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

Good Weather for Stitching

What does one do when the rain is bucketing down and work is closed? .... Stitch of course.  I finished this stitchery that has been on the go a good while .... High Tea needlecase by Red Brolly

We've been fortunate to receive almost 7 inches of rain without the damage .... dams and creeks have overflowed and roads are cut so we'll just sit put for a bit .... remember if its  flooded, forget it!  Our emergency services are stretched helping those who are in real need, not those who only think they know best.

What a Difference!

What a difference some nice rain can make. From worrying about water for the livestock, to a beautiful reflection in the water's surface. Grass is starting to come through so the cattle can get a reasonable mouthful.

Now sitting here, torn between worry for those in the path of Cyclone Debbie and hoping she brings some good rain our way to run the creeks, fill the waterholes and top the dams. Stay safe xx

As March comes to the end, I have met 2 deadlines. First is my stitchery block

Calendar Bears by Michelle Ridgeway

Next is a placemat/coaster set for my 1 Xmas Item ... straight to the giftbox.

March has been filled with visits to and from loved ones, special moments and cuddles with our grandsons, and a welcome to a sweet baby girl (niece). Throw in a few birthdays and this month has flashed by.

Next on my to do list :-  bind Little P's Farm

Not Today

Hot ... dry ... no inspiration for sewing.

Forecast says maybe a couple inches at the end of the week ... that will be a nice change ... if it happens.

EDIT:  Even that has been reduced. On the plus side just read that our local council is one of 7 more added to the Drought Declared list.

FNWF - Mudcake or Brownies?

Oh the dilemma! First I cooked brownies, followed by a choc mud cake before popping a lasagna in the oven now that the weather had cooled down enough to even consider turning the oven on.

Brownies and a milo ....

Then back to business ... putting the final stitches into this sweet pattern.

Thank you Cheryll for another lovely Friday Night with Friends xx

After all that beautiful rain and some amazing rainfall totals in neighbouring areas, all that water has to go somewhere. Taking most things in it's path.

This road is the one I travel on to get to work...once the river is high enough to spill over the dam spillway, water backs up the creeks.

If it's flooded ... forget it!

This weather also plays havoc with my internet. Just to post took ages so not much blog hopping happening ... most times I get "error loading" and then nothing happens.

Who's Peeking?

Enjoying some beautiful rain but not the horrid humidity before the storm breaks ... or the power outages ... some stitching happening.

I snapped this pic last week ...  I was intrigued with the funnel and then noticed ...

 do you see what I see?

Anyone For Tea?

This was last Friday

Today was a beautiful afternoon for a pot of tea

Happy weekend     >^..^<

FNSI and Cyclone Watch

Considerable time was spent online last night watching the path of Cyclone Marcia as she came through our region on her way south. Thankfully downgraded to a Cat 1 by then but still plenty of wind and rain.  We measured 105 mm (4") in the gauge this morning but some wouldn't have made it in the gauge with the wind factor. Towns further west of us measured up to 8 inches and lost power while Yeppoon and Rockhampton to our north bore the brunt of it.

So back to my sewing ... I managed to prep and needle turn one more block for 'Natures Journey'. Thank you Wendy for getting us all together for another Friday Night.

This morning called for a drive down to the creek for a look see ...

With the road in the other direction also cut, we'll be staying put for a little bit ... more sewing time.

Weather Update

Tropical Cyclone Marcia - Category 5

She's starting to cross the coast just north of Yeppoon this morning ... watching the updates on TV and Internet ... keep safe everyone. Waiting to see what impact we experience in the pathway south.

Whether the Weather

Whether the weather be fine,

Or whether the weather be not,

Whether the weather be cold,

Or whether the weather be hot,

We'll weather the weather,

Whatever the weather,

Whether we like it or not.

At the end of last year we were out feeding cattle to keep them alive through the drought. Good rains December and January grew the grass and I found myself stuck at flooded creeks driving home from work. Now this is knocking on the door!

Tropical Cyclone Marcia

On the sewing news, I managed another finish earlier this month but just haven't had the time to share. The block was from our groups Christmas swap and our challenge is to make the block into an item by July ... big tick for me ... I'm done!

Also needle turning my way through the February blocks for 'Natures Journey'.

Last Sunday night our area experienced a 5.2 earthquake ... I somehow managed to sleep right through it even with hubby trying to wake me ... thankfully no major damage reported. So now I'm taking my tired body to bed and listen to the wind howling outside ... see what tomorrow brings.

Night Night     >^..^<

This and That for 2015

First is my recap for finishes in 2014.  Dealing with drought had a big impact on my sewing mojo but I did manage a few small finishes.  There are still a couple of quilts waiting to be quilted so all in good time I guess.

My first finish for 2015 is also my first mini quilt ... with another mini almost finished.

A finish for January also puts me on track for OPAM 2015 hosted by the lovely Kris and Peg ... and also a count for 1 Xmas Item A Month and CTTY over at Anthea's

This week was back to work in town and wouldn't you know it!  I will never complain but with the recent rain event for Queensland I was faced with this 3 afternoons on the way home. I've begun taking an overnight bag and pillow to work with me just in case. I should have some stitching in the car with me to work on while a wait for them to go down.

Preparation for 'Natures Journey' and 'A Merry Christmas Garden' took precedence over housework yesterday. These are going to be my 2 main projects for 2015 as well as finishing off a couple of quilts and ... did I mention DD has set a wedding date so best make that 3 main projects!

Happy Australia Day for tomorrow.

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.

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?

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.