When a little packet arrived in my mailbox today and I opened it to find this little guy ... it brought tears to my eyes.
It's been a weird week ...so he just made my day pretty darn special after a few I will happily try to forget.  A bluebird day.  So cute sitting there on his little "nest".... resting a bit I'm sure after flying all the way by Royal Mail from Juliet's in the UK.  I immediately thought of the little bluebird of happiness.

He is felted from lovely purplish wool.... but, I'm sure there must be a strand or two of blue in there... well, I see blues in it anyway just because of the thought that he is a bluebird .... and has the cutest little perky string tail feathers... a little bright beady eye...and little bugle beads for feet.  He definitely won't have any keys attached to his special ring.. don't want any keys dangling on my little guy ..... but, instead, he will flit about keeping me company in my crafting room....

I was the winner of a special giveaway for her blog followers.... thank you JulietK....  I love my little guy!

My preference...

definitely would not be Carnoustie..... I can't even envision being a member there.  Maybe there are tee boxes set up for those who can't bomb it a mile....or worse yet...those who would always be in the "burn" or the "rough".  It is a "links" style course...no trees.... just long scraggly grass here and there... big, deep sand bunkers... thick gorse bushes that swallow balls....wind blowing a gale off the ocean most days, etc.  Not my idea of fun at all.  In all fairness, I know they can't very well irrigate something this monstrous..nor would they want to... after all .. this IS the home of links golf.  And...this photo makes it look pretty green...which it is not.... 

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The word "links" comes from the Scots language and refers to an area of coastal sand dunes and sometimes to open parkland.

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Okay..now..... here is my beautiful course.... serene, green, lots of lovely trees, which also make it challenging, as you do want to try to keep the ball in the middle of the fairway.... some of which are pretty narrow but, at least you can find it if it goes offline... unlike trying to dig it out of a gorse bush.

Occasional water hazards...just to keep you on your toes... but also...the beauty of it....... just look at this little island green.  There is a cute little footbridge leading to it...and a little muskrat lives under it. We sometimes see him on the walk over to putt ... (or maybe we have to get it out of the sand first)... yep...I was in there ...only once so far.  It is a mere 77 yards to the middle of the green from the shortest tees.  Which I am still using.   But...it is a tricky little shot too.  Sand traps all around the green.... some water to sail it over .... it's all a head game really, this golf.
If you look to the left....on the other side of the water .. near that little reddish tree?  You can see the tees lots of the ladies use.  For those of you who don't golf... there are several other tee boxes yards behind those...  ..each progressively further away... 'til you come to the Blacks ...or champions tees.  And, also from where the juniors or kids whack the ball.  Sigh... it is almost unnerving.  They are miles back...well, not miles..but, you know, if I didn't exaggerate.  How I wish I'd been able to take up golf as a kid.  Well, it just couldn't have happened in my childhood...but, in a perfect world, it sure as heck would have.

This is from above on the road leading down into the course..... what a beautiful sight as you drive in .... it was absolutely perfect this day.... .. not a breath of wind to ruffle the water.... 

Carnoustie

I wrote this a few years back when the regular 
tour was playing the British Open at this course. This year...the seniors are playing at the same
course ... poor guys ... I thought it appropriate.
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…………. Maiden by the Sea………………..

There’s a Scottish lass that brings grown men to their knees…

Their bodies caressed by a nearby cool sea breeze..

But she’s not for the faint of heart nor the slightly ill at ease…

And sometimes this breeze becomes a gale,

Or she gets ugly, rough, hardy and hale;

Much more than enough for the strongest male.

She’s a strapping gal of generous size;

An unusual sight for any man’s eyes…

Still,…..  considered to be a genuine prize.

No’ a soft touch, her’s; no inviting glade or glen.

She’s a hag, a bag and a bog-witch; not a caring mother hen.

She’s cruel, she’s mean, and if you dare to give her a try, you’ll ken.

Yet, suitors arrive from all of the map;

Hardly daring to sleep or even to nap;

Hoping she’ll favor the tip of their cap.

     They’d best all be in finest fettle,

For a wench like this will never just “settle”.

She seeks the best – a man of rarest mettle.

Don’t even consider her for a young man’s flirtation…

This is serious intent only; no other situation ..

Truly this one is a Major initiation…

She’s a men’s league special with a claret jug as a treasure,

A she-devil named Carnoustie lads; and she’s mean about giving pleasure.

It’s merely a cruel trick to test the best man’s measure..

So, step forward fellas and take your chance,

But don’t be silly or quick in a careless advance;

For only the clever and patient survive in this dance.

Can this maid be conquered or perhaps fairly won?

Which man will dare to make the final skillful run?

We’ll only know when the last few steps are done.

Photo of the Week

"Favourite things" is the theme this week.     " favourite - something regarded with special favor or liking" .   That meaning (of several I found) seems to be a good one in my case.  Lots of little or pretty simple things in my life interest me ... make me smile ...give me a giggle, and it seems I tend to list them as favourite things. Where to begin?  I have lots ....      food (baking and cooking) ...  flowers.... bears.... dolls... golf ... ACEOs (art cards, editions and originals) .....

Sometimes it's not even necessary to say too much..... some photos speak for themselves...... however, let me just say something about these beautiful tiny pastels done by a Russian artist and friend that I met online several years ago.  She sent the pics to see which one I wanted...how could I not want both? ... The cat is her own.... she drew many pics of Czenia... and I now have both of these.  I'm sure you'll agree that they are pretty darn amazing.  Click to biggify and see the detail ....

Peonies from my garden...

Buttercup...needle felted from KoolAid dyed wool.  Beads for "dreds" ...

..of course, Scratty Eddy and his cute and interesting little face ...  and his tea drinking buddy Scruffy....

..speaking of tea.... how 'bout tea and scones?  The name of my other blog...and another favourite thing...baking....

...simple, yet very effective... for Christmas...my fav season just for the glitz; the glamour; the beautiful decorations .... the fun creating ...... the perfect way to break up the toooo many months of cold weather....

Let's not forget breads. Brother ....I could go on all day couldn't I?
I've just learned to bake breads the past few years...and oh, YUM....how I love home baked breads!  My very most "favourite-est" of favourites .... ..... lol....... and, now...I'm off to do some jumping jacks....hahahahha ........ NOT.......!!

Panettone anybody?

There you are.  I better stop.  Never just one for photo of the week with me...always several.  I should do something more organized with my photos some day...... I have hundreds...nope....I have thousands..... and I just can't hit the delete button..............

Photo of the Week

This week is ..."something magical".... and one suggestion was mushrooms.... which can be magical in more ways than one.

Like, ....how 'bout in a great tomato sauce?

... along with some of my own herbs that I am growing on the patio... in a terra cotta pot ...

This is the second "Basil".  My first guy croaked .... got frostbite or hypothermia or something.  As a matter of fact...I dragged in the pot last night because after our brutally hot days... a rotten cold front blew in yesterday.. and I mean blew...with high winds and even a tornado warning if you please.  Downtown got golf ball sized hail!  We got heavy rain...but, it said cold overnight and I was afraid if he didn't have a sweater on... well, poor little Basil would be too cold.... he looks pretty robust though doesn't he? ... lovely leaves...

Rigatoni ... lovely tomato-y meat sauce with fresh herbs and mushrooms.... two cheeses melted on while baking and then some parmesan sprinkled on top and broiled til bubbly and golden ...mmmmmmmmmmm ......... magical indeed!

Today...more magic.  It is a very cool +9C... raining and windy...  I wimped out on golf and decided to stay home, turn on the oven and bake. Bread dough on the go.... muffins next.... and hey... maybe I'll make fresh soup for supper to go with a slab of fresh bread toasted.   Just more amazing magic in my book .......

come for a walk....

I'm out here at the golf course..... taking some lessons ... doing some practicing.... trying out my new found information.... wandering around the beautiful landscape and am hitting it a bit better, but still not as well as I'd like.  Sooooooon...... I hope.....

 ....  I even had time to take a few shots with my camera last time out..... imagine me here.... I wish you could all be hanging out here too.  Even if you don't golf.... and you don't have to walk if you don't want....just get a cart...ride along sipping on a cold beverage...... having a laugh or two.....

However...I golf for exercise ....so, the walking is great.

what's that?  looks like rhubarb to me.  Giant rhubarb! Must take a closer look next time...I could pick a stalk or two... that size would fill the pot.  I love rhubarb in my apple cobbler.

...how could you not love being out here?  so peaceful and quiet...

Off to have a snack and a nap....... hope you enjoyed your walkabout in the greenery....

Win a doll!

.... and help Abi help the animals.  She's an animal nut.  People keep dropping unwanted animals off at her place...just because she lives on a property..... and so far I think she has 'dopted 'em all.  But... she knows how many unwanted and abandoned animals still need homes and help...so she has a little give-away going on at her place.  At her blog place that is... go check out her great dollies!

Buy a ticket (or actually at the price, ..buy several) ...  each ticket is a chance on each dolly....  look at her beautiful girls.  I love their faces....

Each comes with her own altered art carousel horse....

He's late...he's late.....

as a matter of fact...he totally missed his very important date.....

I wanted to get this little guy's jacket and watch made in time for the Mad Hatter's Tea... sponsored by someone on their blog....but... other stuff got in the way.  Like real life.  Just not enough time to do it all in the short season we laughingly call summer.   Can you believe that last night it dropped to +7C after days of +24C and the one before that at +28C? .... cool enough for jackets this morning when I dropped off my van for an oil change.  Cool walking back... I got some exercise as it is a good 40 minute walk....

Anyway.... I played with the little watch even though the jacket is still just bits and pieces.... not stitched at all which in retrospect is a good thing...because now I have formulated a new and different plan on how to make it.  Not being much of a seamstress...it is a lot of planning before I actually "do"... which, again...is sometimes a good thing.

Scratty Eddy as the Alice Bunny....

Making a little pocket watch for him seemed much more interesting and fun than sewing....

I made a little half inch disc out of paper clay...... cut a tiny circle of paper ...  printed on the numbers... and pressed it into place... rounded up the edges ever so slightly and let it dry thoroughly.

I painted it an old gold colour ..... and then drizzled on a couple of layers of Glossy Accents to build it up and make it look like a glass face.

I found tiny chain at a bead shop and also...this tiny little screw with a loop top.

There is probably a special name for it in the beading community...but, I don't know what that term is.  All I know is..... it was the perfect size to screw into the top of my pocket watch...and attach a link of the chain to.  I bought two in case I ruined or lost one...they are VERY tiny! Not saying it was simple...arrrgghh...that was hard on the old eyes, that!  I must get one of those large magnifying windows to work under.  Or...perhaps a jewellers loupe of some sort for this tiny stuff. I finally wrestled it to the ground ...ruining a few miniscule links of the chain...... but, got it attached!  And... now... my little pocket watch just needs a perfect sized pocket on a cute little jacket.

Eddy invited Posie and Scruffy to check out his new watch and they had a tiny tea party of their own.  They mentioned that they thought any old day is always a good day for a tea party.  I poured........  well, after I mentioned to Scruffy that he wasn't supposed to sit in the cup... and yes...I did give it a wipe out to get rid of the fluff.... ...