Tag: grey mountain

garden flowers · kitchen renovation · Mount Warning · rain · subtropical weather · summer · Tweed Valley

What’s Happening, Inside and Outside

Joanne4 Comments

After the old kitchen cabinets were removed, we had to clear a space for the new cabinets when they arrived. Our living area has never been so snug, with having to find space to squeeze our lounge chairs, coffee tables, and eight-seater table and chairs all into the one living area.

When we built our home twenty-seven years ago, we somehow managed to end up with one sliding window amid a house full of double-hung windows. Apparently the error was in the house plans, and when I asked the builder to please replace the window, he insisted it was too much trouble to remove the window he had ordered. The window was too wide, so there was not enough wall space for an overhead cupboard beside the window. The deal-breaker, however, was that when opened, the window slid from right to left. My gas stove burners, being positioned to the right of the window copped the full pelt of our frequent southerly breezes coming through the window. Therefore, no matter how hot the day, I had to keep the window closed while cooking.

Today, husband installed a new window in the kitchen, a double-hung window, which I can open at the top on a hot day. And the new window, being narrower, allows space enough for overhead cupboards that will fit neatly against the wall. Hallelujah! 🙂 (The gap to the right of the window has now become a part of the wall.)

Meanwhile, the day that began bright and sunny gradually turned to grey. There hasn’t been any rainfall, but the high humidity is a strong indicator that there is rain about.

With so much activity inside the house, I haven’t spent much time in the garden lately at all. Yesterday I noticed a small potted frangipani in bloom, and what a beautiful pink flower it is too! When the weather cools over the next month or two, I will plant this frangipani in the garden, so hopefully next year there will be even more lovely pink flowers to admire. 🙂

And I spoke too soon – the rain has arrived …

Australia · blessings · colours · dad · family · father · garden flowers · in my garden · Mount Warning · remembering · spring · Tweed Valley

Finding Colour on a Grey Spring Day

Joanne9 Comments

Well, the beautiful day of sunshine and blue skies on Saturday was short-lived. Yesterday we had rain, and the mountain went into hiding behind mist and clouds for the day. Today the weather wasn’t much better – grey and more grey. When I took the photo of the mountain at least I captured the image of a bird flying by, but the day was so dull I didn’t have enough bright light to even identify the bird.

So that was the view of the mountain today. No colour. No pizzazz. Nothing. But luckily I have a couple of plants blooming that I haven’t added photos of here recently.

I have had a tiny potted succulent sitting on the table on my back patio for a few years now, and last year it burst into flower for the first time. The flowers lasted for quite a few weeks and looked just lovely. Now they are flowering again. I have no idea what the name of the plant is, but the flowers definitely add interest to the plant, and colour to the garden on a grey day.

These pretty purple flowers belong to another pot plant and since buying the plant in January this year it hasn’t stopped flowering. The flowers did wane slightly during winter, but during the last couple of weeks it has had a new lease on life. This is a Scaevola “Seaside” – I know the name because I wrote it in a gardening journal which is a very handy thing to have. Being a drought-tolerant ground cover, I’m thinking I should buy some more Scaevolas to plant in my front garden.

My last spot of colour is a climbing Allamanda. I must have had this plant for well over ten years now and it always seems to be in flower. It really flourishes during the warmer weather though.

Yesterday was Father’s Day in Australia and as it turned out, with no visible mountain to take a photo of I was able to devote Silent Sunday to my dear old Dad. He’s been gone now for twenty-two years but I can still close my eyes and conjure an image of him in my minds eye as clear as if he were still here with me today. Knowing him as I do/did, I know how he would have enjoyed the internet, and would have loved browsing through my ever-expanding book collection. He would have enjoyed all of the babies – his great-grandchildren – being born into my family now, and he would have got such a kick out of me working on my degree. Oh the things I have read and learned about that I would have loved to have discussed with him! Missing him still hurts at times, especially on days when I know he would have spent the day with me, such as Father’s Day. There’s an old saying though, it’s better to have loved and lost … I’m sure you know the rest. ❤

Me and my father in 1993, just after we lost my mum.
Australia · clouds · colours · Mount Warning · photography · rivers · sugar cane · Tweed Valley · winter

Grey on Grey

Joanne11 Comments

After the vivid blue-ness of the sky, clouds and Mount Warning yesterday, today’s contrast of grey on grey had to be noted.

I took this photo at sunset, when the sun’s rays illuminated the clouds ever so slightly, adding a touch of yellow for a bit of “oomph” to the grey tones.

The second photo was taken with my camera on full zoom. The water is a section of the Tweed River, and growing beside the river – and beyond – is acre upon acre of sugar cane fields.