Wednesday, September 2, 2009

spring is in the air...

Spring is sprung
the grass has riz

I wonder where dem birdies is...

oh I know where the birdies are, the trees have been full of them, and the bird feeder has been needing replenishing quite frequently. Spring is definitely here!

or so I thought, but we have had such heavy snow falls along the centre of both islands, great for the ski-fields, and we expect to be doing some more spring skiing at the weekend! YAHOO...

Last weekend we elected to be stuck at home (boring old farts that we are!), but the garden did need some attention! We started with this dreadful area, that we have largely mostly ignored for too many years now... we pulled down an old oak tree 3 years ago, now we are are not tree haters by any stretch of the imagination, but this grandma just had to go, she was shading the lounge, and dropping acorns everywhere, which then started little oak seedlings, not good in a residential area, we have a reasonable sized section, but not that big! (the oak tree burned very well - nobody wanted it for any wood turning or cabinet making or whatever, being a grandma tree and all gnarled n all)...

a few of these...

and voila!...... nice and tidy, I still need to move a few pots and bits'n'pieces around a bit, I have a really very heavy sundial that I might move here.. next weekend when Rowing Man has recovered... boy were we tired on Sunday evening!

hey, what a view huh!!!

well I enjoy looking at it! he he he...

The rest of the garden definitely has that spring feel to it..


...lovely fresh silverbeet - one my my favourite meals (yes I say meal) is poached eggs on silverbeet (or spinach), on toast of course! - spread with vegemite, and topped off with fresh parmesan shavings, oh so mouth watering! and so so yummy...

and this is the the lovely wonderfully Plum tree, so full of flower for all the plums that the new owners will enjoy, great for plum jam and sauce, but a damn nuisance sweeping up off the drive once the jolly birds have been at them (won't miss that job at all!!)...

and the first of the rhododendrons in flower, they flower from now right up until about June/July, they grow so very well in Dunedin. We have the rhodendron festival here in Dunedin in November, with a lot of local gardens open for visiting, and lots of action happening for garden tours and so forth.. more about that at festival time.

and all you Australians will know this flower well, the birds just love it, and it is lovely to see and hear all the birds enjoying the fruits from this lovely specimen..

and I have been doing a bit of stitching... just a few peeks then, (look at my sidebar - yep signed up for a few swaps yet again - always seems a good idea at the time, and I do so enjoy the creating, and sending off to new homes,oh the anticipation of it all!)

and this is the last block completed for Aunt Millie's Garden;

now for the borders...

and this is something for a dear friend's birthday coming up very, very soon..

and I plan on finishing this off tonight

and not sure what I will do with this - any ideas?


anyhoo - off to have tea - yep - you guessed it, Toast!!... with fresh garden garlic mushrooms and capsicum hummus. (with a glass of nicely well breathed Stoneleigh merlot... should sleep well tonite then! lately has been 1.30-2am bedtime, and up again at 5-5.30!! hmmmm sleep deprived... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz - need my man!)

have fun everyone,

Shiree

(Miss Divine D, must talk to you about how to do a signature thingee)


P.S. handed in my notice at work - finally - Rowing Man is so so happy! Last day is October 16th! 61/2 weeks to go and counting down - really hard being apart, and all the commuting is really quite tiring! Will be nice to actually belong, rather then just be a visitor for the weekend.

10 comments:

Deb said...

Dahling, silverbeet yum yum yum, all with poached eggs on toasted english muffins with a little bit of crispy bacon and some portobello mushrooms on the side. Mmmmmm, live sig, will email you.

Betsy said...

you have been very busy. Your creations are looking lovely.

Deb Robertson Writes said...

You need to buy some of this fabric http://www.trademe.co.nz/Crafts/Fabric/Cotton/Animals/auction-239016902.htm for that little bird embroidery. It would be so cute!!

Anonymous said...

As your spring comes, so does our fall. This time of year is one of my favorites and I am always ready for the weather to change to the cool and crisp days with those bright blue skies. We're having a bit of a tease right now but I doubt the summer weather is ready to end just yet. I don't garden much myself but yesterday a very able person came and spent some time on the front portion of our landscaping and did such a wonderful job.

karlascottage.typepad.com said...

Summer is winding down here, and I will miss the warm weather, I am such a spring/summer person. At least I get to visit blogs and see flowers blooming and experience spring vicariously through them.

Abby and Stephanie said...

Lots of terrific projects! I LOVE the little house and your Aunt Milile is just spectacular.

Chookyblue...... said...

wow so much activity here.........gardening, sewing, cooking........enjoy.........

Sew Useful Designs said...

Hi Shiree! x

Good on you for handing in your notice, it must be so hard being apart from your man. Not for long now! :-)

Thanks for showing us your projects - they're all gorgeous! And I love your colourways. The bird stitchery is really cute, as are the little flowers and colours you have chosen. Gorgeous!

Warm wishes!
Vikki x

Unknown said...

Goodness all your flowers are so pretty. I didn't realize it was so cool where you are already. I can't wait for the fall weather (which we have very little of). You quilting projects are so nice, something I've never done but remember Grandma & others doing. I wanted to say how lovely your tag for the Xmas in July swap was. I hope we meet up again...Tracy
Please visit me sometime at my blog,
http://cottonpickincute.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

What lovely makings you have on the table at the moment. Congrats on handing in your notice. One of my fav meals are fresh mushrooms with a little crushed garlic on newly baked bread still warm. :-) I hope you will be very happy in your new home.

Your blossom is so pretty. Thanks for sharing it on such an overcast day here in England