FLYING IN FOR A CHAT

Hello

It's time I flew in for a chat

At last a few days of cooler weather have arrived, and I hear the gentle patter of raindrops outside.  Lovely.

I've been nesting lately...

and shocked myself by falling for the K-Mart blush pink velvet chair..

only $49 at a store near you...

It must be the heat.  I keep furniture for forever and a day.  

That little settee and its two matching friends were given to us just after we married, and the pair of gossip chairs (see one with green cushion) came from my father's home, so are very much older.

You can see my piano beside the pink chair.  

My parents gave that to me on my 21st birthday.

Valentine's Day last week too.

I was a day late what with one thing and another, but as usual I made Mr C the Annual General heart-shaped sponge cake to celebrate.

I don't think I have ever missed a year, so did not want to spoil my record...

The heat brings on the tropical storms...

and sometimes a rainbow...

I thought this was a snake, but thank goodness the photo reveals a back leg (see foreground) which means it is a blue-tongued lizard.

Only several days later did I notice there is a second one in the photo, looking straight at me.  You can see its face to the left of the big head.  The upright branch covers the centre of the face and the eyes are to either side.  It is clearer if you enlarge the picture.  

I've been fossicking at the Antique Centre.  

And I always did like a barnyard scene..

and was taken by a little blue glass vase for our bedroom...

After a long cultural drought, last week we went to the first QSO Maestro concert for 2018.  

I remember years ago my piano teacher telling me about Ravel's Concerto in D for Piano (Left Hand) and Orchestra, 1931.  Ravel wrote it for the pianist Paul Wittgenstein who lost his right arm at the Russian front in 1914 but who resolved to continue his career as a concert pianist.  He commissioned many works for left hand alone, and Ravel's Left Hand Concerto was published as Wittgenstein's 'exclusive property'. 

A long held wish to see it performed came true at our concert, thanks to French pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet.  What an incredible performance, and amazing composition it was.  A well-deserved standing ovation followed for Bavouzet.

Google image: Jean-Efflam Bavouzet performs the Left Hand Concerto, Ravel.

And it will surprise absolutely nobody, that when I sought some new pendant lights for above the kitchen bench, I chose these:

Stay out of the heat, or the snow, depending on your latitude.

XXXXX

RAINBOWS

Tomorrow is Remembrance Day in Australia - 

I like to remember my grandfather, an Australian far from home in the snowy fields of Flanders back in the First World War.

I took these pictures when we visited in 2009.

Lest we forget

See those few blossoms on the top of our Jacaranda tree?

We thought the day would never come, but....

our five year old tree has finally decided to bloom!

Other trees have been covered in purple for weeks, but just when we had given up on our tree for 2015, I looked up and there they were - tiny little buds, about to burst forth.

Like proud new parents, we will probably take pictures of every new development....Heaven help us!

The Blue Sapphire has been giving a good example..

Roses are popping out on a daily basis...

along with the Agapanthus.

There have been storms.

Lots of Summer Storms with ear-splitting thunder and scary flashes of lightning.

I went for a walk as the sun re-emerged the other afternoon.

The sky had quite a glow.

In other lovely news this week, the Sewing Ladies celebrated the Spring Racing Season in Australia with a flourish.

Champagne?  Of course...

And Little Aussie has been to visit.

He is now into complex cardboard constructions..

This is a tool shed, with his plastic tools taped to the inside walls.

He decided on free-form murals for the external decoration:

Hope your week is full of rainbows.

XXXXX

MAKING RAINBOWS

When I can't get to sleep,

I like making rainbows in my mind with the flowers in our garden:

From the outside in:

Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, pink.

I know the inner one is violet according to the scientists,

but it looks pink to me.

So pink it is.

Here's a violet coloured flower for purists:

Michelle continues with the gorgeous blue gown trend,

and is joined by Britain's Samantha Cameron.

Oh, and their nation-leading husbands were there too!

Fabulous Blue Birdie Brooch on pretty white/blue shift dress.

Do you like antique white milk glass?

Me too!

Hope you weekend is a good one,

and the coming week is Great! xx