Inspiration!

While we were in Broome we were staying at Toni & Richard's 'Broometown B&B'.Richard built it and they have been opened 5 years. If anyone wants an adult escape to Broome I can highly recommend it. The guest rooms are very stylish and tastefully decorated with works from local artists. I found this cushion in one of the guest rooms just spoke to me. I have added it to my 'must do one day' list. Simple, achievable but doesn't it look great???

Bath time!

We took advantage of a very hot day today and Jimmy had a much needed bath! Of course he rolled straight away!



We also watched a DVD together this afternoon, 'Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street' - what a bizarre but entertaining in a really weird way film!!! A gruesome musical with a LOT of blood and some big names - Johnny Depp - swoon! Need I say it was directed by Tim Burton.

Boring!

No photos today, no sewing to show or book to tell, no baking to share!!!! The weather has finally warmed up so now that the busy part of my day is over I am taking it easy! I intend sitting with my stitching to watch the women's singles final at the Australian Open tennis tournament on tv tonight. I don't really mind who wins but I do have a soft spot for 'Aussie Kim'! The rest of the family will be equally slothful, the 'horsey one' had a dressage competition this morning (which her Mother dutifully attended and ended up with a job!), SH has had tennis this afternoon and HS is refereeing at the local basketball tournament this weekend and after 8 games today with 6 to come tomorrow won't feel like doing much!
Hope to have something more interesting to share tomorrow!!!! Thanks for dropping in!

I am in trouble....

Every morning in Broome I was awake early (as per normal) and spent half an hour blog reading. During this week Bunny Hill were advertising yardage of Lily and Will at greatly reduced prices. I was caught at a weak moment and rashly decided that they would be good to complement the Lily and Will I'd bought late last year. Somehow I forgot! that this year is the year of the budget and fabric for no particular project is not included! I did feel guilty afterwards but decided that if I mentioned it / produced it when I had actually used it all would be okay. I didn't count on SH collecting the mail and emailing me at work this week to ask whether I'd bought fabric lately or should he send it back????



I am very happy with it though. I did buy one piece of 'waffle' cloth to see what it was like and it is lovely. Can't wait to play!

A beautiful warm scarf!

A good friend's daughter left today for 6 months school in Ottawa in Canada after finishing year 12 last year. I have wanted to try 'Hatched and Patched's scarf patterns since I first saw them and decided it would be the perfect gift for Belinda for Christmas. As normal I was running behind and starting to stress so I decided to give her the kit to make herself! She is making her 2nd quilt at the moment (self taught) but has no other sewing experience. This is the end result! I am super impressed , she was able to follow the instructions easily and has had a great finish. She is really pleased with it and it is safely packed in her case. Now I want to buy another kit of fabric and try one for myself.

Happy Australia Day 2011!

SH and I have had a quiet day pottering around the house today and I have to say I've achieved absolutely nothing although I did manage a little stitching while watching some tennis. SH has been a champion and trying to find out where I have gone wrong with the Pony club books that won't balance. Think he is getting increasingly frustrated! Luckily he has tennis tonight so should feel better after bashing the ball a bit!! Both the kids are off with their friends, the 'horsey' one in Port Fairy for the day and HS and his girlfriend trying to get around 4 different Australia Day celebrations. They have just been home for bathers!! They are drinking the ginger beer brewed a few weeks ago and are very happy with it!

Wishing everyone a 'Happy Australia Day Mate'!!!!!

1 Christmas item a month - report January

Well I have 2 starts and no finishes for the '1 Christmas item a month' report today but I guess that is better than no starts and no finishes and just makes me want to do better next month! I have started a stitchery that Hanne had on her blog and also a Hatched and Patched bon bon. Visit Nell's notions at http://countryroses.blogspot.com/ to see what everyone else has achieved this month!

Book No. 3 2011

Well I chose this book by the cover - is anyone surprised???? It was ok but does not come highly recommended, a good holiday read but that's about all!!!!

Packing...

I'm up early to pack and get organised before we all have breakfast together then head to the airport. We went to Matso's Broome Brewery for dinner last night. We sat at the Captain's table (an original table from the pearling days) and had an enjoyable dinner. The food was great.
I enjoyed 'Chilli crab linguine'

and of course I had dessert......

They brew quite a few of their own beers and I had a taste of the Mango one - it was actually really good and would be lovely and refreshing!
While packing I can't forget the 'bugs'!!! As part of the 'horsey one's holiday homework for Biology she has to collect 'bugs' which will then be identified, labelled and displayed once they are back at school Broome has 'big' bugs and over the week as they have been found everyone has been contributing!!They are currently in the freezer in an air tight container...............

Better get back to it, not sure how you manage to collect so many bits and pieces in a week!

Last day....

Home tomorrow and I can't wait to see SH, HS and our furry friends. It will be heartbreaking to say goodbye to my friends though....

Another day in paradise.....

Lots of talking, a trip to the movies to see 'Burlesque' which is well worth seeing and coffee and cake at the Zoo Cafe!



The time is going so quickly....

Broome time.....

A beach bbq last night....






A facial and massage this morning......



Pearl shopping this afternoon.....



Mmmm I could get used to this........

Mango daiquiri anyone???

Book 2 for 2011

I managed to read a whole book on the flight on Sunday, my favorite occupation while flying. 'Priceless' by Nicole Ritchie, it was a very easy read but had me enthralled from start to finish, don't think it will win any awards or change any lives but perfect start to a summer holiday!

Birthday and Beach!

Today we have been celebrating Liv's 17th Birthday. As a surprise Liv's mum (my super friend Toni) organised for the 'horsey one' and Liv to have an Indian Head massage. Both girls have announced that they LOVE massages!!! Certainly won't be their last!



We were lucky enough to eat lunch overlooking Cable Beach and took a little walk afterwards. Couldn't resist taking a photo of the girls. We are so blessed with gorgeous girls - inside and out!



Cable Beach never fails to make my heart skip a beat - the most beautiful beach in the world!



I am having a little time on the computer and although I am doing some blog reading I will be pushing to comment this week, sorry!

Leaving on a jet plane ........

Off to Broome today for a week. Not sure if I'll be able to post or how many photos of 'Mango Daquaris' around the pool that you'd like to see!!!! Stay safe....

Crazy chooks!

Mum has decided she has too much time on her hands!! She has just finished these 'crazy chooks', that is not what they are called but I'm not sure of their real title. They are to be hung in a doorway to protect , welcome and warn. They are amazing and the amount of work she has put into them is astounding. We have all taken a liking to them. They are by the front door at the moment but are currently being tested in lots of different positions. The light was so bad when I decided to photograph them last night that I hung them in the bathroom just to take the photos!!

Delicious!

If all things go according to plan the 'horsey' one and I are visiting a very dear friend and her daughters (who just happen to be my two goddaughters) tomorrow afternoon. Today I made a very decadent 'White chocolate and caramello brownie'. The photo certainly doesn't do it justice!!! Not sure that SH was impressed when he found out it had almost 3 blocks of chocolate in it, he was a little brighter when I put some in the fridge for him and HS to share!!! Everything in moderation!!!



This photo is just 'because' I can!!! I warm my towel on the heater in the bathroom before my shower and the other morning I found Peter enjoying the warmth!!! He looked very cute but I will remember to shut the door now!



The 'horsey' one and I are not sure if tomorrow will go according to plan as today all the roads to Ballarat and then Melbourne were cut with flooding! No panic until we check the roads report in the morning! This week has reminded us not to worry about the little things.....

Whoopie pies!

This is my favorite Christmas present that I got from my sister Kir in the UK, a Whoopie Pie tin and cookbook!!!! I haven't used them yet but it is high on my list of priorities. I have been intrigued since Whoopie Pies began appearing in blogland and even better Kir didn't know that, somehow she just always knows the right present to send!!! Has anyone else tried them???

We now have the rain and parts of Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia are experiencing flash flooding. Everything is damp but it is not cold and in fact quite humid. We are not and will not experience the kind of devastation as QLD but we are left wondering what is happening, where is our summer and should we in fact start building the ark. I am finding it hard to watch the news reports, just too many tragic stories and images. Please if you are at all able support the fundraising appeal with whatever $ you can spare. All across blogland in the next week are raffles and auctions to raise money and the Gum Tree Designers are gathering 'A new beginning' kits which is another great way to show your support.

Addicted!

I did say I'd caught the 'mug rug' craze! I made another 2 today, one for a colleague for her Birthday and one for Mum just to prove I do sometimes achieve something!!! I do need more practice on my bindings and corners , these are not perfect by any stretch of imagination. Mug rugs might be just what I need to get this practice!
PS Catherine - neither of these are yours!!!

A time of prayer

I was going to post my favorite Christmas present tonight but after watching the news with tears in my eyes it somehow doesn't seem appropriate .......

My thoughts and prayers are with all of those people who have been affected by the floods especially those who have lost loved ones or whose loved ones are missing xxx

Bother!!!

For todays post I finished a draft that had been sitting around but it has published under the original date so if you want to read todays ramblings look at 29th November - oops - sorry!

Ingenious!

Did you know that if you don't own shot glasses you can use eggcups instead???

A quiet day today getting over a late night last night!!

Christmas loot!!

I was very spoilt at Christmas time and got some lovely gifts. Only a few to show today, my favorite is still to come! Julie Godwin from Masterchef's cookbook, I've been wanting this for ages! Also some DVD's to keep me out of trouble - Toy Story 3 (because I missed it at the movies), the first season of Parenthood, the first season of Packed to the rafters and the second and third seasons of Private Practice. I can't wait to watch them all!



Our house is slightly frantic at the moment as HS is having a farewell party at our place for a mate whose family is shifting back to Perth. Not quite sure how many or who is coming but think we are prepared. I adopted the KISS theory and bought the coleslaw and pavlova. Better go and whip the cream and cut the strawberries!!!!

One tick!

Well one of my sewing goals for January has been completed and I am SO excited!!! I made my first 'mug rug' today and it certainly won't be my last, it is true when its said that they are addictive! I was apprehensive but the link Calidore sent me (she is amazing, you want to know something ask her! and she is so generous with her knowledge) for a tutorial was amazingly simple. It was started and finished within an hour and I could not be happier with the result. A real confidence boost for me!



I really wanted to get it made so I could post it Monday as it is part of a Birthday gift for my cousin. On boxing day I picked up a mug, wafers and tea set (greatly reduced) and chose the fabrics to match. I think this makes a nice present, I would certainly be happy to receive it!



While the kids are away I thought I'd take advantage of the hot weather and wash all the sheets and blankets. Oops Comanche somehow got mixed up in the sheets and ended up in the washing machine. He has been the 'horsey ones' treasured companion for many years and still guards her room if she isn't there. He looked so cute hanging on the line!!! (not sure that she would agree!)



I finished my first book for 2011 this morning and have to admit I sobbed at the end! A lovely book especially if you are a 'cat person'!

Another favorite Christmas present!

Well Santa did well at our house this Christmas and both kids received presents they really loved. The 'horsey' one got her 'Jellibaff' and HS got a ginger beer home brew (both relatively inexpensive!!). He has been kept busy over the last few days cleaning and preparing the equipment. We already had the brew set as SH used to brew his own beer but it had all been gathering dust after he gave it up as a bad joke when we lived in Broome and it used to be ready so quickly, no need for the heat pad there!!! Last night was the night for our kitchen to be turned into a brewery!!! As it is non alcoholic ginger beer it only needed to sit for around 3 hours before being bottled. The boys had fun, what a great bonding activity. The crate of ginger beer will be ready to be sampled in 3 weeks on Australia Day and we can't wait!!!






We are 'Darby and Joan' at home for the next two nights, HS is staying out of town at his girlfriends and I made a flying trip to Mt Gambier after work today so the 'horsey' one can spend a few days with a friend in the back of a horse truck - fun for some but not for me!!!! Not sure I like this new phase of our lives we are beginning to enter.....

Introducing Rhonda!!

As a lot of you may know we have a somewhat wayward dog named Jimmy who has a lot of energy and gets bored easily!!! We have tossed the idea around often of finding him a friend but we are not convinced we want another dog and so we have our eyes and ears open in case an older dog in need of a home should come along. Well Jimmy has a friend - sort of!!! The house 2 doors down from us backs on to our yard and doesn't have a full size fence. The older couple that live there have had other family living with them for the last few months. All of a sudden one day weeks ago we had another dog in our yard running around with Jimmy. We call her Rhonda (after Rhonda Burchmore - she has very long legs!!!) or Wolfy but have since found out her name is Puddles. She visits for most of the day and always turns up at dinner time for a cup of biscuits. She has the sweetest nature, is friends with both of the cats and the naughtiest thing she does is take all of Jimmy's balls home with her. She leaps effortlessly over our fence. We will be sad when she stops visiting but for now she is welcome!!!





This is Peter! He felt very left out when Fred had such a large modelling assignment the other day!!

Fun!!!

Oh to be young again!!!! The 'horsey' one got some 'gellibaff' from Santa for Christmas - her favorite present! Today her and a friend used it in our spa and had so much fun!!! Music blaring and melted chocolate with bananas to eat....what a life! Not sure that cleaning the bathroom was as much fun!

January Sewing Goals!

Well who knows how I will go but here they are!
Hatched and Patched Christmas Bon Bon - want to have one finished but would be nice if it was more than one!
Christmas Stitching that Hanne gave on her blog - so cute!
Mug Rug - One for a January Birthday but if it is addictive and easy as I think maybe more
Get out my Nursery Rhyme bom and work on one block (not really even sure where I am up to with this???)
Decide on a pattern and fabric for a quilt for my Sister-in-law for her 50th Birthday in March (really need to have more than just decisions made but that is at least a start!!)
Pick up my knitting when able, any rows knitted are better than none!!

I will report back at the end of the month. I have a week away when all I will be able to do is stitch and maybe not even that in the heat.

Today we have realised we have quite a few 'big' birthdays to celebrate this year, 2 18th's, 2 50th's, 2 80th's, 1 70th and 1 21st!!! At least a few of these I would like to make something special for. I'll keep you updated as I have ideas.

A start on Christmas....

I've joined with Narelle from Nell's Notions in making a start NOW on Christmas goodies. At the end of each month we will post what we have achieved. It will be nice to be able to support and encourage each other and maybe just maybe by Christmas I will have a lovely box of goodies all ready!!! To start I am doing the stitching for the Hatched & Patched bon bon pattern. Let's see how I go!!! Anyone care to join us??

I seem to have no luck at all with links these days....her blog if I haven't worked it is http://countryroses.blogspot.com/

Happy New Year!

(todays model is Gordon , the cat Mum is catsitting while his owner is overseas)


Our household had no intention of seeing in the New Year last night and were tucked up snoring in bed by 11pm. We had spent the evening watching mindless tv after a terrible breathless hot day with a north wind. We did all watch 'Dinner for one' together and I am determined this will become a new family tradition for New Years Eve. I can remember watching it before with my Aunt and Uncle from Norway and my Dad but in the past few years it had been forgotten. Just another link to the past. We were woken at midnight when fireworks began and poor Jimmy was so distraught. They had not been advertised but we had kept Jimmy and the cats in just in case. Poor Jimmy just hates them, it took him hours to recover and made for an unsettled night for us! Today we headed over to Mums and all went to one of the local pubs for lunch. It is the pub that in the past Dad spent a lot of hours so once again another link to the past. I like to think he would be pleased we were spending some time in his old watering hole even if it is a little more upmarket these days!!!
I am looking to 2011 as the year I take it a bit slower (not really sure how I will manage this!!) and the year I am kind to myself. Let's let life become a bit simpler and concentrate on the important things, family, friends and good health. I guess I want to have time to LIVE this year rather than just go through the motions.
On the quilting front I have thousands of things I would like to do but I need to be realistic. I think I will set monthly goals and see how I go! I plan to start on Christmas projects from the start so hopefully I have some things ready when December rolls around. I will post a list on Monday of what I think I can / would like to achieve for January.
On the blogging front I will hopefully get into a rhythm of posting more often, some posts may only be short and sweet but will not be too overwhelming this way!! I plan to have more quilting content but also more of my favorite recipes and other things happening in my life, so as to have a good record of my year.
I hope to read more, watch more movies, be better at keeping in touch with friends and family and to live more healthily.
I am excited about the year ahead and all it holds......Welcome 2011!!!!!