Sweet Mary

It is late afternoon on what has been a cold, windy day - great for drying the washing I hung out earlier but not a day I wanted to venture out into for long. I did drive to the village to pick up essential ingredients from our excellent deli to make a tiramisu to take to our friends house tomorrow night. I didn't linger though and was in, out and back home within half an hour. I just wanted to be at home and after listening to weather reports on the radio I think I will be close to home all weekend as bad weather is on the way with winds of 100kms an hour predicted. I guess the fluffy girls (cats) will want to stay inside too and I will finally get to restock my Sweet Mary lavender heart supply as well as fulfilling a couple of orders. While thinking about tiramisu making I thought it might be nice to bake my hubbie's favourite cake, well one of them though he does always take care to tell me that he doesn't really have a sweet tooth.... He likes this Lemon-Syrup Loaf Cak...

I bought this pretty Laura Ashley dress for my daughter's second birthday - she is now twenty one ! Over last weekend I decided to sort out a few boxes and came across lots of great memories in the form of my children's baby clothes and daughter's collection of dresses. All of the dresses below, except for the Laura Ashley one were lovingly hand-made by my sister . The fabrics and trims used are beautiful and the smocking is a work of art. And the great thing is that nearly twenty years down the track you could still put a child in these gorgeous creations and they would be much admired and appreciated. The tiny knitted creations above and below were knitted by my mother who has doted on each and every grandchild in her family. Each grandchild received a fabulous handmade bear and lots of other soft toys and even though knitting wasn't her greatest love she did knit these treasures simply because I asked. From memory, the patterns were from a French knitting book, bu...

I was tempted by the personality test that Nicola did on her blog - she picked it up on CurlyPop's blog. Here is what it says about me: My personality type: Warm-hearted, popular and conscientious. Tend to put the needs of others over their own needs. Feel strong sense of responsibility and duty. Value traditions and security. Interested in serving others. Need positive reinforcement to feel good about themselves. Well-developed sense of space and function. Careers that could fit me includes: Home economics, nursing, teaching, administators, child care, family practice physician, clergy, office managers, counselors, social workers, bookkeeping, accounting, secretaries, organization leaders, dental assistants, homemakers, radiological technologists, receptionists, religious educators. If you want to do this test click on either Nicola or Curly Pops - I found it pretty close to how I see myself.

I cut my lavender hedge back in the autumn but it has started to bloom again. Its planted up against the house but not in a spot that catches much winter sun. Somehow its apt that this hedge can't stop blooming as I use so much lavender in my SWEET MARY lavender hearts. In preparation for my stall at the the Holly Hospice I have ordered in 6 kilos from a local supplier to add to my meagre homegrown supply. Now, I realise that 6 kilos sounds like a lot and believe me it is but if stored correctly it keeps well and its better than running out last minute. I did take this photo about six weeks ago when my hydrangea flowers were turning these gorgeous shades of pink - I have a vase full in the house. I love these flowers and have always had a hydrangea or two or three in just about every NZ house I have lived in. Now they seem to be fashionable as I often read about them in magazines but they have always been a favourite of mine even when a friend in the UK disparagingly said they we...