Day 213/366

Well, of course you always expect to see Ducks when on holiday!

Day 212/366

Pee Wee chillin' at the beach.

Day 211/366

Where would you find a ginger plant growing but at the ginger factory in Buderim?

(Well, Yandina actually.)

Day 210/366

Something's happening at the beach.

Woorim Beach Bribie Island.

Day 209/366

Campsite #28, Beachmere Caravan Park.

After the stormy weather.

Day 208/366

Storm brewing, Bulahdelah, NSW.

Day 206/366

The Graphics Fairy Spring Printable inspired these very-easy-to-make fridge magnets.

All you need is a print out of the bugs and butterflies (at the above link) at a size suitable for your glass pebbles, (I used high resolution paper for printing to stop colour bleed); some good, clear-drying glue, scissors, pencil, and one small, round magnet for each pebble.

Using the pencil, trace pebble shape around selected bug/butterfly, cut out paper shape of image and with image facing up, glue shape to back of glass pebble eliminating air bubbles if they occur. Once the glue/paper is dry,  glue magnet to back of pebble, allow to dry completely and that's it.

What could be simpler?

  

Linking to Brag Monday at the Graphics Fairy.

Day 205/366

Blending soap - just about traced.

Day 199/366

Presbyterian Church 

Springwood NSW

Day 196/366

Roses are Red

Day 195/366

Wire Basket

Day 194/366

Cleveland House 1823

Surry Hills

This could be the oldest still standing house in Sydney.

A Regency style gentleman's residence.

Built by Daniel Cooper.

Designed by Francis Greenway.

Both Cooper (business man) and Greenway (architect) were deported to New South Wales as convicts, later to be emancipated and become successful in their own right.

The gardens were refurbished around 2008 if I remember rightly.

There used to be a port wine magnolia in the garden bed at the front of the far corner of the verandah.

This has been removed and replaced with a less fragrant plant with which I'm not familiar.

The New South Wales government is currently repairing the verandah wall and sandstone flagging.  

14.7.12 I found this article from 2010 referring to the above property.

Repairs Ordered On Sydney's Oldest House.

Day 193/366

Mr Honey Pie and I were surprised at breakfast by a visit from a flock of birds.

This is less than half of the total number of birds that perched themselves outside our front windows.

I have learned by experience that the moment you put up a camera before a wild bird, that is the same moment the bird flies away.

Being so unprepared, I opted for the point and shoot camera. Nor did I even bother to venture outside onto the verandah.

So, this photograph is opportunistic, taken through a window and it is cropped and highly edited.

But I hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed the visit.

(By the way, I've no idea what these birds are called...a native dove or pigeon me thinks.  Their visits are very seasonal, we see them for a few weeks each year and then that's it, they're gone.  Never have we seen so many in one go ... eight?)

Day 192/366

Sneak Peak #2.

Here is the beginning of another braid.

I'm just loving these colours.

The quilt is a 'quilt-as-you-go' and I'm amazed at the speed I'm getting through this.

It's a birthday quilt for my 'Baby' Sister's fiftieth birthday in September.

Edited: 11.7.2012

I have linked to Freshly Pieced

Work In Progress; this week hosted by Kati.

Why don't you drop on over and see what others have been creating in way of quilting.

Day 191/366

Today, I started a new patchwork quilt.

Here's a sneak peak.

The patchwork braid is so easy.

I have fallen in love with it.

Day 190/366

The first thing I did today was make Rocky Road Crunch.

Just because.

Afterwards, I played with the camera a bit.

Then Mr Honey Pie and I went to see an art deco house that's for sale.

We can afford it.

Shall we, or shan't we?

Day 189/366

I wish I could say I've grown these African violets myself, but I can't: I bought them from the growers' markets in Penrith a month ago.

These little beauties flower well as long as they are provided with lots of (filtered) light and are kept at a temperature above fifteen degrees Celsius.

The only way I can provide such an environment is to have the pots sitting just centimetres from a south-west facing window and to have the heating on.

Today, our lowest temperature was less than one degree.

Our high didn't quite reach fifteen degrees.

I decided (after I'd done my shopping at this month's growers' markets) it was the perfect day to stay indoors and re-pot the African violet cuttings I'd struck over the last couple of months.

These cuttings were taken from this plant.

Here's how I did it:

(I'm not going to give a detailed post on this because there are numerous blogs/videos with great instructions on the WWW already).

Instead, here is a picture-log.

The cuttings were struck in an African violet liquid feed.  Plant-lets have grown from the base of the stem, as have masses of roots.

I prepared discarded take-away food containers (these are from a a sauce that came with our Thai takeaway).

A wick was created from an unwanted nylon shoe lace (don't use cotton or wool).

Cut holes in the lids of rectangular Chinese food containers to house the babies, fill base with African violet liquid food so that wick just sits into the liquid.

Set in a warm and nicely lit position and wait.

Day 188/366

On the days that I commute to work, I look out the train window and watch the sun's effects on the world outside.

This week, there have been some spectacular sunrises.

I love it most when the mist is rising from the valleys.

It pains me though, that I can't find a vantage point to photograph the heavenly scenes before me because I'm in the train.

This morning, I couldn't resist and took pot luck through the train window.

Yes, yes, I know...I should get up earlier and take photos before catching my train. 

As it is, I set my alarm for six o'clock to catch the seven twenty four train.

Here's the bottom line: I'm not a morning person!

 Witnessing the sunrise these past few weeks has triggered flashbacks to the months we spent on the road, two years ago, and waking to the wonderful variety of sunrises as we travelled around Australia.

Most mornings, this is what urged me out of bed before my usual hour.

I'm thinking we're overdue for a camping holiday!

Seriously.

Day 187/366

Former Welsh Presbyterian Church 

Surry Hills

Day 186/366

Standing Nude

Norman Lindsay Gallery

Faulconbridge

My day was spent at the gallery with family.

The weather was brilliant but cold.

I have lost count of the visits I have made to the above gallery with its beautiful garden surrounds.

Norman Lindsay was an artist, cartoonist and author, controversial in his time.

He was very popular with my children during the seventies and eighties for his children's book The Magic Pudding.

My four year old Grand Daughter loved the comic characters, my teenage Niece was shocked by the Satyrs and her sister took it all in her stride.

Each time I visit, I see a different aspect of Lindsay's life and art.

A multifaceted man who definitely pushed boundaries.

Day 184/366

Happy Birthday to my Twin Sisters, Neice and Youngest Son.

Yesterday's icy weather was perfect to gather indoors with family.

Definitely a cold start to the second half of 2012.

Today is a little better, a sunny 8 oC.

Day 183/366

I can grow carrots.

I thinned out my carrot rows today.

I've never grown carrots before.

The man at the local markets told me that carrots will grow in sand.

So I purchased some seed from him.

I think he's correct you know.

This very immature carrot even tasted heavenly.

My success may warrant a second garden bed of carrots.