A warm summer's evening in the garden

A few photos taken in the soft, clear light of late afternoon ...

The partridge family

A pair of adult partridges had become a common sight in our garden.

But after their absence for a period I began to worry.

Then, joy!

Mum and a dozen babies showed up ... and it was a real thrill.

the chicks are perfectly camouflaged against the stones and leaves

They have their favourite spots in the garden and tend to come out in the early evening.

I've come to recognise mum's call and, with my camera at the ready, can quietly locate them.

The sunny calm

Sunday was a bright, warm day.

But it proved to be the calm before the storm.

Monday morning brought thunder, lightning and a downpour.

the view from our front window

The storm quenched the garden's thirst, which had returned after a week of sunshine.

But not before I'd harvested our first artichoke.

Around the fountain, the irises are eye-catching ... white on tanned skin, violet on boot-polish black and purple stripes with just a hint of gold.

 

Lurking in the shadows, catching the rays of the afternoon sun, a glorious rose.

The first flowers of Spring

Oblivious to human events, the seasons and Nature move forward inexorably.

Here are the first flowers of Spring in the garden of Ellesmere.

A 19th century amphora, a recent purchase for the garden.

The beauty of Nature can comfort us in times of stress.

Viv's room rejuvenated

With the compulsory isolation (lock-down) now entering its fifth week, we've managed to do lots of put-off-til-later jobs.

One of those jobs was applying linseed oil to the floorboards in Viv's room.

I called it Viv's room because it contains many antique pieces from my late Aunty Viv's house, Karslake, in south-east Queensland.

I think the darker floor has really enriched the room and added to its character.

The canopy bed on the right is from Viv's home.  Made of silky oak, it dates from the early 1900s.

The early 19th century cedar chest of drawers and toilet mirror also came from Karslake. They were Hobart made and pre-date the establishment of Melbourne.

In the corner stands a cedar pedestal table from Karslake, with a 1930's radio I bought in France.

The silky oak wardrobe came from the same room in Viv's house as the bed and chest of drawers.

Two additions to Viv's room

I call it Viv's room, after my late aunt who bequeathed me most of the antique furniture in it.

The other day I followed up a Facebook advertisement and bought an old radio.

I gave it a polish and it now graces the cedar pedestal table in the corner of the room.

In the other corner, I've installed a restored hall table/washstand, on which stands a doll reflecting rural life in Provence.

I found the table in poor condition, missing its lower front legs, a shelf and a top.

But it had potential ...

I liked the proportions

I took the lower legs off a discarded table and attached them

To the right of the picture, on the window ledge, is my father's name plate which he had on his bank desk for many years. 

Behind that is the original wooden sign "Lonehand". 

This was the name my grandfather gave to the dairy farm he carved out of the Queensland scrub in the early 1900's.

A closer look at the old doll

I love old pieces which bring to the house so much character and history.

sunrise over Ellesmere

It was more than a fleeting moment.

But it would not last long.

Up early now, as the winter falters and the weather warms.

I'm building two more raised beds in my potager (vegetable garden).

It is exciting to resume work in the garden.