January

Wooohoo! Into the current year! This is a very slow process collating all these photos into one big post! Starting off the New Year with a love story! Withavee the Ram and Blue the Cow. Total love.

He has no interest in hanging out with his sheep mate Larry...........and no interest in hanging out with Poppy the Cow...........

Only Blue...............

Aside from that, l bought myself another old push bike for the garden. Sprayed black it now looks like an old witch's bike. l shall have to find a photo of where it is now. Nestled into a bush somewhere no doubt!

January and the house disappears behind the rather vigorous Grape vine. One that actually produced grapes this year which surprised us! First time in 8 years it's done so! We always had thought it was just an ornamental vine but apparently not! The grapes were delicious too!

We had another quick weekend visit from my sister again and lovely Tabitha who shared some lovely special moments with Insky getting pony cuddles!

Of course, a visit from my sister is never complete without a visit to the Margate Train and l came back with a delightful score of garden poultry!!! Two pond ducks!

A beautiful blue Courtyard Peacock!

A splendid rusty Rooster!

Love him!

And a duck! All about $5 each so very happy!

The garden was beautiful even though it was very dry.

l try not to water much at all and let the plants that survive , survive and the ones that don't............don't!!!

We painted, gapped, filled and prettied up the veranda .

Which took a long time for us! Every board was sanded, then we ran gap filler under every one to stop the dust and cobwebs getting underneath.

We stained the door...

And left a 'truth window' to retain a section of the old  unpainted boards beneath. Too beautiful to hide forever! 

One of my favourite bits!!!

We repaired the very crappy and falling apart old window...

Which came up and absolute treat and looked brand new!

Then finally put it all back together again............

It's now a beautiful place to sit and relax.

For all of us!!

More flowers?? Oh dear, l can't help myself with beautiful flower photos!!

My first foray into hanging baskets was fun!

And Petunias in old tubs!

January got hot.....not too much but we had some real stinkers..

The ponies always appreciate a bath in that sort of weather.... Insky LOVES water and will stand there ALL day if you let him!

 

Bliss!

Maxie hates it (he's SCARED of it, but will let you as long as you hang on to his lead rope! THEN it's roll time!

Little Georgie isn't too keen either but she LOVES it slowly trickling down her face which is quite unusual!

So after rolls in the mud it's frisky time!

Farts , bucks and gallops!

Cool and refreshed!

THEN the odd shadows appeared!!!!

Is it a pony or a dog? Looks like Hairy McClary to me!!

!!!!!!!

The hot weather brought out the snakes too. Look at this HIDEOUS sight......Lilli on the bed in our bedroom...........with an enormous snake literally tapping on the window behind her UP THE TREE.........

And he was HUGE!!!!

He then climbed higher and higher and stole a blackbird out of the nest. Dropped to the ground and slithered off with dinner in its mouth (bird not dog thankfully). The nest was quickly removed (thank goodness it was now empty) and we never saw it again. Horrible. l know they are always around it's just not fun seeing one so close......up a tree.......tapping on the window.....!!!

Lilli was just glad the window was closed!!!!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh, flower pics to calm down!!!!!

Beautiful Artichoke!

And more hollyhocks! White...........

Pink..........

Burgundy.....

Hot pink!

Single petal ............

And red frillies!

Goodness! How does ANYONE live without colour!!!!

We had a lovely belated visit from two of Santa's little helpers!!

And God, definitely shining his light!!

And so he should!

We feel truly blessed .........

An interesting start to the year.......