Sunday 26 May 2013

The Angel.


 With Australia being such a relatively young country, we just don't see tombstone inscriptions as old as this one below. I couldn't quite read the name of Patrick's spouse, surely not Belly?

Saturday 25 May 2013

View from Cairn Gorm.

It was a wonderful view, but the howling cold wind very quickly sent me inside away from the viewing platform.

Snow at the end of May!

 There was still plenty of snow on Cairn Gorm, enough for the locals to be planning to ski for a few more days right at the end of the season.
                                                           Snow on a distant hill top.

British Flowers.

 These small daffodils look to me as if they are facing into the wind and it has blown their petals backwards. However it's just another variation I'm sure.
These I think are called Snakes Head Fritillary, and you can see why.  I've never seen them growing before, only pictures in gardening books.

Friday 24 May 2013

Tombstones and Lichen.

 These wonderful patterns of lichen remind me of lacy doilies, though the colours aren't quite right.
These tombstones on a windswept hillside must remain damp on one side as they were all covered with lichen on the downhill side. This is the old cemetery at Blackford Scotland.

Thursday 23 May 2013

Heading into the Hills.

                         Now this is one sign road that I haven't ever seen here in Australia!
    Nor have I seen this animal in a paddock in Australia. Note the snow on the distant hillside.

Wednesday 22 May 2013

Burrell Collection.

The foyer of the marvellous Burrell Collection Museum in Scotland. The museum houses a most amazing collection of artefacts all collected by the late William Burrell. The range of items is astonishing, from ancient Egyptian pieces,  tapestries, armour, pottery, embroidery, stained glass windows and many other things. The building itself is wonderful, enabling the exhibits to be displayed to their best advantage.

Tuesday 21 May 2013

It's a Tardis!

                                                            Spotted in a Glasgow street.

Kilburnie Scotland.

Part of the reason for being in this part of the world was to visit some of the places that feature in my husband.s family history. Kilburnie is where his Great Grandfather was a minister in the 'Red Church'. We initially visited an equally old and far prettier church in error but eventually found the right church, now a nursery school.

Glasgow

Well we made it, Scotland at last! This is the Glasgow Central Railway Station not far from out hotel. A huge place, rather like an industrial
cathedral.

Monday 20 May 2013

What a Wonderful Display!

 I was told that there were over 1000 antique and vintage sewing machines in this window display.
The shop, in Glasgow is a mens' wear shop that I think also does alterations. Standing on a street corner, all the windows are full of sewing machines all beautifully arranged as you can see.

Friday 17 May 2013

Dubai from the Air.


Travel Essentials.

Although my iPad has a hard shell cover on the back I decided to make this soft cover for it too. The fabric is some I bought in 2000, as evidenced by the millenium motifs and text. Up, up and away this afternoon!

Thursday 16 May 2013

Yet Another Huge Concrete Mansion.

Here is another huge hole in the ground getting ready for yet another great grey concrete block of a house. I guess this will be basement parking for 3 or 4 cars, but I don't think that I would like to negotiate that slope up and down every day. No garden space to speak of either, just fence to fence building with what looks like a swimming pool in the back left.

Monday 13 May 2013

Cute Pair.

A funny little pair of all bisque dolls. The one on the right is German dating from around the 1930s, but the one on the left is a bit mysterious. It appears to be old, but I can find no reference to it in any books. It seems an unlikely doll to reproduce, as it is not an expensive item.

Saturday 11 May 2013

Another Door!

                                               Well, it is a door..........to a wombat burrow.

Wednesday 8 May 2013

New Necklaces.

 I hadn't made quite enough beads to string them on their own, but with suitable small glass beads added they make 2 nice new necklaces, not to mention the matching earings.
                 This one I wore out to dinner last night, and received some nice compliments.

Monday 6 May 2013

More Beads.

Another batch of Polymer Clay beads. I wish I could get them to remain spherical, but in making the holes they always end up a bit squashed. I must have known how to do it once upon a time as I have old strings of beads that I have made that are perfectly spherical.

Sunday 5 May 2013

First and Last.

 This is the first tiny patch of frost for the season. It was 2 C this morning, so although it's still onlyAutumn, I don't think Winter is far away.
This is one of the last butterflies of the season, a Cabbage White enjoying the nectar of the Loquot flowers.

Saturday 4 May 2013

Textile from Guatemala.

A friend had several metres of fabric from Guatemala, but it was this border weaving that I really loved. The shading of the colours and the intricate designs are just wonderful.