Last week I followed a link on Shannon Fricke's blog to a fabulous shop called LivedIn Coogee. Since the 100 day don't buy anything I don't really need challenge I set myself finished, and my habits changed a little, I don't do an enormous amount of shopping. I do some of course. I'm not silly! But I was intrigued by Vanessa's story...she'd done a Shannon Fricke workshop (as had I) and she went on to open her own shop (as I most definitely did not!). You can read about it here on Shannon's blog.
Anyway, long story short...not living in Sydney, I couldn't go to the actual shop so I hopped over to the online shop and immediately fell in love with this...

I am a kaftan girl from way back...oh yes I am :)
I whipped out the credit card, ordered, three days later it was delivered to the office, wore it out that night...many compliments...one happy shopper! As I emailed to Vanessa, "I am totally in love with it. I can wear it as a dress or over trousers. It's so versatile and comfortable."
This is the only item of clothing in the online store at the moment, but check out the lovely homewares you'll find there. I was a bit in love with this, but alas it's sold...pout. 

Vanessa has a lovely blog too. You should check it out. 

I have to say that the little townhouse garden is excelling itself so far this spring...

I wouldn't call myself a brilliant gardener...I'm certainly not very knowledgeable about trees and plants and flowers...not like Sarah

But I am completely convinced of one thing...

  ...there are few things more restorative to a sad heart, a tired body or a worried brain than spending some time in a garden...

 admiring the perfect loveliness of a simple little flower and being grateful for the chance to sit for a while and just look

 even if it's only in the confines of a small courtyard garden. Actually, especially in a small space...it reminds me that we don't need all that very much to be happy.

Gardens allow us to just 'be'.

...even if that small garden is inhabited by a mad cat :)

The slayer and I send you our best wishes for a wonderful, serene weekend. Go and smell some flowers  if you can. And as Elvis says...

 This week for the first time I'm joining in with maxabella loves...

all images: a tranquil townhouse

Thank goodness...

the Melbourne Cup and Halloween madness is over for another year...

Sometimes I think I'm turning into one of those people who could appear on the Grumpy Old whatever show...

except I'm not famous so that's not going to happen.

Otherwise I might just qualify.

Or it could be that I lost my money on the the race sweeps I entered.

I'll never get that $8 back! On the plus side, the Reserve Bank cut interest rates yesterday.

I did think that the winning French jockey was very humble and charming though...good on him for acknowledging the suspended Australian jockey whose place he took. 

All class Christophe.

I'm going to Sydney this weekend and hoping to spend a bit of time with the first born. She provided this photo...nice huh?

images seen on: brydie brown; brabourne farm; brydie brown; the neo lifestyle; delight by design; gild and grace; little emma english home; style by emily henderson; stye files; chasing satellites

I don't know about you but I seem to wear the same jewellery over and over.  There are some pieces that never come off (except when going through the airport screening of course)...two silver bracelets I bought with money from my parents to celebrate my 5oth are always with me.

I have a bit of jewellery...not much of it is precious in terms of dollar value, but I do like a good necklace or pair of earrings...or three.  But I wasn't wearing much of it because it was shoved away in various drawers, boxes and what have you's.  Except for the necklaces...they've lived here for a while...I think you've seen them draped over my bedroom mirror before.

But my earrings and rings were another story. Not any more!

I had been collecting 'silver' mugs from op shops (ignore their unpolished state) and one day, not so long ago I had an idea. Mugs as earring holders...and a bowl for bracelets, rings and brooches...why not? So I did...and now they're being worn...I really must polish that silver one day though!

During a lull in the great honeysuckle massacre last weekend, I thought I'd have a bit of a play with my camera and its zoom function.

These photos were all taken while sprawled on a sofa...

...too knackered from my mammoth gardening effort to do anything much than slide from one to the other to vary the shot a bit.

It will come as no surprise to you that I like a bit of colour and pattern. Oh yeah...and buddhas. Of any description.

Pictures of zoomed-up-on flora next week I think.

Enjoy your weekends everyone and thank you for your comments this week. I hope to be spending a bit of my weekend in the courtyard, weather permitting, and without the secateurs this time. And I probably should do a bit of dusting as well judging by these photos ;)
all images: a tranquil townhouse

I'll be honest...

I haven't been overly inspired this week

Couldn't seem to find all that many images that made me stop in my tracks.

To be fair though,

I may not have expended much effort looking this week

I spent a great deal of time in the garden on saturday and sunday

and had what amounted to an almost screen free weekend

it's good to do that from time to time don't you think?

On the plus side, my mammoth gardening effort means the honeysuckle is now kaput, and the jasmine has been released from its evil clutches and can now do it's own perfumed thing :)

In important news, mum's op has been rescheduled for the 24th. Fingers crossed it happens this time :)

And in news of the trivial kind, I'm thinking of buying this chair.

images seen on: belle maison; the diversion project; ish and chi; abigail ahern; dust jacket; the veda house; sarah tuttle on absolutely beautiful things; the style files; the home in paradise; matt blatt

Happy Monday. How about those All Blacks hey? That was a close one! 
But enough about the rugby...there are more important things on the agenda today! Those of you who've been visiting the townhouse for a while will know that the first born (my daughter Jess) works for Cleo Magazine. She's just been promoted to features/lifestyle writer...that's my girl :) She's asked if you lovely people could help with an article she's writing...

So, in her words...

Hi everyone,

I’m working on a cute story for the magazine about life advice from 9 – 90 year olds and was hoping you could share some words of wisdom someone under the age of 10 or over 80 has given you.

It could be funny, silly, profound, practical or supremely beautiful; I want to hear everything!

Please include the name and age of the person who gave you the advice.

I know you’re all super busy, so I thank you very much for your time!

Jess x

PS – a six year old once told me (in a very exasperated voice) “Jess, time comes and time goes and it doesn’t matter anymore.” Out of the mouths of babes…

Would love it if you could help my girl out...so I don't have to come up with something clever :)

I think about relationships a lot.  Probably far too much. I like this quote.  I'm not sure how true it is, but I'm willing to give Bob the benefit of the doubt...drug induced though its birth may have been. I find myself nodding along. It talks about laughter, thinking,  awareness (of yourself and the other person), acceptance, reasonableness, acknowledgement, responsibility, care...all the right ingredients for a good relationship I think. 

I don't believe there's such a thing as complete perfection in a relationship but we hold on tight and value those bits of perfection that come to us...more often than not if we're lucky...those times of pure pleasure and rightness...before the next bit of imperfection...the annoying interlude, careless word or thoughtless act comes along to bite us on the bum. Whether it's done to us, or by us. 

But what I think I know about the perfect relationship is this:

the perfection in a relationship comes from overlooking the imperfections...the ones that don't matter all that much...the tiny little gnat bites...the ones that won't be important in six weeks or at a stretch, six months.

That's my take on it anyway...what's yours and what have I missed?

image from bits of truth