Happy Birthday to Chookyblue Donna!!-and "Summer" revealed.

Hey everyone, tomorrow, the 15th August is Chookyblue Donna's birthday, make sure you pop in and say hello!! She gets quite as excited about being around for another quilty year as I do-who cares how old we are, as long as we can still sew and type!!

For those who don't remember, Donna is one of this fun loving band, she is the one at bottom left, surrounded by a few other bloggers like myself, ric rac Jodie and Annie's flower garden at the quilt show in March.

That was a great day and hopefully Donna's will be equally fab tomorrow....she can only hope that the mail only takes a night from here to the near outback, but I think her birthday may have to last longer than just tomorrow-don't you love that!!

Speaking of packages in the mail, I have received a few in the last few days.

The first is my Summer 4SQS quilt.

It doesn't actually have hermit crabs appliqued to it, that is just a joke because someone suggested it would be hard to photograph these new pets with quilts....well, nothing is impossible.

This quilt lends itself to hermit crabs, lovely and beachy!

Here's a close-up! Thank you so much Sherry . I haven't "met" Sherry before and she does lovely work. I can assure her that there is no need to give up swaps on my account! Her quilt will be hung in Australia with pleasure! Thanks also to Margaret who co-ordinated beautifully.

More mail...and a present I just had to share.

Chookyblue Donna sent me this lovely Lynette Anderson note pad, some embroidery thread and one of her lovely cards. I am not going to show all my presents but I know Donna especially will love the plate my friend Robyn found me, lends itself to a stitchery I think.

It is a Plymouth Rock, like this running gentleman of mine.

Have a great day, blogger is taking hours to upload tonight so the rest of the quilt weekend will wait, Tracey

Favourite week of my year

My internet has been out, my camera batteries have been dodgy and so a little blogging break has occurred.

I can't say I have a lot of sewing to show though. I had my rally Day for Church Ladies, my nephew's all day birthday and a couple of committee responsibilities and the week has disappeared.

This did get completed.......

I was a few days late sending it...next time I will print off the swapper's name prior to mailing day-because then I couldn't access my internet! A small aside here, my Dh doesn't often notice what i am working on, but i was in the living room due to the freezing weather and he asked about it, I said it was an international swap. He said, "boy, the person who did the middle must sure like gold." I said, 'well, that would be me'!!

I attempted to explain it represented the Australian colours...the light, the ground, the water.....and that will probably be the sum total of patchwork discussions in our house for the year!

Here's a snap of my bodyguards when i did work over in my sewing room. I can sneak out the front of the house and they always end up there within minutes, Archie the dog without fail. If it is raining he has dug a path under the room and he sleeps under my feet at the machine.

I forgot to say it is the best week of my year this week; I have my quilting retreat this coming weekend, down in Port fairy, same house as last year, -

Nothing like the sound and view of a winter beach for patchwork inspiration. As usual I have about 10 things I want to get done, the aim is to get back on the sewing track.

It's also birthday week. Seems to have started already, gotta love the birthday lasting all week. (Though my Mum told me it is all down hill from 40 and I will only be one year away!)

A friend took me out last night to the big fashion parade held here every year, my DH bought me ear-rings in Queensland (and handed them to me straight away in the plastic bag.....but anyone who has been reading since last year will acknowledge he gets a lot of credit for trying!!) and my dad called on his way through today and gave me an interesting necklace and bracelet from them. I have never worn orange, shall be interested to see how that goes. The only trouble with early presents is that I may have run out of birthday by the time Thursday gets here!!!

Speaking of jewellry, I picked up a piece for myself today at the big farmer's expo type thing that is on here at the moment. I was working on the theory my MIL will get me to get myself something! Here's a peek-

It is a brooch or scarf pin, I have assured my sister I wont necessarily wear it up the main street of her town all the time, but I will definitely wear it! I love old sewing machines.

So, other than the fact I have to make a 300 km round trip to get my son's missing filling seen to by a dentist tomorrow, life is great. Hope yours is as well, see you soon, Tracey

Another taste of summer swap...

Life is a little hectic here. My girl seems to be all better, which is lucky because she has a busy week coming up...... more details later.

On the sewing front-the free pieced sun has gone into the 'work on later' pile, but I can offer you a snippet of its replacement as the new summer quilt for the 4 seasons quilt swap-still using the colours I wanted but in a slightly more formal style. ny ideas on the design oh clever ones?.......

-you can even see the needle that held it up against the tree. Full photos next time-that's if you want a peek!
Big news on the "print out your blog" ideas from from my last post. Carol at Pins and Needles has sent me the link to a photo book, made out of your blog!! Take a look, seems great and very reasonable, easy to download the necessary stuff and muck around with a/c to carol. I love the idea-a proper diary cum book! Thank you so much Carol!
I have to run now, I have date with a handsome 8 year old and his father for a game of twilight football-this is how I find out I still have some muscles left-well actually it is really the next day I find that out!

Have a great day, Tracey

Received this email and thought you may like it. I delight in the differences between men and women...really.....well, most of the time......

NICKNAMES

If Laura, Kate and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Kate and Sarah.

If Mike, Dave and John go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla and Four-eyes.

EATING OUT

When the bill arrives, Mike, Dave and John will each throw in $20, even though it's only for $32.50. None of them will have anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back.

When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.

MONEY

A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.

A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need but it's on sale.

BATHROOMS
A man has six items in his bathroom: toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel .

The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify more than 20 of these items.

ARGUMENTS

A woman has the last word in any argument.

Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

FUTURE

A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.

A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.

SUCCESS

A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.

A successful woman is one who can find such a man.

MARRIAGE

A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.

A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, but she does.

DRESSING UP

A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the trash, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail.

A man will dress up for weddings and funerals. NATURAL

Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.

Women somehow deteriorate during the night.

OFFSPRING

Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams.

A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
A married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering the same thing!

SO, send this to the women who have a sense of humor and who can handle it ... and to the men who will enjoy reading it.



Proof that Men Have Better Friends. (according to a man!!!)

Friendship among Women:
A woman didn't come home one night. The next morning she told her husband that she had slept over at a friend's house. The man called his wife's 10 best friends. None of them knew anything about it.

Friendship among Men:
A man didn't come home one night. The next morning he told his wife that he had slept over at a friend's house. The woman called her husband's 10 best friends. Eight confirmed that he had slept over, and two said he was still there.

Blog housekeeping and Four seasons play.

And the winner is......

Quilting Fitzy can drop me a line. Thanks to the many commenters.
She was very kindly drawn out by my daughter who has unfortunately resumed her couch position. She has an awful cold that now seems to have caused a funny tummy. We can only pray it isn't "the usual"!! It has been nice to have a few months with no tummy trouble.
Here is what the poor cats have to put up with at breakfast. Archie comes running in a second later and rouses everyone, but the chooks have no fear of the cats.
I have been looking for inspiration for my Four Season's Quilt swap. I am having the usual difficulty of finding just the right idea to suit me and the receiver. I wanted the yellows of the light I love here-which is also our summer crop colours, and vibrant blues. I also wanted to work in the sun somehow, as that is a huge part of my Summer. So I had a free piecing day.
This has very already hit the size but I am not sure of it for a swap. My daughter says it looks more like a stegosaurus than the Sun! I think I will head off for another play this afternoon, the light yellow rh corner is definitely coming off, I am also thinking of reducing the sun size and having the ocean in the forefront. I can see it getting to bed size accidentally or getting binned by 2 o'clock and me starting all over again!
So I am probably back to square one with the swap quilt-but you gotta love a reason to play!
I am getting a lot of lovely new commenters who are "no reply". New bloggers may like to go over to Donna at Chookyblue, she has been posting a lot of blogging tips.
Also on blogging, do you print out your blog to keep? I hadn't been, all that extra stuff in the sidebar sucks all the ink and hardly seems worth it, but then I subscribed to myself through bloglines, that way I get the feed with no extras, I keep my posts new until I am in the mood, then print them off all at once. I can print in 2 columns with my Canon, which is quite good enough to read and look at the pictures. What do you do?
Have a great day, Tracey

Weekly roundup

First day at home for the week today. I was fully intending a day of bliss in the sewing room, but ended up called to the neighbors for a spot of playgroup storytime and now have to head to town for a School thing so not much progress.

Had great fun during the week though.....Tuesday i trekked down to a town where i borrowed the timber quilt frame from to return it and I caught up with the lovely Carol. I have now met 4 bloggers amazingly enough and they were all as great in person as on their blogs!! carol has some great quilts close to finished, i will be watching her blog for the finishes. She has also got the most fabulous book made from her scrapbooking layouts for her MIL for Mother's day. Believe me, she will be the favourite!!

Made a few op shop purchases-all these great cotton shirts for the shirt stash.

And this gorgeous double flanel baby rug-near new for 50 cents!! It will make up into quite a few little baby blankets in it's new life.

The chenille bedspread I spotted a lady bringing in as I walked out. I told her I would cut it up for quilts to give away and she said her Mum would be so happy about that. I told her to make sure she told her and she got teary and said she couldn't but she was really happy it was doing something useful.

I am happy too. I love to see things recycled to be useful again.

I found a pre-loved flannel shirt and had a little play with the new chenille to see how it went. Not bad for a boy baby I think.

I think I shocked and scared my quilting friends on Friday night...with applique pieces...and not button hole stitched either. This is where I am up to on my FSQS . I even tried the new yo-yo maker (fabulous thing!!). My daughter thinks the quilt needs more hot pink, my boy thinks it is far too girly and I think a few more leaves and flowers...what do you think?

I had better get to my school function but we finally found where DD's cat was hiding her Good Friday babies, so you get gratuitous kitten pics to close. It was very lucky the last of the old kittens was delivered to its new home Maundy Thursday. Anyone want these in the mail??

Have a great day, Tracey

Eventful day...for some!

I had a fairly quiet day today. I did actually have to get up at 5 am to check the pool cover was on tight when a gale force wind woke me. Then the kids and I caught up with friends in town, had lunch at our new and improved golden arches and went to see "Horton hears a Who" with other friends as a School holiday treat. Visited a few more people on the way home and other than having to dodge branches on the road, life was quite sedate.

Got home to find my DH had spent the day slightly differently: cutting up branches off our big fallen houseyard tree, replacing iron off my MIL's roof, refastening our solar heating pipes to our roof and, wait for it, putting out a fire on our property, caused when the power lines rubbed together from the wind and sparked. It only burnt about 20 acres, but required 4 trucks to put it out in 100km winds. Nearly got 1000 rolls of hay, that would have been sad.

So I just got home in time to get him a beer and play supportive wife, rather than having to be the one on the roof in 100km winds with the ladder blowing over! Darn!

Good news though, I got great mail. My Spring quilt swap came from mary@ Needled mom.

It is gorgeous and so beautifully made, here are my other swaps as well. They are all gorgeous.

Winter from wendy

(no blog)

Autumn, from Amy, the Calico cat.

Pleased i have started mine, some progress next post, Tracey

Free piecing frenzy

My husband often says that one day they will find a cure for this addiction-usually when he calls into the sewing room to say hello and searches in vain for a free place to sit!
I am bad enough with normal piecing but when I go all free piecing crazy it is very difficult to remember to feed the kids-it is very fortunate for them that they are getting bigger and can now open packets themselves!
But this is all the Spring quilt swaps fault. If I hadn't got out that big pack of hand dyeds and just decided to have a little play i wouldn't have got the bug, it's funny, after a day's play I got a comment asking how to do it (the free pieced roses in my sidebar are free pieced), well just cut up bits and play, with a lot of flipping and turning and pressing thrown it. It is very much trial and error, not like following a plan. You have no idea what you will actually achieve and not much idea how to get there anyway! I could do a tutorial if anyone wanted.
I am not that happy with any of these but thought i would still show them, can't always just show the good stuff or else the blog isn't "real."

This was the first, using the pale hand dyeds. Was pretty happy with this until I used far too light a green for the leaves and they meld into the yellow 2 tone background. bought some green DMC and think I may outline the leaves, hence it is already backed and ready. I also didn't curve the edges of the petals, forgot they need that to lok flower like.

Then played with this, got more curving and contrast at the edge of the flower but should have used something other than the pale green in the centre, perhaps a light pink, and edging some of the petals with a more solid pink or really dark yellow would give it more definition-like shading.

Then, hating waste, I picked up all my tiny scraps from the flip and sew technique used on the other two blocks and sewed them into this however they came into my hand. This would be about 6 inches toatl size whereas the others are 10-12 inches.
And don't worry, none of these will end up in the swap quilt, I have started on something nice and safe and universal!

Off to see my sister today, mailing these internationally ...and nationally Leigh...on the way...have found a few more that need to go as well. I will really get the third degree at the PO today, I'll just say I am finally catching up with my international friends!!

Spring?

Once again, as I wait in desperation for a new season, that is in fact Autumn, I am actually having to think about a completely different season for the Four season's quilt swap.
Spring, glorious Spring- wouldn't that be nice, seeing my roses spring into life rather than this vain scream for water they throw at me now as I wander past, trying not to look!
I am determined to be finished well before time,this is the new me, the one that is going to show you a whole heap of parcels next post FINALLY ready to fly to their promised destinations!
On this note, have a look at this that i found at Beth's blog and couldn't resist looking for my name as well, have you ever done this on Google, it is quite interesting.

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 6 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

I wonder if the other ones of me super organized and efficient and have all their things done early or if they are like me and work through the list according to closest deadlines and only really go into fourth gear with that deadline looming. Hopefully for their sanity it is the former!!!
Anyway, back to the quilt swap, I have even pulled out fabric, some hand dyed I did with our group a few years ago, i love them but have only made one quilt, a baby quilt for my neighbor.
The pastel range

The darker range.

The quilt in the front above was the end result using the pastel shades and some judicious hot pink.
I am thinking about something similar to this for the swap, do you think it looks liks Spring, or am i too early and looks more like a hot Summer? because I have other options. All ideas welcome.

I have had such a successful book experience in the last month. When I went to Adelaide in feb. I got to experience my first Borders...sans DH and kids, how glorious! They had a 3 for 2 sale on and I did really well, loved Mr. Darcy's diary, nicely gives his perspective to Jane Austen's Darcy. Then, without thinking about it I added some more Jane, really enjoyed this, apparently it is a movie that hasn't got to my area yet, anyone read and seen, will I be happy? Very much in the vein of "How to make an American Quilt" in the way it goes from character to character and with the back stories.
Finally, not pictured, is the one I am reading now, "PS I love you." Also a movie apparently -that hasn't got here yet!! I like it as well, I love the idea of letters from the grave!!! I mentioned it to a friend and she said, 'oh, I read that years ago', I said, "so did I, same title anyway..... it was one of the first Sweet dreams books I read as a teeneger, remember them?? They used my pocket money there for a good while, eagerly awaiting the next edition. Correct me if I am wrong but wasn't his name something like Paul Strobe and the heroine also had this Palm Spring sticker, hence the P.S I love you. Did he die as well? Go on, confirm it!! You know you read them, they were great!!!And at least they only kissed in those days -teens were teens not mini adults!

Hoping the wind dies down so the paddock burning can take place this afternoon and I can get you some good photos, have a great day...and any of easter that is left. Tracey

My winter swap quilts

I am seriously considering a second career. Oh wait, as a stay at home (sometimes) Mum , I probably really effectively have another 4 or 5 careers, so lets start over.....

I have made a discovery that consultants out there somewhere could have been paid 100's of thousands of dollars to research, are you ready for the info?

Quilters, are not into heights a-t a-l-l!!!! And ok, I only have the majority of my comments from my last post to back this up...but heck, Governments have gone to war with less researched evidence than that!!

I got a very positive response about my retirement home though, the general feeling seems to be if we got it up and running right now, most of us wouldn't care less about that little specification of "retired". It would be the only retirement home in the world where young(ish) people were dressing up as Mrs. Doubtfire to get in!

But, on a sadder note, no-one wants to come to my dinner party because Quilter's don't like heights...and I don't think it is just because it is hard (read 'death-defying) to show your show and tell, or that your thread drops further than under the couch-I think it may just be a quilting thing, even genetic...you know, like redheads are said to have tempers, blondes are not as clever theoretically-but have more fun... and quilters don't like heights.

Lucky for you I was flexible on the venue!

Huge news...the Australian post office system successfully delivered my Four Seasons Quilt Swap, so you can see it now.

It went to Jodie at Jelly Wares and she says she loves it so I am happy about that.

Here is the finished article. I appliqued the hexagons on-and handstitched down the binding, thankfully my hands survived...thank you gloves!

I showed the calves the two together...no hanging them over the calves that day...Jodie's was on a deadline and I wasn't sure she would appreciate it arriving smelling of manure!

Heinrich the calf is obviously over quilts-he is sticking out his tongue! Models...they are so temperamental, someone should tell them to eat more-it works for me.

Anyway, what a fun swap...thanks to Margaret the organizer, a huge job and very well done, Tracey

Oh what a beautiful morning........

Hear that? Well maybe you can't, but it is the sound of John Denver singing to me on the CD player-not Hannah Montana, who I love and encourage , but have nevertheless heard enough of in the last 6 months my girl has predominantly been at home.

It is an hour and a half since the kids headed off for day 3 of a new year and it has been a long time since I got 3 straight child free days-I have walked, fed everything that requires it, put a load of washing on and taken some photo. I am now just recruiting my strength before attacking the house...and after 2 children nesting in it all Summer am little concerned some parts could attack back!

I have to apologise, I have had all these emails about the cards as I didn't say the negotiable price. The proper cards are $2, 50 cents for postcards and 20 cents for the gift cards. A local shop wants to stock some as well-very exciting! Negotiations that have worked for payment are fabric, paypal or FQS gift vouchers from overseas, cheques are fine in Australia...and swaps are fun as well. And yes, you can have a calendar if you really want one!

First Day pics. Yes, they do wear uniforms, 99% of Australian Schools have uniforms. Australia likes their people uniform...well at least on a general level playing field. Mine are at a little private Church School, hence the tie. Most Private Schools are ties. Nearly all Schools have a 'No hat no play' policy, so the hats just go on automatically. These are great hats, equally good in winter.

Wasn't sure how the little native boy would go getting in his uniform, I can't show you the photos, but the day before he was naked swimming in a ditch with the hose and layering himself with mud. He didn't know I was watching and I have some great photos of him then attempting to wash himself and his clothes off with the hose!

Here he is showing me where a mouse got caught as he and his Dad baled me some barley straw for the calves I will rear this year. Harvest almost over, late barley and linseed to go...I am in charge of getting rid of all the pea straw to the local nurseries and gardeners who want it as mulch. I can double my money if I cart and deliver it myself...but there are still 700 bales on the 66 acres to go...not sure whether I am that enthusiastic!

And finally, look at my great mail!!! My winter Four Seasons Quilt Swap came from Wendy in Connecticut. Have emailed her to see if she has a blog for you to visit.

Isn't it gorgeous! Beautifully made and quilted with a binding that I am green with envy over. My binding are ok until the end join, I always struggle with getting that perfect.

Mine was finsihed in time, all mailed, I will do the big reveal when I know my person has it.

Have a great day...'cos I know I will! Tracey

One day of holidays (sleep-ins!) left-and 2 prize winners.

Waiting on my sister this morning, so it will be a quick post.

She is coming up to spend the kids last day of Summer freedom...back to School tomorrow, where did that 7 weeks go?
My daughter told me I had been a good summer mother...hardly went to the sewing room at all!! Well, as long as she stays well and actually goes to school, that will sure change in the coming weeks but I am not making plans or everything will go haywire again!
Thanks for the comments about the Carpal tunnel and the gloves. Obviously I am not alone in this...at this stage just wearing them at night is doing the trick.
I can see there are a few other alternatives, I like the additional Vitamin B,(orally!)the best...now to just remember to add that to the calcium I take so I don't have similar bone density to that of my mother and grandmother-their's resembles more your jellyfish....the 30 plus I take so i don't have a monthly meltdown and the skin clear that attempts to make me look less like an acne ridden teenager-hope I don't shake when I walk!

My calendar came this week, and some more of my cards-i am still waiting on the calf ones. My neighbor called over and bought $25 worth, last week she bought some excess fabric from my stash, she has 7 kids so says it is a lot easier to shop here than go to town. Who could argue that!!
Here are a couple of calendar pics i thought you may like, it is all my favourite photos from the year and I am going to hang it in my sewing room.

Here are some of my cards, there is a range of proper cards, postcards and gift cards, I love the little gift cards. They are all available if anyone ever wants any, very cheap and I am open to all kinds of negotiation! Click for a closer look. Kristie and Libby were lucky commenters from when i asked you to taste test, so you will receive some of these in the mail-drop me a line. Everyone else I owe mail things to will be getting their surprises mailed in the next week as well....finally!

The winter swap is coming along, here was the last progress photo, it's due tomorrow, it will get done-in between batches of plum sauce, plum jam and pickles! I love these hexagons, the backing is thimbleberries. Have a great day, Tracey

Not a white glove moment
Tonight's post is proudly bought to you by the following product....
No, I have not been taken over by big business...well not unless big business desperately want to take me over!! These are, in fact, my new secret weapons.
Not sure anyone has noticed but there has been a distinct lack of handsewing done around here for the last 6 months, the only piece was a labour of love for Susan's stitchery swap piece, and even that ended up late!
Well, there's been a reason, my hands have been really giving me a hard time, pain, but mainly pins and needles and numbness all night. The little worrying part of me googled MS and of course these are some symptoms but when i finally mentioned it to a few people, the general consensus seemed to be carpal tunnel. The chiropractor has been working on the wrists with limited results and then, just when I was contemplating something more radical my lovely friend Robyn suggested these gloves. After a few nights, no day time troubles and straight away no constant night time waking to then shake my hand back to life. So I thought that may be worth sharing with all of you, as sewers.
Seeing I can sew again, I have been working on my Winter swap quilt...in 35 degree temperatures! Couldn't quite get into winter tree or snow flake mode, but these dark reds and creams speak Winter to me, hopefully they will to my partner.

Have I shown you photos of Fluffy General's 2 fluffy babies? That's the last time I believe a cat giver-awayer about the cat being a male! Males don't normally have 2 kittens, and just when the others have homes!
Anyway, this one is not excited by my progress on the hexagons for my Winter swap,

-Hands up all those who think I should be further ahead.

Yes, you are probably right unnamed kitty...but you know, the heat, the hands, the kids on holidays, the cricket and tennis on TV, the heat.......
Speaking of heat, the last of the other 3 kittens, Gilly, did something to his hip so hasn't yet gone to his new home, his mother decided when the others left that her feeding days were over.....Gilly aint so sure-

Now general Fluff is asking, didn't I only give birth to 2 kittens...and I'm sure there were none with white!! Now for some reason that really amuses me, because it kind of reminds me of Pepe le Pew...only Gilly hasn't needed to paint over the white!
If you can get away with it on hot day....

There's a quilt in here somewhere!

The kids were off at Holiday Bible adventure today. I often help but we are due to begin shearing here any day and as I have to cook for at least 10 I couldn't commit.

Shearer's cooking is a very serious business, well Really Serious, if you are my MIL and slightly less dramatic if you are me.

My MIL trained me for the first few years that I was home. Roast mutton every day with full roast vegies, and hot dessert and ice cream. Everything had to be fully cooked hours before the midday deadline and on the plates with a good 10 minutes to spare. She also made a lot of fresh cream cakes every day for morning and afternoon tea (Smoko) to go with the biscuits and a couple of rounds of sandwiches EACH!

Well, since I took over, things are not quite that focused. My MIL was happy to achieve nothing else in the day, I'm not. Aside from having to help shift and draft sheep, and press wool, I also like to fit in sewing (strangely enough) and the kids of course! So now I do all the baking beforehand so it is all ready in the freezer to be pulled out as needed...I do the groceries at once and not every morning at the local shop for 3 times the price, I put my meat on early, get the morning smoko done then wander off and do my own stuff until i realise with a panic that it is after 11am and vegies should be on...and that it's too late for that dessert so pull a sponge out of the freezer, microwave it, cover it with hot caramel sauce and in 8 minutes you have the equivalent of sticky date pudding! The whole thing is a mad rush and it is a very close thing between the men walking in the door and the food appearing on the plate...but I figure that they can wait a few minutes, it wont kill them. (But don't dob me in to my MIL!) A lot of places don't feed their shearers any more, women just aren't at home to cook, but it is tradition that we do, and I quite like the hustle and bustle and the company.

So while the kids were gone for 6 hours I had a finish.

The quilt that has haunted me and taken much longer than necessary is done. This is my Fall quilt for the four seasons swap.

I followed Atet's excellent advice and incorporated my hobbies with exercise.....seeing no-one has come up with a magical fat exerciser while sitting on your couch/sewing table for me yet!(But don't give up, keep trying!) I rode my bike to the canola paddock and played around with our Spring canola crop in the background of my fall quilt.

See, I used an alternative setting I hadn't even thought of when I showed this to you the last time. I decided this suited the recipient, so went for it. I would have normally just given something this size a spray baste, but no, it was going to someone else, who can quilt, so I basted it all beautifully, then stressed about the machine quilting before deciding I am not a hand quilter and can only do my best, so went to post it when i got the kids and..hey, where's the address email gone? Oops, a quick email has gone into Margaret, the organizer, and it should be in the post in double quick time! I am adding in a little book to make up for the lack of quilting expertise, think that will cut it???

Yesterday I incorporated my hobbies with exercise again and went adventuring with the kids. This is our canola crop, sorry to those whose crops are dry in Australia but that has been us the last year or two and you have to enjoy it while you can in this farming business. I love the colour of this crop, perfect for photos, but only flowers a few weeks.

Have a great day, Tracey