Christmas Thoughts 2012

I love Christmas time.  I love getting my little wire tree out with all its decorations from around the world to be displayed once again.  My nativity sets grew by another 2 this year.  I bought one to give away but ..... I couldn't part with it.  Maybe this is selfish of me, maybe I can have it this year and give it to someone else next year and then we swap again or maybe it could become a travelling nativity set and get passed on from person to person.  While contemplating this I will treasure having it on display.

A few weeks ago I invited my brothers and their wives to come for a dinner party.  One of my brothers was expecting a bbque so was quite surprised when I dished up a 3 course meal.  Prawn cocktails, roast lamb, turkey roll, chicken & ham with vegies.  For dessert we had a cheesecake provided by Judy, cream puffs & (I can't think what else) Also a fruit platter, biscuits & dip. I kept telling them all it was stress free and casual, which it was. A great evening of catching up. I love my brothers and their families.

The following week I invited six of our friends to come for a dinner party.  Once again it was stress free, casual and a great time to catch up.  This time Marion provided entree, Max did main course (as I worked that day) and Michelle did dessert.  A really good evening was had by all.  Usually it is only 6 of us at our annual Christmas dinner party but this year we added two more to our group which was great. We have been having these little dinner partys for about five years or so now.  They are full of laughter, fun and chatting.  It started off with no presents but now one of us usually comes up with something different to hand out each year especially to the men.  This year I came up with extendable back scratchers.  Michelle came up with fly guns.  Both items created much fun and laughter.  I have no photos of either dinner parties as we never take photos at them.  Its all about enjoying yourself, relaxing & catching up.

Working in retail I find this time of the year really brings out the best in people.  It makes me sad when I see an unhappy person just because they couldn't buy what they wanted to and they feel the need to take it out on the sales assistant.  Then on the flip side there are the lovely people who I see wandering casually around the Christmas area & other areas of the store just enjoying looking and choosing carefully what they take a liking to.  Sometimes they are singing along to the songs playing and are often not aware of whats happening around them, deep in their own thoughts.  These people always make a sales assistant day a good day.

Our Christmas day this year will be spent in Melbourne with our daughters, son-in-law and grandchildren.  We are all looking forward to being together and watching the little ones unwrap their presents.

If you are reading this I want to say
  MERRY CHRISTMAS 
to you.  

Relax and enjoy this most special day and give a thought to the real reason for Christmas -

 The birth of Jesus

Positive results after a bad day at work

A few weeks ago I almost got myself sacked by being a little too honest at work and not choosing my words quite right.  Lesson learnt there and I am very happy to still have my job.  In the few days after making my big mistake I began to think about what I would do if I no longer worked. (I didn't work for 12 years when my children were young and then I only worked for 8 hours a week for a lot of years.  Now I have been at my current employment for six and a half years, approx three of them full time.)  I came to the conclusion that I could "retire".  I would volunteer at the local hospital canteen, spend more time on my hobbies, maybe even get a little vegetable garden growing.  I could look after my grandson more, spend time at the duck pond and parks with him. I could cook a decent meal every night for my husband, instead of him coming home most nights before me and doing the cooking.  I try not to think about the dusting I could do....I'm not very good at that!  I could be more relaxed and not get stressed over things that really are not worth stressing over. I could spend more time with my friend Marion, scrapbooking and solving the problems of the world from her craft room.  Losing my job wouldn't have been the end of the world but it would have been the way I lost it that I would not have been proud of.  When I choose to "retire" I want to be able to write the letter of resignation for the right reasons not because I have been made to choose between resigning or getting sacked.  Sometimes things happen for a reason and out of the mess of that day has come a lot of positive results.  I enjoy going to work again and I have realised that there are other things I want to do in life once I decide to stop working.  So I have no bad memories of that day as it has taught me to focus on all the things I have yet to achieve and do.

Tasha Dog

Today has been a sad day for my family.  Our beautiful Tasha Dog left us after 11 and a half years.  We thought she was the best dog ever, very loyal, obedient and loving.  She loved camping and would sleep under the campervan no matter how cold it was.  We put her in the car to sleep one particularly cold night and she did not appreciate this at all.  We picked Tasha out of a litter of 12 pups.  When she was a pup the vet told us not to play tug of war with her as it can loosen the teeth.  We had a young male come to stay and we passed this information onto him but he played tug of war.  A short time later Tasha got tetanus from dirt getting into one of the teeth.  Tasha loved her food ball.  We would fill it up for her in the morning and she could push it around the lawn until she got every little bit of food out of it.  Max was a good trainer and the disciplinarian when Tash was young.  This paid of well as Tash was very obedient and we could take her anywhere.  When my mum moved into a nursing home I was able to take Tash in to visit her which helped cheer mum up.  Tash was a snorer and already we are missing her snoring.  In the last couple of weeks we allowed her to come into the lounge room.  She never came onto the carpet unless invited.  She was a real labrador who loved to eat and would do so quite happily.  Every night from about 5.30 she would start reminding us it was nearly her meal time.  She would pace around the kitchen area and not settle until we fed her which was 6 o'clock.  If given a bone it seemed she became very secretive.  (She would give us the bone back if we asked her to.) She would take the bone and give it a lick and have a look to see if we were still watching her and if so she would move so we couldn't see her.  I can't think of one person who didn't love or like Tasha.  She was friendly but would leave you alone if you wasn't a dog person.  She loved people, pats, baths, food, camping, walking, sitting in the laundry looking over her domain and just being with us wherever we were.  Each month she had a bath with Whiffy dog.  She loved these bath dates and would happily jump up in the trailer to be washed.  Tasha now rests in our backyard in the spot where she loved to lie in the sun.  As Max was putting the rubbish out tonight he looked up into the sky and saw what appeared to be three stars lined up.  I went out to look at them and have named it Tashas Tiara.  That was the first thing that came into my mind when I saw them.  Below you can read that they are actually Spica, Mars and Saturn all lined up.  (Thankyou to the website I found this information on, I appreciate it).  To me they will always be Tashas Tiara and I in my mind will continue to think this is a sign from Tasha that she is happy, out of pain and doing good.  Tasha will never be forgotten.

Mars, Saturn and Spica Conjunction

What? In August 2012, Mars and Saturn will be easily visible close together in the evening twilight sky to the unaided eye. Mid-month, Mars will change position relative to Saturn as it, and the planet Earth (on which we are living) move at different speeds in their respective orbits. Saturn is also moving in its orbit but its much greater distance from the Earth means that it doesn’t move noticeably over this time period. Spica (the brightest star in the ancient Greek constellation Virgo ‘The Virgin’) acts as a fixed reference point to compare the movement of both planets to. A flip book showing how the Mars, Saturn and Spica conjunction will appear can be downloaded here: Spica_Mars_Saturn_Flipbook_August_2012

Where do I look? Look low above the Western horizon at the end of evening twilight.

When? 10 – 20 August 2012

Equipment requirements? None. However, a pair of binoculars will provide a better view of the event. Note that a small telescope will show Saturn’s rings, and Titan (Saturn’s largest moon).

Mars, Spica and Saturn will be easy to see with the unaided eye.

Little Quilts and Knitting

My daughter was telling me one of her friends who is about 37 weeks pregnant had a scan the other day and something was found to be wrong with the babies heart.  My first thought is to make this little baby a quilt.  I have made a couple of small quilts and donated fabric for these little quilts to be made but I have never known who will get one and why.  So I was thinking yeah it will be easy to make a little quilt of love, however, it actually made me quite sad.  I don't know the lady receiving this little quilt but my heart goes out to her.  I was thinking of this little baby and I pray he or she will get some use of the little quilt and that somehow the mum and dad will find some love in the little quilt.  The bootees are for my daughter to send to whoever she wants to.  Apparently if someone is trying to have a baby its good for the couple to receive a pair of yellow bootees.   If you are interested in learning more about blankets of love please visit http://stitchingcubbyhole.blogspot.com.au/p/blankets-of-love.html

In the past few weeks I have spent a lot of time knitting.  Mainly samples for work, a loopy scarf out of Nelly Bobble Mesh, a new yarn that has just come in. A teddy bear out of a yarn called bristles. A cushion out of pure wool and fishnet yarn.  No photos yet as the only thing completed is the scarf.

Three Eye Spy Quilts

These three eye spy quilts are going to live in Queensland.  My daughter asked me to make them for a little girl and her twin brothers.

It was good fun picking out fabrics and sewing them together to get the end result.  I have had quite a collection of childrens fabrics for a while so its good to be using them.  Just means I will need to restock....oh how sad to have to go fabric shopping!
I have been able to get 10 Australian Flag panels from Spotlight and am planning to share these with anyone who would like to make a quilt for the Aussie Heros.  If you are wanting to make a quilt for our soldiers and would like a flag panel please leave a comment or email me.
We are spending Easter in Melbourne with our daughter,son-in-law and granddaughter.  Its a very relaxing time with lots of playing and giggling to be had.  Oh yeah and the pedicure that has become a tradition for my daughter and I to have....it was great.  Now I have purple toenails...all good fun.

Laundry Bags for Aussie Heros

Sixteen laundry bags are now on their way to Afghanistan via New South Wales.  I have no idea who these laundry bags will end up living with and it doesn't matter as long as it gives someones day a lift.  A laundry bag may not mean much to you and me but to the soldier getting it maybe it does.  The amazing number of quilts being made and sent over is exciting, I am certain these will be much appreciated and used.  If you want to read more please go to http://aussieheroquilts.blogspot.com.au/  Jan-Maree is the founder of this blog and is doing an amazing job with co-ordinating everything.  THANKS JAN-MAREE

Laundry Bags

Add some treats

Pack them in the boxes (don't go over 2kg)

Thanks Australia Post

My boxes were just over the limit but they allowed me to send them for free.

I'm not a fan of war or learning about it, but I have to admit as I get a bit older I have been reading a little more about some of the things that went on. I have always had a fear of being in a war and getting put in a concentration camp.  To be treated how the people were is beyond me how they survived.  In my little world no-one is treated like that anymore but in reality I know there are still horrid things happening in the world.  So a laundry bag may not be much help in a lot of circumstances but I am happy if it brings a smile to someones face regardless of who that person is or where in the world they are.  Everyone who is sewing for this cause is helping in their own small way and with team effort it turns into a big way. Once again thanks Jan-Maree, you are the best.

Changes in a day

This morning at about 7.30 I went outside to peg out washing.  However I got distracted by a beautiful pink rose that was just coming out.  Its called The Childrens Rose and the smell is so nice.  Then I had a look in the pond and was lucky enough to see two little frogs.








There are loads of tadpoles in there, some are so big and still have no legs growing.  To sit quietly at the pond and observe all that was happening in it was the best relaxation after seven straight days at work.  The day started out hot so I knew it was only going to get hotter, I have found wandering around the garden early is great therapy.  Its only a small garden but its ours and we love it.  About 7.30pm Max cooked on the bbque for us and we ate outside.  I noticed the rose again, it had changed so much from morning to evening, it was hard to believe it was the same rose.  The petals had gone from a darker pink to a lighter pink.

There has not been much happening craft wise this week due to work but last week I knitted four curly scarfs.  I have also done some more to the Bloom Where You are Planted x stitch.  Hopefully after this week when the stocktake I am organising is over with I will be able to do a lot more sewing and stitching.

21 or 22 years ago Cousin It came to stay

Mothers Day about 21 years ago, on our way to visit the mother-in-law, we went to a market.  This is where I found and fell in love with Cousin It.  I purchased him with the thought of giving it to the mother-in-law but thats all it was, a thought.  Cousin It came home to stay with us, he started off so little and over the years he has had a few different pots.  Most of his life he has sat on the kitchen window sill and thrived very happily, never complaining, never asking for anything, not even water.  I transferred him a week ago to his new pot and also a new corner of the house to sit in.  He will still get warmed from the sun and maybe he will be able to grow even taller in his new position.  He has had several sets of eyes over the years and also a few mouths, he likes to see things through new eyes. Cousin It grows beautiful hair to protect him from sunburn.  He doesn't like to be touched by anyone, so when I have to change his house I wear good thick gloves as I don't want to be bit by him.  Over the years he has had some friends join him, some have moved outside and some have moved on. I can't bring myself to put Cousin It outside. I am sure he would survive but winter can be very cold here and I would hate for him to get a cold.  

In the xstitch area of my life I have been working on Bloom Where You Are Planted.  I decided to put my first photo up again of how it looked when I first started to blog and where it is at now.

January 25th 2012

Its great to have the two photos to compare and see how much progress has been made.

In the quilting area I have been working on laundry bags for Aussie Hero Quilts.  I have 15 cut out ready to sew.  I have the linings sewn, just need to put a label tag on the outside of the bags and then I can complete and send them off to Jan-Maree.

In my mind I have been thinking about the double wedding ring quilt which I was going to make for my daughters wedding last October but it still isn't done.  Also an eye spy book for my granddaughter has been popping into my head as well as a rather large number of other projects.  I tell myself "get them into an order and do one at a time" but I don't really listen to myself.  I want to start them all now.

I was looking through my xstitch kits the other day and have decided I have more than enough.  I plan to work on these over the next few years and try and get them all done. 

This photo does not show all the kits I have, I know there are more lurking in another box.

So I have listened to myself about not buying fabric and now also must not buy any more xstitch kits. Then there is the scrapbooking, I am thinking of selling some of this collection of papers, stickers etc etc off.  I know I will never ever use it all. 

Oh and what about the hardanger project started, how many years ago???  And the ones that I really did have to buy the pattern, fabric and threads for.

I shall stop thinking of all the things I would like to start and go and do a little x-stitch (on an already started project) while I wait for my husband to come home from fishing.

I find it hard to part with any of my crafting things so I know the chance of me selling anything is zero. But if I stop buying things to add to my collections of hobbies what would I do with the extra money? Now that could be worth me giving some thought to.

I appreciate you taking the time out to visit my little blog.

Hugs to all

Kathy

Aussie Hero Blog

I just found this blog and want to share it.  Its a way we can help our Aussie Heros and bring a smile to someone unknown to us.  Please take a look at the blog http://aussieheroquilts.blogspot.com.au/  and decide for yourself if you would like to make quilts and/or laundry bags.
Have the best day and happy sewing.

Scrappy Spider Web Quilt

While blog hopping yesterday I came upon this scrappy spider web quilt and just had to make it. I found excellent instructions at this blog http://alamodefabric.blogspot.com/2010/06/spider-web-quilt-block-tutorial.html 
Also found a photo on this blog  http://tarnyiamarycatherine.blogspot.com/2011/07/scrap-busting.html 

I decided I had plenty of Christmas fabric scraps so this is how I started.

 When the 12.5" squares are all cut out and then cut into triangles each piece has to have lines drawn on it.  This was taking a little while until the brain kicked in and thought of making a plastic template.  From then on it was very quick to get the lines on.

Late last night was the cutting up of the strips.  It certainly used up a lot of my scraps and also some of the tiniest pieces of much loved fabric which can be used for the corners.

This morning the sewing started.

 It all looks a bit messy when the strips are being added.

 After an iron and trimming off the excess it starts to look great.

 As more are made it creates the spider web pattern.

So now I am very excited to make more blocks and get it together.  

I thought this project might be a big challenge for me as normally I like to have organised quilts.  I find it very hard to just pick up a fabric and add it to the next one. So it surprises me that I really do like the look that is happening with this one.

The next step of a project is never far away in my thoughts or the even the beginning of another project.