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Walking round the garden after our distressingly little rain yesterday I came across a bit more colour that I thought was brilliant. These epiphytes are almost fluorescent in their colouring.
Our neighbour, Frank, gave us a cutting from his plant last year and this is how it looks this year in our garden.
- Mood:
jubilant
Beautiful Clivea by the pond
We are desperately in need of more rain again. The grass is brown and some of the plants are really suffering.
Just to cheer me up though I can always find some colour and something lovely in the garden. These pics were taken about 4 weeks ago before we went down to Melbourne.
Reflections and an Iris in the fish pond. Where are the fish?
Unusual brown-pink Iris at the top pond.
Orthophytum in flower.
Tillandsia showing off its red and purple.
Delicate yellow-flowered Tillandsia.
- Location:my garden
- Mood: cheerful
Last week Hans and I made a flying visit to Melbourne. For old times sake we decided to drive. We took the New England Highway from Stanthorpe to Gunnedah then across to Dubbo and on to the Newell Highway down to Melbourne.
Driving down the Newell Highway was no fun. Terrible weather conditions - rain, thunderstorms, hail and then the red dust storm which covered Sydney (and our car). Coming back was only a little better, more dust storms all through NSW and southern Qld but not as bad as at the beginning of the week. Getting too old for this caper - we will fly down next time and hire a car. Would be easier and cheaper. And we would see more of Denise, Adam and Arthur :)
A penny for your thoughts.
Proud Mum. Arthur looking a bit disgruntled. Too many photos, I think.
Gramps and Arthur.
- Mood: cheerful
As I have already mentioned Hans and I went to Binna Burra in Lamington National Park to celebrate my 60th birthday.We stayed at the Lodge instead of camping this time. It was very nice and relaxing to be waited on and looked after. We managed to get in a couple of the shorter walks. We would have to train ourselves up for a longer walk. Old age creeping up :0
This is the lodge - dining room in the background. Cabins to the left.
The rooms - which are made to look like cabins
Everything is just as beautiful up in the hills as it ever was. A real treat and so peaceful.
Admiring the view at Sunset with a friend.
Up in the magical Antarctic Beech Forest area.
Hans on the track.
Me among the boulders.
Sunrise. Morning view from our balcony.
Remember those long walks - this is looking out towards the Ship's Stern walk. 23 kms. And we did it !! You were very brave kids:)
- Location:Binna Burra
- Mood: calm
As well as becoming a Grandmother for the first time, I also had another milestone to celebrate. Yes, I turned 60. I don't feel much older in my head but the body is beginning to give way. Very sad but true. So before I post more photos of Arthur and his Mum and Dad, I thought I would show a few pics of my 60th. No party but still had a great time.
Delicious pavlova which the staff scoffed in no time at all.
These are the presents from Corinne and Ben, Denise and Adam, and Michael.
Michael gave me wine. Always appreciated!
C must have had a feeling I would need a new machine soon . My Elna gave up the ghost just as the gift card arrived.
RIP the Elna which I have used and used for years. The Janome feels great and I am looking forward to getting to know it better.
Denise and Adam gave me a picture which Denise painted from a photo of me when I was 3 yrs old. I felt so happy when I opened the parcel. WasI ever that little? Hope there's a little bit of Arthur in there.
Also some lovely face creams which I hope help me to look not so old and wrinkly :)
Of course their best present was dear little Arthur.
I love all my presents. Just wonderful, from my darling children. Thank you.
And to top it all off, Laleen and John came over with beautiful flowers and a yummy cake.
Lal also gave me a couple of other gifts including a new Brom (what else) called Megan.
- Mood: happy
I have just been down to Melbourne. I arrived on the 17th July and Denise was due to have the baby on the 18th. Anthony picked me up from Avalon and drove me to Hampton, using his great new GPS navigation system to get there. Thanks Brother. Great to see you looking so good. Also met up with Cynthia, Jasmine and Layla at the hospital when they visited Denise.
It was lovely to be with Denise and Adam again and very exciting waiting for the birth of Arthur. Denise and I had some time before she went into labour to actually do a couple of things . We saw "HARRY POTTER - THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE' and wandered around Southland looking at all the lovely shops esp those with baby clothes, toys(naturally) and accessories.
On Monday morning a very excited D told me that "things " had started. Won't go into all the details here but after a long hard labour, much to her disappointment, D ended up having an emergency c-section. She was very brave and had tried right up until Thursday evening to have Arthur naturally.
So Arthur Leonard Sweedman was born at 8:53pm on the 23rd July at Jessie Mc Pherson hospital at Clayton, Melbourne. He weighed 3900gm and was 52 cm long. Very alert, had his eyes open from the beginning. (as you can see from my userpic where he is only about one and a half hours old.)
Denise working until the last minute. That lawn has to be just right for Arthur's homecoming :)
Worth all the waiting and pains. ARTHUR LEONARD SWEEDMAN has arrived.
Prouud Adam with very new Arthur in the parenting room.
Denise back from Recovery Room. Arthur now about 2 hrs old.
Proud new family.
- Mood: ecstatic
Just a quick blog before I leave for Melbourne.
I picked up these two cute Cabbage Patch dolls on my travels around the op-shops. I told Hans it's just as well I am not collecting them any more as these would go straight up on the shelf. The smaller one has already gone to a new home. The bigger one has terribly messy hair. However as it looks like dredds (very modern) I am not going to try and untangle it. I think their expressions are so happy and inviting - just makes me want to smile :)
Now I can clear the camera, ready for photos of a real baby, our eagerly awaited grandchild! :)
- Location:home
- Mood:
bouncy
A trip down south wouldn't be the same without a trip to Rosebud. So Denise and I set off for Rosebud on the Friday of my short stay with her and Adam.
We arrived at Shirley's in time for morning tea and a good chat. Then we went to the Plaza for lunch and a look around. Had lunch at our favorite cafe with our favorite most welcoming proprietor. Then back to Hampton before the traffic got too bad.
Denise set up the timer for a group photo.
Took many shots before we were satisfied with these two.
Shirley - forever young :)
Trying out my close-up technique.
Bit blurry but lovely pic of our soon-to-be mummy.
Another lovely one of Denise.
And of course we can't leave out Misty, Shirley's funny crazy cat.
Spot the cat.
She has torn Shirley's curtains to shreds.
I always feel as though I am coming home once I get past Frankston and on to the Peninsula. I still love it, fantastic memories of childhood, teenage years,young adulthood and early married life there.
- Location:Rosebud
- Mood: cheerful
One of the places we visited was the Ian Potter Centre in Federation Square. It is part of the Victorian Art Gallery and houses a fine collection of Australian Art mostly from the Heidelberg School.
It also has room for other exhibitions. We went specifically to see the Art Students' work. Really good. The standard was very high - some really outstanding work.
Denise inside Federation Square. Amazing architecture!
Looking from Fed Sq over the Yarra towards the Victorian Cultural Centre
Denise and me inside the buildings. Great views to be had from every window.
One of the airy spaces inside the gallery.
Denise on the walkway over the Yarra looking towards Crown Casino.
Melbourne Skyline from the walkway. A different perpective showing Flinders Street Station from the back.
The beautiful foyer lights of the Crown Hotel. No views of the Casino. Acres and acres of gamblers - quite depressing :(
- Mood: happy
Denise at 33 weeks.
Just been down to Melbourne on a flying visit to see Denise and Adam. I wanted to see Denise in her pregnant state - 3rd Trimester. She looks lovely. We managed to get around quite a bit while I was there. Tired each other out I think.
Yours truly and new Mum-to-be.
- Location:Hampton
- Mood: content
This is one of my favorite places at home. Thought I would share it with you.
Plenty of work to be done. Plenty of fun as well :)
- Mood:busy
As well as the Marburg Show and Labour Day Parade on Saturday and my full Sunday of the Market, a Bromeliad Meeting and evening Church we also managed to take in a long walk on the actual holiday. Well not long in kilometres but long in the time it took.
So we drove to Moogerah Dam on Monday to go for our walk. Firstly I am pleased to report that the dam is quite full again and there were many campers there for the long weekend.There were even some power boats on the dam. Last time we were there it was down to a pond in the middle.
We walked over the dam wall then Hans pointed to the sign that said 3 kilometres to the lookout and said "What about it?"
I was all for it - 3 k's is not at all long. The sign however neglected to give any information about the difficulty of the walk, as is normal in most parks.
We set off merrily without realising that it was practically straight up and most of it very rocky. We got to halfway after about one hour of walking and climbing. We thought about turning back very briefly but decided after all that effort we would go to the top! We were determined to finish the walk and in the end it was worth the effort as the views were fantastic and the personal satisfaction high. The walk took 2 hours going up and 1 hour and 15 minutes coming down. Possibly it would take less time for younger and fitter folks.
The spillway 
Hans on the way up. 
Me resting on the way up 
View from halfway up 
Towards the top - a bit of flatter ground Hans contemplating whether we should go on or not.
Looking towards Mt Walker and Rosewood.
Grass Trees at the top.
Me coming down. By this time my knees were killing me!!!
Fernery and plants in a natural rockery.
Native Daisies.
The only wildlife we saw. A Grub dragging his house with him.
Pretty but evil. Lantana.
- Mood: pleased
After the Marburg Show, we got home just in time for me to join in the Labour Day march through the streets of Ipswich.
It's the first time I have done it and I had fun. I belong to the QIEU and the organisers (Shelley and, from our school, Jennifer) needed some support so off I went. We were right behind one of the pipe bands which added to the enjoyment. We started in Ellenborough St., walked along Darling St , turned right at Waghorn St , over the railway bridge by the Metropole Hotel, down Brisbane St to Bell St, along Bell St to Roseberry Parade and then back to The Timothy Moloney Oval where the celebrations went on into the evening finishing with fireworks. I missed the evening celebrations - had to get back to my men. Maybe they will come with me next year!
It was an interesting experience and we had a lot of support and well wishes from the onlookers.
- Location:Ipswich
- Mood: bouncy
My kids tell me I am a rev-head (whatever that is).
The fact is I love all vehicles which have been restored and well looked after, or those which are just plain loved and cared for.
There were some beauties at the Marburg Show. Here they are.
Utes
Restored Holdens - very nice.
- Location:Marburg
- Mood: excited
THE AXE MAN, Steve Lehmann, and THE TOOL GUY, Hans Brunner .
What would a country show be without a blacksmith display and a working one at that.
- Location:Marburg
- Mood: happy
European Cattle
Aussie Cattle
Calvary Christian College with their travelling sheep display. The sheep were also judged.
Beautiful horse at the stables.
My favorite guys, about to be judged. These are the first things I would buy if I lived in the country.
Another one of my favorite guys. What a great stature!
Jumping fun.
Sideshow Alley.
Some of the beautiful art and craft display.
Western artifacts display - all hand made.
Pumpkin display. A friend of ours, Robyn Steinhardt, won many of the first prizes here.
Scenes from another era. Steam engines at work.
What would a show be without horses :)
A great event. The kids trotting races.
Very nice outfit.
This one was a real stayer.
All in all a very good day.
- Location:Marburg
- Mood: cheerful
I have a lot of catching up to do with my journal, so I thought I would start with Denise's visit while Corinne and Ben were here. Many thanks to Adam for giving her the trip as a birthday present.
It was lovely to see her and the visit just went by too quickly. I miss her so much when she leaves (as I miss Corinne and Ben too), especially now that she has a little sweetheart growing inside her. Visit her blog to see Ultrasound pics of the baby.
Denise and I went to see Ben and Corinne while they were at Mooloolaba for a week's beach holiday. We went up on the Friday and stayed overnight returning on Saturday afternoon. The water was fantastic and I had a marvellous time splashing about in the surf. It has been about 2 years since I have swum in the ocean. I must have spent about 4 hours in the water while we were there and have vowed that I won't wait so long again. Just have to get Hans to come with me!!
We were very lucky in our timing for our visit as in the next few days after we returned home,the bad weather from Cyclone Hamish hit the Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay. We had wonderful weather - it was a very good break for us.
My happy kids in C and B's unit at Moolooaba. Enjoying an ice-cream after dinner at Mooloolaba.
Denise on the Moolooaba foreshore.
Mother and daughter. Maroochydore.
Boating on the Maroochy River.
Denise beside the river at Maroochydore. A great place for a bit of quiet after the surf and a great place for young families.
- Location:Sunshine Coast
- Mood:
crazy
A family get-together with a barbecue. Always fun and lots of catching up to do.
Corinne and Ben
This one was for everyone to catch up with Corinne and Ben who are here for 7 weeks to see family, have a holiday and to buy a farm! (which they have done). 
It was also to farewell James, who is off to the UK to play lead guitar in the show "We will Rock You", touring Britain and possibly Europe.l
Mike and Keegan 
Laleen and John with Stella 
Sisters, me with Laleen. 
Happy boy - Reuben 
Mother and son, Sian with Conan Last but not least, one of the better-looking guests, Stella.
- Location:Brassall
- Mood: grateful
Corinne and Ben have come home from the UK for a seven-week holiday. It is already at the halfway mark. I can’t believe how the time flies. It is so lovely to have them here, just wish it was longer.
They had a good flight out and much to their joy were upgraded to business class for the last leg of the journey. Look at their blog to see the delicious food they were served - a bit different to cattle class.
They have been so busy while they are here, catching up with family and friends and most important of all buying a property out near Toowoomba at a district called Derrymore. They are now proud owners of a 160 acre farm set in beautiful countryside just below the ranges. For some fabulous pics and a good description of the farm just check out their blog.
- Mood: content
Of course the cars on show at the Swap Meets are just fabulous. Here are just a few of the classic and vintage cars which were at Toowoomba for you to enjoy. I don’t know all the makes but will find out.
Thunderbird 
Chevrolet Truck 
Every girl’s dream. A pink Falcon 
Sweet
Yet another cool car
Beautiful
And more 
Cars for sale
And just when you thought you had seen it all, along comes this guy with his self-made trolley. I love the solar panel
- Mood:enthralled
