"Open Garden Visiting and a Birthday."

Hello,

Last Sunday Ian and I had a great day out. We visited several Markets and two gardens that were open under the Australian Open Garden Scheme.

The first one we visited was open for the first time. This was in Gooseberry Hill. We were amazed at the terrain of the property. Very steep in places. You could get lost. I had awful thoughts of the lady owner falling and no-one finding her for ages. It was a lovely garden filled with lots of native plants. Paths were twisting and turning, very narrow in some places. There was a plentiful supply of water with a creek running through the property. The highlight for both of us was the pool area.

With views across the the Perth city. There were lots of people just sitting and relaxing enjoying the view.

Not far from the old home was a rock. They called it "Bold Rock"

Of course I had to have my picture on the rock!!!.

The next garden we visited was in Kalamunda. This garden has won awards for the best large garden. It was amazing, we both loved this garden more. I think because it was more accessible and the garden had some amazing plants and there was so many of them.This garden also had a wonderful water supply. With the garden being watered from a well and rainwater. No scheme water was used at all. Oh to live somewhere like this!!!

The lady owner made her own pottery as well. Sculptures and cast offs were dotted around the garden. The chook yard up the back had the biggest Rooster we have ever seen. It was battling to walk but found out it wasn't that old. I think it needs to go to a weight loss centre.
We purchased lots of plants from this place, all cuttings grown from the garden.

Visiting gardens like these just inspires us to keep on gardening. I have come to the following conclusions though. First I won't be using any more horse manure or free manure on our garden, far too many weeds have come up this year. The garden owner of the second garden also had this written on her blurb about her garden. The second one is that it takes about 30 years for a garden to really take shape. Only another 20 to go!!!

Here is Ian having a rest in the first garden. He must have known it was going to be a busy day!!! Ian celebrated his Birthday on Wednesday. He was suitably supplied with presents and Bonnie cooked him a nice Scotch Fillet Steak for tea with fresh Peas and Potato from the garden.

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Happy days.
Bev C

"A very Yellow-Lemon toned post."

Hello,

Hope all is well. Our Internet was slowed down last week. Thanks again David!!! All back to speed today. I have had a few finishes, all yellow toned ones. The first one is the Sunflower cross stitch which I turned into a cushion.

I picked up a cushion insert from Spotlight in Midland on Sunday so it is now on our lounge.

The other finish was the string crochet bag.

 I used just under 2 balls of thread which were 50grams each . I started with a size 4mm hook but found it difficult to get the hook into the stitches a couple of rounds in.  I then used a size 3mm hook. The thread I used was called "Thorobred Scheepjeswol" a product which I think is no longer available. I picked up about 10 balls for a few dollars from Good Sammy's. It was a lovely thread to crochet with.

I have starting picking the lemons to make lemon cordial. There is probably enough fruit on the tree to fill another ten of these laundry baskets. I also made a Lemon Cake yesterday which is always popular.

Happy days.
Bev C

"Makes Me Happy Monday."

Hello,

A super Happy Monday to you. Creating things to help me along with my crafting always makes me happy.

"Babushka Thread Holder."

I have been making a couple of these Thread Holders. I couldn't find any thin wood at the local hardware shop. I purchased a length of Balsa Wood from the Toy shop. Next time we are in Bunnings I will get some  wood. In the mean time I think this will work nicely. I found the image on the net and printed it out onto thick card. Then glued it on then a coat of Acrylic Varnish to finish it. I used a thread holder that comes with cross stitch kits as a template to mark the placement for the holes. I cut up a junk mail magnet for the needle holder.

"Homegrown Pineapple from Kainga."

Our Pineapple production is in full swing. I should say our only pineapple was cut and eaten over the weekend. Yum. I have kept the top and will be re-planting this in a day or so. Always happy to be eating our own produce.

"Bouquet of Happiness.'

Flowers on the kitchen bench always make me happy. This lot contained Jonquils. A very powerful perfume.

Ian had a lovely Father's Day as I am sure all the Dad's did. Had to smile at the card  in the craft shop window. On the front it said "Real Men don't need Manuals."

Happy Monday
Bev C

"Projects and Camera's."

Hello,

What makes us want to buy? Sometimes it maybe because we have a project in mind. Or could it be we need it for later on. We are not feeling so happy so buying some new fabric will make us happy won't it. I visited a home recently and I couldn't believe how much fabric was in the home. It was everywhere. It actually made me realise I have enough. I haven't bought fabric recently and have actually walked right by the fabric when I have been in shops. I have seen photo's on the net of people's stash and couldn't believe how much they have but until you walk into a home and it is everywhere that was when it hit me. So I have decided to work on what I have in my sewing room. I don't want to buy more of those plastic crates to hold fabric.  After all those plastic crates aren't that pretty are they. The challenge for me is to make things with what I have.

So with this in mind this week I started a new cross stitch and some crochet.  The crochet is going to be one of those string bags. I was given a string bag when I bought some cross stitch supplies last year from a shop and have been using it for our weekly shopping. It is so handy. I don't think this one will be as big but certainly very useful to put in my handbag. Especially as a lot of shops are encouraging you to bring your own bag.

Earlier on in the week I went to use my camera and it wouldn't work. The lens wouldn't come out and it was making a funny noise and trying to talk to me. I looked up on the net for some answers. It seems if the lens didn't open the camera was no longer any good. Well I knew that!!! Found another site where it suggested some dust or a piece of dirt was blocking the lens coming out. It was suggested to get a fine needle. This is where being a sewer comes in handy. Run the needle around the lens and it would clean it. Wow it worked. They said the main culprit is a dirty camera bag. Well I realised I hadn't washed my little camera bag for quite sometime. It was looking a tad dirty so in the wash it went. They say "Cleanliness is next to Godliness" don't they. So now I am making sure I wash my camera bag on a more regular basis.

Catherine has kindly put the written pattern for the Jam Jar Covers on her blog. Please check it out if you want to make one of these.

Happy days.
Bev C

"Sunflower cross stitch finished."

Hello,

Happy Monday,

With all the rose pruning that has been going on here at Kainga over the past couple of weeks. I decided I needed a little project I could work on in the evenings. I won this pattern from Cheryl from Prairie Grove Peddler so decided it would be just the right one to stitch. I picked up the DMC threads from Spotlight on a previous trip to Midland. The only thread I couldn't get was the one called "Whatley Woodlands" a Crescent thread so I substituted this with DMC 3829 and I also used DMC 519 for the word "Sky."  Cheryl had used the Crescent thread for the words, this is where I added my touch to the pattern by using the different coloured threads for the words.

I just love the little crows at the bottom of the sunflowers. It was stitched on a piece of 18 count Aida that has been dyed.

I haven't decided what I will turn this into yet. Maybe a purse or wallet or if all else fails a cushion. Will think about it over the next couple of days.

Yesterday I got a lovely surprise when I was walking past a garden bed out the back.

The first of the Iris have bloomed. I planted this new lot earlier on in the year so hopefully in a few years these will multiply like the rest I have planted around the garden

Ian picked the first of our potato for the year. Always happy to be eating our own vegetables.
Especially with the roast Chicken that Ian cooked on Sunday evening.

I love this time of the year when the "Stocks" are in bloom. You smell the perfume as soon as you are out the door. I didn't plant any new plants this year. Just scattered the seeds from the previous years plants when I cut them back last year. So it is a bit of a lucky dip to see what and where they are blooming.

Remember years ago when people lost Garden Gnomes from their gardens and received postcards from far flung countries? Well it has been a bit like that around here. The Birthday Gal my Sister Chris has been gallivanting around and using her Passport. Happy Birthday for today Chris. Have the best day ever, I know you have because I rang you!!!! Love from your "Younger Favourite Sister!!!!" and family.

Whatever you do today have a Happy Monday.
Bev C