Talking 'bout Books

Began the year by trying 'The God of Small Things' by Arundhati Roy, again and again couldn't get past page 50. Don't know what it is about this book that I can't come to grips with. Is it because of it's 'foreignness'?

So, I have joined the "Typically British Reading Challenge" hosted by Book Chick City. I like to read British fiction and I've never done a challenge before. If anyone wants to join in please see Book Chick City's post for more of the rules and to sign up!

I have started with 'Winter Solstice' by Rosamunde Pilcher & am enjoying an easy read with names & places I am familiar with.

Finished 'Family Ties', very quick read and I'm glad there was a family tree in the front. Enjoyable.

Picked up these two from the side of the road - not to sit in, maybe let climbing plants ramble through. Not even sure if I want to keep them, not the right colour blue. Shabby without the chic!

Hot Sunday morning 9.15, beach at Yanchep filling up fast.

Plotting for a food garden week 14

A few strawberries on the way.




This little plot is growing out of hand, Giant Red Mustard going to seed. The Komatsuna Spinach I keep giving away, the Mustard Greens are a bit too hot for me but the Spring Onions & the Mixed Beetroot look good. Thyme in the corner gets bigger everyday.

Skywatch Season 4 Episode 25 + True Colours

Two posts in one - for more world Skywatch photos go here

and for True Colours click here (not really Pine Green, will Palm Green do, Blue?)

Photo taken 31/12/09.

Here is another for Skywatch today - most beachers choosing blue.

Rock on to Twenty-Ten

What a difference a few hours make.


Midday in Northbridge, Perth


Midnight in Northbridge, Perth

*posted by Angie 10.30am Friday 1/1/10*
May Twenty-Ten be all you want it to be and MORE

Farewell 2009

Another year, no, another decade passes.
Be gone '09 (turn your sound up) (click here)

Took a trip into Perth today instead of going for a swim. I only needed to get some sunflower seeds from Kakulas - came back with *Dutch Cocoa Powder (just because it looked & smelt so good), *Blue Mountian Coffee beans, (same reason) *Nettle Leaves (for herb tea), *Alfalfa seeds (same reason) *Carraway seeds (for cake), *Amaranth (for some reason that I can't recall), *Sesame seeds ('cause I might run out soon), *Poppy seeds (for bread), *Linseed whole (same reason), *Fruit medley (for muesli), *Pepitas (for bread & muesli), *Dried Raspberries (for muesli) * Dates (to give me energy), * Black Beans (they did look nice!)and I did remember *Sunflower seeds (for bread & muesli).


Later - while the last day of 2009 disappears into the Lagoon,


the full moon (the big one, the others are lights )rises up the road.



and the answer to yesterdays photo is a simple case of Rocket, hanging up ready to gather all those seeds (to sow).

The Wednesday What's It

Can you guess what this is? Answer tomorrow.

Very sad news - a devastating fire that destroyed more than 30 homes near the pretty West Australian wheatbelt town of Toodyay has been declared a state natural disaster. Thank goodness today was so much cooler.


Underneath all that green stuff in B&Bs garden I found this, a Butternut Pumkin.(Should that thumb be green or what?!!)

Today's Flowers #72

From a garden near me. Not sure of the name, seems to survive the hot weather we've had over the last few days.
Go here to see flowers all over the world Today's Flowers #72

Of course I couldn't let a day go by without another photo of the Lagoon. Swimming classes started today. Pity I didn't get a shot of the Dolphin playing just beyond the reef.

Mellow Yellow Monday #49

Gearing up for a hot 40deg day - think I spy a yellow swim ring,

Talking 'bout books & Blogs

Finished romping through 'Appassionata' by Jilly Cooper. I caught a brief glance of Andre Rieu as I was changing channels on TV. Oh yes can well imagine what might go on in that Orchestra!!!
Lots to read in the next few weeks & here is a book that could be interesting 'The Very Bloody History of Britain' by John Farman.

As for blogs have found some that I will return to
Gardening
You Grow Girl
Victorias Backyard
Down on the Allotment
Veg Plotting

Brain Games
Lumosity

Very good reading
Violet Sky
Green Stone Woman
Mr London Street

Cooking
Biscuit Encounters

Books
Ice Warmth

Mail Art
A1 Mail art
Keith Bates
Frips Mailart

Fantastic Photographs
Pictures Just Pictures

Please don't forget to come back to me!

Plotting for a food garden week 13

My tomatoes (last 3 pics) compared to B&Bs tomatoes,
(next 3) being taken over by pumpkins but still producing lots.

Skywatch Season 4 Episode 24

Christmas Evening as the sun goes down with a golden glow. Friends on the beach, sand between toes, chewing on King Prawns, washed down with a G&T.

Christmas Morning

It's 8am on Christmas morning & I had a Silent Night untill 5am when Ebony wanted to go out, she cried for about five minutes before I got up & let her out.
Then it was back to bed for an interupted couple of hours.

The Twelve days of Christmas start today - here are a few versions...

here
and here

THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

December 14, 1972
My dearest darling John:

Who ever in the whole world would dream of getting a real Partridge in a Pear Tree? How can I ever express my pleasure. Thank you a hundred times for thinking of me this way.

My love always,
Agnes
================================================
December 15, 1972
Dearest John:
Today the postman brought your very sweet gift. Just imagine two turtle doves. I'm just delighted at your very thoughtful gift. They are just adorable.
All my love,
Agnes
================================================
December 16, 1972
Dear John:
Oh! Aren't you the extravagant one. Now I must protest. I don't deserve such generosity, three French hens. They are just darling but I must insist, you've been too kind.
All my love,
Agnes
================================================
December 17, 1972
Dear John:
Today the postman delivered four calling birds. Now really, they are beautiful, but don't you think enough is enough. You are being too romantic.
Affectionately,
Agnes
================================================
December 18, 1972
Dearest John:
What a surprise. Today the postman delivered five golden rings, one for every finger. You're just impossible, but I love it. Frankly, all those birds squawking were beginning to get on my nerves.
All my love,
Agnes
=================================================
December 19, 1972
Dear John:
When I opened the door today there were actually six geese laying on my front steps. So you're back to the birds again huh? These geese are huge. Where will I ever keep them? The neighbors are complaining and I can't sleep through the racket. Please stop.
Cordially,
Agnes
================================================
December 20, 1972
John:
What's with you and those freaking birds?? Seven swans a swimming. What kind of joke is this? There's bird poop all over the house and they never stop the racket. I can't sleep at night and I'm a nervous wreck. It's not funny. So stop those freaking birds.
Sincerely,
Agnes
================================================
December 21, 1972
O.K. Buster:
I think I prefer the birds. What the heck am I going to do with 8 maids a milking? It's not enough with all those birds and 8 maids a milking, but they had to bring their darn cows. There is manure all over the lawn and I can't move in my own house. You must think you're really cute...please cut it out.
Agnes
================================================
December 22, 1972
Hey Bonehead:
What are you.....some kind of sadist? Now there's nine pipers playing. And let me tell you, do they play. They've never stopped chasing those maids since they got here yesterday morning. The cows are getting upset and they're stepping all over those screeching birds. What am I going to do? The neighbors have started a petition to evict me. You'll get yours !
Agnes
================================================
December 23, 1972
You rotten jerk:
Now there's ten ladies dancing. I don't know why I call those sluts ladies. They've been playing around with those pipers all night long. Now the cows can't sleep and they've got diarrhea. My living room is a river of crap. The Commissioner of Buildings has subpoenaed me to give cause why the building shouldn't be condemned. I'm calling the police on you !
Agnes
================================================
December 24, 1972
Listen you "#$%*_"
What's with those eleven lords a leaping on those maid and ladies? You've turned my home into a brothel. Those pipers got incredibly drunk on the egg nog, ran through the maids. All twenty-three of the birds are dead. They've been trampled to death in all the ruckus. I hope you're satisfied, you rotten vicious swine.
You're sworn enemy,
Agnes
================================================
December 25, 1972
Dear Sir:
This is to acknowledge your latest gift of twelve fiddlers fiddling which you have seen fit to inflict on our client, Miss Agnes McHolstein. The destruction, of course, was total. All correspondence should come to our attention. If you should attempt to reach Miss McHolstein at Happy Dale Sanitarium, the attendants have been instructed to shoot you on sight. With this letter please find attached a warrant for your arrest.
Happy Holidays,
Law Offices

and with that out of the way I'm going for a swim.
Later (still Christmas Day)
10am all is calm, all is bright.

True Colours Thursday - CHRISTMAS

For someone who is professing not to be interested in Christmas, I hereby say "Thank you all very much".

The Wednesday What's It

I don't have any strange photos or weird stuff today but I did
steal this from another blog.

Precipitation was falling from the sky one winters day in a Communist state far far away. A couple were arguing fiercely about whether it was rain or snow. "Ah" said the wife "there's comrade Rudolph, we should ask him if this is rain or snow. Comrade Rudolph, please tell us, is this rain or snow falling from the sky?" After Comrade Rudolph had carefully considered the situation he settled the argument. "There you are" said the husband" Rudolph the red knows rain dear!"

Peace be with you all, it's hectic out there.

Today's Flowers #71

All things bright & beautiful from a garden nearby.
For a look at other Flowers of Today go here.

Mellow Yellow Monday #47

Why wouldn't you be mellow swimming in the Lagoon on a Monday morning.......



...... even when you come up for breath.


To see many different yellows go here.

Talking 'bout books

I'm almost halfway through 'Appassionata' (page 265 of 622 pages) - a fair amount of bonking going on! So many characters doing so many things.



Picked up books from the Library -the 3 on the right & Op shop buys - 4 on the left. Enough to last me untill after the holidays.

Plotting for a food garden week 12

Woke up 3.30am , tossed & turned, dozed a bit, let Ebony out, let Ebony in, made coffee at 7am. In the Lagoon at 8.15 very low tide, cold water as clear as crystle, warm ocean flowing over reef. Breaky at 9.30 after giving the plants a bit of a sprinkle. Warm - hot with thunder around




Almost finished painting shoes (don't think I like this pair so much)
Lunch at 1pm, watched some TV (dozed off for 5mins)
Did some work on new computer (not giving me spell check as I write this blog!)
Lay down at 3pm (dozed off for 15mins)
Made two loaves of bread (between catnaps)


Off now to water B&Bs garden.

Skywatch Season 4 Episode 23

Another new house going up - pouring the cement slab.



New moon, low tide, cold water at Yanchep Lagoon.

So many bloggers playing Skywatch here.

True Colours Thursday - CRANBERRY

My cranberry coloured lettuce are growing well!


Here we have a large jar of coloured pasta, a smaller jar of Gogi Berries & a small dish of Craisins (cranberries).


An onion (it looked like a flower so I took a pic).

To join in this MEME (& see & read a great blog) go here.