PHOTO SCAVENGER HUNT - FRIENDS.

 Well here I am for the first time in a while.........what with poor internet connections due to storm damage, feeling unlike my true self with all the world in chaos & such bleak winter weather, I've not really felt like blogging.  Now I do admit that I've been keeping myself amused with a lot of sewing and that is down to blogging "FRIENDS".

I've participated in a few quiltalongs and have a mystery QAL coming up this month.  I did post my 2 quilts done for the QAL run by Sandra at mmm.quilts in Canada and my friend Joy in Ballarat who blogs at Days filled with Joy has also been running a few too.

Over a 4 week period we were given the patterns for 4 blocks and challenged to make them and put them into our own setting.  This is mine finished and I've been waiting to take some good photos, but the weather just hasn't played nicely.

The next quilt is one of my own designs and came about during a conversation when I saw Joy last year as the pandemic took hold and she decided we should do a joint QAL with the title "Let's Stay Home".

I didn't join in with mine, though I am participating in hers which is a year long one with stitcheries and pieced blocks.  Eventually did mine, but have no pattern writing skills, so haven't put it up on my blog as a QAL.

LET'S STAY HOME.

A big thank you to quilting bloggers who run these QAL's and mysteries to keep us motivated.

MY FEATHERED FRIENDS.

A couple of recent photos of visitors to our garden.

One of the magpies who visit on a regular basis, helping herself to the coir from a hanging basket which I'd intended to plant up, but hadn't got around to, due to the cold weather.

Two sulphur-crested cockatoos above the blueberry bushes.  We don't see many here but they have such big characters which I enjoy.

AN OLD FRIEND (my BFF).

My friend Sue and myself taken some years ago now and alas we've not seen each other now for a few years due to the pandemic, but hopefully next year will settle down & we can meet up again.

This very old school photo shows the year we met at school.  This was a new school for me since we'd moved house and Sue was asked to look after me and although we didn't go right through our school years together, we've managed to stay in touch all this time.  I'm sitting on the far left in the front row & Sue is third from the right, also front row.

FURRY FRIENDS.

I know I've posted this photo before, but here are my 2 late cats curled up on the armchair with me.  Most evenings after work they would be up there with me.  Fluffy on the left was Tabitha's daughter & made it through to 14 and her Mum was nearly 18 when we lost her.  I do miss them.  This photo would have been taken in the late 90's.

OK, my lot for this week's photo hunt and I know it is a little disjointed and I've waffled on a lot, but thank you if you read this and I'll hopefully pull myself out of this slump and blog a little more in the future.  BTW, we are in Lockdown #6 & things don't look like improving soon, nor the weather.  Bring on some sunshine please!

Take care all, stay safe & hugs from down under.

Susan.

WEEKEND POST NO. 1

AN ICY BLAST.

Wow, the weather over the last week has been decidedly wintry with the wind blowing from the Antarctic and quite a bit of rain.  We had been experiencing a mild start to winter.  There has even been snow and blizzards in the Alpine regions of Victoria.  Today, here in Ballarat the temperature was supposed to reach 8deg.  I've hardly stepped outside and the wind has even brought down some trees on the reserve over the road.

Black wattle with broken branches.

I want to thank everyone for comments on my last post and sorry I didn't reply to them.  This post has been very hard to think about and write, but we've been to Sydney for a week as my dear elderly father passed away on 16th June.  He had advanced dementia and was very frail, and I'm the one who had to make all the arrangements as my only sibling, my younger brother who is intellectually disabled is unable to do these things.  I will leave it at that.

TAKING TIME OUT

We had one day spare whilst away and decided to visit my cousin in Wollongong, which is a large coastal city, just south of Sydney.  We'd not seen each other for several years.  The scenic route along the coast was the one we chose.  Heading south we travelled through The Royal National Park (Australia's first National park) and then down via the Sea Bridge, which is part of the new road  that follows the coast after many landslips in years gone by.  I grew up knowing these areas very well and enjoyed the day as we'd not been down for a long time.  Some photos follow.

These are what we call Gymea lilies.  I do not know their botanical name I'm afraid.

Closeup of flower.

The Sea Bridge from the lookout at Stanwell Tops where we ate our lunch.  This is the spot where hang gliders take off.  Scary!

Looking down onto Stanwell Park beach.

These Rosellas, which didn't seem to be either the Crimson or Eastern variety were quite tame.  I called them the Mottley Bunch.

Looking back to the bridge from another viewing point.

Now this looks like a photo of the sea!!!!  Well, about mid picture on the right is a whale, but it went under just as I took the photo.  There were three and they even spouted water whilst we were watching.  They are on their annual migration to warmer waters during our winter before returning to Antarctic waters for summer.

One more photo for a few of my blogpals who have pet dogs.  This one belongs to my cousin and she is adorable.  Her name is Ellie and she is still a pup.

I am tired tonight, so will leave it at that and post about our weekend on the way home in Canberra with our youngest son and his family and what I've been up to with my quilting tomorrow, hence the name of this post.
Lots to tell, and am now off to try and finish handsewing the binding on Macy's quilt.
Have a lovely weekend all and take care.
Susan.