Redwork Santas

The child is away at school camp this week - biking the rail trail - leaving me all on my ownsome! Don't worry, though - I'll tough it out - it can't be all that bad to have five days of no school runs, no lunches, no homework or nagging about chores, no Signal Hill bike runs, having my meals when I feel like it and eating what I like (and yes, chocolate does count as a meal if you have enough of it!) - yeah, it will be tough but I'll do my best :)) Luckily, though, he was here for his birthday - yesterday! I had planned a bit of a bike ride and picnic for the day, so was keeping my fingers crossed for a sunny day - it delivered! We drove out to the Peninsula, and then parked the car and took off on our bikes. It's been a fair while since I've been on a bike - it was so much fun. It was a pretty flat and easy ride thank goodness - round the waters edge and then across some paddocks ...

... we climbed up a little hill for this view ...

..... and walked down the beach, through the wild lupins - the perfume was heavenly - I think it was a combination of the heat of the day and the sheer volume of blooms that created the most divine scent ......

.... then we headed down here and had our picnic on the beach...

.... we sat for a while in the sun, watched a sea lion make it's slow progress from the waters edge up to the dunes - and then we headed back. Here's my boy - 15 years old and I probably shouldn't call him "the child" any more:))

In between the dreaded painting I've been indulging in some stitching and have finished three of Barb's gorgeous redwork Santa's. They are so sweet, I love them....

I've started to make this one into a little Christmas cushion - this is the front panel.... And I've been playing with my French General fabrics too - started this a wee while back and finished it off last week - just the top, though - it's not quilted or bound yet - hopefully by next Christmas :)

You wanna see what's blooming at the moment - the flowers in this garden astound me - every day there seems to be something new ... these literally bust open two days ago....

...and these as well....

I adore the colour of these irises - what an amazing blue ...

...and what about this gorgeous little thing ...

I let dozens of foxgloves go to seed last year and left all the seedlings to mature - I have foxgloves popping up all over the garden - they are so beautiful and remind my of my Nana's house that I used to visit as a very little girl...

I'm going to be getting all the Christmas decorations out this week - by the time Jake gets back, he won't recognise the place :)

I might just make a start tonight.

See you later

Jenny