Tuesday, July 31, 2018

July





We've enjoyed seeing and hearing these little Double-barred Finches around the yard this month - one variety of gorgeous Australian finches. 💛




I’ve long admired the artwork of Geninne D Zlatkis. I have made three quilts featuring her fabrics, one is on my Etsy shop, along with some of her beautiful fabrics
When I discovered Geninne had just released a Weekly Panner, I ordered one. It is a wonderful way to enjoy pieces of Geninne’s artwork every day (August 2018 through to end of 2019). Thank you Geninne! You make the world a more beautiful place.
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PS I bought my copy online from Book Depository. We often buy from them, good prices and free worldwide delivery.




Slub voile, fully lined with plain white voile - a beautifully soft and lightweight combination. Over a few days this month I’ve sewn myself two more sleeveless white tops. I wear these 9 days out of 10, all year round with various weight jackets during cooler times. After several months and about 100 wears I find they need replacing and are then used as soft pjs. This is about the fourth time I’ve done this, fine tuning my self-drafted pattern and instructions as I go. It’s not my favourite thing to do but I do love having new bright white tops to wear again.



Our younger ones have delighted to find animal visitors in our backyard lately. In addition to a neighbourhood cat, which is a regular, we have seen a black chicken and also a white rabbit hopping through our yard! Lots of fun except I just realised this afternoon that this cute bundle of white fur is most likely responsible for the vanishing fresh young tips off the seedlings we've been planting lately!!! I guess I'll just have to keep replacing chewed seedlings and leave the occasional carrot out for him, hoping he will eat them instead.



Early morning fog, especially pretty on those warmer winter mornings.



The view at Brooms Head, just a few steps from my brother’s caravan camping site. The children and I had a great day catching up with his family (holidaying from interstate), letting cousins have time together too. It’s a beautiful spot! 
The original 12 Norfolk Island pines were planted in 1916 by a nearby farmer, one for each of his 12 children. Only two have needed replacing.





A touch frosty overnight with sunny days reaching 24°C/75°f. Grafton has beautiful winter days! 




 Sharing some beach gems with hubby on the way to his specialist appointment down at Coffs Harbour. Sapphire Beach followed by Diggers Beach. We are spoilt for beach choices in our area!



Big River is an apt nickname for the Clarence. Another beautiful sunset. Our July has been filled with mostly cool mornings, including some frosts, and beautiful warm sunny days reaching an average maximin temperature of 22.5C/72.5F. Most the land around has browned off with the frosts and lack of rain. We look forward to some spring showers and green grass once more.



*** You may also enjoy my Instagram feed which I add to several times a week. You don't have to join Instagram to view - just click on the little blue square camera logo under my blog profile (top right hand corner).

Karen


16 comments:

chica said...

Encantadoras tuas fotos. Estamos quase iniciando AGOSTO. Desejo que seja lindo! beijos, chica

MarkD60 said...

Beautiful pictures. Pieces Of Contentment.

faith76 said...

The beaches look spectacular. Just what I wish for at this time of year xx

Fun60 said...

What a stunning collection of photos. You really are spoilt for choice with those beaches.

Michelle said...

I loved seeing those finches and then I saw the beaches. Just lovely!

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

Thank you Rejane Tazza.

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

Thank you Faith. :)

Karen

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

Fun 60, We do have so many beautiful local beaches, and they are rarely busy - never crowded by European standards.

Cary said...

Beautiful pictures, Karen! I've never seen the Double-barred Finches. What a beautiful little bird!

SarahZ said...

You had me at those adorable finches! You are as ever, most generous with your bits and pieces! With such a lovely July, it is hard to imagine that this is your winter! I suspect it is easier on folks than the summers? Many thanks for sharing, Karen!

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

You are right Sarah, for many folks winter is easier than summer - although we still feel the cold, especially on frosty mornings as our homes aren't build to keep warm and we have minimal heating. I guess that's why spring and autumn are most favoured.

diane b said...

Always beautiful photos. You are so industrious with your sewing. The beaches are so beautiful in winter.

Cathy said...

For years we kept a pair of zebra finches (which I believe come from Australia originally) in our kitchen. They look so much like your finches except ours had red, not blue beaks. We loved their chattering and the male's trilling song. The last one died back in March. Fascinating little things of joy.

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

That's fascinating Cathy! We don't have Zebra finches around here but they would be a similar size. How lovely to have kept your own.

s.c said...

I love the little birds in the first photo's. So little and still so beautiful colored fitting for their surrounding. As always nice pics.

Frea said...

You live in a Beautifull country. The pictures say enough, I like to look at them. It is totally different of the Netherlands, where I live.

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