Sunday, August 18, 2013

Thought I would check in.......

..before you thought I had checked out! 

The past couple of weeks has been "interesting" to say the least.....a bit of a health scare saw me frequenting doctors' surgeries and even a couple of hospitals, but it's all ok...and I have a clean bill of health.  I am mentioning this in this forum only in the interest of urging you to not put off having screening tests or regular check-ups.  I have been fortunate to enjoy very good health and only visit my GP now and again....last time I visited she suggested it might be time to undertake a couple of routine screening tests to which I (reluctantly) agreed.....I failed one of them miserably so had to undertake further investigation (it is at this point I will tell you that I count amongst my dearest friends several nurses........who have the incredible ability to make one smile in even the most un-funny situations......thanks guys, you know who you are!)  I won't go into the details, but suffice to say I am pleased I can put it all "behind" me now and even make the occasional joke about it.....so I can say I "crack" myself up!!  I was lucky, incredibly lucky so I say again....don't put off having routine check ups - head in the sand stuff just doesn't cut it! I am also blessed to have fabulous friends and family who supported me every step of the way.

Now on to "funner" things - if that's not a word it should be!  Whilst I am still feeling very tired and a bit flat from the events of the last few weeks I have been able to do a bit of hand stitching in the evenings and dream about some bigger projects I need to start......

On Thursday night I picked Michelle up from the bus station - I met Michelle when I was in Tassie in April for the Quilted Crow workshop with Bonnie Sullivan and since she was on the mainland visiting friends in Ballarat she made a detour and came to visit me......so I have been playing tour guide in the Barossa.......

First stop was Angaston and Angas Park.... where we stocked up on dried fruit, nuts and maybe some chocolate .......


Next stop was the Angaston Abbey.....filled to the rafters (literally) with "stuff"........just a small sample.....




 Glassware in front of the leadlight window......


Going somewhere??



Kitchenalia......


 I wonder about the bride who wore the stunning satin wedding dress......



Retro anyone?  ....


 I found a couple of things I desperately needed (as did Michelle) and we left after an hour or so of happy browsing......

Next stop was the Barossa Valley Cheese Co.......because (wo)man can not live by bread alone.........


No visit to the Valley is complete without a photo op from Mengler Hill.....we were lucky as the weather had been beautiful in the morning and was starting to turn "nasty" ....and it's been wet and windy ever since.......
 
 
 Playing tour guide also means you get to play tourist as well......I have to 'fess up and admit that I have lived here in the Barossa for years and have-never-been-to-Maggie-Beer's-Farm-Shop!!  ..........until Friday!
 
Here is Michelle with Maggie and Simon (from the Cook and the Chef fame) 
 


 .....the cooking demo that afternoon was held in the kitchen which was featured on the TV series.....


 
Some pics from in and around the Farm Shop......
 



we had lunch .....

 
.....then wandered around tasting some of the produce and too advantage of a short break in the rain to enjoy the nature walk.....




 
Well worth the visit and the cooking demo was great!
 
Yesterday we ventured further afield to spend the day with the Not The Farmer's Wife quilt group........there were the usual shenanigans......fingers sewn to work.....no....surely not Claire???
 

 
 
Miss Shay with her faux clamshells......
 
 
 It was great to catch up with everyone again...and of course there as "chantelle" aka as Show and Tell........Kaye's quilt ready for Val to work her magic....


A  raffle quilt for a group Val belongs to......


 which brings us to today!.......a spot of shopping and lunch in Tanunda before the rain and wind had us scurrying home to spend the rest of the day indoors....I finished off this Annie Downs kit (bought at the Sydney show).....


  Michelle worked on a very very cute snowman cross stitch.....


..... and I prepared my next stitchery project - a Kathy Schmitz design......

 
 I did finish another stitchery which I have put in "a safe place".....so will leave that for next time (if and when I discover the "safe place")
 
'Til next time........................Lorraine
 
 
 


23 comments:

Jo in TAS said...

I'm glad your health scare was just that and now after a deep breath you can get back to worry free stitching! Thanks for taking us on a virtual tour of the Barossa xxx

Michelle said...

So glad you now have a clean bill of health. Love the pics from the Barossa looks like you had great fun playing tourist.

Susan said...

So glad it has all turned out ok, and very good advice to not ignore routine checks. Looks like you had fun exploring your area together.

loulee said...

It's good to know that you are well. XX
Thanks for sharing all the lovliness, especially those lovely quilts and stitchings.
Barossa looks lovely, I know it tastes nice. ;-)

Anonymous said...

Loz i am so glad that you are fighting fit and well.
What a lovely time you have showed Michelle,Maggie beers place looks very interesting.xx

Cardygirl said...

Looks like lots of fun...sorry that you were the butt of some jokes! Love those faux clams!

Karen said...

Some lovely days spent with a great friend - doesn't get any better than that. I'm glad you've received a clean bill of health - good lesson there - we shouldn't put those things off. Lovely show and tell :).

Hugs - Karen

Unknown said...

I've had that same Test so I know what you mean..glad you got the all clear...love seeing Maggie's Space...love those cheating Clamshells of Shay's Very Clever!

Darlene said...

A health scare is not a good thing but I'm glad it's all 'behind' you. ;-)

Lovely visit with your friend(s) and such. Always fun to see what you're all doing.

Shay said...

I missed show and tell on Saturday because I was tardy so it was good to catch up via your pictures. (I’m going to mention again at least I made it there while it was still officially morning !)

Your pictures of Maggies make it look fabulous. (I’m not saying another word !)

And we are so going to that little bric a brac shop next time Im up your way...looks very interesting.

Sue said...

Glad you're all ok Lorraine. Glad you had the test. Lesson learnt. We're all the same. A friend encouraged me to do similar & it took me on a different path this last year. Not pleasant but I did it & am now on the mend looking forward. Ive missed your weekly posts. I enjoy reading what you've been up too. Take care. xxx

Anita said...

Sorry to hear about your scare.....glad to hear its all good for you now. I'm a bit of a head in the sand person......

Daisy Jayne said...

A sigh a relief.... so glad to hear you have a clean bill of health, thanks for sharing the tour of the Barossa and the girls projects

Dee said...

Glad to hear that you got the all clear.
Will have to look at the Bric a Brac shop next time we are up that way. We have been to the other places including Maggies shop a number of times.

seabreezequilts said...

Glad to hear you are on the mend and are getting out and about lots of lovely pics. Hugs

Lynda said...

What a fantastic few days you've had - a great pick-me-up after the previous weeks. Your AD stitchery looks wonderful.

Leanne said...

The Barossa is always wonderful to visit. I can't believe you have never been to Maggie Beers. I love the peacocks there. Glad you are on the mend.

Sarah said...

Good to hear all is well. You're tour of the Barossa was wonderful. It's given me lots of new places to visit. The weather has been bitterly cold and wet lately. It'll end soon! What day do you guys meet? I may have to come along some time.

Jen said...

HI! Lorraine, Your Barossa trip photos are lovely makes me want to come down that way again. Beautiful stitcheries a pretty kit.
Happy that the health scare is over and all is well for you.

AnnieO said...

Just had a physical last week--the second one in three years--before that it was 7 years since I'd seen a doctor, and I work in the medical field! Anyway, glad all worked out well and you're sitting pretty :) till the next annual physical. Preventative is a lot less expensive than curative, that is for sure.
What a wonderful local tour you shared, and finishing up with stitchers and friends, that is the best.

Chookyblue...... said...

glad everything is ok........although while it can be very worrying if something isn't quite right until there is a good answer for it........

bilalpress said...
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