Last Post for 2015

 

Another Christmas come and gone - much more relaxed for me this year as one of my sons hosted which meant very little for me to do. And I thoroughly enjoyed the day! I did get a little spoilt this year with jewellery, gift vouchers and 2 sewing machine case/trolleys.

 

And these lovely presents from my swap partner in Chooky Blue's SSC Swap (Secret Santa Christmas Swap). 

 

 

From Christiane I received this sweet little star ornament - which I was allowed to open before Christmas, and then on Christmas day I opened Christiane's main present - this beautiful wall hanging.

 

Love the colours in this - and I can hang it any time through the year!

 

 

And once again Karah was included by my swap partner - as I said in a previous post bloggers are just the most thoughtful and generous friends  - a lunch bag with a waterproof lining - she was very happy with this lovely gift.

 

Thank you so much Christiane for your beautiful gifts and also for the lovely Quince recipe - I will have to wait until later in 2016 to try it out - quinces are not in season here in Australia at the moment!

And a very BIG thank you to CHOOKY BLUE and her loyal helpers for a lovely swap! Our swap mummas and their helpers also have very busy lives and they put in a huge effort organising successful swaps - time and energy that is very much appreciated.

 

I do have photos to do a Christmas day post but I will leave that until the new year. I am officially on downtime now - hopefully a very relaxing and reviving downtime for the next couple of weeks.

Thank you to all of my lovely followers for your comments and support throughout 2015 - it has always been appreciated - my blog is my escape sometimes - as is my garden and sewing.

May 2016 bring to each and every one of you good health, heaps of fun and lots of laughter, and may it be a year of many many happy memories to carry with you throughout your life.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

 

SSS opened!!

 

Well I lasted 2 days longer than I thought I would!!!lol. We were allowed to open our SSS presents on Friday and I held out until today!!! My lovely partner was Marilyn at Nanna With A Purpose......... and what a beautiful lot of sweet surprises did I receive!!!

 

 

just look at this lovely bundle of surprises ..... begging me to open them......... just one I thought......... haha...........not likely ...........one just whet my appetite (because I had a rough week last week and I really needed a pick me up tonight!!)....... soooo....... I opened all of mine and Karah opened her special gift also!!

 

 

My blogging swap partners are all so caring and beautiful - Marilyn also included a parcel for Karah (lol!! Karah always asks 'why do they send one to me?'). Because they are beautiful people and they care about you is my answer. She was so very happy with her beautiful, thoughtful gifts - they are all going off with her tomorrow on a 3 day camping trip with Rheis, Sarah and Oliver (the little brother she never had!!).

Thank you so much for including her Marilyn!

 

Now onto my gorgeous parcels!! This little bag and it's contents had me intrigued for a while. I even smelt them to see if they were little fragrant sachets - no they were not! So I have decided (and I think I may be right) that they are little paper weights to use when I am cutting out patterns!!! that is what I am going to use them for anyway - such a handy little gift!

 

 

A beautiful covered journal (just love the fabric) and sweet knitted cloths!! Both of these will be put to good use!!

 

 

I love this bright and cheery armchair sewing chatelaine. I have a few of these and they always so handy to have slung over the lounge chair arm.  

 

Now this is such a useful little folder. Inside in all those pockets was a notebook, pen, eyeglass cleaners, alcohol swabs (for needle pricks of course), a packet of tissues and band aids - a really sweet sewing first aid kit!!

 

And this gorgeous bag - love the colours - Marilyn checked out my blog really well!! The embroidered panel is lovely and on the inside I have a zipped pocket and an unzipped pocket. Such a perfect size - I have developed a dislike for really big bags because I put so much in them and then cannot find what I want. This one will have me organised all the time!!

 

A huge heartfelt thank you to Marilyn - such a great pick me up tonight. And a huge thank you to CHERYL

 

 

For Marilyn I made this bag that is zipped on the top. I actually made it thinking it would be ideal for a carry bag for embroidery etc but clever Marilyn is using it for her ipad/tablet!!

 

 

Two crocheted cloths and a cake of handmade goats milk soap. I haven't made any crocheted cloths for myself so I am hoping they wash and wear well!

 

A Mug Bag with all you require to make a 'cuppa' as long as you have the hot water!! (just a bit difficult to send that to Marilyn!!); a plastic bag holder and a covered note book.

We have had some really hot and nasty days here this week. Yesterday and today were in the early 40deg, but today came with really hot winds (strong enough to make standing in them difficult at times). We had to travel to Tocumwal to meet one of the puppies new owners - thank goodness my little Kia Rio has great aircon!! it was a miserable uncomfortable day. Coming home we had some showers and the sun actually went behind clouds for quite a while. About 5.15 the heavens opened up - the temp dropped about 13 degrees over half an hour which was wonderful and the wind with the rain was so refreshing and welcome. The rain was pelting down and chopping and changing directions constantly - what bliss it was. After that it just became hot and humid. But relief came again a couple of hours later when it started to rain again and it has been raining on and off for the last 2 hours - we would be getting close to an inch (25mm) of rain now - the yard and gardens will be loving it!! The temps all week are in the low thirties and even Christmas day is forecast 33 and maybe showers - how nice will that be!!

I will be back in a few days with another catch up - until then have a beautiful week all!!

 

 

 

 



hHello... it's been a while!

 

How long has it been since I last posted - too long! I have been busy but I think I have pushed myself too much and have not been coping very well at all - lots of things have had to go by the wayside and my blog was one of them!! Now for a little bit of a catch up.

 

 

Greg turned 60 back in the middle of November - we had a bbq tea at our local museum - Pioneer Park. This is 'Myall Park Hall which is available to hire for functions. Such a peaceful setting.

 

S peaceful that Birthday Boy had a little rest while waiting for everyone to arrive!!

 

 

Little and big kids amused themselves with games throughout the night!

 

Cooking for competition again. Apple & Mint Jelly

 

and Moroccan Tomato Relish. Both taste yummo!! Both got first prize at our CWA Branch Land Cookery judging - which is great but now I have to cooke them again in March for Group judging!

 

Every Monday I have this little man - growing up so very fast - thought he would try out my lipstick (he found one that I had lost) and busy being Bob the Builder (favourite hat for a few days!)

 

I say goodbye to these 5 rascals this week. Two are going tomorrow and the other 3 through the week. They are now 8 weeks old and have started to develop all the beautiful traits of Labradors - cheeky, cuddly, and mischievous - they find anything and have to tear it up!!

 

Some secret sewing teasers!

 

And our baby girl had her Year 6 Graduation during last week - we are all dressed up ready to go!! Cannot believe it was 2004 that she was born 10 weeks early and just 1225gms. Where has that time gone. Naomi would have been so proud of her 'Bubba'! It was bittersweet for me - so lovely to be there and see her 'graduate' but a bit teary a few times when I thought of her mum. High school next year - it will soon be year 10 graduation!!

 

That is all for this catch up - I hope to get back into the routine of a couple of posts a week - we will see how I go. School finishes next week - I think I am going to go into slow mode for a while - stay home, do some catching up and sorting out, might even get to sit at my sewing machine!!



SUNDAY AGAIN......

 

They just keep on coming around don't they!!!

 

 

Some sewing to show - 4 finished water bottle carriers (lined with a face washer) - some for Christmas gifts and some for a market table.

 

 

Tea towels - again some for Christmas gifts and some for a market table - 22 altogether!

 

 

And there they lie patiently waiting for me - they will be all used by the end of the week!

 

 

Beauty in the garden - they are short lived but what a show when they do flower!!

 

they take my eye off the weeds growing around them!! They are doing double duty!

 

 

These do triple duty - they get me out of the house and filling my face at the same time; they tell me summer is officially only a few weeks away and they are the start of the preserving season!!

 

Wakey Wakey! It is breakfast time!!

 

These little monsters are pure bred Labradors - my girl of 7 years old had her first litter and ISN'T having anymore - she has never been very fussed about puppies of any sort and not too fussed with these - they are 4 weeks old and she only visits them once a day!! So guess who has been feeding them.

 

I have started using what ever is lying around to plant things in - bird cages look good with plants - and I don't have to feed succulents everyday either!!

 

A pretty bonus from the garden

 

 

I didn't realise just how many roses I have (and still planting) - lovely to pick them as buds and watch them open up day by day eventually flowing over the edge of the vase.

 

That is the end of the wrap up. have a great week everyone!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



EVERY DAY IS A BLUR

 

Finally back again - the days just seem to be going faster and faster! I have been busy with yard work (mum's and mine) and family.

 

 

Naomi's Garden - roses have established well and flowering non stop - time to start planting either side now - just shrubs and ground covers (oh alright some more roses too). The bottom left photo is what jumped into the ute last Friday - we travelled to Junee to a Monster Plant Sale (mum, myself and my friend Alice) - my son's ute must have a 'plant attractant' in the metal floor!! have been busy planting up pots and anything that holds dirt. The bird cage succulents are starting to take off!

 

I have potted up cuttings and cuttings and cutting  and still have heaps to go - mostly from my garden and mums - but then I had to go and visit 2 friends didn't I - just hope they all strike and I will be on the way to filling all these garden beds here!!

 

the pot house is full of cuttings!!

 

plus new geraniums that jumped into my car (of all places) when I was looking around Bunning's!! hardy all the way here in the plant world!

 

yay!!! have finally got all my tomato plants in - now to start on capsicums, lettuce and herbs!!

 

All sorts and colours of tomatoes.

 

Even have some fruiting - first tomatoes of the season by the end of December I am thinking!! We have had a few showers here the last week so the planting has had a boost - we have a lot of storms predicted through tonight (I can hear the thunder rolling around out there now) so some more gentle showers will be coming. Had the biggest clap of thunder I have ever heard 2 nights ago - right at the back of the house - sounded like something exploded - I felt the house shake - and I shook for ages after it (that is after I took my heart out of my throat and put it back in my chest - raced outside like a looney to see what exploded!!! hahaha - must of been a sight for the dogs that weren't in hiding - then the thunder kept rolling over us (and heaps of lightening - hate that bit).

 

 

'Ma-ma can I look at your phone for a moment please' - Okay says I..... and this is what I find in the photos - 3 feral cousins - obviously nothing better to do with their time - I am sure I can fix that with a shovel and plants in their hands!!

 

I have actually done a little sewing and I will show you that in the next post.

And I have been having a catch up read of everyone's blog post's tonight - I haven't forgotten you all - just time gets away on me. I am trying to comment on at least one of everyone's posts (then you will know I have been to visit). Tomorrow I am of to a sewing morning (probably more a talking morning!!) - a little me time.

Enjoy your week everyone!!

 



MORE SPRING FEVER!

 

A few more photos from my walk around the yard a week ago!

 

 

One of the Frangipani cutting Naomi brought back to me from her move to Casino - thought I had lost them all but they are finally sprouting leaves

 

One of my favourite garden plants - Geraniums

 

the one on the right is a banksia rose which my husband doesn't want there and he keeps on rounding up but it just keeps on keeping on (much to my delight!!)

 

and some more - there is always green and a flower or two when you have Geraniums - and they are drought hardy - BONUS!!!

 

Lic bushes flowering for the second year - these have battled a bit but are finally taking off

 

some mulching - the story of my life lately - everywhere I look there are weeds so the mulch is going down really thick!!

 

Bottle brush and Gazanias - always hardy - gazanias being transplanted around the whole yard (along with pig faces going in - great ground covers)

 

more natives!! Lol - a wanted one and an unwanted one - although we can really grow the mustard weed on the bottom really well here - down the driveway it is nearly 6ft tall in places!!

 

I have also been secret sewing which I cannot show you, and having another tidy up and throw out in the house which is boring!!

Have a great weekend everyone!!