T'is BOXING DAY

 WHOOPS............where did December go?

My very cute Xmas tree made from old pallets, popped into the front garden & lit with a string of fairy lights.  Very simple decorations this year with only my door wreath (you've seen before), as well as my little filled sleigh on a patchwork Christmas runner on the table.

The lights on the tree, in the dark     -  below.

I have been quiet, I know, as late November, we had a quick trip to Canberra, Sydney, Gosford & Orange to see our two boys and grandchildren, my young brother and my oldest friend.  

Coming home seemed to be filled with never ending washing, cleaning the caravan, tidying the yard & planning for Christmas and now that is all over.................aaaaaaaaaaaaH!

After my fall in October I still did a little sewing on one of my own designed quilts and although the big  machine hasn't done much hopefully it will all be go in the New Year apart from another quick trip to N.S.W. to have a "bon voyage" get together for my beautiful eldest grandchild, Miss A.  who is off to live in UK for a couple of years with her partner Mr. M.  She already has a job lined up and he is working his way through a long list, I believe.

Below is a photo Miss A and her Dad, our eldest son on her graduation in early December with a diploma so she can now look after 0 to 5 years olds at a Child Care Centre as they are called here in Oz.

We will miss her badly.

The quilt below is the one I talked of in the above blurb.

DECO DELIGHT

Whilst away I took very few photos, as when we are pulling the caravan it is very hard to pullover  for a photo opportunity.  I took a few in Bathurst at the caravan park as we were departing of a few cute bits'n'pieces.

Veg beds ready to be planted above & a very Australian "loo" from days gone by.

There was also  "mini golf" for a few hours of fun.

On our way home we pulled into Cowra for a look at their well known rose gardens, then pootled on and arrived home, content to have seen so many of our family after such a LONG few years.

Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas as we did at our DD's yesterday and can look forward to a happy & prosperous New Year.

I hope to get back into a bit more blogging, sewing and fiddling with garden etc. as 2023 emerges.                 Going to find a cool spot as it has reached 36℃ now & I'm now sooooooo hot.

Take care all and hugs from Susan.

SEPTEMBER SCAVENGER PHOTO HUNT 2018

Ah, another month gone and it's link up time again with Kate.

This month's list had just a wee bit more thinking to be done, but I got there in the end so let us see what inspired me.

1.  BRIGHTLY COLOURED.

Oh dear, another pink tractor, but this time scattered brightly with crazy flowers.  I took this photo many years ago (2008, I think) & I was actually browsing holiday snaps when I noticed it and thought aha!  It was taken at Ruston's Rose Garden in Renmark, South Australia.
2.  UPSIDE DOWN.

Not quite upside down, but definitely not showing the right direction.  This was taken last weekend after we'd spied it on our Coffee/Cake run with the car club.  K & I both said at the same time, "Upside down", but couldn't stop then, so had an afternoon outing on the weekend.  The same day also netted my own choice photo too.  Lucky break.
3.  INK.

The photo was taken  this afternoon, after being really stumped for the word ink.  I'd been hoping to get to an antique complex and find a lovely old inkwell or bottle to photograph, but that didn't eventuate.
Fortunately, I walk past this lovely tray many times everyday, then spotted a book in one of my bookcases that came from a cleanup at my parents place.  Now of course, "pen & ink", which is the method my DD used to do this tray for me, when she had more time for craft before children.  I love it and always had it displayed in my studio, but these days it is on the treadle machine in the hall on the way to my sewing room, not a studio😢.
4.  BAG.

OK, I do have permission to use this great photo of Miss A, our lovely grand daughter who is our
eldest grandchild.  I cannot believe that she is nearly 22.  Where have all those years gone?  I'd been busy snapping some family photos, when she turned around and I got this one with her "bag" in hand.
Just a bit of fun.
5.  PATTERN.

Taken at Cape Patterson Beach back in July.  I'm not sure exactly what it is, though it reminds me of some sort of fossil imprint.  I find it rather fascinating, making a 'pattern' on the rocks.
6.  MY OWN CHOICE.

As I pointed out above, this was taken last Sunday afternoon as we came home.  Stopped to take in some views, when I noticed the cows on the way to milking on a dairy farm.  I needed my zoom lens, but I'm so pleased with this photo.  You may need to click on it to see properly.

I do enjoy these photo hunts, the thinking, keeping your eyes open to see what's around & trawling through the archives.  I also love to see what everyone else comes up with.
Thanks Kate.  Take care all & huggles.
Susan.

JULY PHOTO SCAVENGER HUNT.

Linking up with Kate for the July word hunt.

This month seemed difficult, but once I set my mind to it, I found way too many for some words.
Here we go......

1.  CRANE.

Cranes in the port of Harwich.  This is one word I found quite a few pics for, but went for this one hoping it would be a little different.

2.  RING.

When we lived on the other side of town at No. 4, the grandchildren used to call these daffodils around the silver birches "THE FAIRY RING"

3.  SET.

This word has so many meanings, it is not 'funny'.  In the end, I went to the dictionary for ideas and found that as a verb, it has 18 meanings, as an adjective, 5, and as a noun, 11.  Some of these, even have a few connotations of their own too.
This is the noun, (8), --a session of jazz or rock music, usually followed by intermission, or the music played during such a session.
So these little fellas are at the Goulburn Caravan Park (NSW) where we've stayed a few times over the years and I'm quite sure they'd be playing a Jazz SET.

4.  LIGHT.

The Illiminations in Blackpool (UK) where we went one year with our niece and her family.  I was very taken with the trouble they go to, to put this on each year and thought it quite amazing.  I did love this photo I took (it was hard to take good pics), with crown and chandeliers.

5.  BOW.

The bow of a huge ship with helicopter pad looming out of the mist in Blyth (UK again).  This is a cable laying ship which was docked and I expect picking up cable from the area, as we also saw a large yard where I think, they must make it. It was huge.
I remember seeing a cable laying ship in Sydney as a child, which we were lucky enough to be shown around as my Dad used to work for OTC, an Australian communications company.

6.  SPRING.

Springer and his mate.  Hubby made these 2 doggies many years ago from the springs he replaced in one of our cars.  The one of the left is DD's and the one on the right belongs to us.  Think I have posted these before, but just the thing for this word.

7.  OPEN.

An "open"-cut coal mine in the Latrobe Valley here in Victoria east of where we live.  I'm not a big fan of coal-fired power stations, but this is the world we live in and as long as we try and better our use of resources, it stays for the time being.

8.  GRAND.

Our first "grand" child aged about 18 months (I think) sporting the latest fashion, a tupperware bowl hat.😊  This little girl, is now a young lady who will be 21 in November.  Yikes!!!!!!

9.  PARK.

OK, probably not the most obscure use for this word, but this is the oddest colour for a lyrebird, a rather shy native bird which is often seen flashing through trees in southern rain forest areas.
It stands at the entrance to a fun park just west of here on the highway to Melbourne.  Many years ago, someone put some firecrackers up it's rear end and it looked quite sad until they resurrected it. Now the park is undergoing a, wait for it...... $50 million dollar refurbishment.  We've never been, so may make that an outing once it is completed.  More photos opportunities?

I just grabbed this photo of a lyrebird off the internet so everyone can see what they really look like. I've never been quick enough to get a proper photo, so hope I'm not doing anything too naughty.

10. MY OWN CHOICE.

Hellebores in flower along the back fence.  Hubby took this photo yesterday while I was at the Quilt Show.  Aren't they 'gorgeous'.  I'll try and do a post soon as the garden comes back to life, though a few things have succumbed to the heavy frosts.  I saw a quick news item, that Australia is having it's coldest and driest winter for a long time.  Even though dry, it's been very overcast.

OK my hunt done and not as early as I'd planned.  Can I actually say this, but I was knackered, OK pooped last night and even dozed off a few times in the front of TV after my day out.  I never do that.
Have a great weekend all and I'm off to link this up.
Take care and huggles,  Susan.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY x 2.

A quick post to say a very Happy Birthday to two of our grandchildren.

The photo  shown below is Miss A (our first grandchild) many years ago as toddler.  Today she turned 20!
Very much the young lady with a job, boyfriend and car.  Where have the years gone?

I spoke to her briefly this afternoon, before phoning the next one.

The other birthday belongs to DD's son, Master L.  He turned 11 and was our 6th grandchild, being one in a line of 7 boys, before we had 2 more granddaughters.

Have a good week all and take care.

PS.  It is cooling down after hitting 37℃ today and it is expected be better tomorrow.  Thank you!!!!