LONG OVERDUE...this 'n' that!

I won't beat about the bush, but I'm not very motivated with anything at the moment.  Cold gloomy weather & hitting a big 0 birthday this year is leaving me a little perplexed..............
Anyhow, photos have been happening, so let's have a little catchup.

Hubby has been busy in his 'shed'.  The above are the animals he has cut for a pull-along child's toy.
I'll pop on another photos once finished along with a lovely train he's making too.  These along with some of his pens are to be sold at a small local craft shop.

Above are a container made from a Banksia, which could store pens or paintbrushes & a leaf bookmark fashioned from very fine timber.  I'm keeping the bookmark!!

A day out saw us watching boats on Port Phillip Bay at Williamstown on our way to DD's as a surprise, though the surprise was on us, as they weren't home.  Did what we did, & had a spur of the moment day out.😞

 A large ship,  making it's way out of the bay, along with some very friendly seagulls.

A walk along the foreshore had us crunching over all these shells.  My goodness, it is amazing where they must all come from.

In the garden.............

 Making an appearance in my pot, are these little bulbs, which I call tiny pink bluebells.  I'm surprised they are still there as the birds dug quite a few up during summer.

One of my hellebores with lots of buds.  This is usually the first one to flower.

A few jonquil bulbs I popped in the corner of a bed have also made an appearance again & have buds.
I wasn't sure how the garden would survive last summer's heat & drought conditions, but looks like we made it through.
Still in the garden, we've been having some different visitors. 

Although I've seen him before, this year he has come more often & is now bringing a friend.  Hard to capture a good photo, but this is a grey butcher bird, (Cracticus torquatus) & reminds us of a small kookaburra in shape.  Hope we see a few more of our native birds over time.

One Monday morning I did some baking................

                                              A ginger loaf & chocolate peppermint slice. 
Whilst making these I put on some LP records & bopped away in the kitchen along with cooking.

Taking a walk one afternoon, we discovered this fungi. It is autumn, so we see plenty at the moment, but not many this HUGE.

                                                                         The big one.

                                                                       A cluster coming up.
There was once a gigantic gum tree on this spot at the corner of two streets & the council cut it down.
So many people were devastated, as it was like a landmark & I wish I'd taken a photo of it at some time.
And last...............

Last week I had this cut off to shoulder length.  I was having trouble reaching the bottom of it.
Much tidier, but still keeps my ears & head warm in the cold weather.  😉

OK, enough from me.  Hope to be back later in the week with a "quilty" catchup post.
Off to put the heater on, ring little brother & try to do some hand sewing after tea with my poor hands full of chillblains.
Have a great week all, take care & huggles.
Susan.