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Monday, October 30, 2017

Did You Say PINK?
















https://omgchocolatedesserts.com/triple-chocolate-cheesecake-oreo-crust/




The sun had just risen when I heard a strange noise, and there it was again! I looked to the sky as a huge ballon was edging over the trees and roof tops. I grabbed my camera and snapped away from my front step as those in balloon called out morning greetings and I replied in kind as I waved back. After they were out of sight I quickly hopped in our car and drove in the direction they were going. Only a few blocks away I found they had just landed on one of our local cricket fields. My immediate thoughts were that maybe it was a special promotion for the beginning of our summer cricket season - after all it was a 'Pink Stumps' balloon, sponsored by a cricket related breast cancer foundation - and it landed on our cricket fields on the first day of this season's games! But no - nothing to do with cricket. It was one of a group of balloons, part of a Jacaranda Queen candidate's (Alana Gordon) fundraising event as were the balloons I unexpectedly saw last month. I spoke briefly with Alana's mother who was on this balloon.

This McGrath Foundation balloon is the largest pink balloon in the world with a capacity of 25 adults. I found it fascinating to observe more closely and feel the heat of the burner even when a distance away. I also didn't realise the balloon top was open until I wondered all around when it was on the ground.

As coincidence would have it, our own dainty Jane McGrath rose has been in flower all month. A beautiful, yet hardy rose bred especially for Australian conditions and named in honour of Jane McGrath.

The warm weather and very welcomed spring showers have seen all the countryside turn beautiful shades of green and allow spring flowers to burst into glorious displays. It seems fitting to have a poppy from Miss O's garden beside her 16th birthday cake - an amazing rich and very tasty baked Triple Chocolate Cheesecake with Oreo Crust.

Only a little stitching has been happening amongst all of life's happening, yet once more I see a reflection of the colours I am currently surrounded by in nature.

Our town/city has been progressively bursting into masses of magnificent purple Jacaranda flowers. Each day more lovely than the last. Next post I will be filled with purple.....and if you can't wait you can always check my Instagram feed.   :)

PS - On Saturday Alana Gordon (balloon event above) who was crowned Jacaranda Queen for 2017, beginning our town's week long Jacaranda Festival.


*** You may also enjoy my Instagram feed which I add to several times a week. You don't have to join Instagram to view either - just click on the little blue square camera logo under my blog profile (top right hand corner).



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Sunday, October 22, 2017

I See Red



















When our bottle brush tree flowers it is a striking sight and obviously a nectar haven attracting birds large and small. The bright mass of native blooms are short lived which makes it all the more special. The aptly named Rainbow Lorikeets along with the tiny Silver birds and the resplendent Scarlet Honeyeaters each seem to take turns to hop from branch to branch, feasting all the way.

Early one morning I witnessed a small group of male and female Figbirds having a feeding frenzy on our neighbour's Orange Jasmine/Murraya tree. The berries/seeds soon dissapperaed - as indeed has most the tree as it has been lopped off below the foliage in a major gardening trimming since then.

Spring showers have brought welcome relief from a long, dry winter. Everywhere you look the grass and trees are vivd green. In fact the lawns need mowing every few days! We have poppies and other beautiful country classics filling our small garden patch with gorgeous dots of colour - much to the delight of myself and the bees!

Here and there I've taken a few minutes to continue stitching my Ice-cream Soda blocks with fabric choices reflecting the season. In fact there are definite hints of Christmas to be seen....




*** You may also enjoy my Instagram feed which I add to several times a week. You don't have to join Instagram to view either - just click on the little blue square camera logo under my blog profile (top right hand corner).