29 January 2018



another day of heatwave
the bees are enjoying their bath as are the birds outdoors
34 degrees at the time of writing
39 yesterday
change expected this afternoon and it can't come soon enough
no air conditioning so the weather is very draining
to wile away the hours, I have started  on a new set of dishcloths.






28 January 2018

the beachside cottage.....a getaway.



where darby river meets the sea.... 






Came across a some cloth produce bags at fish creek arts and crafts shop so purchased one to see how useful it may be.  I found I much preferred this way of storing fresh produce to the awful plastic bags, so have since made another two from muslin scrap leftovers.


On our original visit 2 years ago, we took a bowl from the kitchen and placed it under the garden tap. Seems it now has earnt a permanent position as bird bath and drinking station.







Edwin saw a red bellied black snake slithering quickly away off the driveway. Incredibly , I saw not one snake during our stay.




The magical little garden is full of flowering shrubs which various birds love to feed on, including this red browed fire tail.

on our very last day, the power went off which resulted in no running water to the cottage. this dilemma turned out to work in our favour somewhat, as the owners of the property allowed us to use the neighbouring house's facilities. Having always been curious to see this bush obscured home that we always pass on our way through, I now had a chance to enter! It is a lovely old early 1900's house, freshly painted, stained glass windows, high ceilings and so forth. More elegant than our classic australian shack, which I prefer for it's cosiness and close proximity to nature.











8 January 2018

a restful afternoon




Making smudge sticks with hand picked sage from the garden.

5 January 2018











I brought hom ethe Abraham Darby rose from my local nursery about a month ago, and it is now flowering . I chose two from the shrub to bring inside and admire. They are bewitching in their beauty and fragrance. So delicate and fragile, the ruffles so translucent, and the scent  - fruity with  citrus notes. I'm reminded of  the saying by Ralph Waldo Emerson - the earth laughs in flowers.  They certainly bring alot of joy.