a spring sky

spring sky, originally uploaded by bec hem.

new shoots on the frangipani tree

a beautiful blue sky with wisps of clouds

today is a good day... my other half comes home after a week long work trip to the other side of the world. it'll be nice to have him home

what's the sky like in your neck of the woods?

this is part of the blog this challenge for this week. why don't you come and join in the fun!

{making} patchwork dreams

i love it when what's old is new again. that's quilting for me, right now. it's (thankfully) not all about the Saw-Tooth star anymore, but rather contemporary design and modern colour choices. it's also very therapeutic!

purl soho is a new york based fabric/pattern store  mecca (online and bricks-and-mortar). they have totally been fuelling my patchwork inspiration. just have a look. A-maz-ing.

and then... well isn't it funny how this book arrived in the post just a week or so later?

last minute patchwork + quilted gifts is by joelle hoverson, and the owner of purl. oh my this book is a beauty. ranging from less-than-2-hours, to more-than-12-hours, there is some kind of patchwork to make for everyone. i've already made a handful of the flannel baby blankets... so easy yet so so beautiful! (and they turn out just like the picture - that never happens!!)

this book (thankfully) also has detailed instructions. so the amatuer quilter in me can fumble through without having to call my mum!

quilting is a pretty special thing, isn't it? i still remember going to a grade one sleepover at school... all the kids had sleeping bags. i had a quilt my mum had made for me. and i still have it.

{cooking} best bircher

best bircher, originally uploaded by bec hem.

bircher muesli... one of the loveliest ways to begin a weekend.... and it's almost the weekend, right?

so i thought i'd post my best bircher recipe. it's very easy! so grab a few quick ingredients, head through the "6 items or less" checkout, and whip this up for a lazy weekend breakfast...

ingredients
[serves 2. Can easily be doubled/tripled/etc.]
1 cup apple juice
1 cup rolled oats
1 apple, grated
1/2 punnet strawberries, chopped
1/4 cup slivered almonds
2/3 cup natural yoghurt
2 tbs honey

 method
combine apple juice & oats in a bowl. cover and allow to soak overnight in the fridge.
just before serving, combine all the ingredients and mix well.

[would also be lovely with other berries, grated pear, banana... the list is endless!]

bon appetit!

fitzwilliam darcy the second

...and puppy makes three! everyone, i'd like you to meet fitzwilliam darcy the second.

we picked him up from the RSPCA (animal welfare centre) yesterday. we thought we'd just "go and look" and there he was. who knows where he came from, or what his past was like. but now he's ours...

he's got a cute little face, and long, athletic legs. he's skinny, but they say that's the stress of being at the shelter. he's still a bit nervous around us, but he loves our backyard.

and his name? we'll call him Fitzy, and I hope he'll grow into the confident and handsome man that he was named after!

(i'm thinking of naming all our dogs after jane austen characters... Captain Wentworth could be next!! my husband thinks i'm crazy. what do you think?!)

images :: my flickr

looking for hope street

hope, originally uploaded by My Own Worst Nightmare.

you never see it coming, do you? (well, i didn't!) someone very close to me is struggling with depression. i'm thankful they're receiving treatment, but it's gonna take time...

its horrible to watch, but you've just gotta try and head them in the right direction... anyone know how to get to Hope Street?