JUST A QUICKIE.

Not sure we'll have internet after today, as we move on Wednesday. We will sleep on a mattress at the new house and furniture will arrive first thing Thursday morning.  We are using the same removalists, so know that they are pretty fast, and we should be able to relax by Thursday evening, although we then have all the unpacking to do.  Most is packed except for the very chunky stuff, like computer, TV, etc, and bits that are too big for boxes ie., pictures, long quilting rulers, and odd shaped "stuff".  I am actually quite bored, not being able to potter around doing things I like - sewing, gardening, cooking, but am looking forward to going back home to West Gippsland.  I've already been asked when I'm going back to volunteering at Vision and have a commission for a quilt for next year ( a 50th wedding anniversary).
Just a couple of photos I've managed to squeeze in for this post.

One toadstool, coming through and the other nearly finished.

 I cleared the lawn and garden beds of the ugly large brown ones, but left these two for photo.

The lavender, which smells heavenly.  I keep this well deadheaded and it rewards us with flowers nearly year round.

Bubs in bits!!!!

Just "some" of our many boxes.

Hopefully everything will go smoothly and I'll even get time to plant some of the bulbs I bought at the garden show in between unpacking.  We've a few ideas for putting our stamp on our new home, but we'll take our time and enjoy the process.
I have an idea for a future post about our last house in WG, the one here in Ballarat and our new one, so watch this space in the future.  I'm sure we'll see a lot more of the garden too, as you did in 2013.
Best go and have some lunch.  Oh and BTW, D & R's quilt is winging its way to UK too.
Have a great week all.  Take care and huggles,
Susan.

BREATHING SLOWLY!!!!!

Yes, I'm still here and first, I want to THANK  everyone so much for the comments you left and feel that you understand.
Next, along with the decluttering, I actually put an old pieced top on the machine and quilted it and am now hand sewing the binding.  This was made as a mystery quilt from the magazine Traditional Quiltworks (no longer in publication) around the mid nineties and I will donate it to Vision Australia as the Xmas raffle this year.  Just getting in early for a change.

Mystery quilt made also as part of a challenge with a couple of other ladies to use this rather "garish" fabric.

Yesterday saw us pop on down to Geelong to pick up a cover for our caravan, which has been leaking again, although the top has been resealed.  Whilst there, we decided to drive on to Portarlington and have our lunch by the bay.  They are building a new pier alongside the old one and we took a walk down to the breakwater, but the most amazing thing is what we saw on the way.

I've not seen so many starfish, ever.  They were literally covering all the new piers and along the bottom of the water near the small marina.  For some reason I cannot locate the photo of them on the bottom and do hope I haven't deleted it.  The little bird was perched on a rock, but I heard it before I saw it.  He was then joined by another one.  Quite a nice day out, although it was an unexpected trip.

Now, I wasn't going to tell about this, but I'm not good at keeping surprises or secrets.

As most of you know, moving to Ballarat hasn't been good and I'm sure I couldn't live here for another 10 years or so.  This house has the most unpleasant feeling and we've decided to go back to the West Gippsland area, where we lived from April 2004 to January 2014.  We made many friends and the area itself is quite scenic, so by the end of May, we will be back in our old stomping ground.
We've sold here and bought over there, hence my anxiety, which I can usually keep in check and also the decluttering.  This was one of those expensive exercises in financial terms as well as experience.
We thought we were doing the right things for retirement, but we've learnt a valuable lesson and will move on.
Just a quick peak at our new home and garden.  I have used these from the real estate page, but did crop them a little.  None of the inside for now, but it won't be long before I can start showing some once there.

View from near the little shed.

Front.

Part of the back garden.

Again, a big thanks to all my followers and hope to be able to post again a couple more times before "moving day", when our internet will be turned off for probably about a week or so.  I'll keep you all up to date with what is happening.  Hopefully I will settle and we can breathe freely again and start living the good life.
Take care, huggles from Susan.

ALL CHANGE

Just a quick post.

We've had a slight change in plans due to a challenging week.  As the time to move from this house gets ever closer and having no satisfaction from agents in Ballarat, we've made the decision to rent here in Warragul for 3-6 months and take our time to find somewhere to buy in the Ballarat area.  Moving twice and paying rent hadn't come into the equation, but we are both exhausted and have to move by next weekend.  The funny thing is that here we were able to view 6 rental properties in one afternoon, by just ringing around and popping into the agents, whereas in Ballarat it was a mammoth task ringing, trying to get appointments and being told to use the i'net, only to be told most weren't available as they had already gone.  Nobody seemed helpful and we've wasted a lot of time and petrol driving over to view just one house for rent.  "Ridiculous".
We still intend to relocate over that way to be closer to DD, but probably early next year and find an agent that is really good.

Enough of my whinging and will show a couple of garden photos I took before our heavy rain over the last few days.  No craft photos at the moment as everything is already packed away and goodness knows when I will sew again.   I will one day!!!! I'll keep my camera out and handy.

A lovely iris

Gerbera doing well

Deep red rose with the most heavenly perfume

Bright pink rose with silver backed petals

Pierre de Ronsard now out.  Many more buds to open.  Will try for another photo before we leave of it on  a bright day.

That;s about all for now.   I'll try and keep up with other blogs and post before we are moved.
Take care all and have a great weekend.
Susan.