Phew

Month end has been and gone, leading towards it was completely bonkers. It's the day when my team and I start as early as five in the morning. Scurrying through the darkness to get changed, trying not to wake the whole household, braving the cold and chilly air,not even my dog would dare to come out of his kennel. Ahhh...I'm glad it's over, for now. What I truly miss is reading all your beautiful posts which I seem to have missed this week. How I wish I could upload more posts as I feel left out. And I would love to join in those interesting blog parties. But I can't seem to find time to do it properly.
When I got home this afternoon, I only had enough daylight to enjoy a cuppa by the pergola. I enjoyed the soft light and took some photos with Junior waiting impatiently to be taken for a walk. I also included a snippet of what's taking shape in our garden. Hope you are all having a good week my dear friends. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a kind and sweet comment. I will try to visit soon.

Take care and God bless.

I will be joining Sandi @ Rose Chintz Cottage
And Catherine @ The Dedicated House

A pleasant Surprise

Every year on our wedding anniversary, my hubby sends me a dozen long-stemmed red roses. But last year I opted for something different to break the tradition. Well, that didn't go well as I hoped, as I missed those gorgeous deep red roses. The other day our receptionist called and told me there was a delivery for me. I was hesitant at first as I wasn't really expecting anything as I haven't done any shopping online. I thought it was a mistake. But to my surprise my husband sent me these beautiful red roses.  It truly made my day, even my whole week so much better.

Hope you are all having a fabulous week.

I'm joining Sandi @ Rose Chintz Cottage for a Christmas in July Tea party

                            I'm using my Robert Gordon Rambling white rose tea pot as a vase.

 
 I took a picture of my hyacinths this afternoon....I love the staggered flowering so they won't all come and go at the same time. I can enjoy them longer.

                                              The same goes with these daffodils.

                            This is one of my favourite tea pots by Franz

                               
                              Inspired by Van Gogh's Almond Blossoms

          
It's meticulously handcrafted and polished with soft spring colours. The 3D effect makes it a unique piece of art. More tea anyone?

Op shop finds

We have been lucky the last few days, as the weather has been really sunny and warm.  I can see winter disappearing before my eyes (wishful thinking). Well, technically only seven more weeks to go before spring. 

  

We have many projects around and inside the house. But with our busy schedule and the unpredictable weather, lots of them have been put off for later.
I took photos of my op shop finds (table clothes), some sneak peaks of our winter garden and the vintage cups and saucers which I purchased from Madelief ( from Rotterdam).
Winter is the time when the flying foxes visit us at night, they feed in the gum trees just above us, gorging on the nectar from the flowers. Their squawking and fighting can go on the whole night. In the morning we are woken by the sound of Rainbow Lorikeets in the native plants outside our window. We utilised our suburban block by creating a balanced scheme of native garden (to attract native wildlife), veggie beds, citrus trees, fruit trees, annuals, bulbs, climbers, succulents, roses and herbs. All our time and hard work has resulted in a most promising and productive organically sustainable garden.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy weekend.

                                         The broccoli is almost ready for picking.

                                                        Purple hyacinth just peeking through

           Not quite spring but this daffodil is giving me a taste of how spring will be like.

                    Enjoying an afternoon tea with a carrot cake and salted caramel ice cream

             The vintage cups and saucers which I purchased from Madelief. Such treasures!

                       One of my op shop finds-knitted wool tea cosy with butterflies  

              Round tablecloth also an op shop find, perfect for my two-seater outdoor setting

                               An old pot from charity shop-perfect for this cyclamen

         I've collected some tomato sauce tins, ready to be spray-painted and use as planters.

                     I love this tablecloth, perfect for our kitchen table, also an op shop find.            

                                  I displayed some colourful tea set to bringten up an empty space.

                                                           A present from my dearest daughter 

                                              A newly installed shelves from IKEA

                                     A beautiful surprise from my dearest hubby

Bygone Beauty

The weather was not too chilly at only 5 degrees Celcius, the sun was out with blue sky and not a cloud threatening in the mountain high. First we had brunch at a café, hubby settled for bacon and eggs while I enjoyed my toasted focaccia with roasted seasonal veggies. Then we headed to some op shops where I found beautiful linens, hanging and tucked away in a rather concealed space. Voila..I thought to myself, just one of the things I've been searching for at a price that I can afford, but how can anyone not notice these intricately woven tablecloths, hours must have been put into them to make them look this good. I have a penchant for pre-loved things; the affinity which developed over the years of acquiring objects with past history, I craved. We hopped from one antique shop to another, but some are just too pricey and way beyond our budget. Except for some silver soup spoons for which I paid $2 each, I bought half a dozen to start my collection.

At around afternoon tea time, there was darkness looming just above the peak of the famous Three Sisters. There were not many tourists as it was in the middle of the week.  

Before heading back home, we stopped at neighbouring Leura, to indulge in scrumptious Devonshire tea in a famous place known for its collection of not a few pieces but thousands of tea pots.

By the time we came out of Bygone Beauty's, the looming clouds had sent drizzle into the surrounding mountains. Before darkness sets in, we started to head back home. Happy, contented and with a smile in my face, that was a day of "time in lieu" well spent.
I will be posting my Blue Mountains' finds God willing this week. Hoping my work won't take too much of my time!

Wishing everyone a happy and safe week.