Walking

Yesterday we were up early to walk as there were going to be a lot of road closures due to a triathlon being run around our usual walking spots, so we went over to the cliffs near Petrel's Cove, it was hot even then, slow rollers coming in to the coast and a tree dragon sunning himself on a rock, I havent seen one of these little fellows for ages, when I was a child I had one for a pet, nicer to see them in the wild, although the number of walkers and dogs on this track worry me, we saw a sleepy lizard on the way back but my photo wasnt very good as he shot off into the grass. This morning was another reasonably early walk, much cooler and the sky was overcast. The beach was different too, amazing how a day can make such a difference, higher tide, more slope, more sea weed and fewer shells. I seem to be aching today, the change in the weather I suppose. Does any one who reads my blog know where I can access some second hand French linen sheets, I know they seem to be available at markets in France, but as I cant get there, and I really would like one to use in my sewing, thinking of a wrap around apron, just dont want to spend a fortune, actually I cant afford to any way. Love to hear if any one can help.

Walking the cliffs and the beach

Yesterday we walked the cliffs near Petrel's cove and today we walked the beach at the Bay. Nice cool walks but it is warming up. the cliff walk is always a bit different, we havent done it for a little while, the crop by the track along the cliffs has been baled and is going that very typical colour here in summer, beginning to bleach out in the sun. The walks are always in conjunction with getting the mail and the papers and any other odd jobs that need doing in the town. I find they take up a large part of the morning but I have been trying to get sewing done as well. John has taken over the watering as my shoulder finds pulling hoses around rather difficult. We have had the odd bit of rain and so far not too many hot days but summer is definitely a;most here. We have been selling some ponies which is a help, and some heifers went off yesterday too, to China eventually I think. Money is tight and we are going to need hay to see us through, whether we manage to sell the property or not, we need to keep milking for some income to come in. All a bit depressing but I try not to think about it too hard.

Garden flowers.

Flowers in the garden, clematis by the bedroom door and the pots by the back door, touches of colour.

Xmas cushions

Not quite finished although I have put the backs on them now, these are for a couple of my grand children who are leaving to far flung places, not sure if they will take them with them but I thought it was worth trying to do something personal for them. This is from a Sue Bleiweiss tutorial and they are fun and easy to make. We had a huge thunderstorm here last night which knocked out the phones, it rumbled and grumbled right over head for hours, not much rain in it, but every drop at this time of the year helps. We walked this morning and then I have been sewing all day from there on in, a lot of ideas in my head for presents at the moment, which is good as I know that suddenly a few days before Xmas I will suddenly think of other things I could have done and there will be no time. Nice to have a week with no appointments.

In the mail, a walk and a waterlilly

This is the lovely give away that came in the mail this week from Eithna in Ireland, she has a blog called I think, oh dear I have forgotten a piece of blue, I thought it was a touch of blue but that was not it. Any way she makes lovely things and I love the little bag I won and all the extras, especially the little house, I love the patterned fabric on the back, or perhaps it is the front, and some very special cards. I love the way we are connected through the blogging community. Yesterday when we walked one of my favorite birds was patrolling the beach, a black oyster catcher, he/she was very busy up near the sand hills, but no sign of a mate, so perhaps there is nesting going on somewhere. I bought this little waterlily last year to put in a pot, I think it said small and pink obn the label, but isnt this a lovely colour? I love it, nothing wishy washy about this. Today it is hot humid and windy and thunder is grumbling away and poor old Max hates it. We had abut 1 mm of rain this morning, I think most of it has been to the north of us or over the ranges. Still we have had a little most days and the garden is loving it. Not a good thing in a way as I keep going out and either striking cuttings or buying new plants, today a chilli plant and a tiny yellow day lily, said on the label it was bred in Australia for our conditions but it is tiny and I think will look good in a pot somewhere. I am not potting today, I hope tmorrow is cooler and I will do it then. I have a rose to pot on too. I am busy sewing at the moment cushions for Xmas presents and I have a few other things I would like to do, perhaps bags for the two small ones to put their presents in. Photos when i have finished them.

In the garden

Actually I should probably say from the garden. The rosy cushion rose photo was taken from inside through probably not terribly clean windows but it has flowered and flowered so far this season. Inside a lovely vase of alstromelia flowers, I have several different Colors and they do very well in my garden, but then so has every thing else. We have had some very welcome rain over the last few days, but with a few hot days as well. I am doing some sewing mostly Christmas presents, we had dental visits in Adelaide yesterday, it was hot there. I seem to be pretty busy which is good, suddenly we will be away, and then Christmas. Boy it's all go.

A lovely morning walk

We had to take some stuff to the dump over near Goolwa this morning so on the way back we called into Crockery Bay near Pt Elliot and walked around the point, you cant really see the sea well in the first photo, perhaps if you click on it twice it will enlarge enough, this was the start of the walk. I didnt put up photos of the sea this time, although I did take some but I was more interested in the colour of the grasses, the yam daisies, the amount of (rather smelly )kelp that has been thrown up on the usually nice sandy beach. The information shelter is rather nicely done in a bush type Australian way. The flies are starting to appear, after the 1/2 inch of rain we have just had but the breeze was cool and kept them away for most of the time. The rain has really given the garden a lovely boost and it was lovely to have a close friend who I dont see often come for lunch yesterday and look at it, although we did get rather wet when we went out to look at the foals, such a lovely lot this year. It was so nice to be able to catch up in person too instead of the usual phone calls. A lovely parcel arrived today from Eithna in Ireland too, I will show photos tomorrow, I love getting parcels in the post .Eitnha has a little bit of blue blog.