Stormy days

Hello from Western Australia, a state that has crazy weather at the moment.  We've just had three days of thunderstorms with amazing lightning displays and lots of rain that is falling at the wrong time of the year.  The farmers are trying to get their harvest in and now it's all wet and damp which does nothing for the quality of the grain.

Genevieve and I went to a nearby large town to do some errands and grocery shopping for Mum on Thursday.  We got caught up in a bit of the storm and on the way home took the following photos.

 

 

As we were driving along the road two Wedge Tail eagles flew up.  By the time I had stopped the car they had flown up high so these are the best photos I could get.

As harvesting had come to a stop because of rain, my brother decided to do some sheep work which Genevieve and I helped with.  Below are some photos of work in progress with my brother, nephew and Genevieve.

Last night we had the mother of all thunderstorms which just happened to coincide with my other nephew and cousin playing in their band at a gig my cousin had organised.  They also had a Blues Brothers and Beatles cover bands playing.  The performers were under cover, the audience not.  Genevieve tagged along with my brother to see the show, I opted to stay home out of the weather and keep an eye on Dad who had a bad day yesterday. When I find the photos I'll post them.  Needless to say, Genevieve came home soaked to the bone and cold but a hot shower, water bottle in bed with lots of cosy blankets and a hot water bottled fixed that.

Anne  xx

In Western Australia

It's so good to be in Western Australia again visiting my parents.  It's so good to see them both face to face, to be able to give them hugs and enjoy their company.  Dad is O.K., perhaps a little better than I expected to see him and I can still make him laugh which is good.

 

It's so good to be back on the farm enjoying the 360 degree view once more.  It's nice to be warmer although I do not enjoy the extreme heat that I grew up in.  This morning I was awake at 6.00am and too these few photos.

 

Harvesting is underway with my brother and nephew spending long hours out in the paddock.  There is something rather nice hearing the rumble of harvesters in the distance and taking a peek outside to see their progress.

 

Dad and Mum's mulberry tree is in fruit and this morning a picked a container full for popping in the freezer for a rainy day.  Many mulberries end up on the ground which makes a fine feast for local residents, Bob Tail lizards.

 

 

Yesterday while Genevieve and I were waiting for the train to bring us up to the farm, we amused ourselves by taking a few photos of ourselves.  This is probably the best of the lot as many unusual faces were pulled.  Many strange looks were directed at us as we were laughing so much.  Well one must find a way to pass the time.

Well it is time lock up the chooks for the night and do a little watering of the garden for Mum.

Anne  xx

I've finally found my brain

I was looking at Pinterest this morning and came across this diagram showing how my brain is made up and organised.

 

http://www.urbanthreads.com/products.aspx?productid=UTH2127

 
The design is by Urban Threads, a website that sells machine and hand embroidery designs.  I love this design and I'm so glad I finally have an explanation for what really goes on in my head.  :)

Have a good one,

Anne  xx

Spring posy and a new dressing gown

Last week I decided to have a wander around the garden to see what was flowering, what weeds needed to be pulled and how my little vege patch was faring.  I picked a small posy of flowers and plonked them in this pretty bright aqua jug to brighten up the table.

The Sweet Peas and Roses smelt divine.

The last summer dressing gown I bought was just before I got married and although I still have it hanging in the wardrobe, it doesn't fit around me in quite the same way as it use to.  Time for a new one only this time I decided to make one.  Considering the luck I've had recently with trying to make some clothes for myself, this was a brave undertaking.  I used this pattern.

I decided to make a medium size which has turned out rather roomy with quite long sleeves.  I can assure anyone who is a sewer that this was not 2 hour sleepwear.  I'm very happy with how it turned out.

I found the boys, Stripey and Bungee side by side enjoying a sleep on top of the couch this morning.  We call Stripey (the cat on the left) blob blob, which he is of course.

They had all that room and a choice of chairs to sleep on but no, the top of the couch it had to be.

I leave for Western Australia with Genevieve on Sunday to visit Dad and Mum for two weeks.  I'll try and pop into blog land if I can.

Take care everyone,

Anne  xx

Bits and pieces

A week or so ago I had a sudden urge to pack the girls children's books into storage tubs to go under the house (to await grandchildren) and put all my lovely pretty and interesting grown up books in the book case in their place.  I love books.   Even before I could read I remember looking through my Sooty Annual and being immersed in the smell of the pages and pouring over the pictures. 

 I mentioned in an earlier post that some of my favourite Little Golden Books were Thumper, The Little Red Hen, The Three Little Kittens and Tootle.  After learning to read at school with Nip and Fluff, Dick and Dora, I moved onto The Secret Seven, The Famous Five, The Naughtiest Girl series, the Laura Ingalls Wilder series, the Little Women series, Tom Sawyer and the Anne of Green Gables series.  I distinctly remember reading my first "grown up" book which was These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer.  I loved it and it changed my reading world forever.  Shortly thereafter I read The Agony and the Ecstasy and the Lord of the Rings.  The Lord of the Rings I read in a week, I had plenty of time traveling on the school bus and reading passed the time.

The grown up and pretty books in the book case are all non fiction, and cover things like crochet, making bags, colour, home decorating, knitting, sewing, ceramics, welding, gardening, plants, such a wonderful variety of topics.  When I walk past the bookcase I just have to smile.

Also making me smile is this patch of garden.  Foxgloves, snapdragons and sage in flower.

I was very happy to have finished the task of propagating a number of cuttings my sister had given me on Cup Day.  I hope they take as there are a number of rather speccy plants in amongst them.

The cuttings have all been labelled other wise I'd never remember what they were. 

It's been a quiet week here as hubby and Charlotte are visiting my parents in Western Australia.  Hubby has been doing some odd jobs around their property such as leveling and straightening pavers so they don't trip up elderly parents.  It was a big job.  He has also made the floor of the outside laundry safer by filling in an uneven area with cement, another big job.  My hubby is an all round clever man.  He's not only smart, he is a brilliant handyman.  But best of all he's a gorgeous person and is married to me!  :)   Brag, brag!!  :)  Hubby mentioned that Dad has had a couple of better days while he has been visiting which is lovely to hear.


Anne  xx

Update

Thank you everyone for your support and kind word of encouragement on my post about Dad yesterday.  I spoke to him again last night and he sounded better.  He had a visit with his specialist doctor yesterday who has a more accurate picture of his health which is more positive than expected.

I am normally a very strong person but yesterday I crumbled.  Note to self, don't write or publish posts when emotions are running high.  I just want to acknowledge my daughter Charlotte on this blog.  She showed incredible understanding and compassion yesterday and looked after me beautifully when I was at my lowest.  Thank you darling.

Something resembling normal posts will resume again soon.

Thank you everyone for you patience with me,

Anne  xx