Granny Loz

Now...where was I.......

2012-01-31T21:59:00.001+10:30

Oh yeah.......lemonade by the pool on Australia Day.......lovely relaxing afternoon......early night.......because this is how I felt when I got home......a tad deflated/exhausted!

no sleep in on Friday.....had an appointment to de-sparkle my hair........greys begone.....

I love getting my hair done.....I find it very relaxing ........and I get to catch up on the gossip mags that I only read at the hairdressing salon.........same stuff in them....before and after pics of celebs who have lost/gained weight....celebs arriving at / departing from airports on their way to / home from fabulous holidays.....new ways to lose weight (always fast!)....you get the picture.....

Home for lunch.......and a sleep......so went Friday! I needed to rest up so I would be ready for a little road trip on Saturday.......

I was up at sparrow fart to pick up Cheryl (no blog) and we hit the road to Port Pirie .....to catch up with Robyn at Country Hart......oops! No pics.....was too busy talking/looking/shopping!

Off for brunch (I said we started out early!!) then back to the shop for another round! We stopped at Auburn on the way home ....shared a scone with yummy jam and cream with a Chai latte.......

After the early start we were home by mid afternoon and I prepped a block for the Farmer's Wife quilt to sew in the evening......then as I was settling in to watch the tennis and stitch the power went out during a storm........hmmm....sewing by candle light.....wasn't doing it for me........

Thank goodness for the iPad!

Prepping the block was as far as I got towards stitching anything all weekend......on Sunday I woke up with a sore throat and have been a bit under the weather since then......could only manage two sets of Rafa's match on Sunday night :( I even had a half day off work yesterday after cracking hardy and thinking I would be fine and pushing myself to get out the door in the morning! Spent the afternoon on the couch with assorted medications/tissues/orange juice and the remote.......the midday movie was actually not too bad! Back to work today after stocking up on tissues/medication etc.......

I will leave you with a couple of pics of Rose who was more interested in what I was doing than the tennis the other night!

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

Australia Day 2012

2012-01-26T13:52:00.001+10:30

Anyone who has read my blog for a while would know that I organise our Council's Australia Day event. This takes the form of a free breakfast for residents followed by a citizenship ceremony and the presentation of our Australia Day awards. Even though I have organised the event for several years I don't take any aspect of the arrangements for granted and am pleased to say that this morning's breakfast went very well....thanks to all those who have input with the setting up, cooking, serving and helping out with the general running of the event.

this was my view from the stage.......

I joined a friend for coffee after the event......not 'fessing up to which one of us had the iced coffee......................

Gotta love the tiny lamington on the side......

I will leave you with a pic of a very happy organiser with her MC for the day......Vincent recently rejoined our team at Council and did a great job as MC........

Watching tennis while I have some lunch......then off to a friend's house to sit by the pool and enjoy a couple of "lemonades"!

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

Thanks Mary Jo...........

2012-01-23T07:36:00.001+10:30

For emailing me to let me know I had the second row of the Farmer's Daughter block around the wrong way! That will teach me to put blocks together at 2am!

All fixed now........

Funny.....when I posted the pic last night I thought it didn't look quite right.......(that's probably because it wasn't LOL). Thanks again Mary Jo - I really appreciate you letting me know.

On another note.......summer........it's been nice....but I think we are done.....although I don't think you feel the same way...and will be around for a while longer.

I am not sure about my relationship with hand piecing either.....the jury is still out on that one....perhaps it's just because it's been a long time since I did any.......will see how it goes.

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

I love Sundays.......

2012-01-22T22:57:00.000+10:30

What....Sunday again.....who stole last week? January is fast disappearing ......at this rate Girls Day in the Country (GDITC) in late March will be here before I know it....yay! Really looking forward to some holidays and a road trip!

I did get to do some stitching at work last week......and it was "in the line of duty" so to speak......I took the Mayoral chain to the local jeweller to be cleaned a few weeks ago and got it back late afternoon on Thursday....since the Mayor needed it for a function on Friday I had to turn my stitching skills to good use to re-attach the chain to the velvet "collar".......lucky I had a needle and thread in my desk......all done and ready for the function.......

Yesterday was the first get together of the Farmer's Wife variety......that's the Farmer's WIfe quilt of course.......Claire , Val and Shay were there along with non bloggers, Kaye, Denise and Lorraine....who knew there were other Lorraine's out there LOL. Had fun and even got some stitching done....discussion was had during the day regarding each person's expectations on what size quilt they would like to make......I was thinking lap size.......but a table runner might be more realistic! As always fabric selection is my biggest hurdle....once I get that out of the way I'm fine. Part of the reason I made the Civil War quilt in reds/whites was that it made fabric selection easy! Have decided to use a variety of colours in repro prints......and look...I have even used some blue! First time for everything....

Hopefully I will be able to do a few more blocks before our next stitching day.........

And....just because I can.....I started something new during the week........this is a Lenora Jenkins pattern......it's a tablecloth....and is called Housework Can Wait.......it combines piecing, applique and stitchery (around the outer border)......I ordered it from Linda a while ago and it has been sitting on the sewing room table tempting me since it arrived in the post.......I figured some of the Ruby fabrics would be perfect .....so here goes........

Linda wrote about a new stitchery fabric she had in the shop in this post - because I do lots of stitcheries I am always on the look out for something new (or new to me) .....I ordered some and I used it in the little pincushioons I showed in my previous post......

This fabric was lovely to stitch and I will definitely be using it again.

My hexagon project (This Goes with That by Sue Daley) has been severely neglected over the past few weeks.....so this afternoon I gathered up all the packets and made ready to get busy on them again......I am doing the BOM through Hetties Patch. Sue will be teaching at GDITC so I should get a wriggle on and get some more done!

Have been hibernating today....had plans to go out for a while....but a trip to the bin with a bag of rubbish was about it.....too hot for me to be out and about. Besides Rafa was on centre court today so it was worth staying home! also watched the final stage of the Tour Down Under......had a little nap....did some stitching....checked a few blogs....answered some emails............made dinner........did some washing and ironed my work shirts for the week.....I think that's quite enough for one day. I'm tired now!! Better get some sleep ready for the working week....it's a short (but busy) week with Australia Day on Thursday.

'til next time........................Lorraine

Another one bites the dust.........

2012-01-15T23:14:00.000+10:30

This could of course refer to many things.....another day over................

......a Test match won.....a project completed....someone "off the market" , but in this case it refers to another weekend which has gone way too fast and a couple of projects finished! I took a break from the cricket this afternoon and when I came back to it it was all over!!

Speaking of things being over.....my attempt at growing a couple of tomato plants was an epic fail....helped along by Miss Rose who thought that the plants were put there for her amusement........so went right ahead and was amused! Judging by the dirt strewn around the back yard and the chewed remains of the plants...she had a great time!

Cheryl came over a couple of times on the weekend with Buddy......to go for a walk and give the "kids" a chance to play. It was pretty hard to get a decent pic of them....Buddy, who is four, was in awe of Rose who was bouncing around him wanting him to play.....I have lots of pics of Buddy with Rose's tail as she disappeared out of shot....LOL She didn't give up easily either........

The other day I started stitching some pin cushions (another Gail Pan pattern)......

and here are three of them....finished......well....two are still a bit flat and need some filling....but you get the drift.......

I bought a kit for this little wall hanging when I was in Victoria last year.....it's a Natalie Bird design.....and has been sitting on the little table next to the couch for a while now with the stitchery done....so this weekend I finished it.....yay!! Go me!!

I have been enjoying working on some smaller projects....and have even found time some mornings after walking Rose to do some stitching or prep something to work on at night....the thing is though I have dragged out about six smaller projects..some started....some yet to be started.......so is that any different to working on one big project? I am thrilled with my finishes so far though....at this rate I will be ready for Christmas in about March!

Had the kids over for dinner this evening.....thought I would go with an old favourite....Spinach and Ricotta Canneloni since last weekend I went with something new and almost killed Terri....well.....that's a bit of an exaggeration....but we did find out she is allergic to pine nuts! So they are definitely off the menu now! Poor girl - I felt so bad!

Well...back to the small project finishing for me.......have work tomorrow so I shouldn't be staying up too late.....but I probably will! Rose tends not to nag me about staying up late.

'til next time..................Lorraine

All good things........

2012-01-08T23:22:00.000+10:30

.....must come to an end.......and so my two weeks off will end tomorrow when I go back to work. It's been a lovely relaxing time....with no routine to speak of....just what I needed.

This weekend was very social with visitors of both the human and doggy kind! Lexi came for a sleep over and as usual the girls played long and hard.......an old sock bound for the bin became their favourite thing for a while.........

Then it was time to retire to their own "corners" for a nap......they were either going full on or sleeping...there wasn't any in between for them...!

While the girls slept I got myself organised to host the Stitch n' Bitch girls on Saturday for lunch and and afternoon of stitching.....

I put together a Quinoa salad which was delicious.......

This afternoon I decided I needed to get some stitching done so once the kids had gone home I parked myself in the sewing room and got started......! First cab off the rank was this little needle holder from Gail Pan....big bonus was that when I unpacked the little kit I had for it I found that the stitchery was already done - I did it while I was in Melbourne late last year.....and had forgotten about it.....was very happy with this finish..it's cute!

The finishes didn't stop there......I had these bags cut out and ready to go before Christmas.....and now they are done! Into the "present box" they go......

Time I was in the sewing room again....I need to iron a shirt for tomorrow......and then get some sleep so I can be up early for a walk with Rose. I must admit to some very late nights/early mornings while I have been on leave.......so it's back to some more sensible hours now......oooops .....too late.....LOL

For those who are still on holiday .....enjoy! I will be thinking of you when I head off to the office in the morning..oh......one thing I haven't finished is the jigsaw.....it has been neglected for the last couple of days but I will get to it......although it might be still there at Easter at the rate I am going!

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

Today.......

2012-01-04T22:20:00.001+10:30

Today I played at being a domestic goddess...........it was time! I did me spend a bit of tion the jigsaw..and watched cricket.....a girl has to have frequent breaks from the rigours of vacuuming/washing floors, washing....well ...you know how it goes!

I took down the Christmas tree and packed up all the decorations yesterday........I caught one of the bears trying to make a break for it while I had my back turned.....and he had a little friend ....sorry guys....see you later in the year (it will be here before you know it!)

The jigsaw......just the sea to go.....and isn't there a lot of it!

I did take time out to play with my blog header....the angel was given to me for my birthday by one of the girls I work with......I love it........and I love the quote!

The kids are coming for lunch tomorrow so I also shopped for food....... visited with friends while I was out and about ....and took my library book back......not sure what comes after the first overdue notice...but didn't want to find out LOL Pretty slack of me not to have returned it earlier...I work in the same building!

Still haven't managed to get any stitching done but the girls are coming over for lunch/stitching on Saturday so might get something done then.......maybe......LOL

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

Still in holiday mode........

2012-01-02T08:57:00.001+10:30

......and loving it!

I think I have finally started to wind down and relax after a pretty busy couple of weeks at work......this past week I haven't been doing a great deal of anything....but am finally feeling like getting stuck into 2012! Summer has arrived and whilst I don't like the heat much I prefer it to what the people in Christchurch are continuing to deal with.

Had a fun NYE - don't usually go out but this year had an invitation to dinner at a friend's house so went along and had a great night.

I don't make NY resolutions but usually have a word for the year ahead.....2010 was "achieve"....and I certainly did that! 2011 was "live" and I think I grasped most opportunities that came my way .....lots of time spent with old and new friends......a few road trips.....some stitching.......all in all a pretty good year. Which brings me to the word for this year.......thought about it a bit and decided on "continue"......since 2011 was a good year why not continue the fun into 2012......so "continue" it is......one of my goals is to continue my personal growth and be the best I can possibly be.......

I have committed to a couple of group stitch-alongs this year.....or should I just be committed!! I am already behind on the Some Kind of Wonderful SAL....but I have found the book during a clean up of my sewing room yesterday...that counts as starting doesn't it???

.....I have also committed to doing the Farmers Wife quilt with Claire and Val ...the first gtg is later this month.......lucky I found that book as well. My sewing room was in a bit of a mess......and had become "home" for lots of stuff that didn't belong there....so yesterday I got in there and had a clean out.

Before Christmas I received a surprise gift of a charm pack from Lise...thanks Lise and I look forward to catching up with you in March!! (hop over to Lise's blog and see what she has set herself for the new year!!) I wish her luck....I was exhausted just reading the list! Lise also "blames" me for "forcing" her to start her Jim Shore collection.....oh ok....guilty!!

Speaking of Jim Shore......Lynda knew that I was a fan of his Christmas decorations/figurines and sent me this......the nativity creche.....perfect for the wise men I bought earlier and for Mary/Joseph and baby which I found locally.....just need to find some angels and barn animals and I will be set! Thanks Lynda......!! The collecting continues!

I met the lovely Lenora in Febuary last year and was lucky enough to spend some time with her and her family on their dairy farm in Victoria...she surprised me with a gift of cards/envelopes for my birthday......thanks Lenora!

Kris sent me some goodies including a book she made .....which is fabulous.....and it's red!

I also have to share the gift John (Rhi and Mark's dad) gave me for Christmas.......gotta love a box of buttons! The Christmas ducks are thinking they might be good to eat!

Rhi and Wade bought me my Christmas jigsaw....well....Christmas/New Year jigsaw really....I usually start on Boxing Day and work on it over the New Year break.........

and since they have been up to visit a couple of times and spend time with Mark and Terri.....mini golf.....Pictionary.....etc.....Rhi and Wade made a start on the puzzle while they were here......

Still a way to go......just as well I don't have to go back to work until next Monday!! Lots of sea, buildings and boats to go! As well as the jigsaw I have finished reading two books that I got for Christmas so I am really enjoying the break!!

Of course there is the cup of tea and cake to be enjoyed as an afternoon snack.....a girl has to keep up her strength to do all that relaxing!

I haven't been in to the city for the New Year sales but did find these beauties at a local store........love them!!! so comfy.......(but I would love them even if they weren't...LOL)

Looking forward to the rest of the week......time to take down the Christmas decorations and get serious about some sewing before I have to go back to work. The second Test starts tomorrow so might have to organise some hand sewing so I can watch!

.....and a reminder to myself to carry this thought into 2012........

I hope 2012 is all that you want it to be...........Happy New Year!

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

SSCS reveal...........and recap of Christmas 2011

2011-12-26T15:52:00.000+10:30

I stayed up way too late on Christmas Eve and it was well into Christmas Day that I decided to call it a night (or morning!).....it wasn't until then that I was satisfied that all was in readiness for Christmas 2011.

First thing to do when I got up at 6am was to open my SSCS gift from Terry in the US......

Thanks so much Terry....I love it....and it won't be going away with the other Christmas quilts.....this one is going to stay out. ...and thanks to Chooky for organising this swap over the past few years. I always look forward to joining in.

Time just to take a couple of pics of the swap pressie before loading the car and picking up Mark and Terri for the trip to Adelaide for Christmas catch ups.......Mark enjoyed some "breakfast" on the way....rehydrating I believe.......

Terri shared the back seat with the gifts for her nieces and nephews who we would be seeing later in the day.....

First stop was to catch up with Rhiannon and Mark's dad ....John.......

...and his Mum.....here are the kids with their beloved Yia Yia.........

John also bought me a great gift which I will share in another post.........

It was then time to head off to Rhiannon and Wade's house for lunch.........and an oyster shucking lesson for Mark.......Wade using his teaching skills on the rookie......

The "boys" got Nerf guns for Christmas....(as you do) and the girls had to play too.....btw no empty drink cans/bottles were harmed in the following pics.....

Well done to Rhi and Wade for hosting lunch.....Great job guys!!

Time for a pic of me with the kids before we loaded up the car again and made our third stop for the day (possibly only outdone by Santa himself the night before!)

My eldest son Shane was hosting lunch at his house....so I caught up with Jo-Anne as well.....not often all four kids are in the one place.......at the same time....so a pic was in order........

It was also great to catch up with all five grandies as well.........Ryley is quite the little model and wanted her picture taken with her Aunty Rhi.......

.. on her own........

and with her brother and cousins.......

Fourth stop for the day was to Terri's parents for dinner and catch up with her family........more turkey and pudding and a lovely relaxing evening! Mark jumped into the driver's seat for the trip home...and by 10.30 I was tucked up in bed after a fantastic Christmas day.

Today is Boxing Day.....and I have no plans......don't have to be anywhere......at any particular time - a real luxury for me as my days are usually very structured. Showering and changing out of my PJs are options I won't be taking up today....Breakfast was Special K...(good start right......) followed by Maltesers left over from making Malteser slice.....which I took with me yesterday - luckily for me I didn't bring any home or it would have formed part of breakfast!!

Haven't had lunch yet but am thinking it might be Christmas cake....LOL I made these to take as gifts yesterday......and kept one for myself......because I LOVE me some Christmas cake......I also saved a couple of mince pies as well........Yummo!

The only stitching that has been done lately was a few of these little bags I made for work mates.....they were given with bags of Angas Park goodies......

Have been watching the cricket and start of the Sydney/Hobart (yacht) race.......and enjoying my slothfulness! I do need to get some house stuff done ....but not today! the only thing I will do is clean off the dining table to set up my Christmas / New Year jigsaw (courtesy of Rhiannon and Wade). Catching up with friends later in the week and the kids are planning a visit home so my time off work will be most enjoyable. Looking forward to it......and the New Year.....may 2012 be the best year ever!

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

It's Here......Merry Christmas!!

2011-12-25T02:10:00.000+10:30

Christmas 2011.....hope it is everything you want it to be.....it is officially morning but I am leaving my SSCS pressie under the tree to open when it is light! I think I am finally ready for Christmas...the presents are wrapped, the cards are written, the cakes are iced, the turkey is ready......and I need to sleep.....I'll be back later with some pics......camera battery is on charge ready for a big day.

The Festival winds down...........

2011-12-18T18:27:00.001+10:30

Phew...it's been a great week...........I think that's about it for the FOL this year........time to gear up for Christmas now!
Friday I had the morning off work.......I had breakfast with Wade and Rhiannon in Glenelg before heading over to Brighton Road to pick up my birthday present to myself........

How cute is she?? Once I got on the road to come home I just felt like keeping on driving.......perhaps I would have been at Lenora's by now if I had ....LOL......but work was waiting so I went there instead! I came out of work at about 7pm to find a large screw protruding from the rear passenger tyre......that was a bit deflating! Two guys in the office were also working late and came out to change the tyre for me.....which was nice of them! Tyre is repaired and replaced now............

Red was the colour for Friday.........a nice new key ring....a big (red) bag of goodies from the car dealership and some Australia Post love.....

Thanks Lenora and Lynda.....lovely surprises!!

Today was the Christmas gtg of our little stitching group....we have been meeting and stitching / bitching for just over ten years now! Lovely catch up today girls....and some great gifts......as always......

Ian and Cheryl hosted the lunch which was more a feast really........ before the food hit the table.....

There was wine to go with the food........

Christmas choccies.......those Lindt reindeer look a lot like Lindt bunnies with long legs....LOL

My contribution to the lunch was something to have afterwards.........haven't made lamingtons in a while but they turned out ok!

I made a gift for Cheryl this year.........

........and Cheryl made a gift for me......a snuggly lavender heart pillow/jewellery roll and bag......Thanks Cheryl.......!!

Home again now......Mark, Terri, Rhiannon and Wade are here for dinner and we are about to start a game of Pictionary......not that any of us are competitive.....LOL.....should be fun!

Great to have some time with the kids.....with school holidays I may see a bit more of them over the next few weeks......I am looking forward to a week off over Christmas/New Year.

Mark thought he might help out and add some more brandy to the Christmas cake........

Thanks to everyone for their birthday wishes.... had a fantastic birthday and the FOL was awesome. I think I am almost ready for Christmas......almost........

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

The Festival of Loz 2011

2011-12-12T20:45:00.000+10:30

.......The Festival of Loz...kicked off yesterday with a BBQ and drinks. Rose thought all her birthdays had come at once with so many people to talk to .....and there were babies......little people sitting on "her" grass and playing with her toys....she was very well behaved though and was very gentle with them. (I am not sure the gentleness was reciprocated LOL). The company was great and the weather perfect........what more could a girl want?

I should perhaps have called it a "recovery party"....most of the attendees had come off a big night before......some were more "tired" than others......it's that time of year! Mark and Terri "fresh" from a work function.......

Rhi and Wade......

This is possibly the last Festival of Loz these guys will be attending........*massive sad face* My boss and his partner Kellie and their three kids are re-locating to Victoria in the new year.....David has been fantastic to work for/with and I am going to miss him.....a lot!!..Kell was my house-hunting partner when I bought this house....and was also brilliant at putting together Ikea furniture (and packing more Ikea stuff into a car than I thought possible!) and she has been a rock for me!

the Festival probably kicked off on Friday night actually......I arrived home to find a little parcel from my sister in the letterbox......the Queen Bee Pandora charm.....love it!!

Friday night also saw me cooking up a storm....these shortbread stars......lots of them.......

Speaking of baking/cooking....here is Wade cooking up a storm on the (borrowed) BBQ.....the little one I bought back in 2000 didn't enjoy being out in the weather since I moved here ....and unfortunately could not be saved :( Not that I BBQ a lot....LOL....this was the first time in a couple of years!

One of the girls from work gave me this "stitching party" mug.....too cute! ...and who doesn't love getting choccies for a present....along with the owl (which I was eyeing off in a local store just the other day!) Who is a lucky girl then!

This post is getting long....but I have been denied posting for a few days due to some internet issues.......

Someone has a new car! Rhi is very happy with her purchase! Here's to many safe miles/kilometres.....!

Speaking of purchases.......I love me some Jim Shore ornies.....and these three wise men came home with me the other day.......

These are not new.....have had them for a few years now......I try and find one a year to add to the collection......

My lovely friend Wendy bought this for me .......the bears will have some help decorating next year!

That's about it from me tonight...I think I am almost caught up with what's been happening!

The Festival of Loz continues this week...culminating in the "big day" on Friday......what special pressie will be coming my way....?? Watch this space!

I am stressing that my SSCS present hasn't reached its destination yet.......fingers crossed it will arrive soon!

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

It's beginning to look (and smell) a lot like...........

2011-12-06T07:24:00.001+10:30

Christmas! Yay!

I will be taking the cake (literally) for the family Christmas celebration this year.....and have had the recipe out on the bench for a while........then I bought the fruit.......and the brandy........and on Saturday night I decided I really should get it all started........

Then the brandy.........maybe just a splash more.......note my little cook's assistant on the floor on the right....LOL....and she didn't even have a sniff of the brandy..............

and 24 hours later..... into the oven........note the spuds on the left.......the kids were coming for dinner and the cakes were in the v slow oven so I couldn't use it for anything else....so it was baked spuds with tuna mornay........which worked pretty well actually.

I bought the right size tins this year and now have two beautiful cakes.......probably could have bought them for less than it cost me to make....but I love this recipe and there is something special about the smell of slow cooking Christmas cake. Now I just have to put them out of sight so I am not tempted to taste test! Will need to get them out occasionally and give them a splash of brandy......it will be "don't eat cake and drive" on Christmas day.

No stitching going on at the moment.......I was in bed with the chooks last night....not literally of course...but chooks tend to go to bed at sunset....and I could have stayed up and slept on the lounge but decided to go to bed instead. Have been out walking this morning......beautiful weather......cool mornings/evenings and warm days.......good living weather! Off to work.............it's all go there.......looking forward to a few days off over Christmas.....then it will be Australia Day.....again!! How the years are flying by!

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

There was fun, food.........and PJ's

2011-11-29T21:46:00.001+10:30

This week is flying by...........and on Thursday it will be December! yikes!! of course that also means the Festival of Loz is just around the corner!
On Sunday I picked up my sister and drove to visit Mrs P .....(Quilting in my Pyjamas) aka Shay.......and look what was on her clothes line! A quilt and PJ's.......

Val ..........................

and Claire......................

joined us for a great afternoon of stitching and chatting.......Shay worked on a Christmas table runner......started and finished on the weekend......check out the concentration.....

This was going to be a much longer post......but it is suddenly late and I am suddenly tired......Looks like someone else is as well!!

Not that I need any more Christmas decorations.....but found this cute Jim Shore ornament yesterday........ well she was lonely there in the store on her own......

Not much stitching happening this week......I have a couple more gifts to make and I am done with Christmas projects for this year.......I still need to make the Christmas cake.......must get on to that! But not tonight...........

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

Beary good helpers...........

2011-11-26T23:22:00.001+10:30

Today I decided to get the Christmas boxes in from the garage........opened up the first one then got sidetracked so left the bears to it..........

Let me outta here.....

Ahhhhh......that feels better.............

Come on.....we have stuff to do........I'll give you a hand........

I'll hold the tins......you'll be right........

OOooooops...................... sorry .....don't know what happened there.....

Honest....It wasn't me........I didn't do it......

Let there be light(s).............

Ahhhh.....job's done..........

You can see one of the ornaments Terry sent just above the red heart .......I love having the Christmas decorations up.......it's nice to sort through them all and remember Christmas' past....and look forward to this year's festivities. Rose wasn't much help....the bears did it all!

Off to visit Mrs Pyjamas tomorrow..........should be fun!

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

SSCS .....posted and received

2011-11-25T10:36:00.001+10:30

I took some time off today to catch up on a few things. I thought I could hear sleigh bells and also the sound of whip cracking.....surely there was no whip being used on the sleigh carrying the SSCS parcels.....would there be? ? Today was the last day for posting parcels in the swap and today was the day I posted mine off to...???.

Haven't blogged for a while.....I have been working long hours and by the time I get home all I want to do is sleep.....so it's been a bit of a cycle of work/home/sleep......you know how it goes. I have been finishing off my SSCS stitching as well.....and some of it was done in my lunch breaks ...... was really pleased with what I made and I hope the recipient is as well. It was hard ....every time I went to her blog she was making something I had thought about making......so in the end I bit the bullet and chose something and didn't visit her for a while...LOL.....fingers crossed!!

I also paid a visit to the hairdresser today.....I know Christmas is coming and decorating with sparkly things is ok......but I don't need any "sparkly" bits in my hair...so today they were covered again.........and I always enjoy sitting and relaxing in the salon........off to the supermarket then......just as well it was a cool day.....met up with a couple of girls I haven't seen in ages and if the weather had been warmer I think the milk I bought would have been "off" by the time we finished chatting!

when I finally got home I found two parcels waiting for me....yay....love getting parcels! One was the next packet of hexies from Hetties.......I must admit that I made loads of the first instalment.....quite a few of the second....and only one each of the third......other things have been taking up my stitching time...but hoping to get back to them again now.

The other parcel was my SSCS gift ..........from Terry

Always one to do as I am told......

two cute beaded decorations for my tree........

Thank you Terry......the other part of the gift has remained wrapped and now that I have some decorations and a gift I will need to put up the Christmas tree! A job for tomorrow I think.

A big thank you to Chooky for organising the swap again this year.....and to Terry for her gift.........it's tempting....but I won't open it until Christmas morning.

Bed time for me........Rose is already snoring on the lounge!

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

Sunday.....Funday...........

2011-11-14T07:25:00.001+10:30

Yesterday was my "baby's" birthday......he is now 27!! I keep reminding him that no matter how old he gets he will always be the "baby" of the family! (he loves that.....NOT) ......here he is with his birthday cup cakes.......remembering that it is Movember ....I know it's a good cause and everything guys...but......

He didn't even mind the pink patty pans....cake is cake!

Earlier in the day I attended another celebration.....a "puppy" reunion.......I was looking after Lexi so I bundled them both in the car (I think taking kids out was probably easier!) and off we went......this is Poppy and Lulu who are Rose's sisters....they are very chilled and were happy to sit here waiting for the others to get themselves organised.......

........and here is the group.......the three black's on the right of the pic are from the litter before Rose.......Mum Ruby is being held at the back on the left.....looking down at all the "kids" as if to ask why they all keep coming back! Rose is at the front.....

Here is Lexi.... just lapping up the attention......

She had a ball running around with all the others and having a sleep-over with Rose......they were both exhausted last night!

When I got home I dug out the Christmas cake recipe.......I am taking the cake (literally) to Christmas day celebrations this year ....so had better start thinking about whipping it up so it can sit for a few weeks being moistened with brandy occasionally.........so there will be no "eating and driving" on Christmas day.....LOL

Another weekend gone......a busy one.............and it also included some SSCS stitching .....it will be ready to post...it will be ready to post.......

But no stitching today.....well I could...but not sure the boss would like it!

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

Home again......

2011-11-11T21:02:00.001+10:30

It's been a big week.......in order to be able to attend a residential conference in the city I worked back for a few nights to make sure everything was up to date before I left.........the conference is held annually and I missed last year so was keen to go this year. ....an added incentive was that my boss was a key note speaker.....and he had done his presentation without my help.....so I was looking forward to seeing what he had come up with.! It's a good chance to catch up with those doing the same job in the same industry.....I always come back with renewed enthusiasm for my job. This was the conference venue......

complete with distractions......

Had to walk on my own this morning since Rose was having her own "conference" with Lexie.........not sure what she would have thought of these guys....don't see anything like them on our usual morning walks!

Last night I caught up with Leanne for dinner ......

We haven't caught up for ages....so had plenty to talk about! There were certainly no gaps in conversation LOL

Left the conference at lunch time today and came back to the office for a few hours.......then picked Rose up.....she was pleased to see me ...but even more pleased to see my sister apparently.....Kate is staying with me for a few days (she shopped while I was at the conference!) .....so Rose made herself at home......

.............then decided to come sit with me while I checked a few blogs...

that was a hint for me to get rid of the laptop and give her some attemtion......sure is nice to be home.

now.....it's time I was getting into my SSCS project.......mailing date is fast approaching!....and I can hear the chief elf cracking that whip!

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

Seriously....would you do this??

2011-11-09T16:06:00.001+10:30

You are a bloke in a relationship of several years standing......having a flirty affair with a woman in your workplace........

it's your birthday........

you get some gifts ....including some balloons delivered to your office......no name on the card....just the balloons......

Do you ask your partner (the real one, not the "affair") if she sent them?

Seriously.....would you???

Awwwwwwwkwaaaaaaaaaaaaaard when she says "no".

Two years on - I can laugh about it now!

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

A finish and some secret stitching.....

2011-11-07T07:40:00.000+10:30

Stayed up late last night........watching Casey win the final race for the 2011 MotoGP season......he was about 9secs up at one stage and I thought I might go to bed.......but didn't....and what a finish! It was worth staying up for. Before any racing got underway there was a tribute to Marco Simoncelli from riders/teams to say goodbye - a minute of noise.....his father thought that was appropriate.....then it was down to what they do best....race. Ciao Marco!

Apart from the bike racing I had a stitchy kind of weekend.......off to meet the girls on Saturday for some "stitchin' and bitchin'" - lunch followed by some stitching - and I really had to do some stitching this time.....the SSCS deadline is in sight and as usual I have set myself a task of some proportion.....which means I am stitching every spare minute I get.

I interrupted the secret stitching to get the binding on the Kaleidoscope baby quilt which is leaving for the UK tomorrow. Val did a great job of quilting it and getting it back to me late last week so I could get it finished. Thanks Val!

Here it is .....all done and ready to go to it's new home. BTW this is not a huge quilt.....my clothes line is small! Hanging out sheets is an interesting exercise......they have to be halved and hung over a few lines....but they get dry and that's the main thing!.....

A pic of the quilting....a plain back with variegated thread......

I have to say thanks to Cardy...I saw her Kaleidoscope quilt and ordered the pattern from Cluck Cluck Sew. It went together really well and I will be making this one again......it turned out a bit "greener" than originally intended......that's because I made the mistake with cutting....I hope the recipient will love it.

A sneak peek of one of the pieces of secret stitching......

Having fun with making for this swap again....didn't take part last year.....had a year off from most things really....but this year I am back.

Almost time to go to work......beautiful morning.....too good to stay in bed thinking about going for a walk......LOL....so got up and did it! Rose loves it...and so do I (once I get out of bed that is).

That's it from me for now.........it's off to work I go......(I owe...I owe...) you know how it goes.....LOL .....Not sure which one of the seven dwarfs I would be......no need to comment on that btw LOL

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

The great escape overview........

2011-10-31T20:44:00.001+10:30

For those who were concerned that Claire and I overdid it with the lollies and chocolate ......this was the picnic breakfast Claire put together yesterday........knew the picnic set I have been carrying around in the boot of the car for a few years would come in handy!

.......the weekend flew by pretty quickly.....not much stitching got done......well not by me anyway.....others did better! Robyn did a great job (as usual) with setting up for the weekend...well stocked goody bags and a project folder were ready for us on day one......

Gail and Natalie had several projects to unveil and it was difficult to choose which one to start on.....so I took myself off to the shop to think.....hmmmm...then it was time for morning tea......and a catch up with some of the other girls.......was very tempted by Gail's stitching folder........

I finally decided to start on Natalie's IPad pouch......

I did say "made a start" LOL......it's still "started"...........LOL (will show the progress another time......)

Claire and I went shopping for our picnic goodies on Saturday night......and this gave Claire a chance to show off her "hostess" skills when we found these boxes of chocolates.....no....we didn't buy any...we were on a mission for healthy stuff! There may have been some dancing in the aisles to Christmas carols....but I won't be mentioning that!

Day two was devoted to all things Christmas......

I chose Gail's Merry Christmas Days to work on ......and bought a finishing kit for Natalie's cute Christmas pockets........

Uploading photos is as slow as a wet week at the moment........*sigh*

Had a ball on the weekend......will share some more pics another time......

Here we are.....the "A" table with Gail and Natalie.....

Back to work tomorrow.......had today off to do some home stuff and work on my SSCS.....and take Rose to the groomer......

Before.................

After.........you might notice that she is giving me "the look".....she wasn't happy about having the hair cut......and she did have a cute little bow in her hair when she got home...it lasted all of three minutes....she didn't like that either!

Great weekend.......thanks Gail, Natalie and Robyn ......and all the ladies who attended to make it such a fun time.......!

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

Sometimes it's the little things..........

2011-10-31T15:45:00.002+10:30

Sometimes it's the little things that make you smile.......like.......accidental flowers....

Self seeded Sweet Peas ....not all the different colours that last year's crop.....but very pleasing to the eye (and nose) all the same.....

......a clean / dust free fridge top...LOL.....I am not tall...so don't really see all the dust on the top of the fridge.....but I know it's there......so today was the day....and the dust (grime......whatever...) is gone....look all sparkly.......

Having said all of the above......I have been trying to upload pics from the weekend in Port Pirie....and I have some crackers!.....but am having trouble uploading them....grrrrrrrrr...that doesn't make me smile...so will just concentrate on the stuff that does at the moment.....will be back later when Blogger is playing nice!!

I will say I am suffering sugar withdrawal today....LOL

'til next time................Lorraine

Living on the edge................

2011-10-28T22:01:00.001+10:30

Claire and I are living on the edge this weekend and have travelled to Port Pirie for a stitching weekend at Country Hart with Gail and Natalie........I checked earlier and they had arrived in Adelaide with only minimal delay which was good given there have been a few disruptions to flights lately.

We are doing it tough..........just a few snacks to get us through........

If you look closely you might notice that someone else's snack came along as well......there is one packet we won't be opening this weekend! I am sure her carer this weekend will make sure she doesn't miss out ........

I managed to finish the baby quilt top I was working on last weekend......having said that ...it wasn't without some "issues".....nothing wrong with the pattern mind you....it was me! I spent ages working out what fabrics I would use.....whether I would use a plain background with coloured "kites" or the reverse......made my decision...it would be a cream background with coloured kites......so I cut enough for about half the blocks and laid them out on the floor in the sewing room.......that was the weekend before last.......so last Saturday I set about cutting the rest of the blocks.......took all the pieces into the sewing room.....sat on the floor to start laying them out.....hmmm...that's not right.......I had of course cut plain kites and coloured background pieces.......muttering and cursing followed....Rose was shocked!! Luckily I had enough (just) of the fabrics to re-cut the blocks....that will teach me to only cut half at a time.......this was the layout before I sewed the blocks together....

I wasn't quite finished by the time the kids came over for tea.....and I couldn't settle to anything else after I had watched the MotoGP so I sewed....until late........

I took it to work to show Jo (who will be taking it to Enlgand when she goes in a week or so) and didn't think to get a pic of it before I shipped it off to Val who kindly said she would quilt it for me ...even though she had just arrived back from her OS holiday. Looking forward to getting it back, bound and handed over.

Not much else to report this week...no hexies were stitched.......I did start on my SSCS gift which is going to ..(can't say)..............somewhere in the world. But that was the extent of my stitching this past week....I am sure I will make up for it over the next couple of days! Just as well we are good at muti-skilling and can stitch AND talk at the same time.....!

Looking forward to catching up with Robyn, Gail and Natalie tomorrow.

Along with snacks we bought reading material..........Claire is using all her "hostess" (as in the Price is Right etc..) modelling "skills" here.......note also that Claire travels with her own pillow and quilt......

The marshmallows and some other goodies are now missing from the snack pic above......Claire is a bad influence !!

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

Sad Sunday

2011-10-23T20:46:00.001+10:30

MotoGP and the world lost a big character today with the death of Marco Simoncelli.....Vale Marco

I will miss your energy and enthusiasm.... the spark you bought to the sport.....MotoGP won't be the same :(

Ah....Friday night....

2011-10-21T19:37:00.001+10:30

.......how I love thee! Drinks with friends after work......to say goodbye to one workmate and welcome to another.....home for dinner....and some stitching while watching a movie time with Rose (who, quite frankly is paying more attention to her hew bone than me!).....The baby quilt is on the list to do this weekend.....

All work and no play......

2011-10-18T20:43:00.000+10:30

Well...that's probably not quite true.......I did get to play on the weekend.....but the weekends go so fast sometimes it seems like they don't even happen! .........I think it's the same for all of us.

I did take some time on the weekend to watch the MotoGP (on TV) and see Casey win............maybe next year I will go to Phillip Island to see it....might see Lynda there!

While I was watching I made a start on Month 2 of Sue Daley's This Goes With That BOM......I am getting it from Hetties Patch in repro fabrics....

Not that I made much progress.....didn't want to miss any of the race. I bought a "stable" tray which works a treat for stitching these hexies while watching TV. ....well I guess it's more like listening to the TV really.

I also made a start on a baby quilt...one of the directors at work is going to visit her grandson in England and asked if I would make a quilt for him ......she leaves in a couple of weeks...so no pressure :)

I had no idea what to do and then saw this Kaleidoscope quilt on Cardygirl's blog - it's a Cluck Cluck Sew pattern (love that name!).....gotta love patterns in PDF! ......so after a bit of searching through the stash I came up with some fabric and started cutting.....laid out a few blocks ...and that was about it....it was time to stop and cook dinner for the kids .......I thought I would pick a couple of the prints that I really liked and make some random stars to highlight them......wasn't sure what to use for the background.....tried a couple of different ones and in the end stayed with the cream......

I should get the top finished this weekend.....and then I have to decide how to quilt it!

We had some rain last week and I wanted to get rid of the weeds while the ground was still soft.....so on Friday night after work I took advantage of daylight saving and weeded the front garden .....was very pleased with my efforts...I planned to get the back garden done as well.....but it was getting dark by the time I finished the front so left it for another day. There is a limit!!! Speaking of gardens....I didn't get around to putting in any sweet pea plants this year....but had some self seeded ones come up from last year......I picked some and bought them inside...couldn't find a small vase so made do with a champagne glass.....

Couldn't find the marbles for the "vase" either....(there are some who would say they aren't surprised that I have lost my marbles....LOL)....so used some buttons....it works for me :)

I don't get to read as many blogs as I would like during the week...but I did read Chooky's post on GDITC...could this mean a road trip next March? I would think so! Watch this space!

So it really isn't all work with no play.......I go to work....so I CAN play!

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

Stitching? ....not so much......

2011-10-09T23:03:00.000+10:30

I think I managed one hexie for the entire weekend....and that was on Friday night!

Saturday a group of us visited the Patchwork Apple's quilt exhibtion in Woodside....which meant of course we "had" to have lunch at the bakery there.....tough I know!

The exhibition featured quilts made in class at the Patchwork Apple and by Jane and Sara and were predominately in repro fabrics........this is the centre medallion of one of my favourites.......

Jane also included some of her antique quilts .......love the colours and fabrics......

A visit to the "shop" was a must......I haven't had a chance to visit the new Patchwork Apple since Jane relocated.....but I can see a Tuesday or Wednesday off in the near future!

After a cuppa we headed home........... Rhiannon arrived home before me.......she is on school holidays so came to spend a couple of days with me........Mark and Terri joined us and we went for a round of mini golf .............Mark led the way and had plenty of advice for us for the entire round..........

Rhi about to tee off.............

All concentration from Terri......

Mark won the day....with Terri and Rhi tied for second.....who knew getting the highest score meant I came in last.....LOL

I made lamb casserole and damper for dinner..........it makes a change to cook for more than one! Damper straight out the oven with butter......yum!!

Rose is loving having more people to play with......she isn't too sure about giving up her seat on the lounge though!! While I was in a newsagency in Victoria I saw this magazine cover ..........Does it get better than a Cocker.....????? I don't think so.....but I guess I am a bit biased.

So.....back to work tomorrow........as usual the weekend has disappeared in a flash!

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

Tis the Season........

2011-10-04T07:42:00.001+10:30

I joined in the Tis the Season Stich-A-Long and got the top finished some time ago.....I put it on the quilt stand to take a pic....and there is stayed......Until Chooky - aka Stitch-A-Long "boss" (whip cracker) posted that we wouldn't be able to come play in the new Stitch-A-Long until the current one was finished............well....................that was it......I stitched my butt off over the weekend......truth be known I probably added to my butt as all I did was sit on it and stitch..........Anyhoo.......here it is....the finished quilt......!

So....can I play now Chooky?? Have a look at the Stitch-A-Long blog and see Chooky's sister's post......yes.....she has us all running scared.....!! LOL

Back to "normal" for me today after a week off. It's been a great break and I am looking forward to getting the mail today - hopefully my parcel of goodies will be arriving...I ended up posting most of my purchases from the week home. While I was away I also posted a parcel to my sister who lives in the Northern Territory...it was her birthday on Friday and I posted the parcel so it would get to her on the day........so imagine my surprise when I got home and found it waiting for me .......yep.....not deterred at all by the big "TO" on one side and the "FROM" on the other it was delivered to my address......will be in the post again today! Take two ......

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

Where was (am) I.....??

2011-09-29T11:30:00.000+09:30

I flew in to Melbourne on Friday last week.......on the way to Simpson we stopped in at Blue Willow Cottage ..very remiss of me not to take pics....but a lovely shop and well worth a visit if you are in the vicinity. So within an hour of so of arriving the patchwork shop crawl had begun!! Then of course there was Linda's shop...Gum Valley Patchwork....On Sunday / Monday there was Threadbear .............
Monday morning we were up early and went for a walk ...there are some lovely old homes in Castlemaine.....

Then it was off to Threadbear again to see if we had missed anything the day before.....one can't take any chances!.....Here is Gail going into the shop........couldn't take a pic of her coming out......would have been way to incriminating! (Sorry Gail....but it takes the "heat" off me...and what I might have purchased!) :)

On the way back to Melbourne we had to stop for lunch - at Gisborne.....oh who knew there were a couple of patchwork shops there?? Drapers of Mt Macedon and Quilters Bazaar

Gail wasn't done yet and there was one more stop before we arrived at her house.......Somerset Patchwork......where I met Karen and Mrs Billings..... or her coverlet to be more precise....this is available as a BOM and I was sorely tempted.......I didn't "cave" but that doesn't mean I won't ...LOL

The week has gone quickly......and Gail and her family are great hosts!

Where else have we been?........Gail's sewing group on Tuesday night........and we caught up with Kris for coffee and a long chat during the day on Tuesday.....yesterday we went to Warburton to the Patchwork Tea House (which is for sale if you don't want to stop at just buying fabric/patterns/tea and cake!) .....we opted for just the latter yesterday.......

Hardly any calories in that rhubarb and apple friand and hot choccy! We also found a very cute shop Red Mud Hut which stocks b.sirius bags........could have been tempted by one of those...maybe........

Next stop was to visit Carol's shop....Heart and Home Patchwork at Yarra Junction........then on to Mrs Martin's .....Karen and I have been emailing for a few years now and it was fantastic to finally meet her IRL.......and here she is......

Karen has recently relocated her shop and it was very cosy and welcoming....thanks for the cuppa and chat Karen.....I bought a couple of Viv Robinson's patterns from Karen......I am quite a fan of Viv's work. (You can find pics of her patterns on the website). Gail wasn't finished yet and the last stop of the day was at Foothills Fabric and Threads where I purchased some fabric to use in one of Gail's new designs - pics are on Gail's FB page which you can find on her blog.... lucky Gail's hubby was on hand to cook dinner.....we didn't have the energy! I think that's ten patchwork shops visited in the past 6 days....along with several of these......

and a few op shops......as I am flying home I didn't buy much in these shops! As it is I will be visiting the post office this afternoon to post some of my purchases home......packed way too many clothes as usual!!

Here is a pic for Val......a miniature quilt shop in Mrs Martins.....

The sun has just come out so Gail and I are off for a walk.

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

Walking off the choccies and cheese...

2011-09-25T22:21:00.000+09:30

Great start to the day today with a walk around the bay..........

Followed up by a visit to Linda's shop - just to say goodbye of course...........

Here is Linda with her prize winning quilt Dear Prudence............

......and a close up of some of the 18,000 hexies.....btw Linda is planning her second hexi quilt!!

Threads anyone??

We left Linda re-organising the shop after the stitching day yesterday.....and headed to Castlemaine....arriving just in time to catch 20 minutes shopping in Threadbear before they closed for the day.......hard to do too much damage in 20 minutes - isn't it???? LOL if you believe that you probably believe in the tooth fairy.......! the shop is open again in the morning so we will be there to check out anything we may have missed today.

Need to catch up on some sleep tonight..........a girl needs her energy - a big day planned for tomorrow! Gotta love holidays! btw David...if you are reading this - I won't be in this week!

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

Comedy Relief by......

2011-09-24T23:01:00.000+09:30

Moi ......well that's if you call falling out of the passenger seat of the car funny! Got my foot caught in the strap of my handbag as I was getting out of the car tonight ......made a very undignified landing on the concrete.....no injuries...apart from my pride! (Severely dented!!) All I could think of as I was falling was how funny it must have looked from Gail's angle....the peals of laughter coming from the driver's seat proved how right I was! .....and it continued to amuse both of bus for quite some time! ........

Relaxing now after a fabulous day spent in Simpson....stitching....and yes....it is Spring but the weather was decidedly chilly....although 70 women in one room made for a lovely warm atmosphere!

Linda did a fantastic job of organising the day and Gail and Lenora designed several fabulous projects for us to work on........

Here are a few random pics from the day .........

Name tags........two Lorraine's ....who knew??...... two of us!!!

Bags of patterns/fabric and chocolate..........perfect combination........

Miss Vickie......................we used to hang out at the Patchwork Apple......now I have to come to Victoria to play!

The "A" table..............

Hard at play.......

Lenora, Linda and Gail............

I worked on one of Lenora's patterns.....a heat bag cover....finished the stitching - just need to do the applique on the hive and flowers......

The hours passed too quickly and the day was filled with good fun, good company and of course good food.....although I stayed away from the really good stuff.....cheesecake, pavlova and sticky date pudding.......

Although the stitching day in Simpson is over the fun continues tomorrow as Gail and I drop in to Linda's shop (just in case we missed something today) on our way to Castlemaine. We are on a mission.............destination .....Threadbear!

'Til next time....................Lorraine (aka bumblefoot!)

Stitching in Simpson.............

2011-09-23T21:19:00.000+09:30

An early start this morning .....and as the sun came up over the hills I was at the airport waiting for an early flight to Melbourne.......

Gail used her extreme driving skills to weave through the traffic at Melbourne airport to pick me up and we were off on our road trip to Simpson for the inaugral Stitch in Spring in Simpson hosted by Linda from Gum Valley Patchwork with Gail and Lenora as our tutors........had a sneak peek this afternoon while the girls were setting up........will share some pics tomorrow night. (l will say that Linda has done an incredible job of setting up the local footy clubroom.....lots of goodies on hand for everyone attending)

Staying in a lovely unit right on the bay at Port Campbell......dinner was a great meal at the local Greek restaurant .......and a whole day of stitching coming up tomorrow......Life is good.

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

Some progress......

2011-09-13T07:54:00.003+09:30

I woke up this morning......poked my nose out of the covers and realised it was a frosty morning......then spent the next 20 minutes talking myself out of going for a walk.....it didn't work and I could hear my little walking mate going in and out of her doggy door to go around to the sliding door to see if I was up yet......OK.....Ok......so I bit the bullet and headed out for a walk....glad I did...what a beautiful morning....fresh.......a great start to the day!

I got some stitching done on the weekend.......unpicked some of the applique block and restitched........ here is the finished article...........

.....and yes... I did mention in my last post that I had fallen off the "no buying" bandwagon......and have started Sue Daley's This Goes With That BOM......from Hetties. Here are the first three hexies ....the first of many I think......they go together easily and are a nice break from the needleturn of the other project......

Time I was going to work....... but thought I would post a couple of pics of my stitching progress. Tis The Season is on the "agenda" for this weekend....just need to quilt it and I am done.....I can hear Chooky's whip cracking in the distance!

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

The best laid plans...........

2011-09-09T07:46:00.002+09:30

Last Sunday as I lay in bed contemplating my day I decided that it would a day of stitching...yep....all day .........so I got up early and readied myself for a long day of stitching.......breakfast first......then I thought I should really do the breakfast dishes.........while the dishes were "soaking" I wiped down the kitchen bench......oh...there's that empty jug.... - I should get some flowers from the garden for that......so out the back with the snips.....hmmmm....a couple of bushes really could/should be cut back.....snip....snip.......oh...the flowers.....got them......back inside......messed around with the flowers for a while.....cleaned up the bits of foliage on the bench......

.......then wiped the cupboards down.....paw prints .....wonder how they got there??? .......well.......it just went on from there......some dusting.......re-arranging.......de-cluttering ......and all of a sudden it was lunch time. Not a problem.....will sew after lunch....but wait......a little ball of fine dog hair caught my eye......it was rolling across the floor in the breeze......damn ....now I've seen it I have to deal with it - out came the vacuum from the cupboard......and the floor really needs a wash......out with the mop.......hmmm.....If I put this bit of furniture over here it would look way better.......

.....and that good people is when it happened......."the injury".....the proof if you like that housework IS indeed a danger to one's health! Did something to my back.....something muscular.....this has meant I have been in some pain since then ....not enough to prevent me from going to work but enough to make sitting and sewing at night (or in fact even sitting and doing nothing) unattractive to me.....and sleeping ...well.....that has been "interesting"....early nights......but being woken constantly by muscle spasms.....ouchie!! (or sooky sooky la la some would say!)

Now it's Friday and I am feeling much better...... hoping by the weekend I will be back (get it..."back") to normal and there will be NO housework done this weekend...oh ...ok....some but no moving of furniture......might even get some stitching done!

This blanket box was the culprit.........it's very old and very solid.........and one of my favourite things.....

It was under the quilt hanger here

.......but I thought it needed to be over the other side of the room.....It does look good there but next time I want to move it I will ask for help (will I really???)

My sister did suggest I needed a man in a glass cabinet....?? you know the one with "break glass in emergency" (or when you need help with shifting furniture)!
We have had a return to winter temps during the past week and some windy days saw the blossoms on the trees out the front of my house go from this......

to this........

Last Sunday wasn't a complete bust as far as stitching went...I did manage to make a start on the applique for the long term Basket quilt.......still some work on this block a few more flowers and a heart or two.....and some unpicking probably! but I think it's going to be a fun quilt to work on .........

And confession time.......I have fallen off the "no buying" wagon.....oh ...perhaps that's how I injured myself??? More on that next time........right now it's time I was going to work!
Happy Friday!

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

If you can't play the game......

2011-09-04T11:46:00.000+09:30

is the next best thing to join the commentary team for the local radio station??

Mark was disappointed when his team missed out on playing in the footy finals.....so he probably wouldn't think so ........but he has been having fun (and I think doing a great job! .....am I biased? ....yes, absolutely!) commentating the games for the local radio station.

Here he is in action yesterday.....(and photo credit to Terri - I pinched the pic from her FB page) ......he is known as "Captain Cliche" - the statistician keeps track of his cliches along with game stats......

Having a house work kinda Sunday....didn't plan it that way.......but one thing leads to another - I am intending to be in the sewing room for the rest of the afternoon though.

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

Cosy Crazy......

2011-08-29T21:33:00.000+09:30

Our library recently held a tea cosy competiton.........and yesterday the winners of the various categories were announced at......an afternoon tea! What better way to celebrate than with tea and jelly cakes! .......oops too late for the jelly cakes.....which went like "hot" cakes......

Some of the entries........

My personal favourite.....

Cock-a-doodle-cosy.........

Not being a knitter I was impressed with the knitted cosies.....the honey pot......

and the overall winner.......

That little mouse dunking his Oreo was just too cute!!

This one won a prize for innovation.......it's made entirely of tea bags and the flowers are made from the boxes the tea bags come in.........I missed getting pics of the fruit bowl cosy, the Jester cosy and many others.......

This cosy was knitted by the entrant's Nanna who passed away in 1956....a sentimental favourite. .....I can't leave the Tea Cosy display without congratulating Julie and the other fantastic library staff who are always coming up with great ideas.....and working hard to carry them out. Well done!!

Leanne has just bought Really Wild Tea Cosies by Loani Prior..........so watch out over there for some creative fun!

Speaking of being creative.....I cut out the fabric for the basket blocks for my Basket quilt.....18 of them.....and even made the templates for the first basket.......it is said that every journey starts with a single step....I feel I have taken that step in the making of what is going to be my long term project! Procrastination over fabric choices is bound to make it an even longer one! :)

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

Catching up......

2011-08-27T20:01:00.001+09:30

Sometimes I feel like I am going in circles and not achieving much........but I think everyone feels like that on occasion. Not sure what happened but I didn't get around to posting last weekend.....or during this past week......what's up with that???

Rose and I hit the pavement early this morning for a walk....it was cold and very foggy but we managed to find our way home again. It wasn't long before the sun burnt the fog off and it turned into a beautiful day.......I have managed to walk on all but one morning this week.....and with the sunnier weather it hasn't been so hard to get out and about. Rose is loving it of course! She would walk in a hail storm and still enjoy it I'm sure!

Last Sunday I spent some time in the sewing room...not sewing ....just cleaning and tidying! I looked after a couple of little girls in the afternoon....they had just finished telling me that my house is always tidy "because you don't have any kids living here" when they came into the sewing room and one of them said "this room is a m-e-s-s".......oops....copybook blotted!! It does look much better now..and it was fun "playing" and discovering stuff. I am procrastinating over what to start next...which of course means I am not sewing ANYTHING! I do have a front runner in the "next project" stakes.......it's this one .... The English Basket Quilt from Threadbear....

I picked up the pattern and this "starter kit" of repro fabrics when I visited the shop in March this year.......

I think it's a worthy project to start next! (watch this space....LOL)

Whilst the days are becoming warmer the nights and mornings are still pretty cool......so I was pleased to find a little package in the mail box one night when I got home from work......it was from Mum and she sent me these....

Thanks Mum......warm feet...yay!!

A couple of girls, Yvonne and Deb (no blogs) from the Civil War class last year came to visit today......It was great to see them ......not much show and tell....mostly we just talked...and talked.....and drank cups of tea and even had some time out for lunch! ....and then talked some more......Yvonne has made a start on From the Heart by Lori Smith .....

We have all decided to make this quilt.....but Yvonne is the only one to have made a start. I am hoping to start once I have been back to Threadbear to pick up a few more small pieces to build up the repro stash, so won't be starting anytime soon.

Deb had her Miss Gladys quilt (a kit from Hetties Patch I think) and I managed to take a pretty awful pic...the fabric is La Petite Ecole from French General Fabrics.....

A closeup of one of the alphabet blocks....Love these fabrics........

So that was about it for the day........the litle trees in my back garden have burst into bloom...and the red coloured leaves are making an appearance......there is a huge tree in the neighbour's yard that burst into bloom last weekend and this weekend the blossoms have all but disappeared to be replaced by the leaves......nature sure moves fast sometimes! (quicker than me with my camera this time that's for sure!!) It was an amazing sight for a few days!!

Rose amused herself outside most of the day today.......and tonight she is chillaxing on the lounge.....not a very ladylike pose .........but it seems to be her favourite pose!

The garden is calling my name and tomorrow I need to get out there and get rid of a few weeds....it's not only the beautiful things in nature that grow fast!!

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

Still here.......

2011-08-19T09:54:00.003+09:30

Just realised how long it is since I posted!

I am still here.....not much going on .......not a lot to say........no stitching......!

Yikes!!

The sun is out today which is a bit of an event since we haven't seen much of it lately - blossoms are appearing on the trees so Spring must be around the corner (hiding at the moment) and the days are getting longer - well the daylight hours are.....I am sure if the days were actually longer I would have achieved something worth writing about.

I have been spending less time on the computer at home and more time on the treadmill - which whilst it isn't as much fun is probably better for me. Rose isn't so impressed witht he treadmill thing....she would rather be out and about walking with me - but the weather of late hasn't been very friendly for long walks outdoors so the treadmill it is.

Hopefully I will be back with some stitching news (or something) during the weekend.

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

A couple of finishes.........

2011-08-07T22:09:00.000+09:30

Today was Ella's birthday party..........the quilt was delivered to her at the party.....

I haven't worked with these colours in a while and really enjoyed it......I had an RDO from work on Friday and spent the day quilting and binding the Ella's quilt. Although given that I technically finished stitching the binding at 2.30am on Saturday I guess I spent some of Saturday finishing it. The weather has been cold and wet the past couple of days but I managed to get a pic of the quilt on the clothesline between showers.....

Look ....there was even a bit of sunshine!! After the photo shoot it was off to stitching with the girls......great food ....lots of laughs....and.a fair amount of discussion about some of the ailments that afflict us as we age. I even got some stitching done! Then it was home via the supermarket for the weekly food shop ......was going to leave it until today but had run out of too many things...home for dinner and out again to a quiz night.....fun night with some friends from work....we didn't win but it's not all about winning is it? Really.....???? hmmmm...the jury is still out on that one.... :)

I looked after Lexi this weekend while Mark and Terri had a night out to celbrate Terri's birthday......so she and Rose played all weekend.....of course as it was raining most of the time my floors are trashed.....oh well.....you get that.......I am sure they will be fine once I get around to washing them.......Lexi went home tonight after dinner and Rose is now catching up on some sleep! It won't be long before I head off to catch up on my sleep...a couple of late nights would normally have been followed up with a sleep in....but the neighbours had a garage sale on Saturday morning so I was woken by the sound of car doors slamming from about 7.....and this morning it was an early morning call from Mum......and tomorrow is Monday AGAIN!! so it will be back to work........no sleeping in on Mondays!

Between catching up with friends, the quiz night, birthday party and the usual round of housework I managed to finish this as well:

Really enjoyed this book....and from some comments received a lot of other people have as well. I must say that I have loved getting back into reading ......... cheap escapism.......and great when you wake up at 3am and can't get back to sleep. Although I did have to be careful with this book that I didn't do some damage to my face if I fell asleep whilst reading!

Nice to get a couple of finishes this weekend......there has been no time spent on the computer though so haven't caught up with blogs or emails. I am really tempted to start a new project but there are still a couple of things I want to finish first........who knew - I have turned into a "finisher" ...woo hoo.......

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

You get days like that....................

2011-08-01T07:21:00.002+09:30

Yesterday was a cracker.....could also say....a corker....a pearler..yep.....perfect weather - sun shining....real warmth in it and a clear blue sky. Whilst some of Saturday was spent whiling away the day with household chores, a visit from a friend and some planning for a quilt most of the day I had my nose buried in this:

At around a thousand pages there is a lot to bury your nose in! Fascinating read! I put it aside yesterday though and spent some time working on a quilt for a friend's daughter.....

Not the best pics but by the time I got around to taking photos last night it was late.......I thought about going to bed but decided to do a blog post.....spent about an hour on it.....yep...pretty happy with it....I will just put a couple of links in......internet link dropped out and although Blogger said there was a saved draft.....they lied...it was just a blank page....how very annoying!! So I went to bed in a snit and thought this morning it might just be there for me to work on and publish.....Nah.....so it was back to square one.

Anyhoo..........

Yesterday before I hit the sewing room Rose and I went walking on the recently completed bike/walking trail in Angaston. It was great.......terrific views and easy walking.....here are a few pics:

Entering the cutting.......

various views.......

Entering the Angaston station.......way better than the weed infested area that it was previously.....

One of the pieces of art along the trail.........this "guy" was quite life like from a distance....but Rose didn't really like him......she growled as we were walking up to the seat.......and she doesn't growl at anyone usually.......

..but after giving him a close look (and sniff) she decided he was OK and was happy to continue the walk.....

So that was the weekend.......quite productive really.........except for the "lost" blog post last night......oh.......if you get a chance hop over to see Linda at Gum Valley Patchwork......her wonderful hexi quilt, Dear Prudence, just won big time at the Melbourne Quilt and Craft Fair........!

Well done Linda - this quilt is amazing - I was lucky enough to see it in the "flesh" earlier in the year while Linda was still working on it......photos just don't do it justice.

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

Almost caught up..........

2011-07-26T21:52:00.000+09:30

Some serious cutting and sewing over the weekend resulted in me finally being caught up with my Civil War block of the week....phew..........well.....I was caught up until Saturday evening when the next block was posted.

Here is a pic of the blocks so far.............this was a random pinning of the blocks to a sheet which I pinned to the curtains so there may be some tweaking of the final lay out.....I am pretty happy with most of the blocks.....it's a fun project and the blocks go together really quickly and easily (mostly!) - I decided early that I would limit the colours to browns/pinks/reds - because those are the fabrics I had on hand and I am not buying any more.

The days are getting longer......I know that because I can now see my keys to get in the front door when I get home from work.... and the sun has been out the past few days which always makes you feel better I think.

My sleep pattern is still majorly disrupted from staying up to watch the Tour - I guess it will take a little while to get back to normal.....whatever "normal" is.

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

Crikey......it's Cadel!!

2011-07-24T01:29:00.000+09:30

If I thought watching the Tour de France over the past few weeks has been exhausting I can't even imagine what the guys actually riding in it have been feeling! ........Have just watched the penultimate stage which has left Cadel Evans as the winner-elect of the event....first Aussie to achieve it!!

Congrats Cadel!!

I have stayed up way too late for way too many nights! ...but it's been worth it.

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

When the sun comes out......

2011-07-16T19:16:00.000+09:30

.....so do the lawn mowers, the bees and the gardeners.......oh...and that includes me now...'cause I fancy myself as a gardener these days.........I put the green bin out this morning and then decided to weed the back garden ........I didn't plan to spend time in the garden today....but one thing leads to another and when I wandered out the back to cut some foliage for inside suddenly I was weeding, and cutting back stuff........the green waste truck hadn't picked up the bin yet....so it was soon full with the weeds and prunings from the garden.....then it was time to fill in all the little holes in the lawn that madam Rose has dug over the past little while......pick up all the leaves and sticks from the lawn and pavers and give it a final sweep.......have a chat over the back fence with the young couple next door and by then it was mid afternoon.......and time to come in and start on the inside! .....so that was my Saturday! No stitching done...but it's very satisfying to look out and see a weed free garden and a tidy lawn.

I had a late lunch and cuppa and watched the footy.....(.......go the 'Pies!) and did the vacuuming and dusting and cleaned the bathroom during the breaks in the game.......

Rose is exhausted after her busy day........"helping" in the garden by stealing weeds and sticks out of the bucket and running through piles of carefully swept up dirt and leaves sure takes its toll!

Those eyes are now closed and there is gentle snoring coming from the couch! The late nights I have been keeping as I watch Le Tour have meant I have almost finished another set of Tis the Season stitcheries over the past few nights.......

More red and white.......yikes I can't seem to shake the red/white habit!

While I was in the garden this morning the bees were enjoying the sunshine and keeping busy.....

I have had a "busy bee" kind of day......and it feels good! Somehow I think there may be more snoring coming from the couch tonight.....LOLOL......although I would like to finish the TTS stitcheries and watch the next stage of the Tour........watch this space!

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

Binding on ....check.......

2011-07-12T08:24:00.000+09:30

I love the Tour (de France)! I sat and stitched the binding on the Civil War quilt last night while the boys in the Tour raced, fell (or were knocked off their bikes by cars) - whoever said bike racing was dull!! One of the commentators said crashing on a bike at speed could be likened to dressing in only your underwear and then throwing yourself out of a moving car onto the roadway......I tend to think he wasn't far off the mark!

I am pleased it's a rest day today ...I am exhausted!

But the quilt is finished.....and I snuggled under it while I watched the last few minutes of the race.....

Over the weekend I also caught up on some Civil War block of the week blocks.....well...is caught up having them all printed off .......No? ......well......cut out and ready to stitch....No? ok........I cut out 7, made up 1 and have 7 more printed ready to cut out.....surely that is classed as caught up....No.......?? Really????

There is one step I need to delete from my process to possibly make these blocks happen more quickly...it's the "procrastination" step.....!! It takes me far too long to choose fabrics - so yesterday I grabbed the CW fabric basket and the CW fabric scraps and went for it....LOL......I think not having colour pics of the blocks on hand was better.....I just chose fabrics I thought would work and got cutting! So far so good....although only having made up one block using this method doesn't necessarily prove my theory! Stay tuned.

I did think about not continuing on with these blocks...but I figured if Barbara has taken the time and effort to offer this as a free block of the week (and also include lots of background info that is really interesting) then the least I can do is make them! They go together really easily - once the fabric choice is made!! I am using left overs from the Civil War Legacy quilt and a few other bits I have collected over the past year or so when I became ~~addicted to~~ interested in the repro prints.

Catching up was the theme for this weekend......Saturday was stitching with the girls at Cheryl's house....and Kris came up to visit as well........haven't seen her in ages since she ~~defected~~ moved to Victoria............and yesterday was spent catching up on housework...washing.....cooking......and of course some stitching! .......and that was the weekend.....gone again...in a heartbeat it seems!

'til next time..........................Lorraine

Colour me happy................

2011-07-03T13:48:00.001+09:30

...and I would be even more excited if I could take a decent photo of it! .....and it won't even do me any good to wait until Mark comes over for dinner (and we all know how he loves to hold up my quilts.....)...because this time he actually has an excuse with his shoulder injury!

Anyhoo............here are a couple of pics of the quilted CW quilt........

I am really happy with it.....thanks Val !!!

When we were at Val's house for a stitching day a while back I commented on the quilt hangers she has in her quilting room - her husband makes them and I ordered one. Can't complain about the service......Val and her hubby David delivered the quilt and the quilt hanger this morning - (along with a packet of Mint Slice biscuits for morning tea) and while I made the hot drinks David put the quilt hanger up for me......

...and you thought I was excited yesterday!!?? LOL! It's the first thing I have put up on the walls in this house........and it's given me the nudge I needed to get some of the pictures out of the spare room where they have been stacked since I moved in and get them up.....might even put the kitchen clock up....it's been leaning against the wall on top of the bread bin for the past year and a bit.......!!

The sun is out today.......I have the house opened up to get rid of any cold germs that may be lingering in the corners......washing on the line blowing in the breeze ......all is well in the house of Loz (and Rose)! I am off to organise some binding for the quilt........

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

I'm so excited..........

2011-07-02T21:16:00.000+09:30

wow..it's July......

.......but that's not why I am excited.........I am excited because tomorrow my Civil War quilt comes home........quilted.........yay.........!! Can't wait to see it!

It's been a wet day here......perfect for staying indoors. I was disappointed I couldn't be with the girls at Inspired Stitches this year - I am sure they are having a great time. Looking forward to catching up with Kris while she is back in SA. I heard the rain this mornng and knew there was no rush to get out of bed.....so ......I finished the book that has been on my bedside table for a while now.......very indulgent of me! It's been a quiet day all round....just what the doctor ordered really. Took advantage of a break in the rain to cut some green stuff from the garden to bring inside..........

I will be back tomorrow with pics of the Civil War quilt.........did I say I was excited????

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

Ash Cloud Aftermath......and other stuff.......

2011-06-28T21:18:00.000+09:30

I started this post last Thursday ........and it's now Tuesday ......not sure where the time goes really.......

This was the "G" at night........the only down side was there was no game on while I was there :(

I arrived home on Thursday morning....picked up Rose who was delighted to see me......and went to work........I am sure Rose wasn't so delighted about that........but I thought I had better put in an appearance !! The flight home was smooth.....and I got to watch Bear Grylls having "fun" in the desert on the in-flight entertainment - and indeed he is an entertaining man isn't he!?

My motto for the extra day in Melbourne...... "every (ash) cloud has a silver lining".........

The ash cloud / plume (call it what you will) certainly caused disruption to travel plans for many people...but I for one would prefer that airlines err on the side of caution when it comes to things like this....I heard one idiot on the news (a disgruntled passenger) who said it was a cost cutting measure by the airlines (not to fly) to save on maintenance costs for the cleaning of the plane engines after they had been through the ash ......really?????!!!

I did make an interesting observation during this event.......the difference between men and women (ok - I know there is one that stands out.......this was just another one I noted)......faced with cancellation of flights home (with the news that flights would resume the next day) many of the men involved booked hire cars - stayed the night following the conference and at sparrows fart the next morning set off on the 8-9 hour drive.......(or more if they lived further away than Adelaide).....the women......well....we stayed the night...slept in the next morning enjoying the luxury of a couple of cups of tea in bed.....readied ourselves for a fun day......packed our bags, checked out of the hotel leaving our bags in their secure storage area....and hit the shops.....we lunched.......toured the city....and the parks......enjoyed afternoon tea and made our way back to the hotel...picked up our bags.....caught a taxi (pre booked of course!) to the airport and caught our flights home...arriving there before the guys!!

Hmmmm......the way I looked at it was I could spend the day driving....or having a day out with the girls....and I sure as hell didn't want to spend the day driving. So I didn't! I did log on and check my work emails and catch up on those during the day so it wasn't all fun and games.

We lunched at the Chocolate Cafe........

I actually had a toasted sandwich....but that didn't look half as good as the hot chocolate!
So that was last week.......

the weekend came and went - far too quickly of course. I went to a workshop on Saturday morning which was all about recycling books into other items......interesting! Our local natural resource centre runs these and other similar workshops under their Recreate banner. A couple of pics from the morning.....

These were some of the books used for inspiration.......

......then it was off to the footy to watch Mark play......not such a good afternoon...he injured his shoulder and is having more scans today to see what the extent of the damage is. That's footy for you.........! The first thought was that he might have to miss six games......he is hoping it isn't that bad! there are only 8 games left before the finals!!

I went straight from the footy to dinner with a group of work mates.....they had all been on a bus tour around some of the local wineries - so I joined them for dinner. Since there was no food in the house it was a good option! There was some milk in the fridge when I got home........ it was six days after the recommended use-by date but I have a theory.....if it curdles when you put it in your tea it's off.......if not ....it's all good!...and it didn't....so I could have a cuppa at least! Sunday is my designated food shopping day and I couldn't change that and go on Saturday.......that just wouldn't be right!

Back to Melbourne.....well not actually "back" to Melbourne....more back to talking about Melbourne......I saw a link to this shop here - and since it was Wednesday we went to visit....and we weren't disappointed! here are a few pics ........Lovely.....L'uccello.....

Knitting anyone????

So glad we found this little gem...! This is where I spent the majority of my afternoon...and I think you can see why!

On a stitching note.......haven't done anything for a while......picked up a head cold in my travels and have been feeling a bit sorry for myself for a few days....my eyes hurt so haven't been on the computer much - had yesterday off work and spent the day curled up on the couch with a quilt to keep me warm and a box of tissues handy.....Rose thought the tissues were for her to play with......! Even dragged out the Lemsip from the pantry when I could be bothered to make myself a hot drink. (Rose hasn't quite got the hang of making a cuppa yet!) Feeling much better today after a visit to the chemist for nasal spray/more tissues/more panadol/more throat lozenges/more echinacea - so have my own little pharmacy on my desk. I sit in a pretty isolated position at work so shouldn't infect any of my fellow workers....mind you...I am pretty sure I probably picked the cold up at work in the first place....or on the plane........what a great germ factory planes are.....lots of people packed into a reasonably small place! Still better than sitting in a car for 9 hours though!!

'til next time.................Lorraine

Ash cloud begone!

2011-06-22T09:31:00.000+09:30

I flew to Melbourne on Sunday for a conference......and despite thinking I would be back home last night - I am not! The ash cloud has disrupted my plans (along with thousands of others of course) so instead of the usual view out my bedroom window I have this.......

The MCG....! For those not familiar with this Melbourne icon you can check it out here. The conference was actually held here and it was pretty impressive looking out from the conference room on to the "hallowed" ground!

Our flight will hopefully be leaving late this afternoon so that leaves some time for a little R&R in the city. Will be back with more later in the week.

'til next time....................Lorraine

It's all a blur really........

2011-06-14T00:37:00.000+09:30

Wow.....last time I posted it was June 1 - now it's almost June 14!! Not sure what I have been doing...or where the time has gone .......this weekend was a long weekend....my plans to spend most of it in the sewing room didn't eventuate........did some house cleaning/dog sitting/baking/washing/visiting/entertaining...watched some TV.......cleaned the oven...replaced the filter in the water jug...LOLOL...you know all the important stuff! Saturday I had lunch with my stitching girls......then headed off to the footy to watch Mark play......had to rug up for that...it was freezing....came home and put the heater on and put a hot water bottle on my feet to thaw them out! It wasn't cold enough for my beanie though...Terri wore hers....but she does hats really well ......unlike me.....!! She had this little knitted hat on when she called in to drop Lexi off yesterday.........

I stitched way too late on Saturday night........well into Sunday morning.....I was on a roll....my little companion was "helping".......

I have been working on the Twelve Days of Christmas over the past couple of weeks after not touching it for a year or so........gradually getting there!

I took these pics sitting on the lounge with the work on my lap......I guess I could have got up.....but I was too settled! :)

Mark and Terri had a day out on Sunday and Lexi came to stay for the day (and night)....Rose was delighted to see Lex again ....and they didn't stop ....well they did sleep last night.......but the rest of the time it was play, play and play some more.....Since Lexi went home this afternoon Rose has hardly moved from this position.....

I got into the sewing room today and spent some time clearing a space to work.....it seems ages since I have been in there! The 'Tis the Season top is now together........I really had my heart set on the paisley for the outer border......so didn't cut it as wide as the pattern suggested and since it was still going to be a bit short I added some cornerstones.....I am pretty happy with the way it has turned out.............I might have to tea dye the cornerstones they are a bit lighter than the main stitcheries.........

The fabrics for this one came entirely from the stash....which was pleasing. These blocks stitch up quite quickly - I am pretty sure I will be making up some of the other projects from the book.

The winter sky cast a purple haze into the house this evening......the now leafless Manchurian Pear tree was a nice contrast......

Well....that's about it from me....it's back to work tomorrow - oh....make that "today"!! yikes.....

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

Moving right along........

2011-06-01T21:28:00.001+09:30

Thanks to everyone for their comments and emails on the previous post.....such a brilliant support network!

So, May is just a memory now...........

.......come on in June.....

This week I have been working on my TTS blocks.....I could hear faint sounds of whip cracking getting closer.....just as well Chooky has been busy or I think I may have felt the whip as well!! ....so these....

have been transformed into these .......edited to add........just noticed the upside down block....LOLOL.....

I don't think I have showed you a pic of my completed / quilted / bound Gardener's Journal quilt......so .....ta da.....here it is....

.......oh .......can you hear the mutterings of the quilt holder???? .....if there was a football up for grabs he would be happy to run miles competing with others for it.....but to hold up a quilt for a couple of minutes while I took a photo...????.....way too exhausting......LOLOL....still I guess when you are nursing injuries from chasing said footy around the previous day it is all a bit much......but we got there!!

I kicked myself out of bed this morning to go for a walk with the lovely Rose.......and had to break out the beanie (OMG!!) - which would never usually see the light of day...and indeed it didn't today....I walked before sunrise for that very reason.....I teamed the beanie with a jacket and daggy trackies...but the red leather gloves added a bit of class to an otherwise completely classless outfit....LOL.....it was 0.5C when I stepped outside the door......so the beanie WAS justified! Nothing like a brisk walk in the morning to get the blood pumping and warm you up. Great time of the day..... and a fitting welcome to Winter!

If I am going to be up early again tomorrow it's time I was getting some sleep. I have been burning the midnight oil over the past few nights working on the TTS blocks. Chooky with her whip is a daunting thought!

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

Transition complete!

2011-05-27T19:01:00.000+09:30

This blog post has been rattling around in my head for a while now....but something happened the other night** which made me realise it was time to post it!

......Once upon a time there was a Princess who lived happily in a small castle .........she had kissed many frogs in her lifetime........and had decided that living on her own was far better than living with a frog - however, another frog was wooing her - he was persistant and visited her regularly on his white charger (in this instance a white 4WD) and finally convinced her that he was a Prince and that if she let him come into her life they would live happily ever after.....so eventually she agreed......and he did turn into a Prince (as promised) and took on all the duties of the castle - he shopped/cooked/washed and ironed and looked after the Princess so well that she was the envy of all her friends.

Life in the small castle was good...but the Prince wanted to make it even better so he arranged for a new castle which he presented to the Princess as her birthday gift......he even put.a big pink ribbon on the gate that showed all her work colleagues that he was just the best Prince in the entire world. .......And life was even better in the new castle where the Princess had her own sewing room and the Prince had a big garden that he looked after. (when he wasn't looking after the Princess of course!).....the sun shone on the happy couple for several years until one day the Princess discovered the Prince was visiting a Princess in the next county. Clouds came into her life when the Prince declared his love for the new Princess and drove away in his white 4WD to live in her castle.

Rain settled in the "old" Princess's heart which grew heavy and cold as she packed up her belongings and the wonderful castle she had loved was sold. She bought a smaller, newly built castle and moved in with her quilts and fabric stash. She also bought a puppy to live with her - who bought some sunshine into the Princess's heart. Time passed and the sadness which had overwhelmed the Princess started to disappear......there was light and fun in her life again.....and gradually she came to terms with her new life and started to embrace it..she re-learned how to make decisions.....and even shopped and cooked occasionally.....she began to enjoy life again.....and eventually to sleep in the middle of the bed**! Transition complete!

Epilogue:

The Princess doesn't hate the ex-Prince (who turned into his true self...[a horny toad - one step down from a frog]...soon after the discovery that he was parking his steed in another Princess's stable)......and she doesn't hate the new Princess - in fact she hopes they live happily ever after (and that the ex-Prince has grasped the concept of what "ever after" actually means).

*no frogs have been harmed in the telling of this story

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

A farewell, finish, fiftieth, footy and fun with a friend

2011-05-24T07:47:00.002+09:30

The weekend bought all of the above and some pretty foul weather as well.........the farewell....the "doover".....has gone to live with Nay...and it's only an hour away so I have visitation rights.......

The finish.........
This (to date) UFO has been around for about four years......it is now with the young recipient who is a big fan of earthmoving equipment.....not the best pic in the world but the weather hasn't been the best for outdoor photo shoots........

Saturday night I was invited to help Wendy (no blog) celebrate her fiftieth birthday...I work with Wendy and she is my go-to girl .....would be lost without her! A few of us got together and bought her a Pandora bracelet and some charms.......which she was opening in this pic....note the dress?? This dress was her 30th birthday party dress and she wore it as a dare........90's taffeta.....nice!! She did change out of it after a while.....after some nagging from her daughters!

The footy.........I like to go and watch Mark play on Saturdays and this was taken a couple of weeks ago .....took the thermos for a half time cuppa - forgot the milk so had to have it black...I always take the paper and some stitching but rarely read or stitch.....too busy concentrating...LOL......oh and that just happens to be my boy in the pic in the footy budget......

and fun with a friend......well....this would have to be with my little mate Rose......I was watching the footy (on TV this time) and she has taken ownership of the ottoman (sp?) (will check it later.....running late for work now!).......so my feet have to share it with her.........

Who couldn't love that face !!

Time I wasn't here.........I need to go to work....I splashed out and spent a truck load of money on myself yesterday........what did I do...?

........I went to the dentist! (and last week had my two yearly check with the optometrist...$$$)....yikes....no wonder I will have to work until I am at least 90!!!

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

Randon D&M thoughts.......

2011-05-20T08:04:00.001+09:30

Or probably just random thoughts / questions with not so much of the D&M about them.......

why is that:

sometimes I am just quiet..? ...happy to come home from work and shut the door on the world outside and just "be"
I can wake up one morning and struggle to open my eyelids( let alone get out of bed)......then the next morning with the same amount of sleep I can bounce out of bed before the alarm goes off (while the moon is still up and the sun isn't!) and be out the door for a brisk walk??
I have blog posts rattling around in my head but can't get to the computer to post them......?
things that really used to piss me off don't bother me anymore

Acceptance of self - not to worry about it if I have an attack of the "can't be bothereds" - or on the other hand I could be just lazy...or really bad at making a decision!

Enough of the D&M stuff........I think I spend way too much time trying to find answers for things that don't have one......Shay on the other hand has spent some time doing a time and motion study.....I did have to check on the calculator that yes...there were 168 hours in a week.....(wasn't going to admit to that....but Kris did the same thing.....! I am sure Kris and I are twins separated at birth!) .....thanks for taking the time to do the study Shay.....I won't be doing one but a couple of things that popped into my head were that I spend 7 hours a week walking.......and about half that time in the shower......sleeping takes up a big chunk of time as does working......and the rest of the 168 hours?? Who knows? but it was thought provoking......oh maybe that's where my time goes? Thinking!!! of course!!! thinking about getting out of bed, thinking about getting into the shower.....you get the drift.....I spend most of my week thinking about the things I want/need to do....!!

On the weather front - my previous post about the cool mornings prompted a sudden return to warmer temps.....25 today.....and the same for tomorrow......perhaps I have been hibernating (thinking) all winter and it has passed me by? No......the trees out the front still have their Autumn coats on.......

Stitching? Not so much this week.......(I have thought about it though....LOL).....but here it is Friday again......with a weekend all laid out and bare in front of me......all ready for me to use as I see fit.....I will try not to over-think what to use it for....! I do have a visitor coming on Sunday to pick up the quilt frame which is looking very forlorn in it's dismantled state in the spare room. It will be perfect in Nay's place!!

I will leave you with a pic of the sky this morning........a new day......no need to think about what I am going to do with it......I am off to work....yikes...right now....!

'til next time.......Lorraine

Brrrrrr........

2011-05-16T07:32:00.001+09:30

Had to break out the gloves this morning when Rose and I hit the streets for our walk......I could have used them last week..but only found them on the weekend! Beautiful clear morning this morning.....the colours of autumn are truly stunning. I had a quiet weekend......stitching with the girls on Saturday...well they stitched and I ditched.....after lunch of course...to go to the local footy to watch Mark play. That lazy wind was blowing...the one that's too lazy to go round so cuts right through you......could have done with the gloves then!!

Yesterday I packed up the quilt frame......it is going to it's new home next weekend. I will miss it.......but I just don't have room for it in this house......and Nay has a whole new sewing area which will suit it much better....and she told me I can have visiting rights.....yay! I have been working hard at finishing projects that have been sitting round for too long......way too many memories stored in there with the UFOs .....so I am slowly working through them.

I will post some pics when I get around to taking some...! In the meantime I will leave you with these shots of a balloon over my neighbour's house......Going.....going........almost gone!

.....time to get to work.....the weekends just dont seem long enough for all the things I have planned...but there is another one scheduled in five days.........! No progress on CW blocks this weekend......those UFOs are taking priority for now.

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

I blame "the" wedding........

2011-05-10T20:47:00.000+09:30

...for my absence..... as in order to avoid watching said wedding on every available free to air channel (ok I confess I did watch to see what "the" dress was like......and tuned out about the time the sisters Eugenie and Beatrice arrived at the Abbey.......not sure who told them those outfits were a good idea - that was enough for me) .......I borrowed Terri's Twilight DVDs......after watching the three movies I had to get the books....working in the same building as the library comes in handy - so this past week has seen me with my head buried in a book every spare minute....finished the last one this morning! They were an easy read and who doesn't love a good love story with a "happy ever after" ending...... *sigh* ....a bit of escapism doesn't hurt now and then.......

Not much else going on.....no stitching to speak of...I'm a few weeks behind with my CW blocks so will be trying to catch up with those this weekend......my PC is currently undergoing a grease, oil change and a tune up so I haven't had that distraction in the evenings either...I could have used the lap top of course (as I am now).....but that would have meant putting my book down to go get it!

Will hopefully be back on the weekend with at least a photo or two..........!

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

Happy Birthday Rose.......

2011-05-01T10:01:00.000+09:30

Easter....Vintage Festival.....and an upcoming birthday!

2011-04-24T21:42:00.001+09:30

Good Friday morning I woke up late.......and lingered in bed chatting on the phone to my sister before getting up and enjoying brunch.........

I followed brunch with a day (well half a day by then......) of house cleaning and general pottering about aimlessly.........gotta love the first day of a five day break..........

It's also Vintage Festival time in the Barossa...........

......yesterday Claire and Val came to visit....we spent the day stitching .....

and in the evening we donned our glad rags and went to a Vintage Festival concert at a local winery.........

To see the talented Libby O'Donovan.......Libby entertained us with her own brand of Jazz/Blues and comedy........a fun night out! The girls stayed over and after they left to go back to the city this morning I went to the Virginia Nursery with Terri.........the weather has been fantastic lately and today was no exception...while Terri shopped for plants for their back yard I wandered about (aimlessly again...LOL) .......I like holidays and the time to be aimless for a while! I was taken with the contrast of the blue sky against the shade sails at the nursery..........

Lovely displays......

Oh look.......there's Terri and her trolley laden with plants.....

More eye candy......rows and rows of pretty-ness....

....and some spiky green-ness......

I didn't buy anything...I was just along for the ride today....but it was a great place to visit! So much inspiration!

Of course Easter Sunday also means Easter eggs..........well one egg anyway........this probably won't last long!

The vintage festival also includes ballooning, quilt exhibitions and many other events........I hope to take myself off to a couple more events over the coming week......

I got so much inspiration from the visit to the nursery I came home and did some gardening this afternoon....ooooooops.....someone got this pic of me..........

Oh.....I must confess that this isn't me.....(I would never wear pink tights with a red dress!).......this is one of many scarecrows around the area which are also part of the Vintage Festival.......this gardening "angel" is part of the display at the local nursery just down the road from where I work......I love her!

Speaking of gardeing..........Val bought my Gardener's Journal quilt back yesterday.........and I hope to get the binding on tomorrow..........I should wait until it's all trimmed and bound to show you...but I am pretty excited about having it back...so here it is......

Dragonflys and Hummingbirds now adorn this quilt......a perfect compliment to the gardening theme.....Thanks Val ........I love it!!

Rose is enjoying the Easter break (although there is no choccy for her of course!)......this little girl is having a birthday next Sunday....she will be one year old! Rose was born the day I moved into this house .....so our new lives started that day.......I haven't posted any pics of her lately........so I will preview her birthday post for next week .....here she is at a couple of weeks............

.
.......and today.....a week out from being a whole year old.......!!

It's been an interesting year......a few down times....but lots of good times as well.......and getting better all the time!

I hope everyone is enjoying the Easter break........tomorrow is Anzac Day....when we stop to remember those who served our country .........and those who gave their lives in that service.. Lest we forget!

Hello Melbourne.............

2011-04-16T22:28:00.000+09:30

This time last year Cheryl and I planned to travel to Melbourne for the AQC......it didn't happen............but later in the year we decided to book the trip for this year's AQC..Cheryl's sister Amanda (a member of our S&B group) also decided to come along...and did all the bookings for flights/accommodation etc.....(and did a great job as well!!)....So it has been booked and paid for for the past few months.......It seemed like such a long time ago that we talked about it.....and this weekend it is happening! We flew into Melbourne yesterday at lunch time and hit the ground running (or in our case walking!)....I kid you not....I am with the energiser bunny sisters......walking .....walking......walking - everywhere......just as well I wore my "sensible" shoes! After arriving at the hotel I had to make the big decision.....hmmmmmm. which pillows for my bed......I went with one of each to be worked out later that night........

Then it was off downstairs to plan the rest of the day...........Hello Melbourne.......

We decided to take in the cultural things that Melbourne has to offer.......first up a visit to the Museum to see the Tutankhamun exhibition - so off we set to walk to the venue.......again.....thank goodness for sensible shoes.........really enjoyed the exhibition which was excellent.........certainly a very interesting historical journey.........

Then it was off to the most recognised venue for a cultural experience....the MCG........to see Collingwood play...(well...Richmond were there too...but it was the 'Pies we I went to see........)

I had to overcome my serious aversion to heights since we were right at the top of the stand.......yikes.....I really struggled with it..and in the end I sort of slid around one of the pillars and into a seat.....which had a balustrade in front of it...so I felt a bit more secure......LOLOL..the things you do!!! After a while the fear subsided and I settled in for the match......it is a wonderful venue.......great atmosphere........it was a brilliant evening. On the way back to the hotel (walking) we stopped for coffee and cake.....which was fine given there was still a good 10 minute brisk walk from the restaurant to the hotel.......so at least some of the lemon tart was "walked off".......slept like a log last night.......and started with the soft pillow....but ended up going with the firm one! (it also made me realise I need a new pillow!!)

This morning we walked to breakfast down the road a bit from the hotel...then set off to Spencer Street '"fashion station" for a browse before going to the AQC......walked most of the way...but caught a tram for the rest......a litle walk through the gardens to get to the venue......

...the Royal Exhibition Building .......

......this is a magnificent old building...and I could have taken some photos to share.....but once I met up with this lady.........that was it........the camera came out for this pic........

(this pic is for you Natalie).......

and this one of Gail's quilt.Berries and Bluebirds.......this version being offered as a BOM by Blue Willow Cottage........

.....and the lovely Marg Low at the Blue Willow Cottage booth....

.......we walked (and talked) around the booths for the next few hours.......Gail almost made it through then entire day without buying anything....but succumbed in the last few minutes with a purchase of a 30cm piece of repro (blue!) fabric. I was also very restrained and came home with some patterns and a couple of pieces of wool (for the patterns)......Gail and I were still talking as we parted company at her train station....I walked back to the hotel via Bourke street where I bought a new pair of walking shoes........my old ones are just that...."old".....and with walking with Rose every morning and with a work mate most lunch times I knew they needed replacing.......(and I have to say I am pleased I have been doing so much "training" for this trip....would never have kept up with the girls otherwise!) Meeting a friend for brunch tomorrow.....haven't seen him since he moved over here earlier in the year ...then off to the airport and home. It's been a busy weekend...and we have certainly covered some ground!!

Time I was getting some sleep....I will need to be rested for another big day tomorrow!

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

Sunday again......

2011-04-10T20:35:00.000+09:30

Another week has flashed by........not much going on here.........work/home/sleep.....that was pretty much the week for me. I have been tired and my usual night owlishness has given way to early nights....which means not much stitching going on in the evenings. I have managed to catch up with my CW Block of the Week - well...apart from the new one from yesterday that is........that might have to wait until next weekend.

Here are my blocks to date.....in no particular order........

It's been a fun project so far....hopefully I will manage to keep up.....otherwise I will have a wallhanging...LOL

My Tis the Season Stitch Along project has not progressed at all.......I had to re-think the fabrics I am using and I have put it on the back burner for now...but I will get myself motivated to get back into it soon. I had better or I will have Chooky on my back!

Rose and I have been walking every morning......no more falling down now that daylight saving is finished and we are walking in daylight again! Having her little face looking at me every morning all happy and waiting for her walk makes me get myself up and out walking.....not sure I would be as motivated if it wasn't for her!

I have been meaning to get out into the garden for a couple of weekends now....and some rain yesterday meant that the ground was a little softer and the weeds came out easier....so this afternoon I spent a couple of hours weeding the front garden.....it looks way better now .......and I feel better for doing it. By the time I messed around in the back garden planting some gifted plants it was time to come in and cook dinner......Mark and Terri come around on Sunday nights so I make an effort and cook! LOL.....I do cook during the week .......sometimes........tonight I made a big dish of lasagne and pumpkin soup....so I should be ok for meals for a few days with what is left over.

So not much exciting stuff going on here........I hope to kick the remnants of the virus to the kerb soon so I can resume my evening stitching. Last week I didn't even turn the computer on most nights......so need to catch up with what everyone in blogland is up to.........

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

Gotta love.......

2011-04-02T20:55:00.000+10:30

....a day spent stitching...........! Val hosted a stitching gtg for Claire, Shay, Kris and myself today - brilliant day....loads of fun/food/frivolity.....and we did solve most of the problems being encountered by mankind so I think it was a most successful day. Kris was in Adelaide visiting family so it was a great chance to catch up......and Claire took her life in her hands and let me pick her up and drive her to Val's! (and I got to meet Jack....once met - never forgotten!)

Val has some fantastic miniatures and I was just amazed at the work that has gone into these houses........I can see that it would be easy to get "hooked" on this very fascinating hobby!

A petit point "tapestry" on silk..........this is just one example of Val's amazing miniature work......

We were all very diligent with our stitching.....and there was a bit of "shantelle" (aka show and tell)...

Claire was busy with her berries...........

...patiently (?) waiting for pics of the finished berries.......

...Nice work.......

Claire "auditioning" orange as a colour for the dresden plate centres ......(I do wish Claire would lighten up a bit...she is always so serious..........)

Val worked on stitching the binding on a quilt (and finished it........)

We were also treated to a visit to Val's workroom........

....I have left my Gardener's Journal top with Val ........looking forward to seeing it quilted! It was fun doing the StitchALong and getting the GJ quilt together. I need to catch up on my Tis the Season blocks now....and my CW blocks......and..................well....suffice to say it's looking less like a gardening day and more like a stitching day tomorrow!

Here we are (minus Val who was playing photographer..........) I am pretty sure we were discussing something pretty serious here..........weren't we?

I got quite a bit of stitching done - even though Kris was once again by my side.....not distracting me........but actually stitching as well! Didn't get pics of Kris or Shay's stitching.......what was I thinking...? Hardly good enough!

While I was out enjoying myself Rose was also having fun......a play date with Lexi......the lawn went down in Mark and Terri's back yard today so Lexi's assistance wasn't needed...I came home to a couple of very tired dogs! Rose crashed on the couch and hasn't moved since Mark came to pick Lexi up. She will sleep well tonight.

Daylight saving finishes at 2am tomorrow.......it will be lighter in the mornings but it will be dark when I get home from work so I won't be able to work in the garden after work......phhhhhhhhhhhht.....like that every happened!! LOL

Gratitudes:

spending fun times with friends

having friends to spend fun times with

an extra hour of sleep tonight........(which means I can stay up way too late stitching and still get a ~~good~~ reasonable night's sleep.....)

Sundays

Hope your weekend is filled with fun, friends and frivolity.......

'til next time........................Lorraine

Back to work.....take two.......

2011-03-31T20:30:00.000+10:30

I did go back last week.....but came home just after lunch on Friday after contracting some virus lurgy thing which left me feeling pretty awful......I don't deal very well with being ill......I tend to employ the "wounded animal retreating to its lair" method of dealing with it.....so off I went......and spent the weekend resting and licking my wounds (so to speak) - thought I would be fine after a couple of days but it wasn't until Tuesday morning I emerged from the lair and went back to work. Rose hasn't been too impressed with the fact that our morning walks have been temporarily suspended....back into it tomorrow - I have promised! Last week (before I fell foul of the lurking lurgy) I was taking a different route on our walks to avoid spiders which make their webs between street trees and fences/hedges and tripped up on an unfamiliar bit of road and fell over.....You probably felt the earth move where you live?? A skun knee and wounded pride were the only "injuries"..and they have pretty much healed now. ....but the spiders are way more scary than the thought of falling over in the dark - I will take that any day over walking through a web and not knowing if you have the spider on you somewhere.......eeeeeeuuuuuuuuuuuuw! Daylight saving finishes on Sunday so I will be getting up and walking in daylight again......for a while at least until winter gets here........

The couch time hasn't been all wasted....I did manage to finish the stitcheries from day two at Port Pirie.......

Rosalie's......

and Melly's.........(only the stitchery at this stage......still have to make the bag!)

Caught up with Deb and Yvonne for "show and tell" with our Civil War Legacy quilts.....a couple of borders to go and we are done...........Yvonne's is top left.....mine on the right and Deb's bottom left.....

Speaking of things Civil War.......I have managed to fall a ~~bit~~ lot behind with my CW Blocks of the Week...so Sunday's task is to catch up. .......along with some work in the garden...recent rain followed by sunshine has seen the front yard sprout a lovely crop of weeds......and tonight I spotted two leaves on the trees in the front that have "turned".....yikes.....it really is Autumn! I am probably lying about the gardening on Sunday....I think it will be fine for a while longer while I get some stitching done. Catching up with some bloggy friends on Saturday.......looking forward to that!

Rose decided to air some dirty laundry (literally) the other day.......here I was feeling really ill...(and really sorry for myself!).....I was at the kitchen sink (so my tears of pity could drain away easily...LOLOLOL - I am hilarious aren't I???) and looked out to see something on the back lawn....well...lots of "somethings" actually.....on closer inspection it was obvious that the entire contents of the dirty laundry basket had been removed and scattered all over the back garden.......oh she was proud of herself......!! No harm done except for one work shirt that had one sleeve chewed .......it was an old one (luckily not the new one I had only worn once!) .......and I thought falling over would have provided a laugh to anyone watching........seeing me picking up my knickers from the garden would have surely raised a giggle!!

I realised the other day that this month is the three year anniversary of starting my blog......it's been an interesting three years and I have made some wonderful friends through my blog........I am really pleased I ventured into blogland - it's been a fascinating journey to date!

The weekend is almost upon us again......I am hoping it will be better than the last one!

Gratitudes:

Feeling well

Rose (although she looks after sick people about as well as I do!)

bloggy friends

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

It's time.....

2011-03-21T22:09:00.000+10:30

..........to finish with the holiday lifestyle and go back to work......how fast did the past few weeks go!?! It's been great...I have had time to think about a lot of things....decisions made in the past year......coming to terms with those decisions and looking ahead - although not too far ahead as plans made can just as easily be un-made - so think I will go with the flow for now and just "be"........there were a lot of "what ifs" that I needed to think about and the thing that I realised was that you can't "un-know" something....once I knew what was happening I had to deal with it.....and I am ok with the way I dealt with it.....so chapter closed. Didn't realise these things take so much time to work through.......I had my final appointment with the counsellor today.....thank goodness....I think she is on the right track now! :)

Anyhoo.............I am looking forward to getting back into the work routine and catching up with people I have missed over the past few weeks........and am easing myself back into it with a four day week.

The weekend at Port Pirie was great - I got something almost finished...LOL......Here is Melly's sampler.....

And here is my "almost" finished piece.....no borders or name yet...........and the pic isn't the best.....too dark today for decent photos.......

I was also lucky enough to win a couple of give aways on the first day.........

Some of Melly's projects ......

A couple of versions of the cutest little clutch which was Melly's project for day two......love it!

........this stitchery was Rosalie's project for day two......

Watch for a Christmas project book/let from Rosalie later this year!

Nay with her stitchery for Melly's project..it's probably finished by now!

Robyn's shop is full of lovely stuff.....here are a couple of pics of her Easter display......

Just LOVE this little guy......

So that's about it from the Port Pirie weekend...thanks Robyn for hosting Melly and Rosalie and giving us the opportunity to spend two days with them. Fun!

I managed to spend a little time in the sewing room today between appointments with the doctor and counsellor.....and lunch with a friend. The first border is on the CW Legacy quilt and I have chosen the final border and made the star that goes in that border......so hopefully I will have it finished by the time I catch up with Yvonne and Deb next weekend.

Did I say I was going back to work tomorrow...??? LOLOL......best be getting to bed earlier than I have been over the past few weeks.

Gratitudes:

normal blood pressure

fun times with friends

stitching retreats

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

I started my time off with a road trip..............

2011-03-19T17:49:00.000+10:30

..........and I will finish my time off work with........a road trip! Not so far from home this time....just to Port Pirie.....for a weekend with Melly .....

and Rosalie......

- hosted by Robyn from Country Hart. As usual Robyn and her helpers did an amazing job with presentation.....this was the goodie bag we received on arrival......

Two projects on offer today......do I choose to do Rosie's applique project.........

Or......Melly's stitchery project.... Baby Bunting.....a cute sampler......

Not the best photo in the world....but you can see I chose the stitchery sampler...especially since Melly could help me with a couple of stitches I have struggled with...the colonial know and satin stitch (which I tend to avoid like the plague)..this is what I achieved today (possibly because Kris wasn't there to distract me???) Also in the pic are some of the contents of the goodie bag....I am surprised the little gold Lindt bunny survived the day. I know a couple that didn't! Not mentioning any names Amanda and Sue (no blog).......!!

Dinner with some of the girls tonight.....then back again tomorrow for round two! The little sampler will come in handy...there has been a bit of a baby boom at work! It's for a boy....just need to add name and details .......or there is a "girl" version as well......might stitch some up and have on hand!

Hope Rhi and the girls are having a good time "Rose-sitting" for me (oh and looking after the house as well)....it was a great opportunity for them to have a weekend in the Barossa and do me a favour at the same time.

Gratitudes:

weekends away

friends new, old and absent

my job - I need to go back now!

It's together............

2011-03-14T20:46:00.000+10:30

.........Civil War Legacy (minus the borders) is together..........waited for Mark and Terri to come over for dinner tonight so I could get a decent pic......which isn't really that great as the colours aren't quite right......the following one taken with the quilt on the floor (which is sideways!) has better colour quality........

I am really happy with the way it has gone together....the borders (hopefully) will be on by the end of the week depending on how the days pan out!

This morning Rose and I went to a puppy reunion. I called in and picked up Lexi as well so she could join in the fun. Getting a pic of all of them together was fun! Rose could have sat up like her Mum and the boys on the right of the pic.....COULD have......but she chose not to........

Then Lexi thought she should get in on the act........come on Rose...come and play.......

No.....not going to play the game...(look at the other's all being so good!)

...I am so out of here........

She had a great time with her siblings and Lexi....and is exhausted tonight! This was where she spent the afternoon (ball and stick ignored)...while I tackled some housework.

(Note to self: Buy a lawn edger!)

Long weekend - gone!

Gratitudes:

long weekends

finishes

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