Indian Summer

It's quite hot here today and we've had a bit of rain during the week so the vegetation is again getting out of control. This is the view from my front verandah now:

If you look hard you will see that I can see Mr M over the road!
Other things that are doing well are

The new creeper for the arch

the incredibly fast growing mulberry which I will probably have to cut down next year?

and the pawpaw which went in at christmas and is now flowering!

In the meantime......

the bunnies are performing a rite to bring on Easter

these are some legs for a footstool which will go with the newly covered chair (whenever that happens)

and William is wearing clothes - although I'm sorry to say that he will probably NEVER have any hair or a wife or a supporter or a dog or family!!!!!

Prince Will

True to form I now have Prince William getting ready for his wedding! I'm not sure whether his bride will ever be able to join him and, as for his supporters and family, forget it!
Here he is waiting for his hair, lips and jacket to be finished. Then he has to have decorations etc.etc.etc.

The War on Brown

The war on brown has begun..... I think there was a little bit of "spirit" uncertainty when I started painting the back of the study bookcase with white undercoat - then everyone relaxed and I think it's going to look very nice. The outside will remain brown but it will be less of a dark hole!

How long till Christmas?

Last week I sent a christmas stocking to a textile friend Aldona

and, in return she sent me one which is now hanging in my sewing room

Three presents went with each stocking - one each for January, February and March and we will continue with more presents throughout the year until the big unveiling and opening occurs on 25/12!

I am thinking that I might be able to buy some small presents in Italy as I have been talking about going in May this year. However, I just looked at my passport and please NOTE the expiry date!!!!!

I will have to take some steps to have it renewed - with Easter on the way, I don't know if there will be enough time!!! MEMO TO ALL - note expiry date of passports on some electronic calendar with a reminder.

I had dinner with Pete on her deck overlooking the river last night which was very nice. Arrived home to find some books had arrived from ukbookdepository - amongst them was this:

This is just a small sample of the joys of the book - I know you're all going to want to borrow!!! You can knit Camilla, Harry, Prince Phil, as well as the bride and groom and it even comes with a cardboard fold-out balcony where they can all be positioned for the nuptial wave and kiss!!!

And over the fence (and this side of it) there are a few additions:
I have a new arch with a white flowery creaper growing on it

and Mr veryrichbuilder has a netted trampoline kiddie-trap up beside the clothesline in the front garden. As well as keeping an eye on their washing, I can now supervise jumping play!

weekends are for.........

I wish that Victoria had come for this weekend as the weather is beautiful and when she was here it was raining and then VERY hotandhumid! I have had a bit of a wander around - went to the Easton Pearson sale of fabrics and my new budget limited me to $100! What I got was quite special:

This is some black and silver diagonally striped silk which will be a scarf soon. Also some hand beaded trims..

These are sumptious silks - either for clothes or cushions.
And this is some magnificent taffeta with gypsies on it.

The children down the street had a stall to raise money for their school and were selling bananas from their back yard for $4 a kilo. Because of the cyclone, we haven't been getting very nice bananas and these are delish!

Andy and Audrey came to visit and I made some cupcakes:

I'm not sure how to remove the "glum" photo of Andy so here's a better one!

the biggest and; the best in ...... clayfield!!!

Forget my poor little beans which have to grow a centimeter a day - mr veryrichbuilder is having an instant sort of garden - arriving on a truck!

I thought there would be some pointy plants - wonder what else will be here when I get home tonight?

what Jack did

last Sunday I threw some beans into the back garden - this Sunday they're bean stalks sitting up there looking very happy. Hope they grow nice and tall!!

The quilt for babyfionanathan is coming along - he's not due for about 8 weeks so I should get it finised!