Gale force

Today is the third day of gale force winds...welcome to October! The highest winds in 5 years!  I've been feeling a little apprehensive about going outdoors with little P, and now I know why. The front of our garage blew off this morning - about 200 bricks.  Such a shock - huge noise.

Little P started crying and I had to save Dizzy who was frozen in fear in the backyard.  But if we have to get through this to reach Summer, then bring it on!

Being stuck inside calls for imagination in the form of simple games for Piet. This game involved hiding small objects, such as spoons and pegs inside an empty tissue box.  Kept a 13 month old busy for at least an hour...

And why is there an empty tissue box in the house? My hay fever, was not hay fever, but instead a cold which lead to a horrible chest infection.

Sure to feel better soon - we have big night out tomorrow night with work. Finally time to party!

A weekend with guests galore

Callistemon aka 'Bottle Brush'

Sometimes it's not until you get older that you start to notice the beautiful things that have been around you the whole time.  Why is that?  My primary school was filled with these huge Australian bushy trees, our pigtails filled with them after running through the branches.

Stones Throw has three trees of t the front garden which will be perfect screens when we build the new house.....last Summer I filled the house with vases and vases of these bright-red soft brushes.

Yesterday, my favourite sister-in-law, Ana, visited.  We keep each other company when our respective partners go to the football. Chicken & Leek Pie for lunch, chocolate chip ice cream for afters.  Then we transformed my kitchen into a photo studio to capture some of Ana's amazing sculptures on film for a prospective gallery. The photos don't do them justice; you just want to touch them and the different colours that appear from the five-day wood-fired kiln process are breathtaking.

Today, Sunday, we have more guests arriving, just giving me time to mow a lawn, hang a load of washing and clean up after yesterday's guests stayed the night. This week at work is going to be big so I'll try and pace myself today, though with the warmer weather hanging around how can I not want to be outside pottering around!!

Ana Maria Hernandez y Jensen can be contacted on anamhj@hotmail.com

Wintry conditions

Welcome to a wintry Thursday morning…was it not just yesterday that little P and I sat outside under the umbrella to eat lunch and giggle at Dizzy chasing birds? Now the wind is howling and the rain bucketing down, just 13 degrees.

I rugged Piet up this morning in a hand knitted jumper, socks and three top layers then bundled him off to child care – he’s such a happy little boy.

T gave me an assortment of plants for our 3^rd anniversary – olives, wattles and a bloomin’ apple tree. That’s this weekend sorted – planting.

 

Nearly the weekend – it’s felt like a looong week – took me forever to catch up after working til late on Friday night.

Friends are visiting on Saturday so I also have a menu to plan, one of my favourite things to do while P sleeps. Hope the weather warm sup so we can once again sit out under the umbrella and peer out at the world.

A wonderful day!

Piet and I had such a wonderful day together...I was sad putting him to bed, another day over, they go so fast.  He's slowly learning to eat 'real food' and today fed himself his entire lunch! Does that mean he doesn't need me anymore...

Our first really warm day today led to three loads of washing and a trip to the beach - very relaxing.

Today is also a special day for T and I - out third wedding anniversary, gosh time has flown.  We've been looking at our wedding photos from Hamilton Island - what a special day!

Dinner out tonight was the plan - however I left it too late to arrange our babysitter - so date night will be two weeks away - can't wait.

Rain is due to return at midnight and tomorrow just 13 degrees....brrrr....back to the opaque black stockings for work (and my trusty electric blanket tonight).

Late start this morning, but deserved after not getting home from work until 1am.  The sun has been out for most of the day...making everyone feel good...and we have a full house.  A happy full house is a lovely house to be in, and a house filled with flowers is even lovelier, especially when they were a gift.
Lizzie's garden is always full of blooms to choose from.

Sunny days on the farm means getting out and about - mowing, weeding, gardening etc but today was the day to spray the fruit trees, so T focused on this earlier today while I began my slow start to the day.

Clouds are set to roll in later this afternoon, then rain for the next day or two....and then the grass will grow again, needing to be mowed again.  The almonds are looking mighty fine...definitely much better than last year! Yummo

Off to Melbourne tomorrow to catch up with a friend and to see a matinee.  Can't wait!

Hello to my sister...does this little bird look familiar? The pair are some of my favourite possessions.

Week 38: 16th - 21st September, 2013

Sept 13

Mother Nature, you call this Spring?

We have woken to a 2 degree morning....brrrr. Yesterday turned into a beautiful afternoon so little P and I took Dizzy for a walk to the bay and enjoyed the sun.

The other properties in our town have beautiful gardens and find ways to hide their houses from the road with various trees. I snuck a small branch from one of the pretty trees. Am not so sure what it is, but truly some type of beautiful Australian native, with small pink & yellow seed pods.

Piet slowly getting better, he's back to sleeping through the night and trying to pull himself up on the couch and coffee table; not completely calming for me, however at least he now has some energy. His little cheeky sense of humour is again making me smile.

Tomorrow we are off to the Mornington Peninsula - a ferry trip across Port Philip Bay - but really a world away. Can't wait to show Piet the ferry!

Today we take Dizzy to the vet and search for a suitable engagement present for our friends Dave & Meaghan who's big decision we celebrate tomorrow night on the Mornington Peninsula.