Faux pas

Well don't I feel like a boob?!  All this time I've spelt the title of my blog - Keeping up with the Jones'.  When the correct plural of Jones is Joneses.

Sigh.... and I pride myself on my decent spelling and grammar.

*hangs head in shame*

Well looky here....

Three cheers for something other to look at other than boring colorbond fences!!!  Yes, that's right.  We couldn't help ourselves and bought a few plants.

The garden bed alongside the alfresco is in the shade majority of the day so we chose 3 Dracaena Tricolour plants as a bit of a feature.  They are extremely hardy, slow growing, love sheltered positions and require very little maintenance.  Ticks all the boxes.  I think someone at the Nursery mentioned "thrives on neglect" - SOLD!

Try to picture some small plants to fill in some ground space, dark mulch, bamboo screening to hide the fence etc etc.  This little spot is by no means finished.

 A close up of the colours on the leaves.  The more sun the plant gets, the more the red features.

Next to the barbie is a little spot that came about quite by luck - just the way the retaining wall heights stepped down - and it's the perfect spot for the sculpture my brother & sister in law gave us for our wedding.

I'm in love with the little green / purple decorative plants around it too, called Rhoeo. They're only $2 each from Sydney's Plant Market (best Nursery...seriously!)

And I just had to get a pic of 'B' cooking our first BBQ last Tuesday night...in the rain....

Picked up this fab pot & Dracaena Marginata for inside too.  Has livened up the rather bland corner and ties the inside in with the outside.  My sweet little boy who is 2.5 years old has been quite diligently saying, "Play in dirt outside, not inside."  to anyone who'll listen.  Brainwashing - tick. 

So what's next?  Some Little Gem Magnolia's along the back fence, some Daphne for the garden bed outside the Family Room window (have you ever smelt Daphne flowers? AMAZING!)  and some citrus trees continuing along BBQ fence line (lemon, lime & mandarin). Oh & I haven't forgotten about the vertical herb garden I've wanted all along outside the Dining Room.

One step at a time...  Got to save some more $$$.  Lots more $$$!

Bit by bit it's getting there

Haven't had much to update lately - boo - (not for lack of wanting) however there's been a bit of activity over the last week or so!

I last left off showing the finished deck out the back.  'B' has now given it a sand, a wash down and oiled it - and wasn't that a job and a half!  Would have been easier & quicker to hire a floor sander but 'B' was happy to do it to save a few $$$.

Here it is in it's pre-oiled glory

"What's taking you so long?" I'd shout through the glass intermittently when walking past...

(kidding haha)

But I'm jumping ahead of myself.  First he built up the BBQ area and hooked up our barbie to natural gas.

 Here's the deck all sanded and freshly scrubbed.

And here it is after 3 coats of oil!

All the rain we've had lately has really helped to establish our lawn.  So nice seeing something green outside!

Turn away now if you're a BBQ snob because this little beauty only cost $148 on sale from $380 at Bunnings!!

Cannot wait to get some plants in!!!

Support

My favourite blog is Enjoying the Small Things.  Every post, without fail, makes me smile.  Kelle's photo's of her beautiful family and her love of living in the moment is so inspirational.

I'm writing today to spread the word of support for little Nella.  This beautiful little one was born with one extra chromosome.

Kelle is trying to raise $200,000 in support of Down Syndrome and so far she has $115,026!

I dare you to read the blog.  Double dare ya!  You'll fall in love with the Hamptons without a doubt.

And now, in Kelle's own words....

On October 22, we will be joining with friends and family to walk in our second Buddy Walk, supporting the thousands of individuals with Down syndrome and their families. This walk is personal to us for we were welcomed to this new world when our second daughter, Nella Cordelia, joined our family in January 2010 and brought with her some unexpected magic...that little extra 47th chromosome. What began as a shock ripple-waved into something more beautiful as the opportunity to learn more about life and happiness unraveled for our family and many more. We are learning more every day, and through Nella and many others we have come to know, we've discovered a new world of acceptance and opportunity for individuals with Down syndrome.

What do we want for Nella? We want the same things any parent wants. We want our daughter to be recognized for her abilities, to be granted opportunities to reach her dreams, and to be accepted for the amazing little girl she is. The National Down Syndrome Society helps our family and thousands of others in the challenge to spread knowledge and awareness, to show the world that we are more alike than we are different, and to create opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome and their families to live their best life possible. 

Special thanks to all of the generous donors who contributed to Nella’s ONEder Fund earlier this year. Your collective contribution has helped us to set our greater goal of $200,000 by the time Nella turns 2. Please help us this month as we continue to make efforts to reach our goal. In turn, you are helping thousands of others reach theirs. 

The National Down Syndrome Society works to create a culture that fully accepts and includes the more than 400,000 Americans with Down syndrome. As the national advocate for people with Down syndrome, their goal is to ensure that individuals with Down syndrome are full participating members of our communities. 

We are happy to join NDSS as advocates for people with Down syndrome. We invite you to join us as one of Nella’s Rockstars by making a donation to NDSS and making a difference for people with Down syndrome. Your tax-deductible donation will help support the vision of a world in which all people with Down syndrome have the opportunity to enhance their quality of life and realize their life aspirations.

Every dollar helps, you can donate here!

Spread the word!!

* permission was given to post Nella's photos *