Clover Yard

Spring is coming

These beautiful blue hyacinths are filling the whole of downstairs with their heady scent.  It's such an exciting smell - it brings hope that Spring is on the way.

The real thing

I a firm believer that tea tastes better when served from proper china teacups and whether I will actually use these or not I am still very happy to be their owner.  The set was given to me by my dad - it was my granny's - and they are just so beautiful and delicate with the softest pink inside each piece.  I can't stop looking at them!  The pattern is Braemar by Royal Albert.

My wee scrap

This is my first attempt at some digital scrapbooking.  I'm quite pleased with the result.  It's also reminding me that it won't be cold and rainy forever, in fact, I'm struggling to accept that I did actually take this photograph in Scotland!  The surfer curls are gone now but he's still my little ray of sunshine.

Special Delivery

Doesn't this just melt your heart!  Welcome to the world Ella Grace.  You are a little beauty.  Congratulations to the proud parents and what a fab photo Dad!

Yippee, I'm off to buy some pink!

A familiar tune

I just had to write a quick post because while I'm pootling away up here I can vaguely hear the radio wafting out a very familiar tune.  I couldn't put my finger on it but it definitely stirred some pleasant but distant memory and then I realised it was the theme tune for Grizzly Adams.  Do you remember it?  Man with big bushy beard lives in mountain cabin in middle of nowhere with his friend the bear.  Oh my gosh, I loved him.  (My first and last infatuation with men with bird-nest beards).  I always cried at the end.  The Littlest Hobo had the same effect on me, as did the scene in the Incredible Hulk where he's sitting at his own graveside, although the tears quickly turned to trembles when the shirt buttons started popping.  Ahh....the 70's!

I love tulips...

...although they're not my ultimate favourite -that would be roses, pink and scented, something like these - in fact, exactly these!

The hand-tied bouquets can be ordered from David Austin Roses.  (Husband take note, although the sad truth is that if you are or have ever been a florist, no one sends you flowers anymore).  Anyway, they are so gorgeously old-fashioned and I imagine they smell heavenly... 

Last year I ordered and planted one of their bare root roses "Gertrude Jekyll" (pictured).  It was a leap of faith to be honest because if you've ever seen them in their bare root state you really wonder if anything will come of them. But come they did, beautiful, sweet, tea scented blooms - even in our northern Scottish climate!  I think maybe I should be pruning them about now?  Yet another reason to feel guilty about blogging!

Sunshine and Blogging

It's been a lovely weekend, crisp and sunny, just how I like it.  I had great plans of getting stuck into the garden - the paving needs sorting out - but here I am, giving my blog a revamp and what fun it's been.  My new banner (you probably didn't see the old one!) is a close up of a beautiful tapestry I was given as a Christmas present from my mother in law.  She did it herself - isn't it lovely?  It's actually a fire screen but I'm considering framing it for the wall instead.  Six months earlier she had tried to flog it at a car boot sale (which I was selling at too - it was a disaster) and I'm quite glad it didn't go.  Probably because I was deliberately standing in front of it most of the time (but don't tell her!).  I hope you like the new content - ok, mostly just shopping links for the girls, but I do promise to post some more interesting snippets on some of the bits and pieces I'm planning to make this year, maybe with a few floristry tutorials - so much to do, I'm so excited! 

Clover Yard goes Live!

I have decided, as it's a new year, to go live with my blog.  So here goes!  Please bear with me (anyone who is actually reading this) as I'm still getting to grips with the technology.  I only discovered blogs a couple of months ago and have been truly inspired by some very talented, creative individuals who I so enjoy reading about (I will give them due credit later).  It has really opened my eyes to the many wonderful moments and images that make up my day and I want to take this as an opportunity to share them with you (accompanied by a nice cup of tea of course).  Happy New Year to you all and I will be back very soon.