Greetings lovely friends & readers
I picked my first Jug of Lilacs last weekend - their fragrance filled the house & made me so happy 💜. My tree is not prolific & I generally only get 2 pickings a year but I do enjoy them so much.
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It was my turn to host the craft group ladies last Monday. Gail had rescued this large box of glasses (some of them crystal) from the Op-shop where she works. They were due to be binned but she thought we could make candles in them. I provided the soy wax & the wicks but the ladies provided their own fragrance oil & some of them chose to place small decorations in the tops just before they set.
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My photography was poor that day but here they are still setting properly & the wicks needed trimming down. The fragrances were mainly rose & lavender - just soft & gentle.
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I decided to make a white chocolate cheesecake for our morning tea. We'd discussed this when we were together in Melbourne & we'd eaten cheesecake at a cafe. * here * is the recipe I used (but I used round wine biscuits instead of gingernuts for the base). It was absolutely decadent & lovely.
I also made a raspberry coulis to pour over the top which turned out just perfect - * here * is the recipe I used for that. Adding the lemon juice to the raspberries just gives it that "bite" - honestly this was so delicious.
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Before the ladies came I gave my outdoor chairs a good scrub, washed the cushions & did some sewing repair work on them. I also washed the wall of my house where I like to sit the chairs. The days are getting nicer now & I enjoy sitting out there with a cuppa.
Fast forward 24 hours later & you can see how well that's working out for me friends . . . . . . 😖
The wool blanket stockings that I made back in * this post * have all been filled with festive choccies, a candy-cane, a balloon & blowing bubbles.
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For the larger sized Adult ones I made matching wool blanket lavender hearts, a knitted washcloth & soap, a choccy Santa & a candy-cane. These have all been delivered to the charity that I donate them to.
I purchased this solar water feature from Temu several weeks ago. I had this rustic looking pot I wanted to float it in but the pot had a hole in the base. I managed to fill it with a large blob of ready-mix concrete & it set well.
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It has different nozzles to get differing effects but if I put the larger nozzle on the water goes up & outside the perimeter of the bowl so for now I've just got it on the smallest setting. I love having moving water in my garden areas.
The Mr came in quickly yesterday at noon & changed his t-shirt for a clean one, accidentally leaving his drawer open. Madam Pip was out in the garden but I swear she can hear the-sound-of-a-drawer-being-left-open from a great distance as she wasted no time at all sneaking in & tucking herself away in it !!!
Yesterday I mowed around the house by hand & youngest son mowed the big lawn on the ride-on. I noticed how pretty the Shimidsu Sakura was looking in full bloom - the winds will come soon & scatter the petals everywhere & it will look like confetti.
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I saw this verse on Instagram - just loved it & wanted to share it 💙
Wishing you a wonderful week ahead dear friends,
Thank you as always, for your ever-welcome visits here today,
Sending much love & friendship to you all,
Julie your place always looks so beautiful, welcoming and homely! That morning tea sounds so decadent... white chocolate and I don't agree, so I would have looked on and maybe had a taste of the raspberry coulis.
ReplyDeleteThe candle making sounds like a wonderful thing to do together like that - my choice of scent would have been lavender :)
Ah - cats and drawers, or boxes - what is the attraction I wonder? Never mind a clean cushion on a freshly washed chair sitting in the sun.
Your Christmas stockings look amazing - you are so generous with what you give
That wee water feature looks lovely - well done on mending the hole in the bottom of the outer container
Yes, how often we miss the 'blessing of the ordinary' because we so take it for granted.... the truth is we are richly blessed
Blessings
Maxine
HaHa! When ever l think or see a hole Julie....I think of you...
ReplyDeleteIf there's a hole in anything...'Julie will fill it'...! :).
The clocks over here went back an hour, in the early hours,
so, nice and bright again at seven...! I was up and about,
early breakfast, and the sun is nice and bright, first nice
day since the hurricane, rain, wind with all the nasty
weather...rain back tomorrow though...! :(.
And the wool blanket stockings look very nice to...
Both the little ones and the adult ones...Though keep
them in a cool place Julie, don't want all the choccy
melting before Christmas...Christmas..? Goodness..! :).
And..The furry two, certainly enjoying the new cleaned
up chairs, if it's an empty box, and empty bed of chair,
or even a draw...you'll find a pussy~cat in it...Bless!xx
The Shimidsu Sakura looks amazing, with the bench and
table underneath, certainly a great place for tea...! And
cake of course...! :).
Love the prose at the bottom there...Lovely...And certainly
applies to most of us...certainly to me anyway...!
Coming up to eight o'clock...looks lovely out there, another
lemon tea me thinks...And a quiet look through the news on
line..!
I'll creep off quietly...don't want to wake the furry ones...! :O).
🍀🌸🌷😺💙🍀🌸🌷😺💙🍀🌸🌷😺💙🍀🌸🌷😺
You always have so many lovely things to share on your blog, Julie. I love the photos of the cats - they know the best places to sleep, don't they? Making the candles was a great idea to save the glasses from being binned and I am sure the Christmas stockings will be enjoyed - what a lovely thing to do! Your cherry tree is stunning and so beautiful even if the blossom doesn't last very long. That image would make a lovely greeting card too - I would love to sit under the tree! Being grateful so the simplest things is so important, isn't it and it is a luxury to be able to like those simple, mundane things. Have a lovely rest of the week.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes
Ellie
What a lovely way to save those glasses from landfill and a lovely way to spend time with friends. The cheesecake looks delicious. Lovely to get everywhere nice and clean in spring - that first cuppa outside is bliss. Great work on those stockings , they all look special. And a water feature is always perfect in the garden. Happy cats😂😂 Have a lovely week Julie. xx
ReplyDeleteJulie, I found two tiny blooming begonias under my sedum when I cut them down. These 2 do not hold a candle to your tree! But I have potted them and will see if they live well inside this winter. One pink and one red! Have not had begonias in at least 3 years, so how did the seeds last so long? Your candles look so pretty with bits and bobs on the tops and I am sure the scents are lovely. The cheese cake, well, I'm sorry I live too far away to have had a slice as it sounds just right. Miss Pip is a smart cookie and Blackie is handsome as ever. This week will be our second in a row of dry and sunny with light frost some mornings and just pleasant with a sweater on in the afternoons. Our clocks change next weekend right after Halloween Trick or Treat night. Enjoy your gardening, mine now is just clean up, not near as fun. Lynn and Precious XX
ReplyDeleteJulie, your cheese cake looks Devine. What a treat for a ladies group. Those beautiful Christmas stockings will be greatly appreciated from those who will receive them. Love the sound running water in the garden. It adds a touch of peace. The blossom tree is a post card pic. Stunning! Xx
ReplyDeleteThankyou dear Sandy. Yes the cheese cake was truly SO good!!! It is a wonderful recipe to make for a special occasion & tasted delicious! xx
DeleteOh yes, it really is a blessing if we are content with a 'normal' day.... What a lovely day you hosted.... just perfect especially with decadent cheesecake!
ReplyDeleteHugz
Hi sweet Julie! Oh, those kitties! I always say it but they are so cute! I love it that Pip sniffs out a nap in a drawer opportunity! Your gathering sounds lovely and that cheesecake . . . WOW! Sending love your way, friend! xo
ReplyDeleteI love the pictures of the flowers. I love lilacs and it is so great to see yours and know that they are growing somewhere else in the world.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kim. I love the lilacs too & they seem to be finished flowering so quickly. So we need to enjoy them while they are in bloom. xx
DeleteThe Lilacs look beautiful and so does the room they are in. What a wonderful idea to repurpose those lovely glasses and yummo your cheesecake looks delish! Your kitties definitely take advantage of the great spots in their home. The pink blossom tree is picture postcard perfect!
ReplyDeleteA great saying and yes....it truly is the joy found in the ordinary that's special. I love my first cup of coffee in the morning. Nothing like it in the quiet early morning. A lovely post Julie xx
The Lilac looks beautiful Julie, can just imagine their perfume. That white chocolate cheesecake made my mouth water. I think I may make that sometime. Did you use the non salted butter?Yep, open drawer, you're inviting guests aren't you?That blossom looks superb.Hugs.
ReplyDeleteThose are wonderful stockings and the candles were a great re-use idea.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much - yes it was great to save some of the glasses from ending up in land fill. xx
DeleteLots of goings on at your place. Unless you are a cat! I was thinking of getting my hands on one of those Temu fountains, but I need to find just the right pot.
ReplyDeleteI love the fact that the drawer was accidentally left open. Sue
ReplyDeleteA great idea to use those lovely glasses. I like the little ornaments that some of the group put on top. Your stockings are a great donation.
ReplyDeletePippi finds the most interesting places to sleep.
God bless.
That Shimidsu Sakura is beautiful. You’ve been very productive as usual. xx
ReplyDeleteAn incredible post! I love a bouquet of lilacs to scent the home. Lucky you to have that to enjoy.
ReplyDeleteWhat a clever way to give those lovely goblets a second life. Great scents, too.
I haven't made a no-bake cheesecake in decades. I might have to give this one a try. Raspberry is my favorite flavor to pair with cheesecake, though hubby loves blueberry.
I swear, cats must just walking around looking for forbidden places to curl up.
Your water feature looks like a great idea. I love the soothing water sounds. On a really hot day you might appreciate the larger nozzle giving you a spontaneous shower. ;)
Your Shimidsu Sakura is stunning. What a beautiful place to retreat and enjoy the shade.
Love the thought you shared. We need to remind ourselves of that regularly.
Looks like a wonderful time. Beautiful atmosphere, great food and cats.
ReplyDeleteThat verse is exactly my way of living. Love it!
ReplyDeleteYou made such lovely things, Julie, and I was envious that you are rejoicing in the warmer weather...it's 35C here every day and scorching (until early May).
Enjoy!!! :-)
Hugs
Jennifer