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 

Spring is in the air

Spring is a cause for joyful celebration ~ It's finally warming up and it is almost here.
Ahhh! ... it is going out for a walk along the road and been able to pick one of my favourite flower, the freesia. This is such a lovely thing to do at this time of the year.
I love to fill vases with little posies around the house in the bathroom on the kitchen windowsill - wish I could embed this photo with the divine scent

Spring the season for rebirth, renewal and regrowth
Raindrops
Green grass
baby animals and birds 
daffodils

 We have had a lot of rain, but I like that it is making everything grow well in the garden and will share some photos soon. 
The past week has been busy so hence not a lot of blogging going on. Can't believe that October is here - how can that be? 
 the days and months seem to be going so fast!

Do hope you are having a beautiful week, my friends
hugs
Carolyn

Spring is on its way

I love these pink hyacinths, that come up year, after year.

Spring is about to colour our world ... I am so ready to see some colour in the garden.
Taking the camera outdoors, it is hard to photograph how very special this time of the year is ~ budding flowers making an appearance, we have had sunshine all week, though not today, {the rain today is a lovely change} birdsong, and tuis playing around in the trees and then there is the beautiful fragrance around.

From the garden center, I bought these gorgeous coloured flowers, to plant in the window-boxes - does anyone know what they are? 

Spring makes its own statement, so loud and clear.
That the gardener seems to be only one of the instruments, not the composer.
~ Geoffrey B Charlesworth

 Last, but not least is a little vase of Paperwhite  Erlicheer, which bring indoor joy.
Do you have a favourite Spring flower?

It's finally the weekend ... hope you have a wonderful one!

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

Harbinger of Spring!

 Harbinger of Spring is the sight of daffodils, freesias, birds building nests, (once again the window box outside our sons bedroom makes a temporary home for a little family.)
September is officially the start of Spring here in New Zealand,  but you would not think so as today it is cold and wet.
 
Signs of spring are in the air, and out walking I picked a bunch of freesias that were growing on the roadside. The intoxicating smell on the kitchen windowsill is gorgeous and even doing jobs like washing the dishes,  seems more pleasant.

These Gucci shoes were displayed in the window of the Fabric shop that I went into last week.
They were worn by Lady Gaga during the final show of the Monster Ball tour in Mexico City.
Autographed by her, they were put up for auction for a fund raising telethon to help Christchurch after the earthquake.
Lady Gaga gave strict instructions to the Rise up Charity team for Christchurch "Make sure they raise heaps of money and go to someone fabulous"

Ps. Two years ago today, 4th September was when the first earthquake struck Christchurch, and still there are difficult times for so many people living there. Rebuilding and getting back to normality is slowly happening and we hope that life can be better for the people of Christchurch.

I wish you a wonderful new week
Hugs
Carolyn

Spring is in the air!

Daylight saving commenced this weekend in New Zealand and it is usually the start to embrace the warmer days. After getting through winter everything looks more appealing as if it has woken from a long slumber.
The Restaurants and cafes are getting busy, more people are out and about and it won't be long before it is time to start swimming in the sea again.
The fragrance from the freesias in my kitchen are divine ~ they always make me smile
It takes one lovely sunny day to get everyone flocking to the garden center and on Saturday that is what we did. I love wandering around looking at all the wonderful plants and we came home and spent the afternoon planting what we bought.
Sunday, however could not have been more different... it rained, but I did not mind as it was good to quench the new plants in the garden.
Hopefully we will be able to eat strawberries, when they are ripe, that is if the birds do not find them
I love the colour of the blossom on the lemon tree
A dwarf nectarine and peach tree, I planted in pots and isn't the blossom so pretty and pink

I hope your week is filled with happiness
Hugs
Carolyn

The first encouraging signs of Spring

The first Freesias are out in the garden and there is a definite Spring feeling in the air!
With a little flurry of snow the other day, (for all of about 2 minutes ) when I looked out the window it was not rain and it was not hail, but the soft powdery white stuff.
We never get snow here where I live, so it made it all the more exciting for me.

One kind word, can warm three winter months
~ Japanese proverb
My white camellia bush is delightful and love the pretty white flowers which remind me of whipped cream.

The tuis are making an appearance again and won't be long before they are drinking the sweet nectar, from the beautiful yellow blossom of the kowhai tree

I love Spring ... what season do you like best?

Hope that you are having a wonderful weekend
Hugs
Carolyn

My walk today

Little Oneroa Bay, notice the little pink blossom tree.

It was a lovely Spring morning today so I took my camera along with me on my early morning walk. Here are a few places that I loved today.

This old Boatshed at Little Oneroa Beach, is actually a new build, made with recycled timber.
Now wouldn't that be nice to have for a little studio to create in. {dreaming here}
A pretty pink blossom tree, with the beautiful blue sky background ~ maybe there will be some peaches here to enjoy one day.

Driving back from dropping the rest of the family down to the morning ferry, I saw the cutest sight ~ Father and Mother Duck with their seven precious little ducklings waddling along the footpath behind them.
I went back with my camera, hoping to be able to take a photo of this cute little family, but could not see them anywhere. I hope that I might be able to see them again and this time have my camera with me.

All Nature seems at work,
Slugs leave their lair
The bees are stirring~
Birds are on the wing,
And winter slumbering
In the open air
Wears on his face
A dream of spring.
~ S. T. Coleridge

I hope that you have a wonderful week
Hugs
Carolyn

Our apartment at Palm Cove

I will show you around the apartment at Angsana Resort, where we stayed in Palm Cove. It was very comfortable and had two bathrooms, a kitchen, and laundry. So it was all very nice and right next door to the restaurant.
If you look at the first picture you can see the Spa which was above our place (two pointy tent like structures.)





Happy September! ~ it is officially the first day of Spring here in NZ. I love Spring and all the delightful spring flowers, especially freesias that are just coming out.
Thanks for visiting me today and I hope that you are all having a wonderful week.
Hugs
Carolyn

Spring has sprung!

I wished you could smell the sweet smell of these freesias in the vase. They are simply divine.

Oh how I love Spring! ~ Spring flowers are all about, daffodils, freesias, and blossom trees are flowering.
Spring here in New Zealand, officially starts the 1st of September so I will share a little sunshiny, inspiration with you.

This is the Kowhai tree, a Native New Zealand tree, which makes a wonderful golden show.
Birds love to drink the nectar from the flowers.
Beautiful blossom flowers.
Daffodils another pretty sight.
I love these little Grape Hyacinths.

Now for some Awards, that I was given and would like to pass them on to ;


Now for the Bella Sinclair Award for Art Inspiration, Friendship, Sisterhood, Sharing Caring.

I would like to pass this on to :

dianaevans.blogspot.com
laughingwithangels.blogspot.com
sassyminidolls.blogspot
caroltats.blogspot.com
my-bella-rosa.blogspot.com
larearose.blogspot.com
rochambeau.typepad.com/my_weblog/blogspot.com
jessicarodarte.blogspot.com">
myfatquarter.blogspot
sooznooz-ajourneyoffloristry.blogspot.com



I have been lucky enough to get this Award, from Dustjacket Attic.
Thank you so much for the lovely Nearly Stylish Award.
I would like to pass this on to the following stylish Ladies:

thelaurelhedge.blogspot
bellasinclair.blogspot
circlingmyhead.blogspot
mypetitemaison.blogspot
french-kissed.com
dancingdocdesign.blogspot
antiquesdiva.blogspot
fabulouslyfrench.blogspot