Take time to appreciate

Clematis - Crystal Fountain

Things have been kind of quiet here on the crafting front during the last week. This is down to the fact that I've had a knee operation so I've been forced to take things easy. One advantage has been that I have so much more time to appreciate just what a lovely home we live in. It's easy to take things for granted but this week has made me realise just how lucky we are. This time of year the wisteria is in full bloom on the front of the house, it looks absolutely beautiful and has such a delicate scent............ which if you are recuperating on the sofa and it's warm enough to have the windows open you can fully appreciate.
So as I don't have anything crafty to share and the RHS Chelsea Flower Show has been taking place this week I thought I'd take you on a tour of my garden and show you what's in bloom like the clematis at the top of the post planted last year.

This is the montana around the back door there are just so many flowers on it and it's been like this for quite a few weeks already.

This is Ceanothus or as I call it Californian Lilac. It has got rather large and could do with a good chop but the bees and butterflies love it. I got very excited today as there was a tiny blue butterfly enjoying the sun on it but no sooner had I hobbled inside to get my camera so I could consult my butterfly book it had gone......no surprise there. It did look like one in my book called Amanda's Blue - however my book says it's absent from Britain! That would have been too good to be true. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled.

This amazing looking bird is an Indian Ringneck Parakeet. They are regular visitors to our garden and are really quite loud at times. They are the most vibrant green in colour that this photo just doesn't do justice.

...........once I've managed to get up the stairs (slowly) this is the view from my craft room. There are two types of Hawthorn in shades of pink. The tree with the yellow flowers is Laburnum. No doubt by the time I can drive my car it will be covered in a sticky mess so for now I'll just enjoy looking at the flowers. Hopefully my craft room will be back in use soon.

Now I just love gooseberries so I was pleased to see these little babies developing on the gooseberry bush I planted a couple of years ago. I hadn't had much luck up til now so I'm crossing my fingers they don't get eaten before I get to enjoy them.

This is one of the newest additions to our garden a copper duck with her three ducklings made by Emily Stone. One of the cats was a bit surprised when she saw it and tried to give it a fight but lost interest when it didn't fight back :-) Once I'm back on my feet proper we plan to visit The Secret Garden at The Salutation at Sandwich where there are full size creations made by Emily Stone.

...... and finally when the sun is out what better place to recuperate? Under the pergola with the scent of the Chocolate Vine. No, it doesn't smell of chocolate but has brownish-purple flowers which are vanilla scented. Now I just need the sun to keep shining.....