Zinnia Loves & Autumn Feels

Autumn is knocking at the door.

I welcome its cool air wholly as a break from the delayed but sudden heat of summer.

I open the door at let it in to fill my heart and home.

It brings with it promise of kinder days ahead.

Days with iridescent rainbow clouds.

Clusters of Soul Sister roses.

I think the soul sister that gifted me this rose for my birthday last year sprinkled a bit of her gypsy, hippie, witchy magic on it while sneaking a surprise package into my letterbox this week.

How else do you explain such luscious blooms?!

I think some of her magic dust blew onto the zinnias too.

Such pops of colour.

The world needs it.

Beautiful frozen fireworks that no bee or butterfly could resist.

Fairy umbrellas or parasols?

Their tutu fabric?

This one reminds me of a sea anemone.

And this one of the singing flowers in Alice's Wonderland garden.

Ahh.. all in a golden afternoon.

These pinkies keep my climbing rose company as it makes its journey over the archway by the gate.

Autumn has crept silently into my life for another year and I am so grateful.

My favourite time of year. 

It's almost as though everything slows down so much and becomes quiet enough to hear the Earth taking a breath.

I was inspired to sew myself some skirts.

Complete with wide elastic belting to cover my mum-tum and 'love' handles.

Having a short torso, huge sticky-outty handles and long legs makes it hard to fit nicely into clothes and cause many pouty days of dressing tantrums, and a lingering feeling a being nothing more than a lump ol' caterpillar. 

But sewing these skirts to suit my body type, my style and comfort makes me feel like I've transformed into a butterfly!

Way to go me, for lifting my own spirits, being motivated and creative.

I sit in my slowly evolving nest, safe space, home and garden and watch the sky declare it is dusk.

I take in the colours, the brisk air, the birds settling in for the night, the peace.

Then inside I go.

To serve a lovingly cooked meal to my family (another accomplishment, cooking and I have had a bitter hiatus but I'm forcing myself to be better - I repeat.. anxiety sucks!)

I shower and maybe watch some TV with Boof while I work on some new twinsy blankets.

Or I crawl straight into bed and if the day hasn't taken too much out of me, I'll read a chapter or two. 

Currently The women's Doc by Caroline De Costa.

But very soon my eyes sting with tiredness so I turn off the light and daydream until sleep finds me for its midnight mind movies.

Goodnight, Earth.

🤍🤍🤍

Book Review: In A Cottage In A Wood by Cass Green

Ohhh this was a good one!

An easy, compelling story I just could not tear away from.

I think the whole mystery of the cottage and my love for such places is what drew me in so much.

I would be reading by lamplight at night and feel myself being pulled into sleep, telling myself "I'll just finish this chapter" but there was such a twist at each end that I couldn't not read on!

As I churned through the pages I tried to piece the puzzle together and had little inklings of the truth of the strange happenings.

The end sweeps up in a fast, but well done reveal that made me half say "I knew it!", and "woah, I didn't see that coming!".

I go through a few creepy crime thriller/mysteries but this is a stand out to me. I have decided to no longer hoard old books and to just keep those I really enjoy. This one is a keeper.

5 out of 5 dead magpies.

I haven't been well lately.

For a while now, really.

We are on holidays from work but will soon be back at it.

I have achieved nothing this break except finishing a few books, completing many jigsaw puzzles and watching countless movies on SBS.

Some say I am relaxing.

Others say my body is catching up on rest.

But this is beyond that.

I am so, so tired all the time.

I am forcing myself to stay awake during the days, which is odd to me because I'd never previously been able to day-sleep no matter what.

I am trying to find answers though.

I dont like this feeling one bit.

I miss doing things with and for my family.

I like getting things done.

During my darkest days I used to tell myself that making the bed in the morning is achieving something for the day.

I have stopped following that advice and figure I'll just curl back up in there soon enough.

For now, I will keep forcing myself on little walks to the backyard to say hello to the chickens.

Baby steps.

🤍🤍🤍