How cute is this

Tonight's yield is one goodie bucket! It is so cute. I bought the kit at Fresh Fabric in Deloraine on the way back from my Cradle Mountain trip. Very happy that MBD decided to go to Launceston via Deloraine!

Just right to fill up with fat quarters, or threads, or....

Weekend fun/work

It seemed like Spring had arrived on Saturday only to be back to Winter on Sunday! Sunday morning I went to breakfast at the Sorell Providore with my brothers and their partners to celebrate their best sister's birthday. Lots of loot gratefully received :)

On the way home I went to Shiploads and bought a bed and toys for Clay when he visits my place. Then saw an ad last night with the dog beds for half the price!!! Sad news is that Clay will be banned from my backyard as it seems he may be allergic to some of the plants. I will need to get digging (wandering jew all over the place in the far back corner). Clay had a lovely time romping through it.

I did a litle bit of weeding on Saturday and didn't it make a difference. These grevilleas have been flowering all winter and now they can really show off without the weeds choking them.

I spent quite a bit of time digging out these callistemons, the painter had cut them right down to get to the house and I decided they had to go. One down but one still to go...

They look so small but they are so stubborn....

The bulbs are out all over the garden. I picked heaps last weekend and now there are more.

Old photos

I came across a disc of old photos that I had scanned in a few months ago. Here is a little selection.

My lovely grandchildren several years ago with the renowned Stalin who lived his life his way for 19 years.

 My parents 40 years ago outside a town named after Mum

My parents reading to my niece K, their first grandchild.

"oh no" says K - don't you love the 60s chairs. No K isn't that old lol

Happy times with Dad in his usual position with Birralee Silver Shah on his knee

What a giggle, my aunt and I with a couple of my friends in Surfers Paradise. Whoo hoo did I really have such a short dress (I made it too!)

Me again, with my new niece R and my brother R

There is now another house between my place and this place..how times change.

Haven't seen this view for about 30 years - the house in front built on a second storey when we were away on long service leave...

"Now Papa we will water them with all this water on the lawn"

Oh no I don't think my niece was impressed with her new cousin (my daughter N)

Not sure Shah likes you grabbing his fur N...

"Let me go, Papa"

"I'll show you, N"

My old Cooper S in the background.

"Hey, N you can't go anywhere without me." My dog Boo used to follow my daughter around all the time.

Eco bags

Another one done, well I did finish on Tuesday but only getting it up today! My friend S, with whom I started work with ummm how many years ago as lowly writing up clerks at the the Hydro Electric Commission, had a birthday last week, yes late again. I chose this material especially for her. Hopefully she will enjoy!

 Very cute egg baskets.

 I really think I have made enough now, well until I get the urge again, they are so easy to make.

Guess who came to dinner?

My son and his partner have adopted a dog from the RSPCA - apparently my grandson! Clay is so cute but decided that at my place he just might sit on the chair...not for long Clay!

 Who could resist!

He is quite big (English foxhound we think)and could hardly fit.

We think he may have been left a couple of times - why I don't know because he is such a good dog as we found this on the web http://www.petrescue.com.au/view/84789

Entally House or Cradle Mountain continued...

Saturday morning after a short walk we went to have a look at Entally House. I hadn't been for years so was great to go again. One of the bedrooms had a quilt on the bed donated by a the 'Patchwork 16" sewing group in 1986/87.

 Hexies again! Hey I found some older than mine!

We stayed in Launceston at Peppers Seaport Hotel and was sad the next day when N and C left for home. Oh well time to plan the next visit :)

Cradle Mountain

Last Thursday I drove off to Cradle Mountain to spend some time with my daughter and her husband. N and C had come down from the Hunter Valley the weekend before and now was time for me to join them. I was very excited.

We stayed at Cradle Mountain Lodge, what a fantastic place. The accomodation was absolutely tops and the meals were just superb.

 This 'splash' is a platypus who delighted us every morning as we went down to breakfast by popping up in unexpected places around the lake. 

 Wild life everywhere, this potoroo was beside the boardwalk between our cabins and the main lodge.

 This cheeky bird came down onto my deck as soon as I opened my door and no I didn't feed him!

 This was the interior of N and C's cabin, just luxury.

 N and C on a rock overlooking Dove Lake. Snow everywhere.

 On Friday we walked around Dove Lake which was very challenging for me as there was a big pile up of snow on the boards making it very slippery. Luckily I had N to help me though!

P.S. Thanks N and C for a lovely birthday present.

Birthdays

My good friend M and I had a great day sewing on Sunday. I made a laptop bag for my brother's birthday.....rather late  as his birthday was on the 10th July but that happens :) and an eco bag for my friend S whose birthday was on Sunday so not quite so late. Marie bought her quilt to show me, she made it for her granddaughter who chose the middle panel.

 The eco bag for Sue, I think this is the best one I have made.

The bag has a pocket so you can fold it all up and pop it in your handbag to have on hand for those little things you just have to buy. 

 This is the laptop bag for MBBIM, I went out to buy a manly material for him and this one popped into my hands instead, oh well lovely and cheerful!

I had a great day chatting and sewing and love what I have made.

Sydney, Mary Poppins, Whales and MBD

Last Friday I flew to Sydney to meet up with my beautiful daughter N for a fantastic girlie weekend.

Of course the first stop from the plane was Peter's of Kensington - well why break with tradition. We had a lunch on arrival, another tradition and saw this table on display. WOW

I did manage to resist :) 

We settled into our hotel(Sir Stamford - highly recommended, the staff were absolutely fantastic, nothing was too much trouble) and set out to find dinner (yes eating again) and the movies. We went to see Oranges and Sunshine and enjoyed it but not one to see twice.

 Here is N dressed against the cold. Oh did I say we also did a little bit of city shopping as well.

 This is the view from our hotel window!

 Whale watching! Saturday we boarded a boat to find some whales and were we lucky! Just passed the heads in Sydney and we came across a couple.

 This believe it or not is a whale, long way away but I was very excited....as other than this I had many shots of water!

Saturday night we dressed for the theatre and off we went to see Mary Poppins, we had a delish Thai meal next to the theatre. The show was great and our seats were FANTASTIC, well picked N!

 Sad Sunday, my last day with MBD. We went for a wander around the Botanic Gardens, can you believe the bats in this tree, they were everywhere through the gardens.