BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY

FIRST STOP MORNINGTON MARKET

A beautiful Spring Sunday morning with the temperature heading towards 35 celsius (95F)

My daughter Amy along with little Riley came and picked up Max and I to go to Mornington Market. Melanie my other daughter and her kids Lachlan and Chloe live just around the corner so we picked them up too. Lucky that Amy has a 7 seater to fit us all in.

With such fabulous weather there were heaps of people. Forgot to take my camera with me.

Stopped for a chat with Gail McCormack who was there with husband Tony and all of their fabulous paintings and furniture pieces for sale. 5 year old Chloe just adored all of Gails gorgeous girly ballet pieces. Stop by Gail and Tony's website and take a look at their fabulous work.

After a fun time wandering around the market the kids eating lollipops and hot chips/french fries it was time to head home.

Amy dropped Melanie and her kids at their house, then we dropped Max and Riley at my house,making sure I got my camera this time.

OPEN GARDEN

Amy and I then went to an Open Garden in Mornington called Dalywaters.

The entry fee of $5 went towards Legacy. Legacy is an organisation of veterans, servicemen and women and other volunteers who are dedicated to the care of the dependants of Australian Defence Force members, after the death of a spouse or parent during service, and to Australian and Allied families after operational service.

Dalywaters is a beautiful Mornington Peninsula wedding venue.

Amy in a great covered area. Such a pretty climbing rose

Through these fabulous rusted white gates you can see the chapel

The dam through the gate

Amy amongst the roses and agapanthus that were so full of buds just waiting to burst open.

This is the chapel where there was a lady playing the harp. It sounded beautiful

Such a beautiful setting

The arch here is where the bride would first walk in

She would then turn down this aisle and be on her way to the romantic chapel

Beautiful lavender lined brick pathway leading to the house on the property

Pretty daisies on the deck next to the dam

Blue moon roses

So many gorgeous roses and such a romantic setting

Below are some of the beautiful roses that were in the garden

Gorgeous petals

So many beautiful roses.

WATERSIDE WEDNESDAY

Point Nepean National Park

Tuesday we decided to go for a bit of a walk at Point Nepean National Park.

For many years - up until 1988 this area was used by the army.

We did the Fort Nepean Walk about a 7km return walk

It is described as a flat walk but it isn't really. There are quite a few hilly areas and steps as well. If you are riding a bike the track for cyclists also goes onto the road

There used to be a quarantine there as well

This is the ruins of what was a Cattle Jetty built in 1879

Fabulous driftwood on the beach

Old pilon and great rusted bolt

Lizard sunning itself on Coles Track

Love this rusted pole on Coles Track

We walked the length of this area

Eagles Nest - the highest point on the Mornington Peninsula where they built an encasement for hidden arms in 1888 to protect Port Phillip Bay and stop the enemy entering

The entry to Fort Pearce (it is underground)

It was amazing walking through these tunnels and old ruins

This sign shows what Fort Pearce Barracks was like.

We also walked as far as you can see in this pic.

Some fun Aussie Slang on a sign in the old fort

PortPhillip Bay on the left and Bass Strait on the right.

not much land in between

We walked along here as far as you can see.

Just along here is where the memorial to Prime Minister Harold Holt who drowned on the beach here in 1967

The Memorial Stone placed in memory of Harold Holt

You would wonder how security people would allow a Prime Minister to swim in an area like this

It's All About Me

Today is the day of Natasha's It's All about Me Party, where we share the project we've been working on for ourselves!

I joined Heather's (Pretty Petals) online tutorial A Beautiful Life to make an Art Journal

I was finding it impossible to get the time to make it and then Natasha's party came along and gave me the incentive to somehow find the time and do the journal

I decided to only use whatever supplies I could find amongst my 'junk'

A Beautiful Life

My Cover

I love this vintage rose

Heather supplied us with images to use for the journal
I just love this double page

Such a 'sweet pose'

Vintage lace and flowers

Love the combination of cream ribbon with the vintage flowers

Layers of Vintage sheet music and pretty papers

Such an elegant look

Love the pink rosebuds with the cream binding

This is the 'O how I love.....' journal pages

The first page has a photo of Max and I on our wedding day

Such a pretty lady in blue

Pretty paper, vintage laces, Blue binding, hearts, vintage glass and pearl buttons

I love this glass button

The pearl bead goes so well with the gorgeous pearl button

I used a chandelier heart crystal on the bottomof the page

Vintage for get me nots, tuille and cream binding surround our wedding photo

Cream binding and vintage flower

Sweet posy

Beautiful chandelier heart

I love the friendship page

More vintage sheet music and pretty papers.

Friendship is 'a gift'

Gift Tag

Vintage lace, glitter and vintage satin trim surround our sweet friends

This is a vintage satin trim that I have had forever and never quite knew where I wanted to place it. I love the way it sits with this paper and glitter

Vintage sheet music, glitter and friends

Glitter and vintage lace

Family means so much to me

Cute vintage forget me nots used on the trim for this tag

Love the vintage lace I used on the bottom of this page

Such a beautiful verse

I love the colour of this ribbon.

I used some of this ribbon when I was making things for Riley's nursery

These last two pages aren't really finished but I'm not sure what else I will add.

I have just put a few words that mean a lot to me in regards to marriage, relationships and family

These words mean a lot to me and are words we should all live by

I love this vintage blue flower - took a lot of steam to bring it back

If you can't trust the ones you love - then who can you trust??

We all deserve loyalty

Making this journal has taken a long time.

With so many family commitments, kids and partners moving in and out of our home, it has been really difficult to find the 'ME time' to put it together.

I am so happy that Heather had this journal class and that Natasha has had her It's All About Me party to 'make me' find some ME time in my life

Thanks girls , it's been fun

WATERSIDE WEDNESDAY

Check Barbara Jacksiers Blog for this weeks WATERSIDE WEDNESDAY

A STROLL ON MOUNT MARTHA BEACH

Sunday was a beautiful sunny Spring Day. As my kids all live quite close we decided to meet up and go for a walk on the beach. Getting 3 out of my 4 kids together with the grandkids was fun.

Some of my family

Lachlan,Chloe,Max,Melanie,Daniel,Amy,Riley

(Lachlan and Chloe are Melanie's children and Riley is Amy's)

Riley running along the beach shouting 'Wait for me'

Look how well I have those grandkids trained. Heads down, butts up looking for treasure. Think their Mums now see what they do when we look after them. Lots of beach walking and playing.

Lachlan and Daniel checking out the kayak.

I think Max and I might get kayaks this summer

My son Daniel walking along the beach with Riley.

He loves his little nephew

Lachlan 7, Riley 2 (on 19th October) Chloe 5

SOMERSET LIFE & RHUBARB PIE

OH NO - MY MAGAZINE

I was so excited to get my latest copy of Somerset Life in the mail but oh dear, look what happened. It got water damaged on it's way way to Australia.

I emailed Customer Service (with a couple of pics) just to let them know what happened in case they wanted to change their packaging.

See the water damage

I oh so slowly prised the pages apart with a knife.
Looks a bit tattered doesn't it.

Linda Wood a Customer Service Representative emailed letting me know that they would send me another copy. That was so nice of them. Something I didn't really expect.
So below you see my new copy of Somerset Life.
I emailed them on the 1st October and had my new magazine by 6th October.
That is fabulous service seeing as it had to come all the way to Australia



MAX'S RHUBARB PIE

Look what Max turned my rhubarb into.

Yummy rhubarb pie - tasted fabulous with a little ice cream.

RHUBARB & MAIL ART

MAIL ART
Look at this beautiful piece of mail art.

The lovely Nelda sent it.

Go check Nelda's blog Nelda Ream exploring art and life and see what beautiful art she creates

RHUBARB

I picked some rhubarb from the garden this weekend

Chopped up and ready to cook

Love the colour

A couple of teaspoons of raw sugar a dash of water and away we go

Cooking

Mmmmmm..... now it is done and oh so yummy.

DRUM ROLL PLEASE....

The winner of the Birthday Giveaway

AND THE WINNER IS........................
Number 10.
I took a photo of the screen when I did the draw.
Congratulations Lili M
Here is her comment -

LiLi M. said...
Happy Birthday to you Alison! Have a great day. That painting is so beautiful, lucky you!
September 26, 2009 6:21 PM

Lili please email me your address and these gifts will be on their way.

Thank you to everyone who entered