Swealtering

It's just way too hot and steamy to feel like doing much at all.

Farewell 2014

Hello 2015

Green Hills and Dam

Now that title is sounding a lot like someone's favourite story.  Computer is also charged and operational ... so much nicer all round. What a difference some good rain can make.

Beautiful red from the poinciana tree and the mock orange tree's white blossom has the most lovely fragrance.

We've fenced off some of the house yard so the horses can have a treat.

Still busy moving cattle about so that they all get access to some new green grass. There's not a lot of it yet ( a long way to grow back) so some have gone back to their paddock and the others are rotated about to give the grasses a chance to rejuvenate.

So time to get organized for Christmas with a few last minute chores around the house before family arrive in a couple of days.

To all my lovely blogger friends and visitors, I wish you a Merry Christmas full of love and laughter with those near and dear to you. 

May 2015 be everything you hope for and the weather be kind to all.

Oooops!

Lightening isn't good for electrical things ... even when you think you're being safe.  When I went to recharge my laptop battery, it appears the ac/dc adaptor has fried (yes, it was all disconnected but not pulled out at the wall) so until I can get my hands on a new one, I'm struggling at slower than snail pace with an oldie but still faithful laptop. So for now it's only the bare minimum.

We're expecting more storms this afternoon and tomorrow ... it's soooo hot and steamy at the moment. After the fall of 44 mm we had on Sunday, we measured another 33 mm on Monday and 10 on Tuesday ... you can hear the grass growing (biggest grin).  I do hope everyone is having their turn of the wet stuff.

Oh The Excitement!

It's our turn ... woohoo!  Under today's storm .... 44 mm of rain over the front half of our property ... hubby went for a drive after and still dusty over the back paddocks.

May everyone get their turn several times over.

Like Rain Drops

My posts have become like the rain drops ... too few and too far between.  Yesterday started off looking good ...

only to measure 4 1/2 mm  while neighbouring areas were receiving between 40 and 80 mm (happy for them and hoping it's our turn next).  We've been forecast a wet week so everything is crossed that it delivers widespread soaking rains to all...and them some follow-up rain.

Two weeks ago I took some leave from work, swapped my playground duty hat and summer sandals for an akubra and riding boots to saddle up (after 20+ years) and help DH with the cattle. There's no feed left in most paddocks, so we take them out each day to find something to eat while still feeding hay to our breeders. My parents have been coming over each week to lend a hand also. Myself, hubby and dad... even my poor old pony has had to come out of retirement.

Needless to say, anything sewing related is non-existent and blogging has taken a back seat although I do a quick skip around a few favourites each night just for some 'normality'.

Over the last few years, we've been from flood to drought, broken by more floods and straight back into drought ... isn't it time for a regular, normal, reasonable season?

A Quick Finish

Thank you for your comments and rainy wishes. All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth RAIN for everyone in need (and before Christmas please).

DS, DIL and Gorgeous GrandSon spent the last couple of days over here helping with the muster. Hard decisions to be made now with bare paddocks and feed hard to buy. But enough of the gloom ... I can still squeeze in some crafty stuff.

One 'sit me up donut' by 'Paula Storm Designs' is all filled out and had it's first test run yesterday after I stitched the last opening closed. Won't be too long and GGS will be able to put it to full use.

Have a crafty weekend.     >^..^<

Just Waiting

Seems everything around here is just waiting.

Waiting for the evening cool and someone to play with me.

Waiting for some filling so our gorgeous little grandson can give it a test drive sit.

Waiting for the final step of sandwich, quilt and bind.

Another waiting for the same final step.

Waiting for the wind to drop ... for the last couple months there's been hardly a day without wind drying the countryside out.

Waiting for a chance to sew some more letters ... these 5 are hot off the sewing machine.

The hardest wait ... waiting for some good rain and an end to this cruel drought.

Time Keeps Ticking On

 Warning ... photo heavy post ... the last 3 weeks have flown :)  I've noticed lots of bloggers are having the same issue with their days disappearing almost before they begin ... is there a global time thief or is life simply speeding up for everyone?

Aunty Millie has 5 new babies she helps care for.

We spent some time pruning in the garden.

DD and her fiancee came to visit and Spencer had a sleepover.

Aunty Millie making sure they share.

My lovely prize from Anthea and CTTY

A purchase from Michelle.

There has been a little stitching at night.

Some sewing last weekend...

I found these over here.

And the centre blocks are together on 'Crossroads to Jericho'

This little farm has come together and just needs a touch more stitching on the border appliques. 

There was also a visit and cuddles with our gorgeous grandson ... my parents, niece and nephew visited ... housework ... book work ... cattle work ... then there's meal times and bed time before it starts all over again.

I'm sure you all know how it goes ... this is just a quick snippet of my days.

Hope you can squeeze a little (or a lot) of sewing into your days     >^..^<

Around The World Blog Hop

I received a lovely email from Tanya last week, inviting me to take part in Around the World Blog Hop. I must admit that I wasn't sure what it was about as my blog hopping time has been rather limited this year, so after a quick 'look see', I decided it would be nice to do some reflecting on what I think of as my sanity saver.

Thank you Tanya for thinking of me and my Pins and Whiskers. Please take a moment to hop over to tanyaquiltsinco.blogspot.com.au and say hello if you haven't already met Tanya.

I guess you could say I have crafting in the veins. You know how it goes ... my mother, her mother and so on have all created with their hands. I have vague memories of making little craft items here and there and loved cross stitching and tapestry. Then when my children were born, I machine sewed PJ's, winter clothes, school uniforms and dance costumes etc. Handcrafting took off for me while attending the local CWA craft mornings ... lots of different handcrafts to try and other young mums to chat with as our children played together.

This is the quilt that started me down the patchwork and quilting path. Way back in May 1995 a friend held a patchwork class in the local CWA rooms and the rest, as they say, is history.

1. What am I working on?

I blame a short attention span for the numerous projects I have on the go at any one time. Some would argue that they should be called UFO's but I prefer to call them WISSP's (works in super slow progress).  Recently I gave myself a challenge to choose 3 main focus projects and keep them progressing along.

 #1 is 'Little Maccas Farm' for our grandson - progress can be checked in the tab at the top of my blog.  #2 is a workshop quilt commenced in July (this year) and is intended for my SIL.  #3 is a crochet rug that might be ready for next winter now.

I blogged about these projects HERE.

As I can't help myself, I have also made a few sets of hand towels ... I have another little fun scrappy quilt along that I want to get started on before I get too far behind ... and some Christmas stitchery patterns in the mail so I can start on some little ornament gifts. If I don't feel like working on a particular project, I always have something else to work on. Clicking on the UFO tab at the top will give you a peak at my other projects biding their time but here are just a couple.

2.  How does your work differ from others of it's genre?

 Hmmmm? How do I answer this one? I don't think I really differ from others. Although if I'm not happy with a process or pattern, I'm not afraid of tweaking or making alterations to fit my vision. Colour choice can be a challenge and I have been known to raise a few eyebrows with my combinations but after all ... beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right?

3.  Why do you write/create?

Simple ... I love it!  I haven't gone down the path of writing because I have way too many projects, patterns, designers on my to do list.  There are two main reasons for beginning a project.

 #1 is for special occasions for family members, friends or swaps.  Sadly my swap participation has slowed to a crawl. As much as I enjoyed creating something to send off to a new home and receive something in return, deadlines became stressful with time constraints and I would never want to let someone down. Family members have accepted that their quilt will be gifted a little late :o)

Wedding Quilt for DS and DIL - 2013

Hubby's 50th Birthday Quilt - 2012

#2  I see a pattern I like and think I must make this one ... another for the to do list. Or an occasional workshop because to me they are as much about the socializing as it is the creating.

4.  How does your writing/creating process work?

In a nut shell ...

I see a pattern I like or I have an occasion which requires a quilt or other item and if I don't have a design in mind then I find a pattern to suit.

If I don't have fabric to make a start then I add that to my shopping list for the next trip into town. Now I'm not one to have everything I need before I make a start so ...

I work merrily away on said project until I discover that I'm short of fabric or cotton or I get the top almost complete and don't have border fabric. Maybe I finish the whole top and then or course I don't have something to back it with. I'm sure some of you know how it goes ... so the project goes on the wait list for a bit till the next trip to town.

Eventually said project is completed and gifted or put into use.  Have I mentioned that I am a master procrastinator and don't do well with deadlines.

At the end of the day it's about the joy of creating and it helps keep my sanity in this crazy world.

To keep in line with my tendencies to make alterations, instead of nominating 3 fellow bloggers to link to I would like to do the following:

You're Invited to

an Around The World Blog Hop

by either

Answering these 4 questions and posting them on your own blog

or

Visiting fellow bloggers on my right side bar and saying 'Hello'

Not One But Two

Yesterday when I headed off to set up my sewing machine I also had to bring old faithful out of retirement. I've been sewing lately on a 'new to me' little machine that my mum found at a garage sale as 'old faithful' was over 20 years old and the motor was on it's last. Remember these?

Not only could I not find the buttons for them ... I could not for the life of me get the buttonhole to work on my little machine ... hence old faithful had to come out yesterday and after 4 buttonholes ...

My third (and second) set of hand towels are complete.  I'm linking up with Anthea for CTTY where I was a lucky winner last month, and they will also appear on the 1 Xmas Item Blog. Great feeling to have a finish and something for the Christmas gift box.

Another lovely night of stitching last night. I managed to finish the blanket stitching around the word 'Little' while listening to some lovely rain on the roof. Measured 1 mm in the gauge this morning but the clouds are still looking promising today.  Time to get back to that sewing machine and perhaps some border preparation for LMF.

Just a quick (funny) clarification. By 'meals on wheels' in yesterdays post, I was meaning that the cows' meals arrive by tractor ... I wouldn't use the word 'meals' about or definitely not in front of the cows :o)

Happy Sunday     >^..^<

FNSI Results

The Friday's whip around so fast I am usually joining up at the last minute to be part of the sewing/creating festivities. Last night was Wendy's turn to host and you can visit all the lovely participants from this sign up.

With home made hamburgers for dinner and a quick clean-up it was time to sit back, relax and enjoy ... with a little treat to keep me sweet.

Still working on LMF ... hoping that I can get it to flimsy stage over the school holidays.

Then out and about this morning with our version of meals on wheels.

Looking back over 2014 there seems to be a lot more 'waiting for rain' and a lot less 'sewing and creativity' in my blogging. So with that thought, I'm off to set up the sewing machine ... dig out a recent project to save it from becoming a UFO ... and put some more sewing content back in here.

Enjoy your weekend     >^..^<

Buy A Bale

The Buy A Bale group made a hay drop in our area yesterday and we were very grateful to be recipients as we continue to feed our cows and wait for grass growing rains.  To find out more about this group and the fantastic work they are doing to help the farmers, click  on this link.

Our local newspaper has printed a story about our area delivery and how funds were raised at a Masquerade Ball in Gladstone organised by Sarah Baldwin. Check out the full story at this link.

Big thanks to our fellow Aussies for their generous support to this cause.

And The Beat Goes On

I have no clue how but these words just popped into my head when thinking of a title and now I have the tune stuck in my head. Off to do a search and found NOT the one in my head ... another search and here it is by Sonny and Cher.

Just a little bit of blanket applique happening here on a secret project and I did manage to prepare the lettering for LMF.

One more week of travelling to and fro and then a two week change of pace ... I'm really hoping to be able to get back into the swing of sewing and also have some major gardening planned.

As for my title, I was thinking that even though I've been feeling 'stuck in a rut' ... the days keep rolling over ... the rain clouds promise and then disappoint ... the roos come in for an evening drink ... (the white rail at the bottom of pic is the top rail of our house fence)

and Millie trots around like she owns the place.  "Will I or won't I go give the working dogs a helping paw?"

"Nah!  Mum needs help with the stitching I'm sure"

And the beat goes on     >^..^<

Sewing? What's That!

Somehow I fell into a 'no-sew-zone' and its proving to be a long climb out. Nothing for it but to dig my toes in and soldier on.

Bit of a late catch-up ... a fortnight ago we had a lovely overnight trip to DD's and Millie came along too. She and Spencer had a ball playing together to the point where he would try and catch his breath while Millie kept bouncing about.

For Father's Day yesterday, we had a lovely visit from DS, DIL and Baby J. Yummy roast lunch to celebrate the day as well as DS's birthday the day before and DIL's birthday in a few days. By the afternoon the showers arrived, sounding so good on the roof ... only 6mm in the gauge this morning but better than missing out all together.

Another week begins.  

>^..^<