Leafygal

Stamp on!!!

I've just finished the latest ATC's for a swap. These are Stamp People. You find used stamps with portrait heads and then cut bodies for them from magazines.
I like to add words cut from mags as well, but this isn't really necessary. It just seems to suit my warped sense of humour.

Charmed I'm sure!!

Here at last is a picture of the wonderful charms I received in the swap that our art techniques group did just before Xmas

My contribution to the swap started with buttons coloured wire and beads. I know I photographed them but I can't find the pic at the moment, it might still be in the camera!

I've just posted off the charms for the second swap - these were made of Tyvek painted with purple and gold acrylics then shrivelled with a heat gun.
beads were added to the head pin and the top curled for the jump ring to be added. I am quite pleased with these - I think they look rather like violets. I made 4 extra which I'll be making into earings

The grass is greener...

Well it was a little bit greener at the Geelong Botanical Gardens when we went to the Music in the Gardens on a recent Sunday. We had a minimal rain "storm" during the week which managed to freshen things up a bit.
The first week we didn't go because of the heat but the second week - trad jazz - was cooler and we did our usual outrageous picnic tea. No candelabra this time but home made Quiche, a Mango salad and a Tomato Bocconcini with Basil (my favourite which I'll have to limit after my recent blood cholesterol reading..sob)
Ripe figs with goats fetta and honey followed with xmas cake to mop up the juices.
The music and company was great too!!!

Anniversaries

We recently celebrated our 35th Wedding anniversary. I reckon that achievement deserved a splash out so we had a very pleasant day.
Lunched on the balcony overlooking the water in perfect weather at the Ol'Duke in Portarlington.  3 courses - goats cheese fig and rocket salad with a citrussy dressing for me and crispy belly pork  with a chillied salad for Tony.
These were followed by my venison with beetroot and Tony's seared Tuna.  A lovely sauvignon blanc washed it down.  Desserts were a vanilla pannacotta with summer berries for me and a coconut creme caramel with fried mango cheeks for Tony.  A truly lovely meal - we will return.

We finished our day at the Pictures seeing Happy Feet - we loved all the 60's and 70's songs sung by penguins and sealions!!!
Well done us!!!

Where have I been?

Well might you ask. I could have sworn I had posted since Xmas - but where?
I keep composing posts in my head, but they are obviously not making it to the typing stage.
I was told by one of my 2 readers the other day that I hadn't posted for a while so here goes.

Xmas was great - when isn't it? Cool day and it actually gave us our gift of a little rain for the parched garden.

January sped by in a blur of heat, carrying buckets of shower water to my thirsty plants. We are on level 4 of restrictions now which means NO watering of gardens from the tap even with buckets. So all the shower heat up water is bucketed onto plants in rotation. I also have a plastic wash up dish in my second sink bowl and all the vegie washing and hand washing water also goes to the garden.
When I refill the dog's bowl the remaining water goes onto the balcony into the bird drinking bowl. Funnily enough it becomes far more attractive to Pepper when it is in the bird bowl and she has been known to sneak a few slurps.

Pru's birthday was celebrated by a diminished family at The Dunes on the beach at Ocean Grove.
Jeanne-Marie our chef aquaintance is doing a stint here and we thought we'd try it out again.
Food was fine but the ambience is still very lacking at night.

Our New Year's Eve was spectacular - we invited a few other couples and splashed out on a 4 course party at Le  Parisien on the waterfront in Geelong.  Soul Sister Swing were the band - an added attraction for us.
Lovely food  and we all trouped down to the water for the fireworks. that was the closest I have   been to a large display and it was "ooh"  inspiring. I wonder why everyone goes ooh and aah at the fireworks?

Feb rolled around and we had an exciting invitation to go sailing with Jane and John and another friend. It was a day of very light breezes, so we motored across the shipping channel from Queenscliff Yacht Club to Portsea and then puttered up the bay as far as Beaumauris.
We were lucky enough to see a pod of dolphins cavorting along and they rode our bow wave, such as it was, for a while.  Wonderful to see them at close quarters like this.
I had the honour of "sailing" us home - well I steered anyway!!  It was a very enjoyable day enhanced by Jane's home cooked corned beef sandwiches and her fantastic plum cake.
(you see I had to get another food mention in there!!)