Saying goodbye to boots

Well the weekend was a glorious one to farewell my poor old boots..some people have mentioned they looked pretty good and i agree..sadly looks can be deceiving .

These boots have climbed rocks ,trees and rough terrain in my quest for good photos and in order to wrestle with the bush here..they have jumped fences and given me purchase on the ground when i have had to climb a sheeps back (don’t ask) they have stomped bits of burning bush when burn offs have gone a bit awry and waded through mud when helping out near the dam.

These boots have been at the vets with two snake bites and kicked things in anger when those bites happened. They have run after dogs…cats..and sheep.They have  climbed ladders and helped me paint fences and walls.

They have been with me while i have trimmed and pruned and hacked my way through scrub,they have been in the kitchen preparing meals with me.

They have been under me while i crawl on the ground taking pics of roos they have been there while i have clipped fencing, dug rocks,weeded,watered,walked the dogs moved the sheep and hung the washing.

They have sat with me under gum trees resting my eyes and listening to the bush,they have been by bonfires watching the flames licking the black skies,they have been with me while i fell asleep with the cats in their catio.

They have helped me build gardens,catios,fences,kitchens,pulled up tiles moved soil and gravel and laid turf .

They have been on my feet while i have laughed and joked they have been on my feet when i have sung and danced in the yard,they have been on my feet when i have yelled and cried..they are my boots.

Sadly the soles are paper thin..many miles have been walked in them. They no longer support my ankles and this is a problem with the rough terrain here.

They sadly are no longer safe and yet still look beautiful..worn and with a patina only a hard working boot can have ..and so this weekend i gave them a new purpose.

I selected some sweet violas..with happy little faces and a cheery disposition i carefully filled them with the best of potting mix and planted these flowers within them.

I gave them a position where they can be not only beautiful but can watch as the new boots take over the hard yards..and they did..the start of the fencing for the  veggie garden took us all weekend..i could almost hear my old boots sigh…

My new boots are good and with time will be great and also much loved..for now they are learning the ropes ..they have a long way to go..

Many colours Monday

I had fun going back through my old files and finding the pictures from the Castlemaine State Fair..i thought I would share some more of the day with you all.
To explain a bit we live in an area that was predominant in Apple Orchards..so this day live trees dotted the park ..apples amd pears..people could just grab one as they liked..these trees were later sold as five year old trees and we purchased four!
So the park also had a giant shared lunch table and crates with veggies growing…our own local lad Beau a former Master Chef contestant ( and one of the apple pie baking judges who gave me my best apple pie and best apple cake medals just sayin…)had a cook off and of course their was plenty of music and dance performances and art and crafts..
Please enjoy more colour and fun at our little towns fair ..

Young street musicians

A happy waitress at the luncheon tables

Crates of fresh produce

Children made papier mache flower hangers for the trees in the park

Creative use of crates

Spotted these two having a little interaction of their own!

Wheat grass in carts

The apple trees were full and the bases filled with fruit as well

Waiting to perform in the park

Crazy clothes seemed the way to go!

Some of the baskets of food used by the cook off chefs

Getting ready to put a show on

More wonderful local produce

The humble carrot becomes an instrument

A whirl of colour as the kids perform

Love the hat!!

And that my friends is our town….small fun..and always a place I love to call home!

A bit of colour to cheer us all up

Last years State festival was held in the park and surrounds..it was lovely a day full of music fun colour and food..i think we all need a bit of colour today..

Many friends or family are having less colourful times at the moment..some sick..some injured..some with pets who are unwell and then there are those people who are drowned in a blanket of snow…
So i share this to share some colour..i do not know who she is…but she was lovely enough on the day to smile for me as i wandered the park snapping away..

I do sometimes snap humans 🙂 just sayin…have a colourful day everyone..

Despite all odds

It started as a tiny little seed..it took weeks and weeks to grow into a little seedling….when the timing was right it was transplanted.. well it was an attempt at transplanting as the whole tray of Hollyhocks  I flipped upside down on the verandah.. cursing the whole time.

Then with the remaining seedlings it was popped in the garden…they struggled.. locusts gnawed some…then the cats dug others up…slowly the amount of seedlings dwindled…they sort of did okay..then the dogs jumped on some….more went to the big garden in the sky and more cursing…the ones left picked up a bit….the snails moved in…chewing them to nubs….I really lost all hope at this point…but a few kept on going…I tried the beer traps…the snail came they drank they came back for more…grrrrrr…then the cats dug them again and the dogs…yes jumped on them…then the heat started….well that was the death knell for some more…I was so beside myself..all I wanted was to have some colour…something that contrasted with the green and grey …but a couple still kept going…I talked to them…watered them and yes they got nibbled by snails  but seemed to fight for life…the heat kept up and in  fierce way….our water bill..which arrived yesterday showed the amount of water we have used trying to save our garden and grass.. over 400 dollars…it is a lot …the fact is our plants trees and grass have cost way more to establish and to let it die would be more expensive..water tanks are on the long long list of must gets…thing is we have had no rain anyway..

So it seemed that in one week all of a sudden I had this stunning flower…at six feet tall it is a standout…it has held firm…it even has some friends that seem to be catching up with it…I have been telling it what a stunner it is.. and every day I have been blessed with more buds opening…I hope I really hope it sticks around..i know it’s a cottage garden plant and I know I live in a rural area in Australia ..but my love of English cottage gardens is strong and I so need colour to break up the bush tones all around me..i present to you my Hollyhock….the toughest little flower in rural Victoria that  know of.

Yes Forrest one you missed!

 

 

Colours of my garden