Welcome 2014

Hi folks

Since it is the start of the new year I thought it would be a good time to start up my blogging. After such a long break it is more than possible that no one visits me to read. Fair enough. But if only one person comes to reads it is worth it, and I know at least one of my dear daughters who lives away from us likes to check in to catch up on my news. 

The past few months have been intense to say the least. Firstly there was the preparation for the arrival of our second beautiful grandson. He arrived on the 1st December, very conveniently in the morning. He and his mum came home late on the same day. 
Patrick Thomas is as gorgeous as his older brother and we are all enjoying cuddles. 

Christmas was a low key affair again this year. We were fortunate to have all five of our daughters in town. We chose to have the hot Christmas lunch with baked, glazed ham and all the veggies to go with it. Of course as is the tradition, we all ate far more than usual and so lazed around the rest of the day.
I must admit that I am glad it's over now and I look forward to the brand new year ahead. I turn 50 mid year. I can hardly believe I wrote that. Fifty used to seem very old when I was a child, but of course now I am rapidly approaching that milestone, I'm thinking how lucky I am to be here to celebrate it. I reckon I will have a party, plenty of wine and food and laughs.

I find the days passing quickly, even when I don't seem to have much to do. I spend a lot of my time resting and thinking. I tire very easily and with ongoing health issues it is always a case of going with the flow, more simply put I work when I have the energy to do it and sit quietly when I don't. It can be a problem though as when I do have a boost of energy and enthusiasm I try to do many things and very soon my physical limitations stop me.

Some of the crafty things I have been doing the past couple of months include, sewing, quilting, making birthday cards and my newest and most favourite thing painting! More specifically furniture painting. Who knew I would be able to pick up a paint brush and slap it onto furniture and pimp it up. For a long time I have wanted to make over my dark furniture. I came across some blogs from people who were using the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint to revamp tired or work furniture. I knew this paint was made for me. Basically it is a chalky type paint that you slap on without preparation and then distress and wax for a beautiful finish. I am not good at explaining it so if your interested best Google it.
To date I have painted my console hall table, lamp table, numerous cane baskets, and the biggie-,y entire bedroom suite. Well I didn't actually paint all of it my daughters and even the bloke helped with that project, cos it was far too much for me to tackle on my own. I chose ASCP in Duck Egg Blue-it's gorgeous. The first photos show my first attempt at painting a lamp table. I used old white, which looks great.

The following photo is the cane chest I use in my bedroom to store excess stuff. It was an ugly dark colour, a fairly cheap piece from Target I think. One application of ASCP and it was transformed from the ugly duckling into the beautiful swan.

I love this paint. True statement. It has allowed me to use my basic painting abilities to achieve instant, satisfying results. Yeah- fulfilling my creative need.
Once I can upload my other pics of my bedroom suite I can show you how it looks.
Now the drought has been broken I hope to be back more often.
Take care,

Baby Shower

This past Saturday we held a baby shower for our eldest who is expecting her baby in about 
5 weeks. Her sisters organised it and it turned out very well. Lots of food-as is the custom in this family. All home made and delicious. The theme was blue, seeing as she is having a boy.


This was the first baby shower I have ever been to. I think they were around in my day, but I never had anyone offer to have one for me. Is it to late to have one if your child is 27 years old?
And the presents! Oh lord, there was heaps of them. This child has so many beautiful things. There were clothes including a little weeny flanno shirt, and the cutest little tuxedo onsie. This will be worn to the wedding in October. The toys looked interesting and I'm sure there repetitive sounds will eventually drive the parents a little crazy.


My daughters' MIL and SIL and her daughter traveled a long way just for this occasion. It was a really big effort on their part and nice to see them again as they are lovely people. 


Unfortunately my girl was feeling a bit crook on the day so she took it easy and rested on the bean bag. I always know when she is sick because her lovely blue eyes look all washed out. Happily she was okay by the next day. 
During the party we played a few games and it was nice to see everyone get into the swing of things. There was a lot of laughter, funny stories and great advice. Although we asked attendees not to discuss horror childbirth stories as they are terrible for a new mum to be to hear. Sadly, a few women have already regaled her with their dreadful experiences and she is now feeling a little worried. 
I enjoyed the afternoon not only because it was nice to have company in the house but also because I think how wonderful it is that before this child is even born he has people waiting  for his arrival with excitement and love. 
How wonderful it is to be born into such a welcoming and loving environment. I wish this for every baby. 
Once everyone had left I gazed around the empty room and thought about the future when this room would have a newborn baby in it. And then later on when a little, toddler boy will be running around the room. Or even better giving his nana big hugs. 
I am excited. Just five more weeks. Yep I know!

Coffee, weddings, babies, sewing and...

Here I am again. I will be putting a few pictures up today and that is because I finally mastered the skill of importing them from my iPhone and iPad to the computer. Thanks to the help of my youngest daughter who wrote step-by-step instructions for me and it worked.

First of all this picture shows what I do on a typical Sunday morning. Of course there is the totally necessary cup of coffee. And none of that instant stuff for me, I just can't drink it now. I love a good tasting coffee, made by a coffee machine. Yes I am one of those so called coffee snobs. Much to my delight my eldest daughter who is pregnant (gee love the sound of that) sold me her beaut machine so we can now make it whenever we like. Unfortunately I do not have a Barista's degree and so must wait for those clever family members who do now how to use it. Also whilst drinking the coffee I am happy to be reading the Sunday Times newspaper. Ah...bliss.

Lovely decorative idea I might pinch

This is just one of the ideas we are looking at for the wedding cake for Amy & Brads wedding. The theme for the wedding is purple and white.  And before you say oh no to the purple, it will incorporate all shades of that hue.
The crazy thing is that Amy and I are making this cake ourselves. Yep, Amy is a great baker and decorator and I am going to be her assistant.
Of course we will be trialling it first, well just a small one to see if we are any good, or if we will need to call on the services of someone much more cake clever. The wedding is being carried out on a small budget and we really can not justify spending $800 on a cake for one day. This wedding is going to be simple, elegant and fun. I am so excited.

We are also attempting to make the bouquets ourselves. I would love fresh flowers everywhere but the cost prohibits this. We live remotely and so everything we need is trucked in and of course costs much more than other places. I am thinking that the brides bouquet may consist of real flowers though. What do you think?

This is some of the sewing I have done recently. I made two small aprons for my great niece and her step sister. I wanted to see if I could do this little project and I could so now I will make some much bigger ones.

This is the first of eight place mats that I am making for Amy. I just wish I hadn't made the quilt lines so close, makes more work for me. :)
Don't get me wrong, I love quilting but with my lack of energy still, I am unable to finish these as quick as I would like. I also need to make some more for my own table.

And finally, these are just some of the fabrics I will be using to make the new baby stuff. That is a pram quilt, cot quilt, bassinet quilt, floor play quilt, ah...oh and a couple of toys. Yes I will have so many more reasons to sew now. My hope is that I can get it done before the child turns sixteen.
I am slow, but once I'm into it, I am in a frenzy.

Now I did have other pictures to show but blogger has lost them some how so maybe that's my cue to stop the show and tell and post this blog before it becomes any longer.

I hope you find something of interest here. I know when I peruse the blogs I do I love seeing snippets of the lifestyle my blogger buddy lives.

Anyway where ever you are take care and be happy if possible,

Till next time,