Nuts and Ginger

On Sunday, we called in to Yandina to go to the Nut, and ginger, factories. We all lined up for our ginger ice cream even though we were cold. Not very often I have ice cream. But I treated myself to one. Probably won't have another one for awhile. Until the next time I visit the Ginger factory. We all brought some ginger products before walking across the street to go to the nut factory, where we spent more money. I'm happy. I came home under budget. Meaning I still had money left over to save for my next trip away.

Birthday Fkowers

One of my daughters, and her family, sent me these flowers for my Birthday. The lilies hadn't yet opened. Looks much different with them open.

I was woken early this morning by the loud, annoyed barking of a dog. I don't own a dog. Who had recently bought a dog flashed through my clouded mind. The noise grew louder. I got out of bed to look out the windows. Couldn't see a dog out the back. I looked out another window and there stood a neighbor holding the leads of two bundles of fluff. Not sure what kind of dogs they were. Still in my nightdress. I ventured down the steps to open the back door. There sat a black, funny looking dog, bailed up in my back yard.

"Shut up," I shouted at the dog. "What are you doing in here?"

Another neighbor stuck his head over the side gate. "Sorry to wake you. The dog belongs to a lady up the road. The dog jumped her fence."

Out I went to help try to encourage it from behind my shed. It wasn't very happy in a strange place with people stopping his escape. The dog was only on loan from the dog shelter for the weekend. The lady went to ring the shelter to come help get it back.

Once everyone left to wait for the person to arrive I slipped inside to change clothes, make a coffee to drink while keeping an eye on the dog. I even had time to have some breakfast. I was taking a pot plant out to the back shed when the dog chase started. One person blocked the back of the side of the shed. The handler went in the front way to encourage the dog to come to her. She slipped the lead over its head. Dog problem solved. She took the dog back to the shelter.

I then watered the plants in the shed. Took some ripe bananas from the bunch over next door for the children to eat. No way can I eat a full bunch. I then watered the plants on the back veranda after I had swept the floor. While I still had some energy, I decided to mow. Silly me. I started with the biggest part. I called a halt because the sun was getting hot. My clothes were wet. I came in to do some computer work.Maybe I'll find a bit of energy to do the front yard in the late afternoon.

This isn't the first time I've found a strange dog in my yard. I had one once before that didn't want to let me into my own yard. He had another smaller dog with him. It was hiding beside the shed. After a lot of going and coming, the pair finally walked out the gateway without me chasing them. I ignored the dogs until I watched them leave then shut the gate.

I could do with a nap but I'm trying to fight against it because I have more writing to do..

My Gold Coast Trip

These were all taken from the balcony of the unit where I stayed. I was on a bus trip to go see "The Outback" show. They covered the story of the horse riders of the high country. This was a very entertaining show. Frog rose from the ground. Fake snow fell. The horses, and other animals were well trained. I loved when the donkey played. Dead. The actors did their parts well. To be able to do what they did in a small space. I like the way they rode toward the picture on the wall to disappear. Too me a little time to notice a door had slid open to let them pass through. And the helicopter which came in through the same wall to the middle of the arena. Well worth the visit. I'm sorry I miss all the previous shows because they were of a different topic.

At Last.

At long last.

I was given this orchid well over twenty years ago by a friend. She died a long time ago.

I don't know how many times this plant nearly died but I seemed to save it.

I have begged, pleaded, and nursed this plant wanting to see what the flower was like.

Finally. I went out into the shed the other day to water my seedlings and found the flower.

After being sick with a virus for over a month, this was a lovely surprise to find such a pretty bloom.

I always thought the flower was suppose be be a purple.

The plant must like where I have placed it.

I praying it keeps blooming, and growing.

Nuts and Ginger.

On Sunday, we called into Yandina to go to the ginger, and nut factories. We all lined up for a ginger ice cream. Don't usually have much ice cream. But I love to have one when I go to the ginger factory. Everyone bought some products. Then we walked across the street to the nut factory. The bus was become more loaded with each stop we made. Luckily, I kept tabs on what I brought so I could find it when we arrived home.

We took a few country roads on the way home. For afternoon tea, we stopped at an old wooden bridge at Miva. First, we went across in the bus, had our cup of tea, then some of us decided to walk across the bridge.

Once, a long time back, trains, and cars, crossed the same bridge. At some stage the railway line was moved, cutting out country towns. So all the branch lines were no longer in use. Which was sad. The country people, the backbone of the nation, were forgotten in the eyes of the hungry, city controllers, of the money. Profits were put before those who had built the country. The bridge is still used by the farmers, and adventurous visitors.

I had not long stepped from the bus with all my luggage, when the Magpies landed at my feet wanting to be given some mince. Their singing alerted the rest of the birds. I had birds at the front, and back, calling for food, like I'd been away more than a week. I'd only been away for two days. And I'd left some out for them. Not my fault if they ate the lot in one sitting.

Maroochydore

We stayed at units in Maroochydore on Saturday night. I had three other women sharing the unit. There was three rooms, two bathrooms,  kitchen and lounge combined. A great place to spend a holiday because there was everything available to cook your own meals. A home away from home. The beach not far away. We had a great view from the sixth floor.

We went out to dinner at night to Alex's Bar and Grill. A great time was had by all. The food, and service was excellent. The food cooked to everyone's satisfaction.

Here are a few shots of the place.

Nambor Garden and Flower Show.

The alarm went off at 4a.m. on Saturday morning. I put my arm from beneath the covers to nearly freeze. I was a little cunning preempting the cold weather. After my shower, Friday night, I put on underwear ready to put on the top layers when I climbed out from beneath the covers.

"Just call me onion," I told my friends on the bus. I had on so many layers of clothes, gloves, feather cap. I was pleased to find the heater, not the air-conditioning, was turned on.

We stopped at Gympie to have morning tea. The chill of the wind went through all out clothes, even in the shade.

This is where we had our morning tea.

Most of the passengers were aged between 70 up to 93 years. I felt sympathy for those who felt the cold.

We arrived at the garden show at around 10 a.m. After such a cold start to the day, we had to peel a couple of layers of coats, and jumpers, off, when we arrived at the grounds. The day had turned out to be a warm, sunny day.

The lady who came to the bus to tell us where the bus had to be parked, and what activities were on during the day. She handed out books with information with a bag to carry some of the thing she hoped we'd buy. We spent over four hours walking around the big area looking at what was on offer. We all meet up to have our lunch.

I brought a few plants but mostly I took photos of what I couldn't buy, or couldn't take home on the bus. Less trouble to carry a camera, and cheaper, when working to a budget for the weekend.

Here are some of the photos.

The fingers are getting too cold to work. And time is running out. I have to go collect my uncle's washing to do, and some shopping. Will continue when I have time to spare.