Thanks Mr.Postman

I love getting packages in the mail, don't you? Especially when they're gorgeous sewn items from friends! A Huge Thank you to Teresa, who sewed up a beautiful new laptop cover and heat pack cover when I didn't have the time to do it myself!She also made this gorgeous little pouch, using one of the random embroideries I had sent to her.And look at the little surprise she included for me! The cutest miniature panda bears! Aren't they cute?!Nothing beats having a wonderful friend though. Thanks Sweetie!

Tuesday Treasure

Another natural treasure today!! Beach combing down in NSW (can't remember where) when I was little, my Mum and I discovered these weird looking seaweed-like pods. We knew what they were right away because Mum had bought one years beforehand. Port Jackson Shark eggs!
Each female lays 10 - 16 eggs during winter and spring, anchoring them into rocks in shallow waters no more than 5 meters deep. They are screw-shaped and are literally screwed down into the rocks!The Port Jackson shark embryo develops in these spiral egg cases over 12 months. When the pup hatches out they're only 24cms long, and they head to nursing grounds in amongst long sea grass.Port Jackson Sharks are amazing, gentle creatures. You can read all about them here.

Birdcage Weekend Sew-In

Thanks to Jenny and Wendy for hosting the Birdcage sew-in this weekend!! Did you join in the fun? I really enjoyed it, but didn't actually sew my birds...I had these lovely birdcage ornaments that I picked up in the after Christmas sales last year, and knew they would be just perfect!
But after searching through some boxes and finding them, I realized how small they were and knew I couldn't sew a bird thatwould fit properly.So my three little blue birds are made from polymer clay with seed beads for the eyes, and are hung in their cages with fishing line. They turned out fabulously, and are so tiny!!Much better than empty bird cages, don't you think?! Go to Jenny's here to see who else participated in the sew-in and what fabulous birds they created!

WIP Christmas Quilt

I have in the making a small Christmas Quilt that has nine embroideries. So while I haven't shown anything, and it may look like I'm doing nothing crafty, I have been stitching up a storm! Here's a sneak peek, although this embroidery is finished now and I'm onto the next one -Have you seen the new Christmas fabrics at Spotlight yet? Oh how I love them!! I went out and bought myself several meters of these ones, as I couldn't resist! Look at those owls!!The poinsettia print might be used for my Christmas quilt, we'll just have to wait and see!
I also made a banana cake the other day with some over ripe bananas, but before I could take a picture, half of it vanished!!Oh well, at least I know it was yummily appreciated!

Tuesday Treasure

Oh my how the week has flown past! Another Tuesday, another of my natural treasure's to show you!
This is a small set of shark jaws that my Aunt bought for my Mum many years ago.I've no idea what kind of shark these belonged to, but those teeth are still razor sharp and there are quite a few sets of them -These 25cm jaws could certainly cause some damage if you were bitten by them. Imagine what 4.5 meter tiger sharks (off of the Sunshine Coast at the moment) could do!!

Snappy Friends Challenge

These pictures proudly brought to you by this months Snappy Friends Challenge theme words, Clock and Orange.
This clock I bought way back in my mid teens as I was going through a "gothic" stage. My room changed to candles and black drapes, along with this large clock. It never worked.Once my goth stage was over, I went to give it to charity but my Mum snapped it up, fixed it, and now it's displayed above my parents TV cabinet. She says it's just big enough for them to see the time on!

I'm making pumpkin soup for dinner tonight, so this is my Orange photograph along with a recipe for yummy pumpkin soup that the whole family will enjoy!

Pumpkin Soup

• Peel and de-seed half a pumpkin, and cut into chunks.
• Put in a pan with enough water to just cover.
• Simmer until tender, drain thoroughly and puree in a blender or food processor.
• Dilute the puree to the consistency you like, using water or milk with a touch of added cream and ricotta cheese.
• Grate in a little nutmeg and season lightly with salt and pepper.
• Warm through to serve.

Enjoy!

Tuesday Treasure

A very quick post this week, as I have a hair appointment in half an hour. More from Nature's Treasure Trove, my collection of snake skins! (don't freak out, they can't hurt you!)

Click on picture to enlarge!

Jar number one on the left contains a whole skin from my friend Justin's black headed python, Sprocket. Jar two contains a whole skin, including intact head, of an eastern brown snake which my Dad brought home from work for me. Jar number three contains 2 almost whole skins from another two of Justin's snakes, Pebbles and Rocky the spotted pythons. Jar number four contains a heap of other skins from Justin, which are from Sprocket, Rocky, Pebbles, Nyoka and Trousa. Jar number 5, the small one in front, contains remnants of skins I have discovered around the place, from the backyard to the botanical gardens to my church.
If you'd like to see pictures of the actual snakes (Nyoka the Green Tree Python is the cutest little thing!) let me know along with an email address and I'll send you a picture or two.

911

Nine years and it still seems like yesterday. I can remember exactly where I was and what I was doing on that terrible day, a day when the world showed her true colours.I send you my thoughts and my prayers as you all mourn the loss of the innocent and celebrate the heroics of those who gave their lives trying to save others.

"Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it." -Helen Keller

Tuesday Treasure

Most of the treasures I have shared with you so far have been man made, but I do have quite a few that are from nature. I'll start them off with this gorgeous Weedy Sea Dragon I found when I was about 3 to 4 years old.

Click on picture to see it properly!

My parents and I were visiting my brother at Woolongong University, and Dad took me for a walk on the beach where I found this guy washed up and wet upon the sand. We decided to leave him behind some rocks near the entrance to the beach where we could find him again. When we told my Mum about him, she couldn't believe we had left him behind and made us go back to fetch him. She dried him out and to this day he sits in a collection of sea shells and other dried sea creatures in a display cabinet. He's about 30-35 cms long.
Here's a picture of what a Weedy Sea Dragon looks like alive and swimming -I also thought I'd show you this little guy I found at Yeppoon beach when I was around 12 years old.He's only a baby sea horse, poor thing, only 5-6 cms long. I dried him out myself and he sits in the collection along side Mr. Weedy and a few more store bought sea horses.

Spring has Sprung...

...The grass has rizz
I'm gonna show you how my veggie patch is..!
Look at my bumper crop of tomatoes starting to ripen -Check out the macadamia flowers, both white and pink! -My butter beans are producing flowers and bean pods! Yummy!!! -The Chilli's -The passion fruit is still producing flowers and fruit. It hasn't stopped producing for over a year now, there are always flowers and fruit on this vine! -The sweet potato has produced flowers and it's tendrils are getting wild! -The strawberries are ripening in their hanging pot -The cashew nut tree is producing flowers in abundance -Even the paw paw tree has flower buds starting to appear -And the custard apple tree too! -What's your garden looking like this Spring?