Early mornings..too much going on

It's funny how I used to love sleeping in.
 Now I can't wait to get out of bed and start the day.
The last couple of mornings have been ridiculously early and still quite dark ( too much to think about... ) but this glorious sight was the reward a couple of mornings ago.

It's the first of May and this is the only sign of Autumn colour we have for season 2014.
 It is an ornamental grape vine on the eastern wall which remained untouched by flames or heat.  There are no windows here so the vine can spill out in all it's glory. We do however, keep it trimmed away from the ugly gas bottles for safety reasons.

This is how Autumn normally looks here..........a view from our kitchen window in early May 2012.

We adore this tree. It is an ornamental cherry( the trunk is hidden in this photo ) and beside it is a weeping elm. We saw a weeping elm three times as big as ours when we visited Dame Elisabeth Murdoch's garden, Cruden Farm. Until then it's identity was always a mystery.
 They were both planted before we bought the house 20 years ago and they are now the most magnificent trees, especially in Autumn and Spring...oh, that's right I really like them in Winter too when the branches are bare...oh, and in Summer they create delightful dappled shade....Love them!

And this was taken today....not much Autumn foliage there....!! ( lovely green grass though!)

This was also taken in 2012. It is a view through   our rumpus room window. They are Japanese maples which Bill has already removed for our extension to take place. Mmm...very sad I know.

 These stunning Chinese pistachio trees have the most brilliant autumn colour. Their leaves were all scorched in the fire and they lost them within days. They immediately went into fresh, green foliage production so they may not know what they're supposed to do now!!

This beautiful bunch of roses were picked in May in 2012. This one is Crepuscule. The smaller vase is Sally Holmes I think or may be Perle D'or. 

This is Abraham Darby....a David Austin rose also picked in May 2012. It has the most delicious fragrance. We mustn't have taken any May photos last year!

Granny blocks 10 and 11.

It's Bali time. 
We can't wait to see everyone.(Flynn)
Bought my chocolate airsickness medication today. Trying not to think about it too much.
Not sure how I'll go 'blogging in Bali' so there may be a few days between posts.

Mum goes into hospital in Ballarat to have her hip replacement surgery on May 12. She is jumping out of her skin knowing that the wait is almost over.

Bali wedding time, chocolate and a change of plan

More chocolate bliss.....

Our Easter reading of 'the scope of works' resulted in a big change of plans.
Same idea, same extension plan but just not the size of the MCG.......what on earth were we thinking!
And this extension won't involve knocking out the middle wall. 
( keeping the wall as it is has halted what would have been a domino effect of gigantic proportions).
All sheds/garages are sorted though. Bill is hoping they might start on them soon.
 Let the building begin! 

It's Bali wedding time.
I am not a happy traveler and need to go to great lengths to even get on the plane. 
We bought new cases at the weekend to replace our burnt ones that were stored in the gazebo. I added a few little extras to make the 6 hour flight a bit more do-able.....oh, and I have discovered that chocolate helps too! Flynn probably thinks so too.....
It will be amazing to have so many of our family there. Sam and Kiann are counting down the days now.


A late walk in the garden yesterday showed that many of our roses are going to be fine. There are however, several that are showing no signs of life whatsoever and a couple that seem to be growing from the root stock. They will be removed.

No signs of life....

The root stock......

This one is looking so beautiful though. It is called Golden Wings and is a gorgeous lemony yellow.   It fades to a creamy colour and has a slight fragrance. It looks fragile but in fact withstands all sorts of wind and rain.....it's one of my favourites. 

Granny Square numbers 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.