Inspiration for Christmas

After reading Deb from Simply Me asking if anyone has started their Christmas shopping I decided to share my start of Christmas sewing with you,these took me longer than I expected as the old health stops me some days..but at last I have finished this lot.

Recently my sweet friend Bronwyn from my Cackle Club gave me this surprise gift of a Pillow Bag to take my pillow in if I go away overnight,I loved it so much it gave me an idea that my grandchildren would love one for when they go on sleepovers.

I must say her work is so beautiful that my own interpritation is very simple by comparrison.

For my grand daughters Lilli and Olivia I have added suffolk puffs and Bric Brac braids and buttons and reversed the fabrics,the girls are cousins and I always have to be aware that they love the same things although one favours purple and one pink so I just reversed the fabrics.

For the 4 boys the 2 older ones similar fabrics reversed and the younger 2 boys the same.When they are all in the same place at the same time at Christmas I have to make sure they all look alike as it would be shameful if one had an extra button lol( just joking..well not really)

In actual fact when you have 6 to make it was much more affordable  for me to get the fabrics to mix and match and the way they are the brothers of each family have different to each other.

Next thing is to make  some little gifts for friends it is always exciting to make special things and at this stage I am still working out what! better get a move on I think.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend,it was hot ,hot .hot. here.

Thank you God for the patience,perserverence and yes even the finger pricks while making these ,thank you for allowing me the joy of making these chidren something and they better like them or else!each one contains a new pillow as well.

                                                      Update on Miss Molly   


Just thought you might like to know Miss Molly has settled in beautifully.She helps herself to one of Bobs work socks each afternnon to place in her little bed,along with her fluffy toys.     
She goes outside for her toilet no problems just runs up and lets us know.She was absolutely not impressed on her vet visit.After being weighed a huge 800 grams lol at 6 weeks.Then a thermometor up her bottom, a needle for the usual protection, then Frontline  flea and tick  protection put on her neck genlty , the absolute shock af a big needle that placed a micro chip in her on her back,she gave a cry and we felt terrible,Bob held her while they did this, in our country it is the law we have to have this done.Poor little sweetie, the vet offered her a reward but she told her where to put it with just one glance lol.I think when we go back for her follow up needles Molly will not be so eager to greet the vet.  

However after we got home and she had some puppy milk and some yummy dinner she was exhausted and promptly fell asleep,she slept for ages so much so that we were like kids waiting for Christmas so we could give her lots of cuddles.When she woke she was bright and cheerful and we made a huge fuss of her.

We think our next visit  to the vet will be very interesting indeed!She is already proving to be a wonderful little companion for Mum and she just seems to know to be careful around Mums feet,Bob on the other hand gets ambushed at every turn, it is so lovely to see him enjoying Molly as we thought he would be our worry.

I seem to be the toilet lady and food supplier lol I am happy with that roll just as long as I get my cuddles at the end of the day and because I am up I get the lovely greeting of Molly almost turning herself inide out when she sees me.

 Heavy Heart for the Homeless

I am just putting my heart on the page today as many bloggers do, no photos today just something to think about.

Sometimes when we have something heavy on our hearts we feel it for the moment and then it is business back to normal,you may see something that makes you think"thats awful I must try to do something",then life's busy days come and go and we realise we never did do what we had planned.

As a Christian,it is times like this that we believe the Holy Spirit is talking to us and we are either obedient to the message or not.If not then we often suffer the consequences such as a guilty consience or ask for forgiveness,each person knows what they should have done.For non Christians if can be interpreted as just a  subconcious thought I suppose, or a knowing of what right and wrong in the world is.

Recently I went to visit my daughter and I love to go to her church,it is Penticostal,happy clappy,rock and roll music and if you are not foot stomping had clapping and full of the message when you leave you have either been dead for 3 days or totally deaf lol.The thing is the pastor does not preach at you, he talks to you,there is a huge difference,his talk of the day was the Homeless in the city of Newcastle(Australia).There are so many in the thousands actually.

This was so heavy on my heart,when I came out I thought "I have to do something"knowing this time I would not forget to be obedient.In the outer hall of the church was a pamphlet with a shopping list for a hamper for the Homeless.I took a list and bought it home.

I am very much involved with my community and we even print a small free monthly little paper.I do a column called Treasures Talk as I am co ordinator of our little opshop,we are all volunteers and all the goodies come from the townspeople and the money goes back into things the town needs. I wrote in my column this month about my going to church etc and the message of the day and put the list in there.I also asked for blankets for the homeless for next winter.My heart felt good, I had come home,followed through and printed of a hundred lists placed them all over town in the shops etc where people could pick one up and put it on the fridge.I asked not that people in these hard times try to get a full hamper but even one or 2 items extra when they shopped and I would make the packages up.

It has only beens a week,I have already a pile of the loveliest soft blankets and food is starting to come in.

I found that when I made inquiries in our local area alone we have many homeless and they are not people who can get the dole as they have no fixed address it is frighteneing.In the city many are corporate people who have lost first their company,then their home and family and have nothing absolutely nothing.My daughter in laws sister recently moved from 2 states away leaving a 20 years marriage taking her 11 year old son with her, she came to be near her sisters only to find she had never rented so had no references,this and the fact that at least 30 people were trying for each flat that was available,she after exhausting her welcome with every relative spent many nights in her car!(she finally has a home after 4 months!) I could not believe it! this is the way many people get to be homeless.

Mother Tereasa once said "if you cannot feed thousands,just feed one".

I am so sorry to have rambled on,I just wanted to get everyone to think about just when you shop next time buy a little item extra and drop it off at a charity shop near you,you will make a difference.

I am so thankful everyday for the food on our table,our soft bed and shelter.I know we are just an average family but we have too much when others have nothing.

I always thought of homeless as runaways or alcaholics and the like I never thought in the blink of an eye it could be any one of us.

Thanks for reading if you got to the end lol,ordinary people can do ordinary things that will make an extraordinary difference to another.

Feel blessed today and remember to give thanks to God for keeping you and yours safe.

GOOD GOLLY MISS MOLLY.

Well what can we say! Mum turns 90 in a few weeks and a male friend came aknocking on Saturday with an early present.I knew it was hard to know what to get a 90 year old but a puppy! lol

Anyway she has made herself at home she is a Shitzu, Maltese cross,adorable of course.

We have not had a dog for many years as we were so hearbroken when we lost our Boxer Sasha to breast cancer,we could not face getting attached again.Molly has in less than 24 hours turned us all into oooh and ahhh besotted adults lol.

We did forget about the crying all night etc,and we did take her to work today but it will be too hot for her and too long a day in the car and she will never learn to stay alone if we do that all the time.

So tomorrow it is needles and  micro-chipped so guess it will be me that takes her.

Molly was the runt of the litter and is very tiny,but in no way is she shy.She has done what we thought was the impossible and in no time at all placed herself on the chair with Bob.Who as you may know does not like pets of the four legged variety too much so I have longed for a puppy or a ginger cat for so long.This is Mums puppy but as she is so old  have to do all the bits lol so it is a claytons pet.A friend called last night and told me I almost have a ginger cat as Molly has caramel ears lol

So Molly and Bob watched the news together and I guess life will not be the same until she is settled,housebroken and learns her manners. I have to say she has impressed us at just 6 weeks when we take her outside she does her toilet and turns back to the door as if to say "well come on,I'm done what are you waitng for"very bossy little lady.

Hopefully Mum will not trip on her too many times as we have to be so careful,another reason we have not had a four legged pet,but what can you say when someone turns up with such a cutie,well maybe give her back if she keeps howling like she is right now lol.

Have a lovely day everyone.

More Birthdays..non stop now till December 12th

October 29th is a birthday shared by our wonderful now 12 years old grandson Alexander and our Daughter in law Kirsty.

We could not be with Alex this year but for his 13th next year I am promising myself to be there with him in newcastle.

Alex is here with olivia and William blowing me a kiss via the phone.

I am so proud of Alex he is a lovely young man, beautiful manners and so loving to Pa Pa and I and Great Nanna,we just love him,we were there for the birth of these three grandchildren belonging to our daughter and I can still remember every detail of his arrival, his Gran and I were given the honour of bathing him straight after his birth,I thought I had died and gone to heaven,the only down side was the hard time our kate had but she did a great job to go back another 2 times lol!.

Our Daughter in Law Kirsty turned 35 and our son will be 37 on the 2nd November.All they wanted for thier birthdays was for us to babysit and for them to borrow Bobs and My motorbike to go for a ride with Kirsty's sisiter and husband.We jumped at the chance to have the children and they had a wonderful day riding to a small town about 2 hours away and having a lovely lunch.

So Happy Bithday to the three of you.Michael we are so proud to be your parents, your road has not been easy but you are a wonderful son,husband and daddy what more could anyone want,to see the light in your eyes after your bike ride was prize enough.We just feel so privelegdeg to have two lovely children.Praise God.

Michael and Kirsty on our bike going for a day out for  their birthdays.

While Mum and Dad were out for the day we had a wonderful time with the children.We headed for the bush with the trailer on to get a load of firewood for next year,then when the work was done it was time for fun.Poppy made little wooden boats for the children to have boat races, we packed a picnic lunch and we headed for the bush.

Nanny, Lilli,Eden and Elijah ready to picnic and boats ready for racing.

The place we chose was a water crossing deep into farmland,it was the most beautiful prisitne place,the water so clear and the running water so refreshing.

The boats were placed in upstream and then the fun was on,Poppy was the retriever of course when the boats got snagged!

Pop waiting to see who the winner is and Elijah won now it was between Lilli and Eden,Eden came in second but as the others put their boats in half the way down the stream Poppy declared Eden the winner on handicap!

It was a beautiful day and we headed home at 2pm to check on great nan then I took the children to the town pool,they were exhausted when we got home but had the most wonderful day.Needless to say it was early to bed,I like to think that we got the best end of the deal even though Mum and Dad had a wonderful day together.

Next birthdays will be Elijah on 6th November a big number 5,then Lilli on the 16th November a big 10.Then Great Nana will be 90 on December 12 but we are having a pink party for her on 11the December,she loves pink another Barbara Cartland!

So happy birthday everyone,problem is when these are all over then I have to think about Christmas! I am however working on both at the same time and sewing madly to make gifts for the children, I will show you them when they are finished.

This is probably a boring post but it is here for me more than anything,to diary it and remember it and then most importantly be thank ful for the little pleasures in life.Thankyou Lord for a full and loving life.

     

Ta dah...My twice crochet rug!

I never thought I would finish this crochet blanket/rug.I only started it a few weeks ago when a lovely 82 year old came to cackle club and showed us how to do raised flowers. Not being a crocheter?I gave it a shot and the task was to make nine squares and make it into a cushion.I did not think I would use a cushion so decided to join mine together for the centre and continue to make a rug.

Last week I had 3 rows to go when a friend was admiring my work as she new I am just a learner,she then noticed I had turned my work around after about 12 rows and it was inside out!!

It  was so obvious as it was almost like looking at a jumper half the back knitted right and then doing a purl row where a plain should be does that make sense?My position was to either hope no one else noticed and finish or pull it undone.

I decided to undo it, as I would always know it was wrong.Today I completed my rug and I am so happy it is over,hence caling it the twice crochet rug.

I decided to get smart and crochet some little flat flowers for the border,still not sure if I like them but they are there to stay.

I would like to say to all those people who relish their crochet that I am now hooked so to speak and will do more,it was a lovely relaxing craft to learn,I still have a long way to go but so happy that I got to make this,I am in awe of some of the things all you girls make and hopefully some day I will be able to make lovely things without having to unpull it.

What a beautiful time of year our garden is a picture at the moment, birds chirping,the chooks are happy and it is almost 7pm and bright as bright,the sun is still beaming through our front door. I am not always a fan of daylight savings but I do like it very much on the weekends.So roll on summer I have finished with the wool now for a season or 2 and out comes the embroidery threads.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

Happy Birthday to our Darling Daughter

Our darling girl turns 39 today,I can remember the moment she came into our world and she is much loved by us.So happy birthday Katrina,Trini to us Kate to all others lol there was a time people thought we had 3 daughters.We are so incrediblly proud of her she is a daughter, wife, mummy and career person with a very stressful job that she never thought she would have in a major Cancer hospital and we are just so happy that she was given as a gift to us by God. Bless you sweetie have a lovely day.

I have not blogged much lately, my health issues continue,poor old Mum has had the awful cold thingo going around and is on her second round of antibiotics and sits up at night to sleep as when she lays down she coughs all the time,this has gone on for 3 weeks at 89 it is not good for her,Bob has now started to get the dogs desease as we call it.

Today I am going to get over myself as how pittiful to think we have it bad when a beautiful little girl in our town  was called home to God yesterday.Riley was 8 years old, has battled cancer for almost all her life, everywhere she went people were in awe of her ,just amazing and brightening everyone else up right to the end.Our whole community has been on this journey with Mum and Dad and 2 little sisters and peace has come at last for her,but we will miss her little smiley face,God has certainly some beautiful angels up there.

The pic of the rose is from our garden. Bob and I would love a House and Garden garden and someone else do it lol but since Mum came to live with us we have tried hard to create some lovely garden beds for her,the fruits of our work are now appearing with the most beautiful roses.The rose in the pic is the first ones out there are actually 55 buds on this bush, we have buds literally everywhere,and we find we are loving growing things, we have eaten our first cabbages and they are so lovely.I will always be thankful for Mum for getting us started.I am just starting to get things ready for her 90th birthday in December,gathering everything pink I can find,I found lovely pink lanterns on the weekend so the back area is starting to take shape in my mind,I want it to be a lovely day for her as she will be sad for the most as her twin has not survived to celebrate this milestone,we lost Aunty Thelma just days after their 85th birthday.

I look around me at our little home,it is not a mansion but it is our castle, I look at our health,but for a few hiccups lately we have been so blessed,I look at our family we have all healthy happy grandchildren and I thank God for his graciousness and blessings,I look at our bank account,it is small in balance but we always have enough to pay the bills and put good food upon our table.

We are truley blessed with life in general,so I am going to pick myself up, dust myself off and get over myself lol,I am about to go and do my volunteer afternoon and smile at everyone and tell them they look nice and make their day and by the time I get back home I too will feel wonderful,hope you get a chance to do the same.

God in his glory gave us this day and so many are not here to enjoy it, we are so lets not waste it,

"This is the day that the Lord has made"

We will rejoyce and be glad in it".

blessings to you all xx Carole xx