Back with more....Trish, are you finally through with the longest cold in the world? Toss that beanie. Is it like the felt Brownie Scout beanies? I hope you have had a chance to catch up on some good reading. I recommend the Kopp sisters series based on true events in New Jersey, but I'm not sure you can get them in Australia. I highly recommend "Before We Were Yours", also based on true events. Since that has been a best seller (but not a trashy, sensationalized book like so many best sellers), it might be available in Australia. I have an Australian author's book next on my list. It's called "The Dry". I'll bet you have heard of it.

Kristine, I understand why you want to wait to show us your "new" home. It sounds like you've put a lot of thought into it. Didn't you say you will be getting a shed/hideaway? That will be fun! You may well subscribe to Country Gardens magazine, but they have the neatest garden structures they feature every month. I would call most of them cottage hideaways, garden summer houses, but shed seems a little beneath these wonderful little houses. I think I read the word She-Shed in that magazine. That's a good name, too. One of the "sheds" they feature has a split plan like you described. Half the shed is for boring storage, and the other half is for fun.

I'd better end this for now. Here are some pics from about three weeks ago. Diane

My favorite crabapple tree. I wish the blooms lasted longer.

The world's largest Snow Ball viburnum. I live in fear that it will pull up its roots, and come devour us in our beds some night (sort of like Audrey ll).
Good old Brunnera which is still blooming away after about two months.

A two minute bouquet my daughter threw together--voila, a snowball-brunnera and looney wine "glass" bouquet.