Catching up!

Has it really been 3 weeks since I was last here!.... well, time to do a bit of a catch up....

A week's holiday was on the agenda early September which started off with a visit to the theatre with mum and my sisters to see Les Miserables...

... which we all thoroughly enjoyed... mum for, I think, the 4th time! (Dad stayed home to garden on this occasion). 
The following day one of my sisters and I headed out of Sydney and 2 hours later arrived at Katoomba....... where we had this delightful cottage booked for a mini-holiday in the Blue Mountains.....

Of course there were shopping trips to the inevitable 2nd hand shops - of which there are many in the area.....

 ...discovered that Morris & Sons (Wool shop) have an outlet in Katoomba called The Granny Square.... a lovely shop that we spent time in... couldn't resist a little purchase ....

Then, how could you go to the Blue Mountains and not have high tea at The Hydro Majestic!

... a couple of hours spent gazing out over the amazing views as we enjoyed a delicious high tea!..... and the tastefully decorated foyer!

Another day - morning tea at The Paragon in Katoomba - an "institution" that can't be missed........

Then with a very willing sister in tow we made the (short!) trip to Bathurst.... and 1  1/2 hours later arrived at The Home Patch !!  A couple of hours on (!) with a few purchases tucked under my arm we made the return trip back to Katoomba! ...and, yes, my sister did enjoy Anni's shop leaving with a little shopping bag of her own! 

My purchases - now to find time!

 Not all our time was spent shopping and eating! - we spent nights being creative in our cosy warm cottage..... note my Natures Journey quilt and crochet and my sister's knitting on the lounge...

An afternoon spent in Leura.....

.... before heading back down the mountain leaving behind a very relaxing 3 day break and plans being made of a longer stay next time - with perhaps a bush-walk thrown in (did I actually say that!).

A day back in Sydney and it was time to head home, un-pack, re-pack and head off to my annual embroidery weekend retreat just outside of Canberra! "Stitching in the Hills" organised by Fiona and Sylvia ... Friday night - greeted by our "project" bags.....with a lovely gift tucked inside!

Our projects & Materials

Sunny, warm weather tempted us outside for lunch.....

.... and some for a bush walk

..... Saturday night's theme was "rainbows"!

A great week's holiday filled with all the things I enjoy!

Then last week Hayley flew down from Burleigh Heads and with Megan travelling in Europe I took a few days off work to give her a hand packing up their dad's house which both girls now, a year after his passing, have decided to rent out ....

Once she had flown home it was back to my stitching and I have finally finished the August "homework" on the Nature's Journey quilt!! 

 Well, that about covers all I have been up to lately.... it's time now to start some serious gardening, Spring cleaning and finishing off my Nature's Journey quilt!

Back soon.... till then....

Happy Stitching

Asta

Two Weeks Later

Here we are 2 weeks on from my last post...hard to believe it's only been that long - so much has happened.... 
My last update was from 1st August as I was heading to my annual retreat .. 
A peek into our goodie bags on the Friday night revealed these.....

Inside we had 5 lovely patterns, fabrics & embroidery cottons to complete at least one of the projects.... I decide to do the canvas work and here is my project ready to go.. and it was FNWF ! (Bit late, I know, but I was actually doing something!).....

Saturday morning and Hobbysew from Belconnen  Mall in Canberra were setting up their shop.... we all need retail therapy no matter where we are!

Here are some of the 5o or so ladies that took part...all busy..... and my "work station" with the canvas work in progress.

Some of us took advantage of the sunny days to have lunch on the deck...

And.... my finished canvas work!

Over the past 2 weeks since this retreat both my daughters have headed off overseas again - they had been here since early July when their dad (and my ex-partner) passed away. The elder one flew back to Canada where she has been living and the younger one flew out last week when, just on a whim, she decided to spend a couple of months touring USA. Her travels back to Australia will take her through Hawaii - so I mentioned that I could meet her there..... the "could" became "will" so in about 8 weeks I will be somewhere here.....

This weekend has been a wet and cold one - perfect weather for tidying/sorting the house and delving into some of my (many!) baskets of stitching projects to decide what project to work on..... 

Will be back with more frequent posts again and keep you updated with what project / projects I am working on - and generally with life itself!

Happy Stitching

Asta