The Last of the Winter Vine

We have a rather spectacular monolith in our yard.

Looming up iinto the winter sky – looks its best against a vibrant blue Queensland winter day.

The spectacular orange is the Orange Trumpet Vine not an unusual vine at all in this neck of the woods..    It is the vine that is beautiful, not so much the tree that it covers.

It always seems to bloom just in time for our sons birthday in June (which as always been nice when we have a party or get together here)  and peaks about July.

For a number of years we have all said ‘that tree just has to go’.  The tree is a gum and way too close to the house.  The tree has been pruned back a number of times and now of course doesn’t grow too well,

So while the winter view is spectacular, the rest of the year it’s a bit ho-hum - the snubbed branches and minimal leaf growth not very inspiring.  

It is way too close to the house.  Too close to the drains, the roof, the verandah.

One year that tree just has to go.  Maybe next year.  The last of the winter vine.

Cheers for now

Wendy

Waving hi to new follower Karen... Hi!.

We Like Our Fireplace

Being in Queensland, it doesn't really get a lot of use.

However, just for a few months, it's an integral part of our home.

A bit rustic, it seems to fit in well.  We have been here 21 years (how did that happen) and the fire was here
when we bought the house.

 

(oops the chimney looks a bit wonky - sorry, must be my great photography in action!)

Not sure how long it was here before.  It's a fair age anyhow.

Over the years we have installed a new chimney, but that's all.

I think it will be here for a few years to come.

Do you have a fireplace where you are?

cheers for now
Wendy

Ahhh Winter - you've done it again

Wool giveaway! 

Follow link at right to let me know

you'd like to be included.

I'll draw it on the 15th July

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Winter, in my opinion anyway, the best time of the year.  

What have I been up to?  Well I have .....  

 

Finished knitting a baby blanket for my niece's firstborn.  I was just finishing up some oddment colours that I had, wasn't sure of  baby boy or a girl when I started knitting. Turned out to be a boy.

 

We have been having (what seems like a continual) clean up around the house and yard.

We've had two separate garage sales - but only sold a little.


This photo taken the night before.  What is it with garage sales these days?  We had low prices, but people only seem to want to look.  We obviously don't have good junk!

So I have taken THREE car loads of goods (sorry forgot to take photos of evidence) to my local Animal Welfare charity store - at least they love me.  I enjoy knowing that someone else will benefit and there might be a few more happy op shoppers around!

...... and have listed some things on ebay - working on more this week.

 

I've been oiling furniture and changing around rooms (again).  This taken mid-turnaround!

Plus I've been generally enjoying life around our place here (especially since I'm at home more atm).

  

 

 

and of course - playing with these guys

What's not to to love about Winter in Queensland?!

( I have used a couple of these photos in earlier posts, but they seemed to fit in well with this one.)



cheers for now
Wendy

It's an Orange Winter Wednesday

There is something about winter and the colour orange in Queensland!  I spotted this gorgeous hedge of orange trumpet vine.  Not in my backyard, but when I was out and about on a walk.

 

 Isn't it just beautiful.  The fall is so luxurious, the colours so vibrant.  

 What is is with the colour orange that has such a happy feel about it?  

When I went back with my camera to take these shots, I also spotted something unusual in a front yard.  A pair of  Bush Stone Curlews.  

While not uncommon in these parts (we often hear their haunting call at night) I've not seen them during the day before.  I can only imagine that they were somehow disturbed in the nocturnal foraging. 

 I took a few photos and wished them well, not wanting to disturb them too much.

Or maybe they were just basking in the glow of all that orange-ness!

That was my Winter Wednesday morning.  How is it with all who participate in Hazel's Winter Wednesday theme.  Cold and wet perhaps??  :))  Sorry - couldn't resist that one!

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My replies to your comments on the previous post

Daffodil  - sounds kind of cosy to me!  I enjoy a cold wet day sometimes - maybe not for too long though!

Nelly - it is nice at the moment.  Can't say I'm looking forward to those long hot days ahead of us.

delia hornbook - thanks Dee.  I find it amazing that this is probably the first time I have taken photos of our surrounds.  It is lovely to have done it now.

Ali - yes, we certainly are lucky at the moment.  Bit dry though, hope we get some rain before the Ekka and those westerly winds.

**Anne** - I just love the big gums the most too.  Once they are gone they won't be replaced, and so many animals and birds make use of them. 

saving for travel - I look forward to seeing your photos too SFT.  It will be interesting to see the difference!

Tasmanian Vegan and Minimalist - I often think about Tasmania - particularly when it is so hot here!   Not so sure about the depths of winter though!

Little Blue Mouse - thanks for commenting.  I'm hoping that I'll be organized enough with my photos - we'll see! 

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cheers for now - Wendy

1st Day of Winter!

Now I do realize that Queenslanders have an easier time of winter than many other parts of Australia.  As well as a lot of other parts of the world.  However, can I just say that I really love winter!  It gets a bad rap from many, and in its defence I would like to say the following:

• Winter clothes are so much more stylish (not talking tracky dacks and ugg boots here).
• Winter time is a much nicer for cuddling (I'm just saying..)
• It's great to be out in the garden on a crisp day with bright blue skies.
• Not so much mowing needed around the yard.
• Winter veggies are easier to grow - and lots of great recipes for soups.
• There seems to be so much more to do on the weekends -  markets,  ag.shows  etc.
• NRL Football.  Winter is also State of Origin time.  Go Qld!

So that's just a couple of the positves of winter.  What are some of yours?

I've been prompted to this  after reading Hazel's Winter Wednesdays post and also Veggiegobbler's  Five things to Love About Winter.  All different aspects of winter. I'm sure there are plenty more out there.

And the mandarin citrus arrangement?  This was prompted by Gooseberry Jam's lovely idea.  Isn't hers' just gorgeous.  Mine is a wee bit tame I think, but it was certainly something I'd never tried before.  I've been inspired to try other arrangements now too.   I'm grateful too for her comment on using a heavy based pot!  It is rather top heavy. 

If you click on my photo, you may well see this in the background.  Isn't this how most dogs spend their days??

cheers for now Wendy

Signs of the Season

Ahhhh ..... the best time of the year as far as I'm concerned!  The start of autumn and those lovely sunny days with blue skies.  Time to get the quilts and blankies out of storage.  Time to load up the Hills Hoist with them all. It is worth putting up with all the heat just to get to this stage.  I am a born and bred Queenslander, but feel sure that I was meant to live in a colder climate - it will happen one day.

My favourite - with so much beautiful work in it.  I wish I could claim it as my own creation, but I bought this one new at a craft fair when we were on holidays in central NSW a few years ago.   The detail is just gorgeous, and as a knitter not a crocheter,  I am even more in awe of it.  The other crochet rugs I have acquired over the years,  mainly from thrift shops.

Doonas/quilts/comforters - everyone seems to have a different name for them.  For a family of 3, we certainly seem to have a few!   A couple are lightweight for the start of winter, then ramping up to a heavier  wool fleece one for when it really does get cool.  It just doesn't get cold enough for woolen blankets here, although I have a few in storage.  For us, it is just one cotton woven blanket and one quilt.  What do you use where you are?

Other signs of winter - our citrus doing well, and not too far off being picked.  I think that Nature has it pretty well planned that citrus ripens just when winter kicks in.  Plenty of Vitamin C to ward off colds.  It seems to work for us, we are rarely sick over winter (touch wood)!

I hope to have some decluttering to report next week.  I am currently sorting out summer/winter clothes too, so I plan to have photographic evidence!

Happy Mother's  Day on Sunday to all the mums out there.  Fortunately (for us, but not for him) we don't have to drive our son way over to the other side of town to play football as usually happens on Mother's Day!  He has a minor injury (a huge lump on his knee after a collision at training during the week) and won't be playing.  Instead I may even get a little spoilt - who knows! 

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A big Thanks to the gorgeous Ali of Mud Pie for having the Diggers book giveaway.  I won I won!  So did Hazel and Gooseberry Jam.  We all won a book each!  Thanks heaps Ali.

cheers for now Wendy