Morning garden stroll..

Today dawned grey and rather overcast with a decided chill in the air.

I quickly hung the washing out in the breeze and hoped the sun would soon turn its face to my clothesline!

The joy of seeing how abundantly my Banksia Rose bush has flowered this past week sent me rushing back indoors to grab my camera!

Last year my wonderful hubby built this lovely arbor for the bush to spread its beautiful flowers over, and we've been keenly waiting for Spring to come so we can sit beneath it and be surrounded by its delicate perfume.

It has grown exhuberantly and we are delighted to see how the canes have arched above the arbor and draped it with gorgeous creamy roses!

If ever there was a plant that gives back generously it is this one - I recommend it if you are looking for something lovely to cover a fence or garden shed.

Our nectrines are looking good so far, and have sweet baby fruit forming along the branches.

Not to be outdone..the peaches are prolific with young fruit too!

We will need to cover these with netting to keep the birds at bay!

And the fruitbats and possums!!!

I spied the shy curling bud of a tiny dianthus as I walked back to the house.

It was chatting to the geranium about the weather :-)

These two were "all ears".. as pansies are wont to be!

But the white lilac was quite unconcerned as she sheltered sleepily against the verandah frame at my backdoor.

What a joy a garden is.. no matter how large or small it may be..no matter how green or brown the thumb of its carer may be..no matter where it is situated - in the city country desert or tropics.

To nurture and tend a growing plant is a "God-thing" to do..after all He planted a garden with fruit and flowers before He planted us :-)
*
I'm joining Kathy for..

Autumn in May

Through the side gate and into my front garden I go..

to witness falling maple stars on a cool May day.



Dogwood leaves have lain in patient silence all week long

waiting to welcome the Liquidamber's downward drift



but she is holding on..still straining for the sky.



The maple nods her yellow crown and whispers knowingly,

"It won't be long, dear Dogwood friend, until we all embrace.

For here beneath my boughs today..is life all soft in sleep!"







Gilded Days

Autumn-yellow leaves of Golden Ashes catch alight with the fire of afternoon sun

as I peer from my window and stand and revel in the beauty of the scene. 

But amid the joy of their loveliness, I am aware that they are announcing the turning of the season toward more sombre hours.

The garden, throwing off it's wild and joyous summer garb

and donning quieter hues of russet red and brown.. begins to sleep.

Indoors..I gather up the golden lights that linger in nature's bounty

and mixing the welcome, tumbling gifts of sun and grain and fruit

I set to work creating our own yellow beams of simple homely joys.

This small and ordinary effort of a day drawn in by short and crisper hours

lights up our bare-board wood.

No need of silver-glint or manorial baroque to dress the scene.

We sit in quiet contentment feasting at our humble kitchen table
worn by time.. and warmed by heaven's gilding.
*
Joining Kathy for

Window on my day..

I've been doing a fair bit of this today...standing on chairs!

Being on the short side, I find a chair mighty handy for getting up to clean those high spots that I normally can't reach.

So I haven't been merely watching the pretty birds outside the window, even though they do divert my attention quite a lot lol!

No - I've been sprucing up my house from top to bottom and getting ready for my visitors who arrive tomorrow.

My dear mother,  my sister and brother-in-law are coming to stay with us and I am so excited about it!

But it has meant a lot of re-arranging of rooms in our small "Darby and Joan" cottage.

Beds needed to be sorted and made up, cupboard space made for their clothes and personal things,  the seating changed around in the lounge-room so we can all sit together in comfort etc..

You see, when my sons left home their rooms became extra storage space for hubby and me, and I have had to revert them back into decent sleeping quarters this week.

Now, I don't know about you..but when I start to move one piece of furniture around, I tend to have moved the whole room by the time I'm all done!

Got a bit of a reputation for it, actually ;-)

Well, today I have managed to re-arrange 5 rooms - a brand new record for me lol!!

 I'm "bushed" and "plum-tuckered out" now -BUT- so glad and happy too :-)

When they all turn up after lunch I'll be ready to give them a nice hot cuppa and just sit and enjoy their company without worrying about the house.

A good week's work has sweet rewards.

And what could be sweeter than a visit from family who live far away?!

Tomorrow I'll be watching out my windows for their dear faces to appear - just like a kid again!

Thank You Lord, for all your grace today, and answered prayers for the strength and energy to get all my chores done well and finished up.

*

A Warm Tea

Spring is only a week away for us here in Australia.

The garden, awakening after a winter doze

 is throwing off  snowy quilts and turning it's face

 to welcome the warm rays of the sun again.

And today I am sitting with my back to winter's window,

happily inhaling green peppermint tea and golden jonquils.

Fruit on my plate...strawberries and banana bread!

This is simply a joy!

(Bananas had become a luxury for us after devastating floods wiped out the Australian crop.)

Yellow daffodils are keeping jolly company with waning helebores all snuggled in my old tin teapot 

while the first soft pink camellias of the season lay beside them.
The year-long dance of these blossoms having turned full circle once again.

"In the tiny petal

of a tiny flower

that grew from a tiny pod

is the miracle and the mystery

of all creation and God!"

Helen Steiner Rice

The cup and saucer I am using today is from a set I've had for a long time.

The brand is Orion and it is made in Germany.
A delicate small cup..just right for herbal tea!

I love it's bright floral pattern on the fine white china.

A sweet little garden blessed by the sun to cheer my day!

It reminds me of  the faithfulness of God

Who promises to bring about each wonderful new season in it's time.

May it always be the hopeful season of Spring within our hearts, dear friends!

"As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease." Genesis 8:22

***

I'm joining Sandi today for Tea Time Tuesday

Pink Saturday~ Sakura

 Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,

Blanketing the countryside 

As far as you can see.

 Is it a mist, or clouds?

Fragrant in the morning sun.

Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms, Flowers in full bloom.

Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,

Across the Spring sky,

As far as you can see.

Is it a mist, or clouds?

Fragrant in the air. 

Come now, come,

Let’s look, at last!

*

Cherry blossoms petals..breathtaking in their delicate pink beauty.

Hanging heavy from the boughs for just a while.. then quietly falling like satin snow on waiting grass below.

Each year I eagerly await the appearance of these beautiful flowers, savouring their short season.

Sweet memories of Spring!

It is cold and grey here at home today, so to cheer myself up I thought I would share some photos (from last Spring) of my Cherry tree with you ..and a beautiful video of the spectacular Sakura blossoms of Japan.

The verses beneath the photos are the translation of the traditional Japanese folksong "Sakura", which you can hear on the clip.

One of the 'dreams' my husband and I share, is to one day travel to Japan for the annual Cherry Blossom Festivals that are held across that beautiful country.

And if our dream remains just that..we at least have a glimpse of the reality of it, sitting under our own sakura in the sun.

I hope you have a blessed weeekend, my friends.

One that's filled with dreams and beauty for you, too!

Trish

I am linking this with Beverly for her lovely Pink Saturday

How To Enjoy Hot Chocolate for One

Take a pretty blue and white cup and saucer

and select a favourite Victoria magazine and a sachet of hazelnut-hot chocolate.

Mix the chocolate powder with boiling water and stir

and place two Monte Carlo biscuits on your saucer.

Set everything down on your coffee table in front of a comfortable sofa

and take a moment to look around the room,

 giving thanks to the Lord for the roof over your head and the love in your home. 

Then sit back, relax.. and enjoy the simple blessings of your day!

*

Today I'm having my morning tea with these lovely ladies:

Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage

Kathy at A Delightsome Life