's always nice to have some different bits and pieces to enjoy over the break.

 

With love, Christmas wishes and blessings to all who visit here.  May this Christmas be peaceful and restful for your family.

Sweet Peas...

 

 

The Carnival Judges have been and gone.  Whew!

 

That was a little stressful.  I felt quite nervous this time.  Haven't felt like that before for judging.

 

I must be taking it seriously this time!!!! 

 

 

 

This afternoon, I stripped the Sweet Peas almost bare in an effort to help them to continue to flower for another couple of weeks yet.

 

The result - four beautiful large posies filling the house - two bathrooms and the living area smell wonderful.

 

 

 

 

Beautiful old fashioned Sweet Peas - just love the rewards of my Springtime garden.

Spring Decorating....

 

I've started tidying the garden and placing of lovely pieces around - not only for the judging, but to enjoy in the coming weeks as Spring gets into full swing.

 

 

I just love the beautiful vintage looking cage - purely ornamnetal.

 

I love the colour and the shape.   I will probably move it inside too - I love the little terracotta pots that are planted with white viola.

 

I can see it inside with lovely ornaments and vintage lace draped from the bottom shelf.

 

 

This beauty was purchased at a lovely shop here in Toowoomba. 

 

Teacups and Twigs is a lovely shop at 9 Russell Street, Toowoomba.  If you live locally or stop by Toowoomba sometime, please visit Jane and her lovely shop.

 

 

Jane also has a lovely blog which she updates with beautiful things available in her sweet shop.

 

Say hello and tell Jane I sent you along!!

 

 

The freesias which have been in the ground for a few years continue multiply and are stunning this year.  The perfume is divine.

 

Our sweet peas are also flowering beautifully.  The scent in our garden is just lovely at the moment with all these beauties putting on their Spring display.

 

A dear old couple who have entered the Carnival for many, many years kindly shared these seeds with us a couple of years ago.

 

 

Four years ago, I planted a Wisteria.  I have watched and waited each Spring for the first flower.

 

This year it has happened.  It is stunning - but not what I expected.  I thought I had planted a deep purple flowering one - I have a pale lavender tinged flower - I don't seem to have saved the tag - does anyone know if it will change as it gets older - or have I been duped!!

 

 

Nonetheless, it is still beautiful. 

 

It is planted in memory of my dear Nana, Eleanor for whom this blog is partly named. 

 

In around 1940 she planted a Wisteria at our family home at Iffley, Goomburra.  This is the beautiful home she was prepared to sacrifice to allow her sons to further their farming dreams on the Darling Downs.  I believe from recent information that this Wisterial lives on today.  I think I may have to take a drive!

Polk-A-Dot

These Polk-A-Dots have been making me happy.

So happy, that I am going to keep them up until at least February. I have decided.

Put up for Christmas, I just love them.

The paper balls I have had for quite a few years now, and I just love getting them out.  I have left them up for more than Christmas before - at least until my birthday in February.  We are planning another little event in February 2012 and red polk-a-dots will fit in beautifully with that as well.

The paper chain is new this year.  I had looked longingly during Christmas shopping last year - but was a little overpriced - but come the January sales - the price was just right - so I bought several!!

Making me even happier, are some new mugs - more beautiful polk-a-dots in red.  Love, love, love......

I bought four mugs - and I smile each time I open the cupboard to make a cuppa! 

Polk-A-Dot mug on a Polk-A-Dot stool - happiness complete!

It doesn't take much!

Vintage Music Kusadama Ball..........

I saw this lovely idea on a very sweet little blog.  I was entranced by the beauty of this idea.

Lots of little 3 inch squares of vintage music, folded and folded, 

and glued and glued

and held together with lots of bobby pins

and you have a lovely Vintage Music Kusadama Ball.

Absolutely chuffed with this little project.  I really didn't think I was capable of such a thing.

Vintage Book Wreath

After a little lunchtime hunt for a couple of lovely old books

I had some fun making a Vintage Book Wreath



A sweet crown and some ruffled crepe paper finish the middle

Some loveley vintage ribbon from my Great-Aunt's bag of ribbons to hang it with was the finishing touch.

Christmas Decorating.......

Just wanted to share my Christmas decorating with you.



Christmas Wishes.......



Little birds on the sideboard........with



Berry garlands.......



Baubles.........

and

Dragonflies............

Hope you and your family are enjoying your Christmas preparations.  I just can't wait for the time off - if I am ready for Christmas day it will be a miracle!  Full time work tends to do that.

Alexandra and I enjoyed a lovely afternoon at a sweet little Christmas show - princesses, pirates and Santa too!  Much fun!  I am so pleased we at least got to do that together.

Artichokes........

For some fun, I planted a punnet of Artichokes.......

One plant in the vege patch......

The rest in the garden beds......

Inspired by The Vintage Rose, who has a beautiful home, garden and shop in Tasmania.

Amanda and her family were featured in Australian Country Style magazine earlier in the year.

I am going to pick these beauties and put them in a vase..........

More head shaking from the male species in this home will surely follow~!