Sadness

Like many, I've watched the media reports of the Victorian bushfires with horror, disbelief and intense sadness. I grew up in bushfire country in Western Australia, my dad was a volunteer fire fighter and our house used to be the muster point for the local brigade so I know something of the savagery of a big fire, but I have never seen anything as catastrophic as this.
The loss of life has moved me to tears. I am so sorry.

If you would like to help, here are some links that I have found:

I've donated money, for wildlife care, through Shula's blog poppalina.

I'm going to have a go at making marsupial pouches for orphaned baby roos, wallabies and possums. I will modify this pattern.

The toy society are helping crafters send hand~made toys to children. When I get a chance, I'd like to do this too.

I've discovered links to the Red Cross and the Salvos at the handmade help victorian bushfire appeal, along with lots of other information, including ways of donating things that have been handmade with love. There are also connections to some deeply personal recounts that have been written by bloggers who are living in the midst of the fires and their aftermath.
I'm praying for them.

Fresh

I'm sitting writing this surrounded by freshly painted walls and ceilings.
Hooray!!!!!!!!!
It took double the time I expected it to
(the last lick of paint went on the day before I went back to work),
the process felt hellish at the start ~
when it became apparent just how much bigger a job it was than I had first thought,
but
I am soooooo glad I've done it now that it's over.

So, for those of you who have asked,
here's a close up of the french washed wall
(which has more ochre in it than shows up in the photo):

and a shot of the other feature wall:

which, again, doesn't really capture its cafe~au~lait colour
but does show, in the reflection, my pristine white ceiling and cornices
of which I am ridiculously proud!
I'll try and post more photographs, that give a broader picture of what I've done, soon.

Life hasn't been completely dominated by renovations.
In between painting there's been some cooking.
I've been going through a Nigella Lawson phase and have made her One Pan Sage and Onion Chicken and Sausage casserole:

This, by the way, was at it's best on the third day after I'd cooked it, when the flavours had been given lots of time to develop.

I've also made Nigella's Pomegranate Meringue Mountain
which was so quick and delicious I was inspired to go out and buy my own potted pomegranate tree:

There's been a little bit of crocheting too.
I've added a few extra rows to the border of my Easy Daisy blanket:

I'm so happy I have time to craft again!

...and yesterday, with all the painting done, I was able to wander around the garden with my camera in hand:

Despite the steamy heat, it was bliss!

I hope that life
is treating you kindly too,
wherever you are in the world.

Have a wonderful week.