Sunday 7 September 2014

Lets hear it for Friendships!

I consider myself a reasonably lucky person when it comes to friends.  Some I have know my entire life, those I call my cradle to grave friends, the girls I grew up with in the same street, went through our school days together and we still keep in touch and always will.  Other friendships came from places of employment, through past boyfriends, and through having children.  I don't have a 'crowd, group or gang' that I belong to and really never have.  Just a collection of people that I get on with extremely well, people that I may not see for ages but when I do, we just reconnect and pick up where we left off as though it was yesterday that we last saw each other.  I would like to say to all those people that are my friends (and that includes all the new people in my life I have met through blogging) how gratefully and thankful that I am that they are in my life.  But I also believe in this saying that we used to teach the children at the school I was a teacher aid in many years ago:

To have good friends
you have to be a good friend!


I consider my pets and my garden
as friends.

Anything that gives you pleasure and makes you happy
has to be a friend!!


With large trees and a bird bath in the back garden
my feathered friends visit daily.


Yesterday I caught up with a friend I have known for over thirty years now and we haven't seen a lot of each other over the last few years, but we always just end up having the best catch up, plenty of banter and plenty of laughter.  She even booked this incredible sunset for me before I left to come home, thanks Megan, you are a gem and we will have part two very very soon, and the ginger cake was divine!!


Last nights glorious sunset was an omen for todays beautiful weather, you know the old saying, 'Red sky at night is a shepherds delight', well it was!!  The sort of day that deserves to have the garden swing put to good use, the sort of day you chill out with a cuppa in your hand, your jandals on your feet, and just kick back and enjoy the laziness of a Sunday.

It didn't take long for my furry friends to find me and join me, but thankfully not all at the same time.  There is only so much room you know.

From the garden swing I started to plan another garden in my head, then I found some branches and laid out how I want it to look.  Another barked area that can have pots with colour on it, and TOF agreed!!  Usually he rolls his eyes at me.

I even spotted a cloud shaped like Oscar!

I didn't spend the entire day on the swing seat, I did actually get four loads of washing done, hung and bought in and folded.  Of course I enjoyed my garden through my camera!  TOF was busy pruning the garden out the front with the occasional visit out the back for a coffee break and a sit on the swing.

The fruit trees are all in blossom,
tempting us with the prospect of Summer fruit.

 This little dude popped his head over the fence.


In fact the back yard was alive with birds, some feasting on the berries, some behaving rather frisky, and one couple of black birds spent the entire day collecting and building a nest in one of the big trees.

And my lavender is BLOOMING!!!

 The girls enjoyed a spot in the sunshine.

 So did dear old Tex!

 The bees were getting busy amongst the lavender.

My little friend Oscar kept me company nearly all day.


The day drew to a close,
I packed away the comfort on the swing,
headed indoors,
feeling pretty good about life!


Ain't that the truth!


So very true!


PS: Happy fathers day in our part of the world.
Miss you dad,
my father and my friend.

11 comments:

Beth Waltz said...

Thanks, Sue, for a deliciously sensitive (all senses involved!) post. One can taste the tea, feel the breeze, smell the lavender, hear the birds and the girls chatting, even see TOF squinting at your vision for a new patch by the porch.

As a blogging friend from the other side of the planet, I do appreciate your invitation to sit with you (and dear ol' Tex) in the garden to share this day.

That's a very pretty garden gown you're wearing under the lavender top!

Vix said...

What a lovely post. I felt like I'd spent the day with you on the swing seat, admiring your gorgeous garden and petting the animals. xxx

Curtise said...

Oh so true - good friends are so important. Gorgeous photos, and are those embroidered pantaloons you have on? Fabulous! I said a big awwww at the pic of beautiful Tex snoozing in the sun. xxx

Shawna McComber said...

This is a wonderful post, Sue! I always love your photos and today your words are really touching me too. You have so many friends because you are full of life, kindness and joy. You see the beauty in everything. I am so glad TOF is home and you can be out puttering in the garden together, stopping for tea and chatting, spending time with the fur-babies.
I love your photos, your spring outfit, the Oscar cloud and your lovely garden!
I am like you and when I had a garden if I sat in it I would see the perfect spot for a new garden bed. Your plan looks perfect and I can't wait to see it.
xoxo

Julie said...

Sue, I loved your friendship post, I loved your outfit that matched your lavendar flowers. And most of all ... I want Tex's life !!!!

Helga said...

I have a very mixed group of friends too! The longest running friendship was from when I was 12. But my friends are all ages, and all types. Can't fence me in no matter what!
Gawd the garden looks amazing!
XXXXXXXXXXXX

Leeanne said...

What a beautiful post! Such words of wisdom too. Thanks for the visit in your garden.

Angels have Red Hair said...

Gorgeous photos ... I love the Oscar shaped cloud :0)
xx

Goody said...

What a lovely, lovely post. All true.

You need another swing for the other side of the garden, that way you'll always have an angle to sit and observe the garden. The lavender must smell wonderful.

Peaches McGinty said...

It is an Oscar cloud! I loved this and I feel all relaxed now, I had a wonderful time on the swing (I promise I won't squash Oscar!) I wish I had your gardening vision though! x x x

All Made Up said...

What a lovely post. Couldn't agree more that to have good friends you have to be one; I find people are often so busy these days they forget about their friends but even just a text or email to let someone know you're thinking of them is pretty nice.

Can't help being a little jealous of your garden as it's absolutely stunning! I have a few house plants that I've managed not to kill yet but I'm not holding out much hope for them! Oh and you're pets are adorable too... I have 2 dogs and they're the best friends anyone could ever ask for :)