Angophora forest

Just been away up to Seal rocks, where there was some surf for once! I love the forest behind the sanddunes where there are pockets of salmon pink angophora trees and groves of tropical cabbage tree palms. Here is a sketch of the angophoras. I recently planted some angophoras in my nature strip outside my house - they grow to 25m high, very statuesque! (I hope the council doesn't rip them out!)

Made it to the EB Directory

Puka Puka has made it into the Essential baby directory where 'Entrepreneurial mums share their tips on how to start up and run a successful business,
and be a mum at the same time!'

Leaves, water, shadow

I love this work of Environmental artist Andy Goldsworthy, its called 'Leaf sheet and shadow drifting around and around before foating off downriver' July 1998.
It has all my favourite things- water, leaves and shadows. Goldsworthy collects the bright leaves then stitched them together into a rectangle, he says the work is more about the shadow in the water. Its so peaceful

quiet achiever

Well I am not entirely convinced about growing your own vegetables. I have a few vegetable patches scattered round the garden but it seems I spend alot of money on manure, mulch and seaweed juice for a few veges and herbs that I grow. And when my eggplants are ready to be picked I can pick up a whole box of beautiful fresh eggplants at the markets for $5! Well, I guess it is romantic to go and pick your own vegetables, but I'm not convinced about the economics!
I am very happy about my watermelon vine, its the quiet achiever in the garden. So far it has delivered 3 large juicy sweet watermelons without any fuss. The funny thing is the watermelons are usually tucked away, hidden under large leaves so you don't see them until they are HUGE!

Calder

Whale, 1937, Sheet metal, bolts,and paint. Alexander Calder.


Untitled, 1942. Sheet metal, wire. Alexander Calder.

Here are 2 of my favourite Alexander Calder sculptures.. What a legend, I have several books of his and luckily I have seen a few of his works in the USA. I love the curves of his Whale sculpture, and the blackness! And the compositions.....

Images from Alexander Calder 1898-1976 by M Prather.

Puka puka in Essential Baby

EB showcases the picks of the month. Puka-Puka was chosen as an Editors pick this month, see Essential Baby. Check out their business in profile for some inspiring reading.
Thanks also to Sprout Style for the feature!

Rainbow

This is a rainbow lorrikeet ( named 'fishy' by my son) who migrates to our garden in autumn, stays for winter then flies off somewhere else. I am always fascinated by the irridescence of his feathers, so intensely green!

Kanangra walls

Just been camping for the weekend to a spot in the Southern Blue Mountains, called Kanangra Walls. Beautiful. We camped under snowgums, by a small stream, with lots of rocks for the kids to climb on. I fell inlove with this cute leaf springing out of a snow gum.