I have been enjoying some leave which unfortunately comes to an end (already) tomorrow. We took a short trip to Tasmania, driving and crossing on the Spirit of Tasmania. We've been back a week but I have been a bit slow posting as I have mangaed to get a touch of bronchitis. The crossing, both ways was smooth with only about 1m waves - I am not complaining!
Only spent 6 nights in Tas as we had spent 3 weeks there some years back, and went with 2 objectives - to see the Museum of Old and New Art in Hobart, and Cradle Mountain where our daughter works.
Saw lots of art and craft, not so much textiles. The weather treated us pretty well too. Here are some photos of  ... clever metal art at the Olde Horsham Motel. I particularly loved the grass trees.

    

This is loading the vehicles on the Spirit of Tasmania

Bit scary driving beteen walls of semi trailers (minus their prime movers) and going up and down the ramps...)
Stopped off at Campbell Town to see the brilliant wooden tree stump sculptures beside the red brick convict bridge. Just a glimpse here - the second and third sculptures had many figures/ items/creatures on them.

 the Church at Ross

and the  Commandants House
We had a great meal on the wharf at Hobart at Fish Frenzy and then wandered around -

Saturday, of course we went to Salamanca Market

and then went to the Signal Station - great views up and down the Derwent and towards Port Arthur. They could get a 20 word message to Port Arthur in 15 minutes with the one (or was it 2) signal stations in between.

 I liked the messages on the chairs. This one says Be the change you wish to see in the world

 Next to the Shot Tower

 Next day to MONA - some very unusual, eye catching and thought provoking works.
 The 'concrete truck' outside

 The water wall telling the daily (yesterday's) news

The leaf prints on money

The African beadwork

 Portion of the painting of kichen utensils

 The largest Nolan work

The knitted video tapes

and a fun scene in the grounds

From there a look around Battery Point. (I took a lot more than this :-) )

 ... and a chestnut tree

The rest of the trip in a day or so.

the frog and the frangipani

I have just used (well a few days ago) the picture I took of the little brown frog as inspiration for my latest 'in my garden' postcard. Bleaching was the technique we had to use , so that is how I made his spots - and bleached a spot on my jeans too. They were old so it didn't matter, but I then knew the technique would work!

In a conversation a while ago when I said something about the variety in leaf forms, it was met with a 'what do you mean - leaves are leaves', or something to that effect. I decided to do a walk around the garden to collect and look at the variety. It makes an interesting exercise, to see all the different shapes, textures, edge finishes, colours and so on.

This is a selection of the broader, flatter ones. There are many more like fine and lacy parsley, maidenhair fern etc and strippy, from long and broad orchids at one end of the scale, and short and thin chives at the other. There is such an amazing range, and what I find even more amazing is how many are unique enabling us to identify the plants. No, I don't think leaves are just leaves.

And while actually out walking recently I checked up on one of my favourite plants, the frangipani. We don't have one and don't have room for one, but I am pleased to be able to look at this one growing on the footpath/verge not too far from home. Such beautiful and delicate colours in both the white and pink varieties - and such a lovely perfume too.I wish I did have one in my garden.