Little bird lost.

After a very hot morning yesterday, a  cool change brought strong gusty winds with it.

 There were small branches and leaves blowing around and I think this young magpie may have been blown off course too.

He was sitting high up on this branch in our garden for quite some time.  

I first noticed him when I looked out the kitchen window this morning.  He was very quiet and not moving much.

These young birds are usually very noisy and demanding food if their parents are nearby but this one was all alone.

After a little while he spread his wings tentatively and flew into a higher tree where the magpies often congregate.

I hope he found his way back home.

After Christmas Tree

 I started this piece of embroidery quite some time ago but it has been sitting in the basket neglected through lack of imagination.

 It is worked on yellow cotton and the basic outline of the tree trunk and limbs are worked in wool yarn.

 The little flowers are worked in cotton thread in various colours and stitches.

 The next step is to add some more beads - actually lots of beads.

 After that there will be more threads, maybe even some silk ribbon.

There also will be buttons and  embellishments.

 Maybe a little painting too. Let's see where it takes us.

Christmas Tree

The tradition in our house is to make our own tree each year.

It doesn't appeal to everyone but I am always very happy with it.

First I find some small branches from the wood pile.  This is not as easy as it seems because none of the branches is quite right so it is the overall effect that matters.

Unfortunately it is necessary to spray the branches with insect killer as the gum nuts can harbour all manner of crawlies: I don't mind them but they seem to disturb some people.

 I don't decide on the colour or number of decorations until the branches are selected and in their pot.

This year I decided on silver - all of these decorations are ones I have used before - some of them I have had for years.

I am not sure whether I should add lights.  I like the simplicity but we always have lights.  Lots of lights.

Of course it is light until really late here because we have daylight saving and we are close to the solstice (longest day) so lights really are a bit obsolete.




If the "tree" stays intact after christmas I usually leave it in place and decorate it again for Easter or just hand things on it that please me.

By the winter it is usually kindling wood for the fire in the dining room.

 

relaxation

 Today has been a lovely sunny day: cold but sunny.


The little babies I mind each day are such fun.  They are becoming aware of each other and spend time "talking" to each other.  Very funny and sweet.

 The camellias are blooming now and promise a lovely show.


I just love the way the back petals on this one are so pink.


The other bushes are really coming on too.

 The rest of the garden is improving each day.We have managed to make good use of the logs that were cut up from the trees we had taken down.  Some we have kept for next year's fires and some we have used to separate parts of the garden beds.

 The smaller pieces were shredded up to make mulch and we have spent many hours spreading it around the plants.  I am sure we have been making safe places for the lizards and other crawly things that live in the garden.  


The fish pond is settling in well and is ready to for the pump to be installed.  By the spring it should have some plants  in it and some fish as well.

 There is still lots of planting to do but I am very pleased with the progress so far.

This is the view from the top of our driveway.  I just love the shape of our eaucalyptus trees.  They are so unruly and interesting.

From here we can see Mornington and across to Mount Martha.   It really is a lovely place to live.





Tomorrow I am having a day out:  visiting friends for lunch and then I am going to have a massage and a bathe at a luxury  day spa about an hour's drive from here.  I am looking forward to it:  it is said to be one of the best in the world.  My neighbours (parents of the twins) have given me a voucher for a bathe in the mineral pools and a massage and although  it sounds strange to be going somewhere like that in this cold weather I am sure it will be relaxing. 
Peninsula Hot Springs - Welcome - Day Spa on Melbourne's Mornington Peninsula Victoria Australia

gardening days

 We are making good progress with the new sections of the garden.  This first picture shows little shrubs; westringia, correa, native mint, grevilleas.  They are tiny now but by the time the spring arrives they will be lovely. 

 The fish pond is in position now, we just need to do some landscaping and planting around it and then we will be able to plant some water lillies and add the fish.


I have the pump, the lights, and everything else needed to finish off the project.

 This is the garden which is right at the back of the garden.  More Westringias and other favourite plants including the Gordonia which is in flower.

 Our neighbours over the back and across had some of their trees removed and this large one was trimmed and cleaned up a bit.  I am so pleased they didn't take it all down.

Can you see the man in the tree?  He is up really high and well secured with ropes and harnesses.

You can see from this last pic that the tree towers over the house, it is three storeys high and you can just see the top of the roof and if you look carefully you can see the tree man up on the branch. 


There are some jobs you just wouldn't want to do.

the garden bites back

Another lovely Autumn day here in Melbourne.  We have made a start on the replanting of the garden.  I planted 10 native shrubs which will do well in this area.  Some westringia, correa, hakea, grevillia and native mint bush.

We needed to remove some overgrown vines before the planting began and as usual I took to the task with enthusiasm:  well there was a bee that did not appreciate my presence there.  I have a very sore arm for my trouble.  It is only two weeks since a very mean bull-ant bit me on the same arm.   This is all part of the adventure.


Oh, I should mention the felt in the pic.  It is a piece I embellished and painted a while ago.  I was so disappointed in the result that I put it in the too hard basket until I came across it today.  To be honest I don't mind it so much now but will have to find a use for it.

Thanks to all those who read and comment on my blog: it is always good to hear from you.

I was grateful for the reminder about the pond, Melissa.  I had not thought of the dangers of such a deep pool.  We have little babies (twins) next door and although they are only six months old I will have to anticipate them visiting when they are more mobile.  An enclosure might be needed! Thanks again.





 

The tree men came yesterday and removed 10 trees from the side of our house.  As you can see the area 

is quite narrow so imagine 10 trees most of which are higher than the roof line.

I am always fascinated to look at the cut surfaces of the trees and the bark so I have so many opportunities for pics.

Today I bought 12 new plants to start rebuilding the garden.  These are all australian plants and grow well in this district.  

I recently purchased a new (recycled) fish pond on ebay and this will be part of the garden renovations.  It is deep enough for some interesting water plants.

So you can see we will be busy for at least a year!

trees, conservation and other questions

We are lucky enough to live in an area which has lots of native vegetation, including huge eaucalyptus trees.  When our house was built some thirty years ago trees were planted on the narrow side, between our house and our neighbour's.  Some of these now tower over our house dropping leaves into the guttering and dropping huge limbs without warning.  

Since moving here we have talked often about the dangers versus  the advantages of having these wonderful trees so close to the house and with heads over ruling our hearts we have decided that ten trees have to go.  This has been a really difficult decision and I do hope that it is the correct one.  We are in a fire prone area so this is another consideration.

The trees pictured are at our back fence and are to remain.  They give an indication of the size and unruly nature of the trees around us.

Of course we will plant another 20 trees and shrubs: there is space for some away from the house.

With all the natural disasters all over the world I cannot help worrying about what we are doing to our own little environment. 

images and imagination

This image is quite strange 
and mysterious.  I did have fun with this one.






 

As our disappointing summer comes to an end I thought I would take a few photos of the garden

The garden has lapped up all that extra rain and I must admit it has made gardening easier.

A few more really hot days would have been welcome though.

yesterday was particularly gloomy and grey as you can see by the picture to the left here.  

We often see the planes practicing their formation flying before special events or  air shows in the city.

 You can see the planes in these two photos - and in the one above you can see the  helicopter behind them.  I am not sure why the helicopter was there but it was interesting.

Oh and here is another one of our garden.

THANKSGIVING

Although we don't celebrate Thanksgiving here in Australia I do think it is a wonderful opportunity to count our blessings and meditate upon the good things in our lives.  So much of life consists of bad news and challenges.

 In this wonderful age of the world wide web we are able to share and keep in touch with like minded people throughout the world.  Through the internet I have made some wonderful friends.
For that I am thankful.

We live in a country that is relatively peaceful, prosperous and beautiful.
For that I am thankful.

 I have great friends, neighbours,  daughters, grandchildren and of course my husband.
For that I am thankful.

There is so much to be thankful for and while we are on holiday I am taking time to think on these things.


I have added some pics I have taken during the past couple of  days.  The plants here are big and bright and beautiful.


This morning I swam in the surf at Greenmount beach. It is so beautiful to feel the power of the sea and to taste the salt.  I could have stayed there all day: there is something about the sea that always makes me feel joyful.


Tomorrow we set off for Noosaville: bringing father-in-law with us.  We will stop on the way to see some friends for morning tea and to catch up with chatter and take a look at their beautiful garden.  It is a about 3 hours driving altogether and we have a lovely new ford hire car to travel in.

I had better stop writing and organize myself for the trip.

RAIN, RAIN & MORE RAIN

We have had so much rain lately, it is great for the garden after so many years of drought conditions and water restrictions.

A lot of the big trees in the neighbourhood have suffered from stress over the recent years and now that we are having rain & strong wind storms they are falling over or at least dropping large limbs.

 

I took these pics of the views from our kitchen window yesterday.  We are up fairly high so there is no risk of flooding:  it is lovely to be as high as some of the big trees.

Of course this kind of weather is ideal for stitching which is great.