Retired????

Whoever said that when you're retired you'll have the time to do what you want is obviously still working full time. I feel like I'm being pulled in six different directions and feel really uptight.

DD1 Sharyn arrived this morning with 4 of her 6 littlies in tow and will be here until Friday. Now I know what you're all thinking and saying and yes I do love having my grandies here, but what a full week I had planned. Plus DD3 Katie has now got a date for her gall bladder operation — Wednesday. Now on Wed I'm supposed to be going on a shopping excursion with my craft group and I have a list a mile long (of course) but I shall do the mother thing and be good (can't you see my halo).

No, I'm really just joking, I remember when I had my first operation, my DH Ian had to leave me and milk the cows so I had to head to theatre by myself and back then it was the full cut from neck to knee, no such thing as keyhole surgery and I remember that I was totally terrified, so I will be there if Katie needs me and even if she doesn't.

Marg and Hans are still in Gatton after seeing her doctor and when I spoke to her last week she is trying to contact the PA in Brisbane for an appointment to a vascular surgeon.

Ian is sanding off the stairs in preparation for painting. We tried to buy the rods for the hand rails but I think we bought out Bunnings last time and they still haven't replaced their stock.

This morning Ian headed off the Gladstone with Pete DH of Katie to help with the welding of pipes. They were going to be away for tonight, coming back for Katie's operation and then heading back up for 2 weeks. The company they will be working for hasn't even started drilling yet, let alone be ready for them. Oh well, as Pete said that little trip cost them $1000.

We also picked up our new caravan today. We have gone back to single wheels and a pop-top and we both agreed that it towed a lot smoother than the Roadstar. Next month we hopefully head south taking a boat and trailer on the ute and towing the van. We will visit Marg and Hans and then head to Melbourne and spend a week with the owners of the boat. Then we are heading along the Great Ocean Road, a trip that we have been wanting to do for ages. We will be gone for roughly 2 months and will be spending Christmas on the road. I got onto the website for house sitters and one couple are free for this time and we will be meeting them next Monday. Hopefully we both suit each other.

Where did September go?

I can't believe the month has gone so quickly. Here we are the 22nd already.

I have been busy sewing and practising on the quilting machine. Have another piece of calico quilted ready to sew up as pillow protectors or some such item that takes my fancy. Also quilted a cot panel that has been hanging around for years. It has clowns on the front and I first thought I would get it done for my DD#2 Robyn's DD Skyelah who turned 7 earlier this year, but nope didn't get it done in time in fact didn't get it done period. But now its quilted and bound, just waiting to get back into the SnS shed to machine a label. Usually I embroider my labels by hand but seeing this isn't a proper quilt I'm taking a shortcut and then the quilt can go in my cot that is here for my visiting littlies. I've also made my Churn Dash for my clubs monthly swap and yesterday I posted away my cobblestones for scquilters swap.

I've also started on the vliesofixing of the butterflies for DGD Tahnee's first birthday quilt. Hopefully will have them all stuck down by Tuesday so that I can machine blanket stitch them at Kraft.

'Trev's Quilt' is being put onto the quilting machine tomorrow. I have been procrastinating (what's new I hear you ask), but I'm a little hesitant as my quilting is not the best, though I have also been told to stop being a perfectionist, you can only get that with practice.

Ian and Hans have outdone themselves this time.

Now for those of you who think they have left a gap in each panel. No - those 3 rods are painted green to match our gutters and they go down to the flooring.

Next job — the step railings which Ian will have to do by himself.

Marg and Hans head back south tomorrow. First stop Margie's doctor in Gatton where she will hopefully get a referral to a vascular surgeon in Woolloongong where their kids and families live. Her test results showed the femural artery in both legs above the knee were totally blocked. Not good news for Marg, her father died from this, so she is understandably a little nervous, but I kept her spirits up by telling her that she will be fine - only the good die young.

Our new van arrived in Bundy last Thursday. I emailed the company with the van name which is going to be printed and stuck on before we pick it up sometime next week. Our van is called "Day by Day" - how original and apt is that?

DD Katie's DH Pete is due home on Tuesday, he has been away for 5 weeks. At first Katie was fine and phoning each day but this last week and a bit she has been coming over for some adult contact. I wish that somehow she and the littlies could travel with Pete, it would be so much better for all of them. Each time Dylan (2) hears or sees a truck, tractor, motorbike or mower he immediately says what the vehicle is and then says Daddy. He misses him terribly and I know Pete is the same. Dylan is terribly sick with a cold at the moment, he sounds like a little old man when he coughs. Seeing his Daddy on Tuesday will make him feel a lot better and as usual once his Daddy is home he's not allowed out of his sight.

Next Sewing Session & More Renovations Started

We couldn't get together and continue on our Rose Trellis' quilts until I had caught up. Being away for a week put me a little behind, so once I was caught up we organised another sewing session. Yesterday we all met again in the SnS Shed for a day of sewing, laughter and talk, hopefully more sewing than the other two.

This is Evelyn's on the design wall before sewing

and the top ready for the first border and embroidery

and mine on the design wall

and the top ready for the first border and embroidery

Sue and Rhonda are making theirs Queen size so have a lot more cutting, sewing, everything to do. This is Sue's up on the wall. Before Sue left yesterday she had 3 rows sewn together and at craft this morning a lot more.

Rhonda is still fussy cutting her hydrangea blocks, but at the moment she is up to her neck in clothes sewing for an upcoming wedding she and hubby Kev will be attending in a couple of weeks. So once that is out of the road it will be upward and onward with her quilt.

Now while us ladies were busy sewing Ian and Hans were also busy building handrails. I can't believe it these are the last things that have to be finished for the final house inspection. If we were able to have got them done earlier they would have been inspected at the same time as the sheds, but Ian wasn't sure on tackling them at that stage.

Here Ian is busy at work drilling the holes in the top and bottom rails.


and here is Hans busy painting the rods.

The finished project, well 2 of the bays, only another 7 to go. I must admit they do look stunning.


one very pleased and proud hubby.


Today at craft I started sewing my September's Churn dash. I had to leave early because we celebrated Margie's 66th birthday at the local with a $7 pub lunch. Marg informs me that its her 12th birthday 6+6+12. So if thats right I'm only 10 - good for another 80yrs or so. Ha Ha!

After coming home I finished sewing them and now they are ready for swapping in a fortnight. I also got my cobblestone material out ready for cutting and sewing tomorrow. I also put some practice calico on the quilting machine and this afternoon after a lot of broken top threads - Grrr, I finally gave in and changed the needle and away we went. Tomorrow I will put a cot panel on the machine and see how I go. If successful the next top to go on the quilting machine is Trev's Quilt. I want it completely finished by the end of the month. His birthday is the 19th November but I don't want to be sewing the binding down on the way to the party.

A Weeks R&R

We finally left home on Sunday morning around 10am and arrived at Peach Trees around 3pm, which was just late enough in the afternoon to work out which way the sun was going to set so that we got the most out of the solar panel. Sunday night there were 3 camps set up in the grounds, no noise and the stars looked like you just had to reach out to touch them.

Monday morning DB Ken and DSIL Lyn arrived early-ish 9.30am with Ian and I greeting them in our pj's. We were sitting in the sun getting warm - it was very chilly up there. The night before we kept stealing each others blankets to keep warm, well that's my story. Ian probably would tell you something totally different - like I always steal the blankets.

Being on a camping holiday is great, no pressure, no having to do anything, no having to be anywhere at a certain time so Ian started in on decorating Ken and Lyn's van. This is what their back tow bar looked like after a few days of relaxing -

... and this was our campsite. As you can see we were definitely crowded in by nature.

Each afternoon the local inhabitants would come around the camp to nibble on the short green grass, though one little one was still drinking on Mum, he/she must have been very thirsty cause he/she was suckling for close on a ½hour. During the day the wallabies would be closer to the entrance of the grounds and at noon would be sunning or sleeping under one of the many trees that are through the parkgrounds.

If you're into camping and in the SE corner of Qld this is one of the most delightful spots. On Wednesday we went for a drive and went down the mountain via Sunday Creek Road to Kenilworth through Charlie Moreland campgrounds. This is a photo of the view halfway down the mountain. The forestry rangers had not long planted the mountainside, the pine trees were about 3' high. I wonder if they plant them all by hand, it seems to steep for machinery to me.

We also had a good look through the binoculars and there were little farmsteads in the distance. People trying to get away from the rat race. I can understand that!

On Tuesday night we started watching the eclipse, but decided to go to bed instead. Seen one you've seen them all. Plus too, you've got to remember we had been hard at work resting all day - we were buggered. So this photo is the only one I got to take.

On Saturday Ken and Lyn's two daughters Lisa and Belinda with David my other brother's youngest son came up to visit us. Now does that explanation have you scratching your head? How's this then - the quilt for Trev's 50th birthday? Trevor is my younger brother well his youngest son, who just coincidentally has found out that he has a daughter. He was told when the baby was 6weeks old. Chelsea is her name and David was slapping himself because he left the photos home on the kitchen table. Anyway back to the original story, Belinda is pregnant with Ken and Lyn's very first grandchild who everyone is calling Charlie until he is born. Yep it's a boy, apparently the scan shows him in all his glory. That's the pround grandfather in the background. He's already trying to work out how he can alter the van so that he can take Charlie away on holidays.

and of course DH Ian couldn't let Belinda be the only pregnant one there!!! He's due as soon as I belt him - just kidding!!! Maybe??

did I tell you guys how gorgeous the camping grounds were - well here's proof. That's us on the right.
and looking to our left -

and that's not all of it. Follow the road up over the hill and there's more camping sites to the right on the bank of the creek, which I might add was up over the entrance bridge the week before we were there and now the rain has started again, we have had two lovely days of it so far.

Now congratulations if you have persevered this far, there is only one more thing I would like to add to this posting. I finished the binding, embroidering the label and sewing it onto my 'Round the World with Diamonds' quilt so it is well and truly finished.

A Dream Come True

..... and I have my darling hubby to thank for it.

Yesterday I had 3 friends over and we spent the day working in the s'n's shed.

We have all started making our 'Rose Trellis' quilts and very different they are going to look too.

Rhonda's

Evelyn's

Sue's

and mine.

We all worked hard as quilters do, working the mouths as hard as the machines with lots of laughter and talking. Evelyn and I are making the quilt as per the instructions, while Rhonda and Sue are making their quilts Queen size, so have a lot more sewing to do, so by the end of Friday -

Evelyn's quilt

and mine. I would have got a lot more done but I had to fussy cut the large and small roses and dang it all even though I bought an extra 30cm I now have to buy enough material to cut another 8 large bouquets. Luckily Wendy from Iddybiddy Designs has been able to help me again and the extra material should arrive here Monday or Tuesday. At first I thought the rose bouquets were a bit wishy washy in colour but putting the two greens with them has really bought it too life.

We put off going to Peach Trees this morning until tomorrow. As most of you would know we have had a lot of rain in the SE corner of Qld and Ian didn't feel like packing the caravan in the rain. Luckily we didn't go cause when we arrived home from having lunch with Kate and Pete our dear friends Kym and Phil had unexpectedly arrived to spend the night. So in between talking, laughing and having a drink or two I have got most of the stuff ready to put into the van in the morning and then we'll be off and will be returning Monday week. So will update you all on the roads and our camping trip then.

Now I have just found out that two of my darling grandies read this blog with their mum every week so here's a special hello to Skyelah and Jai. Love you all heaps.

Lots Accomplished - Yeah!!!

Great things have been accomplished since the s'n's shed was finished.

DH Ian made the extension sewing table yesterday. Its the same height as the Horn sewing cabinet and it gives me plenty of room behind the sewing machine to spread out those quilts that I'm going to be making at great rates of knots. It also allows friends to bring over their machines and we'll be able to have lovely days sewing and talking and laughing as quilters do.

When I go into Bundy on Thursday I'll buy some cheap vinyl at 'The Warehouse' and I'll glue it onto the top. That will make a durable covering for it.

Don't faint, but my ufo pile is getting smaller. I am sewing the binding down as I type on my 'Around the world with Diamonds', well I started doing that this morning at craft and will finish it next week while we're camping at Peach Trees.

I started this quilt in 1999 at a class run by Dawn who used to own The Patchwork Tree at Alderley in Bris. My DF Leonie quilted it for me about 2yrs ago (I think). Will take the label with me, embroider it and sew it on too and it will be FINISHED!!!!! That's me peeking over the top of the quilt.


In the year 2001 also in Brissie, I belonged to a group of ladies that met through scq and got together once a month. We called ourselves 'The Old Chooks' or something to that effect and what better block could we swap. So finally here is my 'Chook Quilt' complements of 12 old boilers. Now ladies don't get upset you know I only mean it in jest. LOL

It will now reside in the 'to quilt' pile which is growing very quickly. At last count there are 9 tops to be quilted. I'm procrastinating again.

You will also be pleased to hear that 'trev's quilt' is now ready for the quilting machine too. I would put a photo up here (an I have one too), but the one and only time he looked at my blog was when I put up the photo of the front of his quilt. Who would believe it!! so I'm not taking the chance of him seeing the back until I'm good and ready. Plus too I can't wait to see his face when he gets to see it. We could almost use it for the front.

My cobblestones arrived in the mail today. They are very well put together, which is lovely to see. When you don't know the sewers sometimes you are a little disappointed in the workmanship, but these blocks are just lovely.

I knew it!!!!!

they were definitely tooooo greedy. They came home with nothing, except empty pockets cause they were at the pub too long. 3 hours in total and no seafood, no case of beer, no bottle of spirits.

I did get flirted with, but I spose you can't really count that cause he (George) was a lot under the weather, he blew Marg a kiss when we left, so maybe he was really after her. Oh well I was awful glad DH Ian was there anyway. Still we had a beautiful fish and chips meal and a few laughs and a couple of drinks, for me that's a recipe for a good night out.

Last Friday a bunch of us girls (4 in total) headed down to Hervey Bay to buy the rest of the makings for our "Rose Trellis" quilt that we are all going to do together. I bought a lovely pastel rose from the 'quest for a cure' range from Wendy at Iddybiddy Cottage. DF Evelyn found a lovely bright yellow iris for her roses and will use cream not green for her trellis. DF Sue bought a beautiful Marcus Bros floral for her roses - red on black and she will use black instead of cream for her last border. DF Rhonda had a lovely hydrangea fabric in her stash and she has bought two beautiful greens and will use yellow for her border. Four completely different quilts are going to be made. But I do wonder what the heck I have for brains in my head, cause I organised for the girls to come over next Sat to start cutting out the quilts. Next Sat I will be sitting under the stars at 'Peach Trees' Jimna. Have to change that date, I won' t be missing out on those stars.

Today I finished the heart hug for Leanne and will post it off probably Tues. Have already posted the one for Alyssa. Moved my cobblestone pieces from the cutting table to the sewing machine ready for sewing together tomorrow and have put the backing of 'trev's quilt' on the cutting table ready for measuring and cutting the final border, have three sides left to do. Then it's off to the quilting machine. No more procrastinating.