A whimsical cat and other things

It has been very hot today and going to be hotter for the next three days at least, so not a lot gets done when it is like that, one tends to do a sort of reverse hibernation. At least at my age I do but I must say the grand children dont seem to mind all that much.
I made another whimsical cat the other day, when I have not much to do and the brain has gone to mush this is what I like to do.
Last night John wandered out with my camera to try and take photos of one of the male peacocks in a pine tree just on dusk. So here he is in a couple of positions. they do make a noise in the morning when they tramp over the iron roof.
Then there is the cockle train, normally a steam train that runs between Victor and Goolwa but at the moment it is a diesel, a/ because the steam train cannot run when it is hot and dry in case of fire and b/ because I believe the steam trains are in being repaired.
Finally the calendar my Japanese friend Yoshiko sent me, this year it is done like a mini kimono, every year I get a different one.
We were in Victor very early this morning as the red ute had to go for a service at 8 am and I had a physio appointment at 9.30 so we collected mail and did the grocery shopping while it was still relatively cool. The ambient temp in my car got over 41 degrees C in the afternoon when we had to go in and collect it.
It is still well over 30 degrees at the moment and will be a hot and uncomfortable night I am afraid.

Morning walk

People were on the beach early this morning as it will be hot and the main part of the day is not much fun.
There was a young family making sandcastles, another fishing off the reef, an abandoned boat, a lot of dog walkers, an awful lot of dog walkers, some doing the right thing and others not and three horses being given a swim in the sea.
We walked and I am afraid I was terribly slow, and then we went to get the papers and the mail and have a cup of coffee.
I think every one had the same idea this morning.
the family were still home when we got back and have only just left to go to the beach and have fish and chips later.
There was much discussion on what dvd to watch and in the end they watched Heath Ledger in 'A nights Tale' which I last saw on a plane to somewhere.
I can hear the black cockatoos in the pine trees getting the pine nuts, they love the fact that a few years ago we planted the pines that produce pine nuts. It is interesting how they adapt as their normal foods are the nuts of Banksia and Hakea.
Now I am off to feed the dogs and Oscar and the chooks.

Neck warmer and Grands

I made this triangle knit neck warmer while I was on Kangaroo Island and finally got it put together but still not blocked.
An interesting concept I found of Melody's blog, see my side bar.
Then a nice photo of Evie, 12, with Millie 2, Mason 1 and Gaby 17. Mason is of course Gaby' son and so my great grandson.
Evie is one of the Melbourne family who we dont see very often, she is growing up and of course Millie features often. She is wearing the dress I bought her in York. Mason is now a real little boy.
The bbq went off well last night and there was plenty of food and some wine was drunk.
It was warm enough for us all to sit outside under the pergola, and no one seemed in a huge rush to go home.
I had worked so hard my back threatened to give up the ghost but finally calmed down.
I have had a much slower and calmer day today and there are left overs so I dont have to worry about food tonight.
Another burst of heat is coming, it has been so nice to be relatively cool but no rain is rather a worry.
I hope I can entertain Will and Evie for the next week after their parents go home, not much we can do in over 40 degree C heat.
I have been loving the snowy photos that have been coming through on other blogs and wanting to be cold!
Not being able to walk as I would like is annoying me, especially as I need to lose some weight, this post Christmas eating is begining to mount up.

My new diary cover

It didnt scan terribly well but this is the new cover for this years diary.
I used the piece of cloth I had done my lino cuts on and feel that this is something that I have created. I had these lovely wooden buttons so that had to go on, at the moment my diary is slim but by the end of the year it will be bursting with cuttings and photos and other bits and pieces that I put into it.
The Melbourne family are here so the house is a buzz of noise and decisions and people coming and going.
They are out for dinner tonight but tomorrow night I have arranged for as many of the family who are here to come for a bbq, so 17 adults and 2 babies is the last count.
Some preparation to be done, but at least some one else will cook the meat and a few will be bringing salads so I just have to make a few more and bake enough bread and defrost the prawns.
I have had a quick count of chairs and tables and think we can make it, it will be hot so outside and trying to get rid of the flies but that will be ok.
Just off to feed the dogs and chooks and think about boiling a few eggs.
Things just seem to take longer to do these days.

Walking the beach this morning

This piece of wood with goose necked barnacles was on the beach this morning, the barnacles were still alive and I felt so sorry for them, but the wood would have just washed ashore again had we thrown it further out.
They were sailing in the bay too, there must be a carnival on, there usually is at this time of the year.
Overcast and cool and a sluggish wave but we havent walked here for so long it was lovely.
Not that my hip was liking it much but I am just going to have to come to terms with that.
We had a coffee and I did a bit of shopping as the Melbourne family should be arriving soon. They were not coming until tomorrow but decided to get going today so I have been making beds and tidying up.
I may be a bit hit and miss with blogging for the next two weeks, depending on what every one is doing but lovely to have them here.
We have another new foal but I havent seen it yet, I will feed the dogs and then walk out.
Oh and the rooster did get back in with Tuppy but we found him in time and so I hope he has now had sense enough to keep out of that area.
I dont think roosters are very bright.

Farmers Market

This morning I went into the farmers market early with a cough and complaining of a blocked and sneezy nose.
Tonight I think I have a cold.
I dont get colds and I am not looking forward to this one.
I took a few photos but at the market but it is not easy to take photos and manage a basket and handbag as well. One of my favorite stalls had some nice new bits and pieces of made up roasted tiny tomatoes, they were lovely with a slice of ham for lunch.
The weather has been lovely and cool today, I have changed bed linen and washed and re made beds for the next influx on Monday.
John went fishing and came home with some fish which will do very nice for tonight's dinner.
The silly, very old pug, who I know is a chook killer managed to severely beat up the little rooster I let go in the chook yard, who of course had flown over where Tuppy lives when he had a huge untenanted yard full of goodies to play in.
So I now have a very sore and sorry little rooster who is staying put where I threw him on top of a shed, I dont know if he will be alive in the morning or not, and if he is the stupid thing will probably fly back in to Tuppy's garden!

From my sketchbook

I am supposed to try and sketch for 10 minutes a day, the button container at the top was yesterday's 10 minutes.
The bottom is a doodle but I dont think that counts as a sketch.
I havent done one today, I may have time but I dont know.
I still have dogs and chooks to see to but as it has cooled off I have made a casserole and it is in the oven.
I have a friend staying and I couldnt think what I had to do 3, usually it is only 2 of us and this meat had been sitting in the freezer for a while and needed cooking. If it heats up before we finish it I can always freeze the remains!
We had to get the paper this morning and it was interesting looking at all the tourists wandering around, but a lot of the shops were pretty empty or closed.
We had a lovely time last night even when the power went off just before midnight and we did our count down in the glow of candles.
I hope this year is a little less difficult than last year but I am afraid at our age the best we can hope for is to still be here!