EllenaElizabeth Makes

A pretty little shoe pincushion and a doiley

2012-05-27T20:45:00.000+10:00

I made this a couple of years ago

and

have been having lots of fun

taking photos with my new Canon EOS 600D.

These two were taken using the macro setting

and

then I had fun editing using

PicMonkey.

I made the paper flowers

and

my mum

made

the little crocheted flowers

and

the doiley

underneath

the

Carlton Ware piece.

I'd love to hear from you.

Please leave a comment.

Thanks for visiting.

Pretty things

2012-05-27T17:01:00.000+10:00

This collage is courtesy of PicMonkey.

I just love this new collage effect.

It seems I've run out of storage space on Picasa.

Anyone have any ideas about what I can do?

What have you'll done when this happens to you?

Thanks for visiting, I'd really love some feedback.

A new card, something pretty and some old buttons.

2012-05-25T17:12:00.001+10:00

I would like to share my latest card

made for some lovely people

who recently showed my family

great hospitality

and

kinsmanship.

They are farmers

and

I think they will like it.

I used a lovely Stampin 'Up set called Times and Seasons

I bought it preloved from eBay recently.

This is the 1st time I've used my new DSLR.

Last night I bought a Canon EOS 600D

**Exciting**

I am so thrilled to have it finally

and

can't wait to get into some great photography.

I plan on doing a photography course of some sort

to further familiarise myself with it.

A pretty miniature mannequin

Some pretty buttons

all vintage

except

for the two big glass ones in the centre.

The pink heart shaped doiley was made by my Mum.

A selection of some of my vintage buttons

just

because

I think you'll enjoy looking at them.

It's a really cold one here today.

It's overcast and drizzly.

So far not much rain but enough to fill the rainwater tanks.

Five layers of cothing seem to be keeping the worst of the cold at bay...LOL

Thanks for visiting

and

I'd LOVE

you

leave

comment.

Have a great weekend.

Looking for our country home...the search continues.

2012-05-22T21:55:00.001+10:00

Even though this 100 acre farm is out in the middle of nowhere,

it is almost right next to another farm house,

so it's still like being in suburbia (in that respect).

The original owner gave some land to his son & the son built a house only a stone's throw from the house on the farm we like.

~~Slightly~~, no really annoying!

You can see the son's house on the left & the roof of the house on the farm we like through the gate to the right of it.....can you believe it?

Part of the grounds surrounding the farmhouse.

This cute as little structure is the cream shed.

This farm was formerly a dairy farm.

The farmhouse doesn't look much but inside it's WOW!

No-one currently lives in the house and it's been vacant for years.

It's in pretty much original condition

would

great to make our own.

The rooms are huge and there are four bedrooms, large kitchen and dining room, 2 verandahs, a sleepout & some extra rooms.

Also this dream walk in pantry located right off the kitchen.

It's about 1.5 x 3 metres.

The entire house is very well made and still structurally sound.

Kitchen leadlight door

Kitchen looking into the dining room

In a perfect world if we did buy this farm I would like to move the house to this spot, on the top of this hill that is higher than what it looks here.

This would make the house location about 400 metres away from the other neighbouring too close house.

The peaceful road the farm is located on.

Thanks for visiting.

Please leave a comment, I'd love to hear from you.

It would be great if you followed my blog too.

If you do I'll follow you right back.

A derelict old Queenslander house.

2012-05-21T19:45:00.001+10:00

I found this former beauty a while ago

She is crumbling and just falling apart.

Such a sad thing, it breaks my heart.

She was probably built about 1890

and is what we refer to as a

Queenslander.

The classic and iconic style

so beloved by all who know this style of architecture.

Thanks for visiting me

and please leave a comment, I'd love to hear from you.

A derelict crumbling queenslander house once a lovely lady....

2012-05-14T21:03:00.002+10:00

This old queenslander type of house has seen better days.

If only houses could talk.

They would have such things to tell us.

As this old girl has no doubt spanned 3 centuries

can you just imagine the experiences

and

happenings that have taken place within?

The families and people she has nurtured, sheltered and loved.

The ravages of time have indeed been cruel.

There will be no happy ending for this old girl.

{If you click on these photos to enlarge you can see some furniture on the

verandahs that is about to fall right through the decaying floor boards}.

Her run in life has just about ended.

It's just too sad.

In her hey day she would have indeed cut a fine profile,

positioned as she is high on a rise above the road with views of the surrounding district

looking out to the mountains.

My mum thinks this beautiful old girl was probably built around

1890.

I have been looking at this house for my entire life.

Each time I visited my grandparents

we passed this house.

For many years it was inhabited by

three siblings.

It is the farm house of a family owned property.

Obviously no-one lives here now

and

it has been derelict since the death of the last sibling.

Thanks for visiting me today.

I'd love you to leave a comment and tell me what you think of this former

grand old lady

South East Queensland

Australia.

I'd like to acknowledge my aunty

who took these photos

and

kindly gave me permission to use them for this post.

I have enhanced them using

Picmonkey.

I would love you to follow my blog

and

if you do I'll follow yours right back.

My mother's crochet, eight pretty girls and a wedding cake.

2012-05-09T17:55:00.003+10:00

I would like to showcase my mother's crocheting.

She monogrammed

and

crocheted the edges of these handkerchiefs

as part of the gift box

we gave each of my daughter's bridemaids.

These doileys are mainly crocheted in 60 thread.

Each year Mum exhibits at a lot of the country shows in our district

as well as

the Brisbane RNA Show.

The supper cloth above can be seen

on the

wedding cake table below.

It's a topper size, about 36" square.

Here's the happy couple cutting the cake.

The following crocheted items have all been exhibited

and

have been very successful.

I love the edges Mum has crocheted around these handkerchiefs.

I hope you have enjoyed looking at

my mother's crochet.

She has been creating quite a stir on

Pinterest

a new group I've joined on Facebook

Doily Addicts Group

(DAG for short)

If you are Australian as I am you'll get a laugh outta this shortened name.

Come over and visit us.

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tinyman#!/groups/285637814861034/286321214792694/?comment_id=286885474736268&notif_t=group_comment_reply

If you are australian as I am you'll get a laugh outta this shortened name.

Come over and visit us.

Also linking to

If you become my follower

I will become yours in return.

Thanks for visiting.

My vintage laundry

2012-05-03T19:20:00.002+10:00

I wanted to show you some views in my laundry.

I don't like the colour of this little hutch

but

will not change it

as it's original

and

even better

it's made from old wooden ammunition boxes.

A very vintage Australian piece

possibly

Depression Era

A vintage repro postcard on the front of a metal laundry powder bin

I made this laundry hanger a few years ago

using 1930's repro fabrics

This is a genuine vintage peg bag

with a vintage mickey mouse coat hanger

I made this peg bag from vintage fabric that has little scotty terriers on it

I adore this child's laundry trolley

and

washing tongs

My new laundry curtain with battenburg lace border

and

vintage button tie back

Three trolleys in a row

Love their back wheels

Old laundry trolley

and

the Australian flag

Another vintage child's laundry trolley

Thanks for visiting me.

If you follow me I'll follow you.

Linking

Altered canvas for my sewing room

2012-05-02T14:18:00.001+10:00

I made this for my sewing/craft room.

I have featured my blog name

EllenaElizabeth Makes

as if it is written on a blackboard.

I started off with a 12" x 18"canvas

that I collaged with torn off pieces of very old sheet music.

I then proceeded to layer with elements that looked and felt right(to me).

Things that mean something to me, it's a very personal work.

It's just about me.

Hubby and the kids didn't get a look in this time.

Christian references, music, sewing,

my blog name, my nick names,

year of birth, colours etc, all in a vintage theme.

I don't work quickly anymore.

It took me about 2 weeks on and off.

I used so many processes and products it is astounding to me!

Kaisercraft, Webster's Pages, Bobunny, & Studio 112 stickers and papers.

Marianne, Spellbinders, Nelli's Multi frames, Sizzlits

Our Daily Bread die cuts.

Tim Holtz, Our Daily Bread & JustRite stamps.

Bling & Kiddy Glitz.

Tim Holtz, Versa Color & StazOn Inks

The alphabet used for my name on the blackboard is

Sizzlits, Funky Brush.

It's my latest purchase from a facebook selling site.

I LOVE it!!!

And it's the first time I have used Sizzlits.

There's probably a lot more I can't think of now

not to mention the things I had on hand in my stash

can't remember where they came from

but usually Cheapie Shops.

The Our Daily Bread sentiment here was stamped over a

Stampin' Up Pattern Pieces stamp

and

cut out with Spellbinders labels 4

and distressed with the inks mentioned above.

I love the little dress stickers from Kaisecraft

I love the butterfly diecut I used here.

The coloured butterfly stickers were aged with

Memories Mists Pale Ale

and

edged with

Versacolor Bark

I gave each butterfly a little bling centre.

I never get tired of looking at this Our Daily Bread spool and tape diecut.

Thankyou

PicMonkey

I had such fun editing my photos

to give them an even more

distressed

and

aged look.

Thankyou for looking today.

I'd love you to leave a comment

and become my follower.

If you do I'll return the favour.

New laundry curtain

2012-05-01T10:42:00.001+10:00

I recently made a new curtain for my laundry window.

I used calico and added a battenburg lace border.

I cut a pre-loved battenburg runner in half lengthways

and sewed it to the bottom.

I made a string and combination vintage/new button tie back.

I added a little bundle of string tied wooded clothes pegs as the ornament on the window sill.

This window gets the all day northern sun so I don't really have to worry about the calico fading.

Sorry about the photos, they were taken on my mobile.

I want to buy a new camera soon but not sure what to get.

I want one that will take good still shots in a light box

(for my cards and little items)

and

also take good outdoor shots.

I don't know if I really need a DSLR or not.

I'm not really into having to change lenses

as I am very limited in what I can carry around

due to a back problem.

I have looked at a Nikon P510.

It's not a DLSR but has a lot of good features

and

has a tilt/flip screen which would be good

when using a tripod.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks for visiting and I'd love you to leave a comment.

If you become my follower I will return the favour.

Freshly laundered vintage aprons, tablecloth and doileys.

2012-04-30T19:43:00.000+10:00

Recently I purchased four vintage gingham aprons.

Three were chicken scratch embroidered.

I also purchased a chicken scratch table cloth.

Someone had put a lot of time and effort into embroidering it

and

the four aprons

and

had never used them.

I washed all my purchases and ironed them,

and

they looked so lovely on the clothes line

I thought to photograph them.

I also got the 100% cotton lace in a pennant design from the same seller.

I have never seen cotton lace like this

and

I paid just $6 for it

and

two lovely little vintage embroidered doileys.

I'm quite impressed with my little purchases.

I think that makes about 30 aprons in my vintage collection now.

This unique garden ornament was given to me by my SIL.

He knows I love quirky rustic bits and pieces for my garden.

He found it somewhere and immediately thought of me....

LOL

Anyhow I added the rusted horse shoe

and

thought I'd leave the white fungus insitu,

because it looks like a white bunny rabbit profile.

Leave me a comment,

I'd love to hear from you.

New season rose bud

2012-04-29T22:09:00.002+10:00

I would rather have one little rose

From the garden of a friend,

Than to have the choicest flowers

When my stay on earth must end.

Anonymous

This dear little bud is the first one to bloom on our new climbing rose.

It's only been in the ground for about 2 months.

It's growing about 12 inches a week

and

hopefully in no time it will be fully covering our garden arch.

Roses are not affected by the frost and we get LOTS of good frosts here

on the Darling Downs.

It won't be too long before we have our first frost.

This little climber has the most intoxicating fragrance and I just can't wait for that arch to be bloomingwell fragrant!

When it looks good enough I will photograph the arch and share it with you.

ANZAC DAY 2012

2012-04-25T11:38:00.002+10:00

ANZAC

(Australia and New Zealand Air Corp)

Day

In Flanders Fields

by
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

The following photos were taken at the

2008

Ipswich ANZAC Day Parade

My daughter (centre) with her 2 fellow reigning

RSL (Returned Services League)

Girl in a Million winners 2007/2008

LEST WE FORGET

V is for Vintage Vignettes

2012-04-22T10:48:00.003+10:00

Breezeway or fretwork panels

above my old bedroom door

in the house I grew up in

(built circa 1880).

These panels are iconic in Queenslander

and

colonial style houses

Australia.

Vintage Vignettes

Not very original I suppose

but

In this blogging world that I have become quite familiar with

it's all about
Vintage

and

that

suits me fine and dandy.

I've always been drawn to Vintage style,
even as a small child.

Needless to say my home is full of vintage vignettes.

Turn around and look in any corner or area

and that's what you will see.

I have learned through my US blogging friends that it's ok to be like this.....LOL

I don't have to feel guilty.

I used to say I was preserving the past for the future

and that still holds true

but

now

I can decorate with renewed
Verve and Vigour

not having to feel guilty

about my love and enjoyment of

all things Vintage.

Be it a pile of old junk... (I know I'll find 'something' that I can use).

No matter how derelict and disgusting that old pile of 'stuff' might be.
If it's old and pre-loved I'm pretty sure something in that pile of someone else's unwanted 'stuff' will become a treasure to me.

I particularly love this vintage laundry trolley complete with original clothes pegs.

It belongs to a friend of the family.

I just wanted to share this with you,

it's so lovely.

Thanks for joining me at

remember

I'd really love to hear from you.

If you follow me I will follow you right back.

I look forward to meeting some fellow Vintage lovers.

21st guest book and journal for my niece

2012-04-19T16:43:00.000+10:00

Recently I made two gifts for my niece for her 21st birthday

This one incorporates a 21st birthday card

(the cover of the book)

and the book itself

served

as the guest book.

This journal to chronicle her 21st year was not meant as it turned out.

I originally bought the black A5 bound book at a cheapie shop and removed the wire binding.

I got a bit carried away with decorating pages

and it all got too big for the little black book's binding to handle

and I was running out of time.

I live in a very small town with not a lot of shops or choice.

I could have had it all bound but a printer

but

that takes time and I had no time.

So I went to the newsagent

and

found the above purple floral 2 ring binder.

It would have to do,

I was not really happy with it

but

it's the best I could come up with.

I had to have it ready for her party

so this is how it had to be.

This brown paper bag has a pull out tab.

The left hand page has a pull out card for journalling.

These groovy rainbow pages have pull out tabs as well.

Yeow baby!!!

Be thankful

Give thanks to the LORD for HE is good...

Psalm 136:1

Pages for doodling.

I included stickers, diecuts etc for

my niece to use in her journal.

Would love to hear your feedback!

Thanks for visiting.

Rocking chair and a patchwork quilt birthday card.

2012-04-16T10:48:00.002+10:00

I just love these two stamp sets

from

Our Daily Bread Designs

The sets I have used are

Sew Special (rocking chair)

and

Sewn with Love sentiment

I used a 3D Punch and Emboss flower design

and

topped each with a colourful button.

A Fiskars border punch at top of card.

A white seam binding tape double bow

and

pretty brown and white checked brad.

I coloured the rocking chair with my trusty Aquarella pencils

and then

painted with my water brush.

I had a lot of fun making this card for my friend's birthday.

I never know quite how they are going to turn out, these cards seem to tell me what to do half the time....tweaking until it's just right.

Such fun.

Please leave me a comment

and I will visit your blog and do likewise.

Become my follower and I will become yours.

On another note and in the spirit of sharing amongst fellow bloggers

I would like to introduce you to a delightful blog

I discovered a few weeks ago.

Sandie at Steadman's Corner has a great blog.

Sandie loves GOD, junking and antiquing.

She is a wife and mother.

I love her opening photo, that's what initially got me interested.

I wanted to see more of her treasures and finds.

Please visit

Steadman's Corner

You won't regret it.

Thrifty Find Friday

2012-04-13T14:29:00.002+10:00

I found this glass compote dish

at a

thrift store a few years ago

It is only cut glass

but

it a beautiful piece

with

no chips or cracks.

I just love the style of it

and

everytime
I look at it

smile.

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

I am linked to

Thrifty Things Friday #54

The Thrifty Groove

http://thethriftygroove.blogspot.com.au/

and

Feathered Nest Friday
@
French Country Cottage
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/feathered-nest-friday_12.html

The letter U

2012-04-12T13:50:00.002+10:00

WoUldn't yoU like to visit this beaUtifUl landmark?

Paris, France...the city of lights.

I sUre woUld.

The letter U is Used more than one woUld think..

I initially thoUght I woUld speak aboUt words that need the letter U in order to be pronoUnced correctly

Words sUch as

qUaint, qUeer, qUalm, qUince, qUarter, qUagmire, qUintessential, qUarter, qUaver, qUeUe, qUeen, qUenelle, qUench... etc etc

All the words listed are 'q' words, bUt they woUld not be the same withoUt the Use of the hUmble letter U.

In my opening coUple of sentences alone I realised that the letter U is indeed Used qUite a lot and more than one woUld think.

I hope I have not neglected to specially acknowledge any single U's

in my ramble.

If I have please let me know.

Thanks for visiting me

EllenaElizabeth Makes.

If yoU follow me

I will follow yoU right back.

Exciting news for me anyhow,

I have just achieved my 40th follower!!!!!

Whoo hoo!!!!

Linking to:

Jenny Matlock's

Alphabe-Thursday's Letter U

http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com.au/

Our white picket fence in the country

2012-04-11T11:52:00.001+10:00

We bought this house on The Darling Downs nearly 3 years ago.

We are into Autumn now and soon the geraniums, hibiscus, salvias, daisies etc will fall into their winter slumber before they make a big comeback early September for the first month of Spring in Australia.

The lavenders, roses, wild jasmine and others love the frosty mornings and cool to cold days and even grow and thrive during winter.

The ornamental plum tree has already lost its leaves.

The house is an old girl, post WW2 most likely.

The interior walls are tongue and groove, which I just LOVE!

BUT

someone tried to modernise the house

most likely in the

1970's

and they sheeted them up with fibro and cover strips..... :(((((

This is the front garden which has an english theme

because we tried to fit in with the white garden edging

that was already in place when we bought the place.

We don't like it and could not be bothered painting it as we are only here 'short term' hopefully.

We want to buy a farm in the same area.

So that we can grow our own cattle, sheep, chooks and pigs.

And have some peace and tranquility

rather than having the hassle of noisy neighbours.

Thanks for looking.

Please leave a comment and I will visit your blog back.

Have a good day!!!!

Easter time and away we go for a little holiday and some nostalgia too

2012-04-05T11:51:00.002+10:00

My beloved childhood home from the age of 10

This Queensland beauty was built in circa 1885

on a 120 acre Brigalow scrub selection.

To anyone in the US reading this, don't forget Australia was only settled in 1788

and

the area I lived in was only settled

the early 1800's.

So to us, this is a really old house.

Here is my father and youngest brother doing some verandah repairs in about 1974

It's almost Easter time and I'm feeling a little nostalgic.

This is my paternal grandfather with one of his prize winning Orpington fowls.

He bred, showed and judged chooks all his life and was highly regarded as such.

He was chook mad and made sure all of us kids had some chooks or showed chooks.

He lived through the depression, married, was a WW2 veteran and together with my grandmother raised 6 children.

He just loved little kids and always entertained them with singing, "The bear went over the mountain", 'blowing up his muscles' and taking them down to the chook pens and telling them about his precious chooks.

We never left my grandparents house without a fruit tree to plant, some eggs or something.

My grandmother's cooking was legendary.

She was a show cook and exhibited for over 30 years.

She baked and sewed until the end.

I still have her last pattern still pinned to the fabric ready to cut out.

My kids in turn have very special memories of Pop and Grandma...very special for them to know their great grandparents so well.

I loved them to bits.

Pop passed almost away 10 years ago and Grandma almost five years ago.

Me with my daughter and my paternal grandparents 1985

My daughter with my paternal grandfather 1990

On a lighter note my husband, our scottish terrier and I are heading off for 4 days

in the country

to a 700 acre beef farm

called

Covendale.

It's 3 hrs drive from here.

DD at the farm

In order to be able to bear the trip there,

I will be dosed up with valium and I will be wearing my TENS machine

in order to cope with the pain.

Sitting and travelling in a vehicle are not a good combo for me.

Come May it will be 12 months since my TLIF (L5/L6 fusion, new disc and bone graft).

Come July 17th it will be 12 months since I fell over backwards

and finished off some other levels that would have needed fusing some time in the future.

So between the operation last May and when I fell, I actually had about 8 weeks where I was walking everyday and feeling quite good apart from the terrible pain that is quite normal after such a huge surgical procedure. I won't lie, the pain after the TLIF was cruel but the fact that the pins and needles in my foot were gone and that I could walk were signs the op was a success.

Who knew in 1964 that this smiling little girl (me) on her way to sunday school

would end up with a "back that is a mess" (as described my neurosurgeon).

Me and my brother in 1964

Me and my two brothers in 1971, just after my spleenectomy

Me and my two brothers in 1975

Echo the Hereford Bull in background

My daughter with my Mother 1987

Bonza the horse lived until he was 34

My daughter (wearing her farm clothes) at my home farm in 1987

with a litter of Australian Cattle Dog pups.

Since falling my plans for long term healing have gone pear shaped and above and below the operation site are the problems now and it's a toss up which level is the worst...

I am seeing the neurosurgeon in May and we will discuss what level of my spine he will fuse next.

Whatever happens I'm in for a long haul...but after 17 years of this garbage I'm still hanging in there.

Housebound, can't drive, can't do much of anything.

I have pain all the time but thank the LORD I am still a sane and emotionally secure person.

My husband, kids, parents and friends are all very supportive.

Anyhow we will be staying in a cottage at the farm this long weekend for Easter.

My daughter, her husband and my new little 9 week old grandson will be there too...

can't wait to see my little man.

I last saw him 2 weeks ago.

My DD and Master E, 8 weeks old.

My father with Master E who is his Great grandson.

My Dad looks very much like his Dad who is pictured above.

He doesn't take a good picture but here he had just managed to make Master E aged 7 weeks smile.

Master E aged 8 weeks

Master E at 8 weeks old

He's a big fella at over 6 kgs.

For about 5 weeks he was putting on about 500grams a week and the clinic nurse

told my daughter that 130 grams/week was considered normal.

Master E is only breast fed so I am sure all is good.

His weight gain has slowed now...couldn't have kept up at that rate....LOL

So tomorrow we are heading off on our Easter adventure

and

hoping to have a calm and peaceful family time on the farm'

I hope you all have a blessed and peaceful Easter 2012 as well.

Christ is Risen!

50th Birthday Gift for a friend

2012-03-31T13:23:00.002+10:00

Boxed set of 12 postcards

with

french theme.

I purchased a lidded box with a magnetic closure

and

decorated the lid

to serve

the

50th birthday card.

Then made 12 vintage look postcards and envelopes with paper band

that neatly sit inside.

I bought the lidded 'book look' box a few months ago

because

I knew I would use it sometime soon for something.

Inside of the box was already lined with cute french looking paper in correct colour so left it as is.

The paper I used as the base for the birthday card and what I based my colour theme on.

I initially was thinking my friend could use the box to store her recieved 50th birthday cards in

but

then

inspiration struck

and

thought I'd make a card for each month of the next 12 months

and

then morphed

into

vintage type postcards

with

a French theme.

She just travelled to France in 2011

so I thought it a fitting theme.

The mess of making something.

All quickly put away though as soon as I'm finished

as everything has it's own place.

I love to be organised!

It took me 2 days to complete this project and for those 2 days all of the 'stuff' needed to make it was left out ready for use.

I have a dedicated sewing room so it's not really a problem to anyone but me.

I do not like dis-order...

Papercraft requires so many different tools, glues, papers and embellishments

but I thoroughly loved making this gift for my good friend.

Thanks for looking and I'd love to hear what you think of my project.

Also can't wait to hear from my friend when she receives it in the post hopefully on Monday which is her big day.

and I am also linking into

Vintage Inspiration Friday

http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com.au/

Picasa problems

2012-03-30T16:43:00.001+10:00

Hi all

Is anyone having trouble sending photos direct from their mobile phone to their on-line Picasa gallery?

Until about 3 weeks ago all was fine and then all my upload attempts since then have failed.

To my knowledge I have not changed any settings on my mobile phone.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thankyou.

UPDATE 30th March 2012
Searched through Google/Picasa
and found this info for anyone having same issues as me,
it's good to know it's not us,
it's them.
Hope they can fix it soon.
Here as follows is what they have to say on the matter....
"(Server rejected) Retry" error message on uploadsReported 30, March

Several users report (Server rejected) Retry error messages on uploads from Picasa Web with specific .JPEG and .JPG files, and we're currently investigating

Autumn Garden on the Darling Downs.

2012-03-12T22:00:00.000+10:00

The above photo shows my use of some old farm implement parts that have rusted with age.

I like to give them new life...as a flower

My niece and I with Milly the Lhasa Apso

I am babysitting Milly for the week for my good friends who are interstate.

My niece was the original owner of Milly

and

wanted to come and see her

after giving her away to my friends last year

This is my lavender walk

The plants were all propagated by me, saving $10 per plant.

They have been in now since end of September..

I think they'll be strong enough to handle the severe frosts we get out here

The Downs during winter

The archway went in last month and we bought a pink flowering rose to climb over it

Here is DH watering the garden and little Milly warming her belly on the warm white pebbles

Northern view of lavender walk

Under the shade of a big mulberry tree

Northern entrance to lavender walk with recycled timber slab and three rusted rings.

Milly has big sight problems...

(cataracts on both eyes and completely blind in one eye)

and

doesn't see much of anything.

Here she has just smelt our cat but can't see it.

The cats are being nasty and hanging around when I take her outside for wees etc

They don't see her as much of a threat and keep hissing at her.

Our two manx are very territorial and act like watchdogs.

They love our scottish terrier, just no other dogs.

Front part of garden with white border edges that were already laid when we bought the house

DH and I don't like them

but have decided to try and embrace them in the front

this is our 'english garden' section

My new bird bath

It was a christmas present from DH but only came in a month ago

He had it ordered for months.

Front garden

with

Plum tree, roses, geraniums, lavenders, abelias, daisies and hawthornes.

This is the view from our front verandah

I love these neighbours....quiet, neat and far away

You might be able to see the australian flag painted on side of their shed

and

also the owner cycling home from work.

It's very flat country here.

It's taken a long time for me to get used to this.

I am used to hills and mountains.

After nearly 3 years I have come to terms with the plains.

I still hunger for the hills though.

A recent sunset

My courtyard garden

2012-03-09T21:18:00.000+10:00

I just want to share a little courtyard garden with you.

It was at our last house

but

was cute

and

sometimes I miss it.

When we moved so did all our rustic bits and pieces....

all up 3 trailer's full

obviously more than what you can see here.

This beautiful rusty wheel came from my grandparent's farm

This rustic cow was bought from a man called Terry who hand cuts all his pieces

This water feature was made by my husband and my dad did some welding to make up the mock tap.

The bucket came from Dad's shed

and

was rusted out in the bottom

thought it would be great for our water feature

I call it

'There's a hole in the bucket dear Liza'

These lovely little winter violas were self seeding and came up amongst the pebbles every winter

This rusty old Singer sewing machine survived

house fire

thought it deserved to have new life

Courtyard Garden

Thanks for looking through my blog

I'd love you to leave a comment

I am linked

Please visit the others who are participating.

Tea on a Tuesday

2012-03-06T15:39:00.002+10:00

This is how I first spied my lovely little cup.

It was the box that took my eye

It was sitting on a shelf at my local chemist shop with a price tag of $15

Inside was what I thought to be an average cheapie type cup complete with tassel.

It was a little bit different to anything I had seen before

however

I did not want to pay that much for one cup that was completely unbranded...

but

I knew if I left it there I would regret it

because

the

box

was so

beautiful!!!!

I left the cup in the box for months

because

quickly initially looking at it I did not think

I would enjoy drinking out of it.

One day I did get it out, washed it and made a cuppa in it.

Boy!

Was I wrong.

It is surprisingly thin lipped and lovely to drink from.

It has a lovely white glossy glaze that does not detract from the flavour of the tea/coffee...

It actually feels and performs like an expensive english bone china cup

Linked to

Sweetology

http://sweetology101.blogspot.com.au/

Rose Chintz Cottage

http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com.au/

Martha's Favorites

http://marthasfavorites.com/