Sunday, October 10, 2010

I'm Back......

.....would like to report that I have been away to some exotic location for a holiday ....but no......I have just been away from the computer.......not that far away........but have been spending time doing other things.  Daylight saving has arrived and I have never been a fan but now I am a convert!  Really enjoying being able to get out and do things after work instead of arriving home in darkness.  The sun has been shining and it is very healing!  I am also enjoying actually having things to do when I get home.........there is something to be said for keeping busy! 

My 'pity party' is officially over - I have gone back to Curves -  organised to play tennis a couple of nights a week and am walking regularly.  Rose and I have settled into a nice easy routine - she is just the best little companion!  How could you not love that face!


Last weekend was a long weekend...I took the Friday and Tuesday off as well to make it an even longer weekend....I had a busy few days...lots of visiting.....lots of stitching........some gardening.......in fact I decided on Tuesday morning to go to work instead of staying home....(does that mean I really love my job or  just that I am nuts?) but I had  had the best four days   and had done pretty much everything I wanted to do......and so thought I would save the RDO for another time.  I didn't feel like being home alone and I am lucky I work with a great bunch of people who are like family.  Over the weekend I sat up late - the Commonwealth Games have been on TV and are the perfect backdrop for stitching! I  finished the  Gardener's Journal blocks and the quilt is now together with just the borders to put on........(this pic was taken before I stitched the blocks toghether) - really happy with this top....and thanks to Chooky for organising the Stich A Long which really got me motivated!


Yesterday was our stitching group get together......the weather was perfect and we were able to sit outside in Joyce's garden.......


Thanks girls.....as always it was a great afternoon.......!  Now that the GJ quilt blocks are done I have started working on the Kathy Schmitz design again....it's been a long time (almost a year)since I worked on it - it's amazing how many memories are tied up in  projects you work on.  Some good.....some not so good.....but stitching is  great therapy I think! 

I wasn't intending to stay up late last night.....but once I got started on the border it was hard to stop! 

I haven't done any baking in ages......one reason being if I bake - I eat what I bake .....so decided to make some lamingtons to take to Mark and Terri's tonight.....) they usually come here for dinner but tonight they cooked for me.......)  I haven't made these in a long while but I was pleased to find I hadn't lost my touch!  Mark was happy to put some in the freezer to take to work....(and I am happy they are in his freezer so I won't be tempted to eat them!)


I will leave you with a pic of the first of the sweet pea flowers........I think the warm weather expected over the next few days will hurry the others along ...........



I wasn't intending to have a blogging break - it just happened!  Will be back soon with pics of my red club quilts and some CW blocks........

'Til next time........................Lorraine

34 comments:

Suzanne said...

So glad to see you back, my friend. I love your stitchery projects. You do beautiful work!

Darlene said...

Well, there you are! Nice to see the bounce in your step and lilt in your voice. :-)

Love your Gardener's Journal blocks.

Rosie is such a sweet girl.

Yvette said...

LOVE your GJ quilt!!!! You make me want to go upstairs and work on mine right now!

Your block in the hoop is so intriguing, I can't wait to see it finished.

Karen said...

The picture of the pup is to cute - she has such a sweetness to her face. I'm glad you have her for company :). You are stitching along girl, keep going and glad you days away were good for your soul :).

Hugs - karen

julieQ said...

What a beautiful companion for your journey! Glad you had a stiching day...good for the soul!

AnnieO said...

What a great post full of Spring's renewal, LOL! It seems your mojo is gaining ever more strength and joy. Lovely things you're getting stitched!

P.S. I love Daylight Savings time too...ours will be going away at the end of the month, sadly.

Anonymous said...

WOw Loz! Your Gardener's Journal quilt looks amazing! Well done! I can't even pretend that I like daylight savings just a little bit... and I know I shouldn't say hate (my mum told me it's a bad word!)... but I HATE daylight savings. Life as we know it goes out the door when it starts. We see Mr Farmyard lots less and the kids start to wonder where their dad is. And that.... combined with harvest (for about 8 weeks of 18 hour days) means we turn into a badly formed stressed out single parent family! Whinge much? Sorry! ;)

Anonymous said...

Welcome Back to our world here in little ole blogland. Your sweet pup is growing so quickly and a face too difficult to resist!
Your Gardener's journal looks great!!!

Laurence said...

Very beautiful quilt

Vivian said...

You're back with a flurry of projects and time with friends. Companions (canine and humanoid) make the quilting time so much more enjoyable.

Beautiful header photo -- delicate, purple, and definitely spring.

Kris said...

Oh wow! The GJ quilt is so pretty! I love your sweet peas too. One of my favourites! I have been enjoying the comm games too and doing some hand stitching. Tennis? Wow! You really are getting moving. Good for you!

Kris said...

Hi Loz! Sent you two emails this morning. Both bounced back saying I am not allowed to email you! Ha! As if! (Both to the bigpond account) Do you have another email address I can try? Hope your day is a good one!

Shay said...

I'm not sure where to start commenting!

I'm glad you're back because I was wondering where you were . I figured bloggy break/RL intrusions. Do I get a prize for guessing correctly?

I feel like you have been incredibly busy since your last blog update. The GJ quilt looks amazing!

Isnt the weather glorious? I am loving it. Cant wait to see that CW quilt.

Jeanette said...

Love the sweet pea. I keep forgetting to plant any & really miss not having them. Rosie is so gorgeous. Lovely stitchery projects.

Sheryl said...

Who needs an exotic holiday when you have such a beautiful place to be with such wonderful company and you can spend the time stitching and gardening with a bit of yummy cooking thrown in.... what more could anyone ask for...ahhhhh!
thanks for the uplifting inspiration.... btw we planted some sweetpeas last weekend be a while before we see some flowers of course.....

Linda said...

Life's far too short to stay at any 'pity party' for too long. How great does your GJ quilt look.....fabulous! Cheers Linda :)
PS. I absolutely love sweet peas....didn't plant any this year so am quite envious of yours!

Pip said...

I like daylight saving but with reservations, I do like that I have all that extra daylight time in the evening, but when it comes around to March and April I am over it and want it to be dark again. No baking for me either, and for the same reason as you :)
The sweet pea is gorgeous, such a beautiful colour, now if only I can remember to sow seed next year.

seabreezequilts said...

Glad your back. We all need a pitty party every now and again been having one myself lately but I am drawing a line on it today. I can understand the going to work business, sometimes you just don't want to be home, save it for when you have a plan. Speaking of plans I had better organise what we are going to be doing for the last day of the hols.

Jo in TAS said...

Rosie has got to be the most gorgeous dog ever, she's so photogenic! Congrats on getting your GJ top complete and I'm going to have to look for that Kathy Schmidt pattern as I've just completed something of hers and I'm loving her style.
PS Winter must be over I bought a salad to work!

Peg - Happy In Quilting said...

Lots happening Loz...GJ looks so good, and your new (old) stitchery looks lovely....I'm glad you are back....Rosie has grown..

Unknown said...

Lovely to have you back...Love the Sweet Pea in your header Gorgeous Colour..they remind me of my Childhood..you don't see them around much...Your GJ Quilt looks Great..Congrats on getting them together...and the Old Lamo..can't go past them either....
have a Good Week
cheers.

Angels Come to Play said...

Lamos, sweet peas, stitching with friends will put a smile on anyones face. I am just starting on my journey back to blogland, visitng a few of my friends etc. Gald to see you are on the road to recovery. BTW love your work it is just so pretty.

Pat said...

So good to have you back. Your GJ quilt is lovely. I am not a fan of DST. Our time will be changing soon too. Rosie is growing like a weed.

Leanne said...

Rosie is just toooo cute. Your Gardeners journal is impressive amazing what that Donna can organise LOL. I am with you on the baking front I love to cook but even worse I love to eat it and I can tell you that tray of lamingtons wouldn't last long here I love them. I'm pretty sure I would give a frozen one a go.

QUILTING IS BLISSFUL, DI said...

Oh OH those sweet peas are just lovely--glad you are on track now with life--now the rest of us have to get back on track!!!!
Love that Rosie gal--am looking for my own walking and company "pet"--next month for sure!!!!
hugs, Di
PS--love your Country Journal quilt--one of these days I may even get all my blocks done!!!

Lynda said...

Oh Lorraine, your GJ quilt is beautiful - your stitchery colour and fabric choices are wonderful. So good to hear you are feeling so great after your little holiday.

Sue said...

Hi Loz, I had been wondering where you where ... always love your blog and catching up with what you are doing. Gawd between curves, walking and tennis .... woo hoo!!! you will be so super fit and slender!!! I have this secret ambition to one day play tennis I have always loved it but since I am no good at running dont think I would play very well unless my opponent hit the ball directly to me. Your little Rose is sooo cute ... I do miss my doggie they make great companions. We actually have a new family member of the furry kind ... long story short DD has moved back home and she now has a cat ... mmmmm me and the cat dont really see eye to eye ... bit of a mexican stand off happening!!!
Your CJ blocks look FANTASTIC you have done a fab job and you even inspired me to find my book and start!!
I do love daylight saving but am struggling to get used it all and must admit while I like the nice sunshine we have been having ... not really looking forward to summer .. I will be grumbling about how hot it is soon???!!!
I look forward to seeing the post on you red club plus you CW blocks .... arrrr Im so jealous would love to have done that!! Oh well next time???? Have a good week!!
Cheers S xx

Grethe said...

SO nice to read your blog!! And you everything looks super:-) Yes,
I really like the Garden Song with you stitchery. I planed to work with the plan of attack, but I am behind.
Looking forward to seeing the borders on the GJ.

Grethe said...

Hi again,still love your stitchery
together with the fabric: GARDEN
PARTY range (mixed up earlier).
I started off with that Moda range in mind,but changed around a bit as I often do.
Good work being so far:-)

Chookyblue...... said...

your GJ quilt looks wonderful..........don't forget to share it with the girls.........one of the other girls is at the same stage as you now too..........fantastic effort.........
pleased to hear your full on back on track........

Anita said...

Your quilt top looks great!! Glad you had a lovely long weekend - you sound very happy and relaxed.

Stina Blomgren said...

Congratulations on your top being finished.. wished I could say the same.. but I am hopelessly without hope on me getting it fnished this year... :o)
Tennis and walking with Rosie will do the trick... so GOOD LUCK...

Debbie said...

Is Rosie a cocker spaniel? She is so cute, looks a bit like our cocker Winston.

Sue said...

Glad to have your back Lorraine. Missed you. Good on you for going back to Curves. I go too. I follow the Curves eating plan and it really does work. Love your quilt and that stitchery looks interesting. Did you ever finish the block bag you were stitching at some retreat??? xx Sue