The Bare bones... Happy Halloween

Yesterday my favourite cook Donna Hay had these skeleton gingerbread men recipes in her weekly Sunday newspaper column.

Master B and I set to work.

Ours aren't quite as neat as these ones.

But they were fun.

So, for the first time ever the kids have Halloween treats in their lunchboxes today.

Halloween is a fairly new thing here in Australia. We have never ever had a trick or treater knock on the door.

I wonder if we will this year?

8 things I would buy right now..........

If Mr M. let me loose with the credit card!

Here I was reading the Sunday paper when a brochure fell out.  Yippee, sofas from Domayne. Now, I have been on the hunt for the perfect slip covered sofa for our lounge for ages. So I jumped on line to have a closer look. Lo and behold I immediately became distracted by the homewares section.

So I would like

A set of these pretty lanterns for parties or Miss B's room.

Who wouldn't want a Babushka lamp?

This pretty set so I could pretend I was Maria from Dreamy Whites who has original French sets like this.

This ceramic drum stool, to put near my non existent slip covered couch.

Very functional and I like things that are labelled!

I just like this.

And these I could find a spot for.

How cute are these?

Do you do this?

Make a list of things as if you were going to purchase them.

Or

Is it just me?

More information please.

Sometimes, when wandering around in blogland, I come across a picture and I just want to see more.

If this happens to you,

 then I have a blog you might like.

A View on Design.

You can be a real sticky beak and look through some absolutely amazing properties with all the details.

For example,

take this gorgeous property,

Stunning lounge.

Perfect French doors.

Just the right sort of white kitchen.

I love, love this window seat.

And of course extensive grounds.

For more real estate eye candy, pop over

 here.

Pea Soup Rocks.

I just wanted to share with you some photos I took on our recent trip to the quaint seaside town of Port Fairy in Victoria.

One of our favourite spots is Pea Soup, a small cove protected from the open sea by rocks.

There is a little sandy beach,

shallow water and these lovely volcanic rocks.

The intrepid beach combers. A bit of rain wasn't going to stop us!

Passing on the knowledge.

This Father, son bonding fills my heart.

Watching and waiting. 

What a place!

Pea Soup, I am counting the days till I can visit again.

Do you have a place that touches your heart?

4 ideas for crafty girl party activities.

Miss B recently turned 11. That curious age where one is a little girl one minute, then the sophisticate the next!

She asked for a craft party.

So crafty we did.

We started off with finger puppets.

Nana knitted the bodies, felt and bits and pieces were added on.

Nana found the pattern in the New Idea. 

Pip Lincolne from Meet me at Mikes blog was the creator.

Next was painting some blackboards.

We used Martha Stewarts blackboard paint recipe.

1 cup of paint to 2 tablespoons of unsanded grout.

In between there was some punch, some dancing and time to sit on the tramp and discuss important things like "boys".

The latest hair accessory was made. 

the girls got right into this activity.

And, to finish off the night.

Some pet rocks were created.

It was fun and exhausting.

Poor big boy retreated to the lounge room when one of the giggly mass declared not so quietly that she thought he was

"a little bit hot".

Lordy wordy, I am dreading adolescence!

My Spring garden ...Friday flowers

Hello.

If you are not into gardens or don't like roses, this might not be the post for you.

If you do, then come on in, let me show you around our garden in spring.

This climbing rose is a beauty, always reliable and very fuss free.

These things are dietes (I think).

We planted tons of them in the big drought. We are just recovering the garden after 10 years of drought.

They are so hardy, never need watering and you can't kill them with a stick!

I like the flowers they look like iris's.

These roses are just there by the hair of their chinny chin chins. They have been dodgy for a number of years. 

They must have heard me complaining and threatening to pull them out because they are performing well so far this season.

The lawn was scalped last weekend but I think it will green up quickly now the weather is warming up.

We recently installed these babies.

They are plumbed into the laundry and one of the toilets.

Excess water is used on the garden.

I love these roses.

They make really cute little posies.

These are by far my favourite roses.

I cut them and have them in the house often.

I only discovered these grannies bonnets the other day. I was delighted to find them.

These roses are bush roses gone a bit feral.

I can't bring myself to pull them out but they really are not very well behaved.

This one is very nice and extremly well mannered. Perhaps a little shy.

Are you sick of them yet?

My mum calls these "death lillies" or others call them "dunny lillies".

I think that is mean.

I rather like them.

I think they are sculptural.

Lulu says hello.

She bolted for her kennel when it started to spit with rain when I was taking the photos.

Old treasures.

Thank you everyone for your input about "the house". I will keep you posted about what happens there.

In the meantime......

This is the last in my series of photos from the friend of a friends farm.

It was filled with old treasures and photo opportunities.

There is something special about old things.

I just love the old worn, rusty look.

I feel each piece has a thousand stories to tell.

Just waiting for someone to pay them a bit of interest.

I wonder how many little bottoms have sat on this old seat?

How many family times were had around this chippy old table.

And I wonder, 

Who drank this water? What did they cook with it? and What did it taste like?