Thursday, January 5, 2017

Happy New Year

Greetings dear friends & readers & welcome to a bright, shiny New Year !!
Lets hope 2017 is kind to us all

I was not sorry to close the door on last year but I Am thankful for a fresh new year & the chance to maybe do some things a little differently ...
I would like to borrow a comment my dear friend Willie left on a blog that I felt summed it all up rather perfectly  . . .
"we spend January 1st walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched.  Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives ... not looking for flaws but for potential."  Ellen Goodman


I loved this Jar idea above, & shall certainly be giving this a go for 2017 !!
With a new grandchild due in March there is much to look forward to & feel positive about this year.

Mum has gone home now & the decorations have been packed away both inside the house & the Cottage.
We had a lovely Christmas shared with various members of our family at different times.
I loved sharing it with a small blue eyed boy who just adores a large purple creature named Barney & who was simply delighted with the sandpit his Mummy & Daddy built for him
AND with the yellow tip truck his Granny & great Granny bought for him (from the SPCA Op Shop!!)


Dear Alec you bring me so much pleasure & joy


Danielle Hawkins is an author who lives in a small rural township not too far from us.
She also works part-time as a large animal Vet & just happens to be the Vet that The Mr uses at the farm.
He came home late last year after having had the cows pregnancy tested, & informed me he had 
"bought my christmas gift for this year"
I knew Danielle was working on another book so it wasn't difficult to work out what this might possibly be.
Imagine my surprise 3 days later when I walk outside thinking I had a customer, to see Danielle in person walking up the driveway with her new book tucked under her arm !!!

The Pretty Delicious Cafe is her 3rd book ... I have read mine already (yes - I know !!) & thoroughly enjoyed it, just as I knew I would.
I LoVe Danielle's writing & after sitting chatting to her I can honestly report, she is a lovely friendly, very down-to-earth person with a great sense of humour.

In the lead-up to Christmas - when I should have been concentrating on my orders - I decided I wanted to make myself a Tilda Tree just like the ones I made here
I had purchased a larger size rustic pot & traced off the largest tree pattern ...  I wanted it NOT to be Christmassy, but something I could leave up all year round.




After walking past it for a few days (as I tend to do ...) I decided it needed some small cream bells hanging from the branches !!
A quick google search took me to an etsy shop that had the exact cream bells I wanted for the princely sum of $3.50 for a packet of 6 !!
Just Perfect !!!
However ... when I went to purchase the bag of bells, etsy promptly informed me it would cost me $28.87c to post the teeny tiny package ALL the way to New Zealand !!
I don't think so somehow !!!
Time for Plan B ... whatever that might be ???!!!

I found a rusty tin heart & spray painted that cream instead . . . .
.  .  .  .  which will suffice until such time as I can be bothered painting fiddly bells myself !!



Well dear friends - it is hot out today but there is a gentle breeze blowing through our deck area - Miss Pippi is asleep in her banana box & Blackie is in the cool of the wood shed

Happy New Year & all that kerfuffle !!!!

I am off to try this delightful tea that my stepson gifted me for Christmas . . . black rose tea which looks rather like potpourri but smells delicious

Thanks so much for stopping by today
with much love & friendship to you ALL
Julie & the furry ones x0x0x0x

42 comments:

  1. Happy New Year Julie,little Alec is so cute love the pic of him,the kiddies make xmas.
    I love your tilda tree and glad you enjoyed your new book.

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  2. All the best for amvery happy New Year Julie. Love the photo of Alec, he looks so excited. Good tomhear you enjoyed that book, is always great to find and enjoy a local writer. The tilda tree is lovely, the psotage from the US is just astronomical isn't it! ! Miss Pippi looks very happy in her banana box. ..how did you find the tea? Love wandering the the T2 shops, they have an amazing array of teapots and cups too, then load of interesting teas.

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  3. What a brilliant photo capturing Alec's delight! Love it. The perfect present! Love your new tree and it's cream heart.

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  4. What joy on little Alecs face. How neat to have a favourite author's latest hand delivered....wow! Your Tilda tree is just lovely. Happy 2017 Julie xx

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  5. Happy New Year, Julie. I love that first photo of Alec. What a gorgeous little boy.

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  6. Oh Julie that photo of dear wee Alec opening his gift is too gorgeous. Another grandchild you say, how exciting!!! Love that jar idea very much!!

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  7. What a smashing photo of Alec, such delight. I absolutely adore black leaf rose tea it's a drink anytime cup.
    Happy New Year.

    Jean

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  8. How fabulous that there is another grandchild on the way. Alec is a dear little chap, lovely pictures to treasure. Your Tilda tree is pretty and I like the jar idea.

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  9. I'm waiting around for the Gasman...My pilot light keeps
    going out...HeHe! Nothing new there then..! :).
    So, l thought, wonder if anyone has posted, low and behold,
    AND..I want a sand pit..AND a tipper truck...PINK! :).

    Well, l had lots of 'silly' lovely prezzies...one from Yvonne,
    wait for it....A pink brain...Yes! A pink brain...!!! :0).
    She says my jokes are so bad..might get better with a new brain!
    What's wrong with my jokes! :).

    The jam jar idea is brilliant...But! Where am l gonna get a jam
    jar that big...what fun though, at the end of the year, to read
    all that has happened..the good things at least!

    AND...A Happy New Year, to one and ALL.....Not forgetting the
    furry ones of course...Bless their furry paws!xx
    Remember...
    "Yesterday is history, tomorrow's a mystery, to~day is a gift,
    that's why it's called the present!.

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  10. Hello lovely Julie!
    Aw! The tippy truck is fun!
    Your Tilda tree is adorable. Shipping is a worry. It's going up, too. I hope you can find some creamy bells in your beautiful land.
    A new grand! A beautiful miracle on the way!
    The book looks good!
    Sending heaps of warm wishes your way!

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  11. What a cutie pie Alec is, it's nice to have little ones around at Christmas. What a pretty tree and a pretty little heart xx

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  12. Happy New Year!
    some lovely pressies there, should keep everyone happy, Alec looked so surprised with his truck, such a cutie
    looking forward to seeing what crafty quirks you do this year
    thanx for sharing

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    1. Thanks so much Selina. Happy New Year to you too x x x
      Thanks for all the lovely comments you leave me here.

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  13. Oh what a beautiful expression on your Alec's face as he opened his yellow tip truck...priceless!! It's sad isn't it the price one has to pay for postage; one shouldn't have to mortgage one's house to pay for it. Your Tilda tree is adorable and I think the singular painted heart adds a charming touch. I am sure you will work miracles with some bells, some day down your creative path. Love the pot it is sitting in! I love the idea of popping a thankful note in a jar every week.....love that quote. I truly have the most wonderful time visiting your lovely blog every time. I look forward with delight to see what magical pretty/ies you have whipped up each time. May you have the most wonderful year finding treasures in op shops and making them look a million dollars. Happy New Year, lovely Julie. Xx

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  14. Hello Julie and Happy New Year to you too. Yes, I heard it was hot out your way! My son used to love his Tonka Digger Trucks, now he drives one just like it!! Have a good weekend, Julie. xxx

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  15. Hi Julie, I have just come over from Rhonda's Down to Earth Blog. I think that note in a jar idea is terrific. I am off to set up my jar right now.

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  16. Look at the excitement on Alec's face!! I love it!! Children bring such pure joy. Happy New Year dear Julie. xxx

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  17. Priceless look on Alec's face! Love it! Your Tilda tree is very pretty and you can keep it up all year round. You read your Danielle Hawkins book already??! I have only just started mine.......good so far, she is a fabulous author.

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  18. Hello Dear Julie, Happy New Year. Love the idea of the jar with a note each week. Willie's would be entertaining at the end of the year wouldn't it, a laugh a second:)Your Tilda tree is delightful and the cream heart is lovely on it. Gorgeous photo of Alec and he will have hours of fun in that sandpit.A lovely Christmas gift to receive of a book and visiting author. Hugs Shirley

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  19. Happy new year Julie!! What a lovely post - I just love seeing little kids delighting in their new toys!!! Your Christmas trees are beautiful, and it's so great that you get to enjoy them all year round, they look lovely in the pots! Wishing you a new year filled with health, love, happiness and prosperity! Warm wishes dear friend! Vikki xoxo

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  20. Just warming myself by your blog...it's chilly here! I don't read many blogs now but yours is always welcome, with bells on! xx

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    1. Happy New Year to you E.E. Hope you keep posting on your blog this year .. love stopping by to visit you x x x

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  21. Hello and a very happy New Year from Norway. I found your lovely blog via the Down to earth blog and Rhonda's weekend reading 😊. I am a new follower and look forward to read more in 2017. Blessings, Pam

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    1. Hello Pam - thanks so much for your lovely comment. Happy New Year to you too. Thank you for coming over to visit from Rhondas blog - I have had a few new visitors this weekend, just wonderful. Hope you have a lovely week ahead Pam. Thanks again, Julie x x

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  22. What a lovely post. I really like the tree you made. Those tin hearts are easily made pretty again with a spray of new paint :-) We brought our grandson (2) sand for his sandpit this year for Christmas after his parents had turned an old fish pond ( well scrubbed out and disinfectanted) into his sand pit. He too ( and his baby brother) brings us much joy in our lives

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    1. Hello Karen, Thanks so much for taking the time to leave your lovely comment. Don't the little ones just love spending time in the sandpit? I well remember the fun my boys had in their old sandpit (paddling pool filled with sand!!). Hope you have a great week ahead Karen, thanks again for popping by, Julie x x

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  23. Happy new year to you Julie. Maybe ask the seller to query the price of postage of the bells. A small envelope from the US post office is only a couple of dollars, but sellers often just quote the courier price.

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  24. Hello Julie,

    I am here because Rhonda put you on her special list, and for that I am thankful :)

    How did I not know about your lovely blog? I am glad I do now ~smiles.

    I am your newest follower and look forward to reading more.

    xTania

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  25. Hi ya Julie, Happy New Year to you and yours, look forward to reading your great blog posts for the new year, love your tilda tree, wow those bells must of been pure gold, or weighed like it anyway lol.
    I bet Christmas was fun with your grandson around, what a great present he received, and your Mr didn't do to bad either with his choice.
    Have a great week. Chris xoxo

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    1. Happy New Year to you too Chris. Heartfelt thanks for the lovely comments you always leave me here. I do so appreciate them all. Hope you had an enjoyable festive season too Chris. Heres to a great 2017 for all of us!! Julie xx x

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    2. Yes had a lovely Christmas, thanks Julie, a little hot, but thank goodness for aircon hehe. Chris xoxo

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  26. Hi Julie - what a lovely little part of the world you live in and a very inspiring blog as well. I have popped over from Rhonda's for a read and will certainly be back. Miss Pippi and Blackie are adorable

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    1. Hello Sandi - thanks so much for leaving your lovely comment. It has been wonderful to see some new folk coming over from Rhonda's blog. Its amazing this whole blogging community really. I do enjoy the folk I get "to meet" through my blog. Hope you have a wonderful week ahead Sandi. Julie x x

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  27. I have just read your blog from beginning to end! My head is exploding - so many beautiful creative things!
    You are very clever, skilled and talented. I came here after reading Rhonda's suggestion that her blog readers visit you. Your grandson is adorable! Thank-you for blogging.... I look forward to this years posts. Cheers, Jo

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    1. Goodness me Jo !!! That is quite some achievement!! I'll bet you were sick of the sound of me by the end :-) Thanks so much for leaving me your lovely comment.

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    2. I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I just had to keep going! Thanks again. Cheers Jo

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  28. I am loving following your blogs. Those books sounds great I have just been online and orderef all three from my library

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  29. Happy New Year Julie! love the photo's of Alec in the sandpit with his new truck! The tilda tree is beautiful.

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