Sunday, 26 December 2021

Sunday Selections #565

 


 

Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files. 

Huge thanks to Cie who gave me this wonderful Sunday Selections image. 

The meme was then continued by River at Drifting through life.  Sadly she has now stepped aside (though she will join us some weeks), and I have accepted the mantle. 
 
The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to me. Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.
  

I usually run with a theme. It is Boxing Day here, the day after Christmas Day.  Boxing Day was originally celebrated as a day to give gifts to the poor.  It is now predominantly a shopping day with HUGE sales.  Even before covid hit it had very limited (no) appeal.  That appeal has now diminished even further, and I will avoid it like the plague it is no doubt spreading. 

Instead I am going to show you yet more snippets from home.


 

Starting with a bird that was looking in at me early one morning a few days ago.  It is a crested pigeon, and I think a subtle charmer.  And oh, what pink feet it has.

Then to my usual plethora of photos from the garden, which has been sadly neglected.  It shows too.  Over the coming  weeks I will have to weed my heart out.  Early, before the heat ramps up.





I really like these succulents and have a lot of them.  The pink one was a gift from a blogging friend (thank you dinahmow).  I worried that it would find it hard to adapt to our very different climate, but after a slow start it has settled in nicely.

 

You will notice that there are a LOT of lilies coming into bloom.  Here on the screen they won't trouble sensitive noses and sinuses.


This scarlet bromeliad struck me as particularly Christmassy, so it formed part of my gift to himself.


Some of our well used compost bins with tree dahlias reaching for the sky behind them.





The jet trails are a sign that (very slowly) our borders are opening up again.




Gazanias are such cheerful blooms.


This is our front veranda, a cool haven on hot days.


One of the last of the double poppies. There are plenty of seed heads for me to collect and broadcast later.





I do hope that your days are packed with colour and beauty.


106 comments:

  1. These are simply wonderful, and I especially love the bloom on Dinahmow's gift. A very special season's greeting to you, dear friend. Hope you are staying nice and cool while we hunker down with a frigid snowstorm. Happy holidays!

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    1. DJan: Stay warm, and stay safe, and enjoy your day.

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  2. Merry Christmas!

    https://youtu.be/h3laTG0FFag

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    1. ashok: Thank you - though it was yesterday. I hope yours is good. Your video link failed for me.

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  3. I have come to rely on your Sunday posts, EC. The beauty of a bloom is a wonderful gift in this uncertain world.

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    1. Marie Smith: Thank you. The garden delights me - though it demands a lot of me too.

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    2. Marie Smith, I like this very much: "The beauty of a bloom is a wonderful gift in this uncertain world."

      Like this blog, filled with beauty. <3

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  4. Happy Christmas EC from Cairns. We had 3 planes land in the space of 90mins yesterday while we were enjoying the cool sea breeze and shade on the Esplanade.
    I had forgotten how beautiful your garden is. Thank you.

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    1. Anonymous: Long time no see. I do hope you are well. It is amazing to see the planes again isn't it?

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  5. EC, THE SEASON'S GREETINGS TO YOU. BEAUTIFUL BIRDS YOU HAVE IN AUSTRALIA, LOVELY.

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  6. I've never heard of a crested pigeon. Interesting looking bird.

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  7. Colour, lots of colour. Colour makes me joyful. Thank you, EC.
    : )

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    1. Caterina: I try and always have colour in the garden - it makes me happy too.

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  8. Hi EC...I have no desire...never have had any desire...to go out to the shops today among the madding crowds! Doing so is not my idea of fun! Actually, the sight of those people fighting to get through the doors of the stores embarrasses me, and, in my opinion, it is a prime example of greed. I'm content...very content...to stay here within my own four walls with my two furry best mates at my side.

    Take care, EC...I hope the final week of 2021 treats you and Himself the best way possible. Cuddles to Jazz...and an early best wish to you for a Happy New Year...I hope 2022 is a good year for you...for us all. :)

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    1. Lee: Some of the sales prices are very good, and it may be an excellent time to shop for those with limited funds. Like you, I hate it and will stay well away.
      Thank you. Here's to a healthy, happy year for us all. Enjoy your time with your furry overlords.

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  9. Lots of pretty flowers. The bromeliad is a stunning colour and perfectly formed. Crested pigeons are relatively new to Melbourne. They fly in from somewhere and have just appeared this last week or so.

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    1. Andrew: I really like the whirring sound as they take off. They don't seem to be destructive birds either.

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  10. You have such beautiful flowers in your garden. I know well how much work you put into it too! Thank you as always for sharing them with us. I look forward to your posts each week as you take me on wanders and jaunts near and far.

    Shopping of any kind - but especially in crowds - has been on my "no way" list for many years. I have taken the title of Internet Shopping Queen as my own. :)

    Scritches to His Lordship and hugs to you dear friend on this Boxing (Christmas is over!!) Day.



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    1. River Fairchild: I don't put anything like as much work into the garden as I should. I have almost total sales resistance, except where books or plants are concerned.

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  11. Gorgeous! Enjoy your holiday and best wishes for the new year.

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  12. I love your photo of the Crested pigeon. It looks so beautiful 💕
    Happy holidays,
    -Quinley

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    1. Quinley: Thank you. The crested pigeon is less dramatic than many of our birds but I agree. I think they are beautiful.

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  13. Your photos this week are so beautiful, EC (as always)- such lovely lilies, succulents, poppies... and the crested pigeons are definitely "subtle charmers"! I see they are an Australian native species - I had never heard of them before. Our son-in-law would love to add that bromeliad to his collection.

    How lucky we are to have you painting our Sunday mornings with such beauty! I hope you have a good week, and get lots of early-morning gardening done.

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    1. Alexis: I am pleased to say that himself likes the bromeliad too. It is a beautiful thing isn't it?
      And thank you. I have been lazy and not been in the garden today - and am feeling guilty. Tomorrow.

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  14. I love, love, love your flowery post, especially now that we are in winter. Our outdoors is devoid of color and the only thing blooming are my three Christmas Cacti and a poinsettia. Seeing all your lilies is eye candy.

    Christmas Day is coming to a close and it's been a very busy but peaceful day. We were 4 at table and we all over-ate, making me feel guilty for the less fortunate.

    Happy Holidays.
    Hugs,
    Julia

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    1. Julia: We are lucky here, and can have colour all year round. I am glad that you had a busy but peaceful day. We didn't over eat, but have leftovers to keep us going for quite some time. Today I have already had two large bowls of fruit salad.

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  15. Your garden is so BEAUTIFUL. I love all the colors. We are in winter mood here and very little is in color. Thanks for sharing. Hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday and stay safe my friend.

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    1. Mason Canyon: Thank you so much. We have been having a peaceful and delightful time and hope that you can have the same.

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  16. As I do not need new shoes, socks or slips every week, I do go shopping perhaps once in three years, well, when there is "need". Neither I do miss flying from X to Y. I don't mind receiving postcards, messages etc. from Mallorca or the Maledives, though. Even more proud do seem those holidaying in Turkey, these days. So so so lovely cheap – 62 percent inflation.
    Uff! Did I write all that above?! And I did not even get started. ...
    Your flowers are spoiling my eyes, Sue. May life spoil you.

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    1. Sean Jeating: I buy clothes reluctantly. Usually quite some time after I should. Holidays are not yet happening things here - even internally covid restrictions make it difficult. It will happen again, and I will almost certainly stay home. Thank you. I am indeed spoiled.

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  17. Dearest EC, I hope you enjoyed Christmas. You are wise to avoid sale shopping. I won't be out wandering the stores tomorrow. I'll be right here with the two best dogs in my house. The bird in the first photo makes me long for pink feet.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. Janie Junebug: Have a wonderful time with your two best dogs. My feet are pink - but not things of beauty.

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  18. After Christmas sales hold no appeal, but your photos are an entirely different story. Mine will still be of Christmas decorations, from last week's luminary celebration.

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    1. messymimi: I look forward to seeing more photos of your Christmas decorations.

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  19. Bellas flores, te deseo una feliz navidad para ti y tu familia.

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  20. Thank you for sharing the delight that is your garden. I'm imagining I'm there enjoying a cuppa with you and trying to entice Jazz to let me give him some chin scratches without my losing any blood. 😉😻

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    1. musicalsciencedoggies: I would happily share a cuppa with you. Jazz will retreat under the bed - and I don't recommend you reach under it to give him a scrootch.

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  21. I love the pigeon, and the pink toes, and as always your flowers make me green with envy. Hope that you have been well.

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    1. Cindi: Thank you. Summer is a difficult time of year for me, but I am doing ok. I hope you are too.

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  22. What a joy t9 see such beautiful flowers in our grey humid and cold winter time !! https://gattinawritercramps.blogspot.com/2021/12/sunday-selection.html?m=1

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    1. Gattina: Thank you. We are grey, humid and HOT at the moment. I would happily swap temperatures with you. Heading over to your Sunday Selections now.

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  23. I love your garden flwoers. The pigeon looks like a philosopher, the slight head cock, the elegant crested ploom, speaks of money and maybe a exclusive higher education. But he's not above begging. I like that in a pigeon.

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    1. Strayer: I don't think I have met a pigeon who was above begging. The crested ones are elegant beasts aren't they?

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  24. Your flowers are just gorgeous. It is time for me to start looking at seed catalogs and start dreaming of what possibilities are out there!

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    1. Anne in the kitchen: We refer to those catalogues as garden porn. And succumb.

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  25. "snap", 'no-one also bought a very similar bromeliad as her gift to herself. I love the begonia on your front porch, it looks like one of many my mum was able to grow from cuttings taken from my struggling plants which then died. I've never been able to grow begonias. Sadly my revived Christmas cactus has disappeared again, eaten by something, probably earwigs. I'll have to give up on seeing any flowers. The double poppy is gorgeous, but my favourite this week is the cream/white rose right near the end.

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    1. River: That particular begonia flowers for most of the year, including in winter. It is a hardy plant and we rejoice in it. Lining the edge of the veranda are tuberous begonias which are yet to flower this year. Soon I hope. That rose is a stunner isn't it? And beautifully scented too.

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  26. Breathtaking flowers-- beautifully pictured. Judging by the advertising here, I don't think people have approached buying stuff in the same way as the past. With the new variant, we are avoiding contact with others as much as possible. The area we live in has more than its share of antivaxers, anti maskers, and generally people who will believe anything that the renegade Australian villain and his people tell them... But enough of that. The snow is just starting. The amounts shouldn't be too much, but the temperatures are going to be quite cold. Thanks for what you do. I'm glad you're part of our lives.

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    1. Bill: Renegade Australian villian? It is warming up here. Fast. Very soon I will be looking at photos from your side of the world in envy. And grateful for the cool relief.

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  27. Such lovely blooms! We don't go for those after holiday specials. We don't even go for the pre holiday specials. We avoid shopping in crowds, no matter what time of year.

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    1. We are: Clamco: I avoid the shops as much as I can, and a crowded shop is a horror I definitely avoid when I can.

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  28. Dear EC
    Beautiful flowers bringing a burst of colour to a dull, grey and rainy Boxing Day in the UK.
    Have a good week and good luck with the weeding (a never-ending job!)
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    1. Ellie Foster: We had some rain on Boxing Day too. You are so right about weeding being a never ending job. At the moment they are triumphing here.

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  29. Thanks EC - these are all gorgeous ... and so wonderful to see from the gloom and damp here! I noticed a pretty ice-pink rose blooming gleefully in the mist at my brother's yesterday ... we're waiting for snow drops, but not cold enough ... so I shall totally enjoy all your 'down under' wonderful blooms. Have a peaceful, quiet week with some early-daytime weeding ... happiness for the heart and soul once completed for the day. Take care and with thoughts - Hilary

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    1. Hilary Melton-Butcher: And ice-pink rose blooming in the mist sounds truly beautiful. I am so glad that you spotted it. It is still relatively early here and I am wondering whether to go out and do some weeding - or to go back to bed for a bit.

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  30. I thought of you earlier, but was nowhere near a computer, so had no way to wish you a beautiful Christmas and Boxing Day.

    I especially like your bromeliad. And I was totally impressed with your compost bins. I've always wanted one you can turn like that, because I no longer have the strength to turn my three by hand. I have started using one for a year, while the other two sit and decompose over the next two years, I am in awe of yours.

    I am also in love with the colors of the various flowers and that pigeon looks so much nicer/cleaner than the ones we have in the states.

    Have a lovely Boxing Day, dear.

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    1. I thought I would add that I have done extensive research on Boxing Day and have come up with no less than nine theories of it. Feel free to check out my post from 2020.

      https://alteredbooklover.blogspot.com/2020/12/the-meaning-of-boxing-day.html

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    2. Bleubeard and Elizabeth: Sadly the turning compost bin gets very heavy and difficult to turn too. It does however do a wonderful job and things break down much quicker.
      Thanks for the link to your Boxing Day post. I am heading over now.

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    3. I've corrected my mistake and note that Boxing Day in Australia is also a National holiday.

      Yes, I can imagine how heavy the compost bin must get, but at least yours breaks down a bit faster, since I have to wait two years on my compost. Luckily, I now have three and the other two can stew for two years.

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    4. Bleubeard and Elizabeth: A very minor mistake in a fascinating post. We have five compost bins, and it is time to start using some of it. With luck I will then be able to turn the revolving one without assistance.

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  31. Your garden is a little oasis, Sue, and I can imagine how charming it is to sit on that beautiful veranda being immersed in it all. The Crested Pigeon knows where to hang out! What a gorgeous bird it is. You will be pleased to know that as I type this note my first coffee of the day in my Sulphur-crested Cockatoo mug is right here beside me. That mug has been used at least twice a day, every day, since you sent it to me. I LOVE IT!!!!!

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    1. David Gascoigne: I am so pleased to hear that your Sulphur Crested Cockatoo is in use. Does Miriam have a favourite bird from here? If so, let me know and I will see whether I can find a mug for her too. The front veranda is smaller than our back deck, but blissfully shaded in the summer months. It is nice to sit there, unobserved from the street and watch the birds. And to hand feed some of them too.

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  32. Your flower photos are so beautiful. And that pigeon is a sweetie.

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    1. The Blog Fodder: Thank you. Unlike the more usual pigeons, the crested one doesn't gather en masse and swarm the feeders...

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  33. The flowers are gorgeous. I hope you had a nice Christmas.

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    1. Mary Kirkland: Thank you. I did have a nice Christmas and hope you did too.

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  34. What a wonderful garden you have, and as always I'm surprised to see all those delicate indoor plants growing and thriving outside your house!
    That bird is a beaut .. pink feet indeed!
    Merry Christmas still!

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    1. Charlotte (MotherOwl): Thank you. I am not good with indoor plants. I struggle to find the right place for them and too often kill them. We are lucky that most things will survive and thrive outside.

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  35. The freckled ones are my favorite - exotic looking, and I'm biased on the matter, but I do like freckles.
    Love and healing to you.

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    1. Rawknrobyn: I have a weakness for that one too - and it has a delicate scent as well.

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  36. Happy Boxing Day! Your flowers are so lovely! We're under a foot of snow here (which "never happens", ha ha). It looks like a postcard with the evergreens tucked under their white blankets, but we're hoping the rains return soon and turn everything back to green. In the meantime, I'll scroll through your bright and beautiful photos and dream of spring. :-)

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    1. Diane Henders: Boxing Day has been and gone. We have a grey day today, but no rain. There is plenty for me to do, inside and out. I am ignoring it, and reading. Which is often a given here. Happy dreams...

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  37. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle noted what a lovely thing the rose is and wrote about them. I recall it can be built up as an exact science by the reasoner. Its color, its smell are an embellishment of life.

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    1. Spacer Guy: So many living things enrich my life...

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  38. You have so many plants and flowers around you. All so very beautiful! Happy Holidays!

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    1. gigi-hawaii: Thank you. Our garden (like my head) is a crowded place.

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  39. I just love your verandah. Looks cool and colourful. And that sweet saucy bird make me smile.
    XO
    WWW

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    1. Wisewebwoman: It is cool. And colourful. And often scented too.

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  40. I certainly enjoyed seeing all of your lovely flowers, they are so nice and colourful.

    I hope you had a good Christmas, enjoy the week ahead and my good wishes for 2022.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Lowcarb team member ~Jan: Thank you. Christmas was quiet but enjoyable. The New Year knows the way without me, and I will not wait up for her. All the best to you, to Eddie and your wider family.

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  41. The crested pigeon makes me go "aww" and want to scritch his topknot :) It's lovely to see all your blossoms there. You have such a variety, it must be hard to know where to rest your eyes first. I love your verandah with its pink bench. What a peaceful spot to sit. Thanks for the look around your home place; it's a beautiful sight for this Canadian caught between fall (grey) and winter (cold). Hugs, EC.

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    1. jenny_o: That pink bench is also a gardening stool and can be turned over to work in the garden. It mostly lives on the veranda instead - and I like it there. My knees wash well enough. Hugs to you to.

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  42. I love your front verandah, I have caught glimpses of it before and always thought it looked like an oasis.

    Happy Holidays to you, EC :)

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    1. kylie: Particularly in summer the front veranda IS an oasis. In winter the back deck gets the sun and more use.
      Very, very happy (and blessed) holidays to you too.

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  43. Wow those succulents are going wild! Love those pictures, EC. Stay safe and skip the sales.

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    1. John Wiswell: They are aren't they? Which is lovely to see. Sales? Bleah. You stay safe too please.

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  44. I had to laugh at weeding, at least that's one thing I can put off for a bit while winter has settled in for well too long of a time I'm sure! Your flowers are just incredible, and such a delight to see and how wonderful that the flower from a fellow blogger is surviving. You just never know with various climates. Enjoy your week and into our new year of 2022.

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    1. 21 Wits: Weeding is always with us here with our much milder climate. Despite good intentions I have done none over the last few days. I hope the New Year is kind to you.

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  45. Love your veranda. Wish I could sit there and meditate. But oh, that darling crested pigeon. heart heart

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    1. J C: Isn't it a beauty? A subtle beauty, but a beauty none the less.

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  46. Ohhhhh me gawwwwsh. I'm thrilled. Look at that verandah!! Thank you, Child, thank you. :-)

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    1. neena maiya (guyana gyal): It really is a lovely place to sit. It is largely concealed from the road and is quiet, comfortable and peaceful.

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  47. Lovely flowers and and great green nature.
    We got snow in South-Finland for Christmas, and now everywhere is white.
    Have a nice time.

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    1. orvokki: It is now hot here, and getting hotter. Stay safe and stay warm.

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    1. Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe: How lovely to see you here. I hope that you and yours are safe and well. I miss your posts. Lots.

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  49. Lovely photos both birds and flowers, I wish you a very Happy New Year!

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  50. I am with you on the sales. I don’t need anything else around here and have decided what I don’t have I can do without, especially as we are in the major decluttering stage of our lives. No contest staying at home, especially when looking at your lovely photos, true! Your subtle charmer is a delight as are all those garden flowers. Thank you for all of them. Happy New Year to you and your Loved Ones.

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    1. DeniseinVA: Thank you so much. How I wish that the other human resident of our home was interested in decluttering...
      A Very Happy New Year to you and to yours.

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