An NE facing sill behind glass

My orchids may not have relished the move from their sunny southern walkway to a more open courtyard, but these African Violets are thriving in their new environment.

Easter is late this year

If the Christmas Cactus has rounded edges to its segments, while the Easter Cactus has spikey edges to its segments, then this is an Easter Cactus. This is the first of many blooms that will open over the next couple of weeks.

Winter's cusp

Hard to believe that in just two weeks winter will be upon us. Unless you espouse the equinox theory, like my new friend, BB.


My courtyard is going to crash to ground with a thud. It is nicely protected from nasty winds and is totally tiled, which warms up nicely. Even my struck avocado is checking out the environment.


It is only now that the early mornings are becoming a wee nippy. And these poor darlings are very confused.


As I undertook 'ward duty' this morning, I explained to them all, that when I choof off to the Bungle Bungles in the middle of June, they will have a nice young woman come in and chat to them, chuck them under the chin, and check their tootsies.

They hummed in bliss.

And here she is yet again ...

She likes to sit looking out the courtyard gate, at the cars and buses but mostly at the people. When she hears a sudden inexplicable noise, she makes a dash for the dark beneath my bed. But mostly she sits and watches. Occasionally, she will walk along the brick wall, flirting with passers-by, who then come and talk with her, and rub her back. She likes people. But not the man who reads the meter. The man who reads the meter comes in at the gate. That necessitates a dash for darkness.


Being out in the open with an exposed back takes courage. This day she was dive-bombed by a chatter of noisy minors. The green of her eyes deepened, her ears became more erect, every muscle in her body was on alert.

Then she made a dash for the heart of darkness.

Sellie

In March 2005, Sellie was born in the cabin of an abandoned table-top truck on a small landholding on the outskirts of Sydney. She came to me five weeks later.

At the age of five, she is slowing down, sleeping more, hunting less. As she ages, she is becoming more affectionate and hungry for my company. She sleeps here, in an A4 wicker tray, beside my keyboard.

Is there such a thing as an autumn equinox?

There is much growth in my garden at the moment, not frantic clambering growth at any cost, but a calm, mature segue into the cooler months.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.

Still life with fur

A precedent is a pretty silly thing to set!

Once upon a time, my cats, Sylvie and Sellie, were happy with the odd scratch, maybe every other day. Maybe just an absent-minded scritch behind the left ear. Not anymore. No siree ... Not any more.

Now, they come to me. And if I pay scant notice, they sit on my keyboard and thwack my cheek. Whadda we want? A scritch. When da we wanit? ... you get my drift.

However, I have come to realise there is lots in this for me. Less hair inside, for starters. Less asthmatic reaction, for seconds. And a very healthy, toned pair of cats into the bargain.

Now to the mug of coffee ... I used to make my own each morning. Just Moccona and hot water with a dash of milk. Not any more. Jools has wisened up - past participle of 'to wizen'. She now nips across the bus layby and into the corner shop for a 'large flat white, no sugar' for $3.80. And what a delight it is, and I only need one to keep me going all day!

Finally, here is a bud forming on a segment of the Holiday Succulent that I was given over the weekend. What joy!