Mrs Wood; a cut above the rest.

Mrs Edna Wood came into our lives several years ago, after an acacia tree was felled. Right from the outset she had a penchant for hats, especially with extravagant floral trimmings. We live in the beautiful Blue Mountains, where rhododendrons and camellias provided her with an unlimited selection during spring.

Ready for the local Rhododendron Festival.

Perhaps she went little too far on this occasion, but that’s what people do for the Melbourne Cup.

Just…Wow!

Fuschias were all the go in summer. worn with a pretty scarf.

Here she is on Valentine’s Day. That’s grevillea with the twin hearts.

Chocolate heart bonnet.

In autumn she liked to feature just one or two colourful leaves; the fascinator effect she called it Tulip tree leaves were her favorite, although Japanese maples often appeared.

Golden tulip tree leaves. Simple in style, but effective.

It was always Mrs Brown’s contention that just because winter arrives, standards should not be allowed to drop. This next hat was a cool confection trimmed with Australian native grevillea. I believe she called it ‘frozen platter’.

Oh my, so very cool!

D-DAY FOR EDNA WOOD

Sadly, nothing lasts forever. The awful time came when a path had to be widened, and poor Mrs Wood had to go. Good grief, I could hardly bear to watch. She was cut off in her prime.

The end is nigh for Edna Wood.

Oh my hat!

It’s all over now.

Her timber was so hard that my husband Rob reckoned she would keep us warm for a week of winter nights. Honestly,the man has no heart. He carried her around to the woodpile ad threw her on.

On the scrap heat.

WAIT……THAT LADY’S NOT FOR BURNING!

Somehow it just wasn’t right. How could an icon of millinery fashion suffer such a fate?

And then……a little miracle. Somehow Edna got herself down from the wood pile, refreshed her make-up, found her hat, and trimmed it with the finest rose in the garden.

Never say die.

She set herself up in a new role; Guardian of the Firewood. Long may she keep the stacks free of snakes, white-ants, spiders centipedes. and log looters. Not that anyone in our delightful village of Blackheath would stoop so low of course.