Mandy in Oz

It's actually a great month in the garden, here in the 'sort-of' subtropics.  I say sort of, because we do actually get a little colder here than what I would consider 'strictly' subtropical - runs of below zero early morning temps in mid-winter aren't uncommon.  So anyway, April in Blackstone - it's not too hot, not too cold, not too rainy or windy, nor too dry.  Sounds kind of bland....but actually, it's quite lovely.  I've been getting some gardening done in fits and starts, nowhere near enough to have my garden looking 'neat', but enough that the plants are outcompeting the weeds.....for now ;) So, onto the pics. tarragon and lavender A wee lizard, sunbaking on the mulch A crucifix? orchid Crepuscule...amazing, disease resistant rambling rose Pretty sure this one is Just Joey Central garden bed, from upstairs Queen Elizabeth (I think) Red Pierre de Ronsard The Sookie monster

Yes, yes, I know - it's been a really long time since my last post :S  Ah well, no point making excuses, it's been a bit of a dry time, creatively speaking.  Though, that's not to say that I haven't done anything crafty, because I have!  I just haven't felt that it was terribly blogworthy ;)  However, the urge to *make stuff* has reemerged, (yay!) and I finally have something that seems to warrant a picture, at the very least. Presenting - the portrait that I've been working on for a very long time....  this is actually my grandfather, back when he was very young.  I'm the keeper of most of the family pictures from my dad's side of the family, so I used an old photograph as a reference picture.  It's not 100% finished yet, but pretty close.  And here is the sum total of equipment used to do this picture.  Yep, that's right - a pacer and a piece of blu-tack :P  That's all that you need ;)  And maybe some fixative, once you've