A very special Christmas greeting by a lovely messenger....

Just like every year I've been making Christmas cards to send to family and friends. Gathered with all I need around me at the dinner table the creative process usually takes off.
But this year I've never been so distracted as ever before - all by the view through my french doors into the garden.
Since a couple of weeks there's a Robin who visits my garden very frequently during the day and has never before made its appearance.

It's a lovely thing to happen after what has been quite a memorable year with a loss without a proper goodbye.
For those who follow my blog for some time now will know that I've lost my mum last May but actually lost her long before - as you can read here in a previous post ....

Because it was her Birthday recently, Christmas coming up and by some other recent events my mum was more on my mind than usual.
I think that is why I'm very sensitive to the visits of this beautiful bird and the myth that goes with it.
The story goes that when a Robin visit you often, a loved one in heaven is trying to say
"hello - I'm with you "

This is the little one ....

Not shy at all ....

Takes a bath in the pond ....

And possession of the garbage bin ....

Checking out the house facilities ....

And even doing a bit of sunbathing ....

I think after reading my post about my mum you won't be surprised why it's such a comforting thought - that little Robin that feels so very at home in my garden ....

Despite of being very fussed with making pictures (it's so very addictive) I miraculously managed to finish my cards in time so everyone luckily received theirs before Christmas.
Although I've got lovely comments on my handmade card I couldn't resist to share this cutie instead.

Wish all you lovely people a very merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

And let's be honest - isn't she picture-postcard ....

Have a lovely Christmas Eve! 

Anita
~xo~

A special walk ....

Yesterday I made a very special walk. Not only because of the gorgeous weather and beautiful surroundings but especially who accompanied me.

Almost two years ago it seemed that a long and very close friendship had come to an end.
Just like a long marriage we were grown apart and didn't seem to speak the same language any more.
Unsolved matters on both sides made that we ended up in a time out for more than a year.
Last Spring I realised that the friendship - which brought me so much joy over the years - was too important for me to let go.

So after a cautious approach on my part we're now back in touch again.
After a very long time we spend the day together and made the walk we often did in the past, one with rich memories. After this lovely walk 'with gentle steps' yesterday I'm convinced there certainly will be more.

The first part through the beautiful dunes ....

We approached - very much surprised at having such a bright sunny day - an empty beach all to ourselves ....

With these as our only companions ....

Starring the herring , looking at its mainly brown with darker streaks and dark bill and eyes this must be its first winter ....

Unbelievable what a metamorphosis this bird undergoes because this is how it looks after four years as an adult ....

But our absolute favourite was this gorgeous little one , the sanderling ....

Searching for food between the shells ....

And almost seems as if admiring its own reflection ....

Just love how all these species tolerate each other and making such a nice picture - isn't that where it's all about in life and most of all in friendship , tolerance ....

On our way back through the dunes we had the privilege 'to meet' -though from a great distance- these deer what we did once before many years ago during an emotional time.
Did I ever tell you before I don't believe in coincidence ....

Hope you're having a great weekend!

Anita
~xo~

Bringing nature indoors ....

We're already in the second half of October and still we can enjoy beautiful weather conditions. So all the more reason to spend most of the time outdoors while we still can.

This is the view from the terrace at the end of my garden. I love having my first cup of coffee here while the sun enters the garden and watch all beauty that goes around .... 

even when it rains ....

But for me it's a walk in the woods what really makes me enjoy all the beautiful colours of this season ....

And look what we brought home after our lovely walk ....

To bring these beauties indoors I did a little crafting and added these adorable toadstool lights ....

And made this garland which I personal like best when the lights are off but would be very cosy lightning in a children's
room I think ....

I love to watch the blackbirds in the hedgerow from this spot - thanks to this beautiful 'Blackbird and Bee' lampshade from Kettle of Fish now I have a blackbird that lives in my windowsill ....

Another addition from the garden to my windowsill is the dried hydrangea who turn out almost copper ....

All this makes me ready for a cosy Autumn indoors ....

Wish you a lovely Autumn.

Anita
~xo~

Somewhere in between ....

It has been a wonderful week with quite some contradictions in terms of nature - already finding ourselves in Autumn but under summer conditions.
I always have been a lover of nature. I hope this makes any sense to you but just like music it brings me in another world without going anywhere.
Since I have my own proper camera (and always within reach) it seems like I've got a closer eye to my surroundings.
I didn't even have to go far for my travels this past week because this was my journey in my own garden ....


A beautiful combination - while the leaves already transform in their autumnal colour the viburnum blooms for the second time this year ....

 My welcome when I opened my french doors ....

Still no Autumn in the pond because these just keep coming ....

Love the seed pods of the clematis ....

These are still very 'bizzy' ....

Even now still so many tomatoes to pick ....

So surprised to find this cutie in my garden and must have been very hungry because you rarely see them in broad daylight ....

Berries with a blue sky as background ....

But also already many mushrooms ....

I spotted these beauties at a distance in my neighbour's yard ....

And now on my wish list for next year - a Buddleja in my front garden ....

My view from the kitchen window ....

And as you can see in the next picture feels so at home that sometimes it seems he's part of my garden display ....

I just love this 'season' - no longer Summer and yet not really Autumn but ~ somewhere in between ~

Happy Monday, happy new week!

Anita
~xo~

DIY .... a family affair in this house

I wanted to share the following for a long time with you but there was still something missing .... curtains !

Now they finally hang I can't wait to show you what my husband kept very busy this past Spring.

It all started by buying new covers for my Ektorp sofas you can see here. I bought the sofas several years ago with the Blekinge white covers but wanting something different I decided to go for the also natural but more coloured Risanne natural cover.

Once home I put them on the sofa and it just didn't felt right. What followed next was that within minutes the whole room was turned upside down (by me if that wasn't obvious yet) leaving a gap in the bay window where used to be one of our two sofas ....

I don't understand why I didn't come up with this idea earlier because how perfect a seat would fit in my bay window . Luckily my husband was also enthusiastic being the one who should make it. And like always one thing leads to another, because we also decided to replace the single cabinets for built in on either side of the window.

Quite a project, but what I love about my family is that with this kind of 'adventures' our boys are always supportive. In this case having a son who is in his last year of the Academy of Architecture the design of this idea was quickly outsourced ....

When the design was finished building could begin and eventually took many weekends to complete. In the beginning under 'close supervision' of the designer himself, including testing and drinking coffee. At the end my husband was a bit fed up with the whole project, being busy with it for many weekends. So it was a welcome surprise that our youngest son ( who really isn't into DIY at all) volunteered to give him a hand with the painting.

It was a long project but I'm still so very pleased with the end result and of course very proud of my husband. Beyond the fact that we now have more seats it also makes the space much larger ....

Because the back of the seat is tilted, it's also really comfortable ....

I bought the foam seat cushion at the market where I also found this beautiful fabric to upholster the seat ....

So very pleased how the old dressing table stool that belonged to my mum also found his new destination in my home ....

The door knobs are from Sissy-Boy Homeland ....

The linen curtains AINA are from Ikea and have just the natural look that I was looking for. They also have the perfect curtain rod combination for a bay window for sale with as accessory this corner connector . The beautiful heart shaped garland was a gift from the lovely Kate from Oyster Bridge & Co ....

The warm air of the central heating circulates through vents ....

By the length of the curtain, there was enough left to also make curtains for the side window (even managed to squeeze out a skirt) by using the following gathering tape ....

Since it's finished it has been the centre of birthday celebrations , family gatherings and favourite

chill space of the son who has his own home for over a year now but still spends quite some

time at home .... 

And for me it's my special place in the morning, enjoying the morning sun just like these
two little sheep ....

Now we're on the subject sun .... in spite the arrival of Autumn they forecast an Indian Summer for this upcoming week, enjoy it!

Anita
~xo~