CANADA CELEBRATES AND GRANDSON DELIGHTS

Happy July, dear readers..

My Birds of Canada calendar makes it easy for me this month -

Mr and Mrs Cardinal, Blue Jay and Chickadees, if I am not mistaken.

Happy 150th Birthday and Canada Day to our Canadian friends,

 and DD and her little family.

Our grandsons have been decorating cakes with a maple leaf, a school holiday activity.  They are having a fun Summer.

Lots of activity this weekend on Ottawa's Capital Hill..

The impossibly cute Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire -

love his sox and her shoes...very celebratory!

Prince Charles falls for the Trudeau charm...

Meanwhile, back in the Cardinal Nest we have had a touch of real Winter.

Mr C is going well with his knee rehabilitation, and uses his vintage crotchet rug made by his Aunt to keep warm in the evenings.
He has started to drive the car, and walk short distances without sticks.
Life is beginning to return to normal.

Last week I bought a new washing machine, suddenly deciding I could no longer tolerate the old one and its crazy ideas regarding fabrics...

Never thought I'd find an appliance so attractive.
 I am actually finding reasons to wash things, just to try out all the various functions.
Ah, technology...

The delivery guys gave me a refrigerator box for Little Aussie -
because they are bigger.  He made this interesting construction for himself.
You crawl in the lower door, then poke yourself through an internal hole into the upper section.  Not recommended for the claustrophobic...

Stay out?  
No problem conforming to that request...

We watched the original Ghostbusters movie - our kids loved it back in the day.
It is not at all scary, only quaint and funny now.
Aussie was keen to see the Stay Puft Marshmallow man.

My lovely friend M gave me this gorgeous set of applique napkins, absolutely beautifully made by her own fair hands, back in the day.
Thank you so much, and I will treasure them always.
Don't they look wonderful with my fruity tablecloth from Florence?

Whatever do you think my red coleus is up to?

I am thinking of making a red dress using my old Catherine pattern, from a length of wool flannel in the stash.  Seems wrong not to...

Have a good week

XXXXX

COOL CHRISTMAS

On a dewy, soft Christmas morn, we awoke to find a pair of King Parrots visiting our deck. Shy, brilliantly coloured birds, they come rarely....

and chose the perfect occasion.  They flew around, had breakfast from our bird feeder, and generally looked like part of the Christmas decorations.

 There were a few showers -

at 25c maximum, it was Brisbane's coolest Christmas in 40 years.
And I loved it...

We had a wonderful day, filled with the joy of children's excitement..

Santa had found the Canadian visitors here in Australia!

Most of my photos came out blurred, such was the action and excitement in our living room...

Little Aussie looks pleased..

Our new grand-puppy joined in the festivities..

More visitors arrived... 

 we had a big family lunch around the extended dining table.

Prawns, glazed ham, chicken and lots of beautiful salads, followed by our Christmas plum pudding and wonderful individual pavlovas made by lovely G.

Lego Ice Lady - with little silver cape. 'Frozen' influence knows no bounds.

OPI from dear V, 
and Mr C spoiled and surprised me with the latest book about Frida Kahlo.

A perfect new handbag...
well played Mr C.

Love my Canadian songbirds 2017 calendar, and gorgeous dish towel -
too perfect for washing up, probably should become a cushion methinks...

The Festival of Pink Bags continued with a delicate pale pink bag from W&G -
Love it!

Took it along on a family excursion to Southbank:

The males in our family seem impressed by 1 William Street, the recently opened  Government building in Brisbane. 
But to me it is completely out of proportion to our city buildings, architecturally ugly and unimaginative.  Will I be sent to the Tower?
Thoughts?

Enjoy the post-Christmas lull, time for board games, leftovers, family and friends.

XXXX