July Update

A quick update for July before moving into August..... The month of July always brings our mum's birthday and time for another family celebration in Sydney but unfortunately due to lockdown that was not to be so a "virtual" birthday cake was sent and a shared cup of tea.....

.....Mum received her presents by post including this one I finished in time ........

Apart from this little bit of creativity have, as always, been reading......This was a book bought at Storyfest this year .... a biography about Elizabeth von Arnim - an early twentieth century author...was interesting.... 

"Happy" mail arrived during the past week....time to knit myself something - let's see how long it takes as the last garment took 3 Winters to finish! 

And while we can't really travel too far Megan & James in England went mountain bike riding in Wales - Megan's new found sport and Hayley in Queensland spent a few days camping with friends in Girraween National Park - well known for it's boulders! 

So that's about if for July......maybe August will bring a little more creativity, some more reading and warmer weather which for me brings more motivation! 

 

Weekends Away

 Has it really been that long since I was last here!! Where does the time go?? And more to the point what have I been doing? I have completed a few rows of knitting, did trace a pattern on my new light box but that was as far as I got, have fabric ready to cut out for a quilt, in the process of de-cluttering my sewing room - still ongoing - I came across a few "works in progress", discovered a X-stitch pattern I'd like to start...... but have no photos to share of any creativity - this time! 
But..... I did have a couple of weekends away - very rare in these days of not going too far. On the October long weekend I travelled up to Bundanoon (Southern Highlands) to visit my sister  as our other sister from the North Coast was there as well so gave us all a chance to spend some time together.... Bundanoon had a "Scarecrow Festival" so we took a drive around checking some of them out...

Linda taking a rest in the lovely garden behind the Bundanoon Memorial Hall.......

Enjoying lunch in Vivien's garden (took a while to get this "selfie" just right - arms aren't always long enough!

About a week ago decided to take a few days off work ..... just have a mini holiday at home but did pop up to Bundanoon again and from there Vivien and I drove to Sydney for the day to celebrate Dad's 98th birthday with the rest of the family.... 

Apart from patchwork shops my other favourite is Bunnings and after a visit during my mini holiday and leaving with a trolley full of plants most of my days off at home were then spent in the garden - another "work in progress" ! The end result was lots of colour and was rewarded by seeing happy bees and butterflies! My azaleas, which I do nothing with, were so thick with flowers this year you couldn't even see the green leaves!   

Well, that's about it for now...... next time I should have some photos of what I have been stitching while de-cluttering of my sewing room continues - I'm sure I could set up my own haberdashery shop - so much "stuff"!!! And on that note I'll share the following which I came across - somewhere! 

Happy Stitching

Asta

The Last Month.....

Here we are into August already....life as we know it has still not changed and so I go between work and home.... we did have a scare of the virus here a couple of weeks ago but thankfully has now passed and this week  am looking forward to my small embroidery group getting together again .........but, to catch up since last posting.....
There have been a couple of birthdays over the last few weeks....firstly Megan's in England and as always I sent her a "virtual" birthday cake.....

.....then a few weeks later is was my mum's 91st birthday.... plans to head to Sydney were cancelled so thought it a nice idea to also send her a "virtual" birthday cake together with a cup of tea and flowers.......

 A couple more books have been read..... thoroughly enjoyed "Becoming Michelle Obama"  they were an amazing couple and very interesting reading about living in the White House! This was followed by an all time classic.... "The Hound of the Baskervilles" - bought in England in 2018 (!) 

And..... (drumroll happening here)..... I finally finished Hayley's quilt - started some time ago (!)  and has been waiting for the binding to be done since last year....

Unfortunately the true colours don't really show up as there was no white - it was all blacks, greys and beiges with a touch of "wine". I posted it to Queensland and was very pleased knowing it had arrived when she sent me a lovely thank you message! 

Also out of the basket with further progress being made is my crochet blanket started 3 Winters ago.... perhaps this year I'll get it finished?? 

While Megan was in "lock down" in England she took up embroidery and has done some beautiful work.....  here is my Mothers' Day present she sent....I think I have forgotten to "show it off" in any previous post..... 

And will finish off with photo of a double rainbow I came across on my way home from work a few weeks ago....... 

Off to find another stitching project and book to read!! 

Happy Stitching

Asta

The Weekend Before This one!

Well.... I really am a bit behind......can't let last weekend go unnoticed - particularly as it was what I call my "birthday" weekend - why not celebrate for the whole weekend when one's birthday falls on a Friday!! 
Lovely flowers were received from both my girls.....

.....and arrived just before I headed off to the Southern Highlands to spend the weekend with my sister and brother-in-law (the flowers came with me!)..... Their front porch and yard still had a Wintry feel and look about it but as always was very warm and welcoming inside!

Saturday morning was enjoyed visiting the Exeter markets....love these country markets! 

Followed by a lovely lunch at Burrawang.... the old general store now serving as a very welcoming and up-market cafe.......and yes!....it was rather cold outside! 

And....what better way to finish off a very tasty lunch but with a pot of tea and a good old-fashioned crushed weetbix and  marshmallow slice! Though no-one I've spoken to remembers such a slice... is that giving away my age!! 

Sunday morning  ..... and Bundanoon was celebrating - the 150th anniversary of their railway station... the small village was the place to be.... with speeches, unveiling a replica of the old gas lamp (with a light bulb!), a parade of vintage cars, and some interesting locals! 

All too soon the weekend came to an end and it was time to leave the Southern Highlands... with the promise of Spring around the corner as sunny daffodils start to appear......

During the previous week presents had been arriving from fellow members of the Fat Quarter Birthday Swap.....and on arriving home after my weekend away I finally opened them.....some lovely fabrics and gifts! Thank you to all.....

This weekend has been rather quiet.... belated birthday lunch out with a dear friend yesterday and today has been spent "pottering" around at home.... no creativity to show this time but am waiting for the quilt to come back from being quilted and then will be busy sewing on the binding..... 

Happy Stitching

Asta

Hello!

Well.... here I am back again..... not that I've been anywhere.... but the time just seems to slip by and before you know it another week has disappeared!
Firstly I must thank the lovely ladies from the Fat 1/4 Birthday Swap.... some lovely fabrics with little extras were finally opened last Wednesday (my birthday).....

.... my "special" gift was made by Michelle..... she certainly "stalked" my blog to add in all the things I enjoy into the beautiful stitchery!

There were many reasons to enjoy my day - a long lunch with a good friend and dinner with another dear friend, Dzintra.... many birthday greetings sent by various means of technology..... and some beautiful flowers from Hayley and her partner.....

But, I must back-track a little...... before my birthday it was time for OPAM and although the update here is a little late I did finish another felted bowl for the end of July.......

That though was the only "creation" I've managed to finish of late..... but did buy this little kit from Anni's lovely shop.... after seeing it on her emailed newsletter - hopefully will be made in time for Xmas!

And.... of course I'm still reading - though this book was not part of the "reading challenge" I'm taking part in.....

This was one of my favourite Agatha Christie "who done it" stories from all those years ago....but as I was reading it I did remember who the "culprit" was so though I did read it to the end it did spoil it a bit.... 

So that's about it for now...... will be back soon again.... till then.

Happy Stitching

Asta