What makes me smile.... day four

I finished my Lynette Anderson Stitchery! My lovely 86 year old neighbour said he will make me a frame to put it in to hang - I am so lucky! Christine how is your going?

What makes me smile... day three

This was at my front door early this am...



Look Jo! Our books arrived - WOO HOO. I promise no to open yours (or even have a peak - promise) and will bring them Friday.



I am off to read in front of the fire tonight. Hope you all are keeping warm.

What makes me smile... day two

After I sent last nights post I was sitting in front of the fire enjoying the warmth- I decided it had to be added to today's post...



But this is what made me smile this am (besides seeing my boys coming into bed for a morning cuddle)



Apple and Yogurt muffins. They are for my youngest sons morning tea stall today. They are doing an enquiry about food - where it comes from and how it gets to us and how shops operate etc. So they are running their own stall of goodies to sell. Money they raise will go to a charity or the Quaker service. I find it difficult to keep up with all the 'expectations' I have of myself as a mother of boys going to school (you know canteen duty, food choices, parent help, excursions, gatherings, violin lessons, reader books etc etc etc). But I managed to make these and do it properly - and that was really satisfying.

Things that make me smile... day one

I discovered this blog - not sure how... A Spoonful of Sugar asked... what made you smile today? This is what made me smile the next morning on my return home.



It is the first crop since we have moved here. When our dogs had access to the vegie patch it never survived. Now they are sectioned away from the patch I have been eagerly watching the 'babies' grow. With the rising cost of food I have decided we need to take growing our own food more seriously then we have in the past. So we have planted lots of fruit trees and got this vegetable patch going. We hope to do another one in the front this spring.

I have decided I will do a photo of what made me smile everyday for a week. Do you think you are up to this? If you are let me know! I would love to see what made you smile.

Bag swap tease

I have received my partner for the Bag Swap organised by Linda.

Here is a sneak look. I have used her colour and she likes reproduction fabrics. I hope this afternoon to cut and draw the stitching on the fabric. Once this is done I can plod along slowly and have it ready for mailing by first week of September. This seems ages away now, but trust me it will come quickly enough!

Block three and six to go...

As I continue with my 'There's No Place Like Home' from Daisies and Dragonflies quilt...

I am back!

What a GREAT long weekend away. We were up early. It was still dark. Melo and Dudley picked us up and we all went to the airport. My luggage weighed 18.1 kg. Ah oh. Flight was two hours from Hobart to Sydney. I spent it stitching. Have you tried stitching on a plane which does not stay still (for a reason I know!). We then took the train to Cambell Town where lovely Sherri meet us. Here is the dudes on the train.



Kylies Scrap Girl Retreats are always such good fun. I think this has been the best of the four I have attended (or is it five?). I got so much scrapping done it will make my scrapping friends SO proud. While I am in the groove I hope to continue so I can actually 'catch up' (noticed the ' ' ). Tracy spoiled us with her personal designed cocktail - I did not try as I am on this dairy free thingo. Well actually the real excuse is I am a cheap drunk and I dont like the taste of alcohol.



When it all finished we headed back to Tracy's place for the night. The next morning the ladies took me to a town near Bargo that had two quilt shops. One of them was SO divine - I HAD To have their fabric. They had such lovely classic/elegant/girl fabrics - oh yum. Here is the fabric I bought. Most (well say at least 50%) have been 'committed' to projects. If I did not have baggage allowance I would have bought MORE.



Then a friend, who did nursing with me, picked me up and showed me the beautiful country and we headed down to the coast. The drive down the escarpment was scary when a double truck could not get round a tight bend. I took the train to Sydney and stayed there overnight. Here is the view from my hotel room. Pretty spiffy hey.



Next morning I took the train to Newcastle. The meeting with my Dads cousin was SO SPECIAL. No I did not cry and he did not look like my Dad but he shared his time and love. Both he and his wife were just so lovely and I am so pleased to have found him. He remembers my Dad from so long ago (way before I was born long ago). Yesterday was his appointment with the cancer specialist to see how the last treatment went and I am anxious to hear the result.

I took the train back to Sydney the next morning, window shopped Sydney CBD and then headed to the airport. Baggage weighed 22.1 and they did not charge me!!! I am glad they did not weigh hand luggage was well! After delays etc I arrived to a warm fire and cuddles at 10 p.m..

I promise I will share pieces of my layouts as I get myself sorted here. There is LOADS of washing and ironing to do plus catching up of six days worth of stuff.

Signed up for another swap!

I just could not help myself.

So I signed up for another swap at http://all-stitched-up.blogspot.com. I have the PERFECT bag pattern here which I LOVE which has lots of work but one I would love for myself. I am looking forward to finding out my swap partners colours and I can get started.

Feeling FRAZZLED here because I head to Sydney in 32 hours and I have a list so long it will be more work out than going to the gym LOL. BUT I am SO excited about seeing my special freinds again. I am going to Kylie's Scrap Girl Retreats with Melo (Dudley and GIlbert) and meet up with my two close girl friends Tracy and Sherri. We always have a ball and do the traditional pink PJ photo (with out boob showing this time girls please!). After this I head to Newcastle to see a relative who I have never meet before. My father died over half my life ago - the last few years I have been trying to do my Family History on his side (he was the last male in his line). I found this relative - My Dads cousin and I am so excited to meet him but also very nervous. What if he looks like my dad, what if I cry, what if what if what if!

I have plenty to focus on today so I better get cracking!

An adventure and a good stitch!

My adventure started with an early rise on Friday am for a workshop in Launceston for work. Almost delayed the departure due to black ice and snow in the higher areas of the highway to Launceston. This picture says it all. DH told me to stay behind a truck which will reduce my chance of slipping (see honey I did listen to you!). This truck did slip a few times and it was a bit scray.



Then I headed to Evandale that evening to share accommodation with Christine Dearden and Co. (who organised the stitching day). We all headed to the local Evandale pub with the tutors for a good hearty dinner and gas bag (boy they talk!).

Most exciting - the Heritage Stitching Day at Evandale. You must go to Christine's and Cathy's blog for more info on the day. Cathy's daugher Alex came as well. Here is a picture of us all. L - R Cathy, Me, Alex and Christine.



I did a lot of talking (oops) and eventually after Christine and I did some shopping we decided to work on our newly purchased Lynette Andersons Home Sweet Home stitchery. Christine and I managed to score some good girl talk with Kerry and Vivian. I bought patterns from both of them (could not resist - evil grin) plus some verigated georgeous thread. One of them is hidden as a surprise - more on that another post.

Here are my purchases...



So what did you get up to this weekend?

Stitching Swap, blog title and no chocolate!

You may be wondering how on earth I came up with this blog title. Well I spent over an hour typing in potential blog names and they were all taken. I started to send emails to Jo complaining and in one of the emails I said "if only I had chocolate" - it was a light bulb moment! How good was that?

Also if you check out Hugs and Kisses Blog you will see Helen has an exciting new project called The Stitchers Angel Project. Just touch the Stichers Angel Block to the right of this blog and it will take you straight there. I am about to sign up and think it will be a lot of fun. I am envious when I see all these exciting swaps on other blogs and decided to take the plunge : ). Yes this will mean my to do list will stall for a moment.

Another new adveture I am on. I have been advised to try to go dairy free for three weeks (long story - just go with it!). OMGsh you suddenly realise how much dairy you use. Milk in cereal, butter in salad sandwiches, cheese (oh cheese I love), CHOCOLATE, oh I am aching and it is only 24 hours. SO I am looking at alternatives and learning LOTS on the way. Wish me luck!

WANTED

I am happy to pay or exchange for yummy goodies.

Crossing my fingers and toes.

Oliver's Quilt

I have cut out the blocks to make Oliver's quilt. He is being very patient. There is a few things we need to do to the boys rooms before they are finished so I dont feel the rush to finish it... Oh my so many things to do so little time. I also promised myself I would get one layout done this weekend and that has not happened. SIGH. At least I got a fair amount of stitching done at Jo's while we watched Dirty Dancing - remember that movie?

Did you have a productive weekend?

Two down and seven to go!

I am determined to get this quilt done before I begin the Quilters Journal quilt (Leanne's House) so I am stitching madly. I am well and truly into the third block. This is the 'There's No Place Like Home' from Daisies and Dragonflies. I saw this in Homespun and called the shop to mail it to me. When it arrived, it was not 100% what I had expected but that is okay - the risk of ordering this way. There was a lot more stitching than I thought (ekkkkk).

I am excited as I have booked a place for a stitching day run by Christine Dearden in Evandale next Saturday. There will be Christine Book,Vivian's Robinson, Brenda Ryan and Kerry Gillespie. It coincides with a conference in Launceston on Friday - it was meant to be!

I am off to Jo's place tonight to stitch and hopefully Helen will be there as well.

Learning a bit about myself today

I went to a workshop today about counseling for work. When we began he asked us to fill in these questions. I found them confronting but also they helped me 'box' stuff in my own mind. Lets see what you find out about yourself - answer the very first thing that comes to mind...

My goal in life is...

The thing that gives me the most satisfaction is...

My childhood was...

My deepest fear is...

My most frequent feeling is...

The thing I hate most...

Three things I'd like to change about myself are...

I feel angry when...

I think I am...

I think spending money on ...... is foolish and wasteful.

I'm happiest when...

To me work is...

In general, I view life as ...

My idea of a dream career is...

The person I most admire is ... because...

In general my strengths are...

My parents are...

I am envious of ...

What disgusts me is...

I think God is ...

I'd never told anyone that I like ...

What I grow old ...