Monday, March 2, 2020

Positives & Negatives

Greetings dear friends & readers
I am having yet another attempt at resuscitating this poor neglected blog of mine
February was a month of many positives AND negatives & I just did not get any time to blog.


We had endless ups & downs with my Mum during February & then I myself became sick - twice !!
After several Dr's visits & investigations I tested positive for campylobacter & am now taking antibiotics to clear it up 
& get back to some good health.
So blogging definately was not a priority - some days it felt like it took all my energy just to get through the day.


Though my poor garden is rather like my blog - sad & neglected - the roses are still blooming away.
This is a good time of year for picking & drying the many petals I require throughout the year for the potpourri's I sell.

An added bonus is that it doesn't take long for the petals to dry to a crisp these hot summer days.

My friend Carolyn visited early last month & bought me a large armload of Nigella Seed Heads  (Love in a mist)
 from her garden.
When I cut them all up they filled a 10 litre bucket - these will be wonderful to help bulk out my citrus potpourri's

The statice is blooming & required cutting & hanging bunches to dry.



I have picked 3 trays of lavender heads so far (tho' there are many more still to pick) & sat one evening & rubbed 
one tray full into brown paper bags


I had an Order from my friend Marie for 10 lavender bags & 10 mothball sachets, which I always enjoy making.
(The mothball sachet recipe can be found at the bottom of this post if you would like to make your own.)

Quite some time ago I bought this chandelier off Trade me, a New Zealand auction site, similar to ebay 
The seller was demolishing a house & as no-one had bid on the chandelier they offered it to me for $5.00  ....  pointing out to me that it would probably need re-wiring to be able to use it.

I removed the lightbulb holders & pulled out the wiring from it - I had no intentions of it ever being re-wired.
Then I painted the brass with some left over chalk paint (Colour - Yorkshire Stone)

I found 3 matching china cups + saucers in my stash & made soy candles in each cup 
(Fragrance - Black Raspberry/Vanilla)

I used a strong Araldite Glue to affix the saucers to each of the 3 "arms" of the chandelier & then glued the cups 
onto the saucers.


After hanging it up I decided it needed some crystals hanging from the curves of each arm - my photographs are 
not doing it justice - it looks gorgeous hanging up & I am so thrilled with my $5 purchase
What's more - another of the endless ideas floating around in my head  has come to fruition πŸ’•πŸ˜Š !!


On Friday I had to deliver a tractor part to The Mr at the farm & snapped a quick pic of the dry brown pastures - this countryside is peat & usually manages to keep a green tinge over our hot summer months but everything is brown 
& crisp for miles

Today is overcast but still humid - Miss Pip has spent the day in her banana box out on the deck, & I think Blackie is under the house in the cool - he will return covered in cobwebs tonight.


I have reached a bit of a crossroads with my blog & alot of things in my life of late.
I wonder if my blog has become a bit stale & I don't seem to have as many interesting things to post about compared to when I was running my Cottage ?
I shall be giving it some deep thought over the coming weeks about whether or not I continue.
In the meantime Thank You All So Much for your visits & your continued support here.
With much love & friendship to you all,
Julie & the furry ones x0x0x

37 comments:

  1. Hello Julie! I love your blog and love hearing about your crafty endeavours, your furry peeps and just seeing some of your beautiful countryside. Thank you for all that you share with us. I hope that you and your mother continue to feel better. Much love, Jennie🐾❤️

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave your lovely kind comment Jennie xx

      Delete
    2. ❤️❤️🐾🐾

      Delete
  2. So sorry to hear of your and Mums
    Health issues Julie..! Strangest thing,
    when someones Blog goes quiet for a month
    say..it's usually a health issue..!
    Hope your both o.k. now and feeling better!

    Still..everything is lovely a bright on this
    post..roses and all..how did you manage to get
    the roses into the basket before either of the
    furry ones..HeHe! :).

    The chandelier did make me chuckle though..!
    I thought..l wonder what type of seed for the
    birds is Julie putting in those cups/saucers..! :).
    But the final display looks nice..and different!

    Oh! My Goodness! Terrible thing at the bottom there..! :(
    Hope you manage at least one post a month at least Julie!
    Think l'll go make another lemon tea..AND! AND! Sulk..!!! :O).
    ♫♪•*¨*•.¸πŸ”₯πŸ’›πŸ”₯¸.•*¨*•♪♫ ♫♪•*¨*•.¸πŸ”₯πŸ’›πŸ”₯¸.•*¨*•♪♫

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh, I would miss visiting you and seeing what gorgeous pretties you have been imagining, but I understand your feelings re your blog. I am so sorry February was difficult with the health of your mum and also your ill health. I hope you are feeling better soon. I must say I LOVE your fabulous chandelier. Those teacups sitting on it are a brilliant idea and oh so pretty. I think every tine I would look at it would cause me to smile. Thank you for the joy your blog gives to me. Take care, lovely Julie.❤

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sorry to hear of you and your Mum's health issues. Hopefully both on the mend now. We're all wondering over here when and if we're going to be struck down with this dreaded virus that's spreading around the world. I would miss your beautiful makes and inspiration if you decide to go but no-one should feel obliged to blog. Just come and go as you please and perhaps take the pressure of yourself to do so. We'll still be here, Julie!!xxx

    ReplyDelete
  5. It certainly sounds like you could have done without the month of February! Hope you are truly on the way to
    health by now. You spend so much time and energy in creating the most lovely items. I do not have the imagination
    for such. I've enjoyed your blog for a couple years, even though I only started commenting. I am sure all
    your faithful readers would miss your site. Hope to see more from you as it is fun to see another country
    directly from one who lives there. We are approaching the Spring time change in a week and hope to have a dry
    and slightly warm Spring as your summer winds down dry and brown!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Lynn - yes I love to see the differing seasons too - its great when we are in the depths of winter to see summer time in your neck of the woods. Thanks so much for your lovely, kind comment. Love to Precious from my two furry ones xxx

      Delete
  6. I enjoy your blog and don't find it stale at all. I would definitely miss it. But, of course you must do what fits your life best.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave your lovely, kind comment.

      Delete
  7. Please don't stop blogging. I love reading about all of your adventures and seeing what's up with your cats. I am so sorry your mom and you have been ill, but happy that you are on the mend. Do reconsider ending the blog. There are4 many out there who enjoy it so much, especially me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for your lovely kind comment Beverly, I think I shall try to continue with it for now - Miss Pippi (ginger cat) has assured me she will help me with this task !!!

      Delete
  8. How lovely that you can grow beautiful roses and dry their petals. The teacup candles look so pretty. That's something I would like to learn how to make. Meg:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your lovely kind comment Meg. The teacup candles are not difficult to make - I just googled "making soy candles in teacups" & there were lots of good tutorials so I basically taught myself. I would encourage you to have a go. I just buy my soy candle wax online.

      Delete
  9. I enjoy your photos of nature and your gardens and flowers--and those cats--
    so you still have things you can share with us--
    luv, di

    ReplyDelete
  10. Love the chandelier Julie, a wonderful idea. I hope your health is improving and that of your Mums. I don't think your blog is stale, I love seeing what you are making, your garden and the furry ones, please reconsider continuing with your blog, even if you post once a month, I will miss your posts. Sue xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ditto Julie, I may not comment but enjoy reading your posts, inspiring my own creativity in many ways too, also your lovely garden etc. All the best for health recovery for yourself and Mum and this month is a better one all round. Jude []

      Delete
    2. Thanks so much for your lovely kind comment Jude.

      Delete
  11. Definitely continue! I love reading about everything you do! And I would miss the fur babies so much, too!
    The candle chandelier is gorgeous! What a great idea, Julie!

    ReplyDelete
  12. How beautiful your roses must be! Potpourri from rose petals is wonderful. I love your $5 chandelier! What a nice piece you now have. I hope rain comes to the fields there soon. Our hay fields were brown like that in the terrible drought of 2012. It was a worry that was on our minds day and night. I also thought I wanted to quit blogging, so earlier this year I deleted my nine year old blog. Afterward, I so regretted doing that and started over again. You do have a lovely blog here! And, thank you for visiting my little place!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your lovely, kind comment Mary. I am pleased you told me about regretting deleting your blog. I really enjoyed my visit to your beautiful blog & look forward to future posts. Thanks again xx

      Delete
  13. Hello Julie and felines.
    I adore what you have done with the old light fitting. I bet he would love it back now. Your imagination is amazing. To be able to visualise and then make it is where your talents are as with me I just seem to procrastinate. Here's to a healthy March.

    Happy days.
    Bev.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Argh, campylobacter is a horrible illness. I had it nearly 33 years ago and I remember it vividly! So glad your mums health is a bit more stable now. Miss H as been unwell too so another specialist booked for the end of April. I do so love your blog no matter how often you write - it is always interesting, I learn things and of course there are the wonderful cats to love too!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Julie, I'm glad you are feeling better and sure hope your mom stays well too. I would never think of your blog as being stale...just the opposite. Everything you touch, you make beautiful. The rose petals are lovely and I think I can smell the lavender. The kitty looks so sweet and cozy in the banana box. That's so cute. Love, Henny

    ReplyDelete
  16. Love the tea cup chandelier, it is absolutely gorgeous and ingenious too. I hope you are feeling better. x

    ReplyDelete
  17. Stale?? Are you kidding? I am always so inspired and awed by your ability to turn cast-offs into lovely pieces that can be treasured. The chandelier is incredible. Your brain works in marvelous ways, Julie. I would love to continue to enjoy following your creative adventures, but if you don't feel you can anymore, I get it. My Mom has been in hospital twice this year already--luckily I haven't come down with anything yet. Hope you are feeling strong now.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I agree with Janet......your blog is NEVER stale! I bet your place is smelly fantastic with the candles and flowers......much like my mystery scent this morning! :-))....lots of folks commenting for you to stay blogging, perhaps I will do a similar post, then the comments will flow!.....hugs my friend xxx

    ReplyDelete
  19. Oh I hope you keep blogging Julie, Instagram isn't the same as looking at all your lovely pics on here, maybe a recap once a month would keep all of your followers happy, anyway up to you. Hope your feeling better soon, it isn't nice being sick. Take care of your self Julie. Chris xoxoxoxo

    ReplyDelete
  20. I can see why you are pleased to see the end of February and I hope you are on the mend and your Mum stable. Love your chandelier.....Beautiful after it's Julie treatment. I could almost smell those pretty sachets. I never think your blog is stale....I am always really happy to see a post from you in my feed. And I would miss them so much. I love your take on life and your wonderful creativity...take care of yourself...h uhgs from across the ditch xxx

    ReplyDelete
  21. Do what feels right and don't worry about anyone else. I love your blog, always have...but it's easy to tell someone to stay doing something isn't it? Much harder to allow them the space to do what is right for them. xxx
    I support you no matter what. But I'd surely miss you if it closed.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I agree with Jenny on this one. Do what is best for you Julie. I will miss your lovely posts though if you decide to let the blog go (not trying to sway your decision lol).

    My blog is very neglected too and I am finding it hard to keep it going. Maybe it has run it's course, or maybe it needs a revamp. Something I will be pondering about too. I am seriously thinking of giving facebook and instagram the flick and concentrate on my blog instead, just like Jenny has done. My blog was productive in the early days when there were no social media distractions.

    I had one of those chandeliers and hubby took it to the scrap metal the other day. Damn! I could have done something similar to yours. Oh well...

    Hope your mum is doing better now, and I pray you recover fully from your illness. It really knocks one about when sick and caring for others.

    Take care dear Julie,
    Love Tania xxx

    ReplyDelete
  23. Life gets in the way sometimes and the blog has to take a back seat. I hardly blogged at all last year, tried Instagram a couple of times now and I've ditch it again, it just seems too impersonal with endless selfies! More a thing for kids I think. I prefer Blogging I've decided and I'm determined to stick with it, there'll be lots to share hopefully once we've moved. Just blog when you feel like it, we'll all just be glad to see you xx

    ReplyDelete
  24. Welcome back, Julie!! Glad to know that you have recovered well and back with a bang!! What have you done with the Chandelier?? I loved the idea. The China cups enhanced the Chandelier’s beauty. Wishing you great success in your business and also keep enriching us with awesome DIY ideas.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Dear Julie, a lovely post, loved the lavender and moth repellant sachets, they look so wonderful all together neatly. Your finishing touches are the best and perfect. I hope you are starting to improve and have some more energy now from your awful time with your problem. Those roses looked lovely for the potpourri.It's not a pretty time of the year for us re the roses, especially in the area where we live. Take care and do hope you feel you could continue with your blog but is understandable if you wish to leave. It is never stale and love seeing your "goodies" you make. Hugs

    ReplyDelete
  26. You seem to have plenty of interesting things to blog about! Love the chandelier and the rose petal photographs are glorious! xx

    ReplyDelete
  27. This is a beautiful article on being so crafty. It’s a very creative article with such beautiful add ons to them. It is highly inspiring and very useful and helps us with a good read.

    ReplyDelete

Hello, & thank you for taking the time to comment on my posts - I read and appreciate each and every one of your comments :-)
I always prefer to reply to your comments by email unless you are a no-reply-blogger in which case I will reply to your comments in this section here. Thanks so much for stopping by to read & comment on my blog x0x