MAY SCAVENGER PHOTO HUNT.

Joining in with Hawthorn Spellweaver for the month of May  with ten categories.

1.  PATH

Along a path, through the trees, towards the mouth of the Powlett River on the South Gippsland Coast.

2. HAIRY

A little lone gum blossom which I thought looked quite "hairy".  I did find this one difficult, though I'm sure there are lots of things.

3.  EDIBLE

Baking biscuits last Sunday.

4.  SMALL

My shadow box with miniatures I've collected over many years.

5.  POEM.

Technicolour Poetry.

OK, so this is my - "What to do when you don't know what to do"!!!!!!!  I'd like to think someone, somewhere could conjure up a poem about these.

6.  HANDS.

Young hands and old hands.  Teaching my grand daughter to knit.  DD rang late Sunday afternoon to ask a question and I heard in the background, "tell Nana I am knitting now".  She's doing well.

7.  VINTAGE.

My original wedding dress circa 1969, which I'm sure must be "vintage",(I've been married twice for those who don't know) and although this has sentimental value, it is only because my great aunt made it for me.  She was a professional seamstress and this was her 30th wedding dress.  She minded me as a 3 year old whilst my mother had my younger brother and I think she  instilled in me a love of sewing.  I used to sit on the large table which housed her industrial machine and play with buttons and fabric scraps while she sewed.  The bottles were my other choice and I couldn't make up my mind which one to choose, so both are here.

8.  SHADOWS.

Clouds casting shadows across the hills of South Gippsland.

9.  VIEW FROM A WINDOW.

Technically not from the window, but as I walked into the kitchen on Tuesday, I looked out the window and saw these two galahs on the feeder.  I ran to get my camera, crept out to the opening of our back verandah and quietly took  a couple of photos.  Probably not the easiest to capture without disturbing them and the closest to the kitchen window, which has a flyscreen that makes for lousy photos.  Aren't they such pretty colours and we've not had them on the feeder before.

10.  MY OWN CHOICE.

A waterfall plunging into the sea on The Isle of Skye.  I thought this so amazing, that it came out No.1 for this category.  We explored Skye in 2011.

All done for the Month of May and thanks once again to Hawthorn for our challenge.

I am loving this so much and enjoy how everyone else interprets it.

Have fun all and take care.

Susan.

OOH, IT'S GETTING COLD.

Brrr!  I'm glad my Mum put my winter woollies on me, though something new would be nice.

Judith in her winter outfit.
. I really should make her some new clothes.  I'm sure you will all recognise this lovely little one

I've been a bit slack with blogging lately, due to being sort of busy with other stuff.
Quilted two quilts for the local shop owner and she gave me three more to do.  I won't say too much, but they are testing me somewhat.
This weekend just gone, we had general meeting of car club, then Sunday a visit and display from The Vauxhall Owners Club of Melbourne.
Yesterday was our monthly Coffee and Cake Run, which is lovely as someone picks a route along back roads and we end up at a cafe or bakery and sit chatting, then home again.
I had my monthly massage on Tuesday afternoon, and hubby was fitted with his orthotics to help the pain in his foot.

Now for a few other bits with photos.

An old Hunter's Star top that I quilted after the first 2 shop quilts.  I'll show it in full after I've finished the binding..
I am still getting some UFO's done.

The pile of "book" quilts is growing too.

A Little Bit of Gardening.

My very old pot of cyclamen is back again with lots of leaves.

And, I think some buds too.
It really needs re-potting, so later this year I'll get to that.

My two vintage buckets with bulbs from last year, which I hope flower, as I should have planted them out.

My poor little veg bed.
The silver beet is still being picked and the rhubarb I planted late last year is coming along nicely.
The large curly parsley which died, has at least self seeded.  \
Must try and make some raised beds, so I can get back into veg growing.  This one is just too low for my back/rib problem.

We inherited this Pieris, which isn't as nice as ones I've had before, but at least has buds.

I just don't seem to be able to garden as I did.  Not sure whether it's my physical pain or the garden is just "not me".
OK, just a quick post to let everyone know I am still here.
Nearly the weekend again, so must get sorted, look out ideas for the Scavenger Photo Hunt and hopefully see DD and family this weekend.
Take care all,
Susan.

A SURPRISE AWARD!!!!!

The lovely Jo at Through the Keyhole nominated me for this award and although I can't participate the exact way, I'm thanking her so much and will answer the questions asked of us and set 10 questions that anyone may answer on my comments page if they would like to.

JO'S TEN QUESTIONS TO ME.
1. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
Hubby and I went to see Shaun the Sheep Movie last year in Ballarat and loved it.

2. Where would be your ideal place to live, town, country or coast?

That's a hard one, but I've always fancied living on the edge of a village in UK with stunning views.

3. Do you have any pets?

No, not at the moment and I do miss having one.

4. What is your favourite area of the UK?

Another hard one, but I have 3 in this order, Yorkshire, Lakes District and Isle of Skye. (OK I'm nuts).

5. What song annoys you?

Anything Rap or Heavy Metal.

6. What three things would you take to a desert island?

Hubby, food and some sort of 'hand' crafts.

7. If you were given a million pounds, what would you spend it on?

Help my children and support a good charity.

8. What would be your last meal?

HEAVENS!  I don't know.

9. Have you ever met anyone famous?

Yes, if you count Michael Whitney (an Australian cricketer) and Jimmy Doherty of Jimmy's Farm fame.  Are they famous enough?

10. What's your favourite take away?
Rarely do takeaway, but fish and chips would be the most likely.  (Hubby's English, giggle).

MY TEN QUESTIONS TO YOU.
1.  What was your favourite subject at school?
2.  Favourite colour.
3.  What musical instrument would you LIKE to play?
4.  Do you follow any sort of sport?
5.  Would you go on a TV game show?
6.  Who else is scared of lifts?
7.  Do you know your 'birth' month flower?
8.  What did you want to be when you 'grew up'?
9.  Natural hair colour (before some of us went grey)?
10 Do you have or have had a nickname used by a family member?. 

OK, that is my quick post for today.  Thanks Jo, that was fun and hope somebody is willing to answer my 10.  I did find it hard thinking up things to ask without them being too personal.
Have a great weekend all and take care.
Susan.

DREARY SUNDAY

Hope all mothers here in Oz, have had a lovely Mother's day.  The weather has been wet, cool and overcast here in Victoria.

The bare branches against a grey sky with a few sparrows resting.

Last Saturday, I heard a car in our driveway and went out to investigate and what did I find on my doorstep, but this ---------

A  parcel.

The contents.

This parcel came all the way from The Wool Warehouse in the UK and was my mother's day present from DD.  It is the Cupcake Pack for a crochet rug by Lucy from Attic 24.  I will be starting this during the long winter nights whilst watching TV.  I hope to finish this below before I start on the rug.

I had some hanks of wool from many years ago that I'd stashed away and some old knitting magazines, and decided to make myself another jumper.  The above is what is on the go.  The magazine is actually dated October 1986 and is a publication called SANDRA and the pattern only has charted instructions, which I've never attempted before.  It's all going OK, so now know that I can follow a chart.

This morning I put the second customer quilt on the machine.

Dog panels with sashing.

Closeup of quilting.

Done by 3pm.

It didn't take long as it was an easy Edge to Edge pattern she wanted on it, with bones.  I will deliver this tomorrow morning to our local quilt shop.

Whilst out one day in March, at an Antique & Collectables place, I discovered this little footstool and just couldn't resist, although it does need recovering.  Being on the extremely short side, I need something to rest my feet on and so far I'm wondering how I go along without it.  I hope to recover it sometime in the future, but you just can't hurry these things.(lol)

Footstool.

Another find has been given the treatment it needed  and is now hanging on the wall above my desk in the study.  This print was purchased in Ambleside in 2014 and has sat rolled in a postal tube.  I took it to the framers and they quoted me $150 to have a simple mat and frame and I just couldn't justify it.  On our little forays into A & C's (see above), I kept a lookout for a suitable frame and found this one with an old print in it, which only cost $15, and the thick cardboard for around the edge $4, was cut by hubby and we think it looks great for a lot less expense.

Aerial Map of The Lake District.

OK, enough of my ramblings today, but it made a dismal and misty afternoon go by quickly whilst posting this.  It is a jumble of bits I've been going to blog about and just haven't got around to.
Hope your weekend has been a good one and all take care.
Susan.

HOLIDAY CATCHUP.

First, I'd like to thank everyone so much for the lovely comments on The Scavenger Hunt Photos.  I'm sorry for not commenting individually, but I was slightly overwhelmed and a tad busy,  Thanks again.
Just a quick post with some photos from our trip to South Australia.
We left Bordertown on the Monday morning and headed to Mount Gambier, where we visited a few places we've been to before, but I'd not taken photos of .

The Blue Lake.
This is a volcanic crater, last active 5000 yeas ago and turns a beautiful blue each November, though no-one knows why.

Extensive views from Tower Hill.
You can see all the way to the sea from here.

Tower Hill.
And yes it is a "hill", as the only way up is to walk and the last bit is really steep.

Later in the afternoon we visited the Umpherstone Sink Hole, which was landscaped inside by a wealthy landowner many years ago and revitalised more recently.  You can view from the top and then take the stairs and explore the bottom.

Looking down into the hole.

One of the local inhabitants, a possum, which usually only appear at dusk or later as they are nocturnal.
They come down to be fed by the visitors and scamper along the walls with their nooks and crannies down near the bottom. He was so cute.

Next morning we left and back over the border into Victoria, where we made a detour and visited Princess Margaret Rose Caves.  We ended up having a private tour as we were the only 'tourists"
They are lovely, although not very extensive.  Anyone following my blog will realise that I posted a photo of them in the Scavenger Hunt.

Behind the pillar is a mass of stalactites, nicknamed The Chandelier.

Next, we headed into Port Fairy, a lovely little town on the Moyne River, just before it heads out to sea.

It's such a pretty place.

Then we headed for Warrnambool to stay the night.  We took a walk out on part of the breakwater and to a vantage point to take photos of Middle Island.  If anyone has seen the movie ODDBALL, will recognise it immediately.  It is such a lovely true story.

Middle Island, which is no longer open to visitors,

The story of the island and it's  Little Penguin inhabitants.  (If you click  and enlarge it you can read the story.)

OK, that was basically the end of our trip, as we headed to Ballarat for a night, then  for home.  Hope you find this small lot of photos interesting.
I'm off to get our dinner ready now, so all starting Wednesday, have a good one.
Take care, Susan.

SCAVENGER HUNT PHOTO CHALLENGE - APRIL

Linking up with Hawthorn at I Live, I Love, I Craft, I am Me,  for the challenge.

All the photos below, have been taken over the last few weeks, except for the Memories one.  I have had so much fun.  I was on the lookout for so much, that I surprised myself with other photos taken because I just love snapping odd things and lo and behold, there were a few that have made the cut and others taken with the challenge in mind that haven't been added,
And here we go.

ORANGE,
Berries on a pyracantha as it is Autumn here.

FEATHER.
This is one that was taken for the odd seaweed, but do you see the little feather.

FRESH.
Fresh flowers.  Two stems of orchid from the florist and camellia from my garden.  This is the one I had most trouble with as I just couldn't find what I'd thought of..  I took the photo this morning and the light is atrocious today as it has been raining a bit.

HORIZON.
A storm brewing out to sea at Warrnambool.

WET.
Water flowing over some mossy type foliage in the Umpherstone Sink Hole at Mt. Gambier.

CRAFT.
Two little wallhangings quilted  this week.  They were both made a long time ago and just need binding now.  Aah done at last.

GROWING   -  SLOWLY.
A stalagmite and stalactite trying in vain to connect in the Princess Margaret Rose Caves.  Maybe in a few thousand years.  

MEMORIES.
There were so many I considered for this, but here I am sitting on the Cow and Calf looking out over Ilkley.  Special memories indeed.

STICKS.
We found this on the beach at Inverloch and I thought, aha, another stick photo, but this one made it on.  It's from driftwood on the shoreline and I wonder who built it and why?

ANY SUBJECT!
One of the rays that swim regularly around Inverloch Jetty.  They are so beautiful and graceful, that I couldn't help picking it for my other subject.

Photos 1, 3 and 6 were taken on a local walk and at home.  2, 4, 5 and 7 taken on our trip to Bordertown in early April, 8 whilst on holiday in UK in 2009, and lastly 9 and 10,  Wednesday this week whilst on a day out to the coast.
I'll try and do a blog post in the next few days to catch up on the last leg of our trip away, but next week may be slow going as I have "two customer" quilts to do.  Luckily, both allover patterns which are quick and easy, so shouldn't take up too much time.
Well I think I'm finished and look forward to what may come next month and seeing everyone else's interpretation.  THANK YOU Hawthorn.
Have a great weekend all and take care.
Susan.

OH DEAR!!!!!!

Yes, it's been a month since I last posted, and I'm not sure there's been too much happening to write about.  Health wise, I'm still struggling with pain due to back and ribs, but we are working on that.  I suppose that is the main reason for being so quiet for 3 weeks, but the last week has been a little adventure and that is why I'm sitting here now.  I had no internet access for 6 out of the 7 days away.
We set off last Thursday in this.

Our caravan.

 We were travelling to Bordertown in South Australia so I could have a little retreat time with a lovely group of ladies who all operate computerised long arm machines similar to mine.  This is organised by Judy at  News from Jude blog.
The first night we stayed at Ararat here in Victoria and we took a leisurely stroll around the lovely small town and as we passed by an Op Shop (charity shop) I saw something in the window that caught my eye and we walked away with it and a freebie the young lady threw in.  Can't show the freebie till the 29/4, but can the other item.  We also had a lovely coffee and scone.

An inexpensive framed print with quilts outside an antique shop, which I thought quite appropriate to our trip.  It will hang in my sewing area. 

Next stop was Keith, not far from Bordertown where we stayed for 3 nights and I went back and forth to Judy's.  I'm sure I'd forgotten to take my brains with me, but did a little stitching on  a binding and started another of my own quilt designs.  I think I just talked too much and learnt so many new things about using the computer side of my machine.  I sometimes feel a bit of a fraud going to these retreats, as I don't quilt for customers anymore, but it was lovely being with like-minded people.
The only photo I took was the one below, as I forgot the camera the first day, but they were all busy doing some of the greatest things, which I didn't photograph, though Judy did.  Permission has been granted to post this.

The "girls".

OK, just another few pics and I will post more about our trip over the weekend.  Been a busy day with lots of washing and grocery shopping as we only got home yesterday.

The derelict gatehouse for the old gaol in Ararat that also housed a ward for the criminally insane.   It is now a technology centre, but there are tours which we may do one day. 

Beautiful golden tree, as it is autumn here in Oz.

The sun going down, taken through the windscreen.

Hope to post again with more over the next few days.
Have a good weekend all and take care.
Susan.