All Hands On Deck - Phew!

Although we never got the rain that was forecast, it still delayed our start to mustering.  Our son and 2 grandsons finally made it Tuesday ready for an early start the next morning. Choice of work boot for working cattle in the yards was gumboots after a heavy downpour the previous night. Early mornings, mud, sweat and cranky cows ... we're all worn out and ready for a rest.

When we get time mainly in the evenings, card games are a favourite for the boys. Master 6 loves to use my card holder so Thursday night I whipped up 2 card holders for them to take home with them. Now I need to make to more for the other two grandsons.

Master 11 went to the freezer for an ice block after dinner last night and came back to tell us everything was warm ... what!!!!! ... yep, freezer died and everything defrosted throughout the hot day. I'll be cooking a couple of roasts quickly and the dogs got a really good feed this morning ... I guess they earnt it, they've all been working hard too this week ... the rest went to the tip.

With the boys here my decluttering has taken a back seat ... I didn't realize it goes for 3 weeks so I will have some catching up to do but I'm not going to panic ... step by step.

Declutter Day 13 - Notions

I'm pretty happy with notions day. I have the small storage containers I showed last post and another set of 4 draws where I store all those bits and bobs like elastic, clasps, press studs, laces etc. Sharing space in a guest bedroom helps and I know it could be better but for now I'll call Day 13 - done.

Declutter Day 14 - Catchup/Rest

Declutter Day 15 - Kits and Precuts

Thanks to the Chookshed Challenge I'm hoping to start/finish a few of those kits this year and I have them all in one place. Day 15 - done.

Declutter Day 16 - UFO's

Well this one is a never ending story but I did finish off a couple of UFO's last year once again thanks to the Chookshed Challenge.

Declutter Day 17 - Scrap Stash

Last year I managed a few projects using scraps and hope to make some more this year. Last month I purchased the book "Quilter's Scrap Pantry" and am planning to put the ideas in this book to good use with my scrap stash. I would like to cut more scraps into useful sizes so that's my goal.

FNSI last night was a fizzer for me ... too tired!  It's all hands on deck here with the cattle work and then someone (yours truly) has to feed them and keep them in clean clothes. Bless them they do like to help prepare the meals and clean up afterwards. Also I try to have easy meals and Master 11 loves to be on breakfast duty ... bacon, eggs and toast.

The humidity today has been horrendous ... thankfully there's a nice breeze kicking up now so I'm off to find a cool spot with a cold drink.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Striving to thrive

Days Roll On

Just popping in before 2024 makes way for 2025 ... The last couple of months have been a little 'rough' so if things got done ... they got done ... and if they didn't ... that was ok too.

My Temperature Quilt keeps calling so I'm pleased that I've kept at it ... very different to last years ... the last row is complete up to the 21st December and I've added the 'keys' down each side.

Hot temps call for the air con on in the Craftervan so I decided it was time for a tidy up. What did I find? ... Pattern and Template for this Twister design so I had a little play when the mood struck ... a little wall hanging ready for quilting. I also found the elusive 'Strips and Curves' which was supposed to be No. 4 Challenge project.

This 'Geese' bag had been waiting for handles ... ta da?

This piece of fabric had been waiting to be hemmed ... now I have a new tablecloth.

Some Christmas fabric I purchased this time last year ... so while the mood was still with me ... I had a new Christmas top to wear.

End of November our Patchwork Group had their Christmas Breakup and we had a little Gift Swap ... the theme was "A Receptacle". I found this pattern for a handy little Carry Bag with pockets both inside and out. Was a bit of a challenge but turned out ok and I made myself one at the same time.

Mum needed her timber fence painted so hubby to the rescue for this job with help from myself, mum and aunty ... of course it had to be a hot day!

Our poinciana trees are always beautiful coming up to Christmas ...

And there's always a critter or two to be found around the place ... the Plovers are busy raising their young ... as are our resident Willy Wagtail parents ...

This little family were quite brave coming up close to the house ... 2 have young in their pouches.

Nature has it's happy and sad.

Sadly we had to say goodbye to our beautiful little girl Millie in October ... our home and hearts are not the same.

14.02.14 ~ 10.10.24

Today I've been playing with some fabric in readiness for a 2025 project or 2 as I keep looking forward ... and planning for a fabric acquisition expedition ... sounds more exciting than just 'going shopping' ...

Today I Sew

The saying goes that whatever you do on New Years Day ... you do all year.  

So I sewed.  

This is my Churn Dash with Chookyblue ... half joined and the strips all completed on the other half ready for assembly.  All fabrics from my stash and scraps.

Hubby and I had some cattle work to do first thing this morning.  Already the day was warming up and what better way to cool down when you're a working dog?  Jump in the trough.

Ended the last year with some cattle work too.  These 2 boys came to check out what we were up to.

Planning on getting my Churn Dash top completed tomorrow ... fingers crossed.

I have no idea why blogger isn't centering my pictures!

A New Venture

 

I am excited to announce that I am now a Tupperware Consultant.

To kickstart my business I am having a Launch Party. My lovely Manager Kirsty will be going live on Saturday Night at 8pm with a live demo to showcase the wonderful range and I would love to invite you for a look see.

If you'd like to support me, check out the link to Narelle's Tupperware VIP page for some fun games and prizes to win.  Love to see you there.

Not on FaceBook?  No problem. You are also welcome to browse the catalogue through my personal link HERE.  Please send me an email if there is something I can help you with, or check that I am added as your consultant to shop at your leisure. 

How Did That Happen?

I had no idea it had been so long since I last posted. No excuse for it really, just motoring along in the everyday of life. Some sewing, crafting and time wasters and family.

The sewing:  I've been cutting up stash scrap pieces with the Kaniva templates from 'Little Desert Quilts' and have manage to sew 3 blocks.

My Churn Dash blocks for July were completed early in the month and photographed. Then when cleaning out my gallery on the phone, deleted the pics so had to take new ones. I've placed August blocks out ready to sew.

The crafting:  Once a month I have an afternoon out with a lovely group of ladies and we make a card. Of course with our location and recent rain events, I've had to miss a couple of Saturdays because of the road being flooded.

Time wasters:  Our girl Pippa had a litter of little Pips in June ... now almost 8 weeks old and loving the outdoors.

Family:  We have 2 grandsons for a few days once a fortnight while both Mum and Dad are on shift. So I'm back to school bus runs, lunch boxes and a lot more washing. Lots of hugs and fun too.  We also caught up with a cousin who was home from America. A visit to 'Snakes Down Under', Childers.  Gotta love the Meerkats.

On the weekend we travelled for my nephews wedding ... a beautiful occasion and my mum made and decorated their wedding cake.  The knife with crochet handle in the pic has a family history.  My parents cut their wedding cake 58 years ago in June.  Hubby and I cut our wedding cake as did our daughter and her husband.  My brother and his wife also used the knife and now his son and new wife.

 So now it's just about afternoon smoko time and Grandson M is getting a little impatient that Ma isn't paying attention ... there won't be much sewing this week. 

I'll try not to be so long between posts next time.

Baby News!

So excited to to announce the arrival of our newest grandson ... 2nd child for DS and DIL.

Mitchell Len

6lb 11oz  (3045g)

January  08, 2020

@  11.32am

If this post is sounding familiar, grandsons no. 3 and 4 are only 2 months apart.  Proud grandparents to 4 beautiful little boys.

I really need to get a riggle on with those baby quilts.  It's also back to work tomorrow ready for the start of the school year while hubby continues to feed cattle and check waters. My horse riding came to an abrupt holt a week ago when I was rudely dumped on the ground on my rear end. No fault of the horse as she got a fright and I just was ready for her sideways jump ... left me mid air with nowhere to go but down ... with a thud!  Nothing broken luckily but lets just say I can't sit down for very long.

Time to walk it off ... maybe make a cuppa and cross everything that the storm clouds on the horizon are kind and dump some much needed rain this afternoon.

And Just Like That it's 2020

A little bit of 2019

With my amazing family by my side (and about to welcome another grandson) we will tackle 2020 head on. 

With my wonderful friends near, far and online, we will strengthen friendships and forge new ones.

I have no words for the fires and drought, only "devastation" ...

A Quick Catch-Up

Thought I should pop in before another month has passed and give a quick update to my absences. Nothing more than just busy busy with everyday stuff ... working on the land and working off-farm doesn't leave a lot of time for crafting but I squeeze in what I can.

I have 3 main objectives for each month.  The first is a mystery quilt I have been working on with a new block each month.  The second is my 1 Xmas Item A Month ... 3 Santa's finished with 3 to go ... that will take me to the end of this year and next year I plan to work on my Cottage Christmas Garden.

The third is stitching 4 postcards each month for "Romancing the Roadtrip".  After this month I'll have 8 cards or 2 months left ... I'm very happy with how this one is turning out.

Back in early May I had the very unfortunate luck of losing control of my car in loose gravel ... the same road I drive at least 3 times a week and have done so for the last 13 years. Thankful I was being watched over as the car left the road, rolled and narrowly missed a large tree. Shaken and bruised, I was able to exit the car to then walk 3km (40 minutes) before I could get phone reception to call for help. Then began the running around trying to replace the vehicle as it was written off.

Visiting with family is always uplifting, even if it's farm work related.

Good news to share ... we're expecting 2 more grandchildren.  DD is due November and DIL is due January. So of course I have begun gathering fabrics for another "Little ???'s Farm" quilt and also a "Mother Goose Nursery" quilt.  We had a lovely visit with DD and family in late June and spent last Saturday with DS and family at a campdraft where both our son and grandson won prizes in their events.

Some sewing for DD and I have material for another that I need to get finished quick smart.

Time to go do some ironing of the mundane type ... uniforms for work.

I hope that however crazy hectic your days seem, you can find a moment to squeeze in some craft.

FNSI Sign Up

How has a third Friday for October come around so quickly?  Rush over to Wendy's to join in for a lovely night with like minded friends.  I''ll be working on my crochet rug and maybe start on another wash cloth for my Christmas stash.

We've been fortunate to receive some lovely rain in the past week, luckily without the destructive storms that have caused heartbreak for many.  Still feeding our cows though so that they can stay strong and care for their babies. Millie tries to get the calves to play but usually the mums step in.

Well, my BAS (tax stuff) is done so mopping the floors is next on my agenda, I should stop procrastinating I guess.

Just Crusin' In and FNSI

Well then!  Looking back, all I can say is that I hope 2018 is a lot more productive in the crafty department ...

On the up side, I haven't felt like I'm hurtling head first down a steep hill about to crash into the end of the year. Hence my title ... feels more like a leaf floating down a quiet stream ... just crusin' along with the current ... nice.

We had a busy start to the school holidays, mustering and branding with our youngest musterer keeping up with the pace ...little champion.

  

Before work came play ... celebrating dad's 80th Birthday ... horseshoe mudcake by yours truely.

Then a trip to town to 'finish' the Christmas List, followed by a weekend with some stitching and prepping.  Miss November is complete with bucket and spade ...

while Miss December is traced and awaiting needle and thread to weave their magic.

I also have my AHJC block for December pieced, appliqued and ready for the final embroidery. So a little progress is happening.

Looking forward to joining in with Wendy and friends for the final FNSI for the year ... pop over, sign up and help spread some Festive Joy.

Merry Christmas

August All But Gone

Just like my rose garden ...

There's only so much water one can share with the livestock as once again the rain didn't "Tumble Down in July" or for that matter any other month either.  So the rose garden has been let go, rose bushes gave up, grass encroached and the edging has been removed. The part of the garden I am trying to keep going has had a long needed pruning and a drink.

The bush on the right has a pigeon nesting deep in the middle so it can wait until she raises her babies.

Anything sewing or stitching related has also gone by the wayside this month ... no progress what-so-ever to share ... so I'm going to have to double my efforts for September, aren't I?

Till Spring has sprung (next month)