Bleak Day

Lots or rain and wind and bumping and thumping of chairs and pots and other things throughout the night. Fairly bleak day and it is good to be indoors. Poor posties out in the rain. Birds are a bit subdued in their cages. Peepee slept in the laundry the other night but is back in her pen now, sheltered but it is a bit bleak there. The rain is great for the garden and we have the most amazing mandarins, limes and lemons at the moment. So sweet. Must make a lemon meringue pie...ha there's a thought.

Mandarin

Had guests for the weekend at Montclare. Lovely to have such delightful people stay with us. I made pomegranate syrup from our own fruit and poached pears to serve with breakfast. This afternoon we went to Berry for a drive. Sun through the trees, rolling green hills and a nice drive home. The mandarin tree is fruiting down the back. I picked one of the mandarins and it was the most beautiful mandarins ever created. Sweet and juicy.

Cleaning and happy

Have not had guests for a while, but have a full house this weekend. Furious cleaning today - thorough and had to be fast. Throwing ourselves back into the groove made us rethink our bed and breakfast work and helped us to realise how we much we like what we do, and how much we appreciate the wonderful pace we have here, and the beautiful town in which we live.

Feathers

Glorious day tending to the birds and playing with Peepee. Many feathers are lying around the aviary. Magpie feathers I think - as there were larger black and white ones there. The cat next door hides under the rosemary bush and pounces on doves and other pretty birds. Poor birdies. Evil cat.

Autumn

Just love the autumn months. Shellharbour is not as exciting as other places (like the southern highlands) for autumn leaves, but I like to see the carpet of leaves in the small places here on the coast. My fruit trees are rapidly shedding their leaves and the place is looking bare. They are beautiful in the morning glow.

exciting weekend

Went to Wollongong on the weekend and watched Quatro in the mall. Lovely playing guys! Apparently it was Buddha's birthday and there were lots of lovely eaty places and stands and displays. Entertainment kept a large crowd captive for hours. Dancing, singing, music. Very interesting.

Work on a sunny day.

Work today - no pottering around. Time to get serious. Up early and organised for the day. The sun is not even up yet bit the hard work yesterday has left some clear pathways and the clutter is in new places. Must water the plants as there has been no rain for a while. Beautiful sunny weather lately - how lovely is autumn.

Stuck inside on a sunny day

Beautiful day and I have organised myself into a cleaning rut while I should be outside and enjoying the lovely sunshine. Peepee is in her pen lest she fly into a neighbour's yard. I have repacked the bag for the holiday - in 22 days. The out-of-control- is getting out of control. My identity crisis is reaching the sleepless stage and all I want to do is eat. Off for an early lunch - inside - alone.Cheesecake mmmmmmmm.

Saturday

Gorgeous sunny day and no people here this weekend. It is very still and quiet. Plans for today are to go and see Quatro playing in the mall in Wollongong and get the house clean. The cleaning is not very exciting but Wollongong may be fun.I may teach myself how to add music to a video so I can film the Pocket Book artist.

My Favourite Season?

Autumn is so nice - pretty leaves and lovely colours. The yard is a little bare and not much is growing except sweet potatoes and citrus fruit. Planning to just potter around today as there is so much to do and I do not know where to start.

Back Home

Just picked up mum and dad from the train station after their big trip to Victoria to see the sights - autumn leaves, historic sites, orchards, farms and mountains - oh so much more - the tales go on...
Had a nice hot dinner for them and have settled them back in their home - all snuggly warm after being in the cooler climes down south. We have autumn leaves here.....not nearly so spectacular though.

New paintings have begun. The resident artist is painting a scene from Venice. Big beautiful night cafe scene.
Will post a picture when it is finished.

These are our autumn leaves......ummmm

Winter is Coming

Up at 6.30 - a very late morning for me. Still up before Peepee. She put herself to bed in the apple tree last night. She is only allowed out for half an hour each day now.
The finches are very busy teaching the black beaks to fly. All the leaves are falling off the trees and the yard is looking bare. Winter is coming.

Blogging

Very excited to see the counter click over for people visiting my blog sites and clicking. Thank you for checking in people! I love to see your comments.
It is a whole new world and there is much to learn.YouTube is next with the Pocket Book Artist. The faux French artist who sets up his pocket book in interesting places all over the world and does sketches of what he sees while I film him. With his black beret, moustache and stripy shirt....ooo la la. Keep watching the space and check in on 'adventures' soon.

Home Safe

Peepee has been returned to her safe cage and will stay there for a little while - only to be released when there are no magpies to scare her witless. Gruel and water for me.
Had the trial filming of the Pocket Book artist last night. Artistry everywhere. The artist has vetoed any showing of the film but I might persuade said artist to put it on this blog. Keep watching. This is a glimpse of the gallery.

PEEPEE

The chook has vanished again. Magpies swooping....Peepee squawking...silence. Rush out - she has gone again. It was two seconds - I was right there - and she is nowhere to be seen. Not next door, not on the road, not down the side, not up above. Magpie looked smug. hmmmmmm
Still looking......

The Black Beaks

Baby finches out on their first flight today. Young birds have black beaks. The babies look like thistles and than they become slippers - lying very close together and hiding their heads and looking like slippers lined up in pairs.

The guest in the laundry

Great day yesterday - just pottering around. Did some shopping and bought coats for the trip. Played around catching up on blogs and creating websites. Richard now has his artist's shirt for the trip and for the new youtube sensation. Packed up late and found Peepee perched on the washing machine fast asleep. She thinks she is human and comes inside whenever she can. At least she had warm toes for a while.

Expo Day

Our school has expo day today - where everyone has to go to school and show how good it is. It isn't hard as the school is great. Lovely sunny weather will make for a good experience and hopefully lots of people. The kids that can have to come too - school on Saturday. 

normal is nice

No blogging for a couple of days - site had problems. Watched the planets align yesterday - that was fun. Had a Mary Kay party last night. Just a few people but we had a giggle and did girly bonding - my daughter with her BF and me with my sister - all over chocolate pizza, fruit and dippy things. Half the table had food, the other half had make up. Lots of giggles between hot flushes and bulging baby belly. Not a man in sight.

Snuggly

Cool morning so I did not want to get out of bed. Late arising - 6.15. The sun is not up yet but it is such a clear sky here with just a few far away clouds. Poor little birdies will have cold toes today. The baby finches are getting fluffy feathers so they will be warm. Porridge for breakfast and fill the green bin then hang out the washing and off to work to be there by 8.  Peepee will love her gruel and water today.

Spinning Thingy

Could not post for 2 days - little spinning thingy in the centre of the screen would not allow typing. Hmmmm lots of resetting and thwartedness. Could upload a pic though - so you get to see the sunrise as it was this morning after the clouds blew away.
Trip to the dentist today - to make sure there is no repeat of Tom Hanks predicament on Castaway. Teeth all good now. No dramas. Picked up passports with visas to Russia.
All excited here.
Peepee had more gruel and water for her breakfast today.

Good Morning

work day

Extra work today - so many ideas buzzing around in my head from new diet ideas to how to store the pegs. Have been called in to work so it is an early start and lots of catch up this afternoon. The day is cool and the sun seems to be having trouble getting going this morning.
I am starting the new diet idea - no processed foods and chemicals. Porridge this morning for breakfast. Just as well I like porridge.
Peepee is still in her cage. She will feel miffed at not having the freedom to wander around the yard and get swooped on by magpies and get out and get lost and scared. Maybe I will give her porridge for breakfast too. Gruel and water for her today.

Mothers' Day

Mothers' Day was yesterday and what a lovely day too. Went for a walk and the kids came over for afternoon tea with a lovely present. I wanted to have a picnic afternoon tea in the sun so they all chose their crazy cup and we set up a picnic blanket and enjoyed the sun and muffins and biscuits.
Visited mum and gave her choccies and a lovely warm lap rug for when she watches the tele.

Post your comments or tell what you did for Mothers' Day please. Would love to hear from you.

Mothers Day

Happy Mothers' Day to all mothers, would be mothers and daughters of mothers.

This mother's Day day starts with looking after guests at the Montclare Bed and Breakfast. Lots of food to make and cleaning to do. At least it is peaceful. No Peepee running around and bokbokking. She is in her pen and will have to make-do until later. Had the whole neighbourhood out after her yesterday. Towels and scampering. Such a fuss. She acts like her cage is a prison. It is meant to protect her. She acts like her Easter bun is gruel. Gruel and water for her today.

Up very early - sheets to wash - guests arriving today. It is still dark and the work begins.
Feed the birds, play with the chook and lots of cleaning.
As the dawn arrives the chook bokboks as she is swooped by a magpie. The hide of it! Peepee owns this yard. Not he magpie!
Sunny day and lots to learn. Cereal for breakfast and learning how to post a vid.

Sydney

Headed off to Sydney by train to The Queen Vic building for high tea. Mother's Day present from Bethany. mmmmmm num num num. Very nice place. Took a video and will try to upload it. Very posh place - everything was lovely. Lots of waitpeople who were very attentive.  Failed to find a beret for the 11 o'clock artist though. Look for the youtube vids soon. So much nicer than fast food. Worth the price for something so special. Paper thin pastries and scrumptious sandwiches. Highly recommended.

Train trip was interesting. Nice to fall asleep on the train. Sat on the sunny side and did the crossword and then dozed. Home to work and blog.
Pleased to say that the fare was only $15. Bit cheaper than last time.

day 1

Early wake up - so many ideas I cannot sleep. Up to Sydney today for a High Tea with my daughter. Fairly grey day but the cool will go soon and it should be nice to travel. Will use the time to learn how to video with my camera. The morning sounds are starting - the hum of traffic and the wind is stirring.