Playing with paint

Playing with paint
abstract art

08 August 2013

My friend is Back

Yey....Di is home.  Her DH finally brought her back.   I have missed her so much, and this morning she came for coffee.   I celebrated by making her some pikelets with strawberry jam....no cream because neither of us needs it.  I was so excited I forgot to take pics. We talked nonstop for about 2 hours...

Before I went away, I managed to finish off the "butterfly" cushion front.  It is now very different because I did quite a bit of reverse stitching of the flowers.  I had worked them in long and short stitch which I did not like....does anyone else have stitches that have stumped them.   I have two and the other is satin stitch.

The work has been sitting unfinished for almost 3 years now, and I finally bit the bullet and unpicked those damn flowers that were aggravating me.

By this time I was not really in the mood for anything fancy so the flowers are now simple and in soft colours.  I am always pleased to get articles out of the ufo pile.

I spent a week at the farm, just relaxing and doing a bit of gardening.  Himself had let a pumpkin grow wild where the roses are and they were surrounded by weeds and grass.....he insists on throwing the mown grass onto the gardens, and the seeds germinate don't they.

Anyway I cleared round the roses and cut them back, and himself took to the rest of the grass after he had pulled out the pumpkin vine.  Next day he sprayed the weeds so by the time I go back in September they will be waiting for me to dig them out.

The next day, we  were trimming off some shrubs, and himself noticed his arm itchy and it turned out he had collected a tick from when he was pulling out the previous day.  Fortunately we got it out, and after a couple of days his arm went down and the inflammation disappeared.  The property is in a tick area, but this is the first we have ever had.

I was amazed at how the coriander plant has grown....I could never get it to flourish, but it probably did so from lack of care.   The flat parsley is also flourishing, and I was able to use those and other herbs in the cooking.

I dug some of this up and bought it home to pot.


While I was there I replenished his supplies of sausage rolls which he loves for lunch.  I am the sausage roll queen...use the best quality pork sausage mince, and lots of herbs for flavour and they are delicious.

Also replenished a small supply of cooked meals for him as well.  He is 80 next month, and cooking is not his forte.....so I try to do what I can so he can have at least some good meals.

The lavenders are blooming at the moment, and the rosemary bushes are thriving.   My orchard has a lot of bud trails, so hope the flowers are still there when I go back.
The wallabies have been breeding well this year, and there were several does with babies in their pouches.  
This is a photo of "shorty" who has become quite tame.  He lies around the house area of a day, and isn't scared of us at all.
One morning I went for a walk while the dew was still on the grass, and discovered these interesting cobwebs in the garden.




The cobwebs seem to disappear during the day, and they the poor little things have to build them all over again at night.

I have been keeping busy since coming home, working on the fabric pages for my next fabric book.   I will try to have some sneak peak pics ready for my next post. Sorry this has become so long.

Byee I will be back soon!



 


7 comments:

  1. Sounds as if all is going well, glad your friend is home.Lovely pictures.

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  2. i love coriander and even more since i found it's a great source of magnesium. we need magnesium to process calcium for our bones.

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  3. Oh I haven't been away but I have not had time for reading or responding to blogs so I feel like I have missed so much. I love all of the pics and reading about your time away.

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  4. Oh dang, Shirley! Love your butterfly and flowers! Great color choices! Sorry you had to pick all that out! You seem to enjoy your time on the farm. Glad you are watching out for Himself! LOL...you crack me up with this name!!! LOL. What a cute white pumpkin! My yard is all overgrown this time of year here (too hot to be out there) too. Those sausage rolls sound devine. Would you post a recipe???
    Can't wait to see more of your embroidery. Oh, and I have NEVER heard of a Pikelet! Is it like a biscuit??? I will do some research!
    xoxo- Julie

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  5. Oh, such a wonderful recap of your busy days! It isn't long enough, really.....:)
    I would love your recipe for the sausage rolls!
    The cobwebs are so delicate looking and the dew shows just how...
    Remember to ignore the parsley you took home!

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  6. good to her Di is back and you have caught up with her, wonder how long they will be home before they are off on their travels again!
    Cushion looks lovely and sure the girls are enjoying learning with you.
    Some great photos of the farm, spiders webs are great

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  7. It is good to have friends around. lovely photo's of the farm and the spiders webs are so delicate.

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