Colour in my Garden - August
I dedicate this months Colour in my Garden to my brother Nick... to save him from having to find a Botanical Website... the cheeky bugger!!
Wednesday 29 August 2007
Tuesday 28 August 2007
Lunar Eclipse
I did cheat with the last photo but I've only got a 5 megapixel camera and I couldn't even find the moon through it when it was a total eclipse... not bad though eh? The world is a wonderful place :-)
This is what was missing...
The green Albion has replaced the red Leyland while a bit of maintenance is attended to.
Sunday 26 August 2007
Lunch with old friends...
Lovely day yesterday catching up with long time local friends whom we met about 30 years ago through the local school, scouts and soccer. It was terrific to hear where and what all our children are up to... we're all Grandparents now!!
Saturday 25 August 2007
Scatterday 'L'
I've joined in with Dy and Michelle who plan to put up photos each Saturday using a letter and three categories, they've called it 'Scatterday' very clever aren't they. This first weeks letter is 'L' with the categories being, Food, Animal & Sewing
Food = Licorice to serve, Licorice written & Licorice good enough to eat.
Animal = Lizard on a rock, Lizard in the jungle & Lizard in a pot.
Sewing = Ladies love to quilt, Ladies love to shop & Ladies love to garden.
Friday 24 August 2007
Brothers.
This photo looks as though I just happened to catch them playing together but you have no idea how long it took to get a photo of the two of them together... they only lasted two seconds like this!!
Thursday 23 August 2007
Rock 'n' Roll
Watching 'Spicks & Specks' last night, one of my favourite shows on the telly, when Adam Hills asked all the others to tell us the first Rock Concert they'd been to, my first thought was that I'd never been to a Rock Concert but then I remembered going to see Louis Armstrong at White City in Rushcutters Bay way back in the 1950's, I know he was Jazz but he was the closest thing to Rock back then. I was only a child, maybe 10 or 11, and in those days if they couldn't fill the venue they would give free tickets to the Army, so Dad and Mum took me... He was fantastic but the seats were dreadful and I got into trouble from Mum for tapping my feet LOL
Now this got me going... One of David's friends took me to see 'The Seekers' at the Sydney Town Hall just before I flew to England to marry, they were fantastic! Then David and I were lucky to have third row seats for the 1988 'Legends of Rock' hosted by Col Joye, who was the best! the show stared Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bo Diddley and the Everly Brothers... what a line up eh!
I also went with a friend to see Elton John, 'seeing' is a bit of a misnomer because our seats were too far away. Same friend and I saw Paul McCartney at Parramatta Stadium he was absolutely wonderful but we had sore necks because we had to twist in our seats to see him and Linda at the back. I would have loved to have seen the 'Beatles' and Johnny O'Keefe, I still sing along to their music when I hear it.
Which Rock Concert was your first??
Now this got me going... One of David's friends took me to see 'The Seekers' at the Sydney Town Hall just before I flew to England to marry, they were fantastic! Then David and I were lucky to have third row seats for the 1988 'Legends of Rock' hosted by Col Joye, who was the best! the show stared Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bo Diddley and the Everly Brothers... what a line up eh!
I also went with a friend to see Elton John, 'seeing' is a bit of a misnomer because our seats were too far away. Same friend and I saw Paul McCartney at Parramatta Stadium he was absolutely wonderful but we had sore necks because we had to twist in our seats to see him and Linda at the back. I would have loved to have seen the 'Beatles' and Johnny O'Keefe, I still sing along to their music when I hear it.
Which Rock Concert was your first??
Louis Armstrong, The Seekers, Col Joye, Bo Diddley, Everly Brothers, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Elton John and Paul McCartney.
How could I forget Neil Diamond.
Had front row seats for Neil Diamond when he came to Australia, he was a bit creepy and religious with religious minders but his singing of all the oldies was fantastic!! I'm seeing myself in a new light, I never knew I was such a Rocker!! LOL
Monday 20 August 2007
Some Fat Quarters...
I spent most of my day fussy cutting 108 X 5 1/2 inch squares of novelty fabrics for Matilda May's First Birthday Quilt, I've already made three quilts similar to the one I'm starting now so I am well stocked with Novelty fabrics... Seven piles on the top shelf to be exact... it's a good feeling to have chosen and cut 108 different fabrics and have them folded and put away again.
Tricked you...
This is my Larder which is not in my sewing room but what can I say... I needed a change.
Sunday 19 August 2007
Friday 17 August 2007
I'm so excited...
These little rock orchids were separated and planted in the new garden wall Gwillym built, they have thrived and there are thousands of these little buds... I can't wait.
Wednesday 15 August 2007
Monday 13 August 2007
Honey, Honey, Honey....
I only discovered this Capilano Honey & Ginger about 18 months ago but became immediately addicted so have it on my cereal each morning.
Lately it's been getting harder and harder to find so last month I ordered 8 through Woolworths Online. I noticed when I went to order from Wollies this month (no I haven't finished all 8) it was no longer available. I was devastated so did a Google on Capilano to discover it's not even on their website!! Shock Horror!! I wrote to them through 'Contact us' and only a few minutes later got an email from Cara telling me it was the Distributors fault because they just didn't order it... but she just so happened to have a jar of it sitting on her desk and she'd put it straight into the post. I emailed 'who did she mean by the Distributors' and she emailed me Woolworths!
Today I received my Honey from Cara as well as a phone call from Wollies telling me they were bringing it back but it would take Capilano two months to build their supplies back up.
I'm a WINNER!!!
Saturday 11 August 2007
Abigail Rose thinks she's ready to go to the Park.....
....... she has her hat on, she has her backpack on and she also has her pink crocks on.... but that is all!
We had a wonderful half hour playing games, chatting and watching our two beautiful little English Roses, Matilda May was fascinated by us and Abigail Rose played lots of hiding games with us...hands over her face and counting to 10, then she showed us her sore toe, her backpack, her teeth and over all found the whole thing hilariously funny!
Aaaaaahhhh 'twas so wonderful... I love iChat!
This is one of the reasons I make quilts.
I've almost finished quilting this Row by Row Christmas Quilt... I'll show it to you when I've finished... Jack and Charlie were fascinated by it, heres Jack showing Charlie the Santa Train.
Friday 10 August 2007
We deserve a GOLD STAR!
Our water bill arrived yesterday... between the 9th of May to the 4th of August we've used 287 litres a day, (sounds an awful lot doesn't it?) the average for two people is 375 litres a day... during this time we had Nerys, Tim, Jack, Charlie and Steve here two of the weeks. Our litres for this time last year were 670!!! So what is different?? Well it rained for a start but we also called in a Sydney Water Plumber who checked us over changing a couple of washers and replacing one shower head for the total sum of $22... but I reckon our main savings relate to the two plastic bowls I've put in the kitchen sink and the laundry sink... when they're full we take them outside and throw the water on the garden.
Thursday 9 August 2007
I love Spring Bulbs.
I think I fell in love with them at around the age of 6, my mother dressed myself and my sister Meredith up as Daffodils for a fancy dress parade for a Children's Christmas Party when we lived at Kapooka Army Camp... we won a box of chocolates... maybe that's when I fell in love with chocolates as well................
Wednesday 8 August 2007
Mandarine Crop
I've been much admiring of my friend Dy's Blog and her DH's wonderful vegetable crop then yesterday my neighbour's 4 year old picked me a Mandarine from her very small tree, it was absolutely delicious which reminded me of our last years wonderful crop of small but very sweet Mandarines.
Today I decided it must be time for me to gather in this years crop so grabbing a basket I ventured into the pool area where this prolific tree is growing. Here is a photo of our 2007 crop beside a 50 cent coin!
Tuesday 7 August 2007
Mum are we nearly there yet?
Over the weekend David found an old folder of mine with copies of invitations I'd made and stories I'd written, it was fun going through them but this one had us laughing ourselves silly remembering... it happened 20 years ago. Enjoy Nerys, Tomos, Briony and especially Gwilly!
Easter Sunday 1987
“Is this the day we go to Denham’s?’ asks the sleepy six year old Gwilly before he tumbles downstairs to see what the Easter Bunny has left on the kitchen table. ‘Yes, this is the day,’ replies his youngest sister, ‘We have to help Mum and Dad pack our things, I’ll help you then you can help me.’ Great organizer is Briony. ‘Breakfast first’ I say trying to get something sensible into them when I think of all those chocolate eggs and a long drive ahead.
Tomos has already left by 7:30am to sing the first of the two Sunday Services at St Andrews Cathedral, he’ll be back about 1pm for a few hours before he goes back into the City for Evensong. He then has 8 days of holidays… most kids get two weeks school holidays.
All day we pack, clean, wash and Nerys has a game of tennis with her boyfriend. Tomos leaves again at 5:30pm for the City… we plan to leave Turramurra around 8pm, pick him up on the way through and head South to Denhams Beach where David’s mother has a holiday house. Then Gwilly starts.
‘Are we going now?’
‘No Gwilly, not for a long time.’
‘How long?’
‘Three Sesame Streets, that’s how long.’
‘That’s a LONG time, why can’t we go now?’
‘Because Tom hasn’t finished at the Cathedral yet.’
‘But we’re all ready, why isn’t Tom?’
‘Would somebody please put a Video on!’ I ask nobody in particular. At last Storm Boy does the trick and the questions stop for now.
We set off... have only just picked up Tomo and still in the City when number four child asks, ‘Are we nearly there Mum?’ Everybody laughs which doesn’t help Gwilym and we all try to explain to him that it will take five long hours to get to Denhams and seeing that it’s now way past his bedtime why doesn’t he just go to sleep again, he’d already fallen asleep on the way into the city, I hope that isn’t all the sleep he’ll have.
The next hour is taken up with Tomos and Gwilym getting settled into the middle seat of the car with a lot of, ’It isn’t fair’ and ‘Don’t kick’ and ‘You have more room than I do’ and lots of ‘Muuuummmm!’ The girls had their act together in the back seat well before we left, they have headphones on and are listening to their favourite tapes and any movement always happens with the minimum of fuss.
Quiet at last.
Two hours later I need a toilet stop at Kiama but dare I stop the car? Will it wake them up and start them all off again? David assures me that Tomos and Gwilym are sound asleep and I will be safe to stop so I gently pull in, gently turn off the engine, gently open the door and Gwilly pops his head up… ‘Are we there now Mum?’ I just groan and tell him I need a toilet stop and of course everybody does as well so we all troup out then all climb back in again and the same old squabbling goes on in the middle of the car.
David gets very cross and threatens the boys with dire punishments if all is not quiet NOW! ‘Dad can I ask just one question?’ says the sweet little voice in the middle, ‘Yes Darling’ ‘Don’t get cross now Dad’ ‘I won’t, what is it Gwilym?’ ‘Are we nearly there yet?’ Now I’ve had it. ‘Gwilym you are not to ask that question again, do you hear me? I will tell you when we are nearly there! OK?’
All is quiet again.
About half an hour later David couldn’t find his pillow so Gwilym gave him his, ‘That was really kind Gwilly, you can have one more ‘Are we nearly there’ question.’ So for the rest of the trip Gwilly asks, ‘Can I use it now Mum?’ ‘No don’t waste it,’ is the stern reply.
We’ve almost made it, it’s almost 1 a.m. the bridge to Batemans Bay is in sight then through the town past the still lively Bowling Club…on Easter Sunday? Along Beach Road through Batehaven then, I’m pulled over by the Breathalyser Police. The kids think this is great fun and all fall over each other scrambling up to watch, ‘Tell them you don’t drink Mum, tell them,’ ‘They don’t want to know that, and they wouldn’t believe me anyway’ I say. ‘Why not? Why wouldn’t a Policeman believe you Mum?’ again from the littlest member of the family… thinking a change of subject would be a good idea I tell Gwilym that he can now use his question.
‘Mum, are we nearly there yet?’ YES shouts the whole family.
Sunday 5 August 2007
My Vibrator Quilt.
On the first Saturday of each month the Southern Cross Quilters meet at the Blue Gum Pub at Waitara, we have a room to ourselves and we sit, chat, sew and have lunch. When we order our lunch we're given one of those vibrating flashing light things that if sitting on a hard cold table make one heck of a noise and frighten the living daylights out of us so I set a challenge... this month we had to make a Vibrator Quilt... there were some beauties which you can see in Flickr but heres mine which is a photo of the official painting of Tasmania's Floral Emblem... the Blue Gum.
Friday 3 August 2007
Frantic half hour...
Tomos rings from Hong Kong, "I'm going to be on Radio Australia in about 30 minutes!"
Radio Australia?? Radio Australia?? How does one find Radio Australia... have you ever listened to Radio Australia in Australia??
Do a Google and find the website.
Click on 'Tuning In' and Australia.
Get radio and search for 9960, radio doesn't go past 1600.
Click on Listen on the Web, nothing happens.
Ring my right hand computer friend Oren.
He emails me a programme.
Together we download it.
Someone is trying to ring, thinking it might be Tomo I hang up from Oren, it's our friend Corrie so tell her I'll call back, ring Oren back.
We get it up and running and are listening to a couple of young people chatting on the Morning Show.
Quickly ring Rosie and Rip... they're engaged.
Nerys and the boys are on their way over.
Ring Briony at work and she puts phone on speaker phone while we hold our phone up to the computer.
David rings Gwilym on my mobile... always a long job because we don't use it a lot.
So we're sitting in front of the computer each holding up a phone to Radio Australia.
Nerys comes down the driveway.
The young presenters start talking about Tom Griffiths from England... but a true blue Aussie who was one of the many Phantom's in 'Phantom of the Opera' in London, they say his one man show last night was great and play him singing one of the songs from the Phantom.
Shiver, shiver, shiver... shivers down our spine... he sounds just fantastic!
The young presenters are all 'Wow! we should send this to Cameron Mackintosh' and so on then they play a little bit of a Canadian doing the same song but it's just terrible and they say more nice things about our beautiful Tomo!!
We're jumping up and down here in the office... it was such an exciting 30 minutes!
Tomo is on his way home to London right now.
Radio Australia?? Radio Australia?? How does one find Radio Australia... have you ever listened to Radio Australia in Australia??
Do a Google and find the website.
Click on 'Tuning In' and Australia.
Get radio and search for 9960, radio doesn't go past 1600.
Click on Listen on the Web, nothing happens.
Ring my right hand computer friend Oren.
He emails me a programme.
Together we download it.
Someone is trying to ring, thinking it might be Tomo I hang up from Oren, it's our friend Corrie so tell her I'll call back, ring Oren back.
We get it up and running and are listening to a couple of young people chatting on the Morning Show.
Quickly ring Rosie and Rip... they're engaged.
Nerys and the boys are on their way over.
Ring Briony at work and she puts phone on speaker phone while we hold our phone up to the computer.
David rings Gwilym on my mobile... always a long job because we don't use it a lot.
So we're sitting in front of the computer each holding up a phone to Radio Australia.
Nerys comes down the driveway.
The young presenters start talking about Tom Griffiths from England... but a true blue Aussie who was one of the many Phantom's in 'Phantom of the Opera' in London, they say his one man show last night was great and play him singing one of the songs from the Phantom.
Shiver, shiver, shiver... shivers down our spine... he sounds just fantastic!
The young presenters are all 'Wow! we should send this to Cameron Mackintosh' and so on then they play a little bit of a Canadian doing the same song but it's just terrible and they say more nice things about our beautiful Tomo!!
We're jumping up and down here in the office... it was such an exciting 30 minutes!
Tomo is on his way home to London right now.
Thursday 2 August 2007
Kambrachallenge Group.
This is my group of Kambrachallenge friends, we met online through the Southern Cross Quilters and live between Sydney, the Blue Mountains to the west, Wollongong to the south and Canberra to the South West and usually only see every one together when we do our Revelations of our Kambrachallenge. I've just set up a Blog with photos of 9 years of quilts, you will see how clever we are at interrupting each years challenge. Check us out here... http://kambrachallenge.blogspot.com/
Wednesday 1 August 2007
The Thompsons have started renovations! Charlie measures up...
The Thompsons have started renovations! Charlie measures up..., originally uploaded by Pennie David.
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