Next-door's poinciana in flower

This is my second summer in this house. Next-door, where Andrew and Tracey used to live, there is a magnificent poinciana which flowers this time each year. It is again a beautiful display, and gives me joy just to gaze at it.

My first Alice du Pont flowers

Noticed the buds a couple of days ago, and the new tendrils winding around the lattice of this desparately-needs-a-paint-job balustrade.

And lo! Look at her! So pretty ;-)

And update a few days later: 

Crepe myrtle update

I wish my crepe myrtle looked like Jeanette's - which is flowering stupendously...

My li'l girl is still only an infant. We have a ways to go, we can only hope! I'm looking forward to seeing what colour she is. One day!

Update: Here she is 5 Dec 2018 (2 years on) - looking great and growing well. I love her frilly white flowers!

I live outdoors in the summer - latest verandah shots

I had the concrete sandblasted, painted and sealed. It's much better to sweep, and I think looks a lot cleaner. Not the perfect colour but it will do nicely for now.

Purchased the glass table and 4 wrought iron chairs today - they need the seat covers re-done,

but the price was a steal, and I quite like it where it now is.

The small wrought iron table and two chairs will eventually live under a tree, 

or in the shade around the back at some stage. 

I've just put them here for the time being.

Taffy relaxing. 

The wine is for me - I mowed all the lawns today, and swept all the surfaces. I deserve it. 

The wine, that is.

Heat affects

Took this one lazy afternoon when I was just home from work. Soo tired and did not even have the energy to put the basket of laundry away!

The girls were as hot and tired as I was - here they are all flaked out on the living room carpet, enjoying the breeze from the fan.

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Latest verandah piccies

It's by no means finished, and there is a mish-mash of stuff at the moment, but my verandah is looking and feeling better lately.
I had the concrete steam-cleaned, and sealed by Sam Prendergast (Ipswich) and he did a great job.

This process of getting it to look right is going to take some time, but that's ok.

Brother lends a hand!

Last Saturday I had more topsoil delivered from Sapar, in a bid to make the front lawn more even and less undulating and compacted. It's a bid to add some nutrition too, although with not having rain for so long, the ground is dry and cracked. I had no time at all on the weekend to do anything with it, but Anthony, visiting from Mt Isa, offered to do some 'spreading'. It was great to watch someone else toiling on my land, for me!