I have that happy, but completely exhausted, feeling that you get when you know what you did was worthwhile....like giving birth but mercifully without the stitches!
We are shearing here and I am feeding the whole shearing team hot morning tea, roast lunch, dessert and afternoon tea. Around that and the kids I also had to work on my friend's 70th quilt-that was still a lot of blocks short by Wednesday's mail! I had to present it as a top and I will add the missing blocks and quilt it as a work in progress. Thanks for everyone's input, I was a little strapped for time so didn't go too elaborate, I kind of split the difference and went for a 2 1/2 inch finished sash.
By staying up a considerable amount of Thursday night and enlisting the kids on their day off as kitchen apprentices I managed to get it into a satisfactory quilt top by the time I had to serve dinner then race to town to the handover lunch.
Here she is.. and do you think she minds that it is still only a top??? I don't think she would have minded if it were just the squares! She couldn't believe who I had tracked down to contribute a square.
She just kept crying, even an hour later we were having a quiet coffee together and tears were running down her face. I sent her off up the street to get tissues clutching her quilt box tightly before she headed away with the family to her daughter's. I spoke to her daughter last night and she said the crying had stopped but she was still clutching the quilt!
I love giving a quilt to someone who appreciates it, that is really why we do this crazy cutting up of fabric! Makes it all very worthwhile.
My batteries went flat, I'll get you good pictures when it is done. This is Valda's DIL and grandson at the left, and Valda and I on the right.
DH finished his day in the woolshed and went to bed with the flu so i spent a fairly sleepless night on the couch which did nothing to help the tiredness!
I had to stop and let this echidna past on the road on the way to town.
The dress making bug has quieted for a few days, here are the girls in their dresses...and baby Born's to match.
We have taken some Canola photos, if you saw how many it took to get these! The models were far more interested in chasing each other through the crop than cooperating, but that's all fun as well.
Just realised it is my 2 year blogiversary. I think we better have a giveaway, don't you? I haven't got any elaborate idea organized so I think we will stick to the tried and true...leave a comment about something you liked in this post or in the 2 years worth to go in the draw...and I guarantee the prizes (s) will be something worthwhile. I'll cut it off and announce the winner by wed nesday, 22/10-hopefully shearing will be over by then!
Have a great day, I am off to draft up sheep with a DH with the 'flu...oh what unbridled joy!!! Tracey
36 comments:
Congratulations...wow 2 years. Only one favorite thing on this post...although I love the photo of your kids in the canola field and what the heck is an echnida by the way...I'd have to say someone receiving a treasured gift and appreciating it is very special.
Congratulations on your 2nd blogiversary!! I love that quilt. Some of the blocks are so clever. Love it.
Well wow where do I start? :c)
Firstly thanks for poppin over...love your visits!
Congrats on 2 years...it's amazing how quick it can go.
I think you're Superwoman!!
I'd love to dig up some of that energy again...phew!!
Sorry DH has the flu, that's rotten when you're all so busy.
Get better soon DH :c)
I'm so glad you chose the 2 1/2" sashings...I think they look perfect. What a darling woman, to be so touched (and rightly so) by your lovely gift...Nope I really don't think she'd care if it was one square. God love her!
Kids are gorgeous in the Canola...looks fantastic! Does it smell either stinky or sweet? We've had canola hay but never grown it ourselves.
Do stay well while you're all busy.
What a super duper post.
Woohoo!!
Robyn xx
PS Mine's gonna be big too if I don't get off here...lol...ttfn
Congrats on your 2nd blogiversary!
I agree with Robyn, how do you get everything done!
I always enjoy your posts, and I really enjoy the way you incorporate your animals in quilty photos.
congrats on 2 years Tracey
I have just taken a little trip back through your blog trying to find my favourite post but I just cant pick one so I will just say I love it all your pick the stories about your family and farm all your beautiful quilts and goodies you make
and your friendship here in blogland
I am so very glad I found your blog
hugs Beth
congrats Tracey on your blogiversary...
my favourite bits on your blog? well I did love the post about the chooks, but, I had a tear in my eye when I seen this post with your kids in the canola! reminded me a of a trip I took with my mum in Victoria 2 years ago, mum passed away 11 months ago, so feeling a bit sooky about it all (her birthday is coming up too).. so thank you for sharing the pics of your kids and the crop and jogging my memory!
Your friend's reaction is so gorgeous.
I am completely in love with your free-pieced roses. One day... one day....
The funny thing is that I first saw Canola growing in England and loved it. It still looks so happy in the fields. And your friend and her quilt - her smile is just as sunny.
I keep seeing the mountain in the background of your photos - is it one you can climb ?( within reason).
Congratulations on two years Tracey - for someone living in the Northern hemisphere about as far from you as it's possible to get I can't get over the novelty of having to stop to let an echidna across the road - the most exciting thing I'd have to stop for is possibly a group of waddling ducks or a sheep loose from a farmers field. Still can't get over the beautiful colour of that canola too
I love that your friend cried for so long after getting her quilt ( top ) Many congrats for getting as much done as you did with all the other things you manage to get done. BTW - 22nd Oct is my 40th birthday - not that I'm hinting or anything - lol ! xx
Well done on your blogaversary, what an achievement. I love the quilt you made and what a wonderful response from the birthday gal. Love the canola flower show, thank you for sharing, love the bright yellow such a fresh summer colour. Happy Stitching
I rmember making my daughter dresses and matching dresses for her dolls--- great memories.... Congrates on the 2 year anniversary.
Congratulations on two years of blogging. I really enjoy the stories and pictures of life on an Australian farm, having been raised on a Canadian farm.
Lovely quilt - I am fairly new to quilting so read all the quilting blogs I stumble upon!
Your gift was too precious for words.
Congratulations on your two year anniversary!
Bless you - that was my allergies just looking at those lovely yellow flowers!
Best wishes and happy crafting - Vanessa
Tracey,
I found your blog shortly after you started sharing your life and adventures. There are so many favorites......but your joy shines in all that you do. And I think that you made the right sashings..2.5 looks really good. Love your friends reaction to the lovely quilt. Isn't it rewarding to share with someone that truly appreciates all your hard work?!!! I look forward to many more posts...hugs, B.
Wow is all I can say about your blog. I have to say my favorite bits on your blog is the fancy chooks and the quilts on the fences. I am from Manitoba Canada so to me the echnida looks like a porcupine had fun with some anteater and that was the result. The eighties . I have hidden all pictures of me with purple spiked hair and balloon skirts. What memories!
Congrats on 2 years, how wonderful!
I love your photos, they really capture the spirit of your family.
The quilt is quite lovely too, thanks so much for sharing with us.
Sue Cahill (sbonetsue at yahoo dot com)
Well done on two years of blogging. Does it help if I say I like all your posts...vbg.....cause I truly can't decide which is my favorite. I love them all. Congratulations on the quilt too - it looks stunning and Valda looks so happy with it. I thought a 15 year old with the flu was bad - but you have it worse. Men always think they are dieing when they are sick. Good luck with dealing with the "patient".
I love it when you post about the sheep shearers. It is so interesting!! The cute kiddos in the field of yellow ain't to shabby either my friend!!!
dawn
Hi Tracey,
I have stopped by before while browsing - a fun thing to do! My goodness, 2 years of blogging - how wonderful and all the hard work you do, too - congratulations and just love all your photos!
Hugs - Lurline.
Hi Tracey,
I love the stories of your life on the farm- my parents both came from farms and we would visit my grandparents on the farm regularly. I think it was a lovely thing you did for your friend - the quilt is obviously a treasured gift- like you said what more can one hope - that the gift is loved and valued.
Happy blog Anniversary- may you continue to enjoy many more opportunities to share your life down under.
Regards,
Anna
congrats on 2 years of blogging!
I have always enjoyed reading your blog and seeing what your up to.
Yes, I too wish I had as much energy as you!
Love learning about your farming, seeing the pictures, being a mom!
and of course all your wonderful projects.
Love those scrap quilts!
looking forward to reading more over the next 2 years!
keep sharing your quilt projects with us!
Hi Tracey,
Happy Blogiversary.
This post pretty well sums up for me why I like to read your blog and what a lovely person you are.
The thoughtful quilt for your friend, your busy interesting farm life, your sewing pursuits, your kiddies and their antics and your beautiful photography. Plus always with an added measure of humour.
Wishing you many more years of bloggy fun.
Kind regards from Liz
bthw that baby borns eyes look a bit too scary for me!!!!!
Happy blogiversary. I hope your husband feels better soon. I especially liked your summer swap quilt!
Didn't those 2 years just fly by? Congratulations!
Love those dresses, any chance of a tutorial?
How awesome that your friend loved her quilt so much, it turned out stunning!
Catching up: I'm so glad you didn't run and scream over the prada bag lol. What a cool gift!
What did I like in this post? So much. First, of course, the wonderful children. Second the sweet happy lady receiving her quilt. And third the canola. Your blog is the only place I've ever seen it and I find it amazing. I'd love to enter your give-away.
I love seeing your quilts photographed on the farm and I like hearing about your farm.
The birthday quilt is so wonderful, all the hours of work and done in a loving way. Youe echidna reminds me of a time when we were going to Bright and DH pulled the car to a sceech to take a photo of an echidna ( slides in those days ) when we the girls and I would have loved to stop for a drink.Memories make the world go round, and your quilt will surely do that.
Congratulations of reaching 2 years.
My favourite thing in this post was the story about the quilt you made for the 70th birthday. The kids in the canola field is just priceless.
:)Andrea
Happy, but exhausted - good way to describe it! Good luck finishing that up! Lunch sounds yummy! Lots of fluid & rest for DH! & hope your days on the couch are limited! I have had the flu for almost 3 weeks now, it hangs on! :(
The quilt top is beautiful! So glad she liked it! You are right, that is why we do what we do!
Your blog is always fun to read and look at, but one of my fav' posts is - http://ozcountryquiltingmum.blogspot.com/2008/07/seals-and-whales.html - Just a post about everyday humor and life those are the days that make life special!
Beautiful children, dresses & doll outfits! Great job!
Congratulations on 2 years of blogging!
Linda
Two years? How time flies when you're having fun! Congrats! Your friend's quilt is wonderful and you're so very right about giving someone a quilt who really appreciates it! I'm so sorry your hubby came down with the flu in the middle of shearing! I think he's going to owe you some new fabric or something for stepping in and handling those sheep for him--LOL!
Congratulations on your blogiversary! I loved the string quilt made from 70s scraps. Reminds me of my teenage years.
(sharon.james@artswales.org.uk)
Oh, my...hard to pick just ONE favorite. But....since I'm totally unfamiliar with the look of canola fields, I'd have to say I love those photos. I follow your blog and love all the animal photos you do, too. And I'm going to have to do a search online to see more about this echnida. That's a new one to me. Congrats on your 2nd blogiversary. I've yet to figure out how to DO a blog, but someday........
Congratulations Tracey! I just love to visit your blog. You always have such beautiful photos to show. And it was such a lovely quilt and gesture you made for your friend.
2 years, do you ever go back to your first posts and re-read?
As for the cooking, keep the shearers happy and everyone's happy, right?
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