Christmas 2021

 Merry Christmas to all my readers, I hope you all have had a wonderful time with family or friends. 

 Mine was a little different. as usually we go to our eldest sons's house, but this year my DIL wanted it at 6pm instead of lunch, so I had our cocktail party as mentioned last week, which after all the hard work turned out to be wonderful.

The 4 grandaughters and DIL all dressed up in their finery, and  the girls 8 to 19 looked so grown up. Our 8 year old grandson also was very smart in a grown up shirt, tie and black hat, along with his dad. A great night followed by presents from our eldest daughter and ourselves.

Lining up for cocktails.

Eldest Son

Christmas day saw us sleeping in, followed by a lovely lunch. It has been quite a while since I did lunch and got out all my good china and a tablecloth, which I love to do. Part of my hospitality training most likely, but I enjoy using fine china and having things just so. 

All set for Christmas Lunch.

 We had cold lamb with a vegetable salad with beetroot, pumpkin, carrot,beans. Plus a potato and egg salad, followed by plum pudding. Simple but delicious and not too much as followed by another dinner that night. 

Cheers.

The Christmas Pudding.

It rained for our visit to our son's house, so dinner ended up in the lounge and the night ended with playing Pictionary which was a lot of fun, and a movie. 

 Tomorrow it is our No.3 son's birthday.

The year is nearly at it's end.

 

Till Next Time.

 

 

 

 

Caravan, University, and Weeds.

 It's been raining of course, what else is there!!!!! As an added bonus this week I have had the twins Friday and Saturday joined by Miss P Sat. afternoon. The twins are full of energy when they get going or all they want to do is play games on the TV, Xbox, tablets or phone. Doesn't seem to matter which, as long as they are tuning out. Of course this would be ok if it lasted more than 30 mins. and that is being generous. Not that I like children being addicted to digital games, but jigsaws, board games etc. don't seem to hold their interest or attention.

Miss V at least has her doll, and does some colouring but Master J. there is nothing else except digital games, or running around with Miss V if she decides too. We seem to flip constantly. Movies of course are out, they take too long.!!!! My favorite thing is reading the Faraway Tree to them at night, takes me back to when I read it to my children.

There has been the odd ray of sunshine during the week and managed to get the washing done. Attended my first CWA meeting that went for 2 hours. (yawn)  Enjoyed my 4th Quilting group and embroidery group. Life seems to be getting back to normal. I heard that choir is starting up next week but only 30 allowed, we have to book our attendance. 

Honey is visiting also. 13 years old.

I have tried to weed some of the back but with all this weather, getting out there is an effort. 

                                                                Such an overgrown mess.

Miss G on the other hand has successfully, unpacked in her new bedroom at the University.

Shared Kitchen

Half of the Shared Lounge

                                                       

  Miss G's Bedroom 

 

Due to the allergies etc. my Grand Daughter needs her own fridge, so luckily it fitted neatly next to her desk. This also helps with freezing lots of things plus fridge stuff, without having to use the main  fridge,where I suspect in an 8 room complex items may disappear.

Has a lovely outlook from the window also.

 

View from the Window

The Housing Complex

I would love to be in her shoes now, having never been to University, I would have done some art course I think now, but kindergarten teaching had been my aim back at 19. Now Miss G has to work out bus runs to the actual university she is learning at, quite a few online classes as well, and hopefully will get a part time job, at a shopping complex quite near to home. 

 

My first flowering African Violet

 Most of the week John has been emptying the Caravan. All the rain and hail we have had this year has finally destroyed our caravan. John checked it and everything he said was ok. He then went back a week later and mould had set in the the bedding, mattress and walls either side. On checking the roof the plastic thing that held the wires from the solar panels, had broken because of the hail and rain had  leaked into everything. So disappointing after all the work we did glamorizing it.
 

The assessor has written it off, as unable to repair it. This is a lot of stuff to come home so I packed it in boxes and slid it all under the dining room table. We have booked a hotel room and obtained tickets to the Gold Coast Caravan Show next weekend, how lucky is that! Lots of researching at the moment, on 2nd hand ones, but I particularly want single beds, which makes the van more open and can be used as couches.  We are considering buying brand new this time, with all the modern electronics, and not a pop up as well. So much has changed in the industry, but between all the manufacturers not a lot of difference in design though. Should be an interesting weekend. Looks like our Easter trip to Nundle will be cancelled as well.

Stay safe everyone,

 

Till Next Time.

 

 

It is Going to be a Quilting Year.

 It has been another hot sticky week here, and I have found it very debilitating. It seems to have set off my arthritis, although telling that to a Dr. and they don't believe you. Pain also zaps your strength and makes you tired, so that is what my week has been like, mostly.

I did go to my first quilting group meeting last Tuesday, Australia Day at CWA rooms. It was air conditioned and the day ended up being 30C, so you can be lucky sometimes. I actually have to join CWA as it covers the insurance part, and was there 5 1/2 hrs. Mostly trying to get my brain around 1/4 inch seams and to pick up where I left off 20 years ago. 5 other women turned up which was nice for my first day, and I enjoyed it, and expect this Tuesday to see more ladies. I took in my old Husqvana and yesterday went to use it, light came on but the motor wouldn't turn over. I think the rough ride in the trolley must have upset a few things on the way out, as it was fine all day, or maybe the foot peddle has given up after 25 years.

Love my new machine.

 This now means I have to take my new one and which is much heavier, at least this week I was forced to start it up and get some basics down, via the book and DVD. It is lovely to sew on. Luckily when I got this UFO quilt out, most of it has been done. That was a nice surprise as I had completely forgotten. Each side has another 8 stars to put on, and 10 were already made.

Einstein checking it out, and I didn't bother ironing it.

 All I have to do now is make 6 stars then put them together and attach. The border between the stars and middle has more iron on flowers that will need buttonhole to match the middle.

It is a Lynn Anderson Angel design, and perfect for my angel Miss P for her birthday quillow in March.
 

   This is the book pattern, my quilt is much lighter in colour of course. 

 Australia Day also meant John received all his certificates and plaques as Volunteer of the year. This video is from NBN News if interested, taken at the Botanical Gardens..

NBN TV local news article

These are what he got, and such an Honour. Very proud of his achievement.

Nominee certificates and winner ones

 Monday this week and our Embroidery group goes back. We are doing some book covers this time, and between I will finish off my hardanger. Another rummage through the sewing room and I found some lace and fabric and books, ready to start, plus surprisingly the old basic pattern for crazy quilting type. I use dupion silk, beads,lace to make them. Here is a very old one to give you the idea. 

I am going to have to re think my small sewing and large craft room, now. I love making the dolls and doing the cards but it is no good to keep going if they don't sell. That means increasing my marketing and going on Instagram and Facebook, and do I want to do that is the question?

 I was also looking at the cupboard where all my beads are and thinking I should get rid of a lot of old stuff, there as well, to make use of the shelves, with the juggling I am going to have to do.

The quilting fabric is in computer paper boxes, in cupboards and I need to get it out so I know what I have. Even though I haven't physically done a lot this week my brain is working overtime. I just ordered some drawers for shoes. Just cheap  soft plastic ones, you put together, a group of 20. 4 will fit into the cube storage and will be perfect to hold fat quarters, although I will need to refold them as they are 5 inches square and I need 4 inches square. Then I can file them in the drawers to start with, plus the odd quilting gear, and maybe some thread.

At the moment my new sewing machine is in the spare bedroom, but I need to get it downstairs so I am not spreading myself around all over the house. I can see a major craft room redesign happening this year, just hope I have the energy to match. It seems the best thing for large pieces of fabric is to fold it onto cardboard to put on shelves, or in my case cubes, so will check that out also if practical to stand on edge or just fold to a size and stack neatly. First thing first though is to do a plan and a To Do List.

The Holidays are over!  The year has begun!

Till Next Time.

Rain, Rain and More Rain

 Every day this past week it has rained every day, about 7 inches or 175mls, overall. This has made it very difficult to get things done outside, everything is so wet, including washing. I don't have a dryer so it has been a little hard.

The grandchildren arrived yesterday but earlier this week John went and got the mattresses out of the van, and found it had leaked through the  solar panel onto the beds. Everything is mouldy and damp.

I managed to save one set of sheets and a doona but the rest decided to just throw out and start again. 

Unfortunately the mattress have to go, so looks like we have to buy some new ones. They are smaller in width than normal single mattress and hopefully Jayco will have them available or some mattress place where they make these things. Lucky our Daughter in Law was getting rid of some single bed mattress, they had five but the bigger girls are now into double beds.

I have not seen the van yet, but some of the wood has been damaged with mould. At the moment it is covered with a tarp and I think Tuesday is hot and sunny 27C degrees. That will be a bit tough to take after our cool rainy days, but John will go and check the van out then. 

 In the meantime The Sydney family have arrived so I have 3 kids to look after till Sat week. One of the things if the weather stays reasonable is to empty this Gazebo, with their help.Fingers crossed.

I have a few outings planned as well. While taking that photo though, thought I would show you the mess that the nut grass is causing with all this rain, out the back.

Paved pathway pass my new roses.

Path in front of the shed

Part of the back garden with Lime Tree.

 Going to have to resort to using roundup, as getting to be a major cleanup I am not fit enough for at the moment. Will test one area and see what happens.

Till Next Time. 

Down by the River Side

 The Sydney family have all gone home now so its back to normal life sort of at the moment. I say sort of as I am about to start a business course over the next month, for selling my dolls and cards. I have a new idea in the works so been working on that also. 

Last Wednesday was our day at the river. It was blowing a gale so not the nicest of days. Miss P the apprentice had lessons on BBQ-ing from her dad to add to her skills, although all the other girls and boys were learning as well. 

I might add there was enough food cooked up for the family of 7 to have another meal when they got home, probably the next day lol they would have been full.

Most of the morning all 12 of them spent kayaking. I was told today that the Sydney family were exhausted. I am not surprised everyday was, swimming in the pool sometimes twice, they also did during the week putt putt golf, archery, playing with the cousins, the kayaking, eating out, walking the headland whale watching. Like most holidays never stopped.

Meanwhile back in our home base, I have planted a new lot of tomatoes and lettuce, noticed that the strawberries are producing so put hay all around them and will find something to protect them also, from the birds and lizards who love them. Capsicum seedlings have started, as well as Cosmos, Marigold and Zinnia, Beetroot, Silverbeet.

If the days get a bit cooler will transplant all the baby perpetual leeks and freeze the big ones. I have been preparing a bed down the back for this one. Suddenly we are having a heat wave and it is enough to try and keep the seedlings going for the Community Garden Sunday Market. In the past two months they have sold nearly $600 worth of goods, with a few regulars starting to come back. Such a good sign. I might end up making some jams and relishes as well, so I use up some of my little jars.

I decided to propagate all my geraniums and also a couple from the gardens. This one is a pelagonium and love the flower they have lasted a week now in the vase. I pinched it from the Community garden, after I went and rescued the citrus grove and nectarine tree there.  Hope it takes.
 

Well that's all for this week will leave you with a photo of the Cleome or Spider flower and the Iceberg roses of which the front and back ones are magnificent.

Cleome

Iceberg Climbing Rose

Till Next Time 

Sydney Family Visit.

 Well it is school holiday time and the Sydney Family and my 3 gorgeous grandchildren have come for a visit, and staying at a time share and enjoying the facilities it offers. Miss J who received the quillo a few weeks ago has grown so much. She started high school this year and seems to have doubled in height. Officially past me now, but only just lol. Confirmation that I am shrinking. 

Miss P  my little apprentice and Miss V from the local family arrived on Saturday for the helping grandma session and this time I chose to start organizing the craft rooms.

This is where I work for my sewing.

 I am getting bogged down with everything and need a major tidy up. 

So we took everything off the shelves and Miss V who is 7, sprayed everything and wiped it all clean. 

Area behind the sewing table. with Mum's lovely tapestry.

More bits and pieces

Separating it all out.

We got going really well for an hour or so, then the Sydney kids turned up so I offered to mind them while the parents went and shopped for food, and had lunch out. So all this was stopped and we did some cake baking, 3 in all which mean 3 groups. One banana cake, a batch of chocolate balls and a choc chip coconut slice, and toasted cheese sandwiches for lunch as it was all I had. Luckily!!!

Then they went off and ran up and down the hill till mum and dad arrived. I think this project will be a slow one.

 Today though I got picked up for Brunch at a local cafe, via the garden where John was packing up the market tables. 

                                                       The flowers are looking lovely.

I actually had a bunch to bring home as they didn't sell. So a nice change from my sweet peas.

The garden is really impressive, just as you would  think for Spring. 

Taken through the hanging baskets.

One of us got roped into help pack up.

Brunch was very nice, and I was surprised they found a table for all 7 of us. The street seemed to be full of diners along the sidewalk.

 

 

 We then went off to the Headland but it was super windy. Caught a couple of whales also in the water,  and again seemed like everyone was out for a Sunday stroll even if they got blown away on the hill.

Overlooking the Rock Pool where there was a group thing.

My family

There is a few things planned getting both families together, so fingers crossed the weather stays nice, at least for the wind to stop blowing.

Hope everyone is also having a good weekend 

Till Next Time.