4th July

American Independence Day. In Australia we still don't know who's going to be running our country! Today was a bleak winters day. Not conducive to outdoor activity at all. No work in the store room today. I spent time in my sewing room working on my second ripple blanket. I'm using another of Lucy's colour sequences and a different colour combination to any of hers. I hope it works out. I also cut some 61/2" strips of tone on tone rainbow colours which coordinate with the batiks I cut last week. I'm making a queen sized quilt for a friend in the 'Plus' sign design. I think they should work well together. Let's see if I can add a photo here. Mmmmmmmm! No photo! Sad face! Two years ago I arrived in Coventry and spent the day with my daughter. We visited Coventry Cathedral and saw Lady Godiva on her horse. We then headed off to Kenilworth to stay in a B&B as she was between houses. I met her new boyfriend. Cheers!

Tidying up

Another cold night and morning followed by a warm sunny day. I spent another two hours in the store room today. Most of the easy decisions have been made. Now comes the hard part,....... Sorting through all those random bits and pieces which are hard to classify. This is when I usually lose interest and walk away! I'll have to make myself work at it in smaller time periods and intersperse it with some sewing as a reward. Took down the curtains and washed them. They'll need a second day on the line. One day is just not enough in this weather. Very basic housework done! I thought I'd make chicken and leek pie. I had it at a friend's two weeks ago. Cooking, cooking, cooking, uh oh! Suddenly it was burned to crisp! Not exactly sure how I did that! But I did an excellent job of burning it tho! Thank goodness for frozen beer battered chips I say! Two years ago I arrived in Coventry. Totally exhausted and overwhelmed! Cheers

A Winters Day

After a cold start this morning, today turned in to a typical sunny winters day. This morning we went to a local, annual trash and treasure market. We bought a new (to us) garden table, some extension rear view mirrors for the car, for when we are towing the caravan, a blue and white sandwich plate, with six matching square plates and a thirties style kitchen dresser. The dresser is double fronted with a curved top, green and white lead light in the top doors, two drawers, a tin lined bread cupboard and two bottom doors. There is wire mesh inserted at the bottom in the back. It is painted a pale cream with duck egg blue/green doors and drawers. I think I now need to keep away from ALL places where it is possible to spend money. Except for kitchen bench tops and splash backs! I need to decide if it going into the granny flat or the craft storeroom. I spent three hours sorting the storeroom and labelling boxes so that it's easier to find items and equipment, and then return them to their correct place after use. Just a few more months work required!...... I should be finished by Christmas! My middle daughter visited after she finished work and stayed to have home made pizza for dinner. I gave her some homemade chicken and veggie soup to take home so she doesn't have to worry about lunches at work for the next week. I have finished crocheting the five flowers for the top of a tea cosy I'm making. Two years ago today I flew out of Sydney, ALONE! for my very first overseas trip. I'd planned the complete, self drive tour around England and Wales, and a Quilting Cruise including England, Ireland, Scotland and France. I organised, travelled and drove myself for TEN weeks! It was quite an adventure for me. I visited my youngest daughter who is researching at Coventry University on a four year scholarship. Cheers!

My First Post

Hi there, I'm a retired sixty something, Teacher simply living an ordinary life in New South Wales Australia. I love to make quilts! Traditional, modern, pictorial, appliqué, bright, subtle, scrappy, large, small, black, white, grey.....! You name it........ I admire it and have probably tried it. I also knit, crochet and embroider by both hand and machine. I make cards and I've recently learned how to make soap and jam. I'm not a brilliant cook, but do create basic, nourishing home cooked meals from scratch. i love reading and am a romantic at heart. I'm not sure where this blog is going, so, I guess it will just grow like Topsy. I'll share memories, crafts, tutorials, successes and failures, rants, jokes and stories. All the normal topics which appear while simply living in the wonderful land of Oz.