Weekending

Reading:

• The Gilded Hour by Sara Donati.  This is a continuation of her Wilderness series, set about 70 years after the last book in that series. However  you don't have to have read them first for the story to make sense.  Set in New York in the late 1800's, it was a really interesting and engrossing read,  with real life historical events in the background (building of the Brooklyn Bridge).  Hopefully her next book will tie up some unfinished threads in this novel.
• A new blog find http://www.amymeissner.com/blog
• This beautiful pile of cookbooks - nearly all middle eastern recipes. I saw a lot of these at a lovely bookshop when I traveled to the city last week.  I always get books from the library first, to see if I really want to buy them, there are a couple here that are very inspiring.  

Sewing:

• I have finally finished Mum's birthday quilt top - unfortunately I can't show pictures of it yet. It is now packaged up, ready for Mum to take to Brisbane for my sister to finish.
• Liberty hexis - I have no idea what I am going to use them for, but I like a slow sewing project especially in the evenings. 

Gardening:

• Between squally showers, I managed to make a start on the planting in this very bare space.  I am going to plant a mix of natives - flowering manuka, sub tropical looking plants - cannas, bergenias, some grasses - mondo, dietes and liriope, and maybe a lime tree in the corner. Of course there will be flowering annuals popped in for colour to over summer. Also plans for some rustic recycled garden art to be made.  At this point it is a somewhat daunting project, and I am despairing of the lawn ever being lush and green again.

Hoping you have all had a lovely weekend too.