WE BOUGHT A HOUSE

Just a quick post to say the above.  "We bought a HOUSE".
It is in a lovely part of Ballarat and although I still hanker after a large garden, we do realise that we are not getting any younger and with a couple of minor health issues this will be very nice.  The home is large enough to take my long arm quilting machine, garaging for the cars and bike, and somewhere (with a little tinkering) for the caravan.  I'll be able to plant some roses, annuals, perennials,  and still have a small vegie patch.  Once we move in, I'll be able to post some pics.  The settlement date is 24th January, so until then we are still in Warragul.  We signed the papers on the 21st November, which also happens to be 2 of our grandchilren's birthdays.  Our granddaughter A, turned 17 and grandson L was 8.  It was quite a day all round.

Over the last couple of days I've found some things to do, making a start and finish on one apron and finishing a duster bag I must have bought when I first married over 40 years ago.  Another apron ready to go, though this one is for when I'm long arm quilting and not the kitchen.  I also got out some scraps from a quilt I sent to UK earlier this year and will make a charity quilt.  Photos below are also of a couple of things from this garden, which I am slowly weeding.

Once I finished this apron, hubby announced it was a Kirstie apron, as he thought it would be something Kirstie Allsopp would wear.  lol

The duster bag, probably very 60's, but finished all the same.

A hollyhock coming into flower.  There are several in the garden.

A lovely white hydrangea.

Self sown tiny tomatoes.

2 dahlias, which I'm looking forward to see in flower.

The sewing apron in progress.  My name embroidered by a sales person at a quilt show, trying to sell us machines.

Today we are off to Melbourne for Quilt Market, which is a trade show and luckily for me is free.  I'll pop in  quickly to see what's new on our side of the world and talk to my Emco dealer.  I bought my long arm machine from these people and want to let them know about our new address and possible help to set her back up again.  It took hubby the best part of a day to disassemble her.  Can't wait to be sorted with everything again and get back into my quilting.  After that we are off to DD's for the afternoon.
Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend wherever you live and although it is raining here, the garden will be pleased if nothing else.
Take care, Susan.

MOVED, BUT IN LIMBO

Well the move went well, without too many complications.  The worst was the phone and internet.  Phone was off till the Wednesday and no internet till the next Wednesday.  I don't think I realised how much I use both.  Now I am back on line and catching up on my favourite blogs.  (the ones on my sidebar).

WHAT ELSE HAVE WE BEEN DOING?

Mostly trying to find a house to buy, by both going to Ballarat and scanning the internet.  Some luck yesterday with 2 contenders.  Now we have to mull things over and see what the outcome of our offers are.

We've also been trying to keep warm as the weather was atrocious last week, still cold and wet, but today is absolutely lovely.  This morning we went for a walk and it got quite warm.

I found an apron I'd cut out and am going to finish that off over this week and some scraps I'll put together as a couple of charity quilts ready for next winter to go hopefully to fire victims in NSW who lost everything.
The quilt machine will not be put back together until we settle in a home of our own.
I also found some embroidery in my sewing box and will do that and some knitting of a night in front of the TV.  Hopefully that will keep me out of mischief, along with weeding the garden here.  It is quite nice, but oh the weeds!!!

Before we left the old place I picked a big bunch of roses, some lemons and rhubarb.  Below are some photos.

Lemons from my old tree.

Pierre de Ronsard roses in a glass canister that usually has rice in it  Can't find any vases.

A few other roses in my little old glass bottles.

Yesterday (saturday) saw us in Ballarat again and we ate lunch by the lake.  We saw these 2 swans with their brood of 5 cygnets.  We managed a couple of photos.

On the grass.

Now in the water.

Aren't they so cute.  They only had a very short swim and were out of the water a couple of minutes later.
Just one  of the lovely things to look forward to when we move.

Not much more for now as we are still both exhausted, but hopefully will post again midweek.
All take care and have a lovely Sunday, wherever you may live.
Susan,

"M" IS FOR MOVING

I want to thank everyone for the lovely comments and advice on moving.  I think I may be boring all at the moment and when we get back to some sort of normal, I will start replying again.
Tomorrow is the day they come and finish the packing, as I've done about as much as I can.  They may even shift some things and then more on Saturday.  As we are staying here in Warragul for the time being, the move should be a little less, "time wise".
Once we are settled in our own house again, these may be the things we can spend time doing.  Below are some photos taken over the years of how we love to "craft".  We will also join a Morris Minor club, (we spent many happy times in them before), do some volunteering and take time to walk, canoe and smell the roses.

Our lovely Morris ute called Brute, having been in a blackberry patch for many years and restored by hubby and on the road now since 1992.  Many fun times have been had with her and will continue to be.  She has been used to take him to work everyday and will go on club plates in the future.

A candlewicked heart I made many years ago.

A bag made for my Cornish penfriend B.

Cushion for my friend P, who lives near here, and two block rolls made for my 2 English penfriends as above and the other in Yorkshire.

Doll made for penfriend B.

Cradle made for ganddaughter M

My "springer" spaniel and it's sitting mate for DD who loved mine, so asked for one too.  Of course Dad obliged.

The two rocking made by hubby for our youngest two granddaughters when they were younger.

These are just some photos I decided to post as I've not taken anything this week, because we've been too busy.  Just one more photo of a quilt I must finish once settled, and everyone is going to give me a gentle push to get it ready in time maybe for a quilt show, though which one, I have no idea.  It's been on the go for several years and was put aside after my Mum passed away, but I now really want to finish it.

After this photo was taken, I did manage to finish one corner of it, but as it is now packed away I can't show you yet.  The stars are all paper pieced.  I really want to see it finished along with some other WIP's.

This computer will be switched off some time tomorrow for it's upcoming move, and hopefully be back on by early next week.  Thanks everyone, take care, and have a lovely weekend.
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.

GARAGE SALE DONE AND DUSTED

I want to thank everyone who left lovely comments on my last post..  I count my blogging pals as friends although you live far and wide and we've never met. It is a little down time for me reading your blogs occasionally and I still have some to catch up on.

 Our garage sale was quite successful and some of the larger furniture that we didn't manage to sell is off to an auction house later this month.

The stress levels are still high and we  haven't found a house yet, but are off to Ballarat again this Saturday.

Hubby has one day left before retirement.  Wonder what our new life will bring.

These photos below were taken in Ballarat a

 couple of weeks ago.  It was a freezing cold day with wind and rain and these two men had decided to go wind surfing on Lake Wendourie.  Mad I thought,  but they did it as you can see from the 2 photos.

Black swans on the grass.

The photo below was taken about and hour ago.  It's been a funny day with sunshine, cloud, heavy rain and very strong winds.

We think this is a baby kookaburra sitting in our Japanese maple outside the lounge room window.
He/she let me take this photo on the front steps.

Some flowers on the kitchen window sill last week.

That was just a quick post to let you all know that amongst the chaos of moving I will still try and post occasionally.  Also our 2 youngest granddaughters turned 6 on the 15th and 16th, so, although they have both been wished Happy Birthday, both our daughter and youngest son follow my blog.  I still can't believe how quickly they are all growing up.  You are both beautiful M and E.

Take care all.  Susan.

MOVING CHALLENGE.

Oh, this harder than I thought.  Sorting, tidying, chucking out, garage sale things put aside and packing.  It's a challenge, but we know it must be done now the house is sold.
Hubby has decided to retire and we are off to Ballarat, which is on the western side of Melbourne.  Our daughter lives in the suburbs of Melbourne on that side, so it will be easier to drive and see the family.  The rertirement plans came about earlier than we thought, as the company he works for was taken over last year and is definitely not as good any more with talk of redundancies, slashed hours and changed shifts, and that is enough for us.
We are off in our caravan for a few days to try and find somewhere to rent for a couple of months to get to know Ballarat again.  We lived out of town in the mid eighties and I worked at the bank in Ballarat for 18 months before we moved to Tasmania.  There is more for us to do in this larger centre with a Morris Minor Club and at least a few places where we can volunteer.  I'll keep you posted as to what we are up to.

Now for a few photos taken this morning before it got windy and the rain started again.  We've had plenty of rain this September.

One of the jasmines in full flower and it smells so good.

Snowball bush.

Pink ixias.

The wisteria which hasn't been as good this year.

Very colourful with iris and ranunculus.

Bluebells of which I have many scattered throughout the garden.

A late flowering azalea.  It is also quite protected from the weather.

A white lavender which came up all by itself.

Green Goddess arum lily which was nearly dead earlier this year.

Closeup of above.

My last daffodil.

Not sure what I will get in the way of a garden next time, but knowing me I will try and make it nice.
Not much craft to show at the moment as most is now packed away.
I cannot believe how much we have accumulated and carted around with us over the last (nearly) forty years.
It has frightened the life out of me and I know I'm not coping all that well, but realise it is time for us to downsize and get on with life.
Thanks to all my lovely blogging buddies for your support and well wishes.  I appreciate it very much and hope not to bore you too much in the future and soon be back to my old self.
Enjoy this coming week all and take care till my next post.
Susan.

CHRISTMAS QUILTALONG.

How do I put this to everyone?.  I've not done a lot of blogging lately as I've been diagnosed with extreme anxiety, which I've never had in my life before, so why now.  Also, we have sold our house and have to move by the 6/11 and I'm terrified.  I will miss this garden so much, but know that I can no longer maintain it as I once did due to back and feet problems.  Then, we are now facing trying to find somewhere with enough space for my long arm quilting machine (Bubs) and at least access to the backyard for our caravan and some space for a small garden.  Oh, the joys of getting older.  Enough of that and although I've done little of anything except stress and now starting to pack, I managed to piece one row of my "Surprise Packages".  Below are photos of some flowers I picked last week and the quilt row.

Maple tree flowers, flowering currant, camelia and jasmine.
Not the best photo, but it looked pretty.

Mixed azaleas on the table.

Azaleas on a shelf amongst two favourite pictures.

Diosma.

The middle row of packages and the flowers I had on the chest in the studio.  That was just coincidence.

This is just a quick post as I will meet two friends today down at the biennial Lioness Quilt Show here in Warragul and hopefully have small amount of time with them.  I went down for two hours yesterday and did some white gloving for them as a volunteer.  Although it is a small show, the quilts and other crafty items were of a high standard.
The rest of the day will be spent packing, sorting etc.  I often wonder if I am a hoarder, but am going to try and get rid of so much "STUFF".  I will try and post at least once a week, just to try and stay sane and am going to pop over to seem some of my favourite blogs and catch up with the Xmas quiltalong.

Take care everyone and hope I've not bored you too much.  Susan.