…maundering in in-action might be closer to the mark. Three months is almost “death” in Blogland.
Oh well, here I am again. And I’m going to kick off with…the weather! Winter here so that means, mostly, blue skies and bright sunny days. The sort of weather that encourages strenuous outdoor work. Garden beds can be weeded, dug-over, mulched.Plants can be pruned, moved, re-potted.
And then the sun dips below the horizon and we don extra layers and waddle about looking like the Michelin Man. And I can tell you that, Chez Dinahmow, the Michelin look lasts from sunset to mid-morning.
But it is nice to see the BARE pergola, just waiting for something new and less rampant than wisteria and petrea… 
I’m tempted to try another climbing rose, but then my memory gives me a sharp dig in the ribs, telling me not to be such a silly fool.
In the meantime, I seem to be having some small success with orchids. 
These Phalaenopsis sit on my keyboard (not this one, the musical one), but I move them outside for more sunlight when they start to flower. I move lunches out there, too, in sunny weather. Of course, there can be stiff competition for a seat…
The Man, who is no longer working full-time, has not had much go-to-work work lately, but he has been busy here!Oh yes…de-rusting and re-painting various bits around the house. And he cleared all of the tangled mess atop the pergola. And replaced the old TV aerial which was all a-dangle after the cyclone modified it. Ooh, it’s all go here, innit!
I’m off to see about some breakfast, but before I do, here’s a link to a Canberra friend’s blog. Yet another reason to visit that city!
https://myjustsostory.blogspot.com.au/2017/07/warm-trees-2017.html
Moreidlethoughts Weblog 
Lunching outside in Winter! I am aghast! Is your Winter more summery than a UK summer?
I am pleased to see a blog post from Dinah pop up in my reader 🙂
Sx
LikeLike
Oh, the sunshine is lovely, Scarlet.But it’s the icy wind, especially at night.Right now, at 0758? Brass monkeys!(And that picture is on the western side of the house so by 1pm it’s warming up somewhat!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Flipping Icy wind here this evening, and torrential rain.
Sx
LikeLike
Posts like this remind me of how vast the world really is. Winter for her = beach for me. If you had the time, freedom and wherewithal, you could chase the summer all over the planet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
But I really like the sharp seasonal changes. I know some people who “follow the sun” like the northerners you call “snow birds”
LikeLike
I love the sunny days at this season, but more than a few joints object strongly at get-out-of-bed time.And as for sliding through icy slush to get to work -nope! never again.:-)
LikeLike
Orchids outside! Cyclone damage! Palm trees!
How very different to the home life of our own dear Queen.
Jx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I don’t know…swap corgis for cats and I might get away with it…
LikeLike
I think of the climbing roses we had in France with great fondness….Rambling Rector, an apricot Kiftsgate…and then think of their ability to spear through the thickest gardening gloves – only welding gloves withstood them – and their furious attempts at total world domination….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, the only time i wear gloves is for the pruning of the pricklies and for the massive ramblers I had to tackle at the winery I wore the long, welder gauntlets. The added problem here would be the difficulty of dealing with them on top of the pergola. I shall continue to ponder…
LikeLike
For some reason I have visions of you clad in weldìng gloves jumping on thepergola from a great height shouting `Geronimo!
I thnk I should lie down in a darkened room.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely garden! Hard to believe it’s winter down there! xox
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, our winter is pretty much like yours, Sav!Maybe a few degrees cooler
LikeLike
Your winter is more gentle than ours. There is still frost in shaded areas at the moment (just after 11). Loving your garden. And your orchids.
Thanks for linking to my post. It really was a lovely day and when you do get down here we will have to visit the Arboretum – and rather a lot of other places.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooh! I think the pig might be able to manage Canberra…I’ll do some “creative accounting” once the bills are paid and the tax returns are in.
LikeLike
Lunch on the veranda, and with orchids, no less? Show off! (love your Willow Pattern) . . . Although, I did have coffee and cake on the paysho this morning!
What’s that young sapling-thingy growing in front of the pergola? It looks lovely.
LikeLike
I should go back and edit that.It’s a Costus and I think it’s Costus comosus. The yellow flower petals are edible.Very acidic.Her’s a link with flower. It forms lumps by sending out thick, fleshy suckers. I have to be very firm with it!http://www.bambooland.com.au/costus-comosus-red-tower-ginger
(Cromer was on the telly the other night! I didn’t see you, but there were groynes!)
LikeLike
I agree with IDV, I clicked too, and now I’m wondering where I could put some heliconias!
LikeLike
What a horrible thing to do! I clicked that link and now want every plant there, climate and money, be-damned!!!
(I was hiding behind one of those groynes, I’m sure 😉 )
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome Back!
It looks like Southfork. I can imagine Sue Ellen sat there with quivering lips.
LikeLike
Southfork! Blimey! You’re on a trip down memory lane! And most of these weeds would shrivel in Texas. Also, I don’t have oil wells.
LikeLike
If three months is death in blog land, then my 18+ months of silence must equal dead, buried and cremated. Lovely to see your photos, we are lucky to have such pleasant winter days, though I agree that night time temps could be a little warmer.
LikeLike
Hello, Carol! (waves madly) We really must get together again. Any ideas?
You wonder about heliconias…pretty much anywhere, but I’d say keep them in a pot so you can move them if frost threatens.Also, if they’re contained they wont overrun your whole yard!
LikeLike
I know Scarlet has already said this, but LUNCH OUTSIDE IN WINTER!!! One needs a fire-pit to lunch outside in summer here. Happy climber hunting.
LikeLike
Oh, it’s a latitude thing, Eryl! In another month or so I’ll be plastered with guano and wearing a sunhat. 🙂
And the jury is still out on the pergola adornment.Actually, i think we need to replace a couple of timbers first.
LikeLike