Pretty things, and things with wings

Pretty flowers growing wild in The Grampians:

A Banksia, but I don't know which one - there are many different species;

 A red correa, the flowers glowed like little red flames against all the greens;

 Probably a melaleuca or ti tree;

 I haven't seen this shrub before, it doesn't grow up here;

 The floral emblem of Victoria, the pink Common Heath, which I had never seen.

Now for the creepy-crawlies.

There were several of these things with wings the morning we left Narrandera......and they were huge!  This would easily be the length of an adult's palm, but I wasn't going to pick it up to find out.  It was well disguised against the roadway, wasn't it?

While we were away we celebrated our 40th anniversary.  Forty years......it doesn't sound like such a long time when you say it quickly......the traditional 40th anniversary gem is ruby, or garnet for those of us with more modern tastes.  I don't care for rubies because they are closer to pink than red and my trinket box already contains garnet earrings, so my anniversary gift was a pair of gorgeous silver-set black onyx and cubic zirconia earrings.

Work has started on making up the bag brought back from Canada.  It was a kit from Flare Fabrics, and the batik fabrics will hopefully complement my autumn/winter wardrobe.  Quite a bit of cutting of fabrics and linings and fusing of interfacing happens before one stitch is sewn, that's done and now it's up to the stitching stage.

Uke group has started back, and we have a bloke!  A token bloke!  We have had men in the group before but for some reason they don't stay long......perhaps we frighten them away.  One thing is for sure, this bloke will have to learn not to race ahead when we are playing - for instance, "Walking after midnight" should be walking, not running at full pelt.

Things here in the Small Smoke are looking up, because last weekend we had good rain!  Since the rain in January almost no moisture has fallen from the sky, and all the way to and from south-western Victoria (nigh on 1400 kms south of here) there was very little green to be seen.  However, the grass on the hill behind us is getting greener each day now and more rain is forecast for early next week to help it even further.  Local farmers are cautious about being too optimistic, but the feeling is of hope where, until recently, there was despair.

"Bring one of the commonest field flowers into a room, place it on a table, or chimney-piece, and you seem to have brought a ray of sunshine into the place.  There is a cheerfulness about flowers.  What a delight are they to the drooping invalid!  They are a sweet enjoyment, coming as messengers from the country, and seeming to say, "Come and see the place where we grow, and let your heart be glad in our presence."

We were lucky enough to see a place where wild flowers grow, glowing bright against the duller colours of the surrounding bush.

Enjoy your days!