HOME AGAIN PART 2

Sunday

Decided to take a walk along the beach this morning, which although cold was lovely.  We had a cup of coffee at the small cafe near the footbridge and noticed a small market being held along the foreshore park.
Had a look before heading back to the caravan park.
The following photos are just snaps I took around Lakes Entrance.

Colourful whirlygigs for sale at the Market.

Black swans on the Lake

Black Cockatoos eating seeds in a Banksia.

Pelicans and seagulls looking for a feed.

Just one of the many chainsaw carvings from trees that needed to be felled.
If you click on it, you should be able to see the plaque that tells some of the story about them.
They are lovely.

View of part of the extensive lakes system from the Lookout.

The Gippsland Lakes are a very large body of water just off the coast, in Eastern Victoria with lots of different lakes and waterways.  Ninety Mile Beach runs along the sea side.  You could probably explore the area for months.

The actual "Entrance" for the system from the ocean.

Monday.

Today we headed for home.  On the way I just had to make a stop at Lily Lane in Rosedale.  Oh, and that is a Patchwork Shop.  The owner Jenny and I did a long-arm quilting workshop together many years ago, so it is nice to catch up occasionally.  We also popped into 2 antique shops before we had some lunch.

This little tractor is actually made from an old sewing machine.  This was in the antique shop and there was two of them.

Interior of Lily Lane.

Our car and caravan.  I was supposed to take a photo while at  the caravan park, but  forgot, so here it is now.

This is the most amazing gum tree.  We've stopped in this picnic area  several times and I've never had my camera on me.
Now I take my camera everywhere, so I finally took the picture of it.

OK, that was the long weekend and some of our photos, hope you enjoy.Thanks for the lovely comments.
This weekend we are off to our daughter's place as it is Mother's Day here in Australia.
It is lovely to spend time with at least two of  our grandchildren ,  as the others live in Canberra, NSW and UK.
Susan.

HOME AGAIN

A lovely weekend and it didn't rain, although it was very windy for a couple of days.  Here are some photos, which I hope you will enjoy.  We left Friday morning to take us to Lakes Entrance where we parked the caravan for 3 nights.  On Saturday we headed off for McKillopp's Bridge.  We stopped in Buchan for morning tea at a small Road House where the service was great.

BUCHAN

.Looking back towards the cliffs just out of the town of Buchan.  As you may notice, the trees are definitely on the turn for autumn.

GRAVEL ROAD.

Soon the road turned to gravel and I knew that we were in for a bumpy ride, although it was better than I thought.  This section the road was OK till we got to the next section.

LITTLE RIVER FALLS.

We made a quick side trip into these falls, where we had a short walk.  They are  lovely, but I couldn't get a good photo because of all the trees and foliage.
After this quick stop, the road took on a different look altogether.  We passed a sign that read "NO CARAVANS OR SEMI TRAILERS ALLOWED PAST THIS POINT".
For those in the U|K, this means no articulated lorries.  I should have realised it was going to be horrendous, but I also know that my hubby is a professional driver and I should not worry.
Oh boy, did I freak when I saw what was over the top.  A steep, narrow, winding road with an immense drop on my side and a steep bank on the other and definitely only wide enough for one car.  I put something over my face to start with and then was told to read a magazine, REALLY, read a magazine.  We got to the bottom fine and I am always grateful that I have a wonderful, sensible hubby.  He loves these sort of places and I do too, just not this type of road.

Typical sort of country we were travelling in.

McKILLOPP'S BRIDGE.

This photo is taken through the trees, which about the best I could get of the structure,  Below is hubby standing on the approach to the bridge.  It has a timber platform with two more strips which you drive on.  Only one car  can go in either direction.  I t was worth it and something that has been on our to do list for a long time.  The road on the other side was much better and people do come in and  out that way more often.

Information Board.

As you may guess from the board, this is actually the second bridge they built.  We ate our lunch here, then headed back to the Lakes.  Just after we left, we met about 20 young lads on trail bikes, which gave us a scare to start with as they were travelling in the centre of the road, but they let each other know there was vehicle coming, so that was good..

AMBYNE SUSPENSION BRIDGE.

We found this little bridge by the side of the road on the way home.  Stopped and took some photos, then back on the road and a strange noise from the car.  Oh dear, we had a flat tyre.  Luckily we were near a small parking area and changed it for the spare.  We have not had a flat tyre for many years and of all places, out in the middle of nowhere.

I'll do another post later today about the next two days with some more photos.
Susan.

THEY ARE FINISHED.

A quick photo of the two items I was making.  Also, picked up the DVD I spoke of in a post last week.

The pincushion was much harder than I thought, although using felt or fabric would probably have been better.  It came from an old "Homespun" magazine and is by Phillipa Morris, though I put my own touches on it.  It is quite fiddly.
The little fabric bin was from a magazine too, called Handmade.  I used some iron pellon, but think it maybe better with an iron-on stabilizer.  May give it a go again some time and see how that goes.

I will post again after our weekend away, although it looks like we are in for a rainy few days.  We do need it, so I am not complaining.  With only half our average rainfall for the year so far, it will be good for the farmers and our gardens.  It has also turned very cold with our night time temps down to 2deg and yesterday , it only got to 14.  We'll rug up.  Have a lovely weekend out there in blogland.

Susan.

WHAT AM I MAKING?

Two things that are in progress at the moment.  I am wondering if anyone can guess what they are?
Some may recognise the bird fabric from an earlier post.
We are off to Lakes Entrance this weekend with the caravan for three nights as hubby has 4 days off, which only happens once every 15 weeks on his shift roster.  We try to take advantage of these to have a relaxing break.  Hope to have some lovely photos when we get back.

Scraps of batting.

Bird fabric?

Also have some new knitting on the go which I will take with me in the car and a couple of new magazines to pick up from the newsagent.  I may take the book I am reading at the moment, which is an Erica James novel called The Hidden Cottage.

This is all for now, Susan.

ANZAC DAY

Today is Anzac Day in Australia.  It commemorates the landing of the troops at Gallipoli and is a holiday here in Oz and N.Z.

It maybe a holiday for some, but hubby is working a long shift and won't be home till after 10pm.  Buses don't take days off.

I've manged to squeeze a lot in.  Housework, then plenty of sewing.

"English Garden"

The next quilt to go on the machine is one of my own designs.  It will have  an allover pattern , one that  I'd already picked, which will not start in the right place, so must find another.

Hems.

My next door neighbour rang on Monday to ask if I could put up  hems on a couple of pairs of trousers for her husband.    Her Gran isn't up to it any more, so I said yes and got these done on Wednesday morning.  I was given a lovely little box of chocolates for the favour.  How lovely was that?

Baby quilt in progress.

This is the baby quilt from the fabric I showed on an earlier blog.  It now needs a small border, but I'm not sure what colour to use.  I'm open to suggestions.  This is the sewing I got finished today.  I have many triangles over from the corners, and my friend PW and I are going to make 2 doll quilts for our granddaughters.
I have made this quilt before and used the leftovers for a doll quilt for another of my granddaughters.  It is a good  quilt for when you need one quickly.

THE GARDEN.

Muscari now well through.

Anemones coming through.

Many friesias well up now and 2 species gladioli.

Lastly, an arrangement of autumn maple foliage.

My friend PW, ( whom I mentioned earlier) and I  have just found that we are able to get Kirstie Allsopp's new  TV programme on DVD, although it still has not aired over here.  We are both big fans of her crafty shows.  Mature age groupies.  (giggle).

Well, that  was how I spent the last few days.  I'm still knitting that scarf, but have given up on the crochet for now.  Will think about what to do with the squares I've made and try something else soon.

Susan.

FLOWERS AND QUILTS.

A BUSY WEEK.

Another week gone and not sure where it went.  Two quilts off the machine, one as a present and the other for a customer.  I've done lots but it's all gone in a blur.  Gardening, baking, eye appointment and visiting our daughter and family.  On Friday I did our weekly grocery shop and actually bought 2 bunches of flowers from the supermarket,  something I've never done before.  One was 4 large gerberas for 96c and the other a bunch of chrysanthemums for $1.80.  Now that is a bargain as they are usually about $7 and up.

Some photos below of a few of these things.

Quilting pattern on quilt below.  The pattern is Tickle from Willow Leaf Studios.

This quilt is going to my friend's sister in UK.  I'll show the full quilt when I finish the binding.

Couldn't resist this.  It wasn't expensive, but I loved the colours.

It's a little high, but I didn' have anywhere else.

See, I do love pink!!

Customer's baby quilt done.

Gerberas from Supermarket.

A gerbera from our garden.  I thought these had nearly died in the hot and dry summer, but this one was there to surprise me the other day.  I cut it and put it on my desk.  The plant is now nice and leafy and looks like it is going to be ok.

Now, I had better go to serve up our dinner, which is leftover bolognaise made into lasagne tonight.  Only being 2 these days, there is quite often enough to make two meals.

Have a lovely week in blogland.

Susan.

GIFTS ?

WHAT DO I THINK?

People who really know me well, will be surprised by this outburst, but to me "gifts" a very special things we give to our family and friends.

THE STORY SO FAR.

I send a lot of presents to my Hubby's rather large family in the UK.  We also have our best friends there too. .
Friend Beryl rang on Thursday night to say she'd posted a parcel to the UK (she's from Yks) and had come across a few problems with our Post Office and insurance etc., but was gobsmacked to be told that the UK party would have to be pay "DUTY" to actually receive the parcel.  She had put "gift" and the value and what was in it, on the 'custom's advice' slip.
  Now we were wondering if this was true or not.
I got another phone call last night and  "YES".  The parcel had arrived and before she could take it home she had to pay 23 pound (I can't find the pound symbol).  My heavens above, you don't want to know that I
used the "S" word.  I don't really swear, it just pops out.
Well, now I am in a quandary!!!!  I make a lot of gifts to send across, but I certainly don't want the recipients paying.  It would hardly be a "GIFT".

We think this must be something to do with internet shopping, but gifts are gifts.


PASSPORT PHOTOS.

I've just had my photo done for my passport renewal and it looks like a mug shot and my face really looks like I have some blotchy red disease.  Does anyone think the same if they have a passport?
I may put on some makeup (which I don't wear) and have it done again.  I'm not really vain, but it's an absolute shocker.  Hubby's isn't half as bad.

A LITTLE SOMETHING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE.

This is the cover of the book I have spoken of  in my last post.  It has been reprinted many times, with different covers, but this one is one of the brighter ones.  I have a Special Edition, which includes all her stories and another book on her life.

I will post again later this weekend with a bubblier lot of new.  Have a lovely weekend ladies.