I'm off to pick apples

Wishing you all a wonder filled weekend.  What are you up to this weekend?

Image via Content Agency

I love :: my family

We hosted a mini family reunion this past weekend with my husbands brother (Graeme) and his family visiting us from Sydney's Northern Beaches.  My father-in-law is also here at the moment, living in Zimbabwe most of the year.  My mother-in-law lives with us on our property in a separate home.

It was so lovely to have everyone together for three days.  It doesn't happen too often with Graeme and Samantha having just moved here from California.  They have just purchased a home at Bigola overlooking the Pittwater.  The view is stunning.

Anyhow, the kids got on so well and the adults chatted, sipped wine and ate some amazing food.  Thank goodness Graeme & Sam love to cook.

Here is a photo of all the children the morning they left to head back home.  

Image My Life- My Loves

Divine bedroom

I just can't stop looking at this beautiful bedroom.  It's so restful looking, classic yet just thrown together looking.  I adore raked ceilings and I'm lucky enough to have a ceiling like this in my own bedroom.  That chair is screaming out to me ......  take me home with you!  And those flowers .....  ahh it's just too divine for words.

Image from Domino via The Little Big House

Desperately seeking vintage drinking straws

Would anyone know where I could find some vintage drinking straws like these?  I've found some on etsy and eBay, but I really NEED the pink and white striped ones. 

Ok, I may be exagerating when I say NEED, but you get my drift.

Image via Sweet Paul

Ez's quote of the week

I'm loving this quote of the week from Ez @ Creature Comforts. Totally up my humour street.

Image and quote via Creature Comforts

Plans have changed ....

.... we need to deflood (don't think this is a word) our yard first. Then put in some extra drainage to divert the run off from the neighbours yard. Then I'll get to the lavender.

This photo was taken after the worst was over.

The green grass you can see in the far corner has actually lifted.  Oh and the tennis court too. 

Five submersible pumps and thousands of dollars later the water is gone, for now.  They predict the worst is yet to come.  Great!

I have a plan

and it includes masses of lavender in my garden.  I'll share with you some progress photos as the plan unfolds.

UPDATE - i've been emailing The Lavender Assoc of Australia trying to find out the best type of Lavender for Brisbane.  Seems Lavender and Brisbane don't mix well.  And on top of that, they love a well drained soil.  Which we do not have.  We have clay.  Thick clay.  So my thinking cap is on.  Oh i really want to plant this all the way down our driveway.  It would look amazing.

Image via Content-Agency

Got milk?

Loving these glass milk bottles from Farmhousewares.  I would use these to serve milk at a family breakfast complete with homemade granola.  Delish!

Wonder filled weekend

So I managed to get all my errands completed AND a trip to the florist as well.

I purchased some beautiful natives.  I love them.  And they will last a little longer than the usual fresh flowers I buy.

Image by me.  Table found on eBay and repainted white.  Pale green folded timber chair given to me by my Nana.  Ihave two green and two coral coloured chairs like this.  They are fabulous.  And they are from my Nan.  She used them on family camping trips, how cool is that?

Fresh flowers

I'm hoping to find some lovely flowers of my own today, however I may not get a chance. I've a list of things to do as long as my arm and the flowers may not make it.

Just looking at this image makes me smile.  I can imagine the street is paved with cobble stones and there would be a few other market vendors next door with equally delicious eye candy.   Sigh.

Image via the beautiful blog  cannelle et vanille

I heart :: this chair

I don't even know where to start.  The lines, the fabric, the cockatoo. It's just beautiful.  And the best/worst part is it would look absolutely perfect at the bottom of our staircase.  Perfect. I tell you.  Perfect.

UPDATE

Here is some additional info about the chair: 

This chair was sourced during 2006 when the San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, CA went through a major renovation. Ty Warner's ( the owner) girlfriend oversaw the selection of all of the furnishings.  Each cottage is furnished with different antiques that she primarily sourced from in and around the Santa Barbara area.  I believe that particular chair is one of the fabulous pieces she found.

Image from the wedding of Alissa + Ryan. Shot by Jose Villa via Frolic. 

I heart :: ladybirds

Still on the theme of gardens and flowers, here are some beautiful images of ladybirds, doing what they do best, looking beautiful.

All photos via Sakura

Peek a boo

Don't you just love these images?  I feel a little bit naughty, like I'm peeking into someone else's private world.

Image 1 mine from trip to Cananda 2007

Image 2 Linda Hartong via Allsorts

Mother's Day Lunch

My Mother's Day gift - the painting on the mantel

Table setting

Cards from my sweeties

Dessert - cake from Jocelyn's Provisions

Flowers for table

Table setting

Today I hosted a Mother's Day lunch at home.  The weather is glorious at the moment, so we sat outside on the back verandah and basked in the sun.

Only a few photos to share.  Once the lunch was in swing, I forgot to actually snap some of our guests! 

I had a beautiful day, just perfect actually.  Time spent with my family is just so precious.

How did you spend your Mother's Day?

I Love :: Gucci Flora advertisement

Cuckoo for Coco

Great place to step out of the sun and relax by the pool.  Handsome dogs too!  

Lovely neutral palette.  

I've always had a soft spot for this Martha Stewart Signature bed.

Just received the latest Coco Republic catalogue in my inbox and thought I'd share with you my favourite images.  I absolutely adore the last image.  I even have that same fabric that has been used on the scatter cushion on the far left on my chairs in our Summerhouse.  The fringe detailing on the ottoman is lovely too.  And those flowers.... divine.

All images Coco Republic

Vintage Vogue prints for Mother's Day

Wouldn't you just love one of these vintage Vogue covers for Mother's Day?  I'm quite partial to the middle illustration by André E. Marty.

This sweet outdoor scene by Pierre Brissaud appeared on the April 1, 1922, cover of Vogue.

André E. Marty captured a tender moment between mother and child in this illustration, which appeared on the August 15, 1925, cover of Vogue.

This intimate scene by George Lepape appeared on the February 1, 1922, cover of Vogue.

Vintage inspired bathers for my sweetie

I know it's coming into Winter here in Australia, however I couldn't resist posting Janie and Jacks new Daisy range of girls swimwear.

What little girl wouldn't look adorable in these?

Image - Janie and Jack

Sublime sun flare

I adore sun flare in photographs.  Here a few of my recent faves.

First four images from the my gorgeous photographer in Brisbane - Sheye Rosemeyer

Last two images from Annika Vannerus

French antique bed end bench

I would really, really love to purchase this 19th century French Provincial Louis XV style banquette stool.  It would look gorgeous at the end of our bed.  

Image via Meirelles Antiques

A little lilac love

Dreamy bedroom - I adore the drapes and deep buttoned chair

LV "Olivia' scarf

Pretty party favours

Beautiful blooms

Hydrangeas

Gorgeous guest room - you can almost smell those flowers can't you?

Image 1 via my brain is numb and can't remember  Image 2 via LV   Image 3 via Lily-G  Image 4 i can't remember!  Image 5 by Hugh Stewart  Image 6 Better Homes & Gardens via This is Glamorous via Apartment Therapy

Wonder filled weekend

I am so looking forward to this long weekend.  I've just finished baking and frosting 180 cupcakes and I'm waiting for my lovely customers to collect.

Here is a little snippet of the baby shower cupcakes I created.  They are for the lovely Judy at Lily-G.  She is hosting a beautiful baby shower for one of her friends.  It sounds like it is going to be just gorgeous.

Hope each and every one of you have a relaxing weekend too.

Images - Sharnel Dollar