Something cosy

It's cold and that has me thinking about cosy things like soups, casseroles and hot water bottles.  I used 8 ply acrylic yarn from my stash to crochet the hot water bottle cover below.  I started out with a pattern but got bored and decided to do my own thing which has resulted in a slightly wonky looking cover, a bit rustic but that's o.k. with me.

 I've been working on the granny squares below to make another hot water bottle cover.  The early morning autumn light coming in through the family room window was lovely and perfect for taking this photo.

We don't use hot water bottles at home as we have an electric blanket so the ones I'm making covers for will be used elsewhere.  Hoping to tell you about that soon.

Anne  xx

Autumn things

Ornamental grapevine turning colour.

A self sewn pumpkin vine that now covers a large section of the backyard, started life in the timber compost heap.

 It's grown up over the chook house gate, no chooks currently in residence.

 

 

When walking Sophie yesterday I spied these Amanita muscaria, commonly known as the fly agaric or fly amanita, in a garden nearby.  I always think of them as fairy mushrooms.  I had only ever seen them in English illustrated fairy story books until a few years ago.  Couldn't believe my eyes when saw them, it was a magical moment.

 

Anne xx

Time for a catch up

Hi everyone.  I've been thinking about writing this post for two weeks but you know how it goes, other things get in the way and it just doesn't happen.

Way back on mothers day, hubby and I decided to go for a walk in the afternoon to a bushland reserve we've not visited before called Glenfern Valley Bushlands.   It's very close to where we live and we spent a lovely couple of hours wandering around.  The link gives a far better explanation than I can, good background and history about this lovely spot.  Here are some photos from our walk.

Love these metal cut out sculptures.

A newly created pond to encourage frogs and other wildlife.

Walking down the hill toward Ferny Creek.

Ferny Creek.   This creek actually runs down the end of the lane way opposite our house but we are about 4 kilometres further up the hill.

This part of the bushland was way down the hill and near the creek.  Loving these old gum trees and the bark that is coming off in layers.

Looking toward farmland nearby the bushlands.

We've driven past these bushlands many time.  I've always wanted to explore them and now I have.

We've had some lovely autumn colour in recent weeks.  These photos were taken in my neighbourhood while walking Sophie.

The last few weeks I've spent many hours in the garden pruning, weeding and planting more vegetables.  The vegetables I planted back in April are doing quite well apart from the slug and white butterfly damage.  Some of the slugs died in an alcoholic haze of home brew beer that had seen better days.

Bunching broccoli starting to flower

Hoping this beetroot will be made into relish and pickles with some left over to bake.

After reading today how you should sow carrots and under what conditions, I'm surprised these are actually growing.  It remains to be seen in what shape they've grown into when harvested.

Looking down our driveway.  In the foreground is Pak Choy which is nearly ready to harvest and will be good in stir fries.

The last autumn rose.

The first camellia.

The first azalea.

 

Sunset from last week.

Well this has been a marathon post.  I'll try not to leave it so long next time.

Anne xx

Autumn

You know Autumn has well and truly arrived when at 9.30 in the morning with a clear blue sky, dew drops like these can be found.

On the clothes line.

Looking like diamonds on Rose leaves

Under the pergola.

On this Peace Rose.

On the Rocket in the vege patch.

On the lettuce

On the Parsley.

Big droplets on the Pandorea.

Anne  xx

Autumn posy

A posy of the last of Autumn's flowers.

Dahlias, Daisies, Salvia, Trailing Lantana and one solitary Rose.

Anne  xx

Blue and green should always be seen with autumn leaves

When my girls were just little things they loved to go out into the garden in autumn and catch the leaves falling from the trees.  One day when Miss C was about 7, she came inside with a leaf that looked to me like it had been around for more than one autumn.  She wanted to keep this special leaf so this is what we did.

We found an inexpensive raw timber photo frame and painted it blue.  Then I drew on the leaf design in black pen and we painted green inside the leaf shapes.  We cut out green paper to the size of the frame to use as a backing for the leaf.  The leaf was then carefully placed on top of the paper and enclosed in the glassed frame.  And there you have it, an autumn leaf to remind us of happy leaf collecting days from many years ago.

Anne  :-)