Escape to the Country

Hubby and  I decided to get away from the city.

Being half empty nesters it is much easier for us to be more spontaneous and escape for a while.

So....

Why not take a break in the country?
Yep, let's do it...just go!

Heading South from Brisbane.

No plans, no bookings.

Packed the tent and a few meagre provisions.... including smoked salmon and mangoes of course!

See where the road takes us...(sigh!)

Typical Australian Countryside.

Rust on the side of the road.

Open plains, fences and cattle.

Super green fields down here and beautiful trees.

Over the border into Northern New South Wales.

Over the Gibraltar Range and on to Washpool  National Park.

Stunning fields of wildflowers, lush rainforests, waterfalls, swimming holes.

Go to bed with the birds...

wake up with the birds.

Getting back to nature.

Re- charging and relaxing away from  the bustle right now.

Loving it.

Pam

 x

Merry Christmas

From our home...

to yours...we wish you all a very Happy Christmas...

...and a more than fabulous 2012..

...Happy holidays and keep safe...

(I am taking some time off work and going away over the Christmas break. It has been a big year!)

Pam x

Miniature Linen Wreaths

So good to have the weekend off and to stop..... sit and create... albeit easy peasy and small today.

I wanted to share with you what I made with some linen scraps.

I always like to use every bit of this linen if I can.

  I 'found' some wreaths in the back of the linen cupboard. Goodness only knows how they got there!

Anyway, these wicker wreaths are really tiny. They are about 7cms in width.

I cut some small lengths of linen and wrapped it around the wreath.

Using the hot glue gun I then fixed the fabric in place.

Folding a strip of linen in half lengthwise I then rolled it into a Rosette, once again fixing the end and the fabric in place on the covered wreath.

No sewing, no hemming just raw linen.

Do you like them?

How many more sleeps to go?

x

Market Roses and Vintage Linen

Adore these gorgeous vintage rose serviettes, all hand stitched on a fine quality linen. Even better they were a gift from a generous friend.

Picked up some beautiful perfumed roses from the markets yesterday.

The only place to take photo for the best light was out on the back deck.

It was one of those wet and overcast summers day! Love these roses and I always grab them when I can, so colourful and sweet smelling.
At $5 a bunch why wouldn't you?

Have a lovely week.
Pam x

Christmas Decs At Our Place.

This is what random parts of the house are looking like this morning.

Decorations are out, making do and getting sorted.

The colour palette appears to be changing this year...definitely a bit more red and silver.

I will show you later.

Meanwhile the tree is up...

...and the jolly and Fat Santa's are back!

It is raining in Brisbane this morning, following on from our cool and rainy week.

I am so happy!

I  have two days off work to decorate and meet my very cool friends for lunch.

Have a fab weekend.

Pam x

Sunday Finds and in the Garden

I know I should be shopping for Christmas, but some handmade and vintage items caught my eye at the markets this morning.

Sweet and colourful hand crocheted flowers  - well that's what they look like to me!

They look quite cute threaded as a garland on a bit of jute twine.

A lovely silky oak suitcase that needs a bit of TLC.

No handle... and sticker marks all over it.

I love the warm richness of silky oak and I have never seen a suitcase made out of it before.

The clasps work fine, and with a bit of sanding and a new handle it will be given a new purpose in life...one day.

As I wandered around the garden on this summers day, I defiantly ignored the weeds that seem to just appear. The red hibiscus from the neighbour is still blooming...

...a white Agapanthus happily about to burst forth in flower and then I noticed something strange...

I had to look twice as I know that holly does not grow around here. I was taken back to England for a fleeting moment, reminiscing of the holly bush at Christmas time at my mother in laws house.

Freezing cold, fireplaces and snow falling...mmmm.

A bit uneven for holly on these rose leaves...and then I spied...

...the culprit...the biggest grasshopper ever and he was doing some serious damage!

When I first saw him his head was nestled right into one of my gorgeous roses.

Needless to say he does not live in the rose bush anymore.

Hopefully, he has found a lovely feast across the road, where he could stay forever!

Happy Sunday.