Nana's Song

While unpacking and sorting I came across this sheet music that has a real story to it.  The song "In Your Green Hat" is one my grandmother sang to us and I have remembered the chorus always.

 Over the years whenever I was in any antique shops of fairs and saw sheet music I would always look through hoping to find this particular song.

Then one night I was watching the "collectors" on the ABC where the programme was on old music and lo and behold on top of a box of music sheets there was "In Your Green Hat".  After contacting them I was put in touch with a kind gentleman in Tasmania, who was only too happy to provide me with a copy.

The original was printed in green, but I am happy to have the black and white version.  Has anyone ever heard this song.  It holds such lovely memories for me of Nana. 

The words of the chorus go:

"In your green hat you're beautiful,

You're the best dressed girl in town,

In you're green hat you're wonderful

from your shingle top all the way down.

You're like a fashion show from head toe

What a picture what a face and what a chapeau'

Here is a photo of my Nana with grandfather and my mother as a little girl...and of course Teddy.

Off to the Gold Coast.

Storm over Palm Beach...hope the weather is fine for me.

Tomorrow I am off to the Gold Coast to go to sons birthday party (see earlier  blog post).

I am not sure whether I will be allowed to use his super doopa new more bells and whistles than ever before computer this time, so I will be off the air for a few days.

For my birthday I received some  gift cards, and Daughter in Law and I are going shopping to see if we can spend them.....they will all be for clothes so I wont have much time to check my mail.

When I get back next Wednesday I will have some good news for 3 people.  I have drawn a giveaway for all the wonderful blogger friends who have supported me with such love and comfort and encouragement since I posted the "Sad Days Ahead" . As  all the comments came, I began writing down all the names of my cyber friends who commented, and when my hit counter went over 1000 I got someone to draw 3 names for me.

So come back next week.  I cant say anything just yet, because I have emailed the recipients and am waiting to hear from them with their snail mail addresses. All I will say is the First drawn is from Queensland, Australia and the second two are from America.

See ya! have to go and do a "having fun packing of bag"

Today a good memory to have

My Grandaughter, Misty,  seen here at about 17 holding her neice, Brianna, who is now 17 herself, rang me the other Night, and said "Nan, Nan, I have to tell you something before I forget and it is too late"  (Sounded like she thought I was so old I was about to cark it!)

Expecting to hear she might be pregnant again, instead she went on to thank me for the good times they had as children because I was part of their lives, and how much she valued the memories of the time I took to be a support for their mother, and all the fun and outings they had with me.

I always thought they considered me the wicked witch of the west because I made them behave themselves so it was so nice to have her tell me that.

What a lovely girl....she is too....a mother of two children, with a darling husband who I think she should hide so no one else can find him and want him.  They are such a nice family.  Her little girl is so cute and has been here more than once before I think They have a pigeon pair with their little boy, and now their family is complete.  They are a really precious family.

Home Again Home Again Jiggedy Jig

A very tired Nan and great Nan is home again, and I must say I do like the big smoke when I am there, but it is always good to be home among one's own possessions.

Well it was straight from the bus to Ella's house and I was not disappointed. She is absolutely adorable, and the child of adoring parents who do not let her out of their sight. AND....wait for it....drum roll....she is a sleeping baby - sleeps and sleeps. How lucky are they. No matter how much handling she got.....because of course her Grandma and Great Nana had to have a nurse.....she slept on. Even when Grandma stretched her legs and whispered "come on Ella wake up" all we got was this smirky smile which said..."You've got buckleys Grandma until I am ready"

One thing was really funny how the parents "hovered" and looked ever so panicky when they saw how Grandma and Great Nana handled the baby...I am sure they thought we were too rough with her....they just did not realise how many babies both of us have handled in our day. Never mind she is only a week old and the timidity they have handling her will soon go away, but I think the term "doting Daddy" will be with her forever.

Ella Rose

Then wonder of wonders when she was good and ready the eyes opened and they are big and deep blue. Needless to say there are a lot more pictures. But they will keep until another time.This is a photo of Ella with Aunty Bree when they came to visit.

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Jack Said...

My Dad Jack

When I was looking round the blogs, (some time in the last couple of days) I came across a blog where the author mentioned a saying but could only remember the last part.... The last part of the saying was "Master of None. Now I knew the saying because my Dad quoted that all the time when we were kids....but it had slipped my mind.

Travelling into town in the car this morning..wallah!!! the rest of the saying came to me.. however, now for the life of me I cannot remember and have not been able to find the blog where I saw it.

So whereever I saw it and promised to post the rest when I remembered it here it is.

"Jack of all Trades and Master of None"

So where ever it was, I hope you call by or perhaps someone else recognises the blog and can pass this on.

Now I am off to re-pack my bag for my visit to see Ella in the morning. Be back Tuesday.

Last walk

These posts are all back to front. They start 3 down with the arrival of the visitors. This is the last one before they left.

After breakfast on Monday took the visitors for a walk down to our Dam. This is outside the dog fence round the house so leashes were the order of the day for the puppies. Which was just as well because you can see them straining to get away. That is because they had spotted some hares and rabbits which they would love to get at.

I thought this was a nice photo of them all on the grass just above the dam. Sorry the tale of this weekend is all back to front...but I was too busy to post them as they happened. The visit was all too short, but very enjoyable.

So Much to tell

So much happened in such a short time that I am going to make separate posts rather than a long boring one.
They came bearing gifts....Yvonne knows I love this make-up range so either she or Ali bring this back from London for me. I just wish I could buy it locally

.This was for Frank. Bill is a true blue Scot and knows that Frank likes a good whiskey which makes DH very easy to buy gifts for.
Son also knows that we like our seafood, so whenever he comes up always brings us lovely fresh prawns, and of course oysters which we both enjoy.

I curried the prawns for dinner last night, and what was left of the oysters we had for an entree....lived very high this weekend will have to diet for weeks.

Visitors Arrived

Late, but better late than never.

Traffic was bad and delayed our visitors, but eventually they arrived safe and sound. It was so good to see them. This is my big son.

First job was of course feeding the puppies, and a run round the paddock with Ali after being in the car for over 3 hours with only a short stop on the way.

Then it was feeding the adults. Was so excited forgot to take a photo of us at lunch, which was my all in together chicken salad.
Afterwards we went for a walk and showed Ali's parents round the property. They were most impressed with the peacefulness of it all. This was taken in our little bit of rainforest.

While the pups enjoyed a play in the open spaces.

Tea and bikkies on the patio, and it was then time to prepare dinner.. son is a great cook so he cooked and I supervised and helped with veges. I made the dessert which was a berry cobbler.
Son cooked the roast dinner, and I was able to enjoy the company of the visitors. He made a delicious "mash" of carrots and parsnips, with pinches of nutmeg, mixed spice and cumin to go with the roast, as well as roasted potatoes, sweet potato and pumpkin. The greens were delicious bussels sprouts (which I did not see the ingredients) broccoli, peas and beans.

Truly a feast and I had visions of eating leftovers for a week. That was not to be though with all having healthy appetites.

Ella and Grandparents.

Doesn 't this first time Granny look excited. I really don't believe after seeing this photo that she will sit in the background. Her face is just sparkling. Tracey is my youngest daughter, and if how her and her DH children turned out is any example, this little one it will grow up to be just the same.
These Grandparents are just the sweetest calm people, and Ella will be loved to bits by both of them. The are very blessed to have a mingled family where even though there is a mix of natural and step, if you see them all together you would never know.

Tracey was at the birth and she said Ella's Dad Michael (Mika) said in an amazed voice..."You did this for me Mum....I think this birthing process has left him in awe of women and the lengths they have to go through to have children.

I love being at their dinner table when everyone is visiting...it is such an enjoyable experience. It is the atmosphere Ella will grow up in.

Grandpa looks a bit nervous though

Ella takes after Great Grandma Shirley sleeping with her mouth open. They did not mention if she was snoring as well.

I believe there are lots more photos just waiting to be downloaded from the camera when they get a minute so my blog could get a bit boring for a while.

Still do not have any photos of the proud parents.

Introducing Ella

Well Here she is at last. But they only sent one photo from the camera phone...it came in after I had gone to bed. How mean is that! Maybe they are just going to give me a card with the lot when I go down. ....or maybe they are just going to dribble them into me so I dont drive everyone mad. Cant wait for Friday to be able to hold her.

I dont know what the procedure is elsewhere, but evidently the mothers are discharged from Hospital after only a couple of days....but a nurse comes to visit them daily to check that they are ok and the baby is feeding etc.....and after a week of that the nurse calls 3 times a week until they are satisfied the mother and babe are ok....wow that is service....or was it better to have a week or so in hospital after the birth and learn to bath and feed while enjoying a good rest and leaving the crying baby to the nurses.

Ella is Here at Last

Ella Rose arrived about 11pm on Friday 13th August 6 lb 13 oz just a nice weight. Txt said I was a g.g.granny and she was beautiful, which I firmly believe because all babies are beautiful.

Now my baby daughter is a granny.... how old does that make me feel...the parents are good...but did not expect that much pain...Photo of the proud parents.

Now waiting for the photos which I will post as soon as I get them. But here are photos of my baby daughter the granny when she was a baby. I have seen the scan picture and Ella looks a lot like this we will have to see how close I am.....not biased much am I?

Ella's Grandma when she was a Baby

Look Who's Coming to Dinner

Well I am almost organised, still have a few things to do but am not panicking . Vacuuming and mopping of the tiles and a couple of other fiddly jobs still need to be done this morning . Have a meeting Saturday afternoon, and some last minute shopping so not much time for jobs. Im only mopping the tiles for show, know it wont stay clean for long.

There are a couple of holes in the dog fence which need to be closed so the wallabies can't get in while Chloe and Beau are here....poor wallabies would be frightened to death at the sight of those two big monsters.
In between everything else I did manage to dig some plants for their garden (even though I am under strict instructions not to fill their car with "stuff" to take home with them). There are of course the lavender plants which I have struck for them, so they needed a couple of Iris and some Dahlia bulbs and........oops need to put that into two bags so they look smaller.

Chloe and Beau have grown a fair bit since this photo, I knew they were going to turn into horses! They like me because I always have treats and lovely juicy bones for them.
Not that it makes them any more obedient, like the rest of the family they see me as a soft touch too.

By the way the parents and grandparents are coming as well. DIL's parents are over from the UK on holidays. Her mother is Australian born, but went overseas to follow her career as an opera singer and married a lovely Scotsman.

Surprise for me

On Mothers day way back in May I was away, and although my daughter came to visit me there, they bought me a card and said the gift was too heavy for me to carry round on trains and buses. I had forgotten all about that, but when daughter turned up yesterday the first thing she did was hand me this beautifully wrapped package that weighed a ton. It was my belated Mothers Day Gift and when I opened the parcel this is what it was.

Needless to say today I am trying it out and at present have a lovely oxtail stew simmering away for dinner tonight with lots of mash. ( I was a child of the depression and post war years and grew up with this type of food)

Daughter (grandma to be) and DH get along famously and are always joking and insulting each other. Here is a photo of them together. She was very lucky all the wallabies put on a good show for her benefit...even the little one came in and she was tickled pink.
I felt like locking the gates to stop her going home it was so good to have her visit. She even cut back the passionfruit vine for me.

Visitors Coming next weekend

Next weekend we are getting a visit from eldest son and his wife whose parents are currently visiting from the U.K. and want to come and see where we live. Her mother likes ginger and chocolate and I managed to find a box of nice chocolate coated ginger, and at the markets found this home made rum and raisin dark chocolate fudge for her. It smells yummy.

Another lady makes beautiful soaps. I have been buying these for about a year and they are lovely...far superior to any from the supermarkets or chemist.
I use the olive oil one a lot, but yesterday bought a gardenia and a lavender for the visitors.
After using the olive oil soap my skin feels lovely and soft. One thing I like about them is that they last for ages (so long as you dont leave them where they are permanently wet) and don't crack and go horrible or dry your skin out.

Not Long Now

I left the sewing machine out on the table, and made a lining for this basket for Ella. I have always like little Teddies and I feel it is now time to pass them on so Ella is the one. They will be much better giving her some pleasure in the future rather than sitting a box in my cupboard.

It is almost time for Ella to be born 9th of August is the date, but it seems that things might happen any time soon. We are so looking forward to her arrival, and I just hope that I get photos soon. I could end up owning shares in the bus company because I can see me making a few bus trips in the coming months.

Ella's Stuff

I got busy yesterday when we came home from shopping . I had found some nice cotton to make sheets and pillow cases for the baby cradle. From some cheesecloth in my stash made half a dozen burp cloths as well. So now these are ready to put into the box with my tiny teddy collection and children's books that I am handing down to Ella.

This morning I cleaned the dust off, wiped down and polished the family baby cradle, ready for it to be collected soon. My Dad found this cradle originally at a second hand auction in 1960 just before my 3rd daughter was born. It was painted green and pretty horrible, but he pulled it to pieces and stripped the paint off and stained and varnished all the bits before rebuilding it.

I remember when that baby was tiny this cradle was kept beside our bed at night so I could just reach out and give it a little rock.....that was after I had checked that all her needs had been met, and she would just drop off to sleep again.

Castors have been added to make it easier to move from room to room. It is getting a new mattress, and I have the net soaking at this moment. Almost every baby in the family since 1960 has slept in this cradle, including Ella's grandmother.

I couldn't help myself in the shops yesterday, and picked up a couple of little outfits and some baby nighties. I haven't felt clucky about this baby yet, and now it is catching up with me.

Her father is my grandson, and the loveliest person you could wish to meet. I received an email last week with a picture of the latest scan, and Ella has the prettiest lips...they were so clear. Looks like she will be a 3rd generation princess.

Visitors on Sunday

Sunday brought a lovely visit from family. Every time the girls come, they are more grown up. The family, like many these days, are very busy so a visit is always a treat.

Both parents work, and the girls lead such full lives, so visits have to be fitted in between their music, sport, dancing, and of course sleepovers. Ash and Lissy have lovely natures, and are a credit to their parents. One of the many good things about them is they are so easy to feed....none of this "I don't eat this or that" which makes catering so easy.

Because their mother grew up on a farming property, the girls have been encouraged to enjoy and appreciate nature. That means whenever they do come, a hike over the property next door is obligatory after a hearty lunch...

Behind them in the photo the land slopes to the left up to quite a big hill along the front of the forest. This is where they aim for, then back along the ridge to behind where we are. Even though the return is down hill, they return exhausted and hungry again.

They have not seen the grass in the paddock as high as this before, so there were a few scratches...thank goodness it is winter and the snakes are asleep. ...otherwise I would have been panicking.

Instead of climbing through the top of the fence which is barbed wire, they worked out a better way ...get pop's step ladder and put it over the fence.

The visit was long enough to see our wallabies come for a feast of the green grass and a drink, which meant photos. However, not long enough to see the baby rabbits...which waited until all was quiet before venturing out into the garden.

Visitors

When the puppies arrived, they were so excited to have so much space to run round. They are very well looked after animals, and do get taken either to the beach or park twice daily for exercise, but having all this space at home was really something new...and food was always handy.

Beau the male, is still only 8 months and is still "in training" but Chloe, the princess, is very well behaved and obedient.....I made sure I had a supply of lovely juicy bones for them.

I went to sleep in my chair on Saturday night, and was woken by Chloe (the Rottweiller) nudging me and then I had to follow her and here was Beau on the lounge....I think Chloe is a tittle tattler. (But thank goodness I had had the forethought to cover everything with old sheets. Getting light covered dog hair off the suede lounge would not have been funny

I'm Back!

Well I am back, had a lovely time, enjoyed every minute of it. Being with the family did my heart good. I was made to feel really special by everyone, and that was nice.

Think I have come back 10pounds heavier though, with all the lovely food....from a greek feast, with citrus lime tart for dessert, to the most yummy Irish stew, to say nothing of all the other bits inbetween.

Did manage to get to a market, and found a bead stall...thought I was in heaven...Could not buy much, because I already had the kitchen sink in my suitcase (well it felt like it). I always travel prepared for anything, and consequently have come home with a very sore shoulder.

Here is a photo of the parents of my new great grandaughter. They are a lovely couple. I am so thrilled for my Mika, and hope he makes sure his little girl eats all her veges....he hated veges when he was little and it was a running battle with him to get him to eat the good stuff.

Exciting News

Had some news yesterday, my awaited new great grandchild is to be a girl....Aren't her mother and I going to have some fun buying girlie stuff....and I have a free hand with colours now for the cupcake quilt...I am looking forward to that...so guess now I have an owner for the horse.

Here is the grannie and daddy to be. Will take a better pic of the new mum when I am visiting next week. She is really tiny and petite and he is blonde and 6ft tall. He is the loveliest person, takes after his mum.

So this will be ggg no. 5 I think...well with 6 children, 4 step, 19 grand, how can I remember the next lot exactly....someone asked me once how old one of the grandchilren was, and my reply was " cant even remember half their names how can I remember how old they are...just have a good book with lists and dates I refer to.

Daughter and I will be going shopping with her for "stuff"...I can see pretty dresses...and might get other daughter to make nighties and stuff I can embroider....can see my new underwater taking a backseat. Daughter says she can keep me in embroidery for years....hasn't she got high hopes at my age, funny heart, and already had one minor stroke...but this could be a big incentive to lose weight and get more healthy...and stop buying ice cream....gave up the biccies and lollies years ago.

I had got over sewing baby clothes.....darn maybe I will have to re-think that...now where did I put that sewing machine!