Finally The Crafting Bug Has Bitten

While Surfer Boy is out in the shed making me some frames for my new potato garden I thought I'd show you what else I've been up to.

I had been putting off a visit to Spotlight all week as I had to buy some filling for a quilt order and I just wasn't motivated. When I finally made myself go I fell in lust with some fabric and decided my project to redo the cushions on my couch should begin now. I spent the rest of the afternoon throwing out my old covers and making 6 new ones.

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I'm pretty happy with the result and more than happy with the $29.00 it cost me. Even Surfer Boy likes them and he usually isn't a fan of couch cushions.

The only problem now is that the cat seems to have taken a major shine to them and is hard to oust from the couch.

The Mum Song

One of the Mums at school just sent this to me and I thought I'd share it. How many of these lines have you used on your kids?

Timbaaaaaaa

I was going to show you my mulching - very boring - but I realised this was much more interesting. I have the kind of husband who actually does stuff as soon as I've asked. I happened to mention that nothing would grow in one of the beds because the tree was blocking the sun so five minutes later he had the chainsaw out and half the tree was down!! I'm sure he thinks I don't appreciate him but one day, if he ever reads this blog, he'll see that I do - very much.

Now to abuse his kindness and think of some more things I want done...

Glorious

Autumn is not the time of year when I usually feel inspired to hit the garden but this year the weather has been so perfect for gardening in Melbourne that I can't help myself. I even bought myself some gumboots today! Now that the veggie garden is nearly done I'm moving on to the next bed.

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Next Step

Moondoggie has the day off on Tusedays so after our usual breakfast at The Corner Shop in Yarraville Village we headed off to Poyntons Nursery in Essendon.

It is always a treat to visit Poyntons but especially with a project in mind.

I closed my eyes to all the other treats on offer and headed to the veggie section. As planned we chose broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, chives, strawberries and some herbs. I also grabbed a passionfruit for the fence and some sweetpeas to add some height to the bed.

As is always the case a few extras some how ended up on our trolley and by the time we got home we had a blueberry bush, 2 salvias and some catnip for Oscar. Because I am hopeless I also snuck in some hollyhocks and Canterbury bells that I just could not resist. 2 bales of mulch, seeded potatoes and we were on our way.

Phew! It wasn't until I wrote it down that I realised how much I'd bought.

We spent the afternoon planting and this is the result...

The Herb box.

Blueberries and Catnip!

Next step - mulching!

I Wish

Do you like my new header photo? I kind of like logging on just to have a look at it. Do you think anyone believes it is my actual garden? Maybe international readers who don't know that inner city Melbourne doesn't have thatched cottages! What I wouldn't do for a garden like this. I can appreciate a modern, water concious, minimalist or native garden but I am a complete romantic sucker for a cottage garden. I know it's cliche'd as far as gardens go but I just can't help myself. There is something Green Gables, with a touch of fairy about a cottage garden.

Here are some more shots of the same cottage...

Sustainable Living in Kingsville

Moondoggie and I have started a new project. We decided to make a veggie garden and with the help of a certain Surfer Boy who happens to be good with a hammer, it is starting to come along nicely.


Our back garden has always been a bit of a dog's breakfast due to the fact that 8 years ago we thought we would be renovating soon so didn't want to waste money on an area that would eventually be flattened! We've whacked in some garden beds, pulled up all the concrete and grown some grass but in general it leaves a lot to be desired. The advantage is you can clear a whole bed without losing anything of value and start again with a - veggie garden.

I'm very proud of us - usually I just want to put everything in so it looks pretty but this time we're actually preparing the soil first. A sprinkle of dynamic lifter followed a few days later by manure and a couple of handfuls of lime.

Surfer Boy edged it properly for us and he's promised to fix the window box on the cubby so we can plant herbs there.

Moondoggie and I have decided to only plant things that we like to eat so we have chosen carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and maybe some strawberries (yes we know they're not veggies but gee they're yummy) We might try and grow potatoes too but I think some research needs to be done there first.

I'll keep you posted on our progress.

In Awe

I took Gidget to visit her godmother yesterday at the Park Hyatt. Gidget loved seeing Kris and her family but she was even more excited about the actual hotel! I had forgotten how exciting a luxury hotel is when you're small. The glitz, the glamour, the lifts, the piano man! She was in awe. I think afternoon tea visits to Melbourne's hotels might be a great idea.

I, on the other hand, was in awe of Gidget's godmother!

Kris gave birth to her beautiful daughter on Thursday, and you would swear she didn't raise a sweat. She radiates calm and is happily holding court at the Hyatt with her usual grace and charm. Even the arrival of her three boys did nothing to outwardly disturb the tranquility although she did mention that she wouldn't be encouraging them to stay too long!

I find it amazing and comforting to know that after 26 years Kris and I are still there for the big moments in each other's lives.

Congratulations Will and Kris - she is divine.

Kris and Jen - 1985

Love a Good Quiz

Over at Stars Hollow K. posted this fantastic quiz. She was a 'Christopher' and look who I am - 'Luke'. I think the fact that I find a toolbelt very sexy might have been the clincher. Who is your perfect Gilmore Girls man?

Citrusey Love

I haven't done much house related stuff lately but this shot courtesy of Serena and Lily is lovely. I think it is the soothing colour palette that I love. Might have to go and hunt up some more inspirational interiors....

World Class at the Logies

Freddy

I forgot to mention that yesterday, while travelling home through Wittlesea we came across a bric a brac store and look what I bought!!!



Doesn't everyone need a giant paper mache bear? His name is Freddy and he has taken up residence in the living room - at least until Surfer Boy gets back at the end of the week! Don't you think he'll love it?

Sunday Outing to Flowerdale

A little while ago my friend Leslie and I were talking about the Victorian bushfires and what we could possibly do to help in any small way. We decided that visiting the affected areas and spending some cash might be a good start. We worried that it might be seen as rubber-necking but after seeing pleas on the news for just this help we determined to do it.

So today we packed the kids in the car and headed up to the Flowerdale pub for lunch.

Travelling through Wittlesea, the King Lake area and on to Flowerdale was a revelation. The devastation is appalling but the spirit of hope is palpable.

We had a wonderful time, on a glorious sunny day, lunching in the beer garden, then popping in to the Hazeldene general store for some goodies,

continuing on to a nursery where we all chose a plant to buy to commemorate the day.

As you can probably see, all the businesses we visited were ringed by fire and we were continuously astounded that they had survived. This last photo shows us outside the nursery and the countryside looked like this on all four sides of this property. It was an oasis of green amongst the burn and it was overwhelming.

Hopefully our outing will help these businesses in their bid to stay afloat and I highly recommend you head up there to support these amazing people who have suffered so much. Not only will it help bring business back to the area but it was one of the loveliest days I have spent in ages.

http://helpflowerdalenow.blogspot.com/

http://www.standrewspub.com/

http://kinglake.vic.au/

Gift Horse

YAY!! I met Kelly today - my wonderful benefactress who sent Gidget and I off to the Hannah Montana premiere. Moondoggie had his 5th birthday party at the Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre - or Frog Slide Pool as he calls it, and Kelly came up and introduced herself. It was so lovely to put a face to the name.

Gidget got her school book club forms yesterday and she has chosen to get the Miley Cyrus autobiography! Maybe Kelly will want to read it after we have to make up for missing the premiere?? I know you'll all be dying to know if it's as good as it sounds so perhaps I'll review it when I've read it!