To start off the year I have put my name down to participate in Jewells’ Australia Day Swap. It sounds like great fun.
I have already been doing some secret stitching, so not much more to do to get it all ready.
Sign up closes tomorrow, 6th January, so there is still time to join in the fun.
I can’t believe that it is now 2014. Where did the last year go? Not only that, where did my Christmas break go? Yes, I’m back to work tomorrow.
I didn’t think that we had done a great deal during 2013. Life seemed to jump all over the place and we always seemed to be flat out. However, when I started looking back through my photos we had reason to feel busy. We had, in fact done quite a lot. Unfortunately, a lot of it didn’t get blogged, so I will do a summary of monthly collages and then a quick catch up post. If I don’t do that now, I won’t ever have the record, and when you get down to it, that is the primary reason for my blog, a journal of our day to day doings.
JANUARY
Our cactus flowered, we had a few days away, travelling to Victoria to collect a new canopy for Mick’s ute, we enjoyed a lovely afternoon at our local cafe, we participated in Australia Day festivities and I made a couple of thread catchers and a shoe bag.
FEBRUARY
We attended the Bathurst and Newbridge Swap Meets, picked our plums, I refurbished a chest of drawers, cleaned out our linen press, we attended the Orange Classic Bike Rally and I made a bag.
MARCH
We attended Cumnock Show and continued on to have a nice ride around the central west and I attended Nundle, visiting Ratters Flat and enjoying nibbles on the lawn. I made a scissor keep for the swap.
APRIL
Our garden put on its last show before the cold set in, cockies visited our chook yard, I received my sweet scissor keep from the Nundle Swap and we visited the Bathurst Show.
We headed off to the Ulysses AGM at Maryborough, travelling through the New England which looked a picture, camped along with heaps of others at the AGM site, visited Hervey Bay and went on a day trip to Fraser Island.
We visited the lovely town of Childers, took part in the big AGM Grand Parade, saw a cute dragonfly and kookaburras, met Kris from Tagalong Teddies, Mick learned to play croquet, we spent time with my aunt and uncle, saw the bush fire grounds and attended the Anzac Day service at Coonabarabran.
MAY
We hosted the Bathurst Gold Country Car Rally and kangaroos visited our garden.
JUNE
Mick restored an old wash stand, I made placemats, we went on our annual Winters Solstice ride, visited the Speedway museum, my Mum was presented with a posthumous award for my Uncle serving for 70 years in the RFS, we had a stunning sunset and I played in the kitchen.
JULY
We had some big frosts, I played in the kitchen some more, I travelled to Cassilis to spend a lovely day with these ladies, I visited the “After Five” exhibition at the local art gallery, the wattle started to bud up, another lovely sunset, and I finished the pincushion.
AUGUST
We visited the Isle of Man, playing the tourist and spending time with Loulee.
More playing the tourist, visiting the Patchwork Cafe and meeting up with some chooks, more time with Loulee and seeing the largest sailing vessel in the world.
The reasons we went to the Isle of Man was to see the racing, and continue to play the tourist, along with a bit of being a groupie with the famous riders.
SEPETMBER
Our wattle was in full bloom and the garden put on a display, some lovely birds started to visit us, and the chooks laid plenty of eggs, we also attended the Sidecar Rally on the Bridle Track.
OCTOBER
There were bush fires in the area, we visited the Canowindra Airing of Quilts on our way to Albert, a friend and I visited the open gardens and another friend and I held a market stall, Mick and I had long distance “Drought Drinks” with Chookyblue and I made a little thread catcher.
NOVEMBER
We attended the long track bike races at Blayney, I explored the Blast Furnace Park at Lithgow, a rather tasty bike turned up at the Car Club rego day, I enjoyed catching up with everyone at the blog meet at Bathurst and made a wash cloth for the swap, Mick and I attended the Motorcycle Expo in Sydney and I made gifts for the SSCS and for Lou.
DECEMBER
I received a lovely ornament in the SSCS, we attended the Day on the O’Connell Green, the vineyard next door looked lovely in the morning light, Joey felt the heat and had to find the coolest spot in the garden, Christmas came along and I received some lovely gifts.
Now for 2014. What will it bring? Well, I’ll reveal all very soon. It will be a very busy and eventful year for us. One thing I know for sure, I want to be better at blogging than I was in 2013. I seemed to be playing catch up all the time, so next year I at least want to be up to date.
It will be interesting to look back at this year in twelve months time.
Bring it on.
I’ve showed you the lovely gifts I received, but not those I sent.
My SSCS partner was Caro in the Netherlands. I had fun making a table runner using the Lil Twister Ruler and fabrics from Anni Downs’ range.
I’m really happy with the way it turned out and think I may have to make another one for us, as Mick really liked it.
The other gift I sent across the waves was to Lou on the Isle of Man. I figured you can never have enough little pouches for storing sewing bits and bobs, especially when you will have to be packing everything up for a big move. They were fun to make. Of course, tea and Tim Tams never go astray.
I’ve really enjoyed making my handmade gifts this year.
I’ll have to come up with some fresh ideas for next year.
One of the highlights of Christmas day is receiving lovely handmade gifts. This year I once again joined in Chooky’s Secret Santa Christmas Swap and was thrilled with the gift that came across the ditch from Lyn.
She couldn’t have chosen anything better. I love table runners and had only commented to Mick the day before that I needed another Christmas table runner.
Lyn must by psychic.
The fabric is great, Christmassy, but not too much so, if you get my drift.
Thanks Lyn and thanks Chooky and Googy Girl for getting us all organised.
The other lovely gift I received came in the post from Lou on the Isle of Man. It was a brown paper package tied up with string and I forgot to take a photo of it. I was hoping it may be filled with my favourite things……..OK, enough of the corney jokes.
Well, it was!
Inside was a little box.
This is what was in the box.
But there’s more……..
Lots of my favourite things……buttons, and more buttons, ribbon, a little cross stitch kit, scissors, a seam ripper, poppy thimble and poppy day badge. It was amazing how much she fitted into the box. It was loads of fun opening it all. Thanks so much Lou.
While I’m at it, I’ll show you a couple of my special decorations that are new this year.
Firstly the little wreath from Lou’s box of goodies.
Then the bauble she made from Christmas cards. A great way of upcycling and pretty to boot.
I bought this little birdy when I was visiting Lou earlier this year. There are couple of rather tasty shops just up the road from where she lives. I have a feeling that some of my gifties came from one of them.)
I’ve saved the best till last. This was a gift from Lou when we visited her earlier in the year. It is just gorgeous. A truly beautiful interpretation of the Legs of Man.
After a couple of rather chaotic weeks leading up to Christmas the day has arrived.
We had a very enjoyable day with family and the weather was cool, with gentle rain. Quite a contrast to earlier in the week when the temperature reached the high 30s each day. Of course, we ate far too much and have lots of leftovers for the next few days.
I have received some lovely gifts which I will share shortly.
My little tree was covered with hand made ornaments and others that have been special gifts. I think I may have to invest in a larger tree next year to accommodate the growing collection. All have such wonderful meaning.
Our mantle piece looked lovely and festive. The house is a sweet advent calendar sent by our good friend Lou from the Isle of Man. It is a lovely addition to our Christmas.
I hope you and yours had a wonderful Christmas with those you love.
Mick called me at work this afternoon to tell me that a “Squishy Parcel” had arrived for me. He wouldn’t tell me where it was from except that it was from “an island”. I had to come home to find out more. That’s one way to get me to leave work on time.
My parcel was posted by Lyn on the south island of New Zealand. I’ve never received mail from NZ before. Likewise, I hadn’t discovered Lyn’s blog previously, so will have fun doing some reading.
Anyway, now for the big reveal, or should I say small reveal.
Isn’t the ornament gorgeous. It is hanging on my pantry door until I put the tree up. The fabric is cute and the choccies were yummy. (Note the past tense, they are gone now.) Now I have to be strong and not touch the other present till the big day.
Thanks Chooky and Googy for arranging the SSCS swap. It’s been great to be involved again this year.
I’m pleased to be able to advise that the parcel I sent all the way to Caro in the Netherlands for Chooky’s Secret Santa Christmas Swap has arrived safe and sound. Phew! We always send them off on a wing and a prayer.
This is the little ornament I made this year.
You can pop over to Caro’s blog and have a bit of a look a around. She does lots of interesting sewing and visits amazing places. I’ve really enjoyed discovering her blog.
I’m now eager to receive the gift winging its way over here. Such a fun part of the lead up to Christmas.
Once again I’ve joined in Chookyblue’s Secret Santa Christmas Swap.
Unfortunately, I missed getting it finished for Friday’s mail but it is ready to wing its way to somewhere tomorrow morning.
It’s been fun participating in the swap again this year. I just wish that I was delivering the parcel in person. Wouldn’t that be fun.
Remember when we were back on the Isle of Man. Well, there is lots that I never got around to adding to my blog, so I’ll just occasionally add another little tit bit.
If any of you are familiar with the TV show “Top Gear” you will know of James May. He has made a separate show on his own called James May’s Toy Story. We saw a few episodes. One was making a full scale Airfix model aeroplane, one was running model railway trains along the length of a disused railway line and another was building a bridge across a canal in Liverpool that would support a man made out of Meccano.
Well, he was at it again on the Isle of Man, making an episode for his Christmas special. This time it was a motorcycle with sidecar made out of Meccano and he and his mate Oz Clarke were to do a lap of the TT Course – thirty seven and three quarter miles.
There was quite a bit of hype leading up to the start, which was at the end of a day’s racing. We waited patiently at our spot beside the track for him to appear, but gave up, deciding instead to drive back along the course towards the start line and see if we came across him.
We finally found him, just around the corner from the start line. To our surprise, we were able to get quite close and take some great photos. In typical Isle of Man fashion, there was no keeping the public out of the way.
The bike is a true work of art.
It is powered by 90, yes, 90, little Meccano electric motors.
There was also a battery kit from a golf cart to help up the hills.
Look at the work in the wheels.
And the front view.
He was a very brave man hopping in that sidecar, relying only on the little pieces to support him.
And off they go, down Bray Hill. I hoped their brakes were good.
As we were heading back home we saw them still in Douglas, pulled up by their support van. We hoped that there weren’t any major dramas.
Over the next couple of day people were ringing into the radio station giving updates on where they had seen the bike on its way around the course. It took about 3 days to complete, but yes, they did make it all the way around and there was a big cheer for them at the finish line on the final day’s racing, just before the racing began.
I do hope they show the episode out here some time and that we don’t miss it.
Yesterday, it was great to catch up with lots of ladies here in Bathurst for a blog get together, organised by Chooky.
The first stop was Fabric and Trim, but I skipped that, as I knew the shop was quite small. The second stop was at Anni’s, so this is where I met up with all the girls. Some I had met before, some I have only known through their blogs and some were new to me. It is wonderful how the common thread of blogging has brought us all together.
We all had a great time browsing at Anni’s. Here is Kylie, Chooky and Beryl (Anita’s aunt visiting from the UK).
Susan, Jan and Fiona were quite happy chatting while waiting their turn to be served.
Peg and Dale turned up for the day and kept an eye on Anni and Chooky.
While Khrissy waited for Chooky to finish her shopping and talking she had a chat to the girls.
After we had spent all our money, we adjourned to Crago Mill Cafe for lunch. Mmmm. Mmmmmm. Some lovely things came out of the kitchen.
We also had the chance to have a wander around the new antique shop on site. I was rather taken with this wash stand, as it was similar to one that has just found it’s way to our place.
There was lots of chatting and we had a little swap, “Make it, Bake it or Fake it”.
I was lucky enough to receive some sweet chilli sauce made by the lovely Kate, via Suze, beautifully presented with star and berries.
My gift was received by Anita.
It was a little knitted wash cloth and soap. Fun to make.
Of course, no get together is complete without show and tell. I missed the start, (too busy talking). These three were all made by Michelle from The Home Patch. Just beautiful.
By then the afternoon was slipping away and everyone had to be on their way to the various parts of the state.
Peg and Dale said bye to their namesakes. Who knows where they will turn up next.
The day passed so very quickly and was thoroughly enjoyable. Now we will have to wait till Nundle in March to catch up again. Thanks for a great day, ladies.
