Be careful what you wish for!!!

A couple of weeks ago I was hoping for rain so that I could do the gardening in my new Marimeko gumboots.....

Well - I didn't mean I wanted an entire year's supply in a couple of days .....




I tried to go to Toombul this morning but no luck -

at least I'm not the owner of the red car - he may have washed in from the carpark?

My verandah furniture etc. has all been thrown around and is sopping wet....

This work of art is the bottom of my pool

and the frangipani has lost it's home

whilst the elephants are living on a very dirty road!!!

What to do on a rainy day

It is really raining in brisbane - in fact it's a bit biblical.  Not as bad as two years ago when it all flooded, but they are letting water out of the dam and are expecting 200 mils a day for the next few days.  Thank goodness I said no to going to Noosa.......

After picking up P from the airport this morning, I made a decision NOT to go to work but to do some things for me.....

First I went to Paddington and called into Chercher La Femme.  Colleen was there and I asked about a dressing gown to replace the one that I left in a hotel in Jordan.  She had a lovely one but it didn't have buttons ... however, she has agreed to add some buttons and loops and I can have it next weekend.

Of course, I wasn't going to leave there empty handed..... so I bought this....which is a steely grey jacket with a lovely shape.....

and this - which is a lovely purplish dress - the photo does it no justice at all.....

Both the purchases were on sale, so not too bad - and the dressing gown is surprisingly cheap when you take into account the $200 voucher my children gave me for christmas  xxxxxxxxxxx

Because I've been having trouble getting in and out of low chairs - hopefully this will no longer be the case when I have a replacement inserted - I decided to get some legs for my chair.  Bunnings provided me with these and I am proud to say that I installed them myself and have sat in the chair and nothing nasty (such as a collapse) has occurred.

so this afternoon, while the rain is pouring and the humidity is 90% I have the aircon on and am quilting a vintage quilt to go with tosca's vintage pram!

Red

There seems to be a lot of red things around my house today - it's such a happy colour

I think it's just about time for Chinese New Year and there's always a lot of red involved in that!

Perhaps it means that 2013 is going to be a better year for all.......

At least I feel relaxed and happy!

removals

Yesterday I took all the books out of the cedar bookcase and then carefully removed the shelves.

Because I committed a sacrilege and painted the back, it looks as though there is no back on this bookcase.


Today Andy came and helped me to move it onto the verahda so that it can be collected.  This is the collateral damage (sorry tossntom):

It's never too late for a warning........

The shelves and the brackets are in this mysterious bag

and I'm very happy with the extra space in the study.  There will be some redecorating but it's ok for the moment.

30 years on.......

This week we celebrated F's 30th birthday.  It's hard to come to grips with the fact that it is such a long time since I first saw her and started on that "journey" of motherhood.  It's been a very rewarding trip and I feel very blessed that I have two such wonderful daughters.

Tosca made a sponge cake which was highly decorated with cream and fruit and was quite delicious!!

and, of course, it had no calories or fat content at all!!!!

Extra special to have B back from Paris to help us celebrate.

Christmas on an Island

We have just had a lovely Christmas/New Year on a tropical Island in Queensland.  Weather was great (we even had rain on boxing day so we could all have a rest).

Walking on the beach at dusk with those you love is very good for the soul ..

Skippy was living with his cousins at the Gorge.....

Some visitors came over on the water taxi for the day

and the water in the Gorge was the most amazing colour...

All good things must end and so it was back on the barge to Brisbane with a car load of dirty washing and some very happy memories.

a trip to the south

I recently went to Melbourne and Tasmania to catch up with some friends and to celebrate a couple of birthdays, including mine.  It was lovely to see everyone....

firstly the old school friends - we haven't really changed much ....

I loved seeing my niece and her children

and, of course seeing my children and their other halves

We had a great lunch at a vineyard near Launceston

and went to an amazing shop near Develport (perhaps more about that later)

and Robbie and JJ came over for coffee



































and Mikey's 21st was a good night and a chance to catch up with Mike and Rob

 I'm glad Jimmy was able to make it!!