An Eclectic Mix for PPF and Sunday Sketches.

Today I have an eclectic mix for Paint Party Friday

I've had a busy week once again and therefore haven't spent a lot of time being creative. 

So I thought I'd show you a picture that I hung in my dining room earlier in the month. 

It's special for numerous reasons. 

Firstly, because it was drawn by my daughter (if you'd like to see more of her art you can go to her website Nic Allan by clicking here)

Secondly, it's a tree and anyone who knows me, knows how much I love trees and thirdly it's an autumn scene. 

Perfect.

The frame hasn't shown up properly (yet another grey wet day here... so not the best for photography) it actually happens to be a warm gold colour.

I think it actually looks like wood in this photo.

But I adore the pencil work... I think the shading is spectacular.

(I maybe shooting myself in the foot because if she sees it here, she may want to take it to her new apartment)

Here's a closer look but once again I apologise for my photographic inability to do the drawing justice. 

(If you notice a pink tinge to the bottom of the frame above... that's the reflection of my jumper. Pretty in pink today. 

I'm determined to bring colour into my day in whatever form I can).

I can't resist the opportunity to show you another artistic creation from a family member. 

This time it's my nephew and his new hobby... wood turning!

He's taken logs from my sister's wood burner store (thankfully with permission) and creates amazing wooden bowls.

I mean how clever and talented is that?

He's the proud owner of his own lathe now and turns a chunk of wood into these beautiful bowls and candle sticks. 

The first picture shows a type of log off cut but obviously for a bowl he uses larger pieces.

They are beautifully smooth and the grain varies, depending on the piece or type of wood. 

I had this one as a gift, but I'm putting in an order for a larger bowl plus candlesticks.

And finally a little something from myself.

As I mentioned I didn't get time to play this week, but because it's Chinese New Year on Monday, I thought I'd draw a little monkey picture, whilst waiting for dinner to cook.

It's the year of the Monkey (Fire Monkey)

Enjoy your weekend especially if you are celebrating the Chinese New Year.

"GONG XI FA CHOY"

Here's the link to join in with the Paint Party Friday if you'd like to see more artists work.

I'm also linking up with Alexandra's  Sunday Sketches 

Just before I sign off I want to thank Jennifer McLean over at Just add water silly

for my new signature below. She very kindly came up with the design and led me through how to attach it here. I'm not sure whether it might confuse with it being my real name. 

Denise and not Neesie... let me know what you think. 

I used Neesie in order to rename anonymous when I first started blogging. 

(It's the name my brother used to call me when we were young) 

But quite a few followers have started using Denise now. 

Thanks once again Jenn... but I think you might be the star and not me!

Yay it's the weekend...

Can anyone tell me why we are having our windows replaced in the middle of winter? 

Okay so just call us crazy!
The decision obviously must have been a good idea at some stage. Maybe it came when we were in the middle of our bathroom renovations and we weren't thinking straight. 

Well, whenever the decision was taken it's irrelevant now because it's actually happening.

 I'm not sure that the guys who are doing the work are entirely happy about the decision either. 

Here's a photo that I took early yesterday to record this momentous event.

Yes it was all perfect weather (not)...a hoolie blowing, the rain lashing down and barely any daylight, hence the joiner wearing his little miners lamp. The plant (Fatsia japonica) in the photo is out of focus because it was dancing around in the gale and the fact that I was shivering even in the few seconds that I was outside also may have been a contributing factor to the bad quality of this shot.   

I suppose I can't be angry with the guys for the damage to my new shooting bulbs because they were concentrating on getting the window in as fast as they could, but I was sad because I'd spent hours on my hands and knees planting them only a few months back. 

I'm just hoping that they recover and continue to sprout. 

Maybe a little sunlight might help...we'll have to wait and see. 

I'm not so sure I like the boot imprint as a feature.

So I decided to have a few hours escaping the madness to visit the garden centre. 

I wanted to buy a bird table anyway so it was a good excuse...I had to go. 

It was so wonderful to wander around looking at so many lovely things...books, furniture, ornaments, art, bird and wildlife products plus tropical fish and that was all before I even got to the plant section.

It's strange that sometimes things just leap into my trolley and I'm not aware of it until I reach the checkout! It happens all the time especially in the supermarket...I mean where does all that chocolate come from? 

(but I do know where it'll end up hehe) 

Look at these beautiful primroses...well they just had to come home with me. 

I have a few bird boxes already dotted around the garden but I hadn't one for the little Wren...so I obviously had to sort that error out promply didn't I?

 As soon as I arrived home my son went out into the garden armed with a ladder, hammer and the nest box to find a suitable site. 

Isn't this cute?

Even after only about an hour of it going into the garden I noticed flutterings around the new box and that was even before the 'For Let' sign went up! 

But the pièce de résistance is the bird table....what do you think?

Even the sun popped out for the photo!

It was so funny to see my regular bird visitors doing a fly-by to check it out. 

They'd fly towards the table and then swiftly via off at speed and an incredible angle. They got nearer and nearer until one little blue tit took a deep breath and landed. 

He was well rewarded with lots of tasty treats and then it was everyone for themselves. 

I'm about to purchase a new camera so I'm hoping that I'll be able to capture some of the visitors soon. 

Well it's Saturday night so I must away and have fun 

I hope to see you again soon. 

Enjoy your weekend everyone 

Kung Hei Fat Choi  ~ Happy Chinese New Year 

What a world of difference....

Over the last week I've become incredibly aware of the vast differences in both season, climates and weather conditions between the Northern and South Hemispheres.

Take for instance here in Melbourne, we've been experiencing quite a dry spell and although we personally nipped off to the Canadian winter for Christmas, I believe that there hasn't been any significant rainfall here; other than a few millimetres since the beginning of December. There was a time during last month that 'they' reported that Melbourne was having its driest January since records began...but then there were a few spits and spots and that tipped the balance thus the record was broken! Personally, I think it's far better to have the rain....but only in moderation. With the extreme high temperatures accompanied with hot winds, there is  the ever present threat of bush fires and the state of Victoria has been experiencing many of these fires during the last month. It's hard to take in the fact that these fires can burn for months. 

The CFA (Country Fire Authority) are incredible hero's and have been battling against incredible odds but thankfully their expertise and a cool change in the weather means the risks have been substantially reduced. 

Whilst on the other hand ex-cyclone Oswald has wrought destruction across Queensland bringing back bad memories of the state's devastating 2011 natural disaster. Some residents are dealing with catastrophic flooding for the second time in two years, which is unimaginable. 

That's just a brief variety of the weather experienced within Australia at the moment....

I should have a warning on the next few photos because they could cause distress to the green fingered gardeners amongst you...me included! 

Here is a Magnolia that I brought from our last property...I should add here that I'm hoping for a miracle but if anyone knows what I might be able to do to bring it back to life, other than watering then please let me know...I had thought to put it out of its misery but I still can't help hoping that once the cooler weather comes to call, it will suddenly burst into life!

 And brace yourself because it gets worse....this is my beautiful blueberry bush (SOB...SOB)

But look...help is at hand...thankfully we have an 11,000 litre rain water tank that has been kindly saving all the rain water over the winter months and it has to be said it was rather a wet winter. The tank was full but it has now reduced considerably to just below the writing on its side.You can tell the water level within just by knocking on the tank with your knuckles from the top downwards. The sound changes once you reach the water level. Also I've noticed that the shape of the tank changes.

But it's not all doom and gloom in the garden...there are some very happy plants stretching tall to meet the sunlight.

 

The Bird of Paradise Tree (Strelitzia Nicolai) is extremely happy.

We've also a vine which has obviously resided on the premises since time began....

It has a beautiful twisting trunk that wraps itself around the canopy of the al fresco area. 

There is a slight problem here too but not due to the lack of water...we are having invations of the feathered kind. Namely the blackbirds are visiting regularly throughout the day....in fact in the photograph below there are at least three young blackbirds feeding greedily on the grapes. 

It's a kind of game of where's Waldo?

The trouble being that our outside eating area is just below this lattice roof and we are having leaves and grapes drop constantly upon the table, loungers and us!
The birds never seem to tire of this feast and it's quite incredible to see them pick a grape, then pop it whole into their beaks before they swallow it whole. 

I'm looking down here from an upstairs bedroom window in this photo...trying to capture a decent shot of the flybys! 

I have yet again spared a thought to the BBC, National Geographic and wildlife photographers out there...they have untold patience to capture the shots they do.... I knelt until my knees were numb waiting for the little darlings, but each time I gave up and went to sit below...yep you guessed it...in they would swoop. I'm sure they were watching and having a giggle at the windup!

 

 Again a view from above the vine....not a bad crop eh? 

And then...AH HA...there gotcha!!! (Just slightly to the left just in case you missed him too)

 This is one of the overhangs and I just loved the way the light shone on both the leaves and grapes.

 This is a little peep hole...see I'm sure they were just toying with me!

Onto another success story....
I was thrilled when we returned from Canada to find that my avocado stone had sprouted. I've tried to grown one previously but without success. I have been so impressed with this one's progress, but alas I've just read that this plant probably won't fruit....ever!
I previously had a little success after following all the instructions on how to grow avocados but then nothing happened. But this time there's a big improvement and I was so hopeful.

 

 Hopeful...that was until I read an article that told me that the seedling needs to be grafted with a fruit producing tree in order to produce fruit...plus it would take 5+ years even if it had all the correct temperature and conditions. So basically I think I'll be getting my avocado from my local veggie shop for a few years to come! 

(The avocado (persea americana) is a tree native to Central Mexico, classified in the flowering plant family Lauraceae along with cinnamon, camphor and bay laurel. Avocado or alligator pear also refers to the fruit of the tree which alas I'll never see on this plant!)

 

....and it looks so healthy too... :-(

So on to a little success story now...don't you just love happy endings?

My strawberry plants are doing great, although I suspect that a few feathery boozy birds might have their eye on them. I'm going to need to bring in reinforcements....ie netting soon if I want to enjoy the fruits of my labour!

And finally....(as the BBC news broadcaster used to announce for the last item of the news) for everyone in the grip of winter and desperate to see some colour...here's a little something from my walk this morning!

Don't worry I hear that autumn is coming on 1st March which means you'll soon be into spring. 

 Just a thought after mentioning the winter chills...

We've all heard the latest reports of the severe snowstorms that hit parts of Canada and the America's north-eastern region in the last few days with hurricane force winds...I'd like to take a moment to pass on to everyone whom may have been affected, my sincere best wishes. Stay safe and warm.

And on a lighter note....finally finally.....

Today is the most important day of the traditional Chinese holidays....it is Chinese New Year

In China, it is also known as the Spring Festival.

This year it is the year of the snake, which is the sixth sign in the 12 year Chinese zodiac and stands for "steady progress and attention to detail".
A signifying feature of the year of the snake will be the need for attention, commitment and focus!

"Ancient Chinese wisdom says a snake in the house (which would be the last thing I'd want, quite frankly) is a good omen because it means that your family will not starve", 

祝大家新年快乐

 Jong xi fa cai