One in spirit. One in death.

Herself drew Miss Eagle's attention to this news item about a couple who died, after 55 years of marriage, on the same night. It is a heart-warming story though sad for those left behind. Miss Eagle thought of the way Jesus said that, in marriage, the two shall become one. (Mark 10:8). It seems to Miss Eagle that this couple had truly become one - so much so that when one departed, the other had to go too. We don't know who went first but Miss Eagle has in her mind, her imagination that whichever one went first came, in spirit, for the other.

Announcement: Jane Brocket revealed

Miss Eagle has, like all of us, her favourite blogs. Some of these are simple blogger blogs. Others have wonderful titles and fonts and layouts. Miss E's FeedDemon has umpteen categories - but the really beautiful ones are put in two categories: Charmers and Charmers - Aussies.

The two Charmer categories are totally inhabited by women: women who love beauty, women who are creative. And to keep and be categorised here, only the best will do.

And the very, very, very best in Miss Eagle's view (apologies to all my blogging friends) is yarnstorm. The person behind yarnstorm is Jane Brocket.

The layout of yarnstorm is simple and elegant. Jane writes about books, the family baking, the family crafts and creativity, and - needless to say - knitting. We know that Jane is well-educated and it is clear from the way she writes and what she chooses to write about. And she does write well - so well, in fact, that this year she has a book contract with Hodder & Stoughton.

But it not just Jane's writing that makes the blog, it is her wonderful photos. They are brilliant. They cover flowers - we all know how dotty she is about tulips; the biscuits and rock buns and cake decoration of family baking; and, of course, the knitting - and the patchwork and quilting. All done with superb style. Miss Eagle thinks that it is highly probable that Style is Jane's middle name.

Through all this, we have had no idea of what Jane looked like. We have seen her nail varnished toes and, perhaps, other bits and pieces of her. But never HER - not enough to see what she might really look like. Until to-day!

Today, Jane Brocket is revealed. The big reveal. We can see the woman behind the blog and the yet to be published book. And the blogosphere is thrilled, Miss Eagle can report!

Lemon Blossom

The lemon blossom is flaunting itself.
Making itself attractive to bees/
But the bees wouldn't hang around while Miss Eagle focussed
And, dear Reader, as you can see the beauty bears fruit.

Lemons.

Public people pleasing art!

This picture was published on page 2 of the mX yesterday. The following text was published below the picture:

It was Lego a-go-go at Victoria Park station today when a giant sculpture greeted morning commuters. The climbing crate men were snapped by mX reader Cornelius Brown, who was impressed by the mystery artist's work. "I've heard of these artists before." he said. "They did a similar thing in Richmond a while ago, but this is just amazing."

Isn't it imaginatively and creatively marvellous!

Beads and a can

This week's Photo Friday challenge/theme is Amber. Miss Eagle's contribution is a pair of amber bead necklaces surrounding a Susie Cooper coffee can and saucer with an amber interior. These beautiful things have come to me from other women who love/d beautiful things.

The beads were given to me by my former boss, Margo, who remains a good friend. The Black Fruits coffee can and saucer are part of a set of six from my late aunt, playwright Kathleen Carroll.

Living at Brighton? A Melbourne Riviera?

Yesterday, Herself and Miss Eagle celebrated Mother's Day at North Point Cafe at Brighton as described here and here. As we walked up North Road, we daydreamed about the beautiful homes there in this old, close to the city, suburb.

Herself declared that this was for her. Very French Riviera, very Cote d'Azur.

Herself pointed to how savvy the owners were about gardens.

But, for Miss Eagle, she has always daydreamed of a unit here - perhaps this unit.

It is right across North Road from the Cote d'Azur model - so with Miss E here and H. there...well, it would be convenient, wouldn't it?

But we both love cottages...

and Herself thought Hansel and Gretel with this one while Miss E thought Arts & Crafts.

And then there was this place. And here is the reason...

...a Pussy Cat and a Geranium