CONNIKA

IN THE GARDEN

Another photograph taken by Anton.  This is just beautiful and really catches a summer's day here in Summerfield.  Although, looking out of my office window at the moment, it isn't quite the bright, sunny day of this photograph.  Woke up this morning to David telling me we had a lot of rain last night.  "You sure?" I asked.  Looking outside, the brick patio was all dry.  But sure enough, when I checked the rain-gauge, we had had 24 mls (almost an inch in the old scale).  Wonderful.  The tank will be filling and filling...  It is so green and lush and before the storm this afternoon, it was very hot and muggy.

Tomorrow it's quilting with my dear quilting group.  The CHAIR quilt top was basted last week at Robyn's so perhaps I'll start some quilting which I haven't done for quite some time.  It's the favourite part of quilting for me.  The movement and tilt of the needle and the alpha, or is it beta thoughts that float in and out of my mind - bit like gardening.  Very relaxing.

Shall get myself organized and put a photograph of my chair quilt up.  David made the chair and Emma drew it for me. 

Watch this space.  Well maybe not THIS space... 

RED BROWED FIRETAIL

When Anton, Greer and the girls were here last month, Anton took some gorgeous photographs.  Isn't this wee fella beautiful?  Looks as though someone has made a bird, stood back to admire, then picked up the paintbrush, dipped it in some red paint and with two quick brushstrokes prepared him for a night on the town.  And oops, some got on the beak too!

LILY IN THE POND

Well now all you interneters out there.  Bin wonderin where I got to?  It's bin a busy few months what with David's hip operation, visitors, Christmas and what-not.  Although it's been very busy, I wouldn't have it any other way, well perhaps not the hip bit.

We're having some lovely rain after a very dry spell where we thought this was going to be a drought year.  Summerfield is beautiful;  green and lush.

Couple of photos of a water-lily in the pond.

See ya sooner rather than later o lovely ones.

 

 

 

 

 

LYREBIRDS

Have put together some of the blocks for my Lyrebird quilt.  Still another border to do, perhaps blue?  Then to quilt.

ESPECIALLY FOR GREER

It's rose time here at Summerfield and as Mr Cundall would say, "They're bloomin' gorgeous."  These are some of the Pierre de Ronsard roses on the verandah.  We have these roses scattered around the place and they flower forever. 

When the Crepiscule begins to flower in Spring you know the Melbourne Cup isn't far off.  This is one of the main flowering roses at Flemington.

Down at the fence the Sparieshoop is in flower always reminding me of dear Llois who introduced me to this beautiful rose.

This beautiful climbing rose is the Lamarque.  Its flowers are of medium size which form in small bouquets.  The petals have a touch of yellow at the base.  I took the first bloom to David when he was in hospital.  The fragrance is just wonderful.

 

And this wee beauty is the Climbing Cecile Brunner rose which grows near the water feature in the vegetable garden and also grows on the fence beyond the main garden.  Shall head back to my photographs and see if I can find a closer shot...

...And you know what I'm going to say now don't you?  Yes you're right, "That's yer bloomin' lot for the day."
 

A STRANGE ONE

 

This wee fella came into the garden the other day.  We assume he is a young pale-headed rosella although his head doesn't seem to be the colour it should be!  David searched his bird book and there was nothing to suggest this particular orange head existed in the current bird population.  But, isn't he beautiful?

And...a definite pale-headed rosella.

EXHAUSTED PUPPIES

A NEW PUPPY FOR ME THIS TIME

Dear Emma has bought me a new puppy for ma birfday.  Her name is Molly and she is a Bichon/poodle cross.  I haven't met her yet as she's going to be with Emma for a while.  Meantime, I've been discussing the situation with Dougal.  Dougal is around 14 and may take a bit of adjusting to this but then again a wee lassie in his life may be just the ticket.

WHAT A DAY IT'S BEEN

Left C's house around 5.00am to head home.   There had been thunder and lightening for what seemed most of the night.  Had to haul wee Dougal up on to the bed as the thunder was frightening the wee soul.  Every time the room lit up, he knew the thunder wasn't far away.  Sleepily, I spent half the night muttering words of comfort.  "There, there Dougal."  Finally got up, packed the car and made my way home.  Stopped off at the service station for petrol and milk.  The girls in the shop were running around in yellow coats and carrying torches trying to get the bowsers working.  So, no petrol.  Off again and the storm gathered again.  Turned up the radio to calm Dougie down and as I was heading down the dirt road towards home realized I would have to get out and unlock the gate.  Soaked to the skin, back in the car and out again to open the second gate.  Open gate, back in car, out car and close gate (we have dingoes hereabouts and a million wallabies).  By this time I was dripping and freezing cold.  Shall I park near the house or the garage?  Danny on FM102.7 announced a severe weather warning with hail.  Decided to put the car in the garage.  As I was driving in, the hail hit.  The noise!  I know I'm repeating myself, but poor Dougal.  We sat and sat and finally I got out the car and hauled down one of David's coats which was hanging on a hook.  Wrapped a towel around Dougal and headed up to the house.  Stripped off and into shower.  Then the power went out which not only meant no power but no water either. 

Kept myself busy organizing some old photographs and finally, after two hours, decided to head for town and do some of the jobs that have been on my list.

When I arrived home this afternoon, I took a look at the vegetable garden.  Oh dear! I think there will be a bit of work and replanting to be done. 

But...that's for another day.

 

 

THE HEDGE IS GONE

 
Following the floods in January, our lovely hedge became so waterlogged, it died.  Shall we plant another we mused?  Shall we plant climbing roses we asked ourselves?  Eventually we decided on a rustic fence and off David went, back into the forest.  Isn't it lovely?  And the white wisteria has already started decorating it.  Because of the hedge, the upper lawn to the right of the photograph was an enclosed garden.  With the new fence we now have a longer view from the house which has worked well with the size of the property.  We have also noticed  that the grandchildren are playing further afield too.