1. An old family photo - My Little Barrow Boy
My second son, Christopher, aged two .... It is now forty-two years later! At this time of our lives we were involved, as many of the same vintage were, in building an extension to our first home in a bayside suburb of Melbourne. The old wheelbarrow was being used to transport materials around and my son wanted a ride.
2. An outdoor house or garden decoration - Bird House
We enjoy day trips out of Melbourne exploring country towns and visiting interesting and historic properties. We saw this little bird-house at Buda Historic Home in Castlemaine.
'Buda' is an authentic house and garden surviving from the gold rush era in Castlemaine Victoria. Named after Budapest by its Hungarian owner, Ernest Leviny, it was home to the creative Leviny family for 118 years and houses their significant intact collection of furniture, art works and belongings and is surrounded by an historic 1.2ha garden..... Guide to Open House
3. Something pink .... Oriental Lilies
Oriental Lilies are one of my favourite flowers for the house. The perfume is quite sensuous and they last for a long time if one plucks the spent blooms. The stamens, unfortunately, drip dusty yellow pollen which stains soft furnishing or carpets so I always stand the vase of flowers on a polished wood surface, and cut the stamens away after a while.
This photo was taken years ago because I thought I would like to use it for one of my pastel pieces at art class. I never did use it
4. Something or someone cute - Woolly Sheep
This is my little grandson, Oliver. He was two years old in the photo and we had taken him to a Children's Open Charity Day at a beautiful property, Cruden Farm, the home of the late Dame Elizabeth Murdoch, mother of the famous/infamous Rupert Murdoch. Oliver was enchanted by the close contact offered with a lovely woolly sheep in the animal petting enclosure.
"Dame Elisabeth Joy, Lady Murdoch AC DBE was an Australian philanthropist. She was the wife of Australian newspaper publisher Sir Keith Murdoch and the mother of Australian international media proprietor Rupert Murdoch" .... Wikipedia
http://www.myopengarden.com.au/openGarden.jsp?id=651
5. A yellow car - Quintessentially English
We were in England in 2014, home exchanging in The Midlands. As usual we spent many happy days exploring the area and delighting in everything - cities, towns and villages along the Severn Valley,the beautiful countryside, canals ....everyday a wonderful experience and with the magic of home exchange we were able to return to our comfortable house in Wall Heath.
In Shrewsbury, where Charles Darwin was educated, I saw this yellow Mini beside a 15th century half-timbered house and said to my husband "What could be more quintessentially English!"
"With a population of around 100,000, Shrewsbury is the county town for Shropshire, England. Set amidst glorious countryside near to the Welsh Borders, it is one of England's finest medieval market towns. But stuck in the past it is not!
The town centre is packed with timber-framed black & white buildings, steep narrow streets and alleyways.In fact it boasts over 600 listed buildings including the Castle, now a regimental museum and the world-famous Shrewsbury Abbey.
Charles Darwin was born and educated in Shrewsbury and all around you will find reminders of his association with the town.
River Severn at Shrewsbury" - Tourist Guide
6. A glass of something - Beechworth Wine Bar Victoria
"Beechworth is a well-preserved historical town located in the north-east of Victoria, Australia, famous for its major growth during the gold rush days of the mid-1850s." - Wikipedia
http://www.explorebeechworth.com.au/
7. A bird - Little Sparrow
This friendly little male sparrow joined us at our outside table at a local beach-side cafe where we sat with coffee and cake. There were a few more and probably all hoping to find crumbs left behind by patrons.
Sparrows were once so common and we saw flocks of them. There do not seem to be so many around suburban Melbourne any more.
8. A book cover - My Own Book
I wrote about my early life in suburban Melbourne, of my family, including grand and great-grandparents, school days and activies as I remember it all. The book is for my own children and grandchildren. I wanted to write it while i still remembered it all, in case I was to "lose it" one day!
9. Smile - Oliver laughs
My little grandson, Oliver, laughs at a spinning coloured mirror ball.
10. A candid photo of a stranger - National Portrait Gallery, London
This is just one of my favourite places to visit when in London. There is often a special exhibition as well as the familiar galleries of famous faces.
11. An heirloom/family treasure - Silver Teapot
This was passed on to me by my grandmother. it originally belonged to a great aunt and is inscribed
" Presented to Miss S A ....., by her Pascoe Vale Friends. 8.9.12 " so it is now 105 years old.
12. A hobby item - My Pastel Box
One of my many hobbies - pastel art. I've tried all other mediums and this one seems to suit me and give most pleasure. There have been art classes with some wonderful teachers and an opportunity to lose myself in the activity for a few hours but I am not doing much at present!
http://www.pbase.com/barbarajoy/art
