Signs of Spring!

Hello friends,

This is the first time in ages since I have been able to sit down and do a little blog post.  I am finding that it is so much easier to post a photo on Instagram these days. 

I love Springtime when some of my favourite flowers are around. A white camellia I picked yesterday and a bunch of freesias which smell beautiful.

Bluebell, this sweet little dog of ours, seems to take up so much of our time. She will be coming up a year on the 27th of October and how fast this year seems to be going!
Every morning we go for a lovely walk along the beach and she gets to socialise with all the other dogs there.

Also have been doing some work in our daughter Victoria's old bedroom - giving that a makeover and the plasterer has skimmed the walls and will soon be able to paint them.
It has been slow progress but hopefully one day will be finished and I will be able to share some photos.
 

Overlooking Four mile beach at Port Douglas

Back in September, we had a wonderful holiday away in Port Douglas and our son Marcel came along with us. 

Marcel feeding the kangaroos

This crocodile was huge and glad there was a barrier between us

 

 

Stayed in a Balinese style villa and had a lovely swimming pool

It was great to go to tropical Queensland and see lots of sunshine.
Went out to the Great Barrier Reef and spent the day snorkeling around tropical fish and coral which was amazing. Also took a short helicopter ride to view the reef from above which was spectacular.

Also have been working on a new Bear and it has been so long since the last one. I have a friend who is doing a new website for me, so one day will have that up and running.

Have been thinking of you all and look forward to coming over to say hello and see what you are up to.
Blogging friends, are the best and have missed you.
hugs
Carolyn 

Flower in Focus

I wait patiently every year for my Camellias to start blooming on the bushes. Our garden has two bushes that bloom with the most gorgeous white flowers.

It is always a delight to bring them into the house and arrange them in a vase ... heartwarming to have something flowering through the cold winter months.

So when Trishie gave us the theme of flowers in focus, I thought it would be a good time to showcase one of my favourite flowers.
This was also one of Coco Chanel's favourite flower and indeed one of her signature symbols.

I love white it projects purity and neutrality from the beautiful bride who traditionally wears white, the pristine white interior of a house to the little picket fence that surrounds a happy home.

After women, flowers are the most lovely thing God has given the world
~ Christian Dior

Please go over and visit some of the others who have kindly showed their Flower in Focus.


Thank you Trishie for organizing Flower in Focus

Happy weekend
hugs
Carolyn

Floral Friday ~ flowers that make me smile

When Trishie gave us the theme for floral Friday, it was to showcase some flowers that make us happy.
I must say I have a little bit of an obsession with fresh flowers,  whether they are picked from the garden, growing wild on the side of the road or even splurging, on a little treat with the grocery budget.

I immediately thought of the freesia and have fond memories ... transported me back to my childhood days when I used to go and stay with my grandparents for some of my school holidays.
Grandma's garden was beautiful and she always grew the soft creamy lemon coloured freesias  and we would go and pick them and bring them indoors to put in a vase ... ahhh! the fragrance was so gorgeous.

Nothing screams Springtime more, than a bunch of bright yellow daffodils - such a cheerful flower as winter is all over with...  Spring is the herald of summer, with warmer and sunnier days ahead.

I couldn't forget the Paris flower shops, they have to be the best and  every time I passed by one, wanted to get out my camera and take a photo ~the French just seem to do flowers so well.

Last but not least, the camellia bushes I have growing ~ these flowers I adore and for about two months they bloom so beautifully in the garden and  always like to bring some of these into the house to show them off.
These are a few of the flowers that make me happy.

Hope you take the time to smell the flowers!
Wishing you a fabulous weekend.
Carolyn 

Giving thanks

So much to be thankful for today ~

I always wake up grateful and give thanks for the new day

My loving family which mean the world to me

My friends, both new and old,  who inspire, encourage me and bring so much joy into my life.
Who would have thought before we started blogging, that we would have made such wonderful friends from all around the world.

It's Spring and I love to open the window and let the fresh air in and listen to the birds in the trees, and this brings a smile to my face.

Flowers I get excited when I see them growing well in the garden

The tomato plants are looking good and can't wait until we can make salads and sandwiches with them. After last years crop which was abysmal. Fresh asparagus are in the shops and so good for the evening meal.

Each day comes bearings it's own gifts ~ untie the ribbons.

Wishing a happy Thanksgiving, to my Amercian friends and a wonderful weekend to all
Also want to say thank you for going to visit my daughter to say hello.

hugs
Carolyn

Out in my garden

Today we have  rain  and I do love how everything looks so green and fresh after the shower.
The pansies are such a cheerful sight when the day is grey and overcast and they seemed to be waving hello in the wind.

Can't believe another week has gone by!

My white camellia still continues to bloom

Last night we went out to a friends birthday dinner, there were  16 of us seated around the table.
Happy birthday Lisa!  we had a really fun night with lots of laughs and was great to catch up with our friends again.

I want to thank you for reading my blog and now I look forward to coming over to visit you all.
I hope you have a fun weekend
hugs
Carolyn

Hello October

I know I say this so often, but every day,  just seems to go by faster and faster!
Seeing the 2013 diaries and calendars appearing in the book shops it has dawned on me, before we know it, we will be needing them.

The clocks here in New Zealand went forward at the weekend and daylight saving has started.
Always takes a little adjusting,  we still seem to be going to bed the usual time, but it is in the morning when the alarm clock goes off, that is the hard part.
Note to self, go to bed earlier.

I am making the most of the pretty Spring flowers that are still about, the white camellia, lavender and violets are  still looking pretty in the garden.
Wish you could smell the intoxicating scent of the bunch of freesias I picked, ... beautiful.

The weather was perfect on Sunday morning so we ate breakfast out on the deck. With a clear blue sky, the sun was shinning, birds were tweeting in the trees, the air was pure and fresh and it was one of those days that I was thankful for everything.

Find a positive phrase to say every morning and everyday like...

"Life is beautiful"

Do hope that you have a beautiful week
Hugs
Carolyn

A joy on a winters day

Time to show off my camellias  ~

These are such a joy in the winter garden and every year I can't wait until they make a grand appearance.

To wear rose coloured glasses and see the world for all its beauty, little treasures and everyday pleasures. In winter we need to refuse to let the cold dampen our spirit and instead see cloudy days as a grey canvas, in which to make colour  in our life... today I have painted white on my canvas.

Be the planter of Camellias ~ the perfect symbol of pureness,   passion and perfection.

 Whether you are basking in glorious summer days, or like us in the Southern Hemisphere, going through winter, ~ enjoy.

Here's to another great week, wishing you a fabulous one!

Hugs

Carolyn

Happy Weekend

My friend Dorthe from denlillelade.blogspot.com     shared this with me ~

Add the last two digits of your birth year to the age you will turn on your birthday this year, 2011.

It tells you the answer will be 111.

Try this with your own details ... It really does work!

Now to leave you with one more of my camellias, they really are the prettiest of flowers. 

This one is called Nuccio's Gem and I also have Swan Lake. 

The shrub has attractive glossy green foliage and they put on a fabulous flower display in late winter and early spring.

Camellias have a good shade tolerance.

Hope that you are enjoying your weekend - why do they go so quickly?

Hugs

Carolyn

Pure white

We have had mild weather up until today, when now it has turned to a real cold snap with lots of rain. Some of my flowers have been duped into thinking Spring is here, my first white camellia to show its face and some more pretty snow drops are out in bloom.
I love white, it projects, purity and neutrality, from the bride who traditionally wears white, the pristine white interior of a house, to the white picket fence that surrounds a happy home.

White is not a mere absence of colour; it is a shinning and affirmative thing, as fierce as red, as definite as black. God paints in many colours but he never paints so gorgeously, I had almost said so gaudily as when he paints in white.
~ Gilbert Keith Chesterton 1879-1936
{British journalist, novelist and poet}
Yesterday, I spent the afternoon photographing DD who was modelling three of her garments, for an upcoming Fashion Competition.
It was fun doing the photo-shoot at some beautiful beach locations.

Our thoughts are with the people of Norway, so tragic and sad, for what has gone on there.

Hope that you are having a lovely weekend, maybe in the heat of summer and for us in the Southern Hemisphere, hope that you are managing to stay warm and dry.
Wishing you all, a wonderful week ahead
Hugs Carolyn

Off air for a while.

Hello my dear blogging friends.
I hope that you have all had a wonderful weekend.

I am going to write a quick note, as tomorrow I have to do Jury Service. I am really not looking forward to this but it is something one has to do.
So I look forward to coming to visit when I have the chance.

Update; There was a total of 221 potential Jurors in the room and they had a ballot as to who was going to make up the 12, in each of the four courts that were sitting.

I was not chosen but have to go back on Wednesday and might be my turn then - who knows.
Thanks for your kind words you left.

I must away and finish dinner and then start the pile of ironing that is waiting for me.

Have a happy week and thanks for visiting me and the kind notes and visits from you.
Thank you very much.

Hugs
Carolyn

A few favourites for Friday

A flower I picked yesterday, when it was raining, love how the raindrops stayed on the petals.
This is my favourite hand cream, from L'Occitane the shea butter is exceptionally concentrated and an ideal beauty balm for dry or damaged hands.
French Women don't get fat ~ by Mireille Guiliano
I enjoyed reading this book and if you are looking for a new book to read, you may want to check this one out.
Stylish, convincing, wise, funny the ultimate non-diet book, which could change the way you think and live.

French Women don't get fat, but they do eat bread and pastry and drink wine.
In her delightful tale, Mireille Guiliano unlocks the simple secrets of this "French paradox", how to enjoy food and stay slim and healthy. Hers is a charming, sensible and powerfully life-affirming view of health and eating for our times.
When I am ironing I love to use this Lavender linen water, in the steam iron.
I actually enjoy doing the ironing, in the evening while watching TV.


I will share my Carrot Muffin recipe, with you.
This recipe was given to me by a friend, when I was in Canada and they are very easy to make and are delicious.
I think there are about three left, so someone must have liked them.

Carrot Muffins.

Beat 2 eggs {very well}
Beat in 1 cup of soft brown sugar {or you can use white sugar }
Add 1/2 cup of cooking oil
1 and 1/2 cups of flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
pinch cloves.

Add 1 and 1/2 cups of finely grated carrots
1/4 cups raisins/or walnuts, whatever you prefer.

Bake in a moderate oven, at 180 { 350} for 20 - 30 minutes.
Makes 1 dozen large muffins.

The warmest welcome to new followers and a grateful thank you to the kind folk that leave a comment and visit me.
Wishing a great weekend to you all!
Hugs
Carolyn

My Camellias are back!

Hello my friends,
I hope that you are all having a wonderful week.

Yesterday was pouring with rain here and I was so happy when I went outdoors and was greeted by this pure and perfect white camellia, on the bush. I have been watching the buds forming over the past couple of weeks so was delighted to see they have finally arrived.
I love Camellias and this also was the favourite flower of Coco Chanel.

The camellia, an exotic, forbidden flower comes from a family of native Asian shrubs with shiny evergreen oval shaped leaves and luxuriantly blooming flowers. There are thought to be about 120 different varieties of camellia, known in Asia as the 'Japanese rose'. It is mainly cultivated as an ornamental plant.
This is the lovely cloth that Sares from ~ loveleightreasures.blogspot.com
gave me in her giveaway, a beautiful vintage drawn thread work cloth, she also gave me the DVD of The Young Victoria and some lovely butterfly magnets.
Thank you very much and it was exciting to win these lovely gifts.
I am just listening to the radio and heard that Selfridges in London, have opened up their Christmas shop.
It seems like insanity to me, as it is only August. What do you think ... are you ready for Christmas trees and baubles now?
Don't get me wrong ... I love shopping and in London, even better!

I hope Summer/Winter is treating you all well and that you are finding some time to have fun.
Happy weekend

Hugs
Carolyn

White Wednesday

I just want to wish you a happy Wednesday and will share a few photos, from around the house.
I love this time of the year because my beautiful camellia bushes are flowering.
I have two bushes, that are in a shady part of the garden and they keep giving me these lovely flowers to admire.
This is the first flower of the season, so just had to pick it and place it in a vase on the mantle.

The beautiful Swiss lace, that is my wedding dress.
White tulips in a vase. I treated myself when out grocery shopping today.

Little white bear ~ Admiral William Dampier.

Pick the day. Enjoy it ~ to the hilt.
The day as it comes. People as they come...
The past, I think has helped me appreciate the present ~ and I don't want to spoil any of it by fretting about the future.
~ Audrey Hepburn.

Hoping that your Wednesday is wonderful.
Hugs
Carolyn