SERENDIPITY,RAINDROPS AND ROSES

2012-02-26T11:46:00.000-08:00

Remember that old song......

"All my friends are getting married" do you remember that song...well at the moment it seems "All my friends are getting ill"... and I wish it were a happier time for them.
My most recent close to the heart person is the brother of my dear friend of Eva that passed away.He and is lovely wife Debbie had us in their home for 7 weeks in the Uk and are just delightful,that horrible Mr C has gotten hold of Chris and he was diagnosed this week with a brain tumor,We are all gutted and never has the other side of the world seemed the actual distance it is.
They live in Over Almonsbury not far from Bristol,and it has always seemed just to be a Skype away or a phone call...now it seems it is so far removed it may well be the moon.
Louise who is flying back to the UK today is the sister of Chris and to get the news while she was over here was very upsetting.
We are all hopeful,faithful,and trusting that he will come through this,we will know how bad it all is on Wednesday.They are very strong and so in love they will get through this.
Are you unwell at the moment..someone close to you...yourself...here's a little thing I thought of in the middle of the night,I think as only women do........

Today if there is a knock at your door..it will be Strength..let him in...
With him he will be holding Hope,take hold and keep him close to your heart,
Following Hope will be Faith the most important visitor of all.
Trailing along will be Trust and all together as a group these will be something special.
Take hold of this precious group as you go through your day, be selfish and ravel in them,share your secret with others as they say how can you be so strong,without these you cannot fight the fight and get through.
Each day feel the blessing of another day to have Faith ,that you can do this,and Trust that you are not alone,this will give you Hope as some days seem so long and daunting,these together will carry you through,it will fill you with wonder that you are have such Strength that you are an inspiration to others.
You are allowed to be sad and have tears as they are all normal,it is ok to be angry,that is normal too,and it is very ok to be feeling lost....
Then there will be a knock at the door...let them in ...they will be your saviour..give you everything you need ,these topped up with love of your friends and family and many hugs ,remember to share your load and most important remember to...stop... breathe...and gather your coping tools around you and soldier on....
My prayers with those that are ill today and feel they can't cope, yes you can,answer that door and go forward.
Not all illnesses are visible the same applies for those struggling mentally as sometimes this can be the worst of all.
Have a blessed and peaceful day,someone in blogland is praying for you today..what a wonderful world.

2012-02-23T11:44:00.001-08:00

Ode to Shez

Shez from Enjoying Life blog always inspires me,she seems to endlessly come up with lovely makes and swaps that she has joined.
A few weeks ago Shez placed her hand towels that she had made on her blog and they were lovely.Unfortunately I do not seem to know when to stop and now after this little lot I have (Docs orders) decided that I must limit myself to 6 of a make and then go down to 4 lol see how I go with this one!
Anyway this is my last lot of makes....

This is what happened I ended up with 36 hand towels and tea towels in all!!!

These are my girlie water bottle holders...

Hand towels of all colours.

Tea towels the same,all colours...

I only made 9 of these they are plastic bag holders........

Three black hand towels for our sons bathroom and it is black and grey....

Thanks Shez for your inspiration,I just have to remember that when I buy 1 towel I end up with 2 as they are halved.. so from here on in I will just buy the maximum of anything that makes 6 of an item lol.
I did default yesterday and bought a pack of 8 face washers ready for water bags,I will sell a lot at the Quilt Fair later in the year and many I give away ...

Have a wonderful Friday and an abundance of blessings to everyone.

2012-02-21T11:00:00.001-08:00

The Week that was....

Outside our door at the beach,beautiful Rainbow Lorakeets feeding on the flowers of the palms,there were so many but thought this a typical shot of them,they make a screeching sound but it is not unpleasant ,actually it is quite lovely.
We had a great girls weekend away, I have never done that before and it was a delight,I now know why friends do it at times and hope that I can again sometime,but home comes first and I know Bob and Mum don't really like it when I am away so I just did not think about them too much,I had time to reflect on my health and what I should do to make life lighter for myself so we can get this thing under control,I do not know why but it seems easier to talk to friends than family about such things as the family want to put you in cotton wool,as I say to them I am the same today as yesterday it is just that my problem now has a name.

This is Louise in the apartment that we had for the weekend,it was lovely and she is the guest and making us a coffee lol but it was really nice just to sit and chatter and at times me embroider while Marg read and Louise sun baked by the pool.

Margie had her 60th..the whole point of Louise coming from the Uk it was a small family lunch and close friends and it was just lovely..

Richard,Marg and her Mum at her birthday.

Louise at Margies party,it is very funny to us because she is from UK and so brown from 6 weeks in Spain and we are all white like lillies lol.

Louise and Marg came for dinner last night, it just happened to be our wedding anniversary but when we made arrangements for dinner it was the only night they were free so we did not tell them until they arrived as I know they would have said it was not fair to come that night but for me it was perfect..we had leg of Lamb on the Webber and roast vegies and a strawberry cream cake for sweeties and a lot of chatter,we did not have a glass of wine as the girls don't drink so we will go out on Sat night for dinner...and we can share a glass of wine then..42 years now...Bob always says you get less time for murder...I think it is a joke lol...

This was taken at Margies birthday and not a real attractive nasal shot,but i guess 42 years on we wonder why we look like a pair of old farts,where did the young couple go..somewhere in all those wrinkles and cracks,they are after all the life's journey records and we should wear our age proudly( so they tell us).

I am now banned from parcel delivery as this is what wears me out,but on the large delivery days I will drive while Bob delivers,otherwise I am to come home and rest(sew) after I do my mail run,I have to say I am so relieved as some days I can barely put one foot in front of the other doing this so that is going to make a huge difference on my health,I am worried about Bob though as now his burden will be heavier! can't win can we...never mind it is not digging coal or shovelling soil all day on the whole it is a good light job.I am now in the process of lightening up my load as far as community work goes but will hopefully keep doing the op shop and the Seniors day..the rest is in the process of elimination.

Today is Ash Wednesday,important to many of us,this means it is only 6 weeks until Easter,another year flying by....
Have a lovely day,and blessings in abundance as you walk through your life this week,make each day count,but I know you do that already...Thank you for all your lovely comments,and for caring it makes life so much more meaningful to know that others care...

2012-02-16T10:44:00.000-08:00

How's my Health? well seeing you asked lol...

You know I don't go to the doctor very often but the last 3 years I have been with the same beautiful Samantha an English doctor who came to our little area,married with 3 kids,she just works 3 days a week and to get an appointment is a nightmare,she is very casual but I really like her and you can talk to her..however..

Yesterday after my visit to the Thyroid specialist and finally after 3 years of tablet hopping trying to get my life under control the answers were given and Samantha's bottom is about to be dutifully smacked.

He immediately looked at the scans and told me I have Graves disease,and that he should have been seeing me 3 years ago as my bloods were so out of whack anyone could see what the problem was! Margy my friend is having a lovely time gloating as she told me time after time Sam is really slack you should be sent away...literally lol.

So at last I know I am not going mad,I am not having a breakdown,have not got Altzimers and have not got the early onset of many things that you get when you are older,most of the time I feel absolutely awful,that the world is closing in on me and that all the community things I do have recently become just too much.I have started to pull back a little but now for a while I have to pull back a lot..the doctor was surprised I could function at such an active job and must take that easier as well...
So at last I just have to wait another 3 months now while he does a control of blood tests and then he will decide on the treatment,there is no "if I need it" it is which way to go,it is either Radioactive treatment or an op on the throat to remove the diseased gland..

Funnily as soon as he told me what was wrong I was so relieved to think that something was up and not just being mad lol..other Thyroid girls will know what I mean...
On the home front..now...Bob says I must not do the parcels,he will do them I will just do my bush part...what!!!!! I have been feeling like this for way over three years and now you worry lol...I am fine...I am fixable..I am relieved that these awful feelings will go away soon and I can cope with that...

I have just changed doctors not because of anything other than I can never get into Sam but because our tiny town has at last managed to get a doctor and I only have to pop down the road to have the bloods done,Mum can get in easy and it is more convenient,he is a lovely young family man,and very caring lucky his teeth are so white as in a dark room you cannot find Doctor Ali..he is already a much loved member of the community.

I wish I had listened to my friend and insisted on seeing a specialist and I would have had the treatment 3 years ago,but...it is not too late ..just goes to show that maybe we should not be so slack and change perhaps is not a bad thing...

Louise is having a lovely time over here and we are trying to fill her days with joy between us all,and this weekend Margy and I are taking her down the coast,Lou wants to lay in the sun and bake! we will sit under the shade of a tree and chat lol...it is so funny Louise was is Spain for 6 weeks before she came over here and is so brown and we Aussies are all pale as not many people sun bake much now except the young as the sun is just too hot...well usually...this year there has been very little summer...

Hopefully I will get to take some pics when we take her for a Dolfin watch ride...that should be lovely...and some tales to tell.....

2012-02-09T11:34:00.000-08:00

OMG...What The!!! and all that Jazz....

On Wednesday in "my office "things were a buzz with goings on.......

After much rain and bad weather the roads were a total mess so the council is up to repairing them,however it a a truly long and winding road,only one car can fit at a time with a shear drop one side and rock sides the other and more than OMG passed my lips hen I came around the corner and found the Council boys at work...

The tipper truck dropping a load of soil,pull over mail lady and sit awhile,should only be 15 mins or so.....

Then the grader came along to level it out...then sure enough 15 mins later...

The roller driver calls out"follow me through love otherwise the next 2 trucks behind will hold you up"...what lovely fellows they are,coming back they could see me off in the distance so they stopped work until I went through so I would not have to wait..I did not mind it was so nice just sitting.

Not a good pic as it was lightly raining..but I could not help but think sometimes working on the land must be so lovely,this is a young couple going out to muster,so typically Australian,they have their Dryzabones on (coats) their hats and riding along and waving me to say it is safe no cattle on the road...they have 2 little children and I often see the 4 of them riding...hello Scott hello Cindy bet they had a good but tiring day.

This is the gate that I have to open into the last farm on my run,after this gate the homestead is still 1.5 kilometres along the road,as you can see the horses are just seeing if it is me or the family home..these people breed Polo horses.

Then this lovely, a type of sheep that sheds her wool and just a little on her back left..here she is looking right and left to see if she is safe....

Being a typical sheep she decided she would come onto the road and ended up running along the centre for another few klms,each time I stopped thinking she would move to the side she would go straight to the middle...some people say sheep are silly,I tend to think they are just jokers having a fun time...
Anyway that was my day...
This afternoon I am off to Newcastle to babysit for my daughter and back home tomorrow,she is in a charity run and needs me, I am happy to go down,saves her the trip of bringing them to us..
Also Eva's sister arrived safe from the UK yesterday, Margy took her on a harbour cruise straight off the plane,Louise called and said it was the most wonderful thing she has ever done...a good start to her holiday,I will have to wait to see her tomorrow afternoon...
She is bring goodies with her by request and we will pay her in Aussie dollars..M&S undies...loats of wool and other things,the list would have been endless if i had asked for some CK lol next time....

2012-02-06T11:01:00.000-08:00

Simple Pleasures
Yesterday sweet William started school,I have no pic although the family sent me one on my phone but I cannot get them on to my PC....another end to a part of life,he is the last of the grandchildren to venture into the world of learning and no more babies.
Ahhhh the memories of the smell of a little baby,the lovely waft of their hair,talc and creams after bathtime...all awaiting in the world of great grandchildren now...will I be blessed to see them arrive as my mother has been,who knows.. I hope to see my grandaughters marry..or at least see them and the boys fall in love....
I believe it is the simple things that make life sweet..the smell of rain here in Australia as it hits the dry dusty earth,there is nothing quite like it,although this supposed summer we have had more rain than we knew God could store!
The smell of the roast cooking as you come through the door,at Christmas time the puddings boiling in the pots and the sweetness of the fruits when being mixed...
Yesterday as I got to the last gate to open on the last mail delivery I drove through and as I went to get in the car realised I had driven through a great thumping dollop of cow manure,lovely and fresh and sloppy...ahh now there is a smell,lol maybe not the best but if you have to come across a great pile I would take cow over dogs anytime lol...sorry great subject that is..however luckily I go through a water crossing so that cleaned up all under the car...
I never knew that paper had such a strong smell until I became a postie and parcel lady,as we sort the mail in the cool of the morning,all we can smell is the scent of paper and sometimes a wiff of perfume,yes people still send love letters...next week is Valentines day and there will be many of these.
Once one of my customers partner was in jail,and he wrote every single day and the messages on the outside of the envelopes were enough to make your hair curl,I never dared to think about what he had to say inside the letters lol or maybe it was his way of making the postie lady wonder...as I did... lol
The funniest thing is when I take parcels to homes that are unexpected.."O'h , wonder who this is from and what is in it?" why do they ask me that? how would I know? then they almost always say wait till I open it and we can see what it is...hence I am always late! I am glad each time as I get to see the pleasure it brings to people..life as a country postie is pretty good on the whole..just one thing would be better, I would love to be staying at home being a housewife,doing the simple things and sewing or whatever,greeting Bob after a days work,where as I am working with him each day and I have almost forgotten the excitement a wife feels when her loved one comes home safe...ahhh well in another life maybe...

2012-02-04T23:42:00.000-08:00

Ok Back to positive Caroleness.....
First of all thank you Mum for the blog award...I now have to work out how to get the tag and follow through...I will get there.....

Secondly...I received some lovely late birthday presents but wanted to share this one..it came at a good time and the saying perfect..it is a cook book holder and another friend gave me a new cookbook...

The pic is of some of our Cackle Club girls...extended family you might say.

Remember the boys that dropped off $300 for me to do more care packages for the soldiers..well for $300 I got 12 boxes done,4 men,4 women and 4 dog ones....they are almost ready to send...

All lined up ready to be packaged ans customs forms to be done.

These are the dog and handlers ones lollies for the dog handler,now there has been some nuts and goodies added as well

This is the mens one ,when I weighed them I still had some extra weight to use so several other items have been added now

Same as the ladies I had 500gms spare weight so they ladies have shavers and some pretties added..these will be sent by March 19th for a treat for Anzac day for the troops,once again our little town has been wonderful and packages are being done all over,I am very grateful to the young men that donated this lot for me.
Next this week at work was so wet and slippery ,I am always so careful when driving in these conditions,here are some wet and amazing friends I saw along the way..

Can you see him high up on a branch.....

About to go in flight,a huge Wedgetail Eagle he is so magnificent,and when he flew off I was in awe..I often see a pair but he was alone on Thursday.

Here are a regular mob of roos that I see,they check if it is me,seem to say hello and then hop away...

Then a little walk around my garden,not much just a peek...the roses have been so lovely this year..

New little shrubs each side of the front steps,I found some wonderful ceramic mushrooms so just had to have them.

Raindrops on roses what is more beautiful....

Eva's rose, we all have one of these her Mr Lincoln,her very favourite so all us friend bought one when she passed away...it si so beautiful to smell.

Our lovely lady and her flowering Naked Ladies...not sure if they are called that all over the world.

Now a small ornament that i could not leave at the p shop..ooops breaking all my own rules...it is made in South Africa, I presume someone bought it back at sometime as it is marked that it was handmade from a market there...I think the looks of it just says it all,I now sit it at my new desk and feel full of love and grace when I look upon it...

Thankyou for all being such lovely blog friends, I seem to be coming out of the abyss at last...excitement is building up as Eva's sister Louise is coming from the UK for a 3 week visit us,Eva's other close friend Margie and me,and we will share the time,we have much planned so I will share it along the way...
Have a wonderful evening..

2012-02-02T11:00:00.000-08:00

Past Thoughts and Gentle Grieving...

Loosing Uncle John very recently has seemed to make everyone in the family panic in a way.First our daughter came home a few days before my birthday to make sure we had a meal together and to share our sadness and my birthday,Kate is my rock our conversations mostly short as she is so busy with work and family but even a text comes with "Love you Mum" and it means the world, as we live far apart and she wanted to see me for my birthday and her hubby came too which is rare and I loved it..this does not usually happen,we have lots of phone calls but rushing home is not the usual...then our son rang and said they were travelling 2 hours each way on my birthday day to have lunch...his wife said it is wake up call time and we all need to make sure Nana feels loved etc,and that I know they care, I do get to have long chats but it is usually about their life etc and the kids which is lovely I do not burden any of them about "me.
I have found it quite a difficult time to be able to grieve, I have found that when I needed that good cry,Mum needed hers more so it was nurturing and comforting her that has taken priority,then Bob has not been feeling 100% his back is so sore ,we have had non stop rain for days and delivering the mail by motorbike as we do here has been a tussle for him on the slippery paths and so he needed caring for as well.
So in all this I have discovered what I call "gentle grieving" I have had to talk to me and cry me tears as I drive along on my work day...me and I have shared happy memories of Uncle John as he was such an influence in my life, it is he I have to thank for being scared of the dark! when he was a young man and dating(he was very handsome and much loved by the girls) he would come home late creep into my room with a torch shining under his chin and wake me up ..to see this luminous face and haunting laughter to scare the pants off me!! o'h he thought it was hilarious and the best part was I fell for it everytime!
My cousins of the male variety still wear underpants under their pyjamas and they are 60 years old because of Uncle John, as little boys whenever they would visit and walk past him he would "pants them" yank their jamas down and they would run for their lives trying to pull them up while he laughed his head off...he was a terrible torment and the tales go on and on..
He was a wonderful man that survived being buried alive at 28 and he never could have a family because of his horrendous injury,he was dug out by a work mate just below the chin so he could breathe till they got him out,his other workmate was not so lucky..
Anyway he was wonderful,my point is that do we ever really find the time for just "me".I read sometime people are having some "me"time where is this elusive thing?
I would like to just sit and reflect and wallow in a little bit of self pity..but you know what where would that get me..my Mum needs nurturing,she needs to be able to talk about her lovely young brother John and tell me of the things he did to the girls as with three sisters he was a much welcomed addition and from his birth they were like little mothers to him.
I have listened to cousins call and say wish I had rung him more,wish I had kept in touch,so now they are calling Mum to make sure they have no regrets when it is her time, I won't have any either that I can think of ...
I just want to say that if you do have an older relative and don't want to make a call or a visit or anything just send them a little "thinking of you" note or a small package to show you care...remember at Christmas I seemed to make endless puddings,well it was this Uncle that rang and said"I would love to taste a real Christmas pudding just once more" Mum and I made that pudding to his Mums recipe the next day and we posted it to him,he ate it with gusto for about 3 weeks, a serving each evening and I am so glad we did that..no regrets left for me. Just a "gentle grieving" as I drive each day looking at the beauty of the countryside as it is a place similar to this that he lived and as a country boy it makes me feel close to him.Forever in my heart..

2012-01-30T12:28:00.000-08:00

Some things we can't resist.

Just a couple of things that had to come home with me this week,i am trying to cull but will remove some items to make way for these.

Green Glass water jug , I am going to put flowers in it at times...

Some lovely plates,all my plates are odd bods so they will fit well with our others, I would prefer to eat off lovely odd fine china that a matching cheap set,somehow it make meal times so much more enjoyable. Total price for jug and plates was $5 you can't beat that.

Each morning Bob puts Georgie's old seed out for the wild birds to come and finish up and it is a delight every day to see them come, sometimes they bring the new babies,always returning for a sure safe meal.These are King Parrots native Australian birds.The messy corner is Bobs pumkin patch at the moment home to about 7 butternut pumkins.

2012-01-28T20:58:00.000-08:00

Kids Visit,Birthday etc

The last of the holiday visits are over and school is about to go back so this is Livvy and Will's couple of pics driving and exhausted.love the sleepy pics lol.

Livvy totally done,Grammy works them too hard lol

Poor Will all done and Mr Sniffles his puppy is too!

Awake and having his drive,look the tooth fairy has been since last visit.

Livvy working the PDF,it took me ages to learn,it took all the kids 5 minutes!

Livvy driving,I am almost swamped by the kids now they are almost too big to sit on my lap,well actually Lilly is.

Today is my birthday and our son and family came home for the day,we had lunch at the pub and it was so lovely a huge meal and we are all too full! forgot to take pics but I got very spoilt with presents so here is what I received.

From our son and family,a new portrait taken at Christmas and some glasses as I have almost all odd ones.

From my daughter and family 2 books to take away at Easter,I like autobiographies and I will love these and some slippers and a home made card which I especially love.

From Bob some craft books and a wind chime he made from an old lamp piece and bits and bobs and he paid for everyone's lunch as I am not a party girl this was nice,we missed our girl being here but we had a lovely visit from her mid week and she stayed over,so that was special.

From Mum some money.this will go into my hiding spot until I see something I really want and from my brother a lotto pack,maybe I will win if not it does not matter he sent me a card and thought of me that was enough.

So now scarily I am 63.Where did that time go! I am heading for a new time of life where we should be winding down,but,work is busier than ever.....maybe that will keep me young lol not by the look of my pictures earlier ! anyhow another year has passed,I pray that God will protect and keep me safe and well to look after Mum and Bob....

2012-01-23T10:59:00.000-08:00

Shez,Inspiration and Spotlight Sales.

Since I sewed myself silly leading up to Christmas the machine has not been out.Then Shez did a blog on her towel toppers and I thought I might have a go.The machine is still not out because children are still here but...
Sptlight had a sale and so now I have 24 tea towels and hand towels with toppers cut out awaiting me.Also 2 quilts to put together for the April quilt show...
Now why on earth do I have to do so many of anything,never ever do i just do 1 thing..maybe I have a compulsive disorder..
So it is Shez's fault for getting me going again after feeling i would never sew again,and Spotlights fault for having such a good sale!

All the fart quarters were $1.50...a bargain....

A large quilt that was under half price....

This one is smaller but it is my colours so I could not resist..I will see if I can meet the challenge to get them made by April!

2012-01-22T10:50:00.000-08:00

Thank you for your kind Thoughts

Thank you all so much,it is a wake up call for me as my mind is behaving quite childlike,thinking that life will never be the same again and the scary thing is that Mums sister is 88 and Mum 91 so the reality is that they won't be here forever as I had thought they all would be..wake up girl!...life is not as cosy and calm as I had thought.

Anyhow,the children are here safe and the days will be full and take Mums mind a little off her sadness and the funeral will be Wednesday and we will take Mum to the bush with us so she is not alone.

A little of whats been happening now,remember we took out our wood fire,which left us with a hole in the ceiling,well a fellow down the road came to help Bob so that it is done nice and neat.

This is the mend so far, he has been now and touched it up a bit more and it just needs to be sanded.

Why didn't I put a cover over all the cupboards! It lead to mum and I washing all the dressers out and left me wondering "What the!" I need to sometime get rid of some things lol

All back in place,all sparkly and fresh, a little change here and there as all the cupboards are full of old china,I just love it,o'h well another day I will sort it out and get rid of some,like Bob says "if it was not everywhere,it would not be you"..so I guess he is right...well this time anyway lol.

2012-01-22T00:41:00.000-08:00

It is all part of life...but it does not mean we have to like it!

My very special beautiful Uncle John passed away this morning peacefully at 8.16am.He was 79 about to have his 80th birthday and he has been a big part of my life,I was raised in the same house he lived in with my grandparents, he gave me away at our wedding and I simply loved him.After just 2 days in hospital his body just gave up and God took him into his arms..sleep a wonderful restful slumber,you deserve it after some very hellish days ,Uncle John,don't forget to save me a place up there,I am so grateful that I got to see you not long ago and that you loved me was a blessing.Mum is very distressed as this is her baby brother and we live far away and could not get to say goodbye or to go to the funeral on Wednesday.Saying goodbye to this generation is very difficult,we are lucky to have longevity in the family,however it makes us realise that time passes so fast so we have to make the most of every day.

Mum and Uncle John on her 90th birthday.RIP John Henry Burrows..22.02.1932.......22.01.2012

On a happier note,we now have Livvy and Will here for a few days,they were going to cancel but we thought they would keep Great Nanna occupied as they bring her lots of joy.

2012-01-20T19:37:00.000-08:00

Eden's Visit

Eden has been and gone, he had just 2 nights as h got quite homesick which is not at all like him,we usually have to drag him home,however we have a quirt hose compared to the ruff and tumble of siblings and I think he really missed that,however in our short time together we had a nice time.

First of all in town a passing truck threw up a stone and shattered the back window, so we had to spend time in town getting it repaired,Eden spent that time in Vinnies a well known op shop,he had a ball.

Next morning,mail sorted time to load the car ready to go bush...it was so good to have a helper,Eden was also great with the PDF scanner,not yet ready to do the actual mail sort as Lilly did but good enough for me!

Box of mail on his lap,Eden enjoys catching up with the changes since his last visit,he got the mail out and handed it to me as we got to the mail boxes.

O'h me and Molly says it all,just a bit out of order here,I may say that Molly has been very quiet today,missing her mate.Eden has Molly's brother Clyde and he is wild where as Molly is quiet,got everything to do with we are all oldies and they live in a riotous home lol.

Eden Driving sitting on my lap,the highlight of the childrens visits each time,I have to say I am getting less lap left every visit!

OOps looks like the road is getting graded,after all the rains the road was very dangerous,and we meet all kinds of things as we go along.Unfortunately Eden missed this as the next pic shows.

Eden on the way home,absolutely pooped,nanny has worn them out again! would you believe after we came back,changed cars etc to take him to meet Dad,he went straight back to sleep and slept all the way home.A sudden bout of homesickness when he woke up on this morning made his visit shorter,but I would prefer to take them home than have them sad for Mum and Dad...they will be back ..maybe next school holiday or the one following as this little family are off to Fiji in about 7 weeks for a holiday of a lifetime...lucky them!

2012-01-18T10:51:00.000-08:00

Little Helpers

The best part of life at the moment is that all the grandchildren ( well 4 of them ) are taking in turns for a little visit to our home...Livvy and Will are at moment in the middle of swim classes so it is Lilly first..

They grow so fast and from a little girl that was hard to entertain to a great helper and so grown up it was a delight to have lilly.

Lilly is now big enough to help sort the mail, she was so good and made no mistakes,I was so surprised,she also learned how to use the PDF for scanning parcels and it was such a help for me..as I do not have a relief worker anymore Bob says he wished we could find someone like Lil to work with us lol...

The best part opening the gates way up at the last property,after I drive through all the kids sit on my lap or between my legs and drive the 2 klms to the homestead(I use the controls and they steer) with the mail and they drive back and when they get out to do the gate I take over again,they love it.

Then Lilly did an interview with a wonderful old fellow Fred Day for an article for our Whisper paper,questions through they eyes of an 11 year old,she asked so many sensible things and also things like "were you scared"? and "were there any animals in the trenches?" lots and lots he is so interesting...the main reason we did it is that I am calling for Care Packages for our troops in Afghanistan for Anzac Day packs and Fred received one in 1945 when he was fighting in Tarakan and he still has the tin it came in!He is a collector of all things historical and had so much to show and after 2 hours we had still not left his dining room,we will go back another holiday and hear some more stories.Fred is showing Lil his medals here.

Here he is showing the 25lb bomb shell cases and Fred is getting out bullets from each country that he has including British shells,they are not live he has had them professionally made safe,it was a wonderful learning curve for Lil.Fred has this kit made up as he visits the schools to talk about his war..and his age yes he is 90 years young!Remembers everything that ever happened in our little town..wonderful.

So Lilly is back home safe in Mums arms and Eden is here so his adventure will begin today,wonder what we will do?....the days will unfold in their own way.

2012-01-14T13:53:00.000-08:00

A whole lot of changes goin' on.......

First of all Happy 9th Birthday to our MR Eden who told us the other day he is so tired of being 8!!!! I must remind him of this when he is groaning at 30 lol.

Sadly because of a leaking ceiling etc we made the decision to remove the wood heater causing all the problems, I know we will miss it dreadfully and it will take time to get used to the change,we have other heating but will eventually put gas in, I am not sure about elsewhere but getting wood is almost impossible and buying it so expensive,so we are winding down ready for retirement in a couple of years..

Sadly now it is gone but it opened the room up so much..we will miss her.

This lead to the rearranging of furniture and the other decision to buy another desk as ours was actually a small hall table and had little knobs that the boss kept hitting his knees on and not so nice words lol so we saw this beauty and had to have her, she is mahogany and was on sale very reasonable so I had to rob my stash of savings,I will get it put back as someone straight away bought the wood fire(must have smelt us removing it) and a birthday coming up so I will get some money for that and put it back .I have not put bits in all the little places yet as Lilly is coming to stay and I thought she would enjoy that and when Livvy comes soon she can do the other side.

This desk even has secret drawers,what fun ahead...

The other thing I did was to try out the dehydrator that we got for nothing...and it was great,we did tomatoes,mushrooms and onions,we put the tomatoes in a good oil and the mushroom left to be rehydrated in winter, we are going to do garlic next for garlic flakes,I think this will be well used.

With an abundance of little tomatoes we needed to find a way to utilise and not waste them,at our op shop we are not allowed to sell electrical so this was free and had never been used.

The mushrooms, I was surprised at how neat I was lol

Home grown onions we did not do many until we saw how they went these will make lovely flakes,we will do more of these.

Have a good day,enjoy the little of the weekend that's left and be peaceful and rested...a good day for the garden today but we have to go away for the day and collect Lilly..so to a Nanny that's just as much fun.

2012-01-12T23:50:00.000-08:00

Family Photo..Christmas day 2011

Nothing to say really I think the pic tells it all,deep down everyone loves everyone,but like some families at times there are hiccups..sadly our Son-in-law had to work so he is missing...the younger grey headed lady is my sister -in- law Jan recovering from cancer,she had black hair to her waist at the beginning of treatment,she went from that to bald and now the loveliest grey slightly curly hair..Alex now 13 is getting bigger than his Mum...where do the years go...
All those people slept here for multiple nights,yikkes where did I put them all!!!

2012-01-11T10:56:00.000-08:00

Funny that...who would have thought?

I have noticed that many bloggers are trying to loose weight after the Christmas cheer and goodies.
This year I barely got the first course of any meal down let alone seconds lol so I actually lost some.

However prior to that I was starting to feel the belt getting a little tighter and would comment many times to Bob..his answer was always a very male.."well do something about it"..bugga why do they always say the obvious!

We did do something about it about 18 months ago, we bought one of those machines on the telly that swing your hips as you do a stepping motion, it was great I tried it ONCE!...yes just once thought this is going to be so good but just kept walking past it and looking each morning, then we all tripped over it,then we decided the great place to put it was on the back verandah,we would use it all the time there.
Then the spiders moved in and made it their home, Bob would water all the plants,stub his toe on it and swear,"are you going to use this bloody thing"..."O'h yes I will start tomorrow".
Tomorrow came and the great thing about tomorrows is there is always another one,one tomorrow I walked out the door to find it gone...it lives very happily in the wood shed.
I got to thinking as I saw the add on TV again what a great machine they are ..and that you have to actually use it to loose it,who would have thought!
So who would have thought that these wonderful machines actually have to be used to get you fit,I knew when we bought it what would happen,I just knew that using it was all in my head..so what now,does it go to exercise equipment heaven,to the op shop where I collect them on a weekly basis almost,never a scratch on them,or do I do the right thing...do I realise that it cost money and that I wasted what could have been spent on something else,get it out of the wood shed and get on it...we will see...I will think about that tomorrow!

2012-01-09T00:34:00.000-08:00

Remember When?
I have not blogged for a little while as I promised myself no more sad blogs so thought it best to stay absent and just been following and commenting when ever I could.
Thank you to the lovely lady that left me a message...many things have happened...although othing major.
So no winging just a small list of happenings:
Have had from 5 to 14 people staying since early December..back to 3 now so feeling more normal,although I would not change a thing.
Christmas was wonderful with both Mums and Bobs sister as well as all the family,everyone got on so well and a lovely time was had ,a misunderstanding after the event caused a heavy heart,words taken the wrong way caused an upheaval,my darling girl had a hard time, hearts were heavy,broken bridges mended and all ok again now but it was a tough couple of days, lessons learned all round.
I have had a hacking cough for about 8 weeks and finally went to the doctor today,tested for Whooping Cough but feel I am safe,now have a puffer and meds and maybe will get the first nights sleep for ages if I am lucky.
Mum had a fall on Saturday when we were away taking Bobs Mum and sister to the train over an hour away,she is fine..what a worry! just a few cuts and abrasions.Going to tie her to a chair next time we go anywhere.
Bob and I had planned to step back and slow down,guess what ...Val beat us,is stepping down so now we need to step up GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!! lol not to worry it will be fine.
No need to leave any comments it is all just a lot of twaddle just the reasons why I have been missing in action...
On the upside..my sealed pot is getting heavier all the time.
We have done a lot of work in the garden and down sized the garden beds to more manageable areas.
We have frogs in our pond and eggs ,we are so excited,hope the fish don;t eat the tadpoles.
Our vegie patch has been wonderful all season,tomatoes and cucumbers to die for.
The best news of all is my brother is coming at Easter to look after um so we can have a little break,so we will go back to where we went last time and if it rains it does not matter but we hope to catch lots of fish.
I hope to be back soon with something interesting to say...have a great day.

2011-12-21T10:52:00.000-08:00

A few Happy Shots

Well not long till the man in red visits and as a postie I will be so pleased it has come and gone,but as a believer my main blessing is that it is really all about the birth of Jesus,our grandchildren will have a birthday cake for him as well as the "normal" Christmas things,it is important to remember the "reason for the season".

On my mail delivery this week I had she is a dog but the dogs ran faster a lovely welcome by a little lady named Leila,she is at a farm house and runs with the dogs,thinks she is a dog and it was hilarious as she ran to greet me..the joys of my work...

Running to greet the postie...

Another country mailbox...this one is fantastic.....

I found some things...toadstools probably..but I rarely see them so I took a couple of pics....

A closer look......

Bob took a pic of our house last night ,it did not come out too well but anyway here it is all lit up for Christmas.
We have our Santa bags ready to do the lolly run on Christmas Eve,some little toys for the children that cannot eat sweets,we do it every year on our big bike but as we are going to sell it this could be the last time...
Have a wonderful Christmas if I do not get time to blog again,at the moment the house is slowly filling up with people,we have Bobs Mum here and his sister Janet and it is nice to have others in the home,all the children will arrive Christmas Eve day and then there will be 14 for two full days and nights.Our walls will stretch lol lots of fun and games ahead I imagine...
Blessing from our home to yours.xx

2011-12-17T15:05:00.000-08:00

Bush Christmas and a pic for Kath and 2 for Mel

As you know the people I deliver mail are very isolated,here are 2 mailboxes,another popped up on Friday so I will take a pic tomorrow,just because hardly anyone will see them at least they still have the spirit....

This is a milk can converted to a reindeer for Christmas.And a Panda Santa.

How cool is that! I showed it last year but this year they have added some more bits.

This one has a Christmas tree and it has little solar lights,must look good at night.

Now for Mel I mentioned to her that I had a mirror the same as hers,it is off an old dressing table and we have hung it upside down so Mum has a little shelf for pretties,sorry about the old girl in the pic,funny thing about mirrors they reflect the taker lol.

This is for the interest of kath, a friend gave us a mantel from the old railway cottage down the road!! Bob has installed the woodwork but this is going to have a gas fire in front with the log look,I noticed it is almost the same as the one Kath has put in, I wanted to strip the timber back but Bob has to win some so it is very dark,but we just love it and feel so blessed that they gave it to us, very sad though that they took it out of "its home".

Back to Mel,here are my little shoe stretchers like yours a bit worse for wear and they live on top of my little writing desk, I love them..

We had our Treasures Christmas lunch here at home for all the girls yesterday and it was wonderful,I forgot to take pics...anyway a huge change is on its way,my partner in crime in our community work told me yesterday that she hand hubby have bought a home in the next town..I was shocked but so happy for her..I am now not sure what the future will bring,I know when Val moves her heart and soul will go into her new town,she is the Treasurer and motivator for many things that we do and I cannot do it alone, there are no young people coming through the groups,everyone too busy.. I will have to refocus, I will see the park finished and the Treasures shop ...well this makes its future unsure as I also was going to slow down ready to let someone else take over in 3 years time when we retire,at this stage we will go one step at a time until Val and I can have discussions....I can feel a big change about to happen and I am not sure if I want to stay on the train lol.I am getting tired,I think perhaps the time is approaching when I will concentrate on the soldiers and the seniors...God will lead,I will wait with patience while the future unfolds...

2011-12-14T10:52:00.000-08:00

Today I am in Awe of all things Amazing...
I know this will be boring to many but like many bloggers I just write things so they are in my little journey through life.
Those that have followed me for a while know I work like a mad thing to get things for our little community and add to our little park that we built from the op shop takings.About 6 months ago the mines representative asked could he come along to our meetings to see how a 5 man band works,he kept coming back each month amazed that we move a step forward each time.I have been desperate to try and get adult exercise equipment at our park so mum and dad can do something while the children play,Matt came to the meeting last night and announced that the mines are giving us $10,000 towards our park...what!!!! o'h how wonderful,that means we have to put the same amount in (which is exactly what we have) and the Council has promised to put the soft-fall etc in to the value of $20,000.I never thought I would see this happen...but it is not over yet,once we have this in I want a bike track at the park for the little ones to learn road safety,it is a miniature road setting and it is circular with stop signs,crossings,rail crossings,traffic lights all pretend of course but they can learn there and know what is what..but first things first as they say.This young man Matt is the liaison officer as the mines are raping our beautiful area and they are trying to make amends to us all,as most young people in our town now work at the mines it is fitting that they help us,but he is wonderful and is also going to help me with the Soldiers Care packages next year...thanks Matt for caring about us.
Last night a friend and I babysat a 92 year old while Edith our friend went to her granddaughters school presentation, Edith has Olive full time just as I have Mum and it is really important that every now and then someone comes along so that Edith and her hubby could share the joy of watching their granddaughter be presented Dux of the school and be there together.
If you know someone like us,could you offer to give them a couple of hours break and even if they went out of the home to share a coffee or do something together,it is such a small thing but the joy in their eyes when they got home was wonderful and looking after Olive was a joy,she told us to go an amuse ourselves lol how gorgeous,she said she has a good cricket score 92 not out!
I had a nice time also as Wendy and I are good friends and we rarely just sit and chat for any length of time,so as we looked after Olive we talked about this and that and I got to thinking about friendship.Friends are the people we choose to be our family,they accept us and our funny ways more than family do at times.I just think it is an under rated part of our lives,the place that friends sit is so important,to find a loyal one is like gold,there are acquaintances and there are friends,to have 1 friend is lovely but to have several is like a lottery win.
I find that to them I am always here,I am not available for the lunches and the coffee's as I work and most of my friends do not,I am not good at the long phone calls as when I get home from work Mum has to be my number one priority so therefore I loose touch a bit now and then,but they know where to find me and they do when they are in trouble and need a chat.
For the coming year I am going to make myself a little promise that I will make a short quick call to check in with them,and make sure they know how important they are to me,enough time is spent in life wishing we had,and loosing friends this year has made it all the more obvious to me that no one knows you care really unless you tell them.

2011-12-11T11:48:00.000-08:00

GUESS WHO IS 91 TODAY?
Happy birthday Mum you are much loved by all,presents have been arriving all week from family and Mum opened them this morning,she was feeling very spoilt but she certainly deserved all her lovely gifts.

Lovely cards,always Mum reads the cards first,she is someone that drinks in all the words.

Have a lovely day Mum.

I have been away again as William and Olivia were in their tap dancing concert this weekend it was wonderful,no pics allowed so I will have to wait for the official ones to be sent,too proud for words with all the little ones,William was so gorgeous in his little suit tap dancing and Olivia ever the beautiful dancer,well done kids and Lilli last weekend was so lovely too.
Michael is getting a bit better each day, they have placed him on a low GI diet and already that is making a difference,all the blood tests should be back early this week and the problem hopefully revealed,but he sounded like his old self last night.
Life at work is so busy with parcels etc,and our days are long but it will be all over soon, I am all ready for Christmas as such.
Our Cackle Club will have their little gathering on Tuesday,bitter sweet as our lovely Angela not with us, also Gwenyth our eldest member lost her husband last week so we will have them so much in our thoughts bless them.
On Saturday we have the Treasures girls party here at home,and then Sunday Bobs Mum and sister arrive after an 8 hour train trip so it is all getting closer.
I am so happy to say that many people sent care packages to the soldiers and the newspaper from Newcastle rang me to do an item on it and they will get in touch next October and see if we can't get many more sent next year,thanks to all those that sent them to our soldiers.
Be kind to yourself today, yesterday I got to go to church with my precious daughter, the message was about carrying all the baggage around that drags us down and we need to be reminded to give it up to God and he will lighten the yolk around our necks,it was a timely reminder as someone close to me was being less than 'nice" and I stressed over it so much and then I realised I have no problem it is them with the baggage so it was wonderful to dust off ..give it up to God..and start afresh..the wonders of having Faith,not preaching each to his own but without Faith my life seems so empty.
Have a wonderful week and I will catch up on all the blogs as the week goes along,feel blessed by your good health, your wealth is not monetary but it is that you are living,loved and shone upon each day,let life's battles wash over you today ,if you have hurt someone and been unkind ,fix it,if someone has been unkind to you forgive them and move on,you will feel so much lighter,if someone loads their worries upon you, listen and then let it go,it is not your burden,you have done a good job the listen,it is a rare thing to be able to hear the troubles of others,even a more rare thing to lay those words aside,keep the confidence and be loyal,all gifts that are a true blessing and a gift of the spirit that makes you who you are.
Have a truly blessed day.

2011-12-06T10:57:00.000-08:00

Bits and Bobs

I have not been able to get a chance to read or blog much,work and worry taking over lately,after a week of broken sleep waiting for Michaels results it was a huge stress so for all those lovelies out there in the same position our hearts go out to you,we went through this with Bobs sister and her results as you know were not good but she is on track,chemo all done, radiation all done and now hormone therapy for 2 years and she is Ok at this point.
Michaels results thankfully took out Pancreatic Cancer as that was what his doctor was quite certain he had,praise God, however,they have to find what the problem is as his body is a bit of a mess poor kid,he is 38 but always,always our little boy in our hearts,so another anxious week of special diet,fasting and then more blood tests Friday and more waiting...I had the weekend with his family and that gave us the chance for many hugs and moments,he knows he is loved,that will carry him through and prayer,he is a good Godly man.

Now a little bit of light stuff,you all know I can't sit still, I have been so busy delivering parcels that when I get home I am still on the run lol..I saw these little decoration things at a benefit that my daughter in law went to and decided to make some and use as table decoration for two lunches we are having one at Cacle Club and the other the treasures Christmas lunch we have here...I made these in the evening while watching TV...

So what you need is a packet of wooden skewers
Roll of florist tape
roll sticky tape
4 different wrapping papers,in reds,greens ,gold,silver whatever you like not too stiff and nice and bright also red and green tissue paper, I got this because my papers were not as bright as I would have liked.
1 bag of chuppa cups(I got the mini ones from the bargain sop but the normal is fine)($2 bag)
1 bag of chocolates(also from bargain shop)that are individually wrapped.($2 bag)
I pretty square box
I piece florists green sponge(at bargain shop $2 it makes 2 boxes)

You will see a packet of garden ties in this pic,it does not work as ot does not stretch,so take no notice of it lol.

On the flat end of the skewer sticky tape the chocolate or chuppa cup to the skewer firmly,cut a piece of wrapping paper of choice about 4x6 inches and wrap it around the sweet,at the base put a piece of sticky tape to hold it in place then with the florist tape stretching gently as you go ,wind over the sticky tape down t about 4 inches from the bottom,with the tissue paper you need about 4 layers as it tears otherwise.
Cut your green florist sponge to fit the box of choice and place the tulips you have made into it, I then put candy canes around the edge and some tinsel.I am going to add a star or something onto a skewer and put in them when I can get to town.

The finished product,now some of the papers I had were too stiff and that's why I used some in tissue but I think they look ok I am no flower arranger but I am sure you clever ones out there could make these look fantastic,they were very cheap as there are 15 chuppa cups and chocs in each bag so it is not expensive for a different table piece.The original one I saw was all hot pink as it was for a child benefit,the little girl very ill and they were raising money for her and they had balloons in them too.Have fun.

2011-12-04T10:51:00.000-08:00

Update,Sadness and Joy.
On Friday I posted my card and letter to kerry thinking if she were well enough the family could read to her ,tell her my words of how wonderful she always made my day when I ran into her,she always had a joke mostly a little bawdy but always histerical,sadly Kerry passed away on Saturday while I was away,when I received the message my first thought s were of little regrets.
I never did get to "drop by" to have that cuppa,look at her renovations and garden,this is one thing I can rectify with life ,if someone asks me I am going to make the time,since Mum had lived with us I have rushed home to her so in the last 3 years I have not done many of these little things that make friends keep their relationships up to date.Mum and Bob have my every moment once I am finished work and I don't like the feeling of "wish I had"I am going to make sure that I just keep in touch with a quick pop by to those in my life.Kerry is at rest now,it was so fast I guess if we could choose a way it would be the fast way to go.

The great news is that I got to go to my sons home for the weekend and I needed to see him so badly as this last week has been many tests and scans for him,we are bracing ourselves in case the news is nasty as that is what the doctor has told us,we are very positive though and refuse to think that this is going to happen,there should be some news today, we were expecting the results on Friday so we are thinking if it was the nasty senario Michael would have gotten that call..praying our pants off .
The other reason I went down was to see Lilli in her dancing concert and presentation.It was wonderful the three year olds stealing the show.I had a wonderful time lots of cuddles for my son and we both needed that,Bob stayed home with Mum as only one of us can go away.
On the way to their place a 2 hour drive I have to go through the beautiful wine country and at 6.30 the hot air balloons were landing from their dawn rides,what a beautiful sight,but I do not think I will put that on my bucket list,it is a lot of money for 1 hour!

I just held the camera at the windscreen and hoped I got the balloons

I love travelling at this early hour as there is no traffic,by the time mid morning comes there is traffic everywhere as the tourists arrive for the winery visits.

Look at our girl and her bounty,she received a trophy for best improved in the combined age group,she was thrilled as she has been only learning 6 months,you could not wipe the smile off her face,bless her.We were not allowed to take pics on the stage so had to wait till she came to us to get some.

Lilli, proud Mummy and young Mr Elijah,what a long night it all started at 5 and finished at 10.30! the kids were exhausted not to mention the Nanny and parents lol.Very proud Lilli great job.
Next weekend I get to go to my daughter place as Olivia and William are in their dance concert.How I am looking forward to that,they both do tap dancing and love it,I have seen Livvy dance before but not Will I think this is going to be a memory bank one as he is a nutter lol honestly I think it will be just gorgeous.
Don't forget now, if someone asks you to pop by just take that 0 minutes,there is someone I need to do that with today,and I will!

2011-11-30T10:49:00.000-08:00

Wrapping Up and Counting Down.

All my Christmas wrapping is done,the decorations waiting to go up this evening and now the countdown.

Life at work is so busy,we are up at 5am,I hit the ground running and do not stop until I leave for work at 7am( make half an hour of that time blog time or less cannot afford more lol but it makes my day start well,the last 2 weeks I have no idea what lunch is..I have breakfast at 6am and that's it till 4pm,I have been taking fruit with me to get me through.

On Monday I delivered over 200 packages and that's after I did my bush run!It amazes me that I still love Christmas!Some items were so heavy that Bob had to come with me when he finished work.
I do love the parcels that are addressed to "The best Nanny and Poppy in the World" and the address.It always makes me smile and when I deliver it the nanny is reduced to tears....life is so good you know..there are hard times happening but someone forgot to tell the shoppers.

I love to give the children a book at Christmas (as well as everything else I know)! but when toys come and go and get broken,the book sits upon the shelf and when they open it up to read 5 years on they remember they got it in what year etc.
Unfortunately many bookstores have closed down as EBooks become more popular and online buying.We no longer have a book store in our area or the next large shopping town over 1 hour away...so this year Amazon came to the rescue for me.
The boys books are coming from Amazon Australia but the girls for Uk.. I ordered them a Girls Annual 2012 as I still have mine from 1956 etc. I know they will love these as they are a thing of the past here.

Tonight the house light will be lit for the first time, I do not know why(my grandmothers fault) but I seem to have the idea that if we light them up before the wrath of God will be upon me lol.

Absolutely always in my mind is the real meaning of Christmas,my faith keeps me strong, I am exhausted, everything aches and what doesn;t will soon I imagine,but to think that I have some one ever watching over me is a great comfort.
Darling Angela was laid to rest on Tuesday, and Monday I heard of another friend that I only see occasionally as she runs a B&B and is so busy that she is terminally ill and to add to the shock it has happened so fast that only family are allowed to go to the house as she is so ill..boy did that make me feel sad,you see everytime I saw kerry in town she would say pop up and have a look at the renovations,have a cuppa...you know I just did not get round to it,now she will not know that I always thought about her...I feel very blessed to be healthy..
Please if you have a friend that needs a little call ,do it today or in the next few days or even drop a little thinking of you card in the mail, I am going to do that and hopefully Kerry's hubby Rob will read it to her..
Maybe it's a good thing we don't know what's ahead,makes you realise you have to live for the day,have the best day you can and be blessed with good health because at the end of the day good health and faith is all we have.

2011-11-29T11:30:00.000-08:00

Bowls Day and Sealed Jar Challenge Pot ready to go.....

First up we had our bowls day Sunday and it was Hawiian theme,thankfully Bob did not take close ups,but it was a great day and we raised good dollars.

All gathering ready to start,we filled all the rink with people by start time, it was hilarious really,only very few had bowled before.

The lady in action was on our team(thank goodness) otherwise we would have had no score lol

The sealed Pot challenge is about to start so here is my glam pot!I might explain this is not a race to see who saves the most it is about saving your change for yourself and getting a nice surprise next December..

Ours will go towards going to the Uk in a few years time,so we have decided to do this for the next couple of years and see how we go.Why not do it yourself.

I have absolutely made my last cake for this year, i saw this recipe and decided to make it for our Treasures girls for our Christmas lunch.

I have done everything on the list as well as many extras I have added I am now finished all my sewing and cooking for the Christmas Challenge ,I have our soldiers package and Summer parcel ready to go.All I need now is my Uk mail to go and do my Chrissy cards..So now its all stress free and just work,work,work!!!

I was gutted this week when the girl that helps me Tuesdays and Thursdays says she can't do it sometimes, I am getting really tired and although I did not really get a day off as I still do the parcels,I did get a little break from driving..no matter all is good,life is going along and God has us in a good place.

The weekend ahead sees me going to our sons to watch Miss Lilli in her dance concert.The following week I am off to our daughter to see Miss Livvy and Mr William in their concert,I am busting to see these events.

Spring is ending today..Summer officially starts tomorrow..someone forgot to tell Mother Nature who has already given us days of 35 degrees plus!.

2011-11-28T11:23:00.001-08:00

Signs of Christmas in Australia.

Look who popped in for a visit.....our first Christmas Beetle...Bob took him back out into the garden where all his friends were waiting....

2011-11-26T21:29:00.000-08:00

These are a few of my Favourite things......

This is a beautiful typical Australian home that has been renovated back to its glory, a photographer has bought it and people can have their photos etc done in the back gardens, I will see one day if they will let me show you...it is opposite to where I work each day,but I wanted to show you their Cape Chestnut tree, it has been glorious and it is amongst Jackerandas so it has been a picture.

Now this is such a special little building,"back in the old days" we had our own butter factory and the milk came there via the little river punts long gone, a young couple have bought the fallen down place and they are very slowly restoring the butter factory part in the original brick.The little hut is the old pay office, still standing,it is so small and I smile everyday when I drive past, I love it when I have parcels for these people I can walk by huge piles of sandstone waiting go be placed and touch it as I walk by and wonder where it will be in the big picture of things.

This is a street named Segenhoe Street and it is a very hilly street , these wonderful trees line the entire street and the buses are parked outside of the school.

A thank you to my lovely swap partner..Vintage Sweetheart,you spoilt me very much and I was thrilled with the old magazines and everything...thank you again...

I pinched the idea of these bags from another blogger doing the Christmas challenge I had done some for the girls but not the boys, in these I put bubble bath, a hair brush some "product" and some other boy stuff..they looked great, I thought they could sit them on their bedside tales with their DS'S and earphones etc in them.
Anyway have a wonderful day, we had a charity bowls day today with an Hawaiian theme I think Bob took a couple of pics,I will see and maybe share some of the day...

A Day at the Office.....

2011-11-23T10:54:00.000-08:00

Hello little froggy,there is a family living in this mail box and not the usual green ones that were there last year,altogether there are 4...he just looked at me and I carefully put the mail and paper behind him and he did not even blink!even posed for the pic.

This is a typical little hut that are spread around properties that are large,these little huts usually just have a fire place in them,they are almost always tin,I have seen them down in the old goldfields made of mud brick and they were rounded,I was told back in those days the chinese lived in them..but back to these.. lol as always I am off track.The workers would stay in these watching stock,probably lambing time and foaling time and probably only for a little while at a time, I imagine in the summer they would have been like little ovens and just as cold in the winter,my neighbour told me her father in law used to go stay in them and go rabbiting for a week at a time,they would just have a stretcher bed and a timber box served as a table as space was very limited, and then come home and sell the rabbits, I imagine they are a big part of our past.

6 little ducks went out one day.....I see duck families every day,this day though no babies...also I see the Quail families I love seeing them the babies no bigger than a cockroach,and you just imagine something is moving on the road,so if i see Mr and Mrs Quail I always stop...just in case...

This to me signifies Australia,a bush church with a dunny out the back..if I saw this pic anywhere in the world I would know it was in Australia,the old dunny (toilet) faces the road,if they had put the door around the other side you could watch the river flowing by,perhaps thats why they did not face it that way,maybe they though people would sit and think too long lol...can you imagine!!(yes it is a drop toilet..meaning there is a seat as normal but a long drop for the business to fall lol).

More pedestrians...cattle are real sticky beaks and they wait for me to drive right up almost touching them,give me "the look" and then move,after all I am interrupting them...

After rain at the weekend there were several little Echidna's out in the sunshine looking for ants and insects,not often one keeps his nose out for me,it wriggles all time smelling,wonder what we smell like?the perfume we wear or he human smell...you can see the little hole in the end of his nose,I just love these little creatures,they cause no harm to anyone and when I get to see a baby that is a real blessing...

No Mum I am not going near your baby,I tried to get a pic of a more recent born but this family see me everyday,I think Mum is thinking "O'h here's that old mail lady again".

Mums favourite thing on the way home...see the tree at the top of the hill,its Mums chook tree,every time she is with me she says "there's the chook"..

I did take some more of a few things in town but the camera is in the car again,as I wanted to get a pic of another little building for the interest of Cro..the Jacaranda trees have been magnificent and purple carpet covers our little town..next time maybe...
Have a lovely day,we heard today that Angela will be laid to rest next Tuesday,far from here,and that is Cackle Club day ,Edith will not go to the funeral,it is all too much for her so we will comfort her and have a prayer as we remember a special girl.

Mark,Lucia and Angela taken at Edith's last Christmas , I am not being morbid but it is nice to see a pic of who someone is referring to, a sweet Angel is singing in heaven this evening and a new star shines in the sky,Mark and Lucia will name a star for Mum ,they can look up to the heavens and maybe one day Lucia will understand poor little darling.

2011-11-21T10:32:00.000-08:00

Mum at Work

This is my Christmas Challenge Post that we have to put up each Tuesday so that we get our list completed...it is posted on my Christmas Challenge blog but just wanted my regulars to see Mum at her best bless her old heart, we did this together but someone has to take the pics lol,Mum never wears an apron,I am the apron lover,yet her Mum never ever went without one.

Carole's week 3

This week has been slow sewing wise but I have completed some of my cooking challenge.
It is the tradition in our family that the eldest has to do the Christmas pudding and the next generation cannot take over until the elder can no longer manage.
This year Mum found it really hard to stir the pudding once it was all together,and as we were the only ones in the house just the two of us stirred it, we also have the rule that everyone present stirs the pudding if they are present,last year we had family home so many wonderful love stirs we had.
So here are our pics..91(almost)years young as we made 2 puddings and 2 Christmas cakes.

My Mum Joyce,we have the money soaking(we have used the same coins for all time as far back as I can remember),in our pudding,when you get a coin you pick a surprise from a basket and place the coin in the centre of the table.

Mum getting the baking paper ready for the bottom of the pudding steamer,one cake almost ready to go into the oven.

Two lots of fruit on the boil,one Pineapple fruit cake mix and the other a traditional fruit mix.

Looks good enough to eat, it actually looks a bit brown here but it was not burnt lol.

One pudding out another ready to go on.....we used to do the cloth ones but 3 years ago Mum found that our summers are so humid we had a mould problem so we do it is a steamer now...I was blessed this year,I got to stir and do most of the making,it is sad at the same time as it means Mums time of making them is close to an end and that makes me sad.
Well that's the main cooking done until the week leading up to Christmas when I do the mini puddings etc.
Back to sewing now and I have some little bags to make for the boys,copying one of the other blogs ideas and a pillow bag for Stephen as he is the only family member I have not made one for.
Hopefully they will be ready for next week..we will see lol

2011-11-20T11:09:00.000-08:00

Sighhhhhhhhhhhh...

Angela and Mark were up at the farm they just bought and little Lucia was with family on a farm across the way as far as I know(Angela's 2 sisters live on farms across from where they bought,and her Mum and Dad 20 minutes away)this is why they bought it,they actually live at Scone and travel the 3or so hours each weekend to get it ready to build a little cottage...to have for a holiday home and hobby farm.
Angela was riding the motorbike up a hill and was thrown off and the bike landed on her..God I cannot bear the thought!!
Can you bear with me a minute,Angela lead a very painful life.. I mean pain from past injury,when she was in her late teens there was a Tornedo ( I did not even think we had them here) but it ripped through Walcha and her families home was literally ripped from the ground,Angela was too and when they found her she was terribly injured,leading to over 2 years in a wheelchair.She was such a strong minded girl and she got herself out of that chair and lived life the best way she could.
Angela met Mark and they fell in love,he was a great help as there were many days that walking was about all she could do, Lcia arrived totally unexpected,they never thought it possible,but there could be no more children,what a delight,she is the most lovely little person,so Edith met her one day when they moved into her street and adopted the family and bought her to Cackle Club where we all became extra Mum and Grannie to lovely little Lucia.
Mark does not come from a loving family in fact he was always treated as a non event and Angela gave him to confidence to go forth and be the best he could,moving from a shop assistant to a Tech Colledge teacher after many courses,Angela also studied..Real estate... and then when she received an insurance settlement decided that she could not get employment as she had too many days when she would not be capable of a "regular" job so she started building homes and selling them,all from her study,she got a crew together of workers that took a woman's direction and reliable builders and off she went.. I was always in awe of her..how amazing!
Some people really live...others just live...
Bless you Angela,I have no idea how everyone will cope,Mark and Lucia have a hard road but so many prayers and love for them that I am sure one day at a time a new life will have to start,whether it will be where they live now,or if he will go closer to family for support.I do not know,maybe it would be too painful to live there now or maybe they will feel closer,I just know it will be a long time before they "feel" again..thank you for all the lovely things you have said and your thoughts, I will pass them to Edith as she battles her own feeling of total loss.

2011-11-19T21:58:00.001-08:00

Why? ?Why?Why?

The Cackle Club girls are devastated that one of our darling girls has tragically died on Sunday the 20^th November.

Angela Stackman of Scone was the loving wife of Mark and loved Mummy of Lucia.We will sadly miss Angela she was the youngest member of the Cackle Club, at 33 and life at last going so well,we are still reeling with the news,we are especially sad for Edith who came to love Angela as a daughter.Our little family is hearbroken for the loss of one of our girls so young.

(At this point in time we have not been told how this happened,only that Angela and Mark recently purchased a farm in Walcha and were there for the weekend,Edith received a call from a very distressed Mark with little information),we just cannot take it all in..prayers for her darling hubby and little Lucia 4 who Angela simply lived for.

2011-11-19T12:18:00.000-08:00

Our Bedroom...O'h Dear!!!!

Recently some bloggers have posted pics of their lovely calming bedroom...I am a bit flabbergasted as I said I would post mine,it is my favourite room yet I leave it at 5am and do not enter again until about 9.30 10ish pm..if I do it is just to put ironing etc away.
Some of the ladies rooms look so restful, I am thinking as we are painting soon i had better de clutter as you will see...I have no idea what will have to go to make it more peaceful,one lady a while back commented you should not have your children's pic in your bedroom as they should not be watching what goes on lol hysterical,I have always had pics on my washstand and we have even got our mums looking on..O'h dear better turn them round the other way...errr maybe a coupla times a year..just joking Bob...
Here we go....Our room is the first room off the hall as you enter into our front door..Mum is opposite.(for the information of an axe murderer lol).

Sorry the pics not too clear but my camera seems to be on the wrong setting..anyway..our bed cost us $30 ,30 years ago it is iron with porcelain and brass and about 100 years old and the bedspread is an antique damask one given to me by a friend from her family,she is modern,.

Sorry head on the side people, my bedside table, my daily prayerbook,jewellery box a small icon given by a friend for protection,got no idea what its about as i think it is catholic but I was grateful,and Bobs Mum gave me her engagement ring,this is her little blue box and it even has the receipt in it!

A flower wreath made by a friend and given to me.

I did not realise I had covered up the blue floral tiles..but as you can see the kids pics are there,the royal doulton flowers I bought at a car boot near Bristol, they were too heavy to bring home so our friend bought them over when she came to Australia,I was so surprised that she had done that for me,I was already overweight with things.More stuff!

Heads on the side again lol my dressing table

Bobs chest of drawers bought from Canada by his Grandfather in the late 1800's,we love this .

His cupboard my stuff!!! a little cupboard Bob bought me last year as a gift.

It contains another little collection..oops...

Above the chest is a painting of Christmas Bells by Bobs grandmother,she did illustrations for books.

An old foot warmer, have to fill every space you know lol

Little miss Teddy by one of the door that goes to the front verandah.

This little stool is our doorstop,and that's our room...when I was taking the pics I though crickey too much..I will try to declutter..later...one day..when I work out what I do not want...sometime..on the 12 maybe..12th of never more like lol...thanks coming....hope you did not mind the dust..
This week I will take some more pics of my "office",as I go about my mail run.
Have a wonderful day.

2011-11-17T10:49:00.000-08:00

Open your hearts..Let the World In.

I don't want to come across as "the charity queen",I don't want to sound like ..me...me...me..I do this...I do that...I just let others know that there are heaps of things you can do for your fellow man.So please don't think I am always saying what I do,it's just me,I would rather "do"for others and that means family first then others,than to "do'for me.I take after my grandparents..much to many in the families disgust lol..
So my last blast at what we are doing as a family this year for others and also the cackle Club and as i have talked to the towns people on my deliveries many more are doing it..I placed my article in our little paper we have for our town"The Aberdeen Whisper"(we even have a web site now through Upper Hunter Council"whoo whoo..) asking for everyone that can to come onboard or join in with a couple of others to make things possible.
Each year I attach a "Tear" certificate for a mosquito net for overseas kids to our kids Christmas stocking,it is only $5 for one and this year we were trying to do shoe boxes for the children overseas,as we are far from the city it just did not happen,all the churches are doing them but I could not get 100 delivered to distribute.So feeling a bit down I Googled what I could do for Australians.
I found a site that has been looking after our Servicemen and women for quite a long time, so we have chosen to do this ,this year.We have high hopes that many soldiers that have no family to receive from will be blessed this Christmas.Our grandchildren have drawn pictures etc to go in the family one and we have put our email address in case the soldier wants to contact us.In the Cackle Club one we are putting a little story about us and Aberdeen and a contact address.
Would you like to join in also..here is everything you need to know.
I did a shop at Woolworths, it came to about $35..but..If you got the listed products by other brands you could do it cheaper,you can add babywipes also as when I read the web site (there are a few) it said they really appreciate them.When my brothe rwas in Vietnam he loved getting packages from home,all I could think of was the mail being handed out and having no family it must be awful anyway just letting you know what is out there.
From now on no more whining from me to think of others,off my soapbox and back to the sewing machine!

To send a care package to an Australian Soldier in Afghanistan, you need to purchase a "B" size box (weighs 175g itself) from Australia Post, they cost $2.25 They'll give you some customs forms which you will also need to fill out. The address you need to send the package to is below. Make sure you seal all the edges of the box with packing tape. If the box after being packed ways less than 2kg, Australia Post will send it for Free.

“An Australian Soldier”

Op Slipper

AFPO 13

Australian Defence Force

SYDNEY NSW 2890

To give an example of what can be sent, a care package could be:

1 x Lynx Shower Gel Travel Size

1 x Pack of Schick Disposable Razors

1 x NON-AEROSOL Shaving Cream

1 x Lynx Role On Deodorant

1 x Small Baby Powder (Talc)

1 x Chap Stick (SPF 30+)

3 x Bags of Allen's Lollies (NOT CHOCOLATE)

1 x Beef Instant Noodles

1 x Pack of Scotch Finger Biscuits

2 x Canned Tuna (Pull Ring Style)

If you want you can also include a self addressed envelope and a letter. I include my email address as well just in case they want to contact me or have something specific they want me to get for them.

Things not to send:

Alcohol

No Clothing, Except socks

Aerosols

Cigarettes

Pork

chocolate (melts)

Magazines with naked people.You can also send a female specific care package, including feminine deo, perfume sample sachets, girly mags. All you need to do is when addressing write

“An Australian Soldier - FEMALE”

I think this is a fantastic way to help out our boys and girls, and show your support. More examples of what can be sent...Just remember it has to weigh under 2kg.

dried fruit
drinking choc (individual sachets)
easy mac
individual small cereal boxes
individual ring pull tuna cans or sachets
lollies
long life milk (small packs)
microwave popcorn
microwave rice (reject shop $2)
oatmeal (individual sachets)
pepper (individual sachets)
powdered energy drinks
salt (individual sachets)
sauces & condiments like mustard etc (individual sachets are good, ask Macca’s if you can have some and why...)
spices - to go with lamb/goat for example, rosemary, garlic, thyme, greek spices
sugar (individual sachets)
tabasco sauce
tea
trail mix
twisties (can also be used as packing in spaces in the box)
wasabi peas
NO PORK AT ALL TO BE SENT

Hygiene

aftershave (they complain they smell)
air fresher (non aerosol sprays & the cardboard card ones)
baby wipes (bulk & travel size)
cotton buds
deodorant (non aerosol)
foot powder
hair conditioner
hair shampoo
inner soles
lip balm (chap sticks)
moisturiser
mouthwash
razors (NOT the real cheap ones like Bic! Personally I use Schick and I’d only send those, we don’t want them cutting/slashing themselves to shreds!)
shaving cream (non aerosol)
soap (normal & travel size)
socks (black & white)
talc
tissues (medium & travel size)
toilet paper (one roll in a box)
toothbrushes (sometimes)
toothpaste
if female troops then add the following
female hygiene products
gel or hair spray (non aerosol)
hair ties
hairbrush (only send 1)

Misc & entertainment

blank cards (for troops to send home)
board games
board games (some marines have a wonderful photo of them playing twister)
book (try not to send romance novels)
cheap dvds please write on cover & disc in permanent marker “Aussie troops property” to avoid theft
drawing paper
envelope
footballs/basketballs (and a pump)
magazines (nothing rude)
music CDs (Please write on cover & disc in permanent marker “Aussie troops property” to avoid theft)
other sporting goods
pen/pencils
playing cards
poker chips
sport sections of newspapers
tennis balls (if you have tennis courts nearby you can buy second hand balls cheap – I got some from the University tennis courts $1 each, Slazenger and other brands)
writing Paper

NO Alcohol to be sent to any troops
DO NOT SEND CLOTHING except socks

If you would like to do one for the doggies there here is the info.

1 x box dog biscuits
1 x beef bone (not fresh)
3 x "greenies"
1x toy
1 x tennis ball
and don't forget a couple of
packets of lollies for the
handler.
The dogs do a magnificent job
under very trying conditions
and to date, four have lost
their lives serving their
country.

The address is:

An Australian EDD
Handler"
Op Slipper
AFPO 13
Australian Defence Force
SYDNEY NSW 2890

This is a fantastic way to help
out our serving soldiers, and
show your support. What
about getting the local kids at
school involved and send some
special packages from them
there are still 4 or 5 weeks
before they finish the year.

Don’t just wait for festive
seasons, our troops serve
overseas all year long. And
don’t forget the Navy and Air
Force.

2011-11-16T00:47:00.001-08:00

Thank you for your kind words.

I am a closet poem,verse ?writer due to a traumatic,discouraging time in high school and so I do write it but never put it up,this time I did and although my work is child like I really appreciated your kind words to me..thank you all...

Mum had a very confusing start to the day today, I awoke will Molly barking beside me, I jumped out of bed as the only way molly could be in was to have been let in, pitch dark I ran down the hallway to find Mum sitting in the dark.."what are you doing Mum".."I thought you had slept in and it was 5.30am but it was only 4am" so you guessed it I stayed up and got ready for work, wrote a blog lost the lot(and the plot) and so the day went on,the washing was hung out before 5am,I sewed the extra bags I needed to make,watered the garden(then it rained today)lol.
So the day went on,now this afternoon I have been productive,finished my items for this week for the Christmas challenge and now have to do my items for our little towns monthly flier/mag named 'the Aberdeen Whisper".I do an item for the little op shop Treasures Talk and we just thank the town for supporting us an announce if we have excess books,anything like that.Then I need to do an article for the cackle Club,and this month I will be talking about how our craft group is going to join up with Sand Angels..they make scarves for the troops in Afganistan so we are hoping to make 10 a month if possible, we have yet to join up but we discussed it and we are all excited,why not Google Sand Angels or Sand Scarves and maybe you could consider doing some now and then.

I will also tell you about our other little exercise in another blog when I have it ready to show...but it is the time of the year that while I was buzzing a hundred miles an hour in my head about what to do for this friend ,that relative,those kids lol..I realised...stop...you need to think a bit...
I had already started to add to the homeless and hamper foods for the poor,and so are all the local churches etc as per usual..
I was looking for ages for a connection for shoeboxes for the children overseas,I had no luck in getting boxes here and time was gone,as I googled...I found what my heart was looking for....I will share as soon as I have the item ready...
Have a blessed day and be kind to yourself as that will give you the energy to be kind to others.

2011-11-13T11:03:00.000-08:00

Love is.......
For Elijah (and of course all the other little ones).

Your chubby arms cuddle me so tight
Your butterfly kisses on my cheek a delight
You hug me ,never letting go
"O'h Nanny I have missed you so".

You don't mind my wrinkly neck
As you touch me softly so you don't forget
That Nanny's wrinkly map of life
Is the memory you will have for life

I squeeze you back,and smell your hair
I touch your cheek for this is where
Your tears will fall the next day
When Nanny has to go away

I will be back very soon
We can play and swing and sing a tune
We will sit together for while
You will read to me and I will smile

Being a Nanny is the best
My heart beats loudly in my chest
I wave goodbye and beep my horn
I must go home my heart is torn

Poppy and Greatnana await me so
It is home for me , I have to go
I will be back ,and you will see
I miss you like you miss me.

Being a Nanny and Grammy to my 6 grandchildren is the most precious thing in life there is for me.Now Elijah and William are turning 6 it is so much more noticeable that the bigger kids have a totally different reaction to my visits,they squeal, run into my arms for hugs and kisses then off to see what goodies there is lol,but the little fellows they cling for dear life as if they are holding onto the memory of my arms ,Elijah and William hug like there is no tomorrow.
I have just been to visit my sons family as they needed me to babysit for them and it does not happen that often, I have to go alone as Bob has to stay behind with mum,he is missing out but there is nothing much we can do at this time.
I have come home with the feeling of being "all loved up' and had fate has it both the grand daughters are in dance concerts next month so I get to see the whole lot of the children before Christmas.

The blessing and reward for the hard job of parenthood is the gift of being a Grandparent..God is good.

2011-11-10T11:01:00.000-08:00

Just an Observation..Is it so for others or Just me?

It is that time of year when we bustle and hustle and worry about what to give whom..who..?I should have listened more in English class..too late now lol.
I am trying to make a lot of things this year to instill in the kids the love of getting something made by hand and also that it does not have to be placed in an electronic machine to be fun by the things I am finding for their stockings..I am off track...how unusual for me lol....
What I really wanted to talk about was the gorgeous people in our lives we have lost, they have passed away but the void sometimes seems bigger each year rather than diminishing,I guess that happens in time but it is time that can't seem to be measured.
As December approaches we come to the 12th, Mum and her twin Thelma's birthdays except when they got to the 85th year Aunty Thel was in hospital,and by the 18th I was holding her hand as she left this world, that day the light went out in Mums eyes a lot and she really feels it more as each year passes.
My darling best friend Eva will be absent for her 3rd Christmas and that brings me to the subject...
How come when these lovelies were here with us was it so hard to find something "just perfect" for them as a gift and now everywhere I go we say Thel would love that or I would get that for Eva.
It brings it home more and more that the gifts are just "stuff" as a postie I am at the moment delivering all the Chrisco and Castle hamper items,not the food just the things people have been paying off all year and if the boxes get any bigger I will need to buy a truck!!!
I just wish it were simpler, I do not get much pleasure from receiving,I love to give and would prefer the family give something to the poor rather than to me,it is all material really, ...the saddness that comes into the heart as you remember the special people that are no longer here is profound, Eva was such a big part of my life and we travelled all the way to the Uk, I pushed that wheelchair all over and i loved it!I would have walked on burning coals for her as she would have for me, her family however should have been fed to the wolves,very naughty uncaring..but..the saddest thing for me and I cannot change it is the lost,yearning look in Mums eyes as she counts down the days... 6 years on... Thel was sick about now... Thel went to hospital today ... and I would love to see Mum light up again, and for short bursts she does but it must be very hard to be a twin and be the one left behind.
On a brighter note,when you go shopping it does bring a smile,my friend Eva was a very striking woman, (6 ft tall, tanned not typical English complection and blonde to boot everyone always noticed her,but disease has no favourites)that would not even consider wearing underwear that did not match, she was 53 and the only patient in the nursing home that wore a G String, so walking by the lingerie shop this week I saw in the window the most amazing, cheeky underwear,"ohhh I thought wonder how much that is?Eva would love that!then I realised she's not here anymore.
I hope that if you have lost some one special,and close ,that you are coping ok,I have decided that it is easier for those that have gone on ahead of us as they are at peace and we are all back in this mad,mad world missing them like crazy.Be kind to yourself, there is nothing wrong with loosing yourself in their memory for a little while as you sit quietly,have a lovely heavenly Christmas Aunty Thel and Eva,Sue and Kim,Leriva and Shoey,all such special people that will be in my heart forever.

2011-11-09T15:34:00.000-08:00

What do you think???is Georgie spoilt.

Everyday after work and after Bob has watered the garden, Georgie comes in for time inside,you will notice the old green chair, that's his(hers lol) it used to be cream and we decided to revamp it..however it did not eet with approval and Georgie would not perch on it till al the paint was chipped away by him!

Georgie sits on Bobs lap and puts his head down for a scratch, if you stop before it is enough your hand is picked up and placed on his head... I have tried to capture this (not sure if i did).

Georgie does this with everyone not just the love of her life.I tried to video it but it has not turned out...

2011-11-08T10:43:00.000-08:00

Tall Dark Object in the Corner
In the corner near the table where I take all my main pics is an old pot belly stove...you were right Cro.

Everything has a story and this does too.One day we were on the front verandah and a lady we know pulled up to say hello..we were putting the wrought iron up ...she said she was off to the local rubbish tip when she thought of me..delightful!!!...lol..they had an old pot belly stove and thought they would try to burn some coal in it...well they ended up with a huge explosion,the back of the pot belly blew out,so did the wall!

She thought I would like it to paint,and I did I was thrilled,I at that time painted everything that was not moving being obsessed with folk art.I did it in old typical style and won first prize at the local show!that was a big shock.
It has sat in the same place for many years, it is near Bobs chair and it normally holds all his paperwork and books(I removed them out of vanity to take the pic)..the great whopping hole is still in the back ,I guess one day when the kids clear the house out it will finish its journey to the tip,at this point it is part of Pa Pa and Grammy's place of useless but interesting items lol.

2011-11-07T10:48:00.000-08:00

I have been doing the Christmas challenge and Tuesday is the day we post our progress, some of you that follow are also in the challenge but as I do not know how to put the link up I have posted it here too...just in case there are any ideas I can share with you...It is a challenge starting Nov through till Christmas but because of my work I have a smaller time frame to get it all done,it is to help get organised lol not stress!

I am known for loving Christmas, I do not really like getting pressies that much but I love to give.. I make many little things for the kids Christmas stockings,so when you come to the surf bags these are for their stockings,they can just grab that bag and a towel and off they go.

My mother tells me that the kids are too spoilt as I collect goodies all year for them but once we are on the pension I will have to cut back a long way so I have no vices,this is my joy.It is not about the gifts I know but gee I love seeing their faces light up..I also make sure each one had a "Tear "certificate, I buy a mosquito net for 6 little children and put that on their tag,they know they have helped a child in a poor country, a net is only $5,I think next year I will have a sealed jar and pop change into it and we will aim for a water well.
Anyway below is my list so far completed and still some to go eg the cake and pud etc.and still waiting for 2 little books I ordered with some special makes in them...

My Finished items so far.........

Remember my deadline is Dec1 because of work so I have to go full steam ahead lol.

Tuti Fruiti and Lemon cordials for Christmas done..small bottle to go with cackle Club girls little pressie.(3 more next batch).

2girls and 4 boys Christmas T Shirts trimmed( I got these on sale at 2 for 1 so each cost $1.50.) then i put lace trim on the girls and just stars this year on the boys.

Christmas boxer shorts there are 10 pairs here lol,6 for my lovelies and the others I rescued out of the wrong pattern,Lyn my friend got 3 pairs and I shall give the others to some little sweeties I come across.

The embroidered and trimmed pillowcases,I really wanted soft pink for the girls but could not get them last week, this week I walked in and they were there! anyway too late I had started the embroidery.The butterflies are sparkly.

Michaels pillow bag..everyone calls him Mick I hate that I loved his name anyway he is Mick to all so Mick it is.

A surf bag for everyone... I ended up doing 10 one for each child and the parents.I went into a store on Saturday and they had the good caps,thongs and sunscreen all on sale,everyone will have a pair of thongs, a cap and a tube of sunscreen and it has cost me a whole $6 complete for each bag.

2 peg bags... I never did find the pattern so had to do it the best I thought I could, I really like them they have velcro under the buttons as my button hole maker would not work for some reason..I remember the pattern just pegged the bag on the line but I did not like that idea..so now i just have to buy 2 bags of pretty pegs.

Georgies 2 Christmas suits....

6 handtowels so far I have three more waiting for their pots and flower stems.

Christmas bands and hair elastics for the two girls.

I bought 5 of these little tubs for $6 each,these are for my 5 special friends,they will have a calendar,a hand towel,a tea towel(have them made from before) a 2012 Diary, a lovely soap from Karen at Grannies Garden, I have ordered these and I gave them last year and they loved them, a bon bon of lollies, and a heat bag, and a little lavender bag..the total cost will be about $12 ...I hope they like them,just thought I would show you as it may be an idea for you.

For me now my list is 4 heat bags
4 lavender draw bags
Christmas cake
Christmas pudding.
little mini puddings that I give the elderly each year.
some more small bottle of lemon Cordial.
depends on time 2 more peg bags.
I will stress if I add anymore
I still have to do my Christmas swap and my summer swap...still waiting for my books to arrive so that I can make something different.
Whew thats all for me folks I am pooped lol.

2011-11-06T10:46:00.000-08:00

Chaos and Calm

Calmness first, this is a beautiful old church that looks all naked in winter and spring is here and she looks wonderful, I think the effect is what you are hoping for Cro in the future, I saw the painter at this old church in the winter scraping and repainting the windows, it is no longer used for praise and worship, it is actually on a farm and the people have many historic bits and bobs and will open it one day for people to come look.

The chaos is the Christmas challenge ..not because it is a pressure thing but unlike most I have until Dec 1st to get all mine done as a postie our lives become a nightmare after that date.
Yesterday we were having a quiet afternoon, me sewing,Bob doing paperwork,the phone rings it is the post office owner, the courier had dropped off a huge load of large parcels,so off we go and deliver to the town on a Sunday afternoon,which I might say ended up being a delight as everyone is excited to be receiving parcels on a Sunday!

Anyway I am getting off the subject(aren't you glad your not sitting having coffee with me,my conversation is all over the place lol)...
I think the secret to getting lots done is to have an area where you can sit any time you have five minutes and do a little bit of sewing, I am blessed enough to have an area in our living are,under a window where my machine just sits awaiting for me to plop down and run a few rows along,so when you see what i got done this week for my challenge it will not be showing off it will be necessity that I got so much done, and they are all simple items thus far lol.I was left an overlocker by Kates MIL and I said the other day I think I am having an affair with it I have never had one before and it is making things so much easier.

Anyhoo here is a pic of my area,as you can see it is chaos but today it can be tidies up ready for the next round of sewing..I am not proud of the mess!

I find that having the big desk in the corner is just so easy this morning before i go to work I will do 3 hems on the top of surf bags...

Have a great day and blessing abound from my home to yours.

2011-11-05T13:49:00.000-07:00

Secret Little Places.

I often go to little places in our home and say to myself' geez the kids will have fun when I pass over!".

I will take you to one such spot this morning,the children think they know us completely as we think we know them, I have collected things over the years because I love them eg,hat pins,they know of them there are many bits and bobs but I never went overboard I have about 20 of them,there are also lots of things i just put away as I knew they would say "o'h Mum what do you want them for!"
BUT.......

This is my old singer sewing machine,she works perfectly,upon her sits some special things,far too many i think.

My treasured Bible and a rose one of the children had on a parcel.

Under my Bible sits a box I painted many years ago,you should never sit your Bible under anything,always goes on top,not sure where I learnt that but,a good lesson as you walk by just open the Bible bag and read a passage...well that's the plan...I am not perfect.

Inside the box...tadahhhh my glove collection...all are vintage and older..many childrens pairs and lovely evening lace ones you name it they are in there..sorry kids..thats me!

This is little Bob,all my tiny teddies linger in the drawers, I have made most of them and on the opposite side a little princess I made for him.Little Bob came to the Uk and Europe with me when I went he has been photographed everywhere.

Little Bobs little Princess....

Just a note if anyone has not made a teddy it is the most satisfying thing you can do,the making of them in fine mohair a pure joy,the most wonderful thing is when you do the face and they actually almost come alive.If anyone would like some mohair please let me know I have really got a lot and would be happy to share so you can have the pleasure of Teddy making.
Have a beautiful Sunday our little Mr Elijah is 6 today.

2011-10-31T12:04:00.000-07:00

A New Outfit for George

I was getting fabrics ready for all my Christmas sewing and to have a sewing day with Lyn on Sunday and decided that although we thought George was a boy for over 3 years I cannot see him in roses and lace! so one of the fabrics I had was with skateboards and thought George would love it as he wore it to work yesterday.

Just like kids George always moves his head at the vital moment lol.This is his nappy suit for those that have not read of them before, I bought his first one he had as a baby from Ebay it cost $40!!!!! we have adapted the pattern over the years to fit him as he grew and they take me about 10 minutes and small amount of fabric,elastic and velcro..if anyone has a bird that lives in the home these are great and i am happy to send you a pattern.We cut the smallest size disposable baby nappy in half and it slips in the front, no mess on the furniture or more important on the mail.

I have posted on the Christmas challenge my list of what I am going to make, sorry to the girls i have not got it on my sidebar yet , I am trying to work it out, a lovely has given me direction,I just have to do it! the blog hosting this is Polka Dot Daze...please visit her lovely blog.

Have a great day,may blessings abound you as you go through your day.

2011-10-28T17:33:00.000-07:00

A Day at Work

Some of the lovely blogs I follow take me on a journey when they walk their dogs or just amble down the beautiful countryside either in UK or France, I can't take you on a walk today but I thought I would take you to work with me.
I have started my little show half way through my mail run as the first half I have blogged about before,also I have not done the water crossings again,but I am showing you some of the nice beings and flowers we encounter each day,just a snippett as I do not want to bore you,so this is my Friday at work this week.

Even all the way up into the hills these people have a very 'towney" mailbox.

See the little white dot above the trees just to the right? that is a home I go to that 2 lovely people live in,they are in their 80's very isolated and I take them their paper etc,they are gorgeous and often come out to say hello.

This is Mum my 90 almost 91 year old apprentice, she holds the mail box and gets the next stop mail ready, part of my job is to add the shops catalogues to the mail and that's what Joycie is doing here.

This is a wild dog, the farmers hang them from posts to show that they have caught the animal stealing the little lambs and foals, they put poison out for these dogs or they shoot them whichever way it is a huge problem for the farmer.What happens is that we have a native wild dog called a Dingo which is this colour and lighter sometimes then the young men go out catching wild pigs with Pig Dogs which are aggressive and sometimes they get lost, they then mate with the Dingo and wild dogs become the scavenger of the babies born.This fellow is huge.

This is a pic of a plane called a "crop duster" we see them all the time, the farms are so big and vast that they are fertilised by plane, it is hair raising as sometimes you feel you could touch them if you reached out,the pilots have to be very good and brave I think.He was swaying in between the light and dark greenery,you can see a misty look,that's the fertilizer.

This is a shed/home.I am in awe of the lady that lived here,she is on her own with 5 kids,she did not have proper running water and although she has a pump to the house from the river, some nasty person told the council and she is not allowed to live there until that septic tank you can see is attached etc,it is a lot of money for her but with Gods help she will one day be back in there,she lives in another farmhouse up the road and comes and works with her horses and cows everyday, her kids have the best smiles I have ever seen,shiny hair and gorgeous teeth.She is a good Mum.They attend the little local school with 4 pupils, I will take you there one day.

This is Miss Mary,she says hello she is laying down having a rest,she belongs to the shed and you would swear she was talking.She has not long calved.

This is their letterbox....it used to be upon the sticks but the horses kept scratching against it and knocking it over, so the kids built this, isn't it great, I told them this is the best mailbox on my run.

This farmhouse is on the other side of the river that I cross, I always think this is the absolute typical Aussie farmhouse,windmill and all, I would love to live here.(they are nice people too,in fact all my people are nice lol).

This is a group of cattle we see each day, they know who we are they stand on the road and don't care if I am in a rush,we always stop and say hello, this one actually had its head in the car a couple of second before I took the pic.

This is little Toby,he comes to greet us too,his Mum has the most beautiful roses.

We are in full swing of foaling season and much of my customers are horse studs so we are blessed with seeing new foals on a day to day basis but I never get tired of seeing them each new one as fascinating as the last.

Pests to the farmers but here are some wild thistle flowers,no idea what anything is called .

This one is almost like a Hollyhock.
Thanks for sharing my day.For me work is a leveller, I see sad things like dead animals on the road,then a majestic Wedegetail Eagle will swoop down and as I watch I see him take it to a huge nest high in a tree, life's chain goes on.
I never feel like I do not want to go to work, I do get very tired and getting in and out of the car to open and close gates is not my favourite thing in the summer as we have very hot summers here,I have had to wait for snakes to cross at times,other times I have had to run over them,it makes me sad,but my office is delightful and I would not have it any other way.

2011-10-25T20:56:00.000-07:00

Especially for a blogger friend by request.

A new follower has asked me about George who by natures tricks is now Georgie lol,having black eyes for 3 years ,Georgies eyes have changed to a lighter colour telling us he is a she! Georgie will turn 5 this year well now actually ...

He/she is a huge part of our lives, even made the headlines in the city paper ,but to us he is just very special.

I make little suits for Georgie he has them in every colour and Xmas ones..in these we place a piece of baby disposable,this allows Goergie to come to work and not poop all over the mail.Australia Post even officially issued him with a tag that we staff have he in No.1 on his tag that goes on a little harness he wears on the bike as a safety option.

Best friends watering the garden, Georgie loves empty beer cans and plays with them for ages.

Helping in the kitchen..

If you google George the cockatoo Aberdeen(prob have to put Australia after that)...the one that comes up "George puts his stamp on the mail" you will find a great story and pic of Bob and Georgie at work on the bike, for some reason it would not let me bring it across,hope you have enjoyed reading about our extended family .

Newcastle Herald News Skip directly to:Search Box,Section Navigation,Content.

Postie Bob and Georgie, I managed to get the pic across but not the story.lol

2011-10-23T12:05:00.000-07:00

Joyful Days of Cousin Fun and Little Blessings.

We had a family birthday gathering on Saturday, it was to be next month but we all had to bring it forward.As our family is spread all over we had to choose a mid way approx 1 hour travel each and accessible by train.So we chose Maitland about 1 1/4 hours for us and our son and our daughter who is waiting for her new car to be delivered came by train with her 3 munch kins.The train station has an overhead walkway ,you alight the train and walk straight over to the park,perfect.
The park there is beautiful,huge shaded tress a playground for every age and BBQ's everywhere,sorry the pics are before we set the table nicely and we were waiting until we were all there,even great Nana came, so happy 40th for Kate, 13 and 36 for Alex and Aunty Kirsty,38 for Michael and 6 for Elijah.This year will be the 10th anniversary for the loss of Kirsty's Mum so she looks a little whisful but she had a lovely day, family gatherings are hard for her as Mum and Dad both gone,we make sure she is well loved and hugged.

Bob our Kate and Great Nana watching the kids ,we are waiting for our son and family to arrive, look at those trees and they are all round the park,we were in the shade all day as it was so hot and a gorgeous day.

Olivia in pink shorts waiting for her turn on the flying fox.

Aunty Kirsty looking wistful,but really she did smile most of the day and chat,until I saw this I did not realise she had "some moments"but she got lots of hugs, Michael and Lilli behind and Olivia tells Uncle Michael all about how school is going.

I made a chocolate gateau for a joint cake and it was sooo rich we had it with double cream and fresh raspberries yummy.....it took 7eggs!!! thank goodness we have chickens.

On Saturday I had promised to help a friend with her garage sale but when the date of our gathering was changed I could not so I wet on Friday afternoon and helped her price the things,I did buy 2 cups and saucer sets,one pink of course lol and then on Sunday morning I took my money down and she gave me this little salt pepper and mustard set that I had admired,not thinking I would buy them but they are different.

She also gave me this old fishing basket that used to belong to her brother who had passed over,she spayed it pink and I love it,take it she said and we argued over me paying however I ended up with it and it will go where I sew,perfect for my bits and pieces.

I could not resist this not so old biscuit tin,it is just lovely great for laces etc.

2011-10-19T11:43:00.000-07:00

Some Favourite Things.

I was reading another blog the other day that I follow and she had a picture of her lovely blue chook,I left a comment saying I was given a white milk glass one a long time ago and she asked me to put up a pic.I think all our bits around the house have a tale to tell, my chook belonged to a friends mother who had bought this chook and 3 flying ducks out from England with her as a young woman.
She developed lung cancer and as my friend cold not cope I was the one that did the yukky bits and just plain sat with Bloss and loved her, she had a love of Scratchies,you know you scatch and win,and i used to have to sneak them to her as her daughter did not approve lol.Anyway she asked me to have these when she left this great earth as she said June would send them to the tip,and they have been here for over 20 years now.They have been a joke between us ever since, from this came a lifetime friendship of June and I and she has now moved up to Queensland to the Gold Coast where retirees with a couple of dollars go bless her she loves it.

My chook, she sits upon and old meat safe cupboard in the kitchen and we keep keys etc in her,her eyes are like little beads I imagine they are glass.

Flying ducks, these are quite old ones and are numbered etc,Bloss was sure these were going to the tip lol.They have only left the wall once in 20 odd years for painting.

This is another special little person.She is an authentic Aboriginal dolly that I got at a garage sale a long time ago,she is dressed as they did long ago her clothing made reeds and shells, the lady told me at the time she bought her up in the Northern Territory so that made me happy and she did not want her children to break her,well 6 kids look at her here and they care for her and she sits upon an old desk,in pride of place.

She does have a scary face though, I got her because I could show the children what a wonderful history the "true Australians " have,after all this trouble about boat people, we too once were"boat people",these people are the real owners of this wonderful land.

And some of my little jugs, I tell myself there are too many, then I tell myself some girls have too many shoes so what do a few jugs hurt,this is just a few in a little shelf of the kitchen,I love all the old pink Meakin ones and have a collection in each size,come to think of it I love all the colours!The older the better.
I shall show some other old relics as the days go by,no I did not mean pics of Bob and I !!!!lol

2011-10-18T11:26:00.000-07:00

A Lemon Cordial Update....

Thanks for your enquiry Jaqueline I realised I did leave a bit out.

The lemon cordial is diluted with water, you need to use only 1/3 of the amount of shop bought cordials. There will be settlement on top of your bottles so just give it a tip up and down before you pour,it is just the lemon rind and little pieces of any that got away on you.I usually juice my lemons and then from the juicer pour it through a strainer before I put it in mix then add the rind but you can leave it all in if you like.
The acids are in your grocery store in the same section that you would get food colouring and hundreds of thousands those kinds of cake making items.
It is also good to let it sit for a week or so they say but we seem to have a hairy old fella here that makes a glass as soon as it is cool !
This whole process is very quick just a very short time and you are done.Enjoy.

2011-10-17T12:45:00.000-07:00

Results of Sewing Day

First of all the home made
Lemon Cordial Recipe

2kg castor Sugar
1 Litre water
6 Large Lemons
30grams Tataric Acid
30grams Citric Acid
Place sugar and water in a saucepan(not aluminium) and over a medium to low heat dissolve the sugar completely,take off the heat stir in both acids and sit to cool.
Juice the lemons and grate the rind from 2 of them.When mixture is cool(I do this when luke warm as I am impatient ) add the juice and rind stir well and bottle..I have been saving screw top wine bottles and this makes 2 of these and a small drink bottle.
This is so easy.cheap and refreshing,it is not over sweet but lovely and sweet/tart...hope that makes sense I think it would be to your taste Cro.
I read that you can use oranges,lemon and oranges mixed and add passionfruit for a fruit salad taste,I am yet to do these.

Our sewing day was great, Bob was around most of the time,he had all his shed jobs finished before the girls got here as we are early risers.he chatted sometimes,made our lunch which her offered to do and it was lovely,the cake was really nice with hot runny custard.
The girls went home a lot lighter after unloading their problems,Lyn could barely stay awake as she had not had much sleep but she had a lot of laughs,we met many years ago when we worked at the local abbatior,actually we all met there, I had to go when Bob had his breakdown as we had one child just started Uni and one in year 10 not a good time if one had a choice but we lived through it,and it was a culture shock for me,I must write a blog about it one day.
When the works shut down 10 years ago Wendy and I went on to do different work,Lyn not knowing anything else as it was her first and only ever job went to the same type of work at our next town,she is exhausted as it is hard,cold work and a real slog for her, her husband ran off with a younger lady that worked with us too about 12 years ago now and she never got over him...anyhow she is lovely and I love her and I would walk over burning coals for her,if I win Lotto it is her door I will be knocking on,and to top it all off her had a buggar!!! of a son ,one good one and one naughty,a man,daddy of 3 never worked a day and lives off her grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!! makes you wonder why good people have to keep having hard times, I am sure God will bless Lyn abundantly one day.

Anyway here is what I got done on the day, all the hand sewing is being done today at Cackle Club

These are heat bags and tissue holders to match and the little bags are the lavender draw bags I do,I was given the lovely fabrics by old Mr Miles a farmer on my run and they were lovely to play with, I will stitch the joins today.

These are 2 old laces that were in my box, the heavy cotton ones are from the 60's and the lace from Kirsty's wedding box so one each for the girls.

These ones are the stretch lace the latest fad apparently,yes there is 2 of each one for Lilli and Livvy.

These are the Christmas pyjama shorts ready to be cut to the length they had requested,the boys have the cockatoo ones and the girls the gingerbread ones.I think the boys will love the Georgie ones as they all love Bobs cockatoo.
Well thats what I got done, the girls make fun of me saying i can never make one of anything...I just realised they are right there are another little pile of heat bags not in the pic...O'h dear..must have a disorder of some kind...I know what it is I like giving things away to people so guess thats where many will go...
Have a lovely day and thank you for your lovely comments,like many others we write the blog just because...lol...and think no one will ever find it interesting,so thank you so much..have a blessed day.

2011-10-15T15:03:00.000-07:00

Friends day Sunday

I have 2 special friends that have a few little troubles family wise and there is no quick fix, i think we have all been there and still most of us if we are honest,there is always a little underlying something that worries us late at night.
Anyway I have not used the overlocker yet that I was left from out kates mother in law Ruth so today Wendy and Lyn are coming for the day.Wendy is going to show me the correct way to use my overlocker and we are going to sew and laugh perhaps a tear or two but the object is to make our grandaughters some more headbands,do the childrens Xmas shorts and have a nice time...O'h is forgot the most important part eating!!!!!

I made a challenge to myself, to make everything from what is here and no quick trip to the shops so here is todays food minus the boring bits lol.
Bob is going to do marinated chicken pieces(from the freezer) that have been soaking in our home made Chilli and Plum sauce overnight, we will cut all mixed vegies and mix in a little oil and garlic and roast them, he will do these in the webber for us,home grown cauliflower and greens,that will be lunch did not take pics of that.

Scones in the making

Finished product.
For morning tea we have scones that I have just made,home made strawberry jam and double dip cream that I got with my groceries earlier in the week.

Peaches generously drizzled with golden syrup.

Home brand cake mix for the top(or bottom really)

Finished product.

For sweets we will have an upside down peach and syrup cake... I have no idea what this will taste like as the peaches are home stewed and frozen,defrosted,placed in the bottom of my tin,drizzled with golden syrup from the pantry, a mixed homebrand buttercake mix on top and we will have this with custard and cream,I will turn it out upside down...and did and it looks ok..what time do we get to eat this? lol
So plenty of sewing and eating today, the most important ingredient though is friendship,shoulders to lean on and the wonderful gift of confidentiality as there will be no one else knowing of the talks we have.
Sometimes I feel I have no friends that I can confide in and feel all lost and at sea, I have known both these girls for many years,we go to cackle club etc and often have a day when if I am taking one of the grandchildren back they come for company, I have not asked them around for the day before as I thought they would not be interested,although I have gone and gotten Lyn before (the jazzy self taught crochet lady) but it needed just to be me and her then as she was so upset, I digress!!! as usual..I just rang them both on Friday as I was feeling yukk that I could not be with kate on her birthday and asked them around, they were so excited as they often feel like asking me and think as I have Bob and Mum (they are both alone now)that I would not want to come...hello!!!! just ask me there are times I am so crowded I need just a little different company.
So here we are it is Sunday morning, neither friends drive so I will collect them about 10ish,I have to food all prepared and my sewing pile ready..I thank God for allowing me the pleasure of their company.that today His day I will be doing something that is good,Mum will be with us too as she loves them both,if they like it maybe we will make this a monthly thing to do,take turns who's home it is at but I am happy to have it here then Mum gets to have a chat to someone different.
Bob will do things in the shed,join us for food and as he is cooking the lunch I think he is a trooper!
Today is a grateful day and I am truley that, if I can't be with my children and their families this is surely the next best thing!

2011-10-13T21:47:00.000-07:00

Happy 40th Precious One.

Our daughter is 40 years old today....where did the time go!
Named Katrina at birth,known as Kate to all that know her but she will always be Trini to us.
Wife of Stephen wonderful fun Mum to Alex,Livvy and Will.
Tonight Stephen got a babysitter and is taking Trini to dinner,there will be a few friends there,we cannot get Great Nanna there in time for dinner the trip is too much and over 2 hours is exhausting,soooo the family will have a get together on the 22nd of this month as several will be having birthdays and we will have a picnic day.

Have a wonderful evening sweetie you deserve it,Trini is a no fuss girl so did not want a party but we have all said look out 50! she has agreed that ,that birthday will be worth celebrating, she told me this morning its just another day,and you know what she is right,another day for her to brighten up for all those she meets,she is beautiful in soul,she works in a large cancer hospital where there is much sadness and I know that she makes a hard time so much easier for so many.
Bless you Miss Kate and all those who are loved by you.

Taken last year at Mums 90th...

2011-10-12T16:36:00.000-07:00

Just a little post

Bob and I have had a huge 2 weeks. The owners of the Post Office are on holiday and every year we fill in for them doing the sorting,this means we start work 2 hours earlier everyday and we are pooped!!!
We do not do the actual Post Shop but out the back where all the sorting is done, by the time we are ready to do our own job we have already handled the mail 2 times and our eyeballs are spinning lol.

Anyway it is also daylight saving time so that means there is still plenty of time to get jobs done of an afternoon.

Bobs beetroot is ready so we have harvested the first lot and bottled it and the next lot are coming along nicely.So here is what I/we have been up to.

Bobs beetroot, last year they did not grow properly,now I think he's got it right,the new ones he has growing are strange almost carrot like so we can't wait for them they will be great for bottling,these were lovely not woody or anything..perfect Bob.

Four nice sized jars,a good amount at a time I think.

Home made Lemon cordial,I had forgotten how easy this was to make and how delicious and refreshing,as soon as I smelt the mix after adding the lemons I was a child again in Nanna's kitchen.

I love doing littla baby singlets, I had given the others away already they had 3 rabbits on them and trains,the smocking is so easy and looks sweet although looking at this it looks like perhaps I was a bit crooked lol o'h well it will be original. Baby singlets are something I buy when they are on special as you can do a little animal whenever you have a few minutes free and there is always someone you care about expecting..I also do bees,boats,roses and buds and have done a spider once and I did not like that...I know some ladies that do the baby socks but I am not that clever!
Have a great day everyone and enjoy doing whatever your day brings.xx

2011-10-09T22:38:00.000-07:00

A New Week and Missing Livvy.

Livvy has gone home and school is back in swing.We miss her very much she is delightful to have around,no trouble at all.
While she was here we did these few little things.

We stitched little crochet flowers onto her lovely cotton cardi that we got at the local op shop,never been worn and beautiful quality.

Decorated headbands for Livvy and we had to make some for Lilli at the same time.These have suffolk puffs and buttons from my stash.

These ones Livvy just wanted to do bright buttons.

These have lace on them from the box of laces from Lilli's Mums wedding box leftovers.We are going to make some that just have lace so that will be my job as my apprentice has gone home.

Two years ago I completed Lilli's quilt for when she is grown up as they need to be a bit older to appreciate all the work, and I was afraid I would not be able to do all the embroidery by the time the girls are 18...so I did Lilli's as it came as a block of the month,with Livvy's I got all behind so I sewed the quilt together last year and now I have started the embroidery(on the caravan trip) so it will take a while but I will get there.This is where I am up to.

This is a quilt from Leanne Beasley about the quilters journey,I am changing the sayings to some simple psalms and life's sayings,Olivia wanted me to have Peace and Love in one square,so I obeyed lol.

We saw this lovely Echidna on our mail run on Friday we were so excited that Livvy and Mum could sit and watch him eat ants, this is an adult one,last time we saw babies.

So we are back to three in the house, Molly is missing Olivia terrible as are we no little voice singing Doris Day in the background,no little giggle and a voice saying "I love you Grammy" so it is back to phone messages and memories galore until next time when a little one comes to stay.I am looking forward to the 30th October and we will all meet halfway for a family day..lots of fun ahead.

2011-10-05T16:33:00.000-07:00

Lovely Weekend

We had a lovely weekend away, although it rained all the time we were away with blustering winds,we did not care we had not been alone for so long it was delightful.I read a book for the first time in years,started embroidering a quilt that I had put off doing for ages,Bob read and we actually got to talk a lot!the caravan was so cosy and we knew we had chosen the right one the bed so comfy just like home and the little kitchen so easy we did not want to come back!
Each time the rain eased we went for little walks,that caravan park was lovely,quiet and peaceful with the river one side of the road and the ocean on our side.
Olivia is here for a holiday and will come on a bus trip with us on Saturday before she goes home,we will miss her very much.Livvy has been helping me with the parcels, playing with Molly and singing and dancing to Doris Day, our daughters children all have grown up knowing all the old musicals and can sing any request you throw at them....how wonderful is that so...Sound of Music has had a rest this visit and Doris has been "Take us Back to the Blackhills" and "Teachers Pet "etc non stop....O'hhhhhhhhhhhhh I just love it when they call and ask to come for a holiday as you know little brother William comes often and now they are all at school it is less frequent,if I could change anything in my life it would be that they all live closer but it is not Gods plan so he rewards me with blessings of little visits that are full on love fests and I suppose if they lived right here I would take them for granted.
Grandchildren are Gods rewards for living through the teenage years lol...and we would not have it any other way would we.

This is the track leading down to the sea,it went for about 500 yards I think but it was gorgeous except for the big drips falling on your head!

And it comes out at the ocean, we are going back next year and hope that it will be sunny,Bob hunched up and shivering lol we turned round,raced back to the van ready for the next lot of rain which came as we got to shelter.

Miss Olivia singing and dancing to Doris with her umberella up,they love this one it has a duck head for a handle ,I asked her "do you think you will be on the stage?" as she is always singing and dancing.."well Grammy ,I have been thinking of being a Librarian" how lovely a dancing ,singing Librarian,now thats sounds good to me lol.

2011-09-29T13:29:00.000-07:00

Friends Swap and Happy Days

I received my friends swap package yesterday and Illene was so generous with her lovely package to me.
I am not sure who enjoys the swap parcels more Mum or me she gets so excited when we open them, I never open one without her,many times she claims some items for herself lol.Thanks you again Illene and all the girls that joined in seemed to have a lovely time.

F..fabric..R..runner..I.. inspirational Xmas placemats,E.. embroidery threads and chocolateN.notebook and nail file,D..decorative candle holder..S..Stationary...just all so lovely I was blessed thats for sure.

We are off very early in the morning for our first caravan adventure we are all packed ,the van is parked out front plugged into power so the fridge is really cold to travel.We are just going 3 hours away(for Australia it is just a morn drive lol) that way coming home Monday is not such a long drive that we will feel like we have not been away.We are going to a little fishing place called Manning Point and it is actually just near where I grew up,I still have school friends there and we will pop in and see my best friend from school (if the fish are not biting) lol...hope we at least get a bite!
Anyhoo I will look forward to reading what everyone has been up to when I get back,we have made a concious decision not to have a TV in the van, we have a book each and I have my embroidery in case of emergency and no computer but because Mum is so elderly we will take our mobile for emergency only such as letting the kids know we have arrived safe etc.
We have our bikes on board,fishing gear and plenty of food,some nice wine and ..what more can I say...bring on Saturday 5am!

2011-09-28T13:52:00.000-07:00

A Little Post Note

A little addition to my last post...from somewhere all of a sudden 2 sisters have appeared at Bills home..one lives in our next town 10 minutes away,the other in Queensland.
Now remember he never saw anyone and was all alone,everyone is shocked that he had a family! where were they when he was so lonely.
Bill was found on Friday,Monday morning there was movement in the home, the paper came out on Wed and a garage sale advertised at his home,the adds have to be in by midday Mondays,the sale is this Saturday,the house for sale sign will be up by the end of this week!
The sister that lives nearby saw Bob and thanked him...what a shame no one can thank her for watching out for her brother.
I should not be judgemental but I feel really angry...what a difference the chance of collecting some dollars makes.
Rest peacefully Bill as there is movement afoot at your home and you are yet not laid to rest,bless your soul and enjoy the company of angels.

2011-09-27T12:53:00.000-07:00

Do you have Someone Lonely Nearby?

As we are the postman and parcel lady and country parcel lady, we seem to know all those who are lonely and have no family to visit or bother to visit..there are far more of these people than one would think...very sad.
Last week Bob took the mail to old Bill who in fact is only in his 50s,he always sits on the verandah,he only gets bills never "mail" from anyone.Over the time Bob has known him he has told him he has no family, no friends just himself and he likes it like that.
There are many like this and over the years Bob makes sure that they "see: him and he just keeps a quiet eye on them same as for me I the bush, I have a few that I like to "see" around to make sure all is well in their isolation.
Bills home is right on the main highway so he can sit and watch the traffic and that's where all the towns people see him.
Last week Bob had not seen him for a few days,so he asked the neighbour has they seen him and they said"yes on Sunday we saw him". It got to Friday and Bob felt worried and called the police,when they came they found Bill dead in his bedroom,they felt he had been there for a week.
All alone poor man, no one to care he has gone except the postie,Bob believes that he should have gone around there last Sunday and just knocked but you can;t go back and he may have been ok then who knows.The sad thing is that although the neighbours and the garage across the road where he got his milk and bread did not think to even pop over to check when his usual routine was broken.
I imagine the reason Bob is so loved by the lonely and elderly is that he takes the mail right to their door and knocks to make sure they are alright and when Bill was not on the verandah on Monday he wished he had done this but the volume of mail was so huge that he was rushed off his poor old feet.He looks after many elderly ladies in that they cannot get to the path to their mailboxes anymore.He is the only person that many see regularly and so if anything is amiss it is usual the postie that alerts someone.
Can you spare a thought today for someone that you know is alone, maybe just call out as you pass by and hear their answer,there is no need to commit yourself to having to spend time chatting if you are busy ,like I say just call out and await their reply,if there is none just investigate,they may have fallen and broken a limb or something nasty.
I hope that if i am alone when i am at the "certain age" we have a caring postie to take Bobs place.

2011-09-24T20:50:00.000-07:00

Catching up

First of all Livvy's concert was wonderful, the first thing we saw was a huge sign..."no videos or photos allowed" buggar!!!! so until the school puts some out I do not have any,apparently it is to do with privacy laws and common now..ho humm ...

I have also finished my spring cleaning, no more fire to be lit now, we have to use the electric one if we have a cold snap( like today) lol once the ashes and dust have been washed away thats it!!Everything is twinkling clean...well for now anyway.

The caravan is all packed ready for next weekend and we just have the perishable food to go in...
And then this is what we did today....made strawberry jam...fresh bread, juiced many oranges and did roast lamb and vegies in the Webber yumm...and also cooked rhubarb and apple for Mum to have tonight..
Here are a few pics,and I finished my knee rug I was making,all the others I have done have been nice and square and flat and this time I wanted a frill.Not sure if it is better but Mum loves it.

I forgot to mention I was in a friends swap so my package above has been posted.

We have bought a bike each to go with us when we go away in our van, these are fantastic and fold up into a bag! of course we have to practice down the back lane lol..

Not too wobbly, just a bit we had a few giggles.

Fresh Strawberry Jam awaiting fresh bread!

Freshly squeezes oranges and Mums rhubarb and apple.

Got too impatient for the bread so had some scones..notice no cream...there will be next time lol

Here is my rug just finished today,Molly looks like she likes it too,thanks for modelling Mum.

So that's my week, I am still trying to put a new blogger on top to get rid of the tag, I am following Bernard's idea for the moment...hope it works.
I have at last fixed it I think I put a new pic up, the tag is still there(the brand of blog I used) but now it does not worry the text.

2011-09-21T16:58:00.000-07:00

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxI am just testing,I cannot get rid of the CKOTB tag on my blog, I have tried everything, removed my nice pic and the tag stayed!!!! I thought it I did a string of x's then started writing at least you can see what I have said lol.Anything is worth a try until someone with a better brain visits.

2011-09-19T12:56:00.001-07:00

Thanks girls I signed in and out and I am back in the land of commenting...thanks so much.xx

2011-09-19T04:16:00.001-07:00

I apologise to all those blogs i regularly follow and leave comments on..all of a sudden I cannot leave any ,I do have Google Chrome...any ideas anyone...thanks.

2011-09-18T01:38:00.000-07:00

Sorry folk take two but you need a magnifying glass.

2011-09-17T23:30:00.000-07:00

If Easily Offended Turn Back Now!!!!!!!!!

I was sent this as an email attachment from a friend and I did not realise how happy I am to born in the "Baby Boom" era where woman have many choices,the best one being no need for hair rollers anymore lol.

I just wanted to share it as it was sent tongue in cheek..I hope you read it that way otherwise I apologise for the content.

2011-09-15T12:49:00.000-07:00

The Hills are Alive with Grammies Pride

This is our gorgeous Miss Olivia,her loves are dancing singing and Barbie..in that order.
I am going to Newcastle after work today to see her in the school play tonight,she is in Sound of Music and I can't wait.
As the middle child she is just that lovely little person that never causes a stir,quiet as a mouse in the middle of 2 riotous brothers! Livvy just recently did her Tap dancing exams and got all AAA's we are so proud of her,she is such a delight to be around,singing as she plays and hugs galore.
We will sleep together tonight on the big sofa and to me that is worth every bit of the going to work ,racing home,driving 2 hours just to make it in time to see her, I am waiting for her eyes to contact mine and to know she has made my day just as I will have made hers.

I am sure that one day I will be travelling far to see our grown up girl in a production somewhere,you can see the new lounge is loved by all even Barbie,these Barbies and baby Cabbagepatch live here for the girls,the boys have soldiers and jungle animals.
A shadow shot for Molly.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

2011-09-13T13:19:00.000-07:00

Hey Mrs Postie,Look at Me!!!!!!!

Being a bush postie is wonderful, life's wonders abound and I just love my job,lately it has been a heavy load with health being an absolute nuisance but you know there is always something to make me smile.

Sometimes I see no one for days in my two and a half hours each day ,other days I see Mr Miles (my favourite) he is 83 and recently widowed so he has had a little cry to me and now in his healing time is always ready with a joke,he often gives me fresh vegies and if I make jam he is the first to get a jar.

As usual I am off track lol...The mail boxes are many and varied from old milk cans to boxes,tin miniature huts,one is a hollow log on a pile of rocks lol this is because every time they have put their box up the horses have a good scratch and knock it over,at last they seem to have found something to trick them.

Anyway on Monday Mr Kilmore surprised me this this beauty,he had put it up over the weekend,his old mail box was a plastic 4 litre container with a hole cut in the side..Now just look at this beauty..

This is an old pie oven with sliding doors, he has put a tin roof and it even has a solar light in it so they can see the driveway at night,a little pot of cactus and 2 little frogs to greet me...Mr Kilmore you made my day!

2011-09-10T22:36:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR BOB.

Today I was expecting Bob to wake up singing the "will you still need me when I'm 64". He went to sleep 63 and woke up 64 bless him.
We saw all the family last week so the day started with just Bob,Mum and I with a nice breakfast for him and then phone calls from his Mum and all our grandchildren called and sang "happy Birthday "as has been tradition since they could all speak and we do the same to them all.
He spent the morning with me fiddling with the caravan as we are getting it ready ,we are going to get a weekend away in 3 weeks we cannot wait,we have bought all the things we need for it now,so it is ready.The I cooked him his favourite lunch a roasted chicken stuffed and draped with bacon and roasted vegies,lightly steamed cabbage and home grown peas and gravy,home made Pavlova and fruit salad and cream for sweeties but he was too full to fit it in so we will have that for tea tonight.
So happy birthday dear hubby we have shared 43 of your birthdays now and I hope many more,that we can weather some more storms and come out laughing.

2011-09-08T13:00:00.000-07:00

Everything we do is for Love of.....

Everything Bob and I do for the community is for the love of this little town,its people are so caring,and so homey.
There are many now that call Aberdeen home that just stay for a short time,in the Coal Mining boom there are homes going up everywhere, accommodation is scarce and so duplexes are going up as fast as they can be built,its a shame really,at the same time wonderful as many of our town are aged,it seems generation an after generation settle here,once they would have all worked at the Abattoirs,now its coal taking over.Where farms once stood there are craters,I hate it but it is not so visible from the roads...yet...going south it is though.
Anyway once more I digress,after our Big Boys Toys day we were exhausted,Bob saying it was his last year..yudda.. yudda... yudda...Then by Monday refreshed and accepting the happiness of those that attended saying it was a great day he was thinking of new things for next year.
Then the doorbell went and the Florist from the next big town was at the door and this is what she delivered.

This grand old car with sweeties and a lovely dish and soap for me..even though Bob went off at first saying he did not expect to be thanked he really loved it.
Thank you for all of your nice words while I have been having a shocker health wise..my friend told me I have a disease called"run down" guess she is right!
(I see you can't read the cards,mine says behind every great man is a great woman lol thats debatable and Bobs says he is great or something like that but we know he is).

2011-09-06T12:56:00.000-07:00

A Couple of new Bits

At the weekend at our event we had stalls and one was for Red Cross,the lady knows I love jugs and pink ones especially,just the old type you see in church halls etc,we eat off this Meakin ware everyday but I am slowly adding to it we have bits and pieces and I it know it is as common as muck but I just love it.Maybe because it is like me,it is durable and almost everywhere you go lol,it is welcoming and warm,hopefully like me and I like the pink because it is soft like me on the inside I do not show my pain and sorrow but just keep on going...mostly...sometimes just like china we develop a crack and we have a day where we cannot hide it any more.
That was yesterday for me,a young girl came into our Cackle Club and wanted to inquire about the hall hire as she wants to start classes,we had a lovely chat,then just as she was about to go I asked how old her little ones are now and as she is a friend of the past of my son and his wife I was interested,she then said"I can't believe Mick and Kirsty have been married 13 years..it was on Facebook yesterday".
My mouth would not close I left the hall with my mobile and rang my Daughter In Law straight away and when I heard her voice I could not stop crying,in all those years she had only seen me cry at the births and the passings of family,this girl has given me some sad times long ago and I was afraid this would take me back there...she was wonderful and settled me down,it is me that usually has a card and money for a nice dinner in the mail and that reminds them its their anniversary! but she knew we had been so very busy and said it was ok...but it is not you know..family comes first but i literally had been feeling so unwell and just plodding along that this was the outcome...
I will be fine my doctor tried to catch me all last week to triple my Thyroid meds for a month,if we are still in this mess then I am off to a specialist..I am looking forward to feeling normal ,things are catching up...it was a shock to find I was not superwoman..I thought I was just that I had not bought my outfit yet lol.My Daughter In Law rang last night so concerned for me, I know they are so worried and that she gave me a lecture so I have learnt a lesson,no matter how busy I am look at the diary! lol no really I am going to slow down a little,the sad thing is that it is my job wearing me down and I can't leave as we work for ourselves...34 months to go to retirement!
WHAT A WINGER...ENOUGH YOU SAY?OK..back to where I started but I digressed.

This is the egg holder I got off the stall,we usually just have them in cartons and I loved this although usually not a pottery person.

The latest little pink jug,I seem to be mad about jugs I have quite a collection now ans until the kids pointed it out I did not realise how many,someone's got to love them....yes?
I apologise for my rambling up higher but the nice thing about blogging invisible friends don't say "I told you this would happen" lol .
Then I may be speaking too soon lol...have a beautiful day I am praying mine will be sweeter than yesterday.Bless you dear blog friends.

2011-09-05T13:00:00.000-07:00

Grateful List...

I read a lot and hear a lot about one good way to be content and feel complete is to be aware of a grateful list in our lives.
I think we all do this everyday of our lives without saying"Iam grateful",but I think there are definitely times we need to.... stop....listen...observe....and breathe.

At the weekend I had many of these moments looking at the grandchildren and my son and daughter.mostly at the children as they are growing at a rate of knots I almost cannot keep up with.Alex the oldest is almost as tall as PaPa,and William the youngest not so naughty now he is a big boy",all the joy of them all being together was written on their little faces and I will remember that imprint for all time.
Another unforgettable time was in the pics below,the small boys all got blow up swords and spikey balls on handles and of course William is still a larakin and he does so love his Great Nanna and I guess the pictures tell the story of why he does.

Good shot Great Nana

William thinks they should change weapons,Great Nana kept beating him!

2011-09-04T13:13:00.000-07:00

Not Missing in Action just Busy and now Exhausted.

I have not blogged for a week or more as the lead up to our Big Boys Toy day was approaching Bob and I hardly had time to scratch.
We hold the annually for the men as the women have their Quilt Fair and we are the same committee of 3 that does it all.

Our son and 2 boys came on Friday night to stay and helped us set up in the frost at 6.30am,and then our daughter arrived with her 3 beauties and helped on the day and to pack up.
We had over 2,000 people through and all the money of $2 entry goes to running the Information Centre that we also control.
So leading up to this day no crafting was done, no special cooking, plenty of getting a collectors stall ready,and buying lolllies from a wholesaler for a lolli stand...lol the grandchildren sent me broke! rides,lollies snow cones.....glad I have another year to save up before it all happens again.
The pics show Eden and Elijah,the other children had not arrived and their daddy took the pics,lovely little grandsons that had the time of their lives.

Eden on left and Elijah

Eden on the slide.

Eden on the bungee run, you are tied to a harness and run for your life,when you stop you are snapped back, I do not thing they have ever laughed so much, at the end Kate our girl and Micko our son had a race it was hysterical,Alex her eldest filmed it on his ipod,I can't wait for him to email it to me.
I did not want bore you all with more cars trucks bikes boats etc but there were so many,I actually did not get to see them we were busy on our stalls.

2011-08-27T21:31:00.000-07:00

Just a little bit of a look

First of all a little tease for Shez...this is what is coming your way soon,I hope you like the colours.

This is my rug that I am making from Lyn's pattern mentioned in an older post,it is coming along slowly.

2011-08-24T22:38:00.000-07:00

Two Posts in One Day

I took these photos yesterday as the garden looks so pretty....however we are not great gardeners and the results are Mother Natures work.....I forgot to go to the vegie patch..perhaps another time.

This year our daisies are just amazing,I love looking at them open up when the sun comes out...our apricot rose just never stops flowering,we even have to prune it in flower and the perfume wafts through the front door..its name...lol its a rose I know nuthin'.

Daisies galore.

I was too late with this pic really,the lady was surrounded by Jonquils but they are finished,the daffodils, iris.pig face, daisies and happy jacks all coming out.

Yes I know more daisies lol

Looking up the side of the yard it looks lovely,passers by often calling out that it looks great.(up close lots of weeds lol)

We call this a Cobra plant,it disappears all summer, as soon as winter comes all the green comes up from the earth and these flowers that look like a Cobra snake appear,it is strange.

Iris's abound in our garden,it grows near our Lavender which I missed.

Mums favourite Rose ( you guess it,its a rose got no idea of its name )

Our pond is full of water Iris and also Arem? lillies both not yet in flower but the fish are multiplying nicely.

This is the climber that is over a pagola in the back garden, it has black flowers with a yellow centre...the name ...you guessed it ...got no idea.

This is what we call Orange Rain and it covers the old dunny..looo...toilet whatever... the shell of the building is left an this grows over it and our hens sit there during the day enjoying the shade and shelter.

This is our May Bush but she does not know its August.

The Hycynth are almost done but they have been lovely,there are several different bulbs that grow in this bed but at the moment the weeds are winning.

Well thanks for taking a walk in our little garden,I forgot the veggie patch but it is going very well, we have eaten our first potatoes,we have had carrots and the peas are almost ready.

2011-08-24T21:40:00.000-07:00

First a huge thankyou to Shez for my lovely parcel from the Tilda swap.

My parcel arrived all lovely and wrapped with wool and silver paper.

Shez made this lovely tea pot cosy from a Tilda book.

Lady bug patty cake holders,very apt as I have many lady bug items but I never think to mention them.

A lavender fabric pear..just lovely.

Serviettes as this was actually a Tilda tea party swap.

What about these amazing flower lights,I will have to fight the grand daughters to keep these,o'h and there was lollies too, thank you again Shez for a lovely package and card. I have yours made now and it will be in the mail next week.

2011-08-21T12:48:00.000-07:00

Weekend Rest...you've got to be Joking!!!!!!

The weekend arrived but the torrential rain did not go..what to do??

Well Bob had some good ideas but I can't write them all down lol and we live with my Mum so it was all out of the question.

So we decided it was time to do the sauces and jams.I have a friend that is living alone and sometimes her son gives her much heartache,so we called her and asked if she would like to bring her crochet around and sit awhile with us,she was thrilled so it was lovely to chat with the rain beating down and the smell of spices and sweetness filling the kitchen.

Tomato sauce and Worster Sauce

My little helper,bless him he stayed inside with us girls,too cold up in the shed!

Strawberry Jam and Orange Marmalade

Of course if you do fresh Strawberry Jam you have to make scones and whip cream .

Then try to 3 ingredient fruit cake...it is nice surprisingly.

This is my friend Lyn's crochet, she makes amazing rugs,she cannot read patterns but can do whatever she is shown, however this is a pattern she made up( meaning she had not seen it or read it before) however some of you girls may have done it or seen it ,she taught me when we finished cooking and mine is in soft colours.

This was the most unliked job I have done.Bob wears his pants pockets out soooo fast! Lordy knows why his hand are always jiggling coins or whatever lurks in the pockets lol.
There was no way I could put new pockets in the section as it was so thick my machine could not cope,so being a smarty pants he says,"just buy a couple of pairs of jeans at the op shop and sew the back pockets from them on the front" guess what it worked!
So now the test is to see how fast he can mess this up! Great idea Bob,which brings me to say why do they use such flimsy material in mens jeans pockets,and why when I check others at the op shop are theirs still intact and Bobs not? O'h well ours is not to wonder why ours is just to do or die!

2011-08-18T12:54:00.000-07:00

NOW HERE'S THE THING......

The aprons are done but.....They are large aprons and really a heavy cotton,and I am not the most creative person, I need something to follow then I am off and away.
This time I have not looked at books just done them.They are not grand or perfect but they can be put in the finished pile lol.

So yes I wish I had taken a month to do them....yes I had done an enormous appliqué on them...but they are simple, hope that some friends will like them when the open their Chrissie pressie.I had to fold the bottoms up to take the pics, original I was going to put rows of frills on them but they are long and when pinned looked silly ,I suppose I could have cut them off...o'h well too late now lol.

This one has some of my puffs on it, I do so hope it looks like a heart,my mother wanted the pocket trim ones to go this way and good girls always do what their mothers say!

This one has some of beautiful Ruths lace that she left to me it has a gingham trim which is sweet.

This one has ric rak and little cakes from the piece I had left over from the girls bags.
So there they are finished if not gorgeous,but at least I got somewhere this week lol.
Have a beautiful day, be blessed by the one that guides you on your way as you spread a joyful smile around.

2011-08-17T21:00:00.000-07:00

Blank Canvasses

A few months ago my daughter gave me 3 aprons from Coles,they were $7 each.
See what you can do with these she says...she did decorate one for me with Grammy on it amongst my Christmas things.

So here goes, lets see what I can do, I have already one pinned ready with its embellishments hope they turn out ok.

2011-08-15T23:33:00.000-07:00

A Productive and busy Week

A busy weekend here, a day trip by bus to a beautiful town named Dungog.It is where we first lived when we married and the little house on my blog is the first home we lived in.There was a quilt fair and 100 years of Railway celebrated, Bob came and had a great time ,first time ever on a bus trip for him.

The officials arrived by horse and carriage and a little parade before the opening,Bob forgot to take pics.

This is one of the new things I had not seen before, it is a net type thingo lol wool for a better word.

And this is what it makes ,a lacy twirly scarf,just had to try it out,this will be for my daughter.

This is my desk with projects cut out ready to go, I have now been motivated again.

I made these little fabric baskets for my grand daughters and little buddies for them, I will put hair brushes etc in the big ones and some hair clips in the small ones,I will put these with their Xmas things. I got the lovely fabrics at the Dungog patchwork shop.

Suffolk puffs galore on the way,I have a project lined up for them,hope I get it done lol.

SUNDAYS NEWS
I belong to the ladies group at our little church and for years we have been working hard to get money for a new toilet block..yes that's right toilets lol.
We have a darling member who writes wonderful poetry and short stories and her family has a book printed this year,Del gave all the sales money towards the loo fund...over $4,000!

So you could say we are.......

FLUSHED WITH SUCCESS!!!!(Del given the honour lol)

This was done at the interval of a little Hymnfest that we had on Sunday afternoon and it was lovely.

This is Cheryl one of the loveliest ladies I know and a voice of an angel...as I looked around our little church there were no young ones there, it is old style Cof E,with a women's guild a dying race,who is going to carry on after all of us are not able to..sad..

I might say I was raised a Church of England but about 10 years ago I went to a pentecostal,charismatic church and the music and praise stirred my soul as never before,I became re baptised and go whenever I am at my children's homes as there is no church here,so I am still faithful to my old fold and work on their ladies guild and help wherever I can as I believe God does not have segregations,just houses for us to show him our love,and by helping others I believe I am putting a reserved sign on a seat "up there".

2011-08-11T12:55:00.000-07:00

Water! At last a refreshing drink.

I don't know what your town water is like, ours is simply disgusting,full of chlorine and other things unknown.
When you notify council the seem to think that's a refreshing drink lol.
The shower heads have a build up of white substance around them,tap washers are always being changes,so imagine your stomach!
So be done with it all,we bought a water purifier.
On our last visit to Bobs Mums we took her for a drive into the hinterlands and we came upon a potters home,the wife made the pottery purifiers and the daughter made the gorgeous potted animals and birds,you could order whatever you wanted, the husbands painting were just wonderful.We came away with nothing but Bob really wanted to order one with frogs.
Three weeks later I rang them and they remembered us and we ordered a green tone one with frogs,when it arrived we were thrilled. So here it is.

The green is lovely and just look at those frogs,they make me smile everyday.

I just love the way they look at us lol and we have never drank so much water,it is the best thing we have bought for a long time,and no its not a novelty we have had it about 5 months now and we never drink from the tap.

2011-08-10T12:48:00.000-07:00

Thankyou Lyndel

The postman/lady (...that being me) delivered me a parcel yesterday,it does not happen very often and it was just at the right time,you know one of those yukky down days.

I had joined in a vintage swap and now it was my turn to get spoiled.

When I saw my name while I was sorting all the mail I got all excited..but...I waited until I had delivered everyone elses before I sat down and opened mine with Mum as she loves it just as much as me.

First a lovely card,always,always read your cards first a well learnt lesson when I was little that way you appreciate it even more,thanks Lyndel and loves and hugs for hubby.

Each a little mystery all bundled together..well for 5 mins lol.

This is a little pin cushion for my wrist,it will be used often and probably copied for friends lol.

A book for when we go in our van to keep reminders of our trips,we decided this with a lovely pen will go straight in the van with a message in front of course to remind me where it came from.

This gorgeous little woollen brooch, I will be wearing this often and the first outing will be to Dungog quilt fair this Sat.Very clever Lyndel and soooo soft,and some lovely fabric.

A tea towel with wombats lovely.

And a beautiful scarf and bits and pieces for me to play with.

This was a lovely swap and to my fabric swap partner all the way over on Washington,nooo its not here yet but don't worry it will be Paula,my mail got there so fast I was surprised when Paula let me know.

If you have not joined in a swap before I recommend it as for me at least I get a parcel and the joy of putting one together is just so good.
Blessings to everyone and to our English friend I do hope all the craziness ends soon.

2011-08-03T17:19:00.000-07:00

A Couple of Purchases by Second Hand Rose.

We do not buy a lot of things in the line of furniture as we love antiques and older things and the home is full already....BUT...we have been looking for a cane setting for our front verandah.I knew I loved white ones but this time I wanted the natural cane colour and it need to be comfy for Mum.We have been looking for such a long time and all the lovely old ones are too far away for us to buy.In the local paper last week was an add for a 3 piece cane setting , when we called the man said they had it especially made for a previous home for the sun room and that when they bought this house it would not fit,he sid they paid $2,000 for it and would decide how much it would be when we came to look.,We knew this was not going to be affordable for us but Bob said lets see it anyway, went and look and when the chap said we will take $300 for it we had to bring it home.

The cushions are an apricot velvet.,my worry is that it is too lovely for the verandah and should be in an enclosed room.

I could not believe that we would be lucky enough to own this setting it is lovely,the home where we bought it was gorgeous full of lovely antiques,a very wealthy retired accountant,he was lovely but made sure we felt we were Mr and Mrs Common...lol don't you just love people like that! but we did not care as soon as he said $300 we were off!.and because it was second hand made it all the better for me,pre loved is always the way to go for me,new seems out of place.

2011-07-29T23:46:00.000-07:00

Another Step Towards Retirement.

Today we travelled to pick up the caravan that we have purchased,getting ourselves ready for retirement.
It is not for 3 years but we want to get it all fitted out ready.

Although it is second hand it has been looked after beautifully.Mum had a sit in it and Miss Molly.

So here is a peek at our home away from home of the future,it may be a long time before we test her out as we are back to being like young people, we need a babysitter for Mum,but we will eventually enjoy her.

Bob did not even feel it on the back of the car, smooth as a babies bottom lol.

They people that owned it really did look after it,the cushions and everything came with it,all new.

The stove has never been used,it has a microwave and reverse cycle air con which comes up through the floor.The seats are lovely to sit on and Molly liked it very much.

We are looking forward to our first sleepover, it may have to be up in the backyard but at least thats better than nothing lol.

and NO!!!!!!! we are not going to swing a sign on the door saying:

"IF the vans a rockin'
Don't bother knocking"