Country Fete

Mum and I went to a country fete today. About half hours drive from home, it was held at the community hall which is surrounded by farm land. Mum's parents and grandparents came from this area, so it holds a lot childhood memories for her.

The fete was packed...a farmer had moved his cows from the paddock  closest to the hall, so that it could be used for parking, (I know they were cows, because we had to be careful not to step in what they left behind ;p)

There were many things to look at and buy, my favourite being a stall selling vintage embroideries and china. I bought a couple of centerpieces. I thought they were a bargain at $5 a piece.

  Ziggy's tail...he was determined to be in every shot ;)

Detail...the work is just beautiful!

The back is just as neat as the front!

The thread on this one is a little the worse for wear in a few places, but I have always loved these Crinoline Ladies, so home with me she came...

I also bought some plants...

Begonias, Lavender, and one determined Tabby!

Dwarf Dahlia...sans Tabby.

Spring, Storms, Sewing and Rainbow Lorikeets

 

The rainbow lorikeets were uncharacteristically quite in the trees outside my kitchen window. They are usually swooping about, chirping noisily, and difficult to photograph. This one sat there almost motionless for quite a while, making the odd noise, waiting for replies.

Spring has well and truly arrived. The May Bush is in full bloom, it's tiny blossoms delicately scattering tiny petals.

We were on standby for severe thunderstorms yesterday afternoon. The storm arrived around 4pm...but thankfully we were spared too much of her wildness. It has been very warm this morning, there are more storms forecast for this afternoon, and the clouds are building up.

Another Japanese knot bag, this time in a sweet green and navy acorn/floral print. The lining is gingham, green and white.

A Winter's Ramble

Winter has not been too pleasant the last few days, rain and extreme cold has made it unpleasant to do even simple tasks like taking out the garbage bins for collection. We had a brief respite today (the sun even tried to break  through!) so I put Lucys' collar on, grabbed my camera and we headed out for a breath of fresh air.

Happy to be outside after being cooped up indoors for almost a week!

While Lucy rambled, I decided to check on a tomato plant which decided to thumb it's nose to mother nature, by sprouting out of season in our compost heap. I didn't think we would get any tomatoes off it, fearing the cold would put an end to the plant, but today I harvested 33 green/just turning tomatoes! The bush is still flowering and has a large number of smaller tomatoes left, so I'll leave it and see what happens.

The tomatoes are indoors to finish ripening, and for those that don't, they will end up as green tomato pickles.

Our winter garden is a little dismal. The only colour to brighten it up today was a dandelion...

...and I found this little chap in a terracotta pot, crawling over the moss...

...he's absolutely tiny!

And The Rain Fell Down.

We've had an interesting week in my little part of NSW...it started raining last Friday evening, and almost forgot to stop! Much of the area has been declared natural disaster zones. The river peaked last night, and today the rain finally eased, so I managed to get out and about and see the flood waters.

I went to one of our favourite picnic spots by the river...

The lamp post marks the edge of the river bank.

The rowing club, with a lake where the car park should be.

Magpie oblivious to the danger lurking!
The fin belongs to a mosaic dolphin ;)

The fig tree, where we usually spread our picnic blanket.

A Cool Change

My little corner of the world has been gripped by heat wave conditions since Australia day (Jan 26), and this afternoon it is coming to an end! A cool change swept through Sydney this afternoon, and as I'm only a few hours up the coast, it's making it's way up here : D, and not before time. The weather has been so atrocious that evenings have not been filled with knitting or sewing as they usually are, but rather slumped in front of the A/C, saying a silent prayer for an early winter. As I type, the rain is starting to fall outside, and storm clouds are moving in...I may pull out my knitting tonight ;)

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

It shouldn't be, but it is! Not only is it cold, but wet too. The rain started yesterday afternoon and over 24 hours later, it still hasn't stopped. This spring has been one of the strangest I can remember. With summer less than  a month away, I sit here dressed in track pants, long sleeve jacket and socks...yet two days ago, it was so humid, we had a storm that afternoon. I'm glad I'm not packing to go on holiday, I'd need to take my entire wardrobe ;P

I have plenty to occupy me this weekend should the rain continue (to be honest, it won't bother me, great excuse to stay indoors and knit/sew/crochet)...I want to get started on my first piece of clothing for my Wardrobe Refashion pledge. I've decided to make a top, and just have to decided which out of two patterns I want to make. I also want to get as much knitting done on Diminishing Rib (rav link) as I possibly can. I only have about 3cm to go on one sleeve, and then start the other. My Mum has been waiting very patiently for this, and has been dropping a few hints that it is still cool enough that she could wear it if only it were finished. I'll be quiet pleased to get it off the needles and start something new.

Bloomin' Lovely!

Each spring, I look forward to the wisteria blooms that fill a giant tree in our back yard. The tree is 7-8 metres tall...and this year the wisteria vine has finally reached the top of the tree! It is possibly the most elegant, graceful flower there is...

Just The Thing

What is a girl to do when the rain comes back, making winter dreary and cold and working in the yard impossible?!? This girl went out and bought herself  a pair of gumboots!

Gorgeous, shiny, red gumboots =D

Saturday =D

Met friends today in a little beach side town about ½ an hours drive from home.

It was cold and overcast,  

so we retreated to a coffee shop for morning tea, then a walk...to 'maybe' work off our indulgences ;)

The Uninvited Lunch Guest

I was out of town for most of today, so before I started on the drive home, I bought a late lunch and ate it by the water. As is usual, the gulls, pelicans and pee wees came to see if there were any hot chips up for grabs (there wasn't). The gulls and pee wees soon left, but this chap wasn't taking no for an answer...

...he stood on the opposite side of the table for some time, making lots of eye contact. Then he started stamping one foot, very loudly, all the while looking at me. He then circled the table, still looking. He did this a few times, before going back to his original spot, and resuming his pleading looks.

I love pelicans. Their dark eyes with the yellow rings around them, their green/grey feet and the way they waddle around...but this guy was special. He was maybe the boldest pelican I have come across...and I felt really guilty that I didn't have any goodies to share with him ;)

Red Sky In The Morning

I woke up to the most eerie sight this morning, as did the majority of people in NSW. A dust storm, which is blowing in from the west, has blanket the state in red dust. These pictures were taken this morning, around 11am.

Town centre...

 Heading north...

On the highway...

The news reports this evening say the dust is going to stay with us another day or two!

Food For Thought

I was given a copy of this verse many years ago. It has been on my wall ever since…and helps me keep things in perspective when life may not be going quite the way I would like :)

Something To Think About.

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over head and a place to sleep…you are richer than 75% of the world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet and spare change in a dish someplace…you are among the top 8% of the worlds wealthy.

If you woke this morning with more health than illness…you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation…you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest. torture or death…you are more blessed than three billion people in the wolrd.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you can hold someone’s hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder, you are blessed because you can offer healing touch.

If you can read this message, you just received a double blssing in that someone was thinking of you, and furthermore, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.

Have a great day, count your blessings and pass this along to remind everyone else how blessed we all are.