Labour Day...

Warning: long post ahead...actually its a pictorial essay

I should have painted my door

Chris should have stacked his wood pile
But instead we celebrated the Labour Day public holiday not by labouring but with some deserved recreation - A RIDE...

Start off down the Avenue of Honour, note how Chris is obeying the speed limit

Past the orchards

Past the lettuce farm.
The workers were picking today, I hope they get penalty rates

No-one was picking their own strawberries

Seems to be a golden arches every few kilometres

On the Westgate freeway approaching the city, I'm glad I don't have to commute into the city each day for work

The leafy streets made a change from the busy roads

I saw some pretty homes

and some old ones

and some ugly flats

and some more pretty homes

And some more ugly ones

We ended up in Williamstown with what seemed like the entire population of Melbourne.

I liked this view of the Westgate bridge with all the masts in between

Lots of people were out enjoying the sunshine at Williamstown

Don't have to fight for a parking spot when you're on the bike
A latte, a stretch of the legs & off home again

How would you like to live with that in your backyard?
Not a great pic but that is supposed to be the wire 'sculpture' that hangs near the Westgate freeway. This also marks the spot where you have to hold your nose because the pong is unbelievable!
Grrr Australia Post truck...I'm still cross about my non-delivered parcel but I suppose it is a public holiday today & that driver is working

This is actually the back wall of home units that have been built right up against the Westgate Freeway

Pretty ugly eh? & way too close for my liking. I won't be buying one

Fill up with petrol

Back on the highway with a full tank

Winding through Anthony's Cutting

Still winding through Anthony's Cutting

Back past the market gardens with their rows of cauliflower. I don't know what they grow in those rows but it always looks like cauli

Back past the fruit stalls in the Avenue of Honour

Past the heritage home on Main St.

You'll have to excuse my photography, not so easy with motorcycle gloves on

Cruise down Main St...the trees look nice & shady today, soon the leaves will fall

Wave at the patron at Flanagan's Hotel, enjoying a lemonade in the shade.

That is the pub where the bikies usually meet, none there today when we went past, they're probably still at Williamstown

Through the roundabout

Up Stamford Hill towards home

Turn one last corner & we're almost home

There it is

Home

Now reverse the bike into the garage

All done for today.

It was a lovely day out, the gift of a public holiday.

Thanks Darl (he hates it when I call him that)

Shadow shot # 2

Its been a bit gloomy here, weather wise, this past week. A little rain has come& lots of cloud cover. I have a particular shot I want to get but that will have to wait until the sun shows its face again.

I found this shot while browsing through my Port Fairy pics, looking for a photo for another project.

Check out the other cool shadow shots at Hey Harriet.

These are the 3 layouts I did for our 2nd online scrap class with the Boxx - 'Minimalist style', a bit different from my usual stuff but I was still pleased with the results.

Tremor...

Did the earth move for you last night????

Well it did for me, at about 9pm, we had a small shakeup which made us turn to each other & ask 'did you feel that?'

This morning's news reports a 4.6 earthquake shaking up Melbourne eminating from Leongatha way.

Heatwaves, infernos, droughts, floods, plagues of locusts.....what next?

Blondie...

Pop over to Jo's bit on the side to see the recipe for this delicious slice I found on the web today & whipped up. It was really quick & very tasty, its going fast!

Harvest Festival...

This weekend Bacchus Marsh is having the Harvest Festival to celebrate Autumn & the turn of the weather.
Its so refreshing to have a little bit of rain & some cooler weather to rinse off the dust & the heat.
On Sunday you can tread grapes, tour farms & taste local produce.

Doesn't that sound nice. Come on up & try!

Steam...

I need to blow off some steam!!!!!

I've been anxiously waiting for a parcel to be delivered via Australia Post....

waiting......waiting..........waiting.......

I rang the lovely Josie to follow up my parcel, she chased it up from her end & yes it had been dispatched on the 22nd....I should have had it by the 23rd of February.

The 23rd!!!!! Today is the 4th of March!

I march down straight from work to our local Post Office with steam coming from my ears. No I didn't have a card to produce, how did I know I had a parcel waiting to be collected if I didn't have a card...my point exactly!!!!!

AND apparently you can't complain about the (lack of) service because deliveries are all sub-contracted out, Aus Post don't care if their subbies are too slack to actually deliver a parcel, or leave a card that they missed you, or try to redeliver the parcel.
The box was large & heavy, my bet is that they couldn't be bothered lugging it around.

So deep breath in....breath out.

I'm happy to have my goodies & to pass on to the girls their orders as well.

Hands...

Hayley made a quirky unique card for her Dad's birthday.

She is clever in an arty way or arty in a clever way.

I hope this can take her far. All mothers want that for their children.







Callum helped me make the birthday cake.

You should feel honoured (I do) to see this photo as it is a rare event. I had to sneak up on him to get it & I'm surprised he hadn't deleted it off the camera yet.
He's done that in the past.

He shouldn't be so self conscious but that is so Cal, not showy or gregarious.




But I wanted to show you his hands. These are an exact copy of his father's hands.
Long thin hands that have such a future ahead.






Callum has shown that his talent is in music, not the capable fixing kind of hands of the father but it really struck me when I viewed these pics.








And a layout to share...from our Halls Gap Holiday...in Jan 2008.



Erin was very timid with the free ranging animals & after Olivia led the way she joined in feeding the very eager animals. The deer & the wallabies were very sweet. Some of the other animals were very bold & pushy!

A blast...

from the past.
When I was 21 we used to go to pubs to see bands. Many nights listening to loud music, dancing with our arms in the air, talking until we were hoarse & going home with ringing in our ears.
Student nurses living together in the Alfred's Nurses home, no curfews then -well it was the '80's after all! Loads of fun & when I heard this Pseudo Echo song it took me straight back.
Straight back to the bars of Chapel St, St Kilda & surrounds. There were lots of emerging bands to see, one night I stood beside Molly Meldrum at a Kids in the Kitchen performance at the Ballroom!

Enjoy....I know I did.


What takes you back?

Winkelwagon...

This made me laugh out loud this morning.


Not the actual crocheted 'Hoofdpagina' which is a stylish (maybe Swedish or Finnish) product, but on the site when you choose to buy you need to click 'In winkelwagon'!

I won't be putting one in my winkelwagon as it is 450 euro (or $888 AUD!) but it sure is cute!