HURRY UP SPRING !

Duncan, Julia and I gave Percy this orchid plant for Father's Day, September 2013.  Look at it now. Gran's owl, in front, has traveled the world with us, as has my planter.  

I dare not mention how old that planter is, around 40 years I think.  Hmm.....

HAPPY SPRING EVERYONE  

At the Bird Feeder.....

There is always someone visiting the bird feeder.

This is a Butcher Bird, so called because they feed mostly on small lizards, bugs etc.  When they catch a lizard, or as we watched one day, a mouse, the bird firmly holds the prey in its bill and whacks the lizard onto a tree branch until dead, then skewers it to a thorn or in the fork of a tree to cure....nice.    In its favour, Butcher Birds have the most melodic song.  

The rain is pouring down and tucked up under the eaves 

are a pair of Rainbow Lorikeets.   I call them the bully boys of the backyard.  Nothing

is too big or too loud for them to challenge.  

Thinking Back.... With Love

Finishing and loving crochet and working with yarn took me back to the wonderful throw 

the gals from the Cottage Lake Book Club...aka wonderful, inspiring, loving women, made for Barbara and I, w-a-y back in 2009.

Yes I still have it. No it is not in a box in the garage.  It's in my hall closet and I've

been tempted to bring it out on our cold nights, but I don't want Martha the cat

making a home on it.  

I love seeing your Facebook posts, keep them coming.

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Sydney Weather - April 2015

 This pretty much sums up the weather Sydney had been

experiencing during May this year. 

 5 umbrellas gave their lives to protect us from the elements. 

Can you believe how lucky this bird bath was, inches from destruction.

Well I was please, I have to say, I rather like my bird bath.

The clothes line didn't fare as well though.  It is August 2nd now and we still 

don't have a replacement.  Ah living in rented accommodation....

Well thankfully, Percy borrowed a chainsaw and cut the tree up to get it off the fence.

Quietly one afternoon, I spied our neighbour carrying away what we cut up.  So that

sorted the issue of - what do we do with this wood?

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What do you do when the weather is to lousy to leave the house...

crochet a throw - of course.

It was a challenge to myself.  Many, many years, too many years really, Doris Vince taught me to crochet and I thought then I was too young, too cool, too whatever to spend time crocheting.

Well the time has come to strike up this lovely, calming, comforting craft.

This is my attempt at a corner to corner afghan/throw. 

Give it a try!   

You will be amazed how much fun and how quickly the throw takes shape.

youtube....too easy.

TARONGA ZOO - S & L & H Come to Visit

What a perfect view as you walk from the entry, past the Australian Bird Avery, 

down the path towards the Giraffe.  Best real estate in Sydney.

https://taronga.org.au/taronga-zoo

 Love this pic, plus Lu's in the 'spot light'.

It was a beautiful sunny, autumn day.   

I think the cooler weather was a welcome change for the animals, as they were active and animated, which makes for a fun zoo visit.

  The Koi were larger than the spoon-bill.  

I have a 'hankerin' for a large pool with 2 or 3 Koi.  Well...a fish pond would be nice also...

~ ! ~ ! ~ ! ~ ! ~ ! ~ ! ~ ! ~ ! ~ ! ~

It was a lovely trip to the zoo.  Mothers Day weekend.  Sam, Lu and Henry came to Sydney for a flying 4 day visit.  We were so excited to have them to stay.  

All 3 grand-kids are growing like beans.  In the blink of an eye they are little people with views and opinions and I Love It!  

We visited the Aquarium at Darling Harbour.  So many sharks.  Ate lunch, chatted and people watched.  Sam did some shopping and Lu had a chance to check out some Sydney shops in Pitt Street Mall.  Our last stop - Toys"R'Us was a hit for Henry.  He wandered slowly, pondered long and hard, then decided on 3 toys and off we went to the airport.  It was over way too fast.

Sometime Visitors...

 CRIMSON  ROSELLAS

As the Winter Camellias come into bloom they attract lovely visitors such as these lovely Rosellas.   

EASTER MONDAY - Tick that one off the list!

Easter Monday 2015-  thank you to Percy, Duncan and Julia for saying 'yes' to walking over the Sydney Harbour Bridge.  I've wanted to do this for years.   Yay!

We take the train to Milson's Point (northshore side of the bridge).
OFF  WE  GO!

So many well known icons of Australia in one spot.  Very special.

Waiting for the old gal to take photos.

Is this a Zoolander face, Duncan?
Or just a Duncan face....not sure.

How does the harbour get so busy and no one bumps into one another.
Well,  hardly ever.

I'm actually trying to photograph the bike, Duncan...not you.
Lunch in the Rocks area.     Next to Suez Canal in fact. 

Another 'want to do' item.  Visit the Observatory.  We were just in time for the last tour of the day.  Lucky.

As we pass in the train, just on this side of the bridge,  we see many wedding photos being taken in this rotunda.
Nice view I must say.

Again, it's all about you goofy boy.  

It's getting late, daylight savings finished on Sunday morning so our days are shorter.

Happy family.  Yes I made them walk back over the bridge.  Grumble, grumble, moan.