Looking Back at 2014 – October

I’m back with some more of our doings in the month of October last year.  You can see what we got up to for the earlier part of the year here.

Once we reached October things were getting a little crazy, but it is that time of the year.  It is the best of spring weather in our area so there are heaps of things happening. Of course, we never want to miss out on anything.

LUNAR ECLIPSE

Firstly, there was a stunning lunar eclipse.  I did enjoy popping outside every now and then to see how it progressed.

MAYFIELD GARDEN

Remember we went exploring to Oberon Dam and mentioned being near Mayfield Gardens back here here.  Well, we visited them.  They are the largest cool climate gardens in the Southern Hemisphere and cover something like 300 acres.  We visited 9 years ago when they first opened.  At the time we said, yes, very impressive, but we’ll come back in  about 10 years when the plantings have matured.  Well, in July we went to a charity trivia night and won two tickets in the silent auction.  Perfect.  That meant that we had to go. No excuses.  You see, the entire garden is only open for a four week period in autumn and spring each year.

We’re very pleased we went along.

The story goes that a merchant banker decided to build a little weekender and put in a small garden.  Maybe do a little landscaping along the way………like move a hill because it was blocking the view.

It would be nice to have some music, so build an amphitheatre and a little water feature would be nice. A few veges out the back, too.

A few silver birch would look nice and what about a chook shed (or three).  The budgie and cocky would need a cage too.

His daughter decided to get married, so they decided to just have a simple wedding in the garden at home….but you need a chapel for that.

Joking aside, this is the most stunning garden.  It has developed so much since that first open weekend nine years ago. One of our best mates did a lot of the metal work on the aviaries, the conical roofs of the chicken houses and the forged iron in the chapel.  We love seeing what he did. In the last year, there has been a cafe and nursery added and the water garden (in the top photos) is now open year round. If you get a chance to visit, do.  Make sure you allow all day.  You need it.  Oh, and bring your comfy walking shoes.  You need them too.

OPEN GARDENS

As always, my friend Lisa and I had our annual outing to the Bathurst Open Gardens.

There were a few new gardens open, which is always good to see, as well as watching other mature over the years.  We were treated to a trombone ensemble at one garden.  They really were good. My favourite walled kitchen garden was looking a treat.  I loved the way they used the fruit tree prunings as trellises for their snow peas and broad beans.  Too clever and very attractive.

WEATHER

Generally, October was hotter than average.  Spring started out rather early.  We had some storms and stunning rainbows.  However, the most surprising was ***SNOW***!!!  There was heavy snow in the blue mountains to about 5 kms east of us, but none settled at home.  This is the heaviest snow we had ever seen from our place, although we have had some light falls in the past.  It was so very unexpected and rather destructive in the mountains and particularly at Lithgow, about 50 kms east of us.

That was the last hoorah of cooler weather.  After that we had three weeks of howling, hot westerlies, which burnt everything off.

October also is the month of the church fete.  I helped on the White Elephant Stall and a few little things found their way home.  I know, I’m supposed to be downsizing and de-cluttering, but some things just have my name on them.

In the backgrounds, lots of people were inspecting our home, so we were still cleaning, tidying and keeping out of the way when inspections were taking place. 

Happy New Year and a Review of 2014

Happy New Year!

I’m a bit late with my wishes, but it seems to have taken me this long to get in the mood for writing a blog post.  A case of I don’t know where to start.  Like other blogs that I have read, so many posts written my head, in the middle of the night, or while driving, but just not transferring those thoughts into type.

Before things get too stale, I will do a review of 2014 over a few posts.  Towards the end of the year we were just so busy, that I didn’t get to share what we were up to.  There were lots of fun things, so I will do a bit of a back track.

OK.  Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start………or so they sing……

JANUARY

To put things simply, I was stressed….to the max!  I don’t think that I mentioned it at the time.  We had started to prepare our home to put on the market and there was so much to do.  It was all a bit overwhelming for me and I couldn’t see the end of the tunnel.  But, as you know, we got through it.

In the meantime, I made my first ever bread, we went over to Goulburn to the  Motorcycle Swap Meet, took a week long road trip to Phillip Island to see some classic bike races and came home via the south coast.  I also took part in Jewell’s Australia Day Swap (just what was needed to add to the already high stress level, but it was fun).

FEBRUARY

February was a bit quieter, socially.  As usual, we were very involved in the Bathurst Swap Meet, as organisers and having a stall.  Great for starting to de-clutter before selling.  The roses put on a show and we saw a stunning halo around the moon.

In the background, we were still beavering away with our de-cluttering, taking things into town to store at the house we are in now, as well as getting it renovated.  I think it was about then that we had some painting done on the exterior at home as well.

MARCH

The weather cooled down a bit, we had lots of mushrooms (yum) as well as little toadstools, the garden got its autumnal flourish, I went to the Farmers’ Market and we had some stunning skies.

March is also the time to travel to Nundle.  It is so much fun to catch up with everyone.  I love the drive up and back.  Lynette Anderson was a great tutor and the project was lovely.  The swap this year was one of Lynette’s stitchery patterns.  So many beautiful variations.  I made mine into a pincushion.  I’m looking forward to the next get together.

March was also the month I revealed our big plans to sell, move to town and build a house on the block of land we bought in late 2013.  We were still beavering away getting ready to sell.  It was taking longer than we hoped, but more important to have the presentation right than rush things.

APRIL

The weather was cooling down, with our first frost, I visited the Begonia House at Machatti Park in town and took you for a stroll.  Lucky me won a big vege hamper and  I decluttered the kitchen.  Easter arrived, complete with lots of little eggs, which seemed to disappear rather rapidly and we attended the Vintage Bike Rally on Good Friday.  Anzac Day saw me wear Dad’s miniature medals for the first time when we attended the bush service in a paddock at O’Connell.

We finally had our place ready to put on the market, so started discussions with Real Estate Agents.

MAY

Our house went on the market at the beginning of May.  The start of a rather long process.  I tell you what, there is nothing like it to keep you on top of the housework.

In other doings, we went on a Historic Car Club outing to Neville on Olga.    Hot chocolate at the pub, too cold for beer.  It was nice to get out and about.  I did a bit of stitching, although not much.  We went to the show, I visited the park and kicked autumn leaves and there were some great Artisan markets in town.  Finally, the Historic Car Club hosted its annual car rally.

JUNE

Now that the worst of the preparation to sell the house was done we allowed ourselves time to breathe.

Chooky held a 2nd Birthday Party for “The Chookshed”.  We couldn’t be there so we had cake instead.  Any excuse for cake.  I knitted a wash cloth.  We had nothing planned for the long weekend, so we hopped in the ute and drove up to see Chooky and family, attending the rodeo while there.  On the way home we visited Mt Kaputar, which was stunning.  Later in the month we went on our usual Winter Solstice motorcycle ride, this time to Canowindra.

In the background, lots of housework and scribbles at the kitchen table to come up with a house plan.

JULY

July is our typical hibernation month.  Too cold for anything much to be happening. 

I shared my new little sewing area and made the top of a baby quilt.  We had a stunning mackerel sky and we attended the Classic Bike Rally at Windsor.  We took a lazy Friday to get down there, it rained on the rally, but cleared up in the afternoon, so were able to have a lovely walk exploring the town and riverside park.  Amazing how much warmer the climate is, only two hours away from home.

Meanwhile, plenty of lookers at our house, but no offers.  Keep cleaning, keep cleaning.

AUGUST

We start to get a few warmer days, so it was time to get out in the garden and give it a good tidy up after Winter.  We checked the watering system, and the sun in the sprinklers was so pretty.

The highlight of the month was another visit to Nundle.  This time for a weekend retreat at Kerry’s.  Once again, a pretty drive up, a visit to Ratter’s Flat and lots of creativity.  I opted to make a huge Drunkard’s Path Quilt.  The top is 96 inches square.  I love the soft colours.  No, it isn’t finished yet.  I have to piece a back and get it quilted.  Must do that soon. On the way home I was able to enjoy the super moon while driving through the Bylong Valley.  Beautiful.

Still no interest in our home, so we changed real estate agents and started planning to go to auction.

SEPTEMBER

On the home front, we got some more chooks, I did some baking, we played with shadows and the garden woke up, with blossoms and snow peas. 

On the social side, we went to Rydal Daffodils with Chooky and Fairy Girl for company, on another weekend, Chooky and Fairy Girl came to stay and we did some stitching in the sun.  We also travelled to Tottenham for the Far Cairn Motorcycle Rally.

Getting close to starting to advertise the auction of our home.

OCTOBER

Now, this isn’t all of October.  What I did get to blog about was our visit to the Trunkey Creek Show and our detour on the way home, the visit of so many birds and our robins nest, and our explore on our way to Oberon Dam.

In the background, our auction was advertised, with lots of people coming for a look at our place.  Keep cleaning, keep cleaning.

However, there was more in October and heaps in November that never made it to the blog.

I will do individual posts for them as I do want to have a record of all that we got up to.

Then I’ll share what is happening in 2015….. no rest for the wicked.

Another Lovely Gift

My good friend Loulee from the Isle of Man, who now lives in New Zealand, and I also swap gifts each Christmas.  This year Lou sent me a lovely parcel.

It had a delightful angel looking after it.

What looked like 2 parcels turned out to be five!

Look what was inside.

FRIENDSHIP

Happy is the heart

That holds a food friend

What a lovely sentiment.  The hanging is beautiful.  When I get my sewing room in the new house I will have to have a wall of mini quilts.  I have two now from Lou to hang. 

Here is the rest of the gifts.  Yummy chocs, a sweet diary, a very handy bag in Kiwiana fabrics and a bag bag.  We were rather excited about the bag bag, as it was the first thing that I was going to make for our kitchen in this house.  Now I don’t have to and it is in Manx fabric.  A double win.

Thanks Lou for such wonderful and thoughtful gifts.

Secret Santa Christmas Swap

Now that Christmas has been and gone I can show what I sent to Isabel in Portugal.

Firstly, the ornament.  I do love these patterns.

And the gift.

I made a Sew Together Bag.  It was a fun challenge and I’m pleased with how it turned out.

Here it is filled with goodies.

I’m pleased that Isabel liked it.

Now to what I received from Katie in the USA.

Just a recap of the ornament.

Now for the gift.

Here I am opening it. Mick decided to take lots of photos, bless him.

Can you believe it!!! A Sew Together Bag in vintage motorcycle fabric.  There is even a sidecar.  How good is that!

Filled with goodies.

There is also some extra fabric for me to play with.  Not sure what I will use it for, but it is something I haven’t been able to find around here and certainly won’t go to waste.

I was going to make a bag for me, but now I don’t need to.  Bonus.

Thanks Katie for such a thoughtful gift.

Thanks also to Chookyblue for making the swap happen once again.  It wouldn’t be Christmas without a mystery overseas parcel. I know that this year it nearly didn’t take place due to life getting in the way, so it is extra special. Thanks a bunch, Chooky.

Merry Christmas

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas.

Although we have only been in this house for two weeks I did manage to find a few Christmas bits and bobs. Come for a stroll with me.

Firstly, we have the entry foyer.

The kitchen.

The dining area.  Joey makes a lovely extra decoration.

The living room.  The wall hanger and the runner are both SSCS gifts from previous years.

This runner was a Christmas gift a couple of years ago.

I was delighted to find my little nativity scenes in a suitcase when we moved.  I thought it held doileys.  What great timing for the find.

Here they are a bit closer up.  I can’t believe I found so many kitsch examples.  I have another one packed away as well.

The little tree was the only one to come out this year.  The table runner was last year’s SSCS gift.  Joey is acting as guard cat under the coffee table.

Here we are a bit closer.  Most of the decorations are hand made gifts.

I’ll share a couple of gifts a little later on.

We had a lovely day with family, too much good food and lovely gifts.  Best of all, we received some nice rain this afternoon to give everything a drink and cool things down.

I hope everyone had a wonderful day as well.

Secret Santa Christmas Swap

I  have been rather remiss in my posts about participating in the Secret Santa Christmas Swap run by Chookyblue.

This is the fifth time I’ve joined in and it has got to the stage that Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without a parcel arriving from somewhere over the sea.

I still can’t disclose where my parcel went to as it hasn’t been shared on the recipient’s blog, but I believe it has arrived safe and sound.  Here is a couple of little peeks.

 

It was fun wrapping everything up to send on its way.

Then the big wait begins. As usual, I seem to get so caught up in making the gift to send off that I forget that I too will receive a parcel from somewhere……..but where?

Well, this year it came from here.

 

Yes, all the way from America……don’t get me started on singing the Joan Armatrading Song.

My swap partner was Katie, who’s blog is new to me.  She has presented her parcel so beautifully.

As usual, I could open the small package now, to reveal the most beautiful Christmas bird ornament. 

I have always taken photos of the ornaments hanging from my pantry door.  I took this one out while we were packing, so that it wouldn’t miss out.  The last ornament to be hung from there.

Now I have to wait patiently (I’m not very patient) for Christmas to open the rest of the parcel.  I can’t wait.

Thanks to Katie for making such a delightful ornament.  I’m going to enjoy exploring her blog now.

It’s All Happening

After seven months on the market our house has finally sold!!!

After six months we changed agents and went to auction, which brought things to a head.  We accepted an offer a few days before the auction.

Contracts exchanged on 19 November and settlement is on 19 December, so a relatively short time.  Add to that, the local removalists were fully booked except for Thursday and Friday last week.  Therefore, we had a mad pack of anything that was in or on furniture, so the removalists could do their stuff.  They did a marvellous job.

We are still packing the last bits and pieces before doing the big clean.  One week to go.  All good.

So, we are now living in town, in a small three bedroom house that we have owned for a while as an investment.  Timing worked out just right to enable us to do a bit of a renovation before moving in, without affecting any tenants.  We have lots of stuff packed away till we move into the house we are going to build, but we will be nice and cosy in the mean time.  I will even have a nice, light filled sewing corner.  I will share more with you once I get organised.

I have so much that I want to share from the last few months.  Blogging has taken a back seat to life for a little while, but that will all change once things settle down a little.  I will be doing a big catch up.

Yes, I’ve Been Sewing

However, most of my stitching has been of the secret variety.

The only thing I have to share for the month of October is another bib.

As you may guess, this was made to accompany the baby quilt I finished in September and I did get to take a better photo of the finished quilt before I gave it away.

They were well received and I believe they are being used, which is what I intended.