Autumn is the most wonderful time of the year...

We have been busy in the garden, cutting back the hydrangas...I plunked them all in a wicker basket to enjoy inside.  My dad grew these for me from cuttings, and with all the rain we've had this year, the flowers were enormous! We are working on creating another 'garden room'. I think I have told you before that we built our house about 10 years ago now, so the garden has been a work in progress...on my wish list is some more beautiful paving, a frog pond, and lots of lovely blooms (I can't plant roses in my back garden because the possums like to eat them, but for some reason they leave them alone out the front - go figure...) 

It is autumn time here in Australia, and my camellias have begun to flower...so I picked a few to float in my favourite silver bowl. I created a little vignette to enjoy in the hallway each time I walk past.

I bought the little fairy picture on a girls' weekend in Sydney a few years back...I fell in love with it at the Paddington Market and just knew she was coming home with me...I love the chippy frame.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Easter...we snuck down to the little house at the beach, where we enjoyed a long weekend with friends...

Delicious autumn. My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking successive autumns - George Eliot

We're going to the zoo...how about you?

It's school holidays here in Melbourne Australia, and the sun is shining, so we packed a picnic lunch yesterday and headed to our beautiful zoo...I LOVE the zoo, and have been wanting to go ever since the two little elephants were born. I wasn't disappointed...we caught them just while they were having a swim in their pool.

Aren't they wonderful? Apparently the females are very social and enjoy each other's company, while the males prefer to be on their own in another paddock...hmmm...sounds familiar...

I just love how Melbourne Zoo has created a whole village to replicate the elephants' home...it really is beautiful...

I also adore the Butterfly House...check out the gorgeous mosaic entrance...I love this fairyland.

And no trip to the zoo is complete without visiting these guys...the gorillas fascinate me. What do you think he's thinking? He was so funny...he let us watch him for a while, then he chose to go and sit behind a tree..."right, that's it, you've gawked at me long enough...get lost"

Monkeying around...sorry...

The girls checking out the giraffes...

Snapshot of my weekend...

A night away in a beautiful bed and breakfast in the gorgeous Yarra Valley....good friends, good food, good wine and lots and lots of laughs...

Just thinking...

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do.

So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover....Mark Twain...

Questions and Answers...

(Me on the front porch circa about 1970)

While browsing through some wonderful blogs recently, I came across this little questionnaire, so thought it might be fun to share here...I would love to hear what answers you would all give...

1. You are constantly seeking....that ever elusive happiness and the answers to all of life's big questions

2. You have a closet full of...op shop finds.

3. You never wear...wow, this is a tough one - I think I've tried everything, although I've never worn leather pants....I did have a white leather skirt and bodice with a matching fringed jacket made for my 21st - ha ha! I know, you're all jealous (Oh my God, what was I thinking?)

(Must have been too hot for the jacket...did I mention it had cowhide on it as well? Ha ha...this is taken at my 21st party which had a white theme - so cool - we had special lights so everyone glowed in the dark...except me! No-one told me leather doesn't glow...the white stitching did though....)

4. Pants or skirts? I'd love to say skirts exclusively, but the fact is I love my stretchy pants and leg-ins at home on the couch and to slop around in. But I wear loads of skirts - it's the girly girl in me!

5. Flowers or chocolate? Chocolate is lovely of course, but I cannot live without flowers - they feed me more.

6. Movies or music? Life would not be worth living without both! I adore watching movies, but music has always been a passion of mine...do you know I learnt the organ and the flute when I was younger? (Not terribly good at either, he hee)...and I would really like to learn to play the harp...we had one playing at our wedding...ooh, and I am always singing. Really....always!

7. Romance or drama? Well, being the drama queen that I am, I shall choose that one, although a good romance is always enjoyable...I loved drama at school, and performed on stage several times - I have a passion for acting...something I want to pursue again...have I told you my auntie is an amazing actress?

(Me circa 1984 - The Wizard of Oz)

8. Pop or rock? Are you kidding me? I love all kinds of music, but I do love to rock out to rock'n'roll!

9. Summer or winter? Hmmm....I was always a summer person, but as I, ahem, get more mature, I can't handle the heat like I once did...and besides, where I live in Melbourne Australia, we have very distinct seasons, and I enjoy each one for all that they offer...I love to curl up beside an open fire with a nice glass of red wine...as much as I love to swim in the ocean in summer.

10. You never leave the house without....my camera, of course...since beginning this little blog, I see everything through 'blog eyes'...it's a wonderful way to be mindful and aware.

11. You always have in your bag...my little sketchbook for doodling in and inspiration when it strikes.

12. Breakfast girl or dinner girl? Well, I love eating out any time of the day! But I think there is something quite decadent about taking yourself out for breakfast...eggs benedict is my fave!

13. Best dinner? Well, that's easy...one that is shared by friends. I LOVE good food (and wine)

14. I enjoy...authenticity in people, good conversation, big belly laughs with my friends...ooh, and red wine!

15. I buy a lot of....books and magazines! Can't get enough of 'em...I am an avid reader and you will often find me with my head in a book...books have always been a source of escapism for me - I could not live without them...

16. I have a thing for...boys who can play guitar and serenade me with their songs...ahhh, see, I am a romantic after all...

17. A pleasure...meeting kindred souls - like all of you wonderful people who bring me such joy with your support, encouragement and friendship - I'm giving you all a big hug!

18. A dream...to travel this beautiful globe, and to meet as many of you as I can on my way...how cool would that be?

19. A wish....happiness and good health for my family and friends...

20. Couldn't live without....my girls - what on earth would I do without them...they are growing into such beautiful, spirited women - I am so proud of them both.

(These two are still cracking me up...)

21. If you could turn back time you would be...a singer in a sultry jazz club, wearing divine frocks and feathers in my hair....ok, maybe that should have been the answer to number 18? I really always wanted to be a school teacher...I used to line up all my toys and play schools for hours!

22. Describe your style in a few words...individual, bohemian, eclectic, artful... although I am governed day to day by my moods.

23. Describe yourself in a few words...complex, spiritual, loving, loyal, layered, passionate, fiery, sensitive, flawed, with a wicked sense of humour...

24. Do you believe in love at first sight?  Ahhhh, I would like to think I do...

25. What does your name mean? I don't know if I have shared this before, but I was named after my mother, Bettina...but I have only ever been Tina - the Italian version of Bettina means "blessed" or "my God is plentiful" - I kinda like that.

(Mum and I circa 2010)

26. Favourite word...Journey, and man, it has been an amazing one...I still have a long road ahead. There have been many twists and turns in my road, but that's what makes life interesting, right?

So, that was so much fun! Did you make it to the end, or did you start snoring half way through? I don't know about you, but I love to get to know someone through their blog.  I hope you all know me a little bit better. Why don't you have a go at answering these too - I would love to read them....

(Newspaper article for our school play...Wendy Rule is Dorothy to my Glinda)

Have a wonderful weekend everyone...ooh, I'm all nostalgic now....

Chicken Soup for the Soul...

Wow, thankyou for all your well wishes on my last post...it's always difficult to know how much to share here, but I really was feeling quite down, and yep, of course I ended up getting sick! The past couple of days have been spent snuggled up on my couch, feeling sorry for myself...but today, the sun is shining, and the day beckoned me outside to play dress-ups in the garden. 

 I have to tell you, I LOVE these boots...they are pretty wild, I know, but they make me smile. When I bought them my dad said "You're seriously not going to wear them out, are you?" Hilarious! I thought they looked extra wild with my tutu! (No, I don't have a fever anymore, I've always been slightly mad!)

I haven't visited the fairy tree for quite some time...gosh, it's quite overgrown down this part of the garden...

I spoilt myself for lunch with my homemade chicken soup, and this bread that I made too - seriously good!

 Sweet little handsewn paper bird I made hiding amongst the windflowers...

A closer look...

And finally, we spent a lovely day on Sunday at my friend's place sitting by a bonfire, eating sausages in bread, patting their horses and riding motorbikes...just look at the sky in the afternoon...bliss.

In the words of Katy Perry "After a hurricane, comes a rainbow".

"Sometimes the only way to stay sane, is to go a little crazy..."

Funny Little Art Doll

Just popping in quickly to show you the little art doll inspired by Mirka Mora...

And to share this for I am struggling with some stuff at the moment...I really need a vacation from my head sometimes!

"People are like stained-glass windows.
They sparkle and shine when the sun is out,
but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed
only if there is light from within" - Elisabeth Kubler Ross

Kitchen garden at Heide Museum of Art...