WHEN DAPHNE IS UNWELL

Good Morning to you,

Take one poorly Daphne

and

put her to bed.

Give her a couple of pain killers

to ease her poor head.

A drink

made with

 honey

and

a splash of lemon,

with tissues to help

so her nose will not redden.

A

a jug of water 

placed on her bedside table,

will help poor Daphne

 recover

as quick as she is able.

All of these kind things

will help in the fight,

to allow her body

to make itself right.

When she is well,

and there is no more concern,

she will thank you so much

and

her smile will return.

..... and my smile did return as these are all the kind things which George did for me when I was unwell last week. It's good to know we are always there for each other in time of need.

.... and did I thank him, oh yes, I thanked him,

again and again

and again.

I do love him.

Take care and I will catch up with you on Thursday.

As always,

GIFTS FROM FRANCE

Good Afternoon to you,

I do love the pictures I have hung on the walls around my home. They make me happy and they certainly make me smile. Do you know, I can remember where I bought each and every picture.

I do not have a specific genre, I tend to be open to anything, it just needs  to catch my eye, and I am smitten. 

When a new picture appears, George always asks the question "and where will we hang this picture, we have no more space" to which I reply "we can shimmy the pictures around and have a change about". To which he normally raises his eyes and goes to the garage to find his hammer.

The pictures around my home tend to be an eclectic mix. Whenever we visit a new country, I love to find a print which will remind me of our time in that country.

..... but,

I have never owned an original..... that is until now.  Let me explain.

Just before Christmas, a package arrived through my letterbox and when I opened the package it contained,

the most lovely, Autumnal water colour.  I was so thrilled to receive it.  The artist, is  the lovely Barbara who writes the blog Barbara Lilian in France.   I love it so much that I have not placed it on the wall, it sits on a table, across from where I sit, so that when I  enjoy my morning cup of coffee, I can see the picture at a glance, and it never fails to put a smile on my face.

Doesn't it sit well, alongside some of my other treasures which I love.... and of course a vase of roses never goes amiss. I think maybe the roses should have had autumnal tones, but I do love pink roses.

Now you would think, that this beautiful watercolour, would be sufficient, but no, look what else I received,

not one,

no,

not two,

but

three 

of these beautiful lavender posies,

braided with such pretty ribbons.

They are so lovely.

I adore them.

The third posy,

Barbara had kindly sent for Phyllis,

because she remembered that I had mentioned

that Phyllis loved lavender.

Wasn't that a kind thing to do.

Barbara had shared how to make a posy, 

on one of her blog posts.

I had always meant to make some posies

with the lavender stems from my garden,

but you know how it is, we don't always manage

 to get around to doing the list of things

 we would like to do.

So it was a wonderful surprise to receive

these pretty posies which Barbara had made.

The posies were wrapped very carefully

and were inside this gorgeous bag.

Isn't it cute.

A note had been popped inside

the bag

and the note was written on beautiful paper.

I have to tell you, I just adore

lovely note paper.

.... and if you thought that was the end of

my treasure trove, you would be wrong,

because

Barbara had written me a lovely note on the back of this

'Four Seasons in Limousin' postcard.

...... and what could be nicer, on a cold, winter's day,

than a field of sunflowers.

A nice reminder on this very cold day,

of warmer days to come.

I am overwhelmed by Barbara's kindness, I love, love, love my watercolour and lavender posies.  At the moment the watercolour does look lovely in the frame I placed it in, but I have decided to re-frame it, using a larger gold frame.  I think the larger frame will set the picture off nicely and then I will hang it on the wall.

The lavender posies are also placed where I can enjoy them each day.  Sometimes I place them in a little cut glass vase and other times I lay them on my coffee table.

It was so very kind of Barbara to be so thoughtful as each gift took so much time to create.

Thank you again Barbara, for your kindness, you have made me a very happy lady.

Oh and Barbara, I can honestly tell you, that when I told George that I was going to buy a larger frame and hang the watercolour on the wall, George did not raise his eyes at all, as he loves your watercolour as much as I do.

Just before I go, I wanted to say, I feel sure you will have noticed that I have not been answering your comments, as I usually do.  I am so sorry, I really have not had the time to visit you or leave comments, but I am going to do my best  to visit you this week, as I know I have missed so much that has been going on in your lives. It is just that life has been so very busy here for George and I.  I know you will understand, as we all experience times like this at one point or another in our lives.

So take care and I will see you next Thursday.

A LOVELY SURPRISE

Good Afternoon to you,

Do you remember, when I told you that I had been featured in the Woman's Weekly Magazine?  Well Lynne, from Irish Garden House mentioned to me that she hoped she would be able to buy the magazine in America.... unfortunately it was not available to buy, so we swapped addresses and I sent her a copy of the magazine, a long with a couple of other items I thought she would enjoy.

Lynne received the gifts I sent and in return, she told me to look out for a surprise which would arrive in the post.  

Now we all love surprises don't we,

..... and take a look,

at what I received.

This packet dropped through

my postbox

and when I opened it,

look what I found inside.

A beautiful card,

and

some lovely photographs

of Lynne's garden.

Take a look at her beautifully green, manicured lawn
and

how wonderful to be surrounded by so many trees.

Lynne must hear some wonderful bird song during the day.

.... and how lovely are the flowers in Lynne's garden.

At the top left  of the collage, you can see

 some beautiful irises.

Lynne wrote that the original plant was

one which belonged to her mother

from 40 years ago.

The top right you will recognise

as a Rhododendron.... it is a beautiful shade of pink.

The bottom left is a Hibiscus, a plant I grew in Cyprus,

in fact I would go so far as to say it grew like a weed,

because the conditions were perfect.

...... and finally the bottom right, 

a lovely Bleeding Heart,
isn't it pretty.

...and what do we have here? 
 a little rabbit taking a nap.

Do you think he is dreaming

of carrots?

Look at the vibrant pink of these

Cosmos.
Lynne placed these beautiful flowers in a white vase,
 such a pretty flower arrangement.

After admiring all the lovely

photographs of Lynne's garden,

I discovered,

some beautiful notelets.

This is my perfect garden,

lots of plants and Alyssum filling

the cracks in the pavement.

....I am almost there,

I am creating this type of garden myself.

The Tulips look so romantic

and the Black Eyed Susan's are a riot of colour.

The card in the centre has the most 

gorgeous window

and the window box is overflowing with

beautiful plants.

I just know that friends who receive these cards.
 will be very happy.

The next two cards are lovely,

this card is called

'Sit Tight' Ruffed Grouse

and

Indigos.
Look at all those luscious blackberries.

..... and these little fellows I just love.

It would be so much fun to take a walk with them.
On second thought,

I think I would have to wear my running shoes 
 to keep up with them.

If you are admiring 

these two pictures and thinking they are cards,

well I have to tell you, they are photographs

which Lynne took of her garden during the winter

last year.  You can be forgiven for thinking they

are a Christmas scene, because that is what they

look like.  The Red Cardinal perching on

the tree which is ladened with snow is a

triumph of a photograph.
I was amazed to see such a colourful bird
sitting on a snowy branch, I would
have thought it would have flown south for the winter.

....and as lovely as all the photographs and cards are,

I have saved the very best for last.

For those of you who read Lynne's blog,

you will be very well acquainted with Snickers,

who is absolutely adorable,
just look at those eyes.

It was so very kind of Lynne to send me all these wonderful presents. The cards are so lovely that I think I will have to keep them for a while.... so that I can  admire them and the photographs... I am going to place in my album.

I think most of you will have read Lynne's blog 'Irish Garden House', but if not, pay her a visit and say hello as I know you will be given a warm and friendly welcome.

Take care and I will see you on Sunday.

This week I will be joining,

Natasha In Oz for Say G'Day Saturday

FABULOUS GIFTS

Good Morning to you,

I know that normally, I would not write to you on a Friday, but today I really have to make an exception, because the postman has delivered the most fabulous parcel full of beautiful gifts.

Let me explain. A few weeks ago I entered a competition at  Linda's Crafty Corner.   We were asked to guess which colour we thought she would  use, to complete her beautiful crochet blanket.... and I  am so pleased to tell you that I was the runner up.  

Linda emailed me to ask for my details so that she could send me a surprise.  A few days later the postman delivered  a parcel and when I opened it, I could not believe how many beautiful things Linda had sent me.

Do you see the little note, "Saw this and thought of you".

 That was so kind.

 I am quite overwhelmed with Linda's thoughtfulness.
 I just love the peacock

 and my favourite flowers

 are roses. 

The scented sachet is gorgeous.

The second packet I opened, 

contained this beautiful crochet heart

which Linda had made for me.

 Do you see  the little pearl bead in the centre.  

  I absolutely love it 

and

 it now  hangs  in my sewing room

 along side,

this lovely heart which Natasha bought for me.

 They really go well together

..... and there is more.

Look at this adorable little bird with the daisy centre. 

 I have hung it in my kitchen

 to remind me of Linda's kindness.

This adorable fridge magnet. 

 I am not going to place it on my fridge,

 instead I am going to frame it.

These beautiful notelets, are lovely
and I just know that

 friends who are lucky enough to receive one

 will be so pleased.

 ... and there is more.... yes honestly, there is more.

 This lovely wrapping tissue paper.

 I was looking at the flowers,

 thinking they would be lovely replicated

 in applique or even embroidery.

.... and look at this fabulously quirky notebook.

 It fits beautifully inside my handbag,

 ready to jot down any notes I need to write.

There was also this lovely card
 depicting a thatched cottage

 and a cottage garden.

 Certainly my style of gardening.

Inside the card

was a lovely handwritten note from Linda,

and all the gifts were wrapped in this beautiful paper.  It was like Christmas.  I love each and every gift I have been given.  Thank you so much Linda you are the most kindest person.

Pop over and visit Linda's wonderful blog.  If there is anything you need to know about crochet, she is certainly your lady.... but also take the time to look at Linda's beautiful Violet Meadow Blanket, you will be in awe, because it has been made with 754..... yes 754, individual crochet squares.

Don't you find that Bloggers are the most thoughtful and generously spirited people..... I know I do.

Take care  and I will see you on Sunday.

KINDNESS

Good Afternoon to you,

I have made myself a cup of coffee,

I am sitting in,

my favourite chair,

and I am putting my feet up for a moment or two,

and I start to think about the many wonderful bloggers I have met since I first started writing Ivy, Phyllis and Me!

..... and how kind and generous, people are, in the blogging community.  

I have made some lovely friendship, but one of the most wonderful things I have learnt, is, how kind and generously spirited, bloggers are.

So today, I thought I would share with you a little story about one such generously spirited blogger CeLynn from CeLynn's Sunflower Patch.  

I met CeLynn about 4 months ago, after she had left a lovely comment on my blog.  I popped over and paid her a visit, and found she had shared a fabulous Asian Salmon dish. I read the post and what I found interesting was how CeLynn had made the Asian Salmon. CeLynn had  used,

Cedar Papers.  So of course I was intrigued, as I had never heard of them.   I remember when we used to have big family bar-b-ques, George would put certain types of wood shavings onto the coals, but I had never seen anything like these Cedar Papers.  

I mentioned that I would be trying the recipe as Salmon is a favourite of mine, but I also mentioned, that I didn't think I would be able to buy these Cedar papers in England.

I received an email from CeLynn, a few days later, to say that she would send me a packet in the post.  I could not believe her kindness, as we had only emailed each other a couple of times.

I emailed CeLynn my address and true to her word she sent me a packet through the post,

with a lovely little note.  I was thrilled to pieces to receive the gift of the Cedar papers and I felt that this was such a kind thing to do, as CeLynn did not know me, but was willing to send me Cedar papers from half way across the world.

So today, I want to say a big thank you to CeLynn for being so kind and sending me the lovely gift of the Cedar papers.  I have to tell you CeLynn, we loved the Asian Salmon recipe.

It would be lovely if you could pop over and say hello to CeLynn as you will love all her canning recipes and you will so admire her beautiful sewing. 

Take care and I will see you on Sunday.