It is definitely not a triffid!

A few years ago we replanted the garden beside the pergola and slowly and surely it took shape and recently one of the plants began to flower. What a flower! Its huge. Does anyone know its name?

Italia!

Gingham cloths, candles, geraniums and thirty people. All these things, were the essential ingredients for the neighbourhood Italian night. Menu listed and log fires lit. 6:15 and it was time to party. Ten courses, not sure if I could go the distance but I gave it my best shot. Plates and cups piled and stacked ready for each course. John's shed more than capable of hosting all thirty of us. Despite the persistent showers of heavy rain everything went to plan. Each couple was responsible for an aspect of the menu. Stephen and I spaghetti and meatballs but I rush past all the other courses prior to ours. Chris and Helen served the soup. Reg partakes of his beer. Trevor and Pete smiled for the camera while Anne and Gary awaited the next course. Later, much later. In fact ten courses later Helen and Pete took to the microphones. Chimea fire warmed the air as did the fine company and good food. Loved the way our community gathered. Good neighbours and good fun.

Fudge and Friends

So many weeks we had toiled in the garden so it was time to take a break and to refresh the spirit. Dolmades, cheese and pate to tempt the palate. A quiet, leisurely dinner, for six, allowed us to catch up, chat, laugh and to break bread. Bread with watercress soup that was followed by jacket potatoes and tender lamb cutlets on a bed of greens. Dessert was a simple fair that lead us to Jeni's fudge and Anne's cheese. Real treats! Bubbles, wine and coffee shared. Thank you for coming. It was time for me to do some much neglected housework and the expectations of visitors just the impetus to drive that duster, push that mop and hoover the carpet. Flowers too! We solved the world's problems in a few hours. I look forward to our next meal.

Stand Up and Be Counted!

Census night. Stand up and be counted. Technology certainly is wonderful. Gone is the perplexing old fashioned, paper, Census, booklet. Wonder how Joseph and Mary would have appreciated the technological era? No donkey, no inn, no star, no camels or Wise Men. Error 900 and then error 550. First error code was explained and simple to resolve. However, the second, code, 550, did not appear in any of the lists of errors. A rapid response email message to Census, online help. No yet answered but as that issue has now too been solved, no problem. Questions, check boxes. Who needs to know all this? Beware, if you insist that your family develop some sense of understanding of the system then I suggest, with the benefit of hindsight, that children should log on only after parents have completed their personal details. Why? Good question. Daughter was most eager to enter and upload her details after me and she now has made it almost impossible for other members of the family to show their familial relationship. Simply stated, husband is now trying to respond and upload his personal details to discover that 'it', being the computer, wanted him to explain his relationship to Person 1 and Person 2; his own daughter and wife. Check boxes had not considered that people may log on outside of family age order. Were there pop ups that should have been read? Were there embedded links that were missed? Look forward to the next Census and of course I don't mind if my information is archived for 99 years. Hyperlinks here I come!

Spots and Stripes

How exciting to see the cushions on the now capped, retaining wall. How far should one go when it comes to cushions for outside use? I'd like to think that any cushions would do but those who know me well would suggest that coordination factor is critical. Essential! With all the cushions that we own I wanted to see the visual appeal, once arranged. What combinations have the greatest impact? I have cushions with stripes and some with spots while others were purchased for inside? Dilemma; I have 10 that work well together but I need another 10. So much time has past since initial purchase matching is probably not going to happen when I shop for more. Don't even want to consider the word eclectic as far as fabric choices and design are concerned. I want this to look just right. I have Stephen sitting on the bench as I seek his input. I realise that he possibly is more rational and believes that it is 'just a cushion.' However, his patience is noted and appreciated as he sits resting after another really arduous day in the garden for both of us. From the cushioned seating and for my feet to touch the ground I have to sit on the lowest point in the whole wall. Go figure. Today I rediscovered how short I am. You think that I would remember that sort of thing. Perhaps I should only invite really tall people to come to visit and sit and enjoy the view with me; otherwise, as host, I may have to give them my preferred seat. My estimate is that at the tallest end of the wall that only people over 6 feet will be able to sit with their feet on the ground. Next, I'll probably need to consider the offer of additional little steps for those like myself, to reach the dizzying heights. When does it stop or is it all about the view?

Slowly But Surely

For several months most weekends and recent holiday time was spent in the garden. The purpose was to finally create the garden space that we have always wanted. When the children were much younger they repeatedly asked us to make a yard with paths that wound their way through beds of flowers and trees. Almost 20 years later we are starting to realise their wishes. The first step required the replanting of tired garden beds. Step two, the construction of a retaining wall to enlarge the level garden space to make it more useful for passive garden activities or alternatively, for the ambitious, active recreation ventures such as boccie. Next weekend the new terrace will be levelled and turfed thereafter. A hedge of either rosemary, curry plant or nandina will border the terrace to reduce the risk of me running the ride on mower off the edge. Not desired but highly likely. So I'll play it safe. Under the peppercorn tree we will lay a free form, compacted granite, pathway. This should provide all weather footing. The transition has been slow and will require many more months before the dream is realised. It is good to know that the journey has started. On the weekend we took our first breaks under the peppercorn tree, starting with breakfast. Worked all day until it was almost dark. Sunday mulching and weeding good therapy in the warm sunshine. It felt like Spring.

Stepping Up!

The much anticipated steps have been installed at the bottom of the terrace. Routed timber shavings neatly swept and gathered into a bucket. Shavings then sprinkled over garden beds, hopefully, to deter bugs and pests from their would be floral meals. Poles measured and then cut to size with the chainsaw. Guided by the two workers long screws bit deep into the timbers. With each screw bedded the steps began to reveal their elaborate design. A very wet concrete mix poured into the extra holes. All grey and very, very soggy. So soggy in fact that the mix had to be bailed of extra water. Next, we'll need a backhoe to level the terrace. I took pictures of the view that I'll soon enjoy as I tread those timbers. Long and hard work but it has been worth the wait.