These May Days

Greetings lovely friends & readers & 

Welcome to the month of May 💗

Let's hope it's a good month for us all.

I am still managing a few flowers for my table - the last of the dahlia's & zinnias 

I saw this poem on Instagram - it is the work of L.E. Bowman & I thought how lovely it was, & also very true 💖

Early last spring I purchased 2 packets of mini monster gourd seeds, gave one packet to The Mr to grow at the farm, & kept one myself.  Let's have a competition to see whose seeds do the best I challenged him. 

This is The Mr's sad attempt, top left, & mine on the right.  It was a long dry season & his gourds at the farm got Not a lot of water.  Mine did slightly better because I watered them but still not a huge success.  The Mr had about 4 more which the cows trampled quite early on. 

I think I picked 15 altogether from my crop.  I have displayed them on my vintage scales out on the deck area as they are so autumnal looking.  

We had quite a bit of rain followed by some very mild & pleasant autumnal days.  Some of you ask if my little hothouse is still producing.  Last weekend I pulled out the pepper plant in there, but there are still tomatoes coming along.  The peppers have been diced & frozen for winter casseroles.  

I was gifted a bucket of feijoas so I baked a feijoa and coconut cake, cut myself a slice & sat out on the deck to enjoy it with a frothy coffee.  The cows are grazing in the distance of my photo & it was such a gorgeous day to enjoy the fresh air.  

Long time readers will remember my post about the speckledy tree from last year.  Here is is above when Sarah first gave it to me - just a cutting in a pot.  It has grown like crazy & it was time to plant it in my native garden.  

I had been wanting to do this for awhile but was waiting for the summer temps to pass & some cooler weather.  You can see it (top left) on my deck - how big it had grown.  I am hopeful it will do well in the garden.  (it is a Japanese Laurel Aucuba japonica for those that like botanical names)

My friend Carolyn gets up a 7am each weekday morning & walks her neighbors dog Dixie.  Using a stitchery from my friend Claire, I made her a simple cross-body bag so she could carry her phone & maybe some doggy treats on her walks.  She was delighted when she received it in the post last week.  

When I hosted the craft ladies last month, I had been saving these recyclable containers that we buy salads in.  I let the girls choose one each to "do something creative with".  

As it's our next meeting on Monday I thought I had better get on with my challenge so I could take it along for 

show-n-tell.  

I painted mine with 2 coats vintage white chalk paint, then decoupaged this floral serviette on to the side of it.  

I weighted the base with some crushed walnut shells, added wadding, then glued in this simple round pincushion that I'd made from Tilda fabric.  I decided to do something with the lid so I made a circular pocket from cardboard, wadding & fabric & popped a pair of scissors in.  I sewed on a rosette & a scissor charm.

I'm glad I weighted it as it is now a solid piece & not at all flimsy.  I look forward to seeing what the other ladies come up with & will share it with you all. 

I lit our first fire on Anzac Day, then had a week of warm temps where it was not lit.    It's colder now so it goes most days & every night.  Pippi was the first to choose her spot beside it - she moves all around the house but prefers the mat to be left vacant in case she should require it (!!) 😉 This year Little One is most fascinated by it & just loves the heat on him.  (No Pip will not share the mat & hisses if he walks anywhere nearby - she is an absolute Madam that one)

For those of you that often ask how Little One is doing (& especially for you Ellie) he is living his very bestest life.  I snapped these last night on my way to bed - he is on the couch but hanging half off as someone (me) has too many floral cushions in the way.  He is such an adorable cat.  (sshhh don't tell Pip I said that) 😑

Thank you as always dear friends, for staying with me through this waffly post.   

Wishing you a wonderful rest-of-the-week.

Sending much love & friendship out to you all,