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Friday, December 30, 2016

Finally some time

2016 has been such a hectic year for me. Ups and downs and lots of wondrous things that I never thought I would ever do. Lots of living. And a lot of not getting all my chores done.

In these last few days of the year I have been spending some time doing what I truly love best. Just pottering in my garden. Planting, weeding and trying not to melt in the heat. 

Bees have been enjoying the self-sown sunflowers

I have been enjoying them too. No work involved.

Echinacea

A random lily (or something) growing in a strawberry pot.
Finally I have also had the time and the inclination to be creative. The inclination has been sorely lacking this year. I hope it is a sign that 2017 will be a year for creativity and craft because it truly does feel good to have busy hands and to exercise that part of my brain.

Enough rambling.
Tracy

Thursday, December 29, 2016

SSCS 2016

Another Christmas has been and gone and I am finally getting a chance to turn on the computer. I like not turning it on but miss keeping up with all of my good friends here. It's a question of balance.

But anyway. The point at hand.

A big thank you to Clare, my lovely swap partner in Chookyblue's Secret Santa Christmas Swap.  


Clare obviously did a wee bit of looking about on my blog. The stitcheries in the wall hanging are all garden themed and absolutely lovely and just right for me. Thank you Clare.


And a sweet little cushion too. I should note that there were some little Lindt teddy bear chocolates in the parcel but unfortunately for them, they didn't make it to the photo shoot 😀. Yum!!

 I'm really touched by the kindness and thoughtfulness of the blogging community once again.


And not to forget, the tree ornament which I posted about earlier. Just so sweet.

Thank you Clare and Chooky.

Tracy

Friday, December 16, 2016

Five on Friday

I'm  linking  up today with Amy's Five on Friday. It's the penultimate one for the year.

Just emptying my camera before I fill it up again.



1.  This is Butter. I know, what an odd name for a sheep but when she was a lamb, she had a tendency to butt the other lambs. In a logical step, her twin brother was named Bread. She is one of my favourites because she is friendly and doesn't butt anymore.



2. Fruit. Mulberries are still hanging on... just . Cherries too. Peaches will be the  next fruit ready to pick and I'm looking forward to them.


3. The native raspberries have a few fruit on them too but I think the birds will beat me to them. They are a little tart but I like them nonetheless.


4. I am still enjoying my Advent teas. It really is a great idea. I've also been playing along with the Random Act of Kindness Advent. It's fun and I'm sure I am getting so much more out of it than any of the recipients of my small kindnesses.


5. Cake decorating has been happening here. Not my handiwork because I am rubbish with the piping bag. And it is the closest we have to a Christmas tree in the house until Tuesday. More on that then.

Thanks Amy for hosting the link up and thanks for reading my random musings today.

Tracy

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

My cows.

I really enjoy having the cows close to home. Usually they are off in a more distant paddock and the only interaction is when I visit them to make sure they are ok and in good fettle. They are spending some time in the paddock nearest the house to 'mow' the grass.

Aunty

Now that it is warm, they have their summer coats on. Thankfully they keep their fringes no matter the temperatures. Actually I think the fringes make perfect fly veils for them. They would annoy me terribly.

Mother

Trilby


 When they are not eating grass, they prune. Roses have had a bit of a trim. Yesterday the apricot tree.


before

after

And the Jerusalem artichoke 😢.

 I have been known to shed a tear or have a rant when sheep, cows , chickens, people, possums... anything gets into my garden. But not today. I'm going to move the girls across the road so the garden is safe. I'm sure the artichokes will grow all the better with the haircut. I hope.

Tracy

PS River, the cows are Scottish Highlands.

Monday, December 12, 2016

Countdown is on.


The inner child in me which is very close to the surface is always excited by this time of year. Advent, Christmas, a new fresh year to look forward to and the summer school holidays. For the time being this is our Christmas tree, the one at the council office in town. The countdown is on though. I will be able to put our tree up and decorate it next Tuesday. For a year that has sped by in a flash, I have had some long waiting to do too. This week will be one of those long waits while I wait and probably worry just a little or a lot. Keep calm and keep busy that should do the trick.

Tracy

Friday, December 9, 2016

Secret Santa Christmas Swap

How exciting. My parcel in Chookyblue's SSCS has arrived. I'm not sure who my partner is yet but what I do know is that she is from New Zealand  and is very clever with needle and thread.


A lovely ornament with cross stitched snowman and koala. How cute!! And although the photo doesn't show it here, the koala's ears are fluffy. Absolutely lovely.


Thank you to my secret Santa who will have to stay a secret for a little longer. And thank you to Chookyblue for organising the swap.

Sunday, December 4, 2016

Up with the birds

I truly love to be awake and out working while the birds are still making their morning ruckus. I'm not sure how everyone else here sleeps through it actually. It is so nice to have those moments to myself though and then to get started outside working before the heat and the flies clock on. 

Aunty

The climbing Iceberg rose has had some pruning. Unplanned, but I'm sure it will be none the worse for the trim.

Trilby

Like mother, like daughter. Trilby had to have a nibble too. I'm glad they are small cows because elsewise they'd probably be over the fence not just chewing tidbits.

I'm just glad these girls don't mind mowing the lawn for me.


Some more gladioli are blooming. This is one of my favourites, a soft pink colour. I've had to stake it though because it just won't stand up on its own.

Back when the weather was mild and much kinder, I decided to make a new vegetable garden in the orchard. Just a long straight bed really and somewhere especially for the pumpkins to ramble when they get growing. This is the first thing to be ready from the new bed, some lovely and slightly hot French breakfast radish. I've never had a radish for breakfast so maybe I should give it a try someday.
For now the radish are being enjoyed in salads and as snacks.

Tracy

Saturday, December 3, 2016

December

Wow. Here we are in December already. After the cool and wet spring, summer is already striking back and it is HOT and starting to look a bit dry in the paddocks around the district. I know the vegetable garden wants me to water it every day but at the moment I am trying to stretch it to every second.


 I had a big surprise on Thursday morning. My very own Advent calendar all the way from Germany thanks to Grace. I'm loving it. 24 different teas, one for each day of December leading up to Christmas. I'm even loving that i can't understand a word of it except for "Tee" of course.


And hooray, fresh beans are on the menu. And there are a few tomatoes on their way too. I guess the heat is good for something besides melting the too many chocolatey temptations I have in the house.


And dahlias. Just getting the first blooms now. Slightly later than last year but a welcome spot of colour in the garden.

Ok. Off to have today's tea. I do believe it is Darjeeling.

Tracy