still waters

Window dressing #3

2012-02-12T01:00:00.013+11:00

Tiny little daisies fill the vase this week

mainly Erigeron (Seaside Daisy) and also some Brachyscome (break o'day)

Do you know the origin of the word daisy?

The origin of the word Daisy is the Anglo Saxon “daes eage” which literally mean “day’s eye”. It was called this because daisies open at dawn as the day just starts to begin.

A Daisy symbolizes innocence and purity. It can also symbolize new beginnings.

Find out more here

Did you notice Smiley with the curly tail has been joined by some new friends
The little one painted in black enamel is covered with daisies:))

Cats among the daisies lol

And here's a closer look at these many petalled flowers

(Photos can be enlarged with a click)

I'll give you a daisy a day dear,
I'll give you a daisy a day,
I'll love you until the rivers run still,
And the four winds we know blow a-way

Jud Strunk

1936 - 1981

Even more Flowers for Today can be found here

Where have you been all the day?

2012-02-10T12:24:00.003+11:00

Well, that song is about a boy called Billy and his quest for a wife

I remember my Dad used to sing it when we were young

but it was never the same - it always seemed to have different verses

some involved tickling and others asking could the girl do this and that around the home

Sometimes he was just Billy Boy other times Charming Billy

So after a little digging I found out there are different versions

This one is more like Dad's version

http://www.kingssing.de/song/242

but there are others

http://www.musicsmiles.com/billy_boy!.htm

http://www.contemplator.com/ireland/billyire.html

http://www.nurseryrhymes4u.com/NURSERY_RHYMES/Page_860.html

Whats this all about you ask?

Where've I been and what have I been doing?

I've been at home concentrating on 'wifely duties' bringing things back to normal again

which has involved taking advantage of sunny weather and doing some ironing

Ably assisted - not - by Kiera

These are my summer uniform - shorts and tshirts!

Getting in the swing of all the declutter and tidy the cupboards challenges

going on in blogland

Gill at That British Woman is particularly keen on this one.

The kitchen was my choice this week

These two cupboards in particular

They weren't that bad just a case of rearranging

and returning so I could see where things were

One of Dh's good friends harvested some of his lemon for me

They are all sqeezed and now I have a good stock of my depleted ice cube size blocks

in the freezer for my morning drink

A lot of time has been spent on making gifts for later in the year

Two sets of dishcloths knitted for a special friend who appreciates them

Some little beaded angels and also some 'thong' type bookmarks

and I've also started on fingerless mittens for friends overseas

'Cose when Christmas comes around it's cold wherre they live.

After all that I spent some time outside eating and reading and taking it easy lol

Now this room (which has totally got out of hand ) is on the list for next week

We lifted the bed for a reason and it just became a dumping ground

Its been so convenient to open the door and store things on the floor instead of putting them awaye

Think I'm going to need a few tea breaks while I'm doing it lol

Edited to add:

Good on ya Mum - you're the only one

that noticed my unitentional mistake

Yes photo no. 3 is an 'after' shot.

I'd loaded them all and even published before I realised what i had done.

And of course by then I'd deleted the 'before' one both from the camera and the computer:((

Do you see what I see

2012-02-03T15:43:00.009+11:00

Just sitting casually waiting for the lights to turn at an intersection close to home

- I'd missed the green arrow so knew I'd be a while -

When I looked across the way to the service station and nearly had a fit

You may have to enlarge the photo to see what I mean

The top number is the one I usually look for
and
I've cropped this as far as I can for a better look

Isn't that a lovley thing to see - I don't think so:))

Even with discount its waaay too high!

Up and Over

2012-02-01T01:00:00.001+11:00

Sometimes when you travel it’s often the little rather than the big places that leave a mark in your memory.

The first port of call on our New Zealand cruise last year

was Oban on Stewart Island right at the tip of the South Island.

Tiny little island – tiny little ‘town’ and set on a beautiful bay – Halfmoon Bay.

This is a view of part of the town from the wharf

Being just a little spot on the map with no huge great port
And with cruise ships being so big

it meant the ship had to moor away from the island

And visitng guests had to be tendered from ship to shore

On the other side of the hill in town is Golden Bay
where the ship's tenders dropped us at a really tiny wooden wharf

We were told the 'town' was just a short walk up and over the hill

what they didn't say was it was about a 1:4 gradient
- well thats what it felt like lol -
up and over the hill to the other side!!

Being there at low tide

meant we could see all the weird and wonderful things

that end up in and around the wharf over the course of time

Plus some wonderful reflections

Oban New Zealand November 2011

All photos open with a click

Watery Wednesday

Can there be too many characters in a book

2012-01-30T01:00:00.035+11:00

I'm not sure if you remember the book I was going to start reading the other week

Deborah Crombie - Water like a Stone

Some warm days recently - just right for doing nothing - meant I could settle down and do just that.

To tell you the truth

even tho it was an easy to read novel there was something about it that kept confusing me.

So many characters arrived in such a short time that by page 48 I had to start a list so I could keep up with them and keep tabs on who was who. They all seemed to have had 'doings' with each other lol

Heres the proof!!

A policeman and his 'partner' (also in the police force) take his son and her son (oh and their two dogs) to spend Christmas with his parents in Cheshire and thats where the story begins. Two 'murders' or rather deaths did keep things moving along - as well as the descriptions of life on the canals and the narrowboats - sometimes called barges but I believe there is a difference - as well as all the intricacies of families and how they relate to each other. Teenage fears and worries, marriage breakdowns, corporate crime, social work - all that and more in 500 pages lol

Even tho it had lots of what I call side roads (some people call them red herrings) and there was flashbacks in italics that were supposed to give an insight into one of the characters (unidentified so you had to try and work out who they were) which to me were a pain in the ......... I did enjoy reading the book and might even look for more of what I believe is a series about the two main characters (Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James) at the local library.

Window Dressing # 2 Todays Flowers

2012-01-29T01:00:00.064+11:00

Roses are red
Violets are blue
Sugar is sweet
and so are you
see here for the origin

This week I found some small isolated rose buds on the nearly empty bushes

Just the right size for dressing my kitchen window sill

(Mid season its hard to find many - hopefully the bushes will be covered in a few weeks)

The cluster of pink blooms is from a bush called 'The Fairy'

unfortunately the white one is called 'unknown'

This label as well as lots of others seems to have gone walkabout over the years!

There were also some slightly larger lone blooms

they made it to a little Mikasa vase which sits nicely beside the tiny one

My smiling curly tailed friend is there as well lol

Those are the last of a cherry tomato crop - no matter how long they sit there they don't seem to go red. I did wonder if thats the colour they should be 'cept the picture on the label is red.

Have to say not many of them have actually made it on to a plate either

as they are in a handy snack position lol

Now here's a quote that to make you think!

Life is a rose - Beware of the thorns

unknown

More beautiful flowers can be seen here

My word for 2012

2012-01-26T19:38:00.005+11:00

I know for many others these things seem to be decided early in the New Year

so it would appear I'm late to the party here.

I've decided my Word for the Year 2012 will be ‘communicate'

Not because of any fears or worries I may have had recently

Thank you for all your kind words and emails on that prickly subject

I have resolved not to let it bother again.

If it rears its head again I'll just knock it down with my party shoes lol

Last week I was in a large shopping centre and sat down to rearrange my bag – another lady sat down and started talking. Well, I don’t think she speaks to many others as by the time she ‘stopped for breath’ I’m sure I had been filled in on all her worries and woes as well as what she was having for dinner that night! She did say she lived alone and really enjoyed ‘our chat’ which would explain a lot.

Then just the other day as I finished talking to a very old friend and was saying said goodbye, I happen to say 'I'll talk to you another day' which is what I often do when saying goodbye. Her reply to me was ' please do Cathy as I talk to so few people these days'

Her family is busy - she has many friends (widowed like her) but they all seem to be busy - some don't like to talk on the phone others can't get out - she does drive and visits them but says its always her that makes the effort - is happy with her own company yet she doesn't want to end up closeted in her house lonely

So the one objective I have this year is to communicate in as many ways as I can.

Not only with friends and family and not only with words

I'll be going back to Wednesday Warblers - the community singing group I attend where we get together and 'just sing' There are some mentally challenged men who come along with their carers and it gives them the opportunity to recall some of the songs they knew years ago. With a song sheet projected on the wall they can follow along and even if they can't actually sing the words its often obvious at times from the humming or hand movements they are having some memory recall.

I have some charity knitting planned as well as Aged Care visits

to the nursing home where Aunty Pam lived.

Touching is communicating:)

As for what else, well my thinking cap is going on!!

So what are they dogs doing here?

(Seen in our caravan park - Bowen Far North Qld - August last year)

These beautiful black labradors waited patiently by the 'van door while the owners did last minute packing chores

But it all got too much for them - not a word was spoken (woofed)

One just stood up and as if by magic silently 'communicated' they wanted to be on their way lol

Not two minutes later the doormat, the chair and the dog's bowl had vanished

the 'van was hitched, dogs and owners secured in the car

and they were all on their way

I'm sure Lois will know exactly what was going on there lol

Lois has two labs living in her home -

She also write a blog about life on land as well as at sea

From Lois' Hands

Curser Catcher

2012-01-26T14:54:00.000+11:00

Now here for your amusement I present something time wasting and useless

It is merely something to have fun with

Click on the link

When the man stops running hover your curser close to the top of his head

Then watch what happens lol

http://www.selfcontrolfreak.com/pakken.html

Harbour Views

2012-01-25T10:10:00.000+11:00

Having a little look at the photos from our cruise last November and I remembered what we saw as we waited for sailaway at the Overseas Passenger Terminal. The miserable wet weather gave the water in the harbour a cold univiting appearance also a very grey look to the Harbour Bridge

Compare this to the view 14days later on our return from New Zealand. Sunny blue skies and clear horizon gave the harbour and the Harbour Bridge a very different appearance I wonder how many people form their memories on the look of water?

Watery Wednesday can be found here

The fog is slowly lifting - long

2012-01-20T20:56:00.001+11:00

Its strange when you feel disconnected from the rest of the world – sort of there but not – sort of on the outside looking in but at the same time on the inside looking out. I think I now know the reason for this feeling that’s persisting at the moment – I don’t want to grow old - I’m afraid of growing old!

Last year with the death of my aunt I became the oldest person in ‘my’ biological family. Aunty Pam was the last link to the generations before me. My mother and father have passed on, all my aunts and uncles as well as their husbands/wives have passed on, as have all my grandparents – my sisters and brother are all younger than me – I was the oldest child and grandchild and as I mentioned above I am now the oldest person alive in my family tree and that makes me sad.

Next week my oldest son will be 50 - how did that happen!

It wasn't that long ago I was a new mum and he was just a little bub

March 1962

In fact, come to think of it, it wasn't that long ago I was the one celebrating my 50th birthday lol.
Big Birthday Trip October 1992
Mataranka Nr Katherine Northern Territory

There is just one thing I'm going to have to watch out for and make sure it doesn't overshadow his special day and that is the worrying realisation (for me) that later this year I will be celebrating my 70th birthday!

With his sisters Christmas Eve 2011

Me with my 'girls' Christmas Eve 2011

I think part of my problem lies with the fact that for many years I have had a ‘bad back’ – put simply I have a condition called facet joint degeneration or even more simply I have osteoarthritis of the spine. Its not something I talk about, its just something I accept.    I can go merrily along my way for years (being a bit stiff now and again) and then something will cause a flare up and all hell is let loose as I suffer the sciatica pain that occurs.

http://www.brispine.com.au/facet_joint_degeneration
http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/arthritis/osteoarthritis-complete-treatment-guide

I know when I keep my weight down and exercise regularly all is well but some times things get out of hand - like last year when the weather turned cold and wet and I couldn’t be bothered to go to the gym, so ate more comfort food that usual which led to me weighing more than usual.    I was so disheartened by the whole thing that when the weather turned for the better I tried to get over it by doing too much, like putting in the veggie garden, which then led to weeks of horrible pain and discomfort.

The episode I wrote about last year was the worst I had experienced - hopefully I don’t experience anything like it again but you never can tell. It was after visits to the chiropractor, taking ‘PanadolOsteo’ and trying some very basic stretching exercises at home (which did help) that I finally found my lifesaver.

I discovered a Dru yoga studio in a suburb close by and joined a class. As soon as I saw their web site I knew they were the ones for me because there on the home page for all the world to see was my philosophy - Live Love and Laugh - see my profile above. http://www.totalyoga.com.au/

This yoga is slightly different to the Hatha form I did during the 70s and 80s as there is music and movement involved to achieve the postures but all I can say is it has definitely helped.

http://www.dru.com.au/dru-yoga/what-is-dru-yoga

Anyway back to my 'problem'

(the one with my emotions lol)

Lots of deep thinking has made me determined to move on.

I don’t want to grow old with the negative connotations that word can have these days - maybe becoming dependant on others- having to watch what I do all the time – telling people my age and seeing their reaction (oh I didn't know you were 'that' old).

I want to live life the way it is now - not worry about the 'what ifs'

To travel and be independent

To enjoy this stage of my life

I will take onboard a fun quote that's doing the rounds

We do not stop playing because we are old;

we grow old because we stop playing!

And to He** with growing old!!

Communication breakdown

2012-01-18T09:45:00.000+11:00

No nobody has rubbed me up the wrong way its just that I’m finding it hard to communicate at the moment.

I have letters to reply to – as well as phone messages - emails to answer – comments to acknowledge – and yet all I want to do is stay quiet in my own little world.

I know I will surface soon and the words will flow just like they have before – its just if I let this deteriorate and get too much out of hand I’ll be gone for a while.

Window Dressing #1

2012-01-15T14:30:00.001+11:00

I can't let these nice clean windows go to waste can I?

My Gardenia is flowering and smells so nice and sweet

I just had to bring a couple of blooms indoors

The tiny rose in the jar is labelled

'Singing in the Rain'

A late pre packaged bare root buy in its first year

it could be mislabelled as it certainly isn't the colour or the height described on the label

But there will be more seasons to come so it may mature and look 'right' next year

Each time I see this funny little cat with the curly twisted tail I have to smile l

He really makes my day

Its been a while since I took part in Todays Flowers

so I hope you enjoy my window dressing

There are more flowers from around the world

to be seen here

Hidden Treasures

2012-01-13T14:53:00.000+11:00

I was under the impression there were no more 'Hidden Treasures' in our house

but it seems I was wrong

Look what I found tucked away on the bottom shelf of a bookcase in the back bedroom

BOOKS

Quite a while ago, (read years) we used to frquent a discount book warehouse

that dealt in returns and nothing was priced over $5

We'd have a trip to the city a weekend before the Christmas holidays and stock up for the summer

At the time it was fun as you never knew what would come home with you

You didn't know what stock they had - some would be fairly recent

Other could be older works bought from businesses that had closed down

I'd read what I bought and then pass on to friends

After they'd done the rounds here

they would then be passed on to intestate friends when we saw them wherever

So I was surprised to see these ones I'd obviously forgotten about

From a quick glance I know I've read some of them

Others I'm not so sure about

There are question marks against some of them

Why did I buy these??

For instance

Book 1 and 2 from The Crowthistle Chronicles by Cecilia Dart- Thornton

Described as Fantasy novels

they are supposedly about the adventures that befall a cursed and gifted family

Both are thick!

Then there's these

Book 1, 2, and 3 from the Chronicles of Kydan by Simon Brown

He's described as a Science Fiction author

yet these are deemed to be a fantasy trilogy

I did find this description on the net of Book 3 - Daughter of Independence

FROM THE AUTHOR A final confrontation between old and new, between tyrannical magic and freedom, and between an empire and a growing nation-state that will determine the fate of millions-and not least the brave band of colonists who set out from Hamilay to settle Kydan with courage and hope in their hearts

However I'm going to start on this one

It looks less complicated

What are you reading at the moment?

And have you discovered any hidden treasure lately?

Friday Fun

2012-01-13T12:45:00.000+11:00

You all know that one of my likes is to be near water

Can be a river a lake or an ocean
Doesn't matter

Theres somethg about water that seems to clear my head and sort me out

So for Fun this Friday I'm going to share some 'Watery Jokes' with you

The Magician and his Parrot

A magician on a cruise liner had a parrot who'd seen all the magician's tricks a jillion times, long ago having figured out the magic behind the magician's disappearing acts.

The parrot got bored, his owner growing stale and not developing any new tricks that the parrot couldn't figure out.

One night in the middle of the magician's performance, the ship hit an iceberg and sank.

Everyone drowned except the magician and the parrot.

The magician managed to swim to a piece of wreckage and climb aboard immediately collapsing from exhaustion.

Soon afterward, the parrot flew to the magician, perched on the edge of the makeshift raft and stared at the magician.

For a whole day the magician was unconscious and all this time the parrot didn't take his eyes off him.

Eventually the magician started to stir.

Looking up, he saw the parrot still eyeing him intently, not even blinking.

Another hour goes by, and finally the parrot squawks,
.
.
.'Awright, I give up. What did you do with the ship?'

The Pirate and the Seaman

A seaman meets a pirate in a bar.

The pirate has a peg-leg, a hook and an eye patch.

'How'd you end up with a peg-leg?' asks the sailor.

'I was swept overboard in a storm' says the pirate.

'A shark bit off me whole leg'

'Wow! 'said the seaman.

'What about the hook?'

'We were boarding an enemy ship, battling the other sailors with swords One of them cut me' said the pirate

'Incredible!' remarked the seaman.

'And the eye patch?'

The pirate replied 'A seagull dropping fell in me eye'

'You lost your eye to a seagull dropping' the sailor asked incredulously

.Naw' said the pirate
.
.
'It was me first day with the hook'

You know what they say

Smile and the world smiles with you -

I'm hoping I gave you something that made you smile today

You know how when you lose something

2012-01-11T11:23:00.000+11:00

The easiest way to find it is to buy another one!

Well in my house cleaning the windows or the car is one way to change the weather pattern

Now I have to set the scene for another discovery

Years ago – many years ago – way back in the late 1970s or early 80s I bought a few long caftans to wear in the summer when we had really hot humid days. At that time we had no cooling in the house and they were fabulous to wear on those days. Long and flowing caftans covered a multitude of sins - you could be overweight and it didn't show too much but for me one of them was that for comfort in that kind of weather the wearer may not have been wearing underclothes lol

Then not many years later as the kids grew older it was off to full time work for me meaning there was no time for swanning round the house in flowing gowns ‘cose there was always housework and other things to do – so shorts and t-shirts were the order of the day when it was hot – well that or I was flaked out indoors with the air-conditioning on.

I knew I hadn't got rid of them as they would pop up every now and again when I was tidying cupboards - as if to remind me they were still around if I ever had the desire to put them on again. Well, when we had what I termed 'ghastly weather' pre Christmas and also over the New Year week these two jumped out and said Hello. Right, says I, now is the time to turn back the clock and be cool at the same time lol

There was just one thing wrong - over the years the stitching seemed to have deteriorated and there were big gaping holes along the seam lines. So after pinning and tacking - because I fumble too much trying to take out pins while I'm actually sewing it easier for me to tack and then I actually end with the straight seams I want - out came the sewing machine.

Got it all dusted and set up - which means that first of all I had to find the book of instructions on how to thread the blessed thing - then I put the foot on the pedal and spent half an hour bringing life back into the garments. And the beauty of all that work is that they still fit - mind you the labels do say 'one size fits all' but that doesn't faze me at all

The fawn/blue one that looks quite uninteresting on a hanger is so comfortable to wear. It's basically one long piece of cotton material with a hole cut for the neck and sewn straight up and down the sides. There is a facing on the neckline which lies down to give a slight collared look and there is stitching in from the sides to form an armhole. The hem si slightly rounded at the front and back but that doesn't seem to interfere with walking.

When its on it takes on a life of its own - loose flowing and comfortable - I think its one of the best buys I ever made and I reckon has many more years of life left in it - as long as I remember where I put it lol

Now the red one is stunning and made from some really nice patterned cotton. I don't remember when or where and for what reason I actually bought it, it has a Made in Thailand label yet that doesn't ring a bell either. It's structured in that the raglan sleeves are seperate, cut quite wide at an angle to almost elbow length really showing off the border pattern at the end. The same 'dramatic' pattern is on the back and the makers have matched the border pattern at the lower seams. It has a fitted feel to it, the scoop neckline had a facing so it sits nice and flat and there is actually a long zip in the back as well. One of the side seams being open part of the way up from the hem which gives it a rather racy feel and it fits as well:))

So heres what I learnt from that task:- I obviously have undiscovered means and ways of changing weather patterns as today its freezing cold, its pouring with rain, it looks like and feels like winter from a cold front that is passing over the state with the temp outside about 11c/52f.

I'm sitting here in a fleecey top and trousers wearing socks and slippers and wondering when I'll get to enjoy the fruits of my labour by wearing those lovely vintage caftans.

A job well done

2012-01-09T21:34:00.007+11:00

I love the feeling of finishing something I really didn't want to do

then standing back to admire my handiwork

I get a satisfied feeling - knowing what started out as a chore has morphed into a pleasant surprise

With my shoulder playing up early last year from the injury I sustained the year before and then the osteo- arthritis in my spine causing me so much pain and suffering there were things around the house that hadn't been cleaned for a while.

My kitchen windows for one - I had intended to do them before Christmas but like a lot of things time got away from me. I am lucky in a way that they are under cover and aren’t at the mercy of the weather but even so this morning they were splattered and smudgy and looking really gross.

Now what do we see here
Bright shining spaarkling clean windows

Yes, for some reason I felt really motivated this morning

Actually I was fed up looking at them and knew I wouldn't be happy with whatever Dh did to them

one of my failings - not being able to delegate:(

So chore or no chore I got going and am I happy with the result!

I can now see that lovely tidy deck and way down the garden

without having to peer through the grubby curtain and water splashes

Oh and when I had cleaned the outside panes I also tidied up the back deck

BTW thanks for all the lovely comments you made about the cosy lived in look and feel of this space

Many of you called it a porch which I think is a lovely term but I tend to think of a porch as being at the front of a house and be quite a small area

This is at the back of the house up off the ground and running almost the width

but doesn't go round the corner

so to us it's 'The Back Deck'

At the moment it looks rather bare without all the stuff lying about

yet I know within a few days I'll get lazy and leave things lying around again:)

Oh and look at that

I loaded these without really looking at them and only just noticed someones tail there lol

Didn't take her long to claim her chair did it??

ps, all it took a dollop of vinegar and a smaller one of washing up liquid

in a bowl of warm water

then newspaper used to wipe the window clean

A tried and true method used in my house all my married days

carried on from when I had to clean them at home before that

Are there any jobs you put off

and what motivates you to get them done?

Outside the back door

2012-01-06T12:59:00.001+11:00

By the time I ventured outside today Kiera had already made herself comfy on one of the chairs.

More often than not she fancies the old armchair but obviously it wasn't to her liking this morning.

Looking around it struck me I hadn't 'tidied' up out the back when we locked up for the night

Even tho' its reassuring to know the insurance company rates our neighbourhood as 'good' and I know there isn't much of value out there to be pinched apart from the barbie - and even 'value' is debateable in that instance - I still don't like to leave things out overnight.

It certainly has a lived in look about it - one that makes it easy for you to track my day by what I'd left lying about

So where exactly did my interests lie yesterday?

Looks like gardening and reading about gardening

Knitting with fine yarn

There was sewing - of the dainty ladylike embroidery type - aka as cross stitch

And Christmas Decorations??

How did they get out there

A quick glance sideways as I came to the back door - no it didn't look any tidier from this angle lol

Here's part of my Santa collection

I've no idea how come they were left there

well I do really

I didn't use all the collection this year - just picked a few out of the big crate

then took the boxes back out to the garage

Each time I go out there I forget to bring them (the boxes) back to the house

Big Tin Santa and some of his mates are waiting patiently till they can take a well deserved rest.

With all that hot weather we had recently its a good job it isn't my Snowman collection

or they would be in real trouble wouldn't they lol

If you look at the way my old gardening shoes, dirty socks, gloves and hat

were discarded beside the chair its evident I was in need of a drink and a rest

After a cool start it got hot so they would have been removed mid afternoon

Thats when I had a wash and went on to other things lol

Another lacy scarf on the go - this ones for someones birthday

And the cross stitch is for Dh.

Its a sampler of historical buildings in Colchester - the place where he was born and bred.

I have sewn it once before but don't remember it being so fidly

There are lots of blended colours - you know - one strand of this colour and one strand of that colour

They give the buildings that 'old weathered' look but are a real nuiscance in the making lol

And here on the shoe rack are shells from our travels

Extremely big ones and tiny tiny small ones

Some of the Grandkids love to look at them, sort them, touch them

and wonder how they came to be on the beaches where they were found.

There are sand dollars and pieces of dead coral along with a couple of pine cones from one of the enormous pine trees that grew in our garden for years but because of age had to come down before they became dangerous. Sad but thats the way it had to be.

The kids games are still there from Christmas time - easy ones - nothing to difficult

- Grandma doesn't play those lol

After surveying that lot and getting peeved because I left the handwork out there

I decided the best thing to do was take a leaf out of Kiera's book

Just have little sit down - think about things- and enjoy the early morning sunshine :))

Hello again

2011-12-27T09:58:00.000+11:00

Thought I'd let you know all is well in our household

Melbourne had the most horrendous weather during the past week

Hot humid and revolting, culminating in the most horrific storm on Christmas Day afternoon/evening

So apart from that it was a quiet Christmas - we saw most of our children and their children

And I realised this person and my family mean the world to me
(Me and The Man Christmas Day 2011)

This week coming will be taken at a slow pace as we watch the cricket on the TV
This week will be quiet but thats the way I like it.

I'm weary of the year 2011
I know they say 'you get what you deserve'
but I'm sure I didn't deserve the pain (physical and emotional) that this past year gave to me

I'm looking forward with an open heart and mind to 2012

How about you
What are your thoughts on the year just gone - and your hopes for the coming year?

International Benches of the Week - Calgary

2011-11-08T01:00:00.006+11:00

Calgary Alberta Canada is one of my favourite places in North America

I thought I'd show you some of the benches that caught my eye during our stay there last October

There were lots of them so I've picked out some of the stunners (well in my eyes)

As it is nearly Remembrance Day - November 11th

heres a very special bench from a special park in Calgary

This stunning carved bench is in Central Memorial Park

May we live as nobly as they died

Now don't you think this is a picture of ingenuity and simplicity

I'm not sure who placed it there but you can see weary commuters sqatting there waiting for the bus

Nice and dry up off the concrete (and snow) in more comfort than the man further down the bus queue

There were several of these very fanciful lounge benches in a place called Olympic Plaza

Its where all the medal presentations took place for the 1988 Winter Olympics but now its a fabulous water park - a little haven in the middle of a busy city

Very basic but also very 'modern' looking

Space for more than one and flowers on the table as well lol

Outside what I think was a downtown - wonder if any deals are done there

And to finish off heres another with a military theme

These were in the grounds of the Aereo Space Museum

The flags are part of a memorial to pilots who were trained in Canada during WW2

They are all very normal and serve a purpose yet they are all very different

Our World Tuesday can be found here

Polar Bears

2011-11-07T16:59:00.001+11:00

When we go overseas with airfares being what they are - expensive - I usually try to pack as much into the trip as I can - so last year knowing we were going to Canada to see rellies in Nova Scotia I worked out we had enough in the kitty to do another Alaskan cruise and also go with friends to Newfoundland. We aren't that well off and it does take some planning for these things to happen but it is achievable

Anyway as I was watching David Attenborough's Frozen Planet last night

oohing and ahing over the polar bear cubs

I remembered the ones we saw last year

We were in Ketchikan when we came across this huge great brute

Not sure which store it was in but look at the size of it - take it down to ground level and it would still tower over Dh

You wouldn't stand a chance if that caught you by surprise and as cuddly as he looks you certainly wouldn't want to shake him by the hand

This one which looked more like the size of a cub than an adult was reclining on the floor of the Grenfell House Museum in St Anthonys Newfoundland

Peolpe were saying how lovely and soft and cozy it looked till they actually had a proper look at the head

Even as tiny as it was I still thought those teeth were a bit on the large size lol

Another little beauty lives in The Durrell Museum at Twillingate

This really does give you an idea of what it's like to be up close and personal with a polar bear

Look at the size of those claws - anyone do manicures??

We did see them live once before - it would have to have been in the late 1990's not long after they arrived at San Diego Zoo. No photos tho' - I spent the whole time engrossed in looking at them and watching them through the glass window of their swimming pool.

Has anyone had dealings with Polar Bears?

Nice ones or scary ones - I'd love to hear about them

Camera Critters can be found here

The house on the corner - update

2011-11-04T21:36:00.000+11:00

Being as it was a nice sunny afternoon I took Leilani's from Ozark Oddments suggestion on board and walked up the main road to see if anyone was in at the House on the Corner.

The side gate was open so I waved to the the woman in the garden and when she came over - she'd been hanging out her washing - I started to speak to her. I was telling her how inviting the house and garden looked from outside BUT a short while later I began to wish I hadn't.

She was not a happy camper when I mentioned having taken the photos - 'You can see my house from the main road. I'll have a load of weirdo's coming round here' and on and on it went. I agreed with her on it being close to the road and told her I definitely hadn't identified the street or the suburb but she seemed to think I had hundreds of readers and all of them lived in the local area as well lol

Anyway no amount of apologies seemed to calm her - so I said goodbye and left - quickly. Just hope she's not around next time I walk past!

What to say

2011-11-02T21:55:00.000+11:00

I have no idea

What do you thnk I shoud be posting about - I could do with your ideas please

The house in the park

2011-11-01T01:00:00.002+11:00

Some of you may remember the park I walk in occasionally

The one with the wetlands and the bridge

The one I mentioned here earlier in October and also in April of this year

Its the one that has lovely benches - some new and some old like this one

The land was owned by a family with the surname Bridge

hence the featured bridge in what is now a council owned reserve

Well, if you stand at the bridge and look back you will see a fenced in area

with some brightly coloured buildings

The house was part of the sale when the council bought the land and is now the home of the local Neighbourhood House and Garden Centre as well as a Community Playgroup

It is a beautifully calm place - full of lots of arts and crafts and other goodies

So from the front driveway

right through to the back entrance

you never know what is going to pop up

Mosaics are a popular class as is evident here at the front door

There are lots of windy interesting paths that make the small block seem so much bigger

I'll tell you more about it next week

See more of Our World on a Tuesday at this link

We're in the money

2011-10-31T11:30:00.000+11:00

Well thats what Dh thought when I brought the shopping in the other day

You see there are pears and oranges and apples and kiwi fruit on the bench

and look at what else I produced from the bag

To put it mildly I've really missed my bananas

Entire plantations were wiped out early this year thanks to Cyclone Yasi

I needed something to celebrate the fact that my aches and pains seem to have subsided

and as the price had dropped

a little bit

Down to $5 a kilo from the $13 they were priced at not that long ago

I treated us to a couple each lol

Oh that one tasted so good with my porridge this morning lol

And talking of produce

take a look at this

One container garden in full swing

Tomatoes and Beans have taken and seem to be flourishing

And I've even managed to clear most of the mess from down the side

Will try gravel on top of the weed mat

Some growing Toms and more to come

What do you see?

2011-10-27T21:37:00.000+11:00

These came via our inbox

Entitled

'Looks can be deceiving '

'Can you see'

They quite took my fancy so if you look hard you might see

A Baby

Ten faces in the tree

A Kissing Couple

Another face

and lastly

Three women

How did you do?

I can see them all 'cept for a third woman in the last one

Never too young to learn - Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-26T13:09:00.001+11:00

Children's Corner at the library

This little one was going great guns on the computer

His mum said he had just turned - 2 years old

Click here to see more

House on the other corner

2011-10-24T21:43:00.001+11:00

What with one thing and another I haven't had time to even think about

approaching the people in the house I spoke about last week

But I thought you might like to see another photo from the set I took that day

It was taken as I approached from across the road

What I was actually interested in was the wavy shape of the low picket fence on this block

not realising the other house was there as well

Most of the homes in this area are timber/weatherboards on 1/4 acre blocks and have been there well over 50 years

so consequently many of them are in need of renovation.

Which is what's happening as more and more of the original owners are moving on and younger ones are moving in

The house with the wavy fence (across the road from last weeks one) has just had a facelift

I took these as I walked past on a sunny day this week

I know they have been working inside for a while but the exterior is now looking quite fresh with its new roof. The coat of paint on the boards and the chimney breast along with a new front deck/porch arrangement really make it a worthwhile investment.

The curved pathway across the front of the house is new as well and shouldn't be quite so noticeable when the lavender grows taller and fills out. With the grass and gazanias and what look like olive trees along the fence line, its certainly not a fussy front garden, just neat and tidy, which means it should be easy to look after

And here's another shot of the short wavy

- or should that be undulating -

as in having a wave like appearance -

picket fence.

Look at those lovely patterns on the ground from the top of the pickets

Oh and look, theres that other house again

Click on this link to see more of Our World

Not always sweetness and light

2011-10-19T01:00:00.009+11:00

'You can't always have what you want'

That's something my Mother impressed on my from a young age

Oh, and another saying of hers was

'You have to take the good along with the bad'

Some winter days in Far North Queensland are great

Like this day in Queen's Beach, Bowen

July 25th 2011

Sunny skies with a hint of cloud reflected in the watery sand as the waves rolled in and out

And then there are others that are not so great

Like this day walking along the same beach

August 4th 2011

Very grey skies with lots of dark clouds

Definitely not reflected in the cold looking sand as the waves thundered in and out

As you can see the weather had a mind of its own on this trip

We didn't always get what we wanted

and certainly had to be content with the bad along with the good

Watery Wednesday can be found here

The house on the corner

2011-10-17T01:00:00.001+11:00

Have you ever wondered what's on the other side of a fence?

This lovely old picket fence surrounds a corner block

just up the road from my home

I pass it on one of my walks yet have never seen anyone out there

Maybe they are at work during the day

for a better view click to enlarge the photos

Because of the hedge on one side and the Jasmine creeper on the other

its hard to see inside

(the garden that is, not the actual house)

Now I realise that's the intention - to stop prying eyes

but I tend to be a bit nosy sometimes so got a bit closer this time

Not game enough to get really close I could see the suggestion of a lovely cottage type garden

Yes I know chicken is my name:))

I live in hope of seeing someone I could talk to

maybe I'll walk past one weekend just to see lol

Our World Tuesday can be found here

The Blondes are back in town

2011-10-16T22:35:00.000+11:00

The Blonde Hostie

An airline captain was helping a new blonde flight attendant prepare for her first overnight trip.

Upon their arrival the captain showed the flight attendant the best place for airline personnel to eat, shop, and stay overnight.

The next morning as the pilot was preparing the crew for the day's route he noticed the new stewardess was missing.

He knew which room she was in at the hotel and called her up to ask what happened to her.

She answered the phone crying, and said, "I can't get out of the room!"

"You can't get out of your room?"; the captain asked. "Why not?"

She replied, "There are only three doors in here," she sobbed

"one is the bathroom - one is the closet

And one has a sign on it that says 'Do Not Disturb'!"

The Power Efficient Blonde

Last year I replaced all the windows in my house with those expensive, double-pane, energy-efficient kind.

Today I got a call from the contractor who installed them.

He complained that the work had been completed a year ago and I still hadn't paid for them.

Hellloooo............just because I'm blonde doesn't mean that I am automatically stupid.

So, I told him just what his fast-talking sales guy told me last year...... that these windows would pay for themselves in a year,,,

Hellloooo............It's been a year, so they're paid for, I told him..

There was only silence at the other end of the line ............so I finally hung up.

He never called back.

I bet he felt like an idiot!

Memories are made of this

2011-10-14T01:00:00.001+11:00

These have to be two of my favourite pictures of my children

from when they were young

They are certainly not pretty pretty posed ones

But to me are full of fun and emotion

August 1972

Taken in Hyde Park on the day we went to Australia House in London

to finalise arrangements for our migration to Australia

The oldest two children had come with me

to the Mr Whippy Ice Cream Van

(not the one in the picture)

to help collect the ice creams.

Of course, once we were served they didn't wait for me

but walked on ahead

Dad (who just happened to have the camera in his hand)

was standing behind them and watched

as they showed the others what they had

'Wheres mine?'

is a good title for the first one

This one I call

'Boys will be Boys'

'OK, Which one of you did it'

The look on the girls' faces tells it all

We are not amused lol

(I wasn't amused when I realised Dh had captured the man walking by

but then if he'd waited the moment would've been gone)

Now here's the pretty posed one taken the same month

I had a series taken as a gift for their Grandparents

A reminder of how they were

Pretty Pretty Posed Photo

yet full of fun and emotion

What do you see when you look at old photos?

We flew out of Heathrow in November 1972

My bench of the week

2011-10-12T01:00:00.013+11:00

I saw a lot of this very nondecript wooden bench

whilst we were in Bowen during the winter

Its up on the foreshore of Queens Beach

Beneath the huge Casuarina Trees near the Lifesaving Club

A great spot to sit and watch the world go by

Always in the shade

No chance of being burnt to a cinder

to really enjoy these photos - click and enlarge

This couple obviously thought the same way I did

A perfect place for looking out to sea

For enjoying the peace and quiet

For watching the waves roll in

And having a cup of tea

accompained by some rather nice looking cake

Theres a car park near the LS Club

so they'd taken a bag of goodies with them for a midmorning snack

They agreed to photos as long as they couldn't be identified

Is there a special place close to home you enjoy ?

Watery Wednesday can be found here

They came bearing gifts

2011-10-10T11:36:00.000+11:00

Well girls he got away again

Former Beatle Paul McCartney married for the third time yesterday

Sunday October 9th 2011

source

Ringo Starr and wife Babara Bach

Is Ringo going bald?

source

Maybe I'm too hard on myself as far as image is concerned

Musings on a Monday

2011-10-10T01:00:00.014+11:00

So what are you thinking about today??

Bridge over water - Weekend Reflections

2011-10-08T12:59:00.001+11:00

A few more from my walk in the park the other day

These are of the wetland pond and the bridge from which the reserve takes its name

click to enjoy a larger photo

See more Weekend Reflections here

I'd not seen these before

2011-10-08T06:45:00.001+11:00

These being black and white seagull type birds I came across on one of my walks along Queens Beach in Bowen Qld last July. I had snuck up onto to some rocks to take the photos but had become too engrossed watching them in the water and it wasn't till they started to move I realised I hadn't actually pressed the shutter. So these two shots are all I got! Not close up ones either!

I kept looking at them in the camera and for the life of me couldn't think what it was that was so different about them. Thats what spending time away in the sun does to me lol

I didn't have a bird book with me and it wasn't till I got home and was sorting out the photos I had a good look at them. Yes, then it was obvious that they did have a different look about them. They certainly weren't gulls at all - they were balck and white and had 'red' legs and a long 'reddy orange' beak for a start lol

After a little bit of research I discovered they are actually an endangered Australian native bird called Australian Pied Oystercatchers.

There are Oystercatchers all over the world (see here)

and these are our version

http://birdsinbackyards.net/species/Haematopus-longirostris.

So I guess I was lucky to see them.

I've seperated and cropped the two photos to show you them in more detail

Not living near the coast means that I often get the chance to see something new and different when I'm 'out of town'

And I'm sure if you click this link you will find many more Camera Critters to look and marvel at.

Things that made me smile

2011-10-06T11:30:00.002+11:00

This past week or so have been rather difficult for me

As I mentioned before I've taken to walking fairly close to home

mainly to 'help lighten' my mood and exercise my legs

but also to see whats going on now the spring like weather as arrived

Not too far away is a special park I go to

Regular readers will have seen photos before of the views and pathways

(See my header above)

Fancy a look at what I saw the other day??

Because its school holidays there were loads of children and adults

enjoying the sunny day but it was other locals that took my fancy to begin with

Ducks swimming quietly making soothing ripple patterns on the water

This long gangly looking water bird is one I've not seen before

I could see it popping its head up and peering around,

then bobbing back down again

I'm sure if anyone saw me creeping up to try and capture a photo through the trees they would have thought I was loopy lol

I have an inkling - well my bird book and wikipedia suggests - its a Common Greenshank.

Think I'll have to look further to make sure.

Then there was this 'all seeing all knowing' what I thought to just be what we call a Cocky (Cockatoo) high up in a gum tree.

Turns out it was a Long Billed Corella

I could see this little huddle of girls in the distance

(far enough away for them not to be identified)

Looking at the one with her hands on her hips

I really wondered what they were talking about.

Whatever it was she certainly seemed to want 'her' way lol

You'll probably need to enlarge the photo to see the body language

Here's the boys on their bikes

Doing nothing special - hanging around as boys do

Coming out to cross the road and make my way home

I felt we are really lucky to have the benefit of this reserve close to so many homes

It took a while to take shape - there were drainage problems to start off with - but that all seems to have been taken care of. The grassy areas that died off during the drought have greened up and the whole place has a nice inviting look about it

Then coming back up the road I saw something I hadn't see for quite a while

A couple taking their babe for a walk in what looked like a 'proper' pram and not a stroller/pusher three wheeled contraption

It made me smile to see the father's 'in charge' attitude

very different from when my babes were in prams

Click HERE to see more participants in Our World Tuesday

Bench of the week

2011-10-05T14:30:00.001+11:00

I saw a lot of this bench last year

and am doing so again this year

Its right outside the chiropractors rooms lol

Hey round the corner - Yoo Hoo

2011-10-02T22:22:00.000+11:00

It was like a different world when I got up this morning

A change in the weather

and the status of my back and leg

meant I was able to take a short walk

The rain had finally stopped -

and, oh has it rained over the past few days

Not only torrential rain but gale force winds and lightning storms to go with it

Enough to close the International Airport

and give us the wettest September day for nearly 100 years

The sun was shining and it felt as though Spring had returned

I really needed to be outside, being cooped up inside is not my favourite thing

I couldn't wait to be off tootling down the street in the pleasant sunshine

warm enough not to need a coat lol

I cruised along at a nice gentle pace

slow enough to be comfortable and take in the gardens I walked past

yet fast enough to feel as though I was actually 'working' and doing some good

As far as the dreaded sciatica is concerned I feel like I've turned the corner

If I continue with the stretching exercises hopefully the problem will be away

Not forgotten about tho'

- memo to myself -

When it comes to lifting remember the OH&S thought

'Does it need to be moved and do you need someone to help you'

Anyway back to what I saw on my way round the suburbs

Some lovely bright Gazanias brightening up both sides of an old fence

A clump of Convolvulus straddling the corner of a fence and trying to climb the post box

Some lovely pink and white African Daisies (Osteospermum) looking fresh as they scramble through this metal fence. Wonder if they'll make a right turn and travel down the drive

Then when I got home I realised I had some Seaside Daisy (Erigignon) trying to escape round the front of the garage

This is my entry for Todays Flowers

I realise there's more text here than pictures but then that's me lol

Haven't put one in for a while and if you click here you'll find lots of others from around the world

Finding my feet again

2011-09-29T22:00:00.000+10:00

After having finished most of the garden jobs I set out to do - tomatoes and beans are in their pots and should have settled in quite nicely - things haven't gone quite to plan this past week

It seems my idea of lifting bags of soil and fertiliser without asking Dh to help wasn't as good an idea as I thought it would be. He was relaxed and enjoying the sunshine totally engrossed in a book so it seemed a shame to disturb him - I had everything to hand and it seemd logical to set to, fill the pots then plant out the seedlings.

Had a hot bath that evening, slept well, felt my back seemed a tad sore the next day, no more than the days before when I'd been working outside - ha can you be fooled! - thats when the dreaded sciatica began. Foolhardy me forgot that these days each time I lift bags that heavy I seem to pay for it.

Consequently I've been wandering around with a painful leg as well as a pained expression on my face. No walking as its been aching too much and I jump each time it spasms and sitting for a time here on the computer chair hasn't done it any good either hence the lack of posts.

To go along with my miserable demeanour I've been feeling a bit on the big side

Actually I feel like this wideload we encountered on a back road one Sunday morning in Queensland

We are off on another trip in a couple of months - a cruise this time - so even though it might seem a little early to think about what clothes to take I've been going through my wardrobe.

The other month I came across some really good websites showing what can go with what - mix and match - actually called wardrobe capsule dressing these days- I thought it might cheer me up and help me forget about the dreaded pain in the leg - trouble was I discovered some of my homesick kilos have returned to take up residence again and some of my clothes are a fraction on the tight side:((

Must go as this is about as long as my leg will let me sit on hard chair - its rather awkward trying to type standing up - will tell you about these sites another day

The Home Gardener

2011-09-20T14:05:00.002+10:00

There's a saying here in Melbourne that if you don't like the weather just hang around because it will change soon. Yes we have grown to accept it's unpredictable nature in that we sometimes are likely to experience 4 seasons in one day.

http://oz.siyambio.com/weather-conditions-in-australia/melbournes-unique-four-seasons-in-one-day/

Believe it or not, it actually was the inspiration for a song

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Seasons_in_One_Day

and this is a link to a youtube video

For Seasons in One Day

1992 Crowded House

So after coming home from warm sunny Queensland to a rather cold miserable Victoria it came as no surprise that the past few days were absolutely beautiful. Dry and sunny with really great temps reaching the high 20c's (28c/82f) yesterday, then changing quite dramatically with thunder lightning torrential rain overnight to a rather wet cold day today lol The shorts and tshirts have been replaced with nice warm fleecy track pants and windcheater.

Mind you the good weather was a great help for me in the garden. Remember last July I spoke about trying to grow vegetables again this year - well I'm determined to have another go so the other day had a look at the chosen spot. Beside/behind the back of the old garage, near the washing line and the water tank meaning it definitely wouldn't/shouldn't be overlooked or forgotten.

Oh dear it was more of a mess than I thought. Somewhere to the right of this picture behind that old barrow and those buckets to be precise.

all photos enlarge

Having those warm days meant I fired up and cleared most of that area, turned over the old compost heap and gathered up some containers. Weeding the left hand side (left that that little crop of Snow in Summer Cerastium there as it always reminds me of my Dad) then papering and mulching that area did me in - a long soak in the bath Sunday evening meant I slept sound and was able to finish the container bit yesterday.

Still more to do tho' - I have to attack the grass growing round the side and try to get some gravel or like to help keep it at bay. Must put my thinking cap on for a cheap and easy solution.

Looking down from the deck it's reasonably tidy

Will have to find a good spot for those big black pots

somewhere visible so they get the same attention as the others:))

The Lone Seagull

2011-09-19T16:46:00.001+10:00

Remember the lone seagull in the previous post

(you can see him here)

click the photos to enlarge further

Several people mentioned him in the comments

so I went looking for the rest of the photos I had taken

and what's surprising is that they all look very similar

I spied him/her as I was walking at the rocky end of a beach one day

There he was having a paddle in the shallows all by himself

Not another gull near him

Or even on that part of the beach as far as I could see

He just stood there as the waves came rolling in

Looking out to sea!

I walked closer and moved about a bit

but he wasn't in the least bit fazed

Just let the waves roll in and out around his little legs

When this man came down on to the rocks I thought he'd be up and away

but no he continued to stand there in world of his own

The man moved around but not the gull lol

I had to move on - he was still standing there

I did begin to wonder if his feet were stuck in the sand

but when I looked back a short while later

there was no sign of him

Chance encounters that made me smile

2011-09-16T11:11:00.001+10:00

A series of road signs near Rockhampton designed to keep drivers alert

and inject a bit of humour into the car

Distance sign at BP Proserpine - almost there!

Summer footwear - tossed to one side as you do

Dh's runners neat and tidy - only worn a couple of times

Dh's tanned arms and knees

Just one solitary gull looking out to sea

Still smiling!

Bowen Qld - Most frequented sites

2011-09-14T22:21:00.001+10:00

Heres a little glimpse at the sites we visited more frequently than any other during our recent six week 'sojourn in the sun' in Bowen Qld

For me it was the long stretch of sea and sand at Queen's Beach

Just a five minute walk from our cabin

visible down through the Casuarina Trees that run along the foreshore

For Dh it was the fairways and greens of the Bowen Golf Club

A ten minute walk from our cabin

within sight and sound of the Coral Sea

and Queens Beach

We'd been there before and knew exactly what to expect

That was the attraction

Solitude by the sun sand and sea

Peace and quiet

Enjoyment alongside all the other Grey Nomads

exchanging the colder winter months of southern Australia

for the warmer milder days of northern Australia

The term Grey Nomad is applied to the section of the ageing Australian

population who use their retirement years as a time to experience travel and

holidaying activities once freed from the constraints of work and family commitments

Source

Thank you for your words and thoughts

2011-09-13T10:41:00.000+10:00

Just a quick note to say Thank You to all who left comments and emailed me over the passing of Aunty Pam. It is always good to know that even tho' we may never have met there are others who care.

It was a different journey home from Bowen knowing that we had missed saying goodbye - her life ended so quickly once the decline was noted which in a way was a good thing as I wouldn't have wanted her to linger any longer than necessary.

This won't be a long post either as this machine has decided to play up - we've been off air for quite a few days (seemed like an eternity) and I'm crossing my fingers I can get this finished.

After Dh spent days in front of it, muttering and fiddling with all the insides he paid a visit to 'his man' - who knows more than him, can supply him with the new bits for the inside and even tho' is classed as a 'friend is 'in business' and can charge hefty prices for it as well.

So far so good but it must go back this afternoon for more running repairs - hopefully to recover some of the info on the other hard drive.

I'll definitely tell you all about our 'Sojourn in the Sun' when all is well and I know I can sit here relaxed and not tense wondering if I'm going to be faced with a blank screen and a look of horror on my face wondering what just went wrong.

Bye for now
Cathy

Wordless Wednesday - almost

2011-09-07T10:56:00.001+10:00

We travelled home early

knowing we would be too late

Her service was yesterday

She would have been thrilled with the turnout

Rest in Peace Aunty Pam

edited to add:

Regular readers will know I have spoken about Aunty Pam several times over the years.

She suffered from Alzheimers Disease and we lived on tenterhooks at times as she deteriorated.

Never knowing what was going to happen from one week to the next and when our next trip to the A&E dept would be

She spent the last two years in a nursing home - where she was safe and protected

Still here

2011-08-17T11:16:00.002+10:00

Thought I'd pop in and see how you all are - as I use a a very slow internet connection in a cafe in town I haven't been on line much. Anyway, I did have a question in an email wanting to know about Bowen so heres a little info.

Well its the most northerly town on the Whitsunday Coast and also the oldest town in Queensland
Its about a 3/4 hour drive from Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour where you can access some of the Whitsunday Island Resorts eg. Hayman, Daydream, Hamilton and also Whitsunday Island with its famous Whitehaven Beach. This link will tell you a bit about the town

http://www.tourismwhitsundays.com.au/destinations/bowen/

At the moment its been a case of taking the good with the bad, the first weeks were quiet and we were surrounded by what I call ordinary caravans - we aren't campers and don't tow a caravan so we stay in the cabins that are springing up in nearly all the caravan parks - these are almost a home from home being contained and fully furnished meaning its like a self catered trip in the places we want to go to without that extra burden hanging on the rear of the car lol

If you'd like to look at the park we are staying at - here it is complete with a Golf Course five minutes away right on the beach
http://www.qbtvbowen.com.au/

Anyway this week its been really busy in the park (read noisy) with huge great Winnebago type things as well as enormous 5th wheeler contraptions that block out the view and we have acquired (thankfully only until this Friday) what I'm describing as the 'neighbour from hell' - he doesn't seem to be a fisherman but is using his time here to fix all the things that seem to have gone wrong on his van while he's been on the road assisted by many other mechanically minded travellers with nothing else to do on the days its too windy for them to be out on the water dangling their rods. Thats great for them 'cept they seem to be unable to talk quietly and do like a drink (or two or three).

Maybe I should learn to put up a tent and find myself a spot in the middle of nowhere to spend my time away - but then I wouldn't meet some of the lovely people that I 'have' met in the parks.

http://www.exploroz.com/Vehicle/Caravans/Buying.aspx

I've arrived

2011-08-02T15:39:00.000+10:00

Just a little note to say we arrived safe and sound here in Bowen Qld - after four days travel I was so pleased to take things out of the car. I've been enjoying the warm sunshine for week now and feel so much better for it. The nights and morning are cool but the days are quite pleasant, mind you once the sun goes down I look like a local wrapped up in a jacket and long trousers as its back to being cool again. Not complaining tho 'cose the week before we left home it was freezing and I's sitting here in shorts and a tshirt:).

So while Dh is on the golf course I'm filling my time in with all the crafty things I brought along. Have knitted and sewn and read as well as taken long walks along the beach. The van park at Queens Beach is thriving - we are in the same cabin as last time which is good, it was like 'coming home' and I didn't have to think about where to store all all our bits and pieces- no contrary to someone else's thoughts I did not bring the kitchen sink with me lol - there are many long stay travellers there but an awful lot who are just there for a few days and then moving on so we never know who our neighbours are going to be each day.

Well must go, the wind has dropped (they don't call this small town Blowin Bowen for nothing) and I need to be on the move again - the beach is calling my name . We will be home the middle of Septembeer but I'll pop in again sometime soon

Bye for now
Cathy

An emotional female

2011-07-19T06:44:00.000+10:00

There's one thing I love about my cat Kiera

She certainly knows how to make her feelings known

The past week I've been gathering up things to take away with us.

so theres a pile of bits and pieces out on the back deck

Things like foldable chairs, the Esky,

two large plastic boxes that fit in the boot of the car

rubber thongs/flip flops that have just had a scrub

a large raffia sunhat

plus other paraphenalia

Sitting amongst all this stuff is her carry box

So - somehow or another

she is aware

that she's also going in the car

Not with us on the 4 day, 4500 kms drive

to the warmth of Far North Tropical Queensland

but up the road to the boarding cattery

Hence this attitude - worthy of a five year old

Here's a replay of a conversation that happened the other day

I'm sure she was giving me the cold shoulder

Just like she did a few months ago

What do mean - whats the matter?

No, I'm not in a mood

I'm just sitting here minding my own business

on my own little mat in front of the fire

Its freezing outside and its so lovely and warm here

and I might just settle down for a snooze

This is bliss

So much better than Sheila's place.

(Holly Lodge Boarding Cattery)

I know she's lovely and will look after me

But I'm not the only one there

I don't have her undivided attention

Can't you see how comfy I am

Yes, she does give me a heating pad

and I do get one of the indoor-outdoor pens

so I can sit in the sunshine and watch the birds

But it's not the same as lying here in front of the fire

In my own house

With you around to feed me and talk to me

She's not listening to a word I'm saying

looks like I'll just have to curl up in my bed for a while

Can't be that long till a meal arrives

Garden plots and fenced gardens

2011-07-18T01:00:00.013+10:00

A break in the weather early last week - yes it did stop raining for a while - meant I could get outside and do a bit more tidying up. We are tootling off 'up north' in a few days so I don't want to come home to a jungle - even tho from past experience I know thats what I'll find when we do get back:(

One of the jobs I did was to dismantle my failed veggie garden. We have a spot down near the back of the garden that I thought would be good for veggies - out of the way but still visible - visible usually meaning I won't forget to water lol

I used a piece of grass that is between two 'garden beds' and really is 'just there', a means of getting from one part ot the other and by leaving a space at each side I figured wouldn't be missed. So I did all the right things, got Dh to make a boundary edge like a fence and layered all sorts of things to make a lasagne (no dig) bed, waited a little while for it to settle and then planted.

There were no warm sunny days and it rained and rained also I'd forgotten that even tho' that spot gets loads of sunshine in the Autumn and Winter (like now) its quite shady in Spring and Summer.

Nothing prospered so I gave up on it.

That area used to make a wonderful spot for the grand boys to set up some cricket stumps - when they were little and grandma wasn't so protective of the plants nearby lol

I'm sure with all the rain we are having it won't take long for this to grass over again.

I'm going to turn the old compost heap over when we get back and have another go in that area. Its sort of visible, behind the washing line and right beside the tank, so I won't be able to complain about carting water from one end of the garden to the other.

Talking of gardens look at these roadside ones we saw on the north west coast of Newfoundland. So much of the land is rocky with no usuable soil so the people are able to take over bits of the roadside (crown land) that are soft and diggable - fenced to keep out stray Moose and other animals that may come by.

Ingenious and trusting eh?

But then there are so few living in that area

if you did pinch some of the produce

you'd be stealing from your neighbour

Views from the laundry window Todays flowers

2011-07-16T19:46:00.000+10:00

I planted this line of Camellias along this side wall many years ago.

I was sick of looking at the bare wall and saw some very little, almost minute, tube stock in the nursery one year and it was a snap decision to plant them

Actually I'm suprised they have lasted so long as they are in fairly deep shade under the eaves and apart from any rain that blows in never get watered

That window you can see there is in the laundry, which being on the south side of the house lets in minimal light at the best of times and is worse still when I forget to cut these down to a reasonable height

But look at the fabulous display of flowers this year

much better than I've ever seen for a long time

The labels went walkabout years ago so I have no idea what their 'names' are

but aren't they just delightful

In real life they looked equally good from inside

but the the pictures are a bit fuzzy when taken

through the screen and a dirty window lol

But look at this and laugh

I'd taken this before I realised what the date on the calender was

So heres one with the correct month on it

I can assure you I had done some laundry between April and July!!

The flash didn't seem to enhance them at all

only made the window look even more grubby

so it looks like I'll have to do some window washing when this rain finally stops

and some pruning when the flowers are finished

Click here

to see more Flowers for today

Morning has broken

2011-07-15T01:00:00.013+10:00

This is what we woke to on Friday the First day of July 2011

A beautiful red sunrise

Such a change in just one minute

so much more colour

Since then the morning skies of the past two weeks

have been cloudy and miserable

No colour whatsoever

In fact this morning we couldn't see any further than our noses!

Click here

to see spectacular skies from around the world

The changing face of Sedum Autumn Joy

2011-07-13T12:49:00.087+10:00

You know where weight gain is concerned

it usually happens slowly over a period of time

That change in appearance isn't noticeable to begin with

Then you start to realise what has happened

and have to do something about it

I'm sure some of you can relate to that lol

Now I'm going off on a tangent here

Its one that doesn't seem connected to gaining weight

but is connected to a change in appearance

But before I do go on

one thing you have to remember

is that February is late summer here in Australia

So take a look at my Sedum which I think is Autumn Joy

I had cut it back to ground level when it finished 'flowering' the year before

Then I noticed it had really shot up again early in the year

See all those green broccoli looking 'flowers' on top of the long stalks

February 2nd 2011

all photos will enlarge

As the month went by they slowly started to colour up

This is what they looked like by February 26th

They were darker still at the beginning of March

March 3rd

Then this happened

They had turned the darkest browny red I had ever seen them to be

March 23rd

By late April the heads had started to die off

and it was time for me to cut them down

sorry no photos

by then it was raining too much to trail round taking pretty pictures lol

And thats how it was for the next few months

Like weight gain it had been time to take action

I didn't even notice they weren't there

So much was going on and other things were covering up the space

but look at this

They are starting to grow again

I took these this morning

See those little green bits

down at ground level near the old stalks

next to grey leaves of the Lambs Ears (Stachys)

Over Spring and Summer they will grow taller

and be the new flower stalks for next Autumn

Its gone almost a full circle

Great news for the Sedum

Bit of a bugger for me lol

I've noticed a bit of a gain but thats as far as its going

Lettuce leaves here we come!!

Winter visitor for Winter Wednesday

2011-07-13T11:20:00.002+10:00

Even tho' we are near the hills the area is still suburban meaning there are lots of houses and even more going up where owners are subdividing so a lot of the parrots give us a wide berth, We do get flighty Eastern Rosellas and Crimson Rosellas as well as the funny little Rainbow Lorikeets who love the berries on the Lilly Pilly tree

Now the only deciduous tree I have growing nearby is next doors oak - yes, the one of falling leaves fame , and the great thing about this tree being leafless in the winter is that I can see any birds who do sit in the branches. Plus any pesky possums lol

So this is where I need a little help here from some of those with more knowledge of birds than I have . This beautiful parrot with an orange head and chest arrived there this morning and played around on the branches for a short while - luckily just long enough for me to race inside and get the camera.

I don't recall seeing one before - google suggests a King Parrot, would that be right?

photos will enlarge

Drop in to Hazel's place

to see whats going on in other places this Winter Wednesday

Little boxes - coloured ones at that

2011-07-11T15:14:00.002+10:00

There is a long history associated with bathing boxes or beach huts as they are know in some parts of the world and a few weekends ago two of those lovely bathing boxes that sit on the foreshore at Brighton beach south of the Melbourne CBD were sold. For something that is quite small and can only be owned by a ratepayer of that council they fetched an enormous amount of money

Looking at pictures of the coloured boxes lined up along the sea front reminds me of the 'painted houses' we saw last year - those that line the older streets of St John's in Newfoundland. Most of the houses in the coastal 'outports' were painted like this but it was fun to see so many in long lines like these.

I'd been told they were known as 'jellybean houses' painted the same bright colour as the owner's fishing boat so they'd recognise them when they got back into port. Never did get that verified tho lol

All photos will enlarge with a click

The dock area is at the bottom of this street - thats the bow (the front) of the cruise ship you can see there.

What I did find intriguing was this 'double storm door' I saw on a house - the front entry door was set at a right angle to the street inside a little porch with another door on the face of the house to protect it.

But look at this space saving, ingenious and inventive idea - the window is set into the corner of this house. You can tell it doesn't take much to impress or amuse me lol

Have you been anywhere recently that impressed you?

These grey skies are going to clear up?

2011-07-10T17:07:00.011+10:00

Aren't they?

Do any of you remember this song

Gray skies are gonna clear up
Put on a happy face
Wipe of the clouds and cheer up
Put on a happy face

From the musical Bye Bye Birdie

music by Charles Strouse - lyrics by Lee Adams

Its been like this all day

and I tried really hard with the happy face routine

but it didn't seem to work

Like I said

It's been like this all day

Cold wet and windy!

It would have been nice if those lovely clear sunny days

the ones I wrote about a couple of days ago had reappeared

These ones here

With a bit of luck if I put the happy face on again tomorrow

Those skies will clear up

They will - won't they?

You never know what you'll find

2011-07-08T23:07:00.000+10:00

'Till you start looking.

My husband is a reader - every spare minute he gets he's reading something. Thinking about it he's always been a reader, he even took a book to read on our honeymoon. Not sure how much he read of it tho' lol

With the rotten weather we've had this week I've done some more delving into his family history and discovered something that he's quite tickled pink over.

One branch of his family originated in Fordington a small place in Dorset which is a county in the South West of England In 1857 his Great Grandmother's sister Anne married a man by the name of Frederick Hardy.

Yes, from THE Hardy family - Frederick was Thomas Hardy's cousin. Yes THE Thomas Hardy Dorset's most literary figure.

So, he's not a blood relation but Dh is suitably impressed.

Winter Wednesday

2011-07-05T22:25:00.002+10:00

For the past week or so Winter has taken a back seat here where I live - we've had some glorious dry and sunny but rather chilly days - days when I snapped out of my miseries and realised moping around being miserable wouldn't get me anywhere.

Winter made a reappearance today - it was a freezing cold day when gales were howling, rain was pouring and Melbourne (my suburb included) had a 4.4 magnitude earthquake, but I wasn't upset in any way.

Not sure why, maybe its 'cose I know we will be off in a couple of weeks to the Sunshine State or because we are over the hump in the seasons and Spring will be along sometime soon.

Hazel at Hazel Dene has a little thing going called 'Winter Wednesday' where she wants to know some of the things you like about Winter.

Truthfully some years there is little I like about Winter but one thing I have enjoyed these past couple of weeks was being able to get outside and take a walk

Some days it was in the local park

with its green grassy slopes and windy paths

Other days I walked along local unmade paths

gouged out like a river bed by all the heavy rain we've had

(hopefully the local council will repair them soon)

I've enjoyed seeing paths covered in petals from a Camelia

Blown off by the high winds

Strewn on the ground like confetti

I walked along paths covered with leaves

wanting dearly to scuff them with my feet

(but afraid of what the others may think lol)

This Liquid Amber aways drops its leaves late in the season

Not sure what leaves these were on another unmade path

but they made me feel good on this part of my walk

Gave it a sort of 'country' look

You wouldn't think a main road ran alongside this path

So thats what I've enjoyed this Winter

Why don't you pop over to Hazel's and see what others have enjoyed

The Blonde Cowboy

2011-07-03T21:58:00.000+10:00

This just arrived in our Inbox

The Blonde Cowboy

A Sheriff in a small town in Texas walks out in the street and sees a blond haired cowboy coming toward him with nothing on but his cowboy hat, his gun and his boots.

He arrests him for indecent exposure.

As he is locking him up, he asks 'Why in the world are you walking around like this?'

The cowboy says, 'Well it's like this Sheriff....

I was in this bar down the road and this pretty little red head asks me to go out to her motor home with her.....

So I did.

We go inside and she pulls off her top and asks me to pull off my shirt .....

So I did

Then she pulls off her skirt and asks me to pull off my pants....

So I did.

Then she pulls off her panties and asks me to pull off my shorts....

So I did.

Then she gets on the bed and looks at me kind of sexy and says,

Now go to town cowboy

'And here I am.'

Son of a Gun. Blonde Men do exist!

Food for thought

2011-07-03T21:42:00.000+10:00

Dh's mother was a diabetic, we are getting older and thats the time when Type 2 Diabetes (previously called mature-age diabetes) can rear its head also both he and I have this problem with homesick kilos - for a while they go away and then they come back again.

So every now and again when I look at the food we are eating I check the Glycemic Index - whats that you ask - well its to do with carbohydrates and the effect they have on the blood sugar.

Not all carbohydrate foods are created equal, in fact they behave quite differently in our bodies. The glycemic index or GI describes this difference by ranking carbohydrates according to their effect on our blood glucose levels. Choosing low GI carbs - the ones that produce only small fluctuations in our blood glucose and insulin levels - is the secret to long-term health reducing your risk of heart disease and diabetes and is the key to sustainable weight loss.

Info from here

Nicole Senior an award winning dietician writes for a monthly ezine called GI News published by the website of the Glycemic Index and GI Database. I really like her articles, they are readable and often 'tell it as it is'

This month she is talking about 'Being Healthy on the Inside' - its not the number on the scale that counts but whats going on inside and using a bit of humour she likens our bodies to cars.

There are lots of lovely tips like these:-

Power up with protein – Lean red meat, pork, chicken, fish, seafood, eggs and legumes (beans, lentils and chickpeas)

Refuel with carbs (look for the low GI ones) – Grain foods such as low GI grainy breads and breakfast cereals, pasta, noodles, low GI rice like basmati or Doongara Clever Rice and starchy vegetables like lower GI potatoes (Carisma or Nicola), orange-fleshed sweet potato, corn, carrots, butternut pumpkin and parsnips.

Rust-proof with fruit and veg – Tomatoes, onions, broccoli, mushrooms, lettuce, capsicum, celery, zucchini (courgettes), peas, cabbage, beans and beetroot etc. Fruit and berries such as apples, oranges, bananas, pears, grapes, kiwifruit, plums, nectarines, rockmelon, papaya (paw paw), mango and strawberries etc.

Reinforce your frame with good dairy foods – Reduced fat milk, yoghurt, cheese and custard.

Grease the machine with the right oils – Sunflower, olive and canola oils; spreads like margarine or peanut butter; nuts and seeds, and avocado.

Prevent overheating with fluids – Water, juice, cordial, tea and weak coffee

http://ginews.blogspot.com/2011/07/food-for-thought.html

This is one site I think worth a visit - each month there is oodles of information in the newsletter - its free as well lol
http://ginews.blogspot.com/

Farewell dear friend

2011-06-30T21:51:00.004+10:00

In 2 weeks time it would have been 17 years since I first met Lance. July 1994 in fact.

A lovely friend – so full of vigour and energy. Dressed so well in his brand new clothes, nothing tatty or dull about him at all.

Comfortable and airy was how I described him once – yes, he could blow hot and cold at times – but that was at my own making and I have to say he never once let me down.

Always willing to accompany me whenever I wanted to go out and so very helpful when it came to carrying things big and small

We travelled many kilometres and saw lots of sights together – we were happy together in our own special way.

He didn’t mind if others came along on our journeys, he always gave his best and showed me that there was plenty of room for them to enjoy the same delights as we did together.

We came to the end of our relationship the other day – I have moved on to another Lance.

This is a younger version of my favourite friend.

Another one full of vigour and energy, so willing to come along whenever needed.

He is so similar yet so very different that when I look at him I know I will have a little trouble finding him sometimes - he doesn’t have the same taste in colour as my first Lance and he certainly has a more modern taste in accessories.

Yes, my old friend from has gone on to higher things and I now have a younger one. The funny yet sad thing is that in all the time we knew each other we never had any photographs taken together so I have nothing to remind myself of our friendship.

So it's goodbye to my maroon coloured Lancer circa 1994 and welcome to my white coloured Lancer circa 2009 who is now residing in my driveway - courtesy of my bank account and M’itsubishi Motors.

I do so hope Lance Mark 2 will be as faithful and reliable as my previous Lance was.

Pruned roses and swimming cossies

2011-06-29T14:30:00.008+10:00

The time of the year for rose pruning in Melbourne and the time of the year for swimming don't normally go together in my house

That is unless you are bathed in warm sunshine up in Queensland :)

Anyway as you can see from this photo today was an exception.

Do you remember what I said the other day about needing some dry sunny weather to clear my thick winter head and send the blues away - well we have certainly made inroads in that dept. The past few days have been beauties and I am feeling so very different this week.

I've walked and enjoyed the sunshine and also had the energy to go the gym. Today I decided to do something really different - something I hadn't done for a couple of years at least.

I rocked up to the local indoor pool about 11am - the place was full of like minded oldies doing their laps and exercises in the shallow end. Putting on my cossy at home I was a little bit concerned with what I saw in the mirror - needless to say I wasn't too fussed about exposing my body and all its rolly polly bits to people who all looked the same as me lol

So into the water I go and after playing around for a bit in what was supposed to be warm water - have my doubts on what constitutes warm water to them and what constitutes warm to me tho - I decided to try a lap. I'll tell you what, its a heck of a long way from one end to the other of a 50 metre pool when you haven't swum for a while lol

Half an hour later I'd had enough and came home, not puffing and panting but close to it.

You know, something must have worked because when I got home and walked up the back steps my knee didn't catch. I'm definitely going to try to get there again soon.

I think this quote is saying it all for me at the moment

It is exercise alone that supports the spirits, and keeps the mind in vigor.
-- Marcus Tullius Cicero

I know I haven't answered comments or visited other blogs for a while so hopefully this is the turn around I need

Something that made me smile

2011-06-27T13:36:00.003+10:00

As you would imagine some of the blogs I read feature cats- and to even up the score - some of the blogs I read feature dogs lol

Kim at Life at Golden Pines and John at Going Gently are two I really enjoy. They both have a house full of dogs that amuse me but also sadden me at times.

Anyway Kim has added a new puppy to her household of Golden Retrievers and because he owns one John wrote a post telling about the joy and characteristics of that particular breed which by the way is not a 'goldie' but a 'scottie'

I think you all realise that dogs aren't my favourite animal - I don't dislike them or want to do them harm its just that I don't get the same feelings when I see them as I do with a cat

We had a trip to Castlemaine last Saturday and just by coincidence look at these two little furry ones waiting outside a cafe. They certainly charmed me!

They were waiting so patiently, looking very comfortable and at ease which made me think it wasn't the first time they'd been left there, and although the one on the right was a bit wary at first they both stood up and came forward to say hello .

You know, I don't remember ever being bitten but I still get a funny queezy feeling when dogs are close by. Such a shame as I really wanted to say hello but with no owner there I didn't know how they'd react if I had moved any closer

I think these are Cairn Terriers rather than Scottish - does anyone know if thats correct

Are there any animals you are wary of?

One bed down Today's Flowers

2011-06-26T22:04:00.000+10:00

To clear my mind of the winter blues (see my last post) I took advantage of today's sunny dry weather and pruned another of the rose beds

This is what I laughingly call my 'Blue Bed'

Most of us flower lovers are aware there are no blue roses available

(at the moment)

so I humoured myself by planting lavender/lilac coloured ones there instead

The burgundy Iceberg was given to me as a gift without warning so had to be planted in the only space available at the time

And its not until you see it in a photo that you realise how out of place it looks

Hopefully I'll get time to move it next week

Here are more glimpses of the flowers from the summer just gone

These little reminders should lighten my mood and tide me over till the roses in the bed above and others elsewhere in the garden are in full bloom again

If you click here

you will get a glimpse of more beautiful flowers from around the world

Looking forward

2011-06-21T22:32:00.001+10:00

The June Solstice (Winter Solstice) is on Wednesday, 22 June 2011 at 3:16 AM in Melbourne.

http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/june-solstice.html

It means I can now begin to feel a little more positive

The days will get longer and hopefully warmer

I'm finding this Winter so far has been very cold - and very wet
and I haven't been in the mood to do anything
My chair and the fire have been my companions

We had the most awful storms overnight here in Melbourne

Mind you so did most of the south and east of the country as this link from news.com.au will tell you

http://www.news.com.au/features/environment/severe-weather-warning-for-sa-issued-by-bureau-of-meteorology-melbourne-faces-cold-blast/story-e6frflp0-1226078903369

Locally the Weather Bureau forecaster Peter Blake has this to say

'the wild weather was caused by a cold front which hit Melbourne in the early hours of the morning'.

Mount Dandenong recorded the highest wind gust around the metropolitan area at 102km/h.
source

You all know where Mt Dandenong is don't you - yes - just up the road from where I live
There it is, visible from the end of my street
just follow the road and then make your way up to the top

Today hasn't been much better either - strong winds and sleety rain.
Tomorrow we are having a heatwave
The forecast for my suburb is an overnight low of 5c/41F
with the grand total of 13c/55f as a high

I know its not cold compared to some of your winters
but it is to me lol
I get this way every winter so really its just the winter blues
A brisk walk on a sunny day seems to pick me up when I feel like this

I know I'm not suffering from SAD
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_affective_disorder

Seasonal Affective Disorder

The shortest day is tomorrow
Sunrise will be about 7.36am and sunset at 5.08pm
Look here and see how the day lengthens by seconds

Imagine how I'd feel if we went back to live in the Northern Hemisphere where it can be dark as early as 4.00pm and not start to get light till 8.00am

Then I would have something to complain about wouldn't I lol

My reasons for making the bed

2011-06-10T01:00:00.006+10:00

When we were talking the other day and I mentioned how I felt a lot more relaxed about having the bed made I didn't tell you that it doesn’t get made as soon as I get up – the covers are pulled back so it airs – then any clothes are picked up - and on it goes - in fact it’s often one of the last things I do before Dh or I go out but I don’t leave it till the afternoon (or even the evening) the way I used to.

So while I was making it the other day I began to think of several reasons why I should and do make it.

Yes it does give the room a really nice tidy look and that was my main objective

And there's the peace of mind when I open the front door - no more shutting it when the doorbell rings.

Now If you do an online search you will find lots of reasons like the ones above for making the bed but besides them I've found out there are other benefits to this new 'habit.

I know where to find the hot water bottles - There’s no more digging around the bottom of the bed or falling over them when they are on the floor at the side of the bed –they now have their own little spot at the front of the wardrobe.
I know where my pyjamas are. There’s no more wondering if I put them in the wash and need to get clean ones out or tripping over them on the floor beside the bed – they (clean ones or used ones with another night left in them) are now put under the pillow where they are easily seen when I’m getting undressed.

It gives me a chance for play time with Kiera. She has immense fun trying to get under the covers and the pillows when they are being put back into place. How could you resist not messing around with someone as sweet as this?

Who when she has finished messing up the tidy bed

looks at you with those half closed eyes

and promptly falls asleep lol

And of course it gives me some equal opportunity/ quality time with Dh as I often get him to give me a hand. Its at these 'fun' times I get to hear how sleeping in the same creases is an art learned in the forces and how they would press a crease in their trousers by putting them under the mattress. Actually my motive for getting him to help is just so he doesn’t think it’s only my place to do it – after all half the creases (and lots of times the clothes) are his lol

How about you - are there things you do now that didn't get done before?

Necessary stuff

2011-06-10T01:00:00.000+10:00

I saw this fun post on someone's blog the other day
Unfortunately I can't give them the credit
'cose I can't remember who it was lol

If you had to leave the house in a hurry

With no worry of the house being destroyed

What would be the bare minimum items you'd take?

Well, with the weather we are having at the moment

and assuming I'm dressed and have a coat handy

Disregarding medication which would be a definite

It would be my fingerless gloves and a brolly

Along with car and house keys

Phone and wallet containing necessary cards

I took this photo taken the other day

just before going on a very quick trip to the shops

Would these items go with you as well

or would there be more

A Englishman Irishman and a Scotsman

2011-06-09T11:26:00.001+10:00

Heres a little joke for you courtesy of our Inbox - I thought it quite funny

It's 2012 and it’s Olympic time in London.

An Englishman, Irishman and a Scotsman want to get in but they haven't got tickets.

The Scotsman picks up a manhole cover. Tucks it under his arm and walks to the gate. "McTavish, Scotland. Discus" he says, and in he walks.

The Englishman picks up a length of scaffolding and slings it over his shoulder. "Pocklington-Smythe, England. Pole vault" he says, and in he walks.

The Irishman looks around and picks up a roll of barbed wire and tucks it under his arm. "O'Malley, Ireland. Fencing."

Ouch - sore thighs

2011-06-07T08:47:00.000+10:00

One of my 'favourite' classes at the gym is Body Pump

As the explanation below says it's a class where you exercise in time to music using a barbell and weights

BODY PUMP

is a 60-minute non-impact class

designed to give your body a complete workout using barbells and weights to music

http://www.lesmills.com/global/bodypump/about-bodypump.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BodyPump

So after doing a class early yesterday morning

(not my first class ever but my first at the new gym)

and even tho' I kept the weights low, my body is now reminding me that the effects of said class are not quite the same as using free weights or exercise equipment:(

Being in a class situation means I put far more energy and enthusiasm into whatever I'm doing than if I just 'go it alone' in the gym

Please don't ask me to pick up something from off the ground

My thighs are not in the mood !

Could be something to do with squats and lunges lol

Do you put more effort into things when in a group

or do you work better on your own?

21 Days they say

2011-06-05T21:04:00.000+10:00

‘They’ say it takes about 21 days to make or break a habit
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_long_does_it_take_for_something_to_become_a_habit

Well I must say it seemed to take more than 21 days for me to get into the habit of making our bed every morning but I think I have it mastered now. Same as washing up in the evening and not leaving it all till the next morning. Both of these ‘new habits’ certainly make me more relaxed but I still feel I need to do some more work on forming another – or do I?

Let me explain.

When I got home early last Friday afternoon I called a friend, no answer so left a message. Same thing happened with another friend. I spent some time pottering about sorting out ‘stuff’ to go into bags for the op-shop/thrift shop, no sooner had I walked out the door to put it in the car when I heard the phone ring. Let the machine take it was my reaction.

Bags went into the car; I came back inside and returned the call.

Long chat part of which was agreeing to give her some of the ‘stuff’ I’d just put in the car so out I go again to retrieve it. Proceed to resort ‘stuff’ on floor of hallway and the phone rings again. Long chat to other friend.

Dh walks in while this is taking place. Looks aghast at the mess and says he’s going back up the road and could I move my car so he can get down the drive when he gets back. It had been raining when I got home so I parked away from the bushes (didn’t want to get wet when I got out) and there wasn’t enough room for him to drive down past me.

Oh all right says I – let me finish this sorting and I’ll move it when the bags go back in the car. Dagger eyes come my way along with words advising me he is only going to be up the shops a few minutes – meaning I'd like it moved before I get home lol

So up I get and look around. Move the bags, lift lots of things, try to retrace my steps – older car so I’d physically locked the car when I originally put the bags of ‘stuff’ in there and used them to unlock it when they came back out but where were they now. Go and look at the car door and the boot lock – not there – look around the house again – how could they just disappear?

I will admit that I do have a habit of just dropping them and they somehow get covered with things – you know how it is.............get home and dying for a P ......................in you run, stuff gets dropped, ooh that’s better, kettle goes on, cup of tea gets drunk and the keys get forgotten. Till you need them.

Well to cut a long story short, I decided I’d have a hot drink to clear my mind, went to get milk from the fridge out in the laundry and guess what I saw hanging on the little hook I delegated for my car keys – are you with me??

I’ve been trying to get into the habit of hanging them up when I come in the door so they don’t get lost and cause the same scenario I’d just gone through...........standing there I remembered that after coming back in with the bags I’d gone to the loo and automatically hung them up as I walked past the hook.

Somehow I don’t think Dh is going to let me live this one down.!!

Looking back

2011-06-04T17:12:00.001+10:00

June is the time I begin to cut back my roses

They are looking very straggly so this little trim will do them good

They will get their very short winter cut next month

Just before we go up north to Queensland to escape the cold weather here in Melbourne

So to tide me over till next Spring when they start to bloom again

I thought I'd revisit some of the ones I set out on a little table in the hallway

These were picked during January and February 2011

I must remember to move that blind hook to the other side of the door where it won't be visible lol

Todays flowers

can be found at the link above

Now you see them - now you don't

2011-06-02T01:00:00.000+10:00

Them being the operative word

Parking the car at the gym last week this is what I saw.

The sky was a beautiful blue with a hint of cloud

Parts of the The Dandenongs were slightly hidden by a bit of low cloud

Now some regular readers will know

I have a habit of leaving my window open

So when someone came in

and mentioned it looked like rain I popped out to check

And this is what greeted me

What happened to the blue sky?

And where did the the top of my hills go?

Oh dear - this is what it looked like when I was ready to go home.

No blue to be seen at all

The clouds had covered the sky completely

Rolled down the hillside

Completely obliterating any views of Mt Dandenong and the surrounding hills

As I said in the title

Now you see them

Now you don't lol

For more Skywatch skies from around the world

Click here

The falling leaves drift by my window

2011-06-01T01:00:00.003+10:00

Do you remember a song that began with:

'The falling leaves drift by my window

The falling leaves of red and gold'

'Autumn Leaves'

English lyrics by Johnny Mercer 1947

Now in case you didn't know it
Today June 1st is the official first day of Winter here in Australia
Nicely heralded first thing this morning with frost on the windscreen of the car

However, being Winter doesn't stop the leaves from the deciduous trees
falling all over the place

They aren't drifting by my window
They are floating down all over my garden!

click images to enlarge

Unfortunately those leaves,

the ones that come from next door's Oak Tree,
which is right by our fence line
are not red and gold

but a brown colour lol

You know, it would be a pretty sight if it hadn't rained so much

Each time I go out to rake them up I get a slipping and a sliding feeling

and come back inside annoyed

They aren't doing any harm there

Except when I want to hang washing on the line

Hopefully when there are some more dry sunny days forecast

I will be able to get out and clear them up

They are going to come in very handy for topping up the compost heap

There's just one problem .

Each time I'm out there I keep looking up

and know I'm going to be out there again

And again and again

That tree hasn't finished with us yet lol

How on earth do people in the Northern Hemisphere cope

Imagine going through this avalanche each autumn

Well I never!

2011-05-31T11:34:00.000+10:00

I was about to make our bed the other day and wondered if I'd have to get another valance

Or more to the point when we get the new bed would the bedspread reach the floor the way it's supposed to.

This mattress was one of those with a pillow top - when it arrived it turned out to be so deep none of my sheets fitted.

When I put the valance on I realised the base was much lower than the previous one so had to run a seam up the middle to lift it up off the ground

And then when the bed was made I realised the whole thing was much higher than the previous one and as you can see the bedspread has a half mast look about it lol

Its so high when I sit on the side my feet don't reach the floor and even now 9 years later I still feel as though I need a step ladder to get in lol

As it still hasn't proved to be the bed it was purported to be

we are going shopping

For a new one!

Now as I looked at the bed in the mirror

Something didn't look quite right

Trying to be a bit arty farty and make things look a bit different

thats the way I took the photos lol

Standing there I could see what was staring me in the face

It looked like the hotties were having a little love in lol

That's when my Mother would have said

'Well I never'

So I turned around to face the bed and this time I really had to laugh

From this angle it almost looked

as if one of the hot water bottles was feeling the cold

She'd have said it again then

'Well I never' lol

Almost as if it had taken a cue from me

(not sure when it learned it)

it appeared as if the lavender one who was a bit cold

felt that 'red' was a great source of heat

and 'his' side of the bed was far warmer than 'hers'

Now did you ever think I'd be able to get a post out of an unmade bed and two hot water bottles?

What's the silliest post you've ever written?

An Old Favourite

2011-05-30T08:19:00.006+10:00

I have an old woollen cardigan

Its red, its chunky and its fashioned in a Fisherman's Rib

I bought it a long time ago to take overseas to be used as a jacket if need be

A trip to see family and friends - nothing fancy planned - so I didn't take a heavy coat knowing I could always borrow one if need be

Over the years its been one of those garments

that has always given me a sense of comfort

Maybe because that trip was the last time I saw my Dad - but maybe these days because its really old and only ever comes out of the wardrobe when the weather is cold. Its one of those things that keeps me warm and also keeps me happy.

Its been washed that many times it looking its age

has become fuzzy and pilled in places and sort of grown out of shape.

You'll often see it hanging on the bedroom door ready to be grabbed if I think its cool in the house but not cool enough to turn the heating on

There's a hole in a sleeve and one of the seams is coming undone - so some time or another I must find a bit of red wool and do some running repairs .

It has a mate - I have a navy one as well

After the success of the red one on that trip I went back to the shop and sure enough they still had them on sale

This one tends to live on a chairback in the kitchen

Waiting patiently ready for action once the temperatures drop.

Its great for hanging out washing or weeding

Must be a mother's instinct about certain colours not showing the dirt lol

Dont worry - they don't go off the property

They are my equivalent of a mans really old sweater, the one he wears out in his shed

The one you wouldn't dare to thow away

Now believe it or not I found they had come back into fashion

I googled Fisherman's Rib Cardigan and found this

Click on the link and see all ways they came up with to wear it

http://www.polyvore.com/knitted_fisherman_rib_cardigan/thing?id=20361721

Do you have things hanging in your wardrobe - past their use by date - but you just can't get rid of ?

Here comes another one

2011-05-28T14:15:00.002+10:00

This weather is beginning to get to me - I don't mind sharp cold days but miserable cold rainy ones have never been my strong point. You'd think having been raised in England - and you know what the weather can be like there - these days wouldn't bother me - but then maybe that's what has put me off them lol

You know, during those recent years of drought even us here in the suburbs wished like crazy for rain - and, have we had rain since the drought broke. I remember laughing at someone who jokingly said 'Be careful what you wish for'...............now I know what she meant lol

Anyway to pass the time away I've been going through some of the holiday folders from last years trip when we had a fabulous time in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland visiting friends and family. Looking through those photos I found something else in a similar vein to another post I did recently.

Do you remember the post called Similar but not the Same - the one about the sheep in Newfoundland...........these photos of a log truck Newfoundland style could also could come under that heading.

We'd just left our B&B at Springdale and were tootling along the road when we saw this Log Truck. To 'our' eyes it looked overloaded and at one time we thought it was going to tip over

but it carried on its merry way as if nothing had happened. The size of the tree trunks weren't massive - in fact they were very spindly - not like those we get in our forests close to where I live. Needless to say we overtook and went our way as quickly and as safely as possible lol

I did get told the name of the trees but you know me - the queen of lists at home - I forgot to write it down:((

So heres a look at our log trucks - slightly different - Similar but not the Same

Red sky in the morning

2011-05-27T01:00:00.000+10:00

Red sky at night

Shepherd's delight

Red sky in the morning

Sailor's warning

Remember that one?

(I know there are other versions but that the one I remember)

I'm not sure where I 'learnt' it as a child but it's been stuck in my mind for a long time

So do you think that old saying is True or False?

Heres a reasonable explanation that even I can understand lol

Whether you believe the explanation or not

there are days when it just happens to prove itself

Take a look at what was coming up over the trees very early in the morning one day last week

And here we are a couple of hours later

A little bit of blue accompanied by a lot of greyish looking clouds

Thinking it had got rather dark inside the house a couple of hours later

I had another look outside and found this

No wonder I needed the lights on lol

Its quite a while since I've taken part but I'm sure

There are other skies to see here