Looking on the bright side

Today is Monday, much like any other Monday really when I meet up with one of my best friends for a knit/crochet and natter morning.  We take it in turns to visit each others house which gives us a chance to admire each others gardens, exchange gossip, drink coffee and generally have girl fun.  As we hadn't seen each other for about a month, we had lots to catch up on today.

Monday is also oil painting class day which is in the afternoon.  After a quick lunch, I decided to let the chooks out of their coop to have a wander in their run..  It has been raining and raining here and the ground is very sodden and slippery.  As I was returning to the house, I slipped in some mud and ended up on my bottom feeling rather sorry for myself as my jeans were not only soaked but covered in mud.  As I was sitting on the ground thinking that I was going to be late for my class, I began to think on the bright side.  Here is a list of things I came up with.

I wasn't hurt, a bit tender and bruised, but no broken bones or sprains.

My jeans and undies were the only items of clothing that were muddy and wet.
I had a fresh pair of jeans (and undies) to change into.  All they needed was an iron, the jeans that is.  I don't iron undies, life is too short.  :)

I had plenty of water to soak my jeans in.

I'm planning on washing tomorrow anyway.

While I was in the laundry putting my jeans in to soak, I remembered that the sheets I had put in to wash this morning from last weeks visitors, were ready to be put in the dryer.  No sun for drying clothes outside unfortunately.
The egg I had collected and was carrying in my left hand didn't break when I fell.

I thought it might be fun to blog about something that must have looked so funny when it happened.

I have an awesome camera to document where I actually fell.

When I was outside taking photos of my skid mark, I took the opportunity "to smell the roses" which actually means I looked at some of my winter flowers as there are no roses in bloom.

I photographed my flowers to share with you.
I thought about the wonderful fact that because we have had so much of rain, our dams are now at 60% capacity.  After more than 10 years of drought they did get down to 28% capacity which is quite scary.

How is that for for a list!  Now here are the photos.

My AWESOME skid mark.  :)

My soggy back yard and AWESOME skid mark!

Pretty candy pink Primulas.

 

 

 

Snapdragons hanging on by a thread.

Delicately coloured Hellebores.

Hellebore flowers and buds.

When was the last time you looked on the bright side of something because if you didn't you might just burst into tears?

Have a wonderful evening/day everyone.

Anne  xx

Early winter

With an early winter setting in, I'm very glad I made another neck warmer.  The colour is a deep chocolate brown and not at all the colour the photo portrays.

 

Don't you think the back gate post makes a stunning model? :)  

A couple of weeks ago I lifted the strawberries out of the ground and planted them in an old aluminium cauldron.  Mum use to make jam in the cauldron but as we don't use aluminium for cooking anymore, she very kindly donated it to me.  Hubby drilled some holes in the bottom for drainage and put it on bricks so the strawberries will be off the ground.  

 

The garden is very wet underfoot with all the rain we have had this past week.  Yesterday and last night we had thunderstorms and hail with more rain this morning.  My roses are looking very bedraggled and will be sitting as is until they get a prune in late July, early August.

There aren't too many flowers out in the garden now.  However when I was raking leaves in the front yard last week, I noticed the snowdrop bulb leaves already coming up.  They shouldn't be doing that yet, so I have no idea what is going on with the weather.

Have a lovely week everyone.

Anne  xx

Beach break

Beach air stills smells good, the sound of waves relaxing and sand is still gritty and manages to get in your sandwiches, scratch your sunglasses and get incredibly hot in the sun.  Miss G. and I had a lovely few days at the beach and although the weather wasn't particularly kind, we were able to spend 4 hours one day relaxing on the sand.  

 Two pairs of feet in the sunshine.  I fear something is terribly wrong with the horizon.

Isn't nice to know that 17 year old daughters aren't too old to make a sand castle.

Yours truly sheltering from the wind and the sun.  My fair freckly skin can't take too much sun and sunscreen is a must for me in the middle of the day.

 Miss G. is into taking interesting photos.  I didn't know she took this shot of me reading behind her great mountains of sand.

 Looking north up the bay.

Looking towards Rye pier.

One day was raining with thunderstorms so we opted to stay indoors and read books and watch DVD's.  We also managed to go thrift shopping and Miss G. found 4 photo frames she is going to redecorate for her bedroom.  We also found time for a gelato.  Miss G. sensibly chose chocolate while I thought I would try something different, pistachio.  It was horrible and tasted like fake almond flavouring.  Next time I'll play it safe too.

I made a discovery while we were away, sleeping bags and me do not get along.  I was borrowing Miss C.'s sleeping bag and I couldn't move around properly as it is quite a narrow bag.  Can you picture me in the middle of the night all trussed up and suddenly having a hot flush?  There I was trying desperately to find the zip on the side to open up the bag and cool off.  I couldn't move my arms properly, the zip had moved under me and of course it was dark so I couldn't begin to see what was going on.  It must have been a funny sight.

Well back to reality now and the pre-Christmas preparations.

Anne  xx

Spring storm, X-rays and a King parrot

We are having a spring storm here today.  I lunched with my sister at a lovely little cafe down the hill (she's a flat lander :->) and we sat outside in balmy weather.  Black clouds rolled in and the heavens opened.  We had finished lunch by then so it didn't matter.  To escape the rain we went into a lovely craft shop that sells rubber stamps, papers, inks, embellishments and all things to do with card making.  It's a wonderful shop and one where you could spend a lot of money if you chose.  I chose not too but did get some fab. ideas for cards.  Should I mention the op. shop that was in the same street?  Maybe I'll show you tomorrow what I found.  Yes I know, I'm addicted.  Just another little obsession of mine.

I'm at home now after taking both the girls for a mouth x-ray.  The dentist wants to know what's going on with their wisdom teeth.  I want to know why one x-ray company will bulk bill their fees and another won't.  My knee x-ray yesterday cost me $91.00 and I got $36.00 back from Medicare.  Today the girls X-rays at a different company bulk billed so it cost me nothing.  Crazy.

As I'm typing this, a male King parrot like this one

is sitting on the post just outside my back door hoping I'll take pity on him and put out seed.  I've only put out seed once to get some photos but they haven't forgotten their treat.  I would love to feed them but it's better for them not to rely on humans for their food.  He is making all kinds of different noises to try and get my attention.  The dog has barked at him through the window but the cat is ignoring him.  Strange, he normally goes crazy when he sees a bird through the window.

Now it's time to think about making dinner, again.  Sigh.  Not a good sigh.  :-)  I think it will have to be vegetable quiche tonight as we have an abundance of lovely eggs from our chooks and there is no meat defrosted.  What are you having for dinner/supper tonight?

See you tomorrow,

Anne