Snippets

Hi everyone, thanks for popping in to see me.  The menu planning is going well and I've been enjoying knowing what food will be on our dinner plates for the days that I cook.  Charlotte cooks two nights a week and hubby cooks Saturday nights.  Genevieve is resisting visiting the kitchen for cooking duties but I'm determined she will know how to cook before she leaves home.  She says she knows how to make a mean piece of toast...yes well, that's o.k. if there is bread in the house.  Moving right along.

I made cheese muffins to go with our pumpkin soup last night and this morning I put together this chicken curry in the slow cooker.  Delicious smells have been wafting through the kitchen all day and I can confirm that it tasted delicious and was a hit with the whole family.

Orange and Poppy seed muffins were also made and as they turned out a bit dry, I piped orange flavoured cream cheese icing on the top.  They made a lovely afternoon tea snack for my sister, nephew and neice who were visiting today.  I bought out the Gingernuts I made too.  Teenage boys have very hollow legs it seems.  :)

The cereal containers were empty so it was time to make muslie today.  I love adding seeds, pecans and dried fruits for variety and taste.  I can buy the most delicious dried paw paw in big long spears which I chop up and add to the mix.

During my busy morning this male King Parrot came calling.  He loves pumpkin and sunflowers seeds and I can't resist giving him a little handful.

Today seemed to be the perfect day for donning for the first time this colourful silk scarf I bought in Bellagio, Lake Como, Italy.  It is a lovely paisley design....I just love paisley.

While making cups of tea this afternoon, I showed my sister this wonderful used tea bag holder I found in a little gift shop in Shrewsbury.  Don't you love it with the Union Jack bunting and words 'Old Bag'? What a play on words.

My lovely sister very kindly bought me this posy of gorgeous pink daisies from her garden.  My garden is sadly lacking in colour let alone anything to pick to bring inside.  This little op. shop jug was the perfect place to display them.

I'm looking for a home for these little mementos from France.  They were purchased at the fair (trash 'n' treasure) in Normandy where I found the enamel jug.  The little tin is the most gorgeous blue colour and I'm wondering if I could seal it to stop further rusting.  The key is fabulous.  I know technology has it's place but I do love a good old fashioned key.   There is something rather romantic about using a big key like this one to open a door.

While we are on the subject of holiday momentos, I bought a rather kitch mini statue of David in Florence.  It's quite accurate in every way including anatomically, much to the horror of my nephew and neice of early teen years and they proclaimed it quite gross.  I whispered in Genevieve's ear and she came back from the garden with a little leaf to give him some modesty.  The sticky tape makes it look like he is wearing a see through skirt.  What do you think?  My sister, my girls and I were in fits of laughter.  I love being silly, it's seriously underated!!

So this has been a few snippets of my life from the past few days.  Nothing earth shattering, very pleasant days bumbling along and trying to get back into the rythym of life post holiday.

I'll be back soon, until then take care,

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

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