It's nearly Spring time

Hello everyone, how are you?   I was able to hang the clothes out on the line in the sunshine and breeze for the first time in four months today.  It did my heart good to see those clothes drying naturally, to see sunshine shining on the yellow flowers of the Tree Cineraria which can be see behind the Tree Fern in the middle of the photo below.

 

 

 

I discovered a birds nest in a James Stirling Pittosporum tree which is planted just inside our neighbours fence line.  I don't know to which breed of bird it belongs as I've not seen any activity.  It's a very good nest, strong and sturdy and up very high so these were the best photos I could get.  We recently trimmed some branches from our side of the fence to let more sunlight into our back yard.  If we hadn't done that, I don't think I would have the nest at all.

I'm hoping to have some photos or news of little birds in the nest very soon.  It's such a treat to have a nest so close to our home.

 

Very late this afternoon I got a sudden urge to scrub the back deck which has been quite grotty with our chook making a mess everywhere.   Although I finished the scrubbing in semi darkness, I feel very happy to tick the job of the list.  The chook has now been confined to her run which will enable me to clean up a bit and hopefully get the garden in order.  She's made a dreadful mess with all her scratching.  I don't often get the urge to scrub at 6.00 in the evening.  "Strike while the iron is hot", as they say.

Do you ever get the urge to do things at the strangest of times?  If you do, do you "strike while the iron is hot"?

Enjoy your day/evening,

Anne  xx

Getting organised and enjoying the day

 Hi everyone, I hope you are all having a lovely weekend.  Much organising is happening at the moment and I've started getting some things ready for our overseas holiday.   In the suitcase is a little first aid kit, my travel sewing kit, laundry bits and pieces including a little bottle of liquid wash, a pegless clothesline and a travel iron.  The cabin bag is partially packed too with my pencil, pens and sketchbook and a spare change of clothes should our luggage go missing for a bit.  Something else in the suitcase are these.

There might be opportunities for picnics involving baguettes, Italian bread, French and Italian cheeses and wine perhaps with some fresh berries.  Best to be prepared.  Also tucked away with this little lot is a bottle opener.  No point in having wine glasses and wine without a bottle opener.  Don't worry, the glasses are unbreakable and the plates, bowls and mugs melamine.

I have been taking long walks everyday in a bid to get so fit (ha, ha) as we will be doing a lot of walking in Europe.  The autumn weather has been glorious here which has made walking such a delight.  Today while walking I enjoyed looking at these lime green leaves starting to change colour, I can see a few yellow ones here and there.

Walking through fallen autumn leaves and enjoying the crunching noise they made when I stepped on them.

And taking my dog Sophie with me I went for a walk.  I'm going to miss her so much.  She's not very happy with me in this photo as I kept stopping to take photos and she wanted to walk.

This evening hubby and I spent a lovely couple of hours chatting with our neighbours about our overseas holiday and picking up some tips from their travel experiences in Europe.  After a bottle or two of bubbly and some delicious snacks, we were all feeling quite merry and mellow.  Good times!

 Tomorrow will be another glorious sunny day which means another lovely walk for Sophie and me and perhaps a spot more packing.

Anne xx

Sunshine and flowers for Christmas

Good morning.  I wanted to post something cheerful today, how about sunshine and flowers.  To everyone in the northern hemisphere where it is a little dark and possibly damp, to anyone who needs cheering up and to Dad and Mum who live in a very dry and hot part of the country, these photos are for you.

 

 

Anne  xx

My week

Hello everyone.  Before I start, I should warn you this will be a photo heavy post, so if you are running short on time, you might want to tune out now.  I'd love it if you'd stick around though 'cos I've have some gorgeous photos to share.

First up we have the adorable Stripey who continues to give our family much pleasure.  I never cease to be amazed at the interesting ways they sit.

From the other side.

Yesterday I had some visitors of the feathery kind.  I have posted photos of these parrots before, but they are so beautiful I couldn't resist sharing more.

Adult female King Parrot

Adult male King Parrot

Sitting on the pergola

Together

We also had some Rainbow Lorikeets visit too.  While I love their beautiful colours, I don't welcome them because they are aggressive, very destructive and chase the more tame and gentle King Parrots away. 

Adult male and female Rainbow Lorikeets have the same colour plumage

We are off out into the garden now for a bit of a tour of what's been happening which is rather a lot now that spring is here and we are welcoming sunny days and warmer temperatures.
I've planted some of these carrots.  They look kind of cute with their little round shape.

The Cinerarias are flowering in colours that make me very happy, bright and bold.

Pansies, Primula (just about finished now), Polyanthus, Sweet William and Alyssum.

Alyssum, Sweet William and Campion and Fuschia coming into bud.

Stripey decided to join me in the sunshine.  Just after I took this photo, he decided to roll on the garlic I have planted under the Roses.  He was shooed away very quickly.

Tree Fern fronds unfurling towards that gorgeous blue sky.

Sunlight on some other Tree Ferns in the backyard.

Liquid Amber not yet in leaf.  I took this photo to show the contrast of the grey/brown branches against the beautiful blue.

The ornamental grapevine coming into leaf under the pergola which will give us lovely summer shade.

These lovely yellow flowers come from the following crimson/green succulent, of which I don't know the name.

While looking at some other succulents I have planted in a tub, I discovered the little fern trying to share soil space.  Some of the fern spoors must have taken a liking to this spot.

While walking around I spotted something else flowering brightly and discovered a Cyclamen in flower.  Such a pretty colour it is amongst the greenery.

One last photo (phew), an update on my painting.  I worked on the arms (forearm is a bit sinewy and thin, hand (thumb needs to be longer), defining the neck and improving the skin colour.  The face is still not the right colour and I just had to add some hair to the head as I was most disconcerted to be painting around an egg head.  Her hair is up and away from her face in a messy bun, so that's why I've painted it short.

Well that's it for now.  Have a wonderful weekend whatever you are doing.

Anne  xx

Bright colours

Some time ago I bought some fabric which I loved because of the bright colours. 

The colours inspired me to start work on a granny square cushion and I'm nearly finished the second side of the cushion with only 5 more rows to complete.

I love these colour combinations so much I've decided to make a throw as well.  Thankfully I have plenty of wool left in these colours.

Another day of beautiful sunshine and another sun bathing opportunity for the girls.

They must be feeling very happy with sunshine and free ranging and rewarded us with two eggs today.  I feel a spot of cooking coming on.  

Speaking of cooking, I made apple muffins and gingernut biscuits on Sunday night and now there are only two muffins left and less than half the biscuits.  I can't keep up with the appetites of this family, I tell you.  Hubby keeps telling me to stop making yummy things to eat, but if I don't, well you should hear the grumbles.  Thinking I would have to bake again today, I suddenly remembered the carrot cake I had in the freezer.  A couple of weeks ago when making a carrot cake, I doubled the mixture so I could bake an extra one to put in the freezer.  Saves on electricity too when you double recipes.  I use to put leftovers in the freezer from our dinner meals too, but now hubby takes them to work for lunch.  :(  Perhaps I'll have to triple my dinner recipes!  Do you double recipes so there are leftovers for the freezer?

Bye for now,

Anne  xx

Back from Western Australia

Hello everyone, I'm back from Western Australia where I visited my Dad, Mum and brother on the farm where I grew up.  I had a wonderful time visiting my birthplace and embracing all the things that made living on a farm so enjoyable.  I have many things to share with you and I hardly know where to start.  Perhaps the best place would be the weather.

One of the first things I notice when I go back to Western Australia is the light.  It is so bright in comparison to where I live in Victoria where I'm surrounded by trees and live on the south side of a hill obscuring a lot of light.  Another difference between where I grew up and where I live now is the view.  On the farm I can see a 360 degree horizon, in Victoria I'm surrounded by tall trees.

Here is a photo of the horizon on the farm.

This was taken about 6.30 in the evening.  The light is bright and golden, just beautiful for taking photos.  In contrast, this photo was taken in the morning, about 10.30.

The only way I could get a photo of my brother's sheep dog Jessie (she's hyper), was by having her run behind the ute.

Another beautiful day with sheep grazing in the paddock.

In complete contrast, the day this photo was taken it was hot and muggy with a dust storm blowing up in the afternoon.

I'll leave you with this photo of a pink and grey galah feeding it's baby.  The galahs are in the centre of the photo.  Just click on the photo to enlarge.

I'll be back soon with more photos from my trip.  Have a great day everyone.

Anne  xx