Sweet Beauty

I had the delightful privileged of visiting a cake decorating exhibition held at Mt Cootha, Brisbane this afternoon. Our daughter had entered a wedding cake in the novice section and we went along to support and encourage her and because I wanted to see what she was up against!

AMAZING what people can do with icing, beautiful, skilled craft that looks so realistic and delightful. Various categories and degrees of expertise made the display very interesting. I take my hat off to all the entrants and appreciate the time and effort that went into making such amazing exhibits.

Afterwards, we continued up to the top of the Mount and surveyed Brisbane from a different, beautiful perspective. Great place for a picnic, indeed a wedding took place during our short time up there and lots of people were making the most of the venue and the beautiful Sunday afternoon.
Have a peep at the view

Have a great week
Simply Susan

Simple Pleasures

Yesterday was a beautiful day, more like spring than winter. During the afternoon,while my husband was in a tidying mood, he asked me what I wanted to do with a bottle of bubble mixture that had been hanging around since my birthday, in January. I happily took it outside as the wind was gusty at times and had several minutes of pleasure blowing small bubbles into the air. I returned to the house and found a large bubble wand and took it into the front garden and made some larger bubbles.

Blowing bubbles is something that has always given me joy and yesterday was no exception. I love launching pretty wet spheres into the air, that bob and dance in the wind, it makes me feel young and lighthearted and sometimes, others watching get to share in my delight, and birds are bemused by, should any be nearby.

The bubbles fly where they will, carried by the breeze. Some crash into rose bushes and burst, others soar over the fence and down the road, free and lovely until they too burst as a result of heat or air pressure, I suppose. The beautiful rainbow colours give me such pleasure, the size and initial shape of the bubbles as they emerge from the wand and drip give me momentary wonder at whether bubbles will be forthcoming, or whether I will have to try again.

I found my large bubble wand at Big W for less than $1 and the pleasure it gives is well worth the investment! I actually gave a few away as presents at Christmas time to loved ones, but, alas the weather was so poor that we didn't get to play with them.

I couldn't hold a camera yesterday, while I was engrossed enjoying myself, but I include a photo of a street entertainer in Sydney some years ago, who was making ENORMOUS bubbles and engulfing people in them as we strolled through Hyde Park. You can see some of the lovely colours that so delight me.

Have some fun,
Give it a try!
Love Simply susan

Whatsoever Things Are Lovely...

A long time ago, as he neared the end of his life, a man named Paul wrote these words:-
Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are noble, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report. If there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things.

In these challenging times that we find ourselves living in, these words are very appropriate and encouraging to me.
A short dose of the News via TV, radio or newspaper is enough to depress the most optimistic of souls, whereas a few moments focusing on the things listed above can really lift one's spirits.
In case you don't have access to the incredible beauty of a Poinsettia bush, let me share mine with you. During winter months the vibrant, deep colours and form of these plants lifts my heart in delight and praise.

Be encouraged!
Simply, Susan

Scrap Craft

Yes, I've made another cushion cover from the remainder of the remnant of cream satin that I bought last weekend I embellished it with gathered bias strips from the remains of a pretty tab curtain that I bought from an op shop last year. The effect is very pretty and my daughter, the recipient of my endeavours, is tickled pink.

The brown toned throw that I showed you last time was well received by other loved ones and the Tuesday "family dinner" on Sunday evening was delicious, enjoyed by all and a lot of fun.

Have just returned from a 'treasure hunt' and was thrilled to find a pair of pretty cream, embroidered curtains to dress the sides of the spare room window in readiness for a visit from a dear friend from New Zealand. I also found the right number of suitable hooks to hang the curtains, which I shall do after a quick rinse in the bath.
It pays to keep your eyes open for blessings.
Simply Susan

More Craft

I've been busy! I have knitted another throw for another loved one, in brown tones this time, well colours I hope a guy can enjoy. Plus I have made a second "Rose" cushion, see what you think... I'm thinking of knitting myself a throw in pink, since that's the predominant colour left in my stash of yarn, watch this space,

These throws are addictive!

Lovely chilly days here on the Gold Coast, I do love Winter! Going to have roast pork tomorrow evening followed by bread and butter pudding made with fruit loaf. My My! two "Tuesday family" dinners in one week!

I hope you have a Marvelous weekend
Simply Susan

Dragon's Breath Morning

I have just returned from an early morning walk, The sun had not long risen, the temperature approximately 14 degrees, just beautiful.. A dragon's breath morning! Heavy dew on the grass twinkled as the early morning sun caught it, a few shrubs and trees dressed in Autumn colours,and "Willy Wagtails" prancing about near the path, delighting in the new day, as always dressed like snappy waiters. Joy of joys wattle is coming into bloom, one of my favourite Australian flora. I love the clusters of golden puff balls against the knife like, grey green leaves and the dusty fragrance, which brings back memories of taking out the flowers from the ward when I was a student nurse, vases holding sprigs of wattle, what the English call Mimosa.

Thanks to Her Majesty, we in Queensland have just enjoyed a long weekend.  Its been a crafty one for me. During a visit to our local  Spotlight sale (our local mega craft store) on Saturday morning, I spied some very pretty combination yarn in shades of green.. I immediately thought of my friend's green couch and how lovely a throw in those colours would look. I eagerly purchased four skeins, and then, inspired by a cushion cover, adorned with a rose motif, I searched for fabric that I could experiment with. I found a lovely remnant of suitable cream satin for just two dollars and home I went with my haul!

The throw turned out a treat, I knitted it double throughout with cream 10 ply wool, which gave a pretty effect to the project. My friend was delighted when I presented it to her on Monday afternoon, she assures me it looks well on her new green couch. I can't wait to see it in situ.

Yesterday, (I had an extra day off), I embarked on the cushion cover. I was totally delighted to find a very suitable remnant of upholstery fabric at local Op Shop from which to make the body of the cushion. I cut bias strips from the cream satin and joined them all together.  Having drawn a spiral with tailors chalk, off I went sewing the bias to the front of my cushion cover.

Yippee! It worked! The general effect, I am pleased with, but have realised that a lighter weight fabric would give a completely different effect as would different colours. But hey, not a bad effort overall and the whole thing only cost me three dollars and I have enough fabric to make a second one. I presented the cover to my daughter last evening and she was impressed.

F.Y.I. last nights dinner was corned silverside with mustard sauce, served with home grown beans, carrots and potatoes, followed by lemon meringue pie and cream - it was YUMMY! I do love these "family" treat meals! Alas no photos!

The Speed of Life

As we find ourselves almost half way through another year already I have wondered why it seems that time is passing so quickly. I  was prompted to write down a few thoughts. What do you think...

The Speed of Life

Easter eggs in January, Christmas in July,

Are we living in the future or does time really fly?

We use public holidays like stepping stones as we charge on through the year

Cramming more and more activities in, while at the clock we peer.

"Is that the time? Oh I must rush, I'm due at so and so's

I've hardly time to do it all, how quickly each day goes!"

Are we surprised  that we're always tired, with no time to pause and wonder

At the bigger issues facing us, instead we feel we're going under.

Next seasons fashions arrive with full force and with zing.

I'm still thinking Winter and I'm faced with choosing Spring!

Buy Christmas presents in January sales, Easter buns while you're there,

By the time that Easter comes around, they'll not be any where.

Electronic gadgetry has not helped our cause,

Providing much more stuff to do, we've rarely time to pause.

The phone is never out of reach, we dare not leave home without one,

It wasn't so very long ago, we knew few people who owned one!

Handwritten letters rarely arrive now, delivered by the post,

Though they are few and far between, they're the one's I love the most.

Instead, emails and text messages arrive as if by magic

Demanding instant responses, this speed at times seems tragic.

Where once we waited weeks to hear news from afar,

Now everything is instant with one tap on the toolbar!

We've lost the art of waiting, no matter where we look -

Instant communications, instant meals...golly, now E books!

Everything is instantaneous and all is found on line.

With all this extra help, wouldn't you think we'd have more time?

We Facebook this and Twitter that,

No wonder folks love dogs and cats

Some time to pat and fondle creatures not caught up in the race.

They help bring down one's blood pressure

They definitely have their place.

We drive like manics on the roads, speeding from here to there,

No thought for other people, no evidence of care.

No manners seem in evidence as we tear around from place to place,

The milk of human kindness is not visible on our face.

Will the world stop spinning if a jouney takes a little longer?

We just consume more alcohol and drink our coffee even stronger.

Life in the western world is speeding up, Is there anything we can do?

Can we slow it down and enjoy it more, can we take another view?

I wish I had the answer, because my life is speeding by

We've made time our enemy, I can only wonder why?

Copyright 2011