Vegetable garden and the hopvine.

Late July .. Garden.

PERTH

THE BARN.. REPAIRS.

THE BARN.. REPAIRS.

HOLIDAY,GARDEN, THE BARN .

Time has passed by so fast but I,ve made myself promise to do an update regularly.Today, was a bitterly cold, grey day but I ventured out for a stroll around my garden to see what is in bloom. The weather forcast for the next few days is dreadful with snow forecast and in general just normal winter temperatures. We have been very, very lucky as up till now the winter has been mild and we are thankful for that as Canterbury has had enough coping with the earthquakes, etc., but that luck has run out.

The cattery and kennels are extremely busy and Michael hasn,t been able to get on with fixing the barn floor which was damaged in the Feb quake. Hopefully, He will get it done over the next month in between working at the kennels, lambing and having a break in Perth, visiting family. We hope to have it finished for opening in September. I,m amazed at the people calling in to visit The Barn and when speaking to them it seems that besides retail therapy, they are getting a break from the sights of the quake and to relax and forget for awhile. I went over to Perth and the Gold Coast so have included some pics of an amazing helicopter flight I had over Perth and down to Fremantle. After being in Perth for a week I headed for the last week to stay with a friend of mine [ Robina ] and as only girls can do, we shopped. It was great but it was also good to get home.

I,ve now caught up with all the news and have spent time today cutting out fabric for cushions, etc. so when the time permits I can sew them up and have a backup of cushions for when The Barn reopens. Over the next week I have a IT person coming to help me get it right uploading stock onto the online shop, so hopefully you,ll see plenty of product for sale next week.

Photos also of blooms sighted in the garden today, hellebores, snowdrops, earlicheer, camellias, perennial wallflower,daphne, wintersweet, viburnum.

JUNE 14

MY 44TH BIRTHDAY WAS THE DAY AFTER THE LATEST QUAKE SO I HAD NO DESIRE TO GO OUT FOR DINNER; SITTING IN A RESTAURANT DIDN'T FILL ME WITH WARM FUZZIES. WE STAYED HOME & HAD LOVELY INDIAN TAKEAWAYS WITH MUM & MICHAEL FOLLOWED BY DELICIOUS CHOCCY CAKE A LA MUM.

MY HUSBAND MIKE BOUGHT ME GORGEOUS FLOWERS (YES, THEY'RE ORANGE, SHIRLEY!!!), MY TEENAGE SON BOUGHT ME GARDEN VOUCHERS & A WHITE CYCLAMEN (WHICH LOOKS DELIGHTFUL IN A VINTAGE SILVER POSY CUP) & MUM & MICHAEL BOUGHT ME THE BESTEST MOST GORGEOUS BOOK I HAVE BEEN COVETING - TRICIA GOULD'S LATEST - LOVE LOVE LOVE DESIGNERS GUILD.

I ALSO DECIDED WE NEEDED A SHOT OF ORANGE IN OUR KITCHEN SO PAINTED SOME LETTERS I HAD FROM OUR PREVIOUS HOME & ATTACHED THEM TO THE PANTRY DOOR, SORRY SHIRLEY.

JUNE????

HOW CAN THIS BE............OLD AGE, AGING DISGRACEFULLY, OR IS IT JUST THAT THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON IN OUR LIVES AT PRESENT THAT WE HAVE BEEN VERY SLACK IN COMMUNICATING VIA THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF BLOGS?
IT'S NOW JUNE, CHRISTCHURCH HAS SUFFERED ANOTHER EARTHQUAKE LAST WEEK BUT WE ARE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL THAT OUR HOME IS UNDAMAGED. THAT'S NOT TO SAY WE HAVEN'T SUSTAINED BREAKAGES & FURNITURE DAMAGE FROM ITEMS FALLING ON IT.
I NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING CREATIVE AFTER A VERY BUSY WEEK AT WORK SO GOT OUT THE OLD NOVELS I HAD STORED IN THE SPARE ROOM & STARTED CUTTING..........SEE WHAT THE OUTCOME WAS ABOVE (INSPIRATION CAME FROM OTHER BLOGS I HAVE TO SAY BUT DO HAVE A BIT OF AN INTEREST IN OLD BOOKS/PRINT RIGHT NOW).

IT FELT GOOD TO BE MAKING SOMETHING AFTER SO MANY MONTHS OF NOT. WE HAVE BEEN ENDEAVOURING TO GET PATHWAYS SORTED OUT SO WE CAN MOVE AROUND THE PROPERTY OVER WINTER WITHOUT ENDURING A MUD BOG & OF COURSE IT ALL TAKES MUCH MUCH LONGER THAN ONE ANTICIPATED.