Visitor in the Fernery

We have a visitor in our fernery - a gentle Senegal Dove.
Mind you, the Doves haven't done the plant in the hanging basket much good. They have also raised a question about watering. To water or not to water, that is the question.

For their part they also have problems. It's not the best of all possible worklds for them. For instance, one big problem is a nasty eyed raven ("That bird of ill omen"). We've tried to discourage him but he is persistent - who will be the winner?

I Thought you might also like to see our golden bush - don't know its name, but it is an Ossie native. It shares the garden bed with Ruth's valuable parsley (planted by Jenny) and a riot of pink flowers that grow like weeds

The Family

Here are three of the beautiful people in my life. I sat in the car at Point Lonsdale - you can see the water of the Port behind them - and photographed "The Aged Ps" and Ruth.

We had a good day out during Phil and Judy's few days in Geelong. We dined at the Riptide restaurant at the Bowls club at Queensclif and then ran along to Pt Lonsdale. Phil and I watched the shipping while Ruth and Judy did the Op Shop. Itwas a pleasant day out with beautiful sunshine.

Next day, Jenny and Ted joined us at Abervale for lunch and an opportunity of watching Rachael's DVD on the wedding of the year. Marvellous Rachael! Of course you are marvellous but what I meant was that the DVD was marv! Good to meet up with Greg and hope to see you down here soon.

Correct wear for floods

The floods in Qld, NSW and Vic have been terrible as we all know. We know too that, as Dorothea Mackellar has it, Oz is a land of "ragged mountain ranges, Of droughts and flooding rains."

Back in 1900 my grandpa, he was mayor of Echuca, faced the problem. It's a terrible pic, I know, but at least he knew how to dress for the occasion - top hat, frock coat and trousers rolled above the knees. Good old Caleb Vines!

Still Christmas with January half gone!

January may be halfway to its end, but we still have evidences of Christmas - Poinsettias. Accoding to legend they gained their colour when a poor girl in Maxico with nothing else to give to the Christ child, placed on the altar green leaves she had gathered on her way to worship. Ever since the leaves have glowed red at Christmas. Nice story and nice Christmas gift still with us with January's end in sight.

Another appreciated Christmas gift was the visit of Jenny and Ted and Judy and Phillip who motored down from Sydney in their new Mazda. Our various electronic gadgets benefitted from Phil's visit. We enjoyed a great meal at The Lord of the Isles. It included chocolate bread and butter pudding that was nothing like mother used to make! Photo by courtesy of our attentive waiter.

Bless you all and have a greast year!