Back home from our Melbourne trip

Well here we are again - refreshed and feeling fine after a wonderful 6 days and 5 nights in Melbourne! What a wonderful city - though I could be biased as I was born there and many happy memories of growing up in Melbourne seem to cloud my vision!

Tudor Gardens


Of course I was armed with my trusty camera and it worked overtime with the sights and sounds of this wonderful place - though it did send 3 if not 4 seasons in each and every day - but that is Melbourne gotta love it!!!!! I just hope the gardens in Canberra had some of the watering that Victoria got in our holiday there.

The Conservatory in Carlton Gardens



Phil has not been to Melbourne in many years so we had a great time looking and tasting (oh the food!!!) and being a vegetarian Phil was in gourmet heaven - Indian, Thai, Chinese, Italian..... but I digress!

We spent our time doing the tourist thing with heaps of others - the Block Arcade, Parliament House, Art Galleries, the Treasury Museum and the Melbourne Museum...... plus the Botanical Gardens.

Orchids in the hothouse - Melbourne Botanical Gardens

We also visited the Shrine - I have many memories of my Dad marching his men (Army) on parade there on Anzac Day, the Rialto - where we were on the observation deck 37 stories high and the new Southern Cross Station with factory outlets galore.

The Shrine


We also did our thing at the Queen Victoria Markets and Cook's Cottage...... no wonder my feet hurt and I slept like a baby at night.

Cooks Cottage

On Friday night we had a great time at 'Guys and Dolls' a new production with Marina Pyror and Lisa McLure....it was great fun, comedy and dance - superb! I didn't think we would get tickets but we did! So while they were a bit (!) on the expensive side it was worth it ..... and I loved getting 'dolled up' excuse the pun, to go!

The newly weds are on their honeymoon in Victoria on the Great Ocean Road...... the weather is being kind as they are on a motor bike...... young and free - how wonderful. It is such a lovely area of Australia.

Ross, Sonya and Riley have returned to Queensland and we have made a promise to see them in June for the long weekend. It will be terrific to get away to a bit of warmth by then I am sure. Mum and Dad will be missing them now as they spent a lot of time with them over the Easter break - there are thoughts of a trip to Qld in Winter - so if Mum and Dads health is good that would be wonderful .....

Other than that we just feel pretty rested and happy that all is well........ Matt and Heidi are great and will be around here for dinner tomorrow night...... as usual I have presents for them - it is a habit I find hard to break and I don't get too many complaints from the kids that is for sure!

My thought for today
People won't remember what you said, but how you made them feel.

Lots of love
Carol

The Wedding!!!!

Hi everyone

Yesterday was the most wonderful event - Jessica's and Jason's Wedding Day. It was cloudy but perfect for the photos so here are a few to share with you.

Here is the Bride - Jessica, the Brides Dude - Hamish and the gorgeous Bridesmaids - Anush (L) and Heidi (R)

Here is me with my wonderful husband Phil .... in beautiful Nara Park. Phil videod the whole day.

Jessica asked me to walk her in and I was really proud to do that. She makes a beautiful Bride.

The start of the ceremony.... the Celebrant is Mick Andrews, a good friend of mine, who officiated at Phil's and my wedding a couple of years ago.

The exchange of the rings

The kiss..... Mr and Mrs Jason Weber

Jess and her brother Matthew

Matt and Heidi

The happy couple - rather relieved after the ceremony

Jason's motorbike which he rode in for the ceremony along with the groomsmen. They will be spending two weeks on a tour of Victoria and the Great Ocean Road on the bike.

I just love this photo....... the path through the cherry trees of Nara Park

The Rolls Royce Silver Cloud which they left the wedding in......... and.........


The Bride and Groom - Just Married!!!


The theme of the wedding and reception was Autumn Leaves - so the cake was made to match the theme - Jessica made the copper tree for the top - beautiful.....

What more can I say ......

Love Carol

Wedding Eve

Here we are the eve of the wedding - nearing 5pm....can't believe Jess and Jason get married tomorrow!!!
The happy couple

Even though we have been planning it for months - it is here tomorrow and I don'tknow how I feel - nervous for her, a little tipsy (wine), happy that she is marrying the one she loves, sad too that an era I guess is finished.

But when you believe with all your heart that it is right - then - it is!

So here are a few sneaky pics of the brides and bridesmaids things.... enjoy!
The brides bouquet
The bridesmaids bouquets
Shoes, garter and a wedding box
The jewellery (on the wrap that the bride will wear around her shoulders)
The pressies for the attendants and the hair pins for the bridesmaids

To Jason and Jessica - wishing you all the happiness and love your hearts can hold - forever!!!

On holidays today

Today is the first day of my holidays and a bit before the wedding so I can get things ready. I had a work meeting (yes I know I am on holiday) for a couple of hours this morning and when I came home Phil had cleaned the loos and bathrooms which I was going to do - bless him!

So I have finished the kitchen, will get to the loungeroom in a few minutes and then I will clean out the car and pop it through a car wash..... It won't know what has hit it - it has been dusty for weeks......

Tomorrow it is shopping and getting other bits and pieces sorted out ..... so it is all pretty good. No too hard at all.

Friday will be a day in itself!
11.30 Pick up Ross, Sonya and Riley from the airport bring their things back here
12.30 Quick lunch
1.00 Drop off cake
2.00 Go to Mum and Dads for birthday afternoon tea
3.00 Wedding rehearsal
6.00 Ross brings back Nan and Bills car
8.00 Cook dinner

Saturday looks like this
8.00 Everyone arrives
8.00 Hair and makeup starts
9.00 Carol makes nibbles
10.30 Bride and bridesmaids get dressed
11.00 Photographer arrives
11.30 Ross and Sonya leave for Mum and Dad
12.00 Car arrives and bridal party leaves for photos
12.15 Matt and Riley leave with chairs
12.15 Carol and Phil leave
1.00 Wedding ceremony
3.00 Ross and Sonya drop Nan and Bill home
3.00 Carol and Phil go home to relax
6.00 Ross and Sonya pick up Nan and Bill
7.00 Reception begins
10.00 Nan and Bill catch taxi home
12.30 Home/sleep

Love is not finding the right person, but being the right person....Anon

Till the wedding!
Carol

A Trio of Lilies

I purchased a lovely bunch of flowers last week with these lilies in them - and of course I couldn't resist bringing out the watercolours

I love the ways they are formed and relate really well to the colours...they are so beautiful
Lots of love
Carol

One week to go

There is just one week to go before the wedding and we are now seriously in countdown mode.... The cake is decorated, the wedding dress is hanging up, the flowers and all the bits and pieces ready! I spoke to Jess this morning and all seems to be going to plan!

And today - Saturday is 37.8 degrees in the courtyard at 3pm!!!!! Absurd! The birds have not been around much today and we have been staying inside not really doing much.

I have been doing a cybercrop challenge and have made a lot of cards because it is too darned hot to do much else.

This is the photo of one of the challenges...... a birthday calendar
Photo Two - we had to make cards as well - so don't be surprised if you see your birthday card here - you are famous - your card is on the net!!

We have been looking at the wind farm impact on our property and Phil has set up maps and pins of the location of the wind farm.....it is dissappointing that it is on 3 sides of the farm. I am not too worried about the turbines to look at but do think the noise might be a factor. Apparently people too close to them have problems sleeping!

Anyway on the strength of that we are talking to a real estate agent about properties in Collector just in case - the good thing about Collector is its reasonable rainfall, and easy access to Canberra - through the highway...... also if we could find a property with a building on it, that would take the stress off...... and we could build the house later.

Matt has just been around and has purchased a back pack, rain jacket, eco-towel and silk sleeping bag insert for his trip. A couple of the camping shops have sales at the moment so he got a great deal on all of it..... he is getting excited.

Mum and Dad seem to be doing okay at the moment. Mums hand is looking good - she fell over recently and has had a dressing on it for a week or so. They are looking forward to seeing Ross, Sonya and Riley soon for the wedding.

The greatest thing that you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return

With love
Carol

Beautiful day

Today is one of those perfect days - blue sky, no wind and lovely temperature...... The cockies and galahs have come in to have their seed for breakfast and the magpie has had his dog biscuits...... warbling a song before he went off again.

Jess, Jason, Matt and Heidi came around for dinner last night which was great and we caught up on all their news. Matt has bought a cute (in small) laptop for his trip and is now looking at a backpack and comfortable walking shoes to purchase. He is getting excitied about it.

The wedding preps are almost done..... Jason is planning the route of the honeymoon.... Great Ocean Road on motorbike...... wind in your hair and wonderful views - just perfect. We have sorted out the spare room and it now looks like a guest room again....... ready for Ross and Sonya, and the craft room is now tidy for Riley to stay. It will be so great to have them to stay and to catch up.

Phil and I are going to Melbourne after the wedding to recover - which will be very much appreciated after the event. Airfares are booked and Victoria Markets here we come....... We will stay at the Enterprize - a cheap and cheerful hotel in the CBD, next to the free tram stop which will take us around the city, so it is really convenient..... I have stayed before at the Enterprize many years ago at a conference. We are looking forward to looking at the galleries, museum and doing a spot of shopping - sipping a latte or two on Southbank and visiting the botanic gardens..... and relaxing! We are even going to try to catch up with Gerry and Brian my Godparents.

We are putting the wedding cake together today - so will post a few pics after the wedding - can't show you any pics yet as the bride and groom want it to be a surprise for everyone..... so it has to be after the wedding. It looks wonderful and really different, as of course you would expect.

A thought for today
It is the things in common that make relationships enjoyable, but it is the little differences that make them interesting
Todd Ruthman

Have a wonderful day
Carol

Three Watercolours

Here are three watercolours that I have completed today - obviously it is a pink day!!!!! There are fairly limited flowers around here at the moment and they all happened to be in shades of pink.... All my paintings are copyright....so please look and enjoy, but do not copy....thanks!!

New Guinea Impatients from our courtyard..... and it is very true of the colours

The beautiful fushias on our balcony - they remind me of ballerinas

The day lillies I bought in a bunch of flowers yesterday

I am quite excited and Lisa from the LSBS would like to purchase some paintings for her parents for Christmas - like me they seem to like the Australian plants. I have been asked before if I sell my paintings but now I feel a bit more confident to do so..... Thanks Lisa

Happy painting everyone.... for more paintings look under the watercolour section on the right.

Love
Carol

Where has the last fortnight gone??

Someone has definitely stolen the last fortnight and I would like it back please!

We are still in the midst of wedding preparations but all is going very smoothly..... there are only small things like cleaning up the middle room, which is a guest room with a queen sized bed under all the junk in there. So it is off to Phils (DH) place this weekend for a few trips to transfer the stuff in the guest room into his house at Watson.

I have had my hair de-greyed and blonded....a bit blonde I think but everyone is saying the right things like - nooooo it isn't too blonde. And I have had it trimmed into a 'becoming do'

So I thought it might be fun to pop in a couple of heritage layouts from my parents...... just because I can.

My Mum and Dad have been together for over 50 years. Each one of them have their own gifts and personalities and bring these to the relationship. Not everyone could manage my Dad like my mother has over the years. But sometimes, even though they are older and their health gives them grief, they look at eachother and you know they love eachother totally!

So now as Jessica and Jason get married in 17 days........ I hope they have found a love that lasts throughout their lives!

When I was making the wedding cake for Jessica and Jason I wrote this.....

It hardly seems possible....

Wasn't it yesterday I held my small baby daughter in my arms, swathed in a blanket after her birth
Wasn't it only yesterday that I watched her as she played on the swings in the park and she found her shadow
Wasn't it yesterday that I helped her through all of that hormonal stuff and bitchy friends at 12 years old when those things are so important
Wasn't it yesterday that I waited for her to come home all night , and when she did at 9am I grounded her (for 3 weeks)
Wasn't it yesterday that I got sick of her lying in bed until 2pm every day that I demanded she got a job
Wasn't it yesterday when she and I got through her late teenage years that we finally were getting on again she left home to move out by herself

It was yesterday I made her wedding cake and she will marry her gorgeous man in March

And today I cry a little because I am so proud of her, and remember like it was yesterday.....

17 days to go....... until WD (Wedding Day)

To live is like to love - all reason against it, and all healthy instinct for it - S. Butler

Love
Carol