beautiful things

This week our school community was lucky enough to go on a fund raising trip to Paul Bangay's amazing garden in Denver, near Glenlyon.  This circular window is typical of the garden, quirky and surprising, clever and ordered.

Did I mention beautiful? Yep, it sure was. Lots of stunning views, spaces, shapes, colours,

and then there was the pool!

This picture doesn't really do the view justice, I really could have stood there all day looking out to the horizon. Although I may have had to also  slip into that cool green water. OMG.

And here are three of us, waiting for champagne... :)

It was a great morning and everyone had a  ball. Lots of chatting on the bus on the way home!

Yesterday was my mum's birthday! I had heaps of fun finding presents for her,

including these cool coasters made from coiled paper.

I found them, along with so many other beautiful things, at the very incredible shop, Junk Style, in Vincent St, Daylesford. If you are a visitor to our little town then do pop up the stairs and have a look. I guarantee you will find something special.

Like this red necklace,

which Mum loved.  

It's so beautiful being out in the garden lately, I just love this time of year. The bees are buzzing,
the blossom is smelling sweet, vegies are planted, chooks are healthy and giving us their gorgeous eggs.  And then there are the ducks..

 two of them, have been sitting on a massive pile of eggs for a few days now. I went in yesterday to discover that their mum is also getting into the act. They're a close family.

So prepare yourselves for many duck shots and much duck talk over the next few weeks. I'm all clucky (or should that be quacky?) I'm so looking forward to the new ducklings hatching!! And possibly a couple of chicks too, oh boy.

 They are so peaceful and beautiful and serene, I do love them so.

One last beautiful thing, a community project, something that is uniting people in the most wonderful way. This weekend there is to be a big party to celebrate the start of a community garden here in Daylesford!! Today I made a little contribution to the celebration, some bunting to decorate this amazing new shared space. Here it is hanging on my front fence, I'm really happy with how it turned out.  I must admit it was fun getting back to some sewing too.

So that's me for today lovely ones. I hope your weekend is a happy one and that you find some truly beautiful things to brighten your days. See you soon xo

Ho, ho, quack, quack!

Yesterday I finished off these two dear little bunnies for Phillippa's nieces.

One of the nieces likes orange..

...and the other loves purple. I hope they like their Christmas bunnies, I think their cardi's and expressions are so sweet.

In the afternoon we wandered down to the Daylesford Farmers Market & someone else was arriving at the same time! Guess who?!

Yep, it was Santa!! Rosie was amazed and luckily didn't hear the others muttering something like.."its not the real Santa.." We caught up with lovely Kate & her girls and the kids had fun running around in the late afternoon sun.

Years ago when I was about 10 I went to the Vic Market in Melbourne and came home with a duckling in a box. I called her Chicky Duck and she was a great little friend to me. I used to sit with her on my lap in our old laundry and then as she got bigger she went outside, where I had dug a hole for a pond. Of course a duck in inner city Fitzroy wasn't going to last so she did eventually go to live on a farm. (At least that is what I was told!) Anyway, I've always liked ducks so guess what came home with us from the market?


Yes, that's right...two Indian Runner ducks!! Woohooo!! Quack, quack!! Poo, poo!!! They are called Astro & Jemima and they are just the most gorgeous creatures. I will have to read up on ducks, if anyone has any tips I would be most grateful.

They are only 8 weeks old and so far they seem happy enough in their pen with their blue clam shell pool. As they get bigger we will introduce them to the garden, and the chooks.


Have you got many vegies in your garden? Ours is going crazy with all the rain and humidity we've had. Lots of rocket and lettuce so we have been eating alot of salad. The other vegies all look excellent and I found the teeniest baby watermelon today.

Here is my eldest sweetie snuggled up on my bed. She has finished school for the year and got the BEST REPORT ever!!! How proud I am of her, she worked so hard and has done so well this year. I can't believe she only has one year left at school...where did that time go? And just as she finishes school then Rosie will start prep! Wow! That makes something like 26 years of having kids at school by the time Rosie finishes high school! Phew, that's a lot of school lunches.


Bye bye from me lovely friends, I hope your weekend has been relaxing and not too taxing! I'm afraid I have been a tad hormonal and tetchy but hopefully it will pass asap. Having a house full of children and a fair amount of chaos isn't the best when you are feeling like that but I'm putting a brave face on it!! Lots of love to you all xo

It's a Tuesday kind of day...

It's nice to be at home today. I feel like I have a lot of catching up to do. So there will be a bit of gardening and some school work and hopefully a bit of mooching around. Look at the baby quince, so sweet & furry.

The quince tree is one of my favourite trees in our garden. It's shape, the lovely leaves, the way it makes a little shady cubby with it's low branches...and of course the quince itself. Last year I made quince jelly for the first time, yum.

With all the humid weather last week and then the rain our vegie patch is really rocking along. Most of the seedlings survived the first hot week and we now have a nice variety of happy little plants. Eggplant, tomato, carrots, lettuce, capsicum, zucchini, corn, watermelon, cucumber, basil..I think that's it!

I'm just having a look through my bag of goodies from the market. I did also get a lovely doll from Jodie but I seem to have hidden it so well that now I can't find it! I do this every year with Christmas presents. One year I hid something, forgot all about it and then found it for the next Christmas!

I am sitting a little uncomfortably this morning...I seem to have an insect/spider bite in an awkward spot! I'm hoping it's not a white tail spider bite as there have been a few of those around lately. They like to hide in bedding or clothing so it's good to always shake out anything before you put it on. This reminds me of my series of spider stories. WARNING: Spider Bite Stories coming up...not for the faint hearted.




Spider Story One: A few years ago I had just had my hair cut and was hopping back in the car with two of the five kids. Earlier in the week I had seen a VERY LARGE huntsman spider lurking near the windscreen so I knew he was around but had momentarily forgotton. As I opened the door of the car there he was (unseen by me), nestled just on the inside of the door. Where did I put my hand??? Yep, right in his face. Let me tell you that huntsman spiders DO BITE. Yes, they do. I think the screaming of "Oh F.....!!!" was heard all the way to Brighton Beach. Thanks goodness for the lovely and supportive tradesman who came running over & chased the spider away. All the way home I swore and screamed. My kids sat there with their mouths in little 'o's. Later on I had a better look at the bite and there were two little fangs stuck in my finger. Oh my goodness.... good thing they aren't poisonous!

Now I was going to tell you part two and three but one spider story is enough for today!! Have you had a spider incident? Or two..or three? Go on, freak me out.

I'm off outside now, to feed the animals, stare up at the blue sky, hang some washing, inspect the garlic, keep Max out of the chook pen (yes, that is a big roll you swiped, Max) and generally have a relaxing day. Actually, maybe I'll just put the kettle on first...

Hope you are having a happy day, see you soon xo