The parcel!!

A short week is exactly that, it went past in a blur.  I have weeks that seem sooooo busy, just racing around doing things and then wondering at the end, 'what did I achieve?'  Its been one of those weeks for me...however, its not all my fault!  The crochet flower books should come with warnings of addiction!!  I have made more pansies and lots of other little borage flowers, some in lemon, which look like dainty little primroses.  I made some for a friend too.  The heartsease pansies look lovely with their 'whiskers' embroidered on.
We got a parcel this weekend it was a belated easter one, it was big and exciting, I think the postie wanted to stay and watch us open it actually!!! 
It was from Thrifty Fox. ( thriftyfox.blogspot.com )

some lovely thrifted Mohair ...oh the possibilities, some knitting magazines,some beautifully illustrated children's books (I have somewhat of a love for these) chocolate bunnies, yum! and cute wee toadstool pegs, oh way  too cute.

some interesting articles on seaweed, keeping bees, garlic and a vegetable storage set of drawers to construct, a letter...

a white top to float about in next summer with delicate lacey edging....

a Hans Christian Andersen book called It's Absolutely True!, about some gossiping hens and how things can get so out of proportion, as anyone with chooks will know, they often do look as if they are having a real chat session . The illustrations in this book capture the personality of hens so well...and some chocolate chickens , much too young and little to cause trouble with gossipy cheeping.

This little book is totally delightful, I must look out for some more of this lady's work. 
Tucked into the parcel were a couple of coffee bags, which i have been wanting , hoping to make some outdoors cushions for the verandah and perhaps a totebag. 
Thankyou Thrifty Fox.

The husband was doing a little preserving this weekend,
making his Plum Gin, it involves Black Doris Plums, Gin and sugar, all put together in large jars and  left for about 6 months...much checking of this brew goes on over this time...finally the liquid is drained off and bottled, then sparingly drunk....making it last as long as poss...it is a much loved tipple.

On the beverage subject, I have been partaking of my Rhubarb Champagne, I  made another  batch a couple of weeks ago, it is delectable and really refreshing,and very simple to make.

Rhubarb Champagne Recipe

2 Kilos Rhubarb

1 1/2 kilos Sugar

3 tablespoons White wine vinegar

juice and grated rind of 4  lemons

10 litres of water

Chop up Rhubarb, combine all ingreds in a bucket (it helps to dissolve the sugar in some of the water warmed) leave in a  cool place for 48 hours.

Clear off all solids and strain well.

Store in bottles,can be plastic bottles. Leave 1 week prior to drinking.

...and yes, the tomatoes just keep on keeping on.... we have had tomato soup this week...and yes there are more coming along in the tunnel house.

I did get some gardening done too, the weather has been kind. Some more Hazelnuts were picked up...and so went the week.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter days of sun and leisure, chocolate eggs and a good book, some of our eggs came in a basket.

this bunny came home with us from Melbourne, I love him!

we actually ate some healthy non chocolate eggs over the weekend, and popped some of "The Fairy" rose into one of the empty shells - it's such a wonderful flowering, healthy rose and perfect for picking.
A night at the beach was wonderful, lots of swimming in the sea, the hubby went biking, lots of reading and some crochet with a garden/flowery touch.  I  have had the book for ages and thought it time to actually get my hook out and get hooking....

some still need some of the ends sewn in,

these were such fun to make, I can't wait to  make some more. I have some ideas of what I want to do with them  so will do some more of this 'clean hands' gardening!
Still with the garden theme, I found this lovely longstitch picture at the Hospice Shop on Thursday, will make it into a cushion...

Hints of autumn in the garden...we are having such lovely warm and sunny weather easing us into winter  gently maybe...

We started harvesting our hazelnuts for the season - we pick them up by hand

it was very pleasant

 with the sun shining on our backs, and some stops for cups of tea from the thermette

Working at the kitchen bench has been a pleasure the last few days as a  friend dropped off this highly scented bunch of sweet peas,  the whole room has been perfumed and they are so pretty too. 

gosh long weekends go very fast, but then again,this will seem like a "short" week, and the weather forecast is for rain...maybe some more hooky flower gardening might be happening round here.

more on Melbourne

Oh the Great Ocean Road.....we did a little detour to a big warehouse called KYO, its at Ocean Grove,the words of that old song "...I'm going back one day, come what may to ...", well that"s me, It was AMAZING! and oh so cruelly tempting for a sea loving person like myself, so many glass fishing floats, (I got a few) and all things nautical , antique furniture from exotic countries, moroccan lanterns, ( so  incredibly beautiful) tiles (I got a few), ceramic door knobs(I got 3, pale blue with white spots!) beads, and so so much more!!
On the way back to Melbourne we called at a beach not far  from Port Campbell,

the waves were enormous and the roar of the sea was deafening, some people got pretty excited..

others kept their feet firmly on the ground.

the photos don't show how wild the sea was.
We called in at a Walk in the Tops tourist stop, walkways very high in the trees

The Bush was so beautiful and some of it was very like NZ bush, there were a lot of tree ferns in the lower canopy, I guess both countries got some when Gondwana land split up.

One of  our most special moments on the trip was getting up close and personal to  this little guy and some of his friends on the road side!!    It took a  lot to drag ourselves away, we never imagined seeing Koala's in the wild.

we saw some Wallabies in the same area...glad we didn't see any of these though

(snake sign at tree top walk, we 3 kiwi's were very cautious and certainly kept a wary eye out!!! )
We saw some beautiful painted bollards at Geelong

some whimsical art on the side of a garage also on the journey

On a cooler,  more leisurely day we visited the Melbourne Library a beautiful historic building,

There was a little shopping fitted in too, we had a wonderful  time, and came home to heaps of ripened Tomatoes....so funny!!! some of which have now been made into soup and put in the very full Deep Freeze! I am going to have to get very creative in a tomatoe sort of way again soon...as yet more turn a rosy hue...maybe I could put some out for the easter bunny!

Melbourne

After a frantic lot of soup making, spaghetti freezing and various other ways of processing and freezing tomatoes, but I am not complaining about our humongous crop of Toms, also a day at art, watercolour poppies,

my teacher tells me to just keep  practising...
It was great to get to Melbourne and see our youngest daughter.To stay in her wee apartment ( look out the window and think that maybe be you were in France, the courtyard below, complete with fountains, unfortunately the neighbouring apartment's, was  such a lovely peaceful view)

We had such lovely weather, almost a little hot for us sometimes!!! We were shown lots of pretty places, had a picnic in the gardens, daughter and hubby had a day at the Grand Prix, I opted to catch the train into the city and visit the art gallery, it was amazing, time went all too quickly, the ceiling in the foyer is all stained glass and very beautiful.

A very touching visit to the Melbourne Shrine of Rememberance, it was so quiet and tranquil, the statues were beautiful, we loved this one especially.

there was a beautiful verse on the plinth

We had a very hot and sunny walk from Brighton beach to StKilda, I took a couple of dips along the way and the water was oh so warm, the beach huts are so cute...

This one had such beautifully painted seagulls..and somehow the colours of the hut remind me of icecream...?

We had a couple of days  going up the Great Ocean Road.

We were awe inspired by these ...amazing

This had been sculpted by wind and weather into what looks like a castle turret...it was all quite  magical and majestic.
I am thinking that this may need to be a 2 part record of our trip as its getting very very late and Mr computer and I have had a few hitches and glitches,time to packup for the evening methinks.

sunny days

Its definitely getting cooler at night and in the mornings round here...autumn is letting us know that  she is coming and summer is almost gone...
yesterday was a lovely sunshiny day, perfect for catching a few waves, if there were any!

alone in the bay, sparkling water...but no waves...

Its been a good week, lots of our tomatoes made into Spaghetti and put into the deep freeze...

always satisfying to get the winter stores put by!!
Also a good week for mail! a big parcel from our dear wee Thrifty Fox...http://thriftyfox.blogspot.co.nz/ chocolates, organic coffee, magazines, and some of her gorgeous snack bags!! love them!  a beautiful string of bunting made with vintage hankies, adorable! 3 very cute bowls that look like little baskets with a tiny crab on the side, some lovely old books, some fabric with mushrooms and toadstools ( I have a weakness for them) and other bits and bobs and a handpainted card...too spoilt

Yes the mailbox was just full of delights this week!!! also pretty card, fruit tea and some handcrafted notelets from a faraway friend... just too lucky.  The envelope was a work of art...sure it must have made the postman smile..

Also a good week on the thrifting front, I called at the local Salvation Army shop and was so fortunate to get these exquisite hand chrocheted borders, the hours of work that must have gone into making these! Also a cute tray cloth, some crystal glasses and some other aquisitions that will have to remain secret as they will be gifts. Not sure what I will do with the borders they need a special project, will think on that....

Sice the weather has been kindly I have had some days outside in the garden, always satisfying, we did have a visit from Mr Jack Frost though and he nipped the tips of the dahlias and other tender plants.

As usual a wee bit of picking for the house...
This week is looking to be exciting, we are off to Melbourne to visit the baby of the family and check out her new apartment , the hospital where she works  and maybe go for a trip up the Great Ocean Road. (might even look at some shops).
This week before we leave there is an evening at the Environment centre , it is Sea Week, they look to have some good speakers and short films, covering topics like Southern Right Whales, Great White Sharks(yikes!) etc etc.  Should be interesting.