Chilly Chicken Love...

Had an operation on Monday

(nothing serious)

but it has required that this week be tackled

a whole lot slower...

... So I have been nursed by Hubby in a fashion that makes 

Florence Nightingale look mean and uncaring...

... tending to my (rather odd) needs, requests, 

whims and of course ...

... tea addiction - as it turns out no operation

can cure this affliction ...

Still - who cares about that when you know that Autumn 

is lurking (which means I'll be wearing my woolies soon!)  and ...

... that tea does in indeed taste better ...

... the cooler the weather. Yes Sir.

I was ecstatic to find myself in slippers and a jumper

this morning due to an overcast sky and a definite chill in the air.

You know what this means don't you?

That's right!! Autmum is here which means ....

(All those crazy summer lovin

 people block your ears now)

Winter is around the corner!!

Whoop whoop!

My meteorological proof lies in the very obvious lack 

of greenery on the branches of our Almond tree.

When she sheds she SHEDS and, although the adjacent Poplar has 

hesitated to affirm the cooler season's approach I find that 

our dear Prunis Dulcis can be trusted.

It's funny that certain plants in the garden bare such testimony to a dry 

and warm summer whilst others 

... look rejuvenated and ready to burst forth into bloom.

Speaking of rejuvenated ...

.... look what I had for breakfast this morning!

It starts off looking like the above photo....

... but then ends up looking like this!

And yes ... I know, I know... looks rather dodgy, but let 

me assure you it's quite yummy.

Papaya, Banana, Lemon, Mint and Kale.

In a blender with filtered water to achieve a "smoothie"

consistency - most nutritious and just what the

body needs right now.

So with liquid breakfast in hand I head

off to the chicken run to collect eggs.

My beautiful girls are always so happy to see me.

This is Lilith - she loves a cuddle.

I love you Lilith.

Here she is with Maris - who does NOT like a cuddle - 

but who does apparently LOOOVE Papaya.

Tropical chooks .... go figure.

Dear sweet, rather daft Daphne ... (but Shhh I never say that in front of her!)

... is still broody - here she is giving me the evil eye

because I need to get Lilith and Maris's eggs out from underneath her...

Once I've managed that she usually comes off the nest for 

a quick catch up with her sister Roz ...

(and just in case you're wondering - Yes... our chickens

are named after all the ladies in Frasier)

... and then a quick feed of oats (her favourite)

before heading back to the nest to keep her (now missing)

eggs warm - should they hatch... which they wont because we

don't have a Rooster. Try telling this to Daphne... Hah... all she does

is cluck away frantically until she is back in the laying box.

I love you Daphne.

And I love you Roz...

And even though you don't like cuddles - I love you too Maris.

What's your week been like peoples?

Your weekend? Any plans?

Mine - Blues and Roots Festival in Fremantle - sans any alcohol...

(should be VERY interesting!!)

Have a good one peoples!! 

Crazy Room

We call our guest room the "crazy room" for a number of reasons.

1 - It's not attached to the house.

2 -  It had a sloping, leaking, cracking floor when we first bought the house.

(Until we fixed it that is)

3 -  It's got at least 5 rats (and their young ones) living in the roof.

4 - The rats are the size of small dogs.

5 - The door shrinks in Summer and expands in Winter (!#*?)

However last weekend we tackled some of the not so crazy quirks - like hoarding, spider webs and 

mess and mayhem.

Young Prince uses it as room to hang out with friends and play games.

Hubby uses it as an "escape to watch sport" room.

I use it to.. um... dump stuff.

WELL NO MORE.

Now it's a place for a travellers to put up their feet and rest awhile...

.... perhaps enjoy a tray of tea and sweet treats 

whilst soaking in the memories of days gone by.

Should you choose to stay at the Chateau Du Craziness you will see we have opted for 

sensible decor and a restrained palette...

The rare and expensive art collection
(2 bob each from the thrift store)

 sits comfortably amongst the travellers luggage and collected wares.

Here we have a flag that was purchased from an antique store in Guildford.
First flown at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

Made from a fabulously strong canvas.

Complete with original mounting cord and clasps.... sigh

(Currently my favourite item in the whole house - possibly the world)

Travellers need to know where they are going and...

...where they've been...

So we have included maps for your convenience.

Never fear your familiars are near....

... all you need to do is relax and ...

..... lie back on the bed.

Let the breeze caress you.

Read a book, take a nap... day dream.

The flies and mosquitos wont bother you,

thanks to my homemade insect screen.

(burlap and lace curtain off cuts - 5 dollars all up)

Amazing what a difference a few hours of love can do for a space.

Finished off with a bit of my own hand made bunting and 

Voila! You have a... less than crazy, Crazy Room.

Now foolish me forgot to take a few before shots so you can compare the two.

Trust me.

The end product is waaaaay better

Even if I do say so myself.

Hope your weekend is chugging along happily?

Hunting and Gathering

So we are on a hunt.

A real hunt - for an animal - dead and stuffed

He will do nicely - right size - perfect expression...

Then again he's rather impressive isn't he??

Or perhaps he's the one for the job?

Better yet why settle for a bust when you can get the whole beast!

Just in case you think I have gone completely and utterly BONKERS... these are all animals preserved by a man named Michael Buzza 

(and his Museum of Taxidermy is open to the public) 

Situated in the picturesque town of Guildford and housed within an old cinema. 

I had NO IDEA and of course you can imagine how unusual this sort of thing is in well...

Suburbia?

Michael practices ethical taxidermy and only casts animals that have died of natural causes.

(Amen to that)

Hubby and I were here sourcing a specimen for the studio. 

We fell in love with the space though. The architecture of the old cinema is just so sublime and for some strange reason these stunning creatures look quite "at home" in this setting.

Personally I am against hunting for sport and (having been a vegetarian for more than half my life) I can see why some like minded people would be mortified to find themselves in such a place.

I on the other hand think it's wonderful to have the ability to savour a beast I could never dream of approaching, and in turn honour the magnificence of its creation.

Really and truly I loved it.

When you go to larger Natural History Museums you do not always get the chance to see these creatures up close and in this case more than half of the animals were not behind a glass wall/cabinet.

On top of that Michael is passionate about Wildlife Preservation.

His collection is truly impressive and you can even hire the venue out for functions!!

No need for conversation starters or entertainment here peoples!

"Excuse me where's the host?"

"Oh just there next to the BISON!!!"

So if you find yourself in Guildford - check it out. Really you must.

On the downside - a real specimen was not within budget so Hubby and I had to keep hunting (pardon the pun) for something as ... interesting 

..... and um... unique?

I'd say we did pretty well wouldn't you?

No trophy Buffallo but hey... made from real shells!

They do have a sort of "natural history" feel about them.

I stress ... sort of

After quite a bit of thrifting we had built up an appetite and decided to go to the Rose and Crown for a pub lunch & a pint - as you do on a Monday arvo!

We sat outside - secret closet POMS that we are - looooving the gloomy, rainy, overcast weather.

Next time we come though we are definitely heading for their cellar bar!

With a fascinating history (erected in 1841 when the colony of Western Australia was little more than a decade old!) and built by convict labour  - it's definitely worth the drive north.

Some say it's haunted but I'd still stay in one of their Deluxe Hotel Rooms - if anything to spend the evening in this bar!

Lucky for me I am able to return home to my own kind of cosy...

Candles...

& Chocolate Cake

So I'll pop the kettle on...

and savour the warmth that is my home...

Filled with it's own kind of wildlife displays.

See you soon peoples.