The rain, the park and other things

Well I was sitting comfortably on the back porch, reading my book about dogs and gardens, when I looked up and thought 'This garden looks good today' so I took a photo

using the zoom.  Then I thought 'Don't be pathetic.  Show it as it is'. So I did.

Which is fortuitous cos it shows the book I've been reading.

A Christmas gift from Rosa Norte and perfect for anyone who loves dogs, gardening and Monty Don.  As I do.
Earlier today my Papaver Poppy from Woodbridge Nursery finally came in to bloom after the slowest striptease in history.

It is rather lovely but I suspect won't last the day in the wind.  There is a pink one but that is still in the leaf stage having spent the last cuppla months under sweetpeas.  Hopefully they'll selfseed like crazy.  The garden is responding well to the self-seeding approach.  Today I discovered a self-sown strawberry plant.  The only problem is that only I can do the weeding for fear of losing some little treasure.
We had 2 days of gentle rain earlier in the week.

coriander in rain

misty love-in-a-mist

 some lupins for Tamasin

Finally, the artist working on a glass box with a patient pup in attendance.

Easterish

Jake's work  uniform makes a girl think of Easter.

Happy New Year!!!

I have no particular plans for 2017.  Jill, however, has decided on a complete makeover.

Christmas shelf

This is not me slurring though I did have Christmas Pudding and Brandy Custard for breakfast with a Gingerbread chaser.  In anticipation of not many presents or cards, I devoted the space above the microwave to them.  But I was most pleasantly surprised.

Good old Santa.  But far more importantly, friends,

We finally got around to Christmas Dinner on Boxing Day because we're a little slow.  However this did allow Jake to partake.  I cooked the dinner so as to wear my new apron.

Pretty spiffy eh?  A present from the Glorious Bean and made by her own green fingers.

Incroyable.  I hope Lady Jayne's rels won't be chasing the Bean now for aprons.  And talking of Lady Jayne and flowery meades, I finally have a cornflower.

Not exactly room for a unicorn in there but hopefully it is the first of many - cornflowers and unicorns.  The next trick will be to get cornflowers and red poppies in flower together.  You doubtless also noted my lovely crocs which Jake wisely spent his hard earned money on.  I had intended to try out for a new pair in the apres Christmas sales but Jake saved me all that bother.
In other gardening news (Jake will have tuned out now):

a gift from the goddess - a selfsown lily

close-up of the blossom on the hammock trees

glimpse of hollyhock through seeding parsley

another view of hollyhocks, poppies, seeding parsley and silverbeet.

Note that Jake has whippersnipped the garden within an inch of its life.

bemused Pharoah Dog wondering where all the grass has gone.

You may be able to detect the heart shape on the gate to the left of photo.  Sarah made it when last she was here (and I taught her how to weed).  There are lots of little mementoes like this around.  But today I noticed that the noughts and crosses game she had left on the bathroom mirror has finally been erased.

Christmas past and present

When I moved to Tassie for the first time in 1970s, I (well we, actually, but that's more history) rented a house that was literally split down the middle.  We lived in one side, Jools and family in the other.  Included in her Christmas card this year Jools (another artist) included this sketch of the year I tried to teach myself recorder.
Yesterday Madam Cyn and I dined yet again at The Ocean Child in Hobart.  We always have the Volcano Steak - a steak topped with scallops in a curry sauce.

And Jake is staying with us and working at the refurbished East Coaster.

It still looks raw but the outlook is divine.

Lumberjack reunion

Remember the story of the felling of the radiata pine?  That was part of the Orford Interpretive Walk project which was launched today.  My 4 lumberjacks were keen to talk with The Pharoah and reminesce about that glorious day in the forest.  I was a little cageyer fearing their parents may be within hearing.  Fortunately the Official Launch commenced with the Mayor in attendance.

Here's what it's all about.

So now I just have to get a QR scanner on my phone.  Apparently you get these from the Apps Shop on your phone.  I'll have to have a look.  Or ask Jake when he returns from working at The East Coaster today.

As I was leaving, Santa pulled up in his MGB.  So buoyed was I by this event, I indulged in an  ice-cream on the way home.

It may have only been a Peter's but it was one of the best strawberry ice-creams I've tasted.  The Pharoah was more interested in the escaped nasturtiums.

Lovely views of Maria Island from this little cafe.  Here's the view from the front of the units  you can see in the photo.

(you'll have to excuse the UFO - it's a windy day)

Maria Island a little to the left

Orford nestled to the right

This area of beach is a bird sanctuary so I kept Pharoah Jill on leash which cramped her style a little.

Shades of Wentworth

A shed possibly unknown to the Shed Portrait Artist

small offering

Finally I have got a hollyhock to flower.  Not quite to the standard of that amazing year in Wentworth but a success nevertheless.  These are seeds that came from our Easter at Mintaro some 3 years ago.

I can take no credit for these trees which were in place long before we moved here and are handy for the hammock.  They have just burst into full bloom.  The perfume reminds me of a vanilla pannacotta. The bees are going crazy.