A bit of stitching and flowers in the house.

I have stitched up a couple of these little birds, I can see more happening. I have a sore toe at the moment which is not helping me think qbut I am catching up on some house work and most of the ironing is done. I am making dessert for our New Years eve dinner with friends tomorrow night, we have heaps of strawberries so something using them will be made, I am still researching recipes! I shopped this morning early as the town is full of tourists and any way I am up not long after 6 am. I did some cutting back in the garden and while I was at it picked as many different hydrangeas as I could find to bring inside. Some of the Christmas people are enjoying them as well. George is still being a bit unsettled since we got home, last night he decided he needed to sit behind d me on the high back of my chair, fine for him but a large fluffy tail in my face didn't go down very well with me. 2016 hasn't been the best year for us, or for the world. Couldn't believe the deaths of Carrie Fisher, such a beautiful Princess, or her mother Debbie Reynolds.

Lovely morning walk

Now we are home the morning walks on our beaches will resume. Quite warm today, but early in the morning the beach was lovely. I have been doing pretty mundane things, washing (still) and ironing. Battling with my feet who dont like me much. Playing with a few things that I need to get done. and the occasional sit in front of the fan reading with my feet up.Just had a glass of bubbly and about to organise a sea food salad, Love that. Probably sit outside under the pergola, with the rain the glory vine has just grown feet. Oh and a bit of excitement, the moth orchid that has sat there for a year after I cut off its flower spike, didnt know any better, has sent up two flower spikes, no flowers yet but my other two plants, different colours, are looking fabulous.

A memorable 90th birthday

We spent a lovely lunch celebrating close friend D'Arry Osbornes 90th birthday with close friends and family at the D'Arenberg winery, normally outside but it was very wet so in the old stables. D'Arry is Johns fishing mate and we have knownb him for over 50 years. Such a lovely man but the friends are getting fewer every year. John wrote a poem for him, they are always a lovely way to remember birthdays, not that I ever get one, but perhaps, I hope that is too close. Very humid, still dripping with rain with mnore forcast for later tonight and a weather alert out. Nice to be home but nice to be part of a quiet, gentleman.

Leaving Penneshaw this morning

After a lovely few days, this morning we left on the ferry for home. Rain in the night but dont know if we had any here. Hot and sticky. Very tired, after packing up and then unpacking. Not sure what we will eat tonight, have to be ready for a 90th birthday lunch tomorrow!

Christmas morning

Quite warm and sticky, but a sea breeze has made it quite nice here at Penneshaw, we walked for an hour or so on the beach ar antechamber Bay, sea mist made it interesting. Love the terns on the beach. On the way home went through Willson River and saw the fun Christmas tree Hartley had made, we had been told about it when we went for drinks during the week. Packing up and home tomorrow, been a lovely few days, very relaxing. We had garlic scallops and salad for lunch followed by raspberries and ice cream Oysters and prawns for dinner with heated up Xmas cake for pud and brandy butter. I think I need to get home and stop eating and drinking!!

This morning, Flour cask bay and cloud near the mainland.

We had a lovely walk to Flour cask bay, somewhere we have never been and not far away. We didnt walk down to the beach as my dicky knee may have stopped me from getting back up the sand hill but it was a lovelt walk with some interesting wild flowers, not a lot out but enough to hold our interest. There is a salt lake on the other side of the road as well. Lovely place for photos. As we came down the hill into Penneshaw there was a line of cloud, sea mist, whatever over by the mainland. It has been a very pleasant day, with wind off the water to cool things down. Adelaide is supposed to be 40 degrees tomorrow, no where near that here thank goodness. Not that it matters as I have all sea food for then. I think I am almost too relaxed, not one bit of sewing done, sleeping reading and eating!

A lovely day

Have to say I am finally relaxing, we walked on my favorite beach this morning, Pennington Bay, quite warm and the sand was soft but I managed it. The steps down to it and up again were quite testing. Called into see bernard stonor and his garlic eating kangaroos, there is a big one in the shade by the standing stone, to thank him for my present, will show it later as it is wrapped bernard is a glass craftperson extrordinaire. Then on to Dudley winery to have lunch on their deck and see the new extensions. A magnificent view. Home and a slothful sleep for an hour. Tonight we are in, we have up until now been having quite a social time visiting friends. The weather has been interesting, today warm and muggy not as hot as Adelaide is going to be.

Christmas decorations and George.

I always decorate the mantelpiece here on the Island, no tree as George is likely to dismantle it but today I bought another little bird house, a Christmas one, I love these and have quite a collection, made by Wendy of rustic nest, I will do another post of these lovely little things. George having spent most of the first day under our bed is being a fat potentate on a towel on one of the couches. He spent some of this morning on the pool table potting balls. Another busy day out for drinks tonight, in to Kings cote and collected a bottle of orange and ginger spirits from the brewery. It is yummy. The wind has been up a bit, very pleasant. Oh our son, grandson and his wife called in, they are having a baby in June, another great grand child, what fun.I am enjoying resting and not doing a lot, it has taken time for the last few weeks to get over

A lovely day on the Island.

We are still feeling our age today and not doing a lot. We are still up early though. Visited friends this morning and are invited out for dinner tomorrow , it is the summer solstice and Johns 79th birthday, we have organised to go out to lunch and now this but I do think our age is starting to catch up with a certain slowing up. I dont mind, the smell of baking bread and a view to die for. We should be so lucky. ,

Thunderstorm from Penneshaw.

We arrived on Kangaroo Island today, very hot and both over tired. Tonight we are watching a thunderstorm across to the mainland.

A few Christmas decorations.

As we will be on the Island for Christmas I have only brought out a few favorite decorations. Some of my Father Christmas dolls and I have cut some holly. I have another set of travelling stuff for the Island. No tree as George tends to demolish them. Still making biscuits and cakes and starting to sort out stuff to take. I think when I finally get there I will sleep for days. Tank fully it has cooled down a bit. I Hope every one is well and surviving.

Odds and ends, it is heating up.

My clematis is flowering, and at the moment I am loving this view from the bedroom door. plants in the garden have been brilliant this year but I am afraid the heat will knock them around soon, well into the high 30's today but a change is expected tonight. I am heating the house up by cooking yet another cake! We walked early this morning, a glorious morning on the beach and I thoroughly enjoyed it but I am not sure my knee is. so much to do, I probably wont get the decorations up until later in the week. We leave for Kangaroo Island next Monday. I am slowly getting things done. Always this mad rush just before we leave.

All in a days work

WEll not quite all the felt animals, but the 4th cake and 2 containers of strawberries. They taste delicious too. I am slowly getting there but every time I think I have sorted Christmas something else bobs up.

A little bit of the garden.

A little wander around the garden. We had a huge thunderstorm last night but less than 3 mm of rain. We are really looking for more rain. Yesterday was hot but thankfully cooler today. I am about to make my 3rd Christmas cake today. I am hoping to make 7 for the family. Bus, busy.

Lovely morning walk from the Kings Beach car park

Not capable of walking very far but it was a glorious morning, big round bales in the paddocks by the sea, very tall wild oats bordering the walking track, odd bits and pieces. Came home feeling tired but thinking how lovely it all was. I have my first Christmas cake in the oven, only about 6 more to make. The weather is warming up but so far not terribly hot. I will be glad when I feel full of energy again though.