Spring time junkie

Early spring sun, a painting I did in 09

Spring is the coolest. On the last day of winter I envisage my own spring festival. I plan to replant and extend the veggie patch, putting in an abundance of seedlings for the Summer crop. More importantly i want my house to be bombarded with flowers.
Those little pots i kept on the kitchen window sill over the frosty season get kicked out into the sunshine, "go on my lovelies get growing in the fresh air".
So much cleaning to do and organising for outdoor living.
Then Spring comes and it just rains, be it a bit warmer and we have more daylight now. We have had about 3 beautiful spring days since the first of September and the plants are thriving. I have done some small things to start off my Spring festival, like bringing in some nasturtiums into little glass milk bottles...very pretty, and panning of the veggie patch. There is more to be done later but for now i will enjoy the rain.

Winter

The sound of kookaburras in the forest of Olinda Mt Dandenong is so beautiful. As i woke up in the cottage the morning after our arrival i knew it was going to be a great time away. The comfy bed with feather cover and pillows and a canopy of soft white cheesecloth draping down the sides was not easy to drag myself away from. But we had brought our little girl with us and the routine on holiday had to match the routine at home.
There were abundant water features, one at the front flowing under a bridge and at the back water running down some slopes and into the larger of the ponds.
We could see the neighbours garden when we opened the kichen an laundry windows, very nice landscaping, chickens had thier own little house with a picket fence. We enjoyed the open fire, port, tea and the spa, it was also a very adorable kitchen with on old stove that worked to perfection.
The day came for me to get out and and wonder the cute shops and garden paths and have a little "me time". I picked up some cool stuff bright rainbow tea towels, a salt pig, crystal candle holder, hand made berry soap, a pen with an illistration of a weed smoking Jamaican lamb singing into a mic, and finally a beautifully crafted journal by the rabbit and the duck.

The garden is going through changes. This camellia and has never really flowered before this fall...just gorgeous. The strawberry here has some late fruit every year. 

Mothers day

To market to buy a sack of potatoes and an old Rosella preserves Jar. An overcast morning which made it all the better. A great coffee and a pumpkin scone fresh as can be topped with jam and cream.
On my first mothers day my true love gave to me a pair of diamond earrings. I will treasure them and what they represent always. My daughter helped pick them out and signed the card.
Also, today we celebrate our girl turning 11 months, just one more month to go.

Coffee

How cold it's been the last two days and rainy! Perfect weather for hot beverages like my favorite the skinny cappuchino. My spunky man is a wonderful barrister and spoils me every day with a cup for morning tea. The smell of fresh coffee grind is intoxicating. The sight and sound of coffee being made brightens my day. Even the cats get their kittychino.

The magical vege patch

My cats, Astro and Vespa love hanging out in the vege patch. This photo has Astro taking a leisurely stroll through the greens. But he's not the only one. Jane and I Love sitting in the vege patch. The garden is ever changing and inspiring. I've had some great chats with God in this setting. Yellow butterflies flutter around the potato vine, birds tweet back and forth and the trees rustle and waltz in the breeze. The cats come in for a pat and sit calmly under the foliage of artichokes and pack choi.
A pumpkin vine trails along the fence under cascades of pretty, white, star shaped flowers and over a rusty singer pedal-wheel. It seems the plants and bugs are having their own conversations around the water cooler.

In Autumn

Autumn is in it's last stages. The air smells crisp and chills your nose. I love Autumn so much...it's the time to plant bulbs (even though i have no time to do that this year), the leaves change into contrasting colours, the garden has a growth spurt and hills have the most lushest shade of green. Above all this i get to light a wood fire...smells wonderful.

Feline support

When i was pregnant with Jane i read allot about the subject. Vespa showing her support in the best way she knows how.
Well...reading and educating myself did help my nerves about pregnancy and birth. Also the night classes helped me feel more connected to what was happening in our lives. Did any of this information get used on the day of delivery? Well.....no.

The lone pumpkin

A little while ago i had some kent pumpkin plants sprout up and i thought "why not...i could use some pumkins for roast night". They grew so fast that before i new it i was harvesting the stunners. Four grew on one vine - brillient! So now i have two on my breakfast table, one in the fridge(half eaten) and one lone pumpkin still attached to the vine.

Where the green things are

Nature captivates and distracts me. It's delightful to pick, taste, smell, plant, prune and develop an ever changing, dancing garden.
Making special places for contemplation and nourishment is the goal and I get great pleasure simply gazing into the garden or making small changes. Every garden view matters when it is your solace and simply being in my garden does wonders for my soul. Journey with me as I go where the green things are.