THE FLOWERS THAT BLOOM IN THE SPRING

Hello,

The Iris have bloomed again this year - I love their spectacular colour..

I need to learn how to divide the bulbs, to grow more next year.

When these beauties appear, Spring is not far behind...

Did you notice Kate wore her blue poppy dress this week?

The one I loved when she came to Australia.

And don't think I would not try to copy it -

if only I could get my hands on that fantastic fabric.

Liberty have this blue poppy design, pretty but not the border print needed to make a Repli-Kate...

Perhaps, as we are going to London in any case, I could pop in and get a piece, and make an 'inspired by' creation..

Is anybody watching the Great British Sewing Bee?

Currently running on Foxtel...I love it..

All those excellent sewists being put under pressure - 

rather them than me, actually.

I have been taking a few trips on the vehicular ferry which crosses the Brisbane River upstream from where we live.

It is a short route to the dressmaker, who has been working hard making my silk coat for The Wedding..

The little punt carries about 15 vehicles maximum, but sometimes there are only one or two on board.  I was first on today.

Five minutes of peaceful drifting under a brilliant blue sky and off I go again..

This is my wedding hat..

Can you imagine how I am going to get it to Ireland?

Might be tricky...

My blush colour shoes.  It will be a garden wedding.

Daffodils have appeared in the shoppes, so I bought our annual bunch.

Only to come home to find the Garden of Neglect had managed to produce one all by itself.  And another has appeared today.

There are a few of these as well.  Is there such a thing as a white daffodil?

Happy Springtime and enjoy the sunshine.

XXXXX

ROSE TRIO

Greetings...
The roses are blooming at our place, having taken a liking to our hotter than average Winter.
I mean, there were about two weeks when we got down close to zero in the mornings...
Now here we are in August, traditionally our freezing month with Westerley Winds, and it is way above average.  The Weather Powers said we had the hottest July ever recorded.

Goodness knows what they will say about August.

This red rose was absolutely enormous - although I was not smart enough to put something in the photo to show scale.  Trust me on this one.

Oh, and I bought a new camera to take overseas.
Because the other one has developed some kind of battery power leaking problem.  It loses power even when no pictures are taken, and a full battery only lasts through about six photos.
Which the camera shop says would be difficult to solve, and probably unsolvable.  They said it happens with various electronic devices, occasionally.

A poorly functioning camera is not an option just at the moment...

Little Aussie has visited, and was flying his Pokemon kite around the neighbourhood...

He also took me on my first Pokemon hunt with his father's phone.
Unfortunately we did not find one, so I continue to have no idea what happens, or how they introduce themselves.
He is only six.  How do today's children become technical wizards so quickly...

This is not a painting to be found at the Queensland Art Gallery.
It is by an unnamed amateur painter, and my father owned and kept it in his room at his final home.

It is a picture of Mt Lindsay, part of the MacPherson ranges on the border of Queensland and New South Wales.  I took this picture on the last time we took Dad to that area for his Sunday drive.

A hail-storm was brewing, but we managed to drive out of the region before it could catch us..

Dad loved the bush, the forests and the mountains.
It is nice to have his painting hanging in the Red Cardinal nest.

May life bring you roses....

XXXXX

RANDOM THOUGHTS OF THE WEEK

Hello,

Walking by the creek I discovered the Golden Wattle is blossoming.

I love its beautiful scent, and delicate yellow fronds.

It is of course Australia's national flower, and I have mentioned lots of times that I like the Queen's Wattle Brooch, presented to her by Australia early in her reign.

I have purchased online tickets to see the State Rooms in Buckingham Palace, a tour which incorporates a display of Her Majesty's Wedding and Coronation gowns, along with many other noteworthy outfits.  

As a life-long sewist, I will enjoy this immensely.

After which I will proceed, as is my wont, to the Gift Shop.

Where, it seems, they sell replicas of the above Wattle Brooch.

hmmmmm....

Moving right along, last time we went to London I saw my first robin red-breast, on Day 1, while walking through Green Park.

And speaking of wildlife, I have put out lots of my father's nature books for Little Aussie to read.  It might have influenced me to buy a cheap tiger sweater from H&M.

We wished our grandsons had been with us at the local village on Saturday.  

Look who was wandering around!!

Thank you all for the helpful and interesting hints on things to see in London.
I have taken notes, and my itinerary is coming together.
All hotel reservations are now in place, and I might even let myself get a tiny bit excited.  

Of course, after London we are off to Dublin and the wedding of our son to his Irish Lass.  I have never been to Ireland, and if you have, would love to hear what you enjoyed.

My list at the moment goes something like this:

Book of Kells

What did you love in Ireland?

Is it green because it rains all the time?

I have much to ponder...

Stay warm or cool, whatever the weather in your neck of the woods...

XXXX