MID AUGUST ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!!

Just a quick post.
Why is it that we seem so busy, but when you look back on the past week, you begin to wonder what you've actually achieved?  I suppose we are still busy sorting, tidying and getting ourselves organised with both house and garden.  It is all coming together slowly.
Last Wednesday these appeared on our roof.

12 solar panels to generate some electricity for us and help the planet.

These won't be up and running properly till they are certified.  The red tape you have to go through these days is mind boggling at times.

Yesterday we visited DD and family and I helped with some craft.  She and the children had been making bookmarks to sell on a stall at the church to raise money for much needed new chairs.  I punched a lot of holes and threaded them with pretty ribbons.  Hope they do well.  I also got one rose pruned for her and also picked a bunch of Earlicheer jonquils to bring home.  I forgot to take camera, so no photos of their efforts, but here's one of the flowers.

Jonquils in vase on end of my  kitchen counter.

Today I did a quick bit of baking and made a Lemon Drizzle loaf and a chocolate slice.  Talking of baking!!  Last week I decided to make some biscuits and prepped my tray, made the mixture, rolled teaspoons of mixture and placed them neatly in rows.  I then went to the oven and OMG, the tray wouldn't fit.  I'd not realised how small this oven is.  I had to take them from the tray and place them onto the smaller slice trays and cook them with only one pan in at a time.  Now that took a lot longer than it should have, so I'll have to do some thinking about that situation.

Notice in the pic above that the cyclamen is still flowering, though I've had to deadhead it a few times.
One last photo to end this post.  I do love the moors when covered in pink/purple heather and I have two lovely plants in my garden which are flowering at the moment.
I'll finish this post now, because sitting here typing is just a tad painful today.  Earlier I asked hubby to help me move something and I got on one end and I think I twisted awkwardly and now have a very sore back.  

 Not sure whether it is the same as the native UK heather, but is still very pretty.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend and take care.
Susan.

RIPPLE RUG AND BABY QUILT.

A few photos I promised last Saturday, but got busy with trying to get everything straight.  Just about there with the unpacking, but will probably change a few things around over the coming months. Does everybody else do that after a move?
Worst thing about this week has been the incessant dust from earthworks on the new estate just over the way and the thick smoke haze from the bushfires.  Most of Victoria has been affected by the smoke which supposedly should clear tomorrow.  Other than that we've had a few hot days, though not as bad as last week.

Baby quilt so far.  It still needs border, but will have to wait till my Bernina is back from repairs, hopefully this Friday.

Ripple rug is progressing slowly .

Now for some photos of our living area.  We do have a formal lounge, but that is my "quilting room".  Our furniture has been collected over many years from all sorts of places and has resided in quite a few homes over the years.  I suppose you could call it homely and eclectic.

I'd love to show the garden too, but just at the moment because of the hot, dry weather, it looks quite pathetic, so will wait till we get into autumn.  There is actually not much in the way of colour as we have lots of hedges and green shrubbery.  I am missing all my lovely plants from our home in Warragul, so tonight I attempted to do a sort of arrangement for the side table and this is what I came up.

Dusty Miller (I think) from the backyard.

One last photo showing the smoke haze taken from our front yard.  Once we have a clear day again, I will take the same shot and you may be surprised at what I can usually see.

This is a reserve across the road with a walking/bike path through it.  I must try and get on my bike again and make use of it.

That is all for now, until you read me again, take care.
Susan.

I'M BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, its' been a hectic few weeks.  Although we've had the internet on now for a few days, I've just been too busy to even try and do a posting. (and extremely tired and HOT!)

I've caught up on some blog reading of a night on my laptop, but with the older version of windows I have on it, can't comment or post on my own blog.  Must put that right at some stage.

The weather here has be atrocious with most days well into the 30's and a few at 40/41.  No rain and the forecast for the next week has only one day below 30 and it's not just here, but most of the southern half of Australia.  Bring on winter.

Now for a few photos.

Black swans, native hens and seagulls on Lake Wendourie.

Our new home.

Bubs being put back together.

AN AFTERNOON OUT.

Yesterday, we'd had enough of unpacking, sorting etc., and decided to brave the heat (our car has air conditioning), and went to Maldon, just north of Ballarat.  A couple of years ago I sold my smaller Gammill to a lady who runs the quilt shop there and went to see her.  Ah, she was away for a week in Alice Springs visiting her daughter.  The other daughter was managing the shop.  Oh well, just means another trip later on to a "quilt shop".  I did take some more photos on our little outing.

A Morris Minor Traveller parked in Maldon.  As most will know, we have a Morris Minor Ute of our own.

The Village Patch (quilt shop).

A fenced paddock of emus. ????

 Above and below, photos showing just how dry it is at the moment.

And this is what happens when so dry and hot.  Probably someone threw a cigarette but out of a car window.

.

WINNER.

Last post I decided to pick someone who commented on my blogiversary to win a small prize.  

OK, the winner was Anne from Marmalade and Catmint, but now the only trouble is that said prize is as yet only half made and my machine has had to go in for repair and a service and won't be back till next week.  The light has been playing up now for a while, but has decided not to work at all.  It doesn't need a new globe, but the switch mechanism is not working.

Another couple of pieces of news.

I have finally driven Ebony, our "new" car and my niece in Leeds gave birth to a baby girl yesterday.  That quilt I've been doing as a tutorial is for her, so best get back into the sewing as soon as my Bernina arrives back.

I think I've just done enough in the study for today as the air conditioning is at the other end of the house and it's getting quite warm in here.  I may post tomorrow with some photos of the above baby quilt (as is at the moment), and my ripple rug progress.

Have a lovely weekend wherever you may be and take care.  I'm glad to be back on board.

Susan.