Gardens and other things

My very good friend Marie came over yesterday and after I had put all my garden tools away (I spent the morning digging out weeds) we went off to look at the beautiful Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. The first thing that greeted us was the sound of the pipes.

Not sure why they were playing in the gardens but they had attracted a large crowd.

Walkng through the top gate we were greeted by a huge bed of tulips

Shady Lady Red - this is a Telopea (Waratah) hybrid

The azaleas were in full flower

These little babies were swimming as fast as they could - it took me a while to get a photo of them

Proud mother duck

Rhododendrons and camelias

There was a whole bed of these cyclamen they looked fantastic

Magnificent!

Magnolias

Looking up through the branches of a huge Cork Oak.

Then into the conservatory where there were magnificent orchids and hippeastrums!

My dad grew ones like this but I have never had success.

Next stop was the State Cinema to see Red Dog. It was so funny and sad, what a marvellous dog.

How lucky am I?

I had a lovely lunch with my friend Sue today at Venus. Sue has just returned from a lovely week in Canberra, staying at Yarralumba - no not at Government House but at a B&B just 4 doors down from Kevin Rudd's Canberra residence. Sue is so thoughtful, she bought me these lovely fabrics from Bungendore Country Patchwork store. They tone perfectly with some other material I have bought recently. Now what will I make!

How beautiful are these! Lovely Christmassy colours, just right. Thanks Brian for letting Sue in a boring shop for long enough to buy me these lol.

Here is a little job I did on Tuesday. All ready to quilt now....next week....next year. I want to do it by hand so will probably take a while.

Pins all place

Isn't she cute?

No dinners here until I get this on the go!! The dining table is busy!

Spring??

Today was a return to winter! I woke this morning to find snow on the mountain. Yesterday I started to get rid of all the winter weeds and dig out some old roses in order to plant some new ones I have bought and intended to spend all today in the garden but the weather had different ideas and after only 15mins the rain came down and I was rather wet!

Luckily I had heaps of other things to do; talking to my daughter for ages (what a luxury) and finally finishing the embroidery on my needle case, a pattern I got from the Quilted Crow gathering earlier this year, oh and of course just sitting and reading my book!

Just need to add a few pockets and sew it together and all done!

Happy Days

More touristing (is this a word??) yesterday with a visit to MONA. What can I say, it was totally fascinating. We spent about 4 hours wandering looking at all the exhibits and could have stayed longer. Would love to put up some MONA photos but unfortunately not allowed.

Today was lazy, catching up with family and then the visit was over, but what happy days we had.

Father's Day

Jen and I took Richard out for breakfast at Jam Packed and it certainly was but we were lucky to get a table!

Still quite a few people there on our way home - and this was after our walk around the docks.

The old Henry Jones IXL Jam factory.

Rob Pennicott's boats had arrived the day before on their epic trip around Australia. So small for such a journey! Well worth donating at http://follow.theyellowboatroad.com/

We had a great meal and lovely wander, lots to see and do. But in the afternoon I managed to get to K&D to buy a crow bar, wonder what I am going to do with that??

Lazy Saturday

Jenny and Richard are visiting from Melbourne and After a very slow start, we headed off to explore New Norfolk. I saw a sign for Patchwork Cafe so of course had to investigate. We ended up at the Willow Court complex and had a wander through the Antique centre before heading off to the patchwork cafe for a look and coffee.

Like this but at $650 it is staying there

Quite a few bits of stained glass - very nice

My brother discovered the cars!

Frontage of the Antique Centre - so many rooms!

Then down to the Derwent River

The water was lapping the banks - very much to the ducks liking

Fun on water skis

Took this photo for my son-in-law, Clint they are even in Tassie!

Feeding the ducks

Sunny faces on the water edge

This house is so close to the water edge, hope the river won't rise any further

Finished off the day with a lovely evening with friends Marie and Dave. Thnks for a delish dinner!

Off to breakfast now so will add more later!

Just remind me

Now what did I buy this material for? Maybe it was for the excitement of getting a parcel in the post....

No not really an impulse buy, an impulse buy (2 jelly rolls) made me look for more material to make the quilt of my dreams (ha ha not really but can't wait to start it, forget about all the other half finished jobs!!). This will do it, backing fabric and all, so I am set.

It came vacuum packed, such a heavy lump it was like a brick.

Looking down on the parcel at all the lovely fabrics inside.

P.S. It is Moda 3 sisters Glace.

Come walk with me

I had a wander around the garden at the weekend and found all these happy faces.


Luckily I managed to miss all the weeds.....and although I haven't yet planted my hellebores, here is one I prepared earlier. My mother's favourite (because she received a bouquet of them when I was born of course).

Maybe one day

Maybe one day my stitching will be so good.

I took a quick visit out to the Hobart Embroidery Guild's exhibition at the Moonah Arts Centre yesterday.

There were some incredible pieces there, including a table of stitching and felting done by 8-11 year olds. Well worth a visit but be quick, only there until Wednesday. Gold coin donation entry so not expensive to see some lovely pieces and get some inspiration.

Shepherds warning

Woke up this morning to a very red sky! Not looking good for a lot of gardening that needs to be done this weekend...

Looking east from my back deck
"The eeuenynge maad, ye seien, It shal be cleer, for the heuene is lijk to reed; and the morwe, To day tempest, for heuen shyneth heuy, or sorwful" Matthew XVI in the Wyclif Bible 1395

"Like a red morn, that ever yet betoken'd wreck to the seaman - sorrow to shepherds." Shakespeare

Late birthday

Another birthday gift arrived today, well the first bit (a gift certificate from MBD) really came on my birthday and I had the fun of looking through the catalogue and trying to choose what I would get.

This is what I found on the doorstep!

Oh no sorry wrong photo, that was all the packing lol - 10 hellebores for me to plant at the weekend and a couple even had a flower!

Double primrose yellow and double pink already flowering!

All ordered from Peter at Post Office Farm Nursery. If only I lived in Victoria, they have their Open Days until the end of September and you can see the hellebores in full flower, what a sight that would be! Only an hour drive from Melbourne, lovely Sunday drive.

Gilroy Goose

I couldn't put this down last night, not finished but a lot done.


It was waiting for me in my mail box when I arrived home and just couldn't resist starting right away...

I bought the kit from Fabric Patch, it is Anni Downs design from Hatched and Patched. Wonder if it will be finished by tonight?