Friday inspiration - winery, cafe and gardens

This weeks inspiration for my house and garden comes from my visit with Hubby to Mornington Peninsula wineries, cafes and gardens.

I love the rustic almost Tuscan look of Montalto winery pictured above, with olive trees framing the entrance and then in wine barrels scattered around the winery. All around the weathered wooden tables pictured above were vegetable and herb beds and then sitting at one views of the vines. It was all very inviting and we just had to try some of the wineries Pinot Noir which they are renown for.

Then to the amazing Heronswood property with a gorgeous cafe within a thatched roof cottage style building located at the back of the garden. The same garden where they get their organic produce from to make the delicious food served at the cafe. And for the coffee drinkers amongst you the coffee was organic, fair trade and very easy to drink.

How great is this table with the herbs growing in the middle.

And again olive trees scattered around the place, can you tell I have a thing for these wonderful trees? Now just have to plant one at home in a wine barrel.

 After relaxing over lunch we wandered through the the gardens and admired the main house.

I loved the feel of this place and will be trying to capture some of it at home especially in the garden, so stay tuned for how I try to weave some of this magic into my garden at home!

The Fairy party

Way back when, well actually only a few months ago we were very hopeful of having our renovation and extension done by this Christmas. And in a period of madness thought would then be able to host Christmas on our new deck and started planning for it.

Call this naivety or misunderstanding of what our builder was saying about build dates - I also managed to convince my daughter to have her 'five' party (as she calls it - she is a December baby, as am I) at home other then at a Play Centre which she was initially hoping for (she has been planning and talking about this party since March).

She was so excited, ‘I can show everyone my new room and all the toys in it.’

Well now her new room will not be built in time and she is very disappointed. She can’t quite get so excited about the concept of the new en-suite and walk in robe that will be finished. So trying to swallow my own disappointment, I have instead got her excited about this wonderful fairy party I am going to plan.

Some of you may be thinking but it is not until December but it already seems I have left it too late, as the fairies I have rung are all booked. How am I going to explain this?!

Well I am thinking I will just have to design an amazing fairy garden, decorations and activities to make up for it. Hopefully at the end of it I will have a very happy little girl and some great pictures and ideas to share with you.

Blue inside and out

The sun finally came out in Melbourne today and we got some blue sky, we haven't seen much of it of late. I miss it! The blue sky reminded me of my love for blue in all its variations, a colour I use to decorate inside and out.

Autumn in the Garden

Happy Mother's Day to my Mum, my Mummy friends and all the Mother's out there.

In Melbourne it is a beautiful Autumn day, the kind of day that I love to spend in the garden. The perfect temperature to get out there and enjoy it.

Looking at it today and watching the kids running around it really hit home for me that this time next year a chunk of the garden will be gone and in it's place our extension. This will mean a garden re-design and the removal or cutting back of a couple of trees, but I am happy to say the Maple will still be our centre piece and I am determined to keep a herb and vege garden. It also provides an opportunity to look at some sustainable gardening practices such as permaculture as part of the design.