RoseMary said...

...she said, it's been over four years since your last blog post...

and it made me think...

I miss those writings,
and maybe it's time to start again?
To be honest, its a little scary in some respects,
that it's been that long
because it doesn't feel like that,
and yet it is.

...the prompt was perfectly timed,
it had been on my mind for a little while,
but I needed the prod.
Don't we all?

Now I just need the self discipline to carry it through :-)

...I'm still stitching,
always,
it's my soul food
and at times
my means to escape,
to leave behind the things that worry,
the things that confuse and frustrate me,
to find a simple place of joy,
corny as that may sound.

Appreciation...

it means a lot to most people,

I imagine.

The last twelve months have been challenging,

for everyone,

but one thing I've learned, amongst others,

is to appreciate what you have,

and just recently,

the value of being appreciated.

There have been many many trips north this past year,

and one thing that I came to appreciate very quickly

was that at the end of a long day

I could enjoy the beauty of Hagley Park...

over and over it became a place to run,

or walk,

to clear the cobwebs,

make plans,

and get into the right head space.

...it's a phenomenally beautiful park,

especially at the end of day,

and now

as we glide into Autumn

the colours are stunning...

...a few weeks back I found the rose gardens...

...got lost there for an hour or so...

...and despite the fact that I now truly believe

I can drive from Dunedin to Christchurch,

with my eyes closed

(not kidding -  I stopped counting

after trip #60)

there was always something pretty amazing to see

along the way...

...what's not to love about this fabulous field of

sunflowers,

easily banished the driving blues

for a few weeks,

and so interesting to watch the life cycle,

from a sea of yellow

to a blanket of dying seed heads

but still beautiful in their decay.

...stitching, walking,

and the occasional little run,

some of the things I appreciate...

granted, they are simple things,

but isn't that what they say,

the simple things are often the best...

...I live by some of the most beautiful beaches in the world...

...they are my go to place for chill out time,

and how flipping lucky does that make me.

...and then there are friends...

...I appreciate you!

Am constantly humbled by the lovely lovely comments

that you guys leave on my facebook

and insta...

I appreciate every single one of them,

that you take the time to write,

they always make me smile.

Thankyou!

...it's been blowing an absolute hooley of a gale out there today,

the trees will be stripped of their autumnal glory,

not to mention some of them might lose a branch or  too.

...I love the way

the hydrangea changes and mellows

with autumn,

soft, slightly flawed,

but perfectly beautiful...

...unfortunately my poor hollyhocks are not coping so well

with the wind,

although they are nearly past their best anyway...

Have always wanted to grow them,

but never been successful

until this year...

was so excited to see them bloom,

and not a speck of rust, 

so I think I may have found the perfect spot...

...it wouldn't be Easter without the annual tradition,

a new Easter bunnie (or two)...

...I'm taking part in a stitching challenge this year,

where we get to make a little tag each week,

based on a theme given to us each Friday

by the lovely Anne Brooke...

it's ridiculously good fun,

the tag I'm using is 8 x 5cm...

not very big, but that's part of the appeal,

I can actually start and finish something

within a couple of hours,

and not add anything more to the great unfinished pile!

...that one was a bevy of buttons...

...this one was for buttonhole stitch,

which was a joy,

it's one of my favourite stitches...

...this was a new technique,

folded hexies,

so much fun...

...and this one was bullion stitch

and french knots,

the knots being a favourite,

and a good chance to practice my bullion stitch.

We are up to week 14,

38 to go,

and looking forward to each of them :-)

Have just finished this wee stitchy,

have absolutely no idea what it will end up being,

if in fact it has to be anything.

Sometimes its good to just stitch,

no plans,

no expectations,

no reason even,

just stitching because we can,

and because it feels good :-)

...so there it is,

the first blog in many years.

I'll leave you with  this thought...

...in appreciation

of all the good things

around us...

Jen xx