Gotta love a Xmas bauble

I love Xmas baubles.

And Nature has created the best bauble of all.

A foliage forage around the garden was in order.

The best bit was having a play.

And now I have these to hang in the Farmshop for Christmas.

Just a wire coat hanger fashioned into a circle.

So jumping head first into the Christmas theme I covered some tins with paper ready to use for........ well, whatever takes my fancy really.

Bill joined some old fence palings together to make a blackboard for me.

I was still pondering what to write when I took this photo.

Ended up writing prices across the bottom.

It's huge.....!!!!

Some flowers out there this week included..

I keep trying out new possibilities as they arise. It won't be long now and the roses will have finished their first blooming. Anything new needs to survive the over night in water test to be considered.

This salvia still looks a treat.

Haven't had the heart to cut these for my Farmshop yet.

Little boys.....

Around the garden path....

Sadly, one of the trees didn't survive the wind last week.

I'll be beside myself when the sunflowers bloom.

I have never ever had then in my garden before. Can't wait.

Will and Jacq celebrated their engagement with a party in the backyard backyard at Jo's. It was a perfect day. Congratulations you two gorgeous things.

A rainbow of hollyhocks

Around the garden path......

It's just like being in a box of smarties up in this corner of the rose garden.

It's a rainbow of hollyhocks. 

From the richest of reds to the palest of pinks and lemons ( turns out there are lemons there Viv! )

I think I may have contributed to the mass invasion of earwigs this year.

Last year when cutting off diseased and ugly bits I would just leave them lying on the ground  thinking that I'd get around to picking up the scraps later, but of course I never did. Apparently they take a fancy to this sort of mulchy matter and make it their home for the next twelve months until the time is right to go on the attack again( with increased numbers).

Lesson learned.

Bill's cherries are under attack!

Only one of seven but it has forced him to take action.

Try getting in there birds......!!!!!

Our first lilium bloom.....Eyeliner. 

In the Farmshop this week.

All flowers inside today. It's hot and blowing a gale out there. 

Pippi Rose and Sunday Rose 

Gorgeous sunset photo in our backyard( thanks Max)

Herbs in their new containers on the kitchen bench.

The one with the yellow flowers is from the curry plant.

Desperate for a bit of play/ sewing time.

I'll just leave it lying around to look at for now!

It's from a collection by Riley Blake called La Vie Boheme.

Our boys.....

.......bless their little cotton socks.

Wilting

The roses are not happy.

They don't like anything over 25 degrees and we've had several days over 30 this week.

I've been trying to pick as many as I can in the mornings before the sun bleaches and burns them. Then I put them in our bath. That seems to be the coolest room. 

 And the wind dries them off even more.

It's the David Austin( English) ones that are suffering. 

Their first big flush has almost ended.

My flower preparation table is in the middle of Bill's shed ( mmm, not ideal but we're happy to cohabit for the time being!)

These little boys and their Mum have welcomed Baxter into their family.

Baxter is a Spoodle and a darling.

We had lengthy discussions re names for the puppy before they went to pick him up in Melbourne. Ned was allowed to make the ultimate decision and he wanted to wait until he saw him for the first time before deciding.

Leesa tells us that Baxter is the last to be allocated a place in their animal kingdom( we shall see about that).

( the boys are growing their hair long.....just in case you were wondering!)

Our Pippi Rose foaled last week. She has a beautiful little filly called Sunday Rose. This photo was taken at her new home.

And two more of our horses went to foster homes this week.

Emeliana and Kelly Gal. 

That's precisely what the rescue group is about.

Around the garden path....

Loving the red, purple and grey.

Adorable little man.

Love a book catalogue..... Especially when it's for children.

Treats for me...

From my favourite Provincial outlet shop.

Mum had cataract surgery yesterday. Both eyes have had the surgery now. 

Her surgeon has told her to throw her glasses away.

We all think she'll keep wearing them without the lenses!!

She's been wearing glasses for 75 years.

Hope the fleurs in your gardens have remained strong and resisted the earwigs this week.