October Rolls In ... Next Challenge

 Not much happening in the land of sewing or any crafting I'm afraid ... I've lost my mojo and don't know where to even start looking for it ... think I'll just leave it alone and it will find it's own way home.

September Chookshed Challenge was my Scrappy Wall Hanger but with grandies visiting before and during school holidays ... bathroom reno ... Throw in an absess forming after what I'm thinking was a spider bite on my back while gardening with Grandson F ... much driving to and fro for medical ... and my wall hanging is still as is. He chose the violas to go with our tomato plants and later I snuck in some gladiolas.

I was eager to finish my first every granny square rug early in September and am very happy with how it turned out.  Great for wool scrap busting as I managed 3 rugs from 2 wool kits and only purchased the white wool for last row of each square and joining.

October Challenge is whatever project was left on my list which is "King Bed Quilt".  I'll keep plugging along on this one as I really want it finished and on my bed. Not to mention the machine has been set up on the dining table so I have room to work on the long rows.

Thank you Deana and Chooky for this Chookshed Challenge.  I started the year with flying colours and while I've let slide on a couple of challenges, I for sure would not have achieved what I have without being challenged.

FNSI After a Wet Week

Wow, what a deluge!  Here on the Queeensland coast our parched lands have been once again flooded...seems we just keep bouncing from floods to drought and back to floods. We received 8 inches of beautiful rain which has filled the dams and tanks as well as boosted the brown dry grasses back to a healthy looking green. Areas closer to the coast received over 20 inches.

Nothing like good rain to bring forth new growth.

Of course that much water has run the creeks and rivers and we're once again locked in by flooded roads ... good thing I have several projects on the go to keep me busy. In fact I have managed to finish my October list ...

So as it is FNSI time with Wendy and friends, I have dug out a ball of cotton and knitting needles ...

I'm in desperate need of a new dishcloth for myself.
Happy Friday

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)

Fur and Feathers

Two more animals ready to "meow" and "honk" on someone's farm.

Charlie Cat - 3 of 12

Gertrude Goose - 4 of 12

Here's a little bit of summer colour on our farm.

Pleasures newly found are sweet - 

When they lie about our feet

 --- William Wordsworth

Small Wonders

This little pair of booties are ready for little toes.

The first time this bush orchid has flowered.

This is a tick on my wish list. Purchased from the Quilters Angel when we had a rush trip through Toowoomba and hubby kindly made a stop for me at the 'top of the hill'.

I have made a start machine quilting the animal blocks for Little ?s Farm and will try to remember to take some pics tomorrow at our patchwork day.

Happy Sunday

Another Week Down and FNWF

Hello April ... do you know it's supposed to be Autumn? Where's the cooler weather!

You'll find me tonight under the fan, watching a little TV,  knitting and perhaps an embroidery stitch or two for a change.  Pop over HERE if you haven't signed up yet for ...

Another busy week with family visiting to help with the muster.  Just love spending time with this little monkey ... who just loves being in the outdoors.

While enjoying some outdoor time with camera in hand I snapped this beauty.

Hoping next week will be a little slower and I will find some time to go blog visiting and just maybe do a little sewing ... who knows?  For now I'm off to reheat leftovers for dinner and settle in for a bit of sewing/knitting With Friends on this Friday Night.

Happy Easter

Our week that was ...

Hello Spring

Wow!  A whole month has past since I was here last. With the recent lovely sunny days I took a moment to stop and smell the roses....amazing what a little bit of tender loving care will do.

before  ..... during .... after renovation

Stitch by stitch my Natures Journey has progressed with the centre block completed right on deadline.

Only 4 more sleeps till DD's wedding day ... final touches are being made to decorations. Hoping this cold snap warms up a little and the wind stays away.

Happy sewing     >^..^<

FNWF How Does Your Garden Grow?

Thanks Cheryll for having us all over last Friday night ... was a bit chilly so my fingers needed warming around a nice warm cuppa before I could get started.

My NJ garden is waiting for an early spring for some colour. The left and right smaller branches/leaves are stitched and the centre branches/leaves are in place ready for needle and thread.

Then I couldn't help myself and started playing with all the pieces cut ready and waiting to "Spring" into action. There's a lot of work for July but I'm excited with how it's starting to look. A few more fabric pieces to choose yet.

While it's school holiday time, hubby and I have been spending time in the outdoor garden. Time for my tired rose bed to have a spruce up with some new roses to go in and fill the gaps. New edge ... new dirt ... and a good prune.

The drought had taken it's toll on the gardens and this next one had several trees that didn't make it. Then the grass and weeds took over so a big clean-up was called for.

More pruning over the next week on another garden bed but mainly just tidy up stuff. My NJ centre block will also start to bloom over the next few weeks.

Happy Gardening     >^..^<

Sewing In A Storm

This has been much of today. 27 mm of rain with lots of bad lightning, thunder and small hail.

After the heatwave of the past few days I can't believe I said I might have to put a coat on. So with 'back to work' tomorrow it's time for some last minute (first for the year) sewing.

This year I've joined Chooky's SAL and my pattern for 'Natures Journey' arrived last Friday. Our target for January was a little Christmas stitchery which I finished stitching Thursday ...

This sweet angel now has borders ... been sandwiched ... and binding machined on ready to hand stitch down.  Also another Christmas block I received at our local patchwork group's breakup last year. We've challenged each other to finish the 12 1/2" blocks into a project by July so I'm well ahead for once.

We are so thankful to have received good rain through December. Now that the grass has grown some, the cattle are finally back in their paddocks happily grazing ... follow up rain is still needed but for now the pressure is off.  It's so lovely to see some blooms back in the garden too.

Time to get 2015 rolling.

>^..^<

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.

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     >^..^<