This past week & a bit . . .

Hello dear friends & readers,

This past week & a bit has gone by in the blink of any eye  :-)

I cannot believe we are about to turn the calendars over to November !!!

I had the loveliest group last week bring their lunch - an older bunch of ladies - the lady sitting next to me was 97 !!!

As they were leaving this is what they presented me with . . .

Inside the box was this . . . 

the most beautifully iced home-made sponge cake :-)

we shared it with my sons & their families,  (otherwise I could quite easily have scoffed the lot!!!!)

Some of the ladies in the group were impressed with my vege garden which is looking bountiful at present

They asked me ... "you must have a great composting system??"

"No"  I said "I garden by the moons cycles"

And so off I launched explaining my current obsession ... lunar gardening

"Oh I couldnt do that" one lady commented "my husband would think I was quite batty"

"dont worry " I replied "mine already does think I am, but I still continue..."

I have harvested my first planting of beetroot & cooked it up ...

They taste just delicious

Now answer me this folks .... 3 weeks out from a wedding in my garden ... surely only a man would decide to build another raised garden from scratch ???!!!

(I very nearly had convulsions !!!!)     (AND left home as well!!!)

However, we needed to get rid of our rubbish heap that I burn on & this seemed the best solution as the potash makes very good filling for the base 

The old saying "the only difference between men & boys is the size of their toys" .... very true in our house ...!!!

 but he did do a great job & it sure saved me trying to wheelbarrow it all in by hand

We have composted it, & fed it with blood & bone, & lime & are waiting for the new moon to begin planting

The Mr was keen to plant it on the weekend but I insisted we wait ...

"you know you are in danger of becoming like one of those evangelical preachers" he told me "all I hear is you waffling on about planting by the moon - I hear you telling your customers about it & you cart that stupid calendar around with you everywhere ..."   !!!!!

I love that often while we are working outside, we have some "visitors" observing us .... cows are such inquisitive animals by nature

Oohh Gladys, what do you think they're doing over there .....  arguing with each other ??!!

There has been very little inside activity this past week & a bit - although I did run up the 2 scraps of oilcloth leftover from my stool revamps,  & made some outdoor cushions for the Cottage

A trip to Briscoes sale bought some new teatowels & while the angels have been ironed on, I have yet to applique around them & do their "hair" ... I like the bright splashes of colour for a change

While at Briscoes I noticed their lamps were half price so this rather uninteresting little number came home with me ...

(I am always looking for extra lamp light for the Cottage but the ones that appeal to me, cost a small fortune)

The shade is rice paper . . . so I decided to "embellish it" a little

Out came the Op Shop doiley again ...

I was so pleased with the end result ... even the Mr commented on what an improvement it was  :-)

What do you think ???

I added a doiley circle to each side plus some bobble trim I found in my scrap box

In my kitchen I have a bit of a "poppy theme" going on ... I did not really plan this but the old tiles I rescued from an antique fire surround kind of started this off

And so I commissioned the poppy stained glass doors to match the tiles

So I was most excited to win an auction on Trademe last week for this set of coasters - handmade by a lovely lady from the far north

They are so beautifully finished & have felt on their underneaths to prevent scratching

Well folks I hope you have found some creative time in your week

Thanks so much for stopping by to read my ramblings

I may not be posting much in November but I shall remember to cart my camera with me to record the "happenings"

Wishing you much love/hugs/friendship, as always

Julie x0x0x