Time for some Bodily Trivia

DID YOU KNOW ?

When you sneeze all of your bodily functions stop,

including your heart, which usually skips a beat

1% - is the percentage of humans that have red hair 

and - Did you know ? The human brain is around 80 per cent water

200 -- The number of muscles used when taking one step

THATS ALL FOLKS !

                          

National Tree Day - The 31st of July -- I have chosen an Olive Tree

Extend an Olive Branch -   The Tree of Peace

Yes, I chose an Olive Tree for National Tree Day

Why did I chose an Olive Tree ? There are many reasons

1  --  First of all I think they are a beautiful tree, When the soft silver-green foliage rustles in the wind the pale underside of the leaves, reveal a true beauty

2 ---Olive Trees are evergreen

3 --- This tough, drought resistant trees are  famous for their delicious plump fruit, which can be picked, pickled, and enjoyed

4 --- Olive Trees are fire resistant
 5 ---I pick their branches, as they look great in a vase, with my liIIiums,, or any flower for that matter
6 ---The Olive Tree gives you oil for cooking, and oil for lighting
7 ---You might say your yard is too small for this tree, - NO, - grow them in pots, or there is also a
Miniature Olive Tree called " Arbequina "
8 --- You can topiary them, shape into balls etc.

There are Olive trees in the world over 2000 years old,  and still bearing fruit.
They date back to Ancient Greece, a crown or wreath, made of an Olive Branch, was worn by Kings etc,
and also as an honour,to be worn by winners of  very important games

Try to buy this special tree, they aren't very expensive !

VIOLETS

Just as well I have my Violets this harsh winter.

They are such a great ground cover, no weeds get through

 The turtle I made at ceramics looks very happy,  half hidden amongst these perfect little flowers

 Under the Ash Tree

 Under the Camellia bushes  -- The lovely dark green of the leaves also has a very cooling affect in the summer

 I even grow them around trees. I picked a bunch and gave them to a friend to-day  The first thing she did was smell their delicate perfume .It was worth the 10 minutes it took to pick them

My little dog Donna,Yes, I think shes smelling the violets.!

Frost ! what has happened to my garden

The frost has never attacked my garden like it has this year.

Will it come back to life again

This is my beautiful large, dark, orange hibiscus.

It doesn't lose its leaves, and flowers most of the year

I use this ribbon or spider plant ( as people call it )  as a border, so of course the whole border looks like this

heavy sigh !

But the picture below is a real disaster, my beautiful "Morning Glory " creeper with its perfect bluey, mauve flower. I have always called it, My " Jack in the Beanstalk Creeper " as it grows so fast

Maybe I need some of Jacks Magic Beans ?

Black, an Interesting Colour, Is Black a Colour ?

Isn't this just the most perfect looking caravan -- and -- its BLACK
I have heard it said black and white aren't colours, --I call them colours
I think the white trim looks great on this little caravan, it's like a big cubby house

I think this is the first time I have seen black walls. I just love it  !

 As you can see its a " Country Style Magazine "
I have some ideas ! my mind is working overtime. I hope to show you in future blogs ?

It's a Girl -- 95% sure

Yes ! the Ultrasound viewing seemed to suggest a baby girl

Everyone seemed to think Kara was having  little boy, but I wore my pink socks

It was so interesting to watch and I love to be included in everything

My mother will be 92 in 2 days time , ( the 20th of July )

(That means 5 generations, Mum still lives on her own, trendy , and has a great sense of humour )

After the ultrasound we went to celebrate with a coffee ( the new mummy to be, her mummy, brother,nana and granddad )

Then us girls went pink shopping

This is what I bought, isn't it gorgeous, a little white dress (hailspot material  - size 2 )

This material was around over 40 years ago, but it wasn't so expensive then

The back is as nice as the front

 

Kara bought this little outfit

Then when we went back to the house, Jai had decorated the lounge room - pink of course

 I am exhausted !

Dr Harrys Canine Cookies - and doggie coats

Doggie Biscuits -  There yummy !

First of all - do you like the doggie coats ?

Its very cold and the little dogs are feeling it too.

This is Rocky in his bright blue outfit

 

Then we have Tommy, he's only little and looks so cute !

Red really suits him

Montana is the oldest doggie, yes he's getting old.

So his outfit looks quite dapper, the " Henry Higgens " look.

Where's  Cleo?, she must be hiding under the couch

Her outfit is so trendy too, - pink checks

Rocky is my grandsons dog, Cleo my granddaughters, and Tommy and Montanna, my daughters

 

now for the ---" DOG BISCUITS "

Making dog biscuits is fun and super easy.

They're great presents for friends,and healthy

Packed with parsley to make your dogs breathe smell great,

they boast a stack of vitamin C and iron as well.

Preparation time : 20 mins

Cooking time : 30 mins

Makes about 36 biscuits

Ingredients------

2-3 cups finely, chopped / minced fresh parsley

1/4 cup finely chopped carrot

1/4 cup grated mozzarella cheese

2 Tbsp.vegetable oil ( preferably olive )

2 3/4 cups wholemeal flour

2 Tblp unprocessed bran flakes

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 - 1 cup of water

STEP 1 - Preheat oven to 180%C

Lightly grease 2 baking trays or line with baking paper

In a small bowl mix the parsley,carrot, cheese and oil.

In another bowl, stir together  the flour, bran, and baking powder

Add the parsley mixture and stir well

Gradually add 1/2 cup water.

Mix well, adding more water if needed to make the dough moist

Knead for 1 minute on a floured surface

STEP 2 - Roll the dough until 1cm thick

Use  small dog-boned- shaped cookie cutter, or a glass, to cut as many bikkies as you can , re-rolling scraps

Put the biscuits on baking trays, and bake for 20-30 minutes, or until biscuits are brown

Allow to cool on racks

The bikkies will harden as they cool

Store in an airtight, dog-proof container for up to2 months

I have tried these dog biscuits, and they are tasty ?

I found this recipe in the " Better Homes and Gardens " magazine

 

A Latte Coffee with a Difference -

I love my cappuccinos,  and latte  coffees

I think I know all the small, and large coffee places around the District. Some of my favourites I go back to again and again,

especially quaint little out of the way ones.

Its terrific to go with family and friends ,but also lovely to go on my own for a little peace and quite.

But, with a Coffee Latte I find it hot to handle sometimes ( I like my Coffees hot ) even with a paper napkins wrapped around it.

Then on Sunday, asking for a Latte Coffee, this is what  I was given

What a great invention

 We were at the Park Lake Restaurant ( in Shepparton )   overlooking the lovely Lake where my  great, heat free, Latte Coffee was bought out

I was so excited anyone would have thought I had won the Lottery or something

Our smallest grandchild is 3

Little Nate just adores trains

Not just Thomas the Tank but any train

So of course for his 3rd Birthday, his Mummy made him a Train Cake
 

Do you like my cake that Mummy made ?

Mummy said to say cheese (my brother is saying cheese too )

With my sister Paige. I can't seem to blow that candle out?

 At Last ! - Iv'e blown it out ! I feel sooo clever.

With my sister Paige, Mummy and Daddy, and my brother Floyd
Time to eat my cake, and all the lollies in the carriages.
My 2  Nanas, and Granddads, are going to help me.
Nana has already eaten the black jelly beans,I think thats enough photos now ??

THE ABBEY

I never thought  I would be privileged to visit an Abbey. 

On a lovely Sunday morning, Our" Garden Cub Members"  headed off quite early on a 48 seater bus 

Our destination - to visit 2 beautiful gardens, a nursery, an art gallery, and an abbey.

This magnificent organ was transferred and assembled here

I Ioved the Abbey , and being an artist, just loved,loved this painting

Her eyes just followed us everywhere some members found her a bit creepy

We had just left an Art Gallery, it looked like a big new concrete grey prison on the outside,

and most of the paintings inside looked very dark, angry, abstract  crap (the Tarrawarra Art Gallery )

And then to walk into this Abbey and see this beautiful painting simply took my breath away

Brother Joseph said the girl who painted her was only in her early 30 's

Brother Joseph, (now 80 ) pictured with Dianne , arrived  at the Abbey 50 years ago, as a 30 year old from Ireland. He explained to us the life, and the purpose of the Order, and the Abbeys history

Some Cistercian, or Trappists Monk,s arrived in Australia in 1954 from the original order established in Ireland, to set up a Monastery..
The Monks purchased the property, which had a large  rambling homestead, built in1900.
In 1958 The Monastery was raised to Abbey status, this is the only Trappist in Victoria, Australia, and 15 Monks live here.

LOUIE the FLY

Since 1957  "LOUIE the FLY " has been a great Australian Favourite.

Not only the add, but also the jingle tha goes with it,

and his deadly enemy, the can of Mortein !

He sure doesn't look like a super hero ! -- our Aussie Fly

ROCK (bird ) ART

I think the picture below explains how to make this great " BIRD ROCK ART "

My grandchildren copied this picture, and were very proud of themselves

You can buy little bags of these rocks from many stores for only $2 -

Aren't the birds sitting on the top of the picture cute !

Once again I took photos from my favourite magazine, BETTER HOMES and GARDENS.

Mary Higgins Clark --Book of the Month

I have just finished another murder, mystery, another spell binding,book written by

"MARY HIGGINS CLARK "

Every time I read one of her books,I think-- wouldn't that make a great movie !,

as they are filled with suspense, and twists and turns

Books can be very expensive so,if your not sure of a new author try the library first, or a thrift shop.

Its cold and raining to-day, time to snuggle up with a new book.