A slice of spring

        Orchid.              Waratah.         Native Mint.         Arctotis.           Geranium.         Snowball.         Marguerite

Lounging Lottie

Possibly the last open fire for the season, Lottie takes pride of place.

Happy 60th Birthday Meg

Tim......berrrrrrrrrr!

Discovering that one of our large pine trees was dying it was recommended to have it felled sooner than later as Radiata Pines are known to become very unstable as they die.

First the sheds under the tree needed to be dismantled, which was on the agenda before the news of the fate of the tree anyway. Rod worked over many sessions to clear the way.

In the history of our time at Ashwell we have never seen this area totally clear as when we first arrived there was a bird Avery and then we added a mower shed (an existing shed dragged down the hill behind the car) and then a potting shed and screened area for plant raising.



The branches are somewhat sparse compared to the other pine, one of the tell tale signs of its health.

Tim and Matt were  great, hard working tree fellas. Despite that we had some junky piles of stuff and make-shift compost heap they successfully avoided them all. Now to get rid of all this timber!

Spring you make my heart sing

A good vine takes time

Not exactly fun in the sun, but the monotonous job of twining the jasmine tendrils was rewarded with immense satisfaction.

I think we have it pretty much covered now. Flowers will be a bonus but not “the be all and end all”.

Connor’s Cotton Comforter

After my sister-in-law’s untimely death in July 1994 Peter gave me all of Fona’s yarn. It was a collection of colours and natural fibres, there were a couple of batches that were of one colour enough for an entire garment but predominantly it was a ball or two or three of various colours within brand ranges, with cotton a clear favourite.

The first project I created using the yarn was ‘Fona’ a colourful floral design representing the remarkable  woman herself. I entered the finished garment in a local exhibition after which Peter was keen to have the jumper. He fabricated a steel arch and arbor for my garden in return.

I also created a small child’s vest which was a donation to the same exhibition for fund raising purposes.

A few years later, using some of the mohair I designed and knitted a colourful geometric number, I gave this to one of Fiona’s dearest friends Bobbie, who I am pleased to call one of my dearest friends also. 

So now 24 years later, I have just completed a blanket using colourful cotton’s for Fiona’s first born grand child, Connor David Kemp. The quantities of the colours were my guide to creating the finished design.

I started knitting in Summer before Connor was born in March, which is unheard of for me, knitting seems to go with winter! Due to the yarn being cotton and the squares small it was not at all an imposition to sit and knit in the evenings- I had a time line to work to - before Connor reached 6 months old. Once the squares were knitted there was a little scope for rearranging for best effect.

I joined the  squares and edged the entire blanket using crochet which was new to me but satisfying to do. The light grey I used for the crocheting I purchase from Bendigo Woollen Mills along with one other colour, the honey-dew green colour, as I needed colour with a quantity enough to complete the design. 



Sewing in the ends was monotonous and took several sessions to complete but worth the effort.

The size should be suitable for a cot blanket or a floor rug for play time but it looks at home here too.


The finished article is ever so light and soft. Created with love, fond memories, sadness, hope, joy and more love.

Now on its way to Auckland NZ a complete surprise to Matt and Lindsay, I hope they all enjoy and treasure this Fiona and Jenny creation.