Sunday, January 17, 2016

They are back!

Last week the kids all arrived back from Europe....they staggered their arrival (one couple on Thursday night and the other on Friday night) sooo good to have them home again.  2016 is going to be quite the year with a baby due in late March and a wedding in October - and I am sure all the other stuff that makes up life will be interesting as well.  Just going to enjoy every minute....life is for living!

I had the camera out but only took a couple of photos over the weekend....too much going - too busy smiling and hugging! This is the only pic I took on Friday night when they were all together...not sure where Terri was at the time....first beer back in Adelaide - from -alotC to 38C made the beer all that more appreciated I think!


I ordered some flowers for the house to welcome them home.....Jess is a young florist who does beautiful work....you can find her on IG @poppyandvine_ 



 A friend in the Barossa looked after Rhiannon and Wade's dog while they were away and they came up on Sunday to pick her up....there were tears all round I think...Kaya really made an impression on her foster family and Rhiannon and Wade were very happy to be reunited with her.....

I always do a jigsaw over the Christmas/New Year break and this year Susan saw my finished jigsaw on IG and messaged me and we have now swapped.  This is the one I did - The Mariners Chest by Ravensburger......


 It is now with Susan and I have another Ravensburger puzzle - The Bizarre Bookshop......but before I start on that one.......I have another one to finish!  This puzzle arrived from London a few days after Christmas and it's a bit special!  Rhiannon and Wade had it made for me using a photo of Rhi and I taken at the Tower Bridge on the day before I flew home after my holiday with them in April....I had only started it a few days before they arrived home so while they were here on Sunday we got busy on getting the frame done.....


 Someone didn't have his contact lenses in....


.....and Rose was hoping to help out!  I lost a couple of puzzle pieces to her one year, so am now very careful to make sure no pieces end up on the floor for her to demolish!  (they don't quite fit the same once they have been chewed!)


Since last weekend I have made quite a bit of progress....just the sky to do now...and there is a fair bit of that!  It's strange doing a puzzle with faces you know in it!  I think this one will have to be framed!  I love it!


So apart from Jigsaw-ing and working (Australia Day is coming up fast!) I have managed a little bit of stitching in the evenings......I need good light for the jigsaw as there are only very subtle differences in the sky pieces!  

I am a big fan of Gail Pan's designs and I have had this one prepped and ready to stitch for a while now.....loving the way it is coming along!  Can't go past some Liberty pears!  Oh and Gail's new Christmas book is out now......it has some really cute designs to stitch and I may have a copy to give away in a couple of weeks....watch this space!


.....and this was an unplanned bit of cutting/placement......pear peek-a-boo! 


Over Christmas (or if I am completely honest a little while before Christmas as well..) a few kilos managed to creep on.....you know how it is....won't hurt to have a treat....and one treat turns into a few more, and before you know it the scales are groaning "get off" when you get on! ....or worse, you know the news isn't good so you avoid getting ON the scales!  After losing  20kgs over the past couple of years I didn't want to put too many back on, so have been getting back to more sensible eating over the past couple of weeks....starting 2016 how I mean to go on....and there is that Mother of the Groom outfit to get into in October!  A couple of kgs have left now and good riddance to them I say!  

A new shop selling tea/coffee has opened up across the road from work, and someone suggested I try Green Tea....I have never liked Green Tea so I wasn't convinced it was for me, but the new shop sells this.....


..........so I bought some...dug out my infuser from the cupboard and gritted my teeth and tried it.....wonder of wonders I LOVE it!  I haven't tried it cold, but I think it would be just as nice so might make up a jug for the hot weather predicted for the coming week.....and while I was there......I may have brought these to try......Grannies Garden is appropriate I think and contains yummy things like: apple, elderberry, beetroot, hibiscus, blueberries, blackcurrants, raspberries, blueberry leave, strawberry and red currants (none of which are found in this Grannies garden I might add!  (Tried this last night and it was delicious! just the aroma is like a meal in itself!) ...well, you know what I mean!


It's back to walking every morning after a lazy start to the year....and I am hoping my revised eating plan and the exercise will see off the extra kilos!  At least the weather is conducive to lighter eating - I think I am getting used to the heat....today was predicted to be 36C and I was like "hmm...36C...that sounds fine" .....but I am still looking forward to Autumn/Winter!

'Til next time......Lorraine

11 comments:

Deb said...

How exciting having the kids all home again for you.It must feel so much nicer knowing they are safe on home soil and so easily accessible! You have been a busy beaver haven't you. I love the pears that you have been doing and those fabrics just make them pop. One of them just looks like a bundle of 100's and 1000's from a distance--love!! I must have a look out for Gail's new book and maybe treat myself.
I had a spend up last time I was in Brisbane and bought a whole bunch of teas from T2 and they are sooo yummy and like you say the smells are divine and yep they are great cold. Enjoy.
Well luvey better toddle, hugs Deb

Anonymous said...

Shi Loz,how God that the kids are back now and boy what a great idea using a pic to have a jig saw made out of it it looks fantastic. Oh I love your pears I have bought that pattern too and I am yet to make it,love yours done in Liberty,Gails designs are awesome.
Well done losing a few kilo ,I need to get stuck back into walking,hope you enjoy your evening my friend xx

QUILTING IS BLISSFUL, DI said...

Ohh--I have a cup of plain ole green tea every day--yours sounds so much more interesting than mine-I may have to rethink my tea choices!!!
and it is so great that your kids are back in town--enjoy them--
and I love to do puzzles too--but have just one table and if I do puzzles there is no sewing machine work until the puzzle is done--and what a delightful gift of a puzzle that is also a memory--
love and laughter, di

AnnieO said...

How wonderful a homecoming and so much to look forward to in the coming year! Love jigsaws but have no good place to set them up. Rose does look ready to chew! Hope your stitching, walking, and tea drinking are all you plan for happy future days!

Jeanette said...

Fabulous post Loz. Love to do puzzles too but i've nowhere to leave one set up. :( I'd love to give green tea ago again but would need flavours like that i think. :) Hugs,xx

Sue SA said...

Great to have your kids home but love that they made you a personalised jigsaw, that is up there with all time beautiful gifts! We always do a jigsaw over Christmas too, but someone brought a different brand this year, impossible to finish, cos it was badly made, so back to quality next year!

Susan said...

Wonderful to have your family back, and so many exciting milestones to come in 2016. I have done the frame of the jigsaw and stalled.......the days post Christmas are definitely best for jigsaws. The sky looks tricky on the personalized one. It's so hard to exercise and be sensible when it's hot, but keep up the good work!

Shirley--Knot-y Embroidery Lady said...

Happy new year to you! Just stopped in to say "Hi" and love your post. The puzzle of the picture taken in London is very unique. You are loved indeed. As you should be, I might add 😍. Happy every wish your heart desires in 2016.

seabreezequilts said...

Great post must be wonderful to have chicks back closer to the nest. I have found that the key to green tea is making sure that the water is correct temp which means waiting a bit before poring the boiled water in or adding some cold first or in my case using my fancy kettle which heats to correct temp whichever tea you select that way it doesn't come out bitter.

Cardygirl said...

Lovely pics of the travellers, see it was all over before you knew it! Here is to the happiest of years for you dear friend xxxx

Lynda said...

The best start to the new year! Great idea to have your jig saw framed. Peta had one framed a few years ago and it looks fantastic.