Farewell November.......

 Well, another month has slipped away ....now let's think back and post what has been happening...... At the beginning of November I headed up to the Southern Highlands again to catch up with Mum but also enjoy a lovely lunch at the Centennial Winery near Bowral with a couple of Sydney friends....

Our local library has "authors' talks" and I was thrilled to be able to hear Richard Glover... he spoke of his latest book "Best Wishes" and touched on a few of his others including "The Land before Avocado" .... it was a fabulous - and very funny - afternoon !

(Sorry photo is a bit dark...oops)

Then along came the Gerringong Quilt Exhibition which I go to with 2 very dear friends (we have known each other since starting work together in mid 70s!) ...we now live in different areas but this is an event we try to catch up at each year.......here we are standing in front of the Raffle Quilt which....would you believe.... I went on to win!! As of writing this it is in safe keeping with my friend in Nowra as it was drawn a couple of days after we had been there. 

I've still been busy getting together with my embroidery and patchwork groups once a week and that inspired me to finish a quilt I started maybe..... 20 years or more ago? Top had been put together some time ago but pleased to say it is now complete!! And is being used as you can see.....she was pretty quick in spying a new cosy spot to take an afternoon nap! 

Have also started another felted project which is slowly progressing ...... there are a few other projects on the go but no photos.....yet.

More books have been read.....thoroughly enjoyed both. 

And as they say "that's a wrap" for November. With Christmas fast approaching there will be shopping, cooking, cards and letters to get out (yes, I do still send cards) and a few Christmas events to attend but hopefully still time for some creativity and reading so will be back before the end of the year! 

Happy Stitching

Asta

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Another Month.....

 We always remember those that we love and have lost but sometimes there comes a special day ...... I was back in Bundanoon for the 14th October - it would have been Dad's 101st birthday! There were flowers for Dad while we "toasted" him with a delightful morning tea and cake....later in the day Mum enjoyed looking at one of their many photo albums - this one of Mum & Dad's trip to Hawaii - I think it was sometime in the mid 1980s? 

We have had travellers in the family again, this time it was Hayley and Megan who recently  returned from a fabulous couple of weeks in Cuba - a country they both found to be very interesting.....

With more time on my hands now that I have retired I managed to finish a quilt - only a simple one with Kantha-style quilting.....the lovely backing is an Indian cotton from a local online patchwork shop - "Tamborine to Tilba".

Am enjoying even more reading time ..... some from our local library, even though my bookshelves are "sighing" under the weight of my own books to read!!

And.... while shopping at a local charity shop with a friend, amongst other treasures, found this lovely "tray" cloth.....will look even better when it has an iron! 

That's it for now..... will be back with other projects being created and ..... anything else of interest.

Happy Stitching

Asta

September Update

Before September becomes a distant memory here's a bit of an update......

Early September, while our sister was away discovering Nepal, Linda and I met up in Bundanoon where a sunny display of daffodils was on show......

We spent time with Mum, found time to stitch together and shop at this lovely shop in Mittagong - "Thread Botanica"

After Linda left to return home I managed to fit in some more retail therapy at a local 2nd hand shop where I knew, in a little corner, you could always find a stash of interesting bits and pieces for stitching..... and of course "Victoria House" in Mittagong for a new project and some threads.  The local markets also had a visit from me - but mainly for some yummy food and flowers...... loved their quaint sign!

Fathers' Day - our first without Dad  - I spent the day with Mum and as we went through a box of old photos and reminisced came across a very early photo of Dad and I and even one with my Grandfather (Mum's dad).....

And as always books were packed and read......

Then it was back to work before retiring at the end of September..... yes! after 24 years I am RETIRED!! Beautiful flowers sent from the family and a farewell dinner out with management.....

And.... before September was quite over I went to the Dalmeny Quilters Exhibition - lovely, inspiring quilts as always...... just a few of my many favourites.....

So.... here we are into October already - lets see what this first month of retirement brings!!

Happy Stitching

Asta

August Update

 Well... before August gets any further along I better do a quick update as it has been some time since I was last here.... 

Early August I had a birthday worth celebrating... the big 70!! A few days before my actual birthday I celebrated over a lovely lunch in the Southern Highlands with family and a few close friends....

I finished off the day with my sisters, together with Hayley and Megan, enjoying cocktails at a local resort, Osbourne House - very conveniently just across the road from my sister's place ..... all we had to do after was find our way back down their driveway - in the dark! 

I then spent the rest of the week in Bundanoon and celebrated my actual birthday with a lunch outing with Mum and my sister... both my girls and other sister having returned home. 

Mum also had a birthday in late July....which she enjoyed with my sisters......

What else have I been doing? Well.....going back to June I once again went to Storyfest in Ulladulla...another great weekend of talks by some wonderful authors and always more books came home.....when they set up a great onsite bookshop it's a little hard to resist!! 

I have read many books over the last few months but will have photos of those for next time. 

And.....drumroll please..... I have actually finished something creative! Very much enjoyed making the felt flowers which all became part of this cushion. Now I have a number of projects lined up for further felt flowers - love that they can be hand made - very portable! And there is no limit to how you can embellish them!

Will be starting a couple of weeks leave very shortly and hoping to get some stitching done and books read..... so....back soon! 

Happy Stitching!

Farewell Dear Dad

 On an Autumn day in early May we farewelled my Dad at a celebration of his life ....he was a much loved husband, Dad and Pop.

Dad passed away very peacefully on the eve of Sunday 16th April at 100 years and 6 months - a long life very well lived which included some significant milestones in the past year.... celebrating a 70th wedding anniversary with Mum and of course Dad's 100th birthday which he thoroughly enjoyed celebrating with family and friends! Dad will be greatly missed by our family. 

The month of May brought Mothers' Day as I headed back to Bundanoon to enjoy the day with Mum and Vivien

  Those of us who couldn't be there joined in for afternoon tea via a virtual zoom call......

And so our lives go on without Dad but his love and the memories we made will always stay with us all.....

Asta