Captain Peacock

Yesterday I had the great pleasure in meeting a very hospitable group of country women at the most beautiful property over the mountains from where I live on the coast. When a came to a halt at the front gates 'Captain Peacock' loudly announced my arrival to everyone in the district. What an amazing doorbell and guard. 'Proud as a Peacock' is exactly how you would describe the Captain, he strutted his stuff so gracefully around his semi formal garden but try as we might we couldn't encourage him to show us his tail feathers, so luckily his owner sent me the second photo today. He certainly seemed very camera shy with me yesterday but I was told if you can wolf whistle just right he will proudly display himself for you. I will be back up there in a fortnight to continue teaching my knitted and felted bags with this group and I will be doing my best to learn how to wolf whistle between now and then.

Next trip I also hope to take some photos of the garden to show you, it was magnificent and sprawling even with the drought the strong have survived and are flourishing. It is so refreshing to drive through the countryside and to meet some of Australia's real characters of the bush, some days I feel so lucky that my work allows me to do so.

Halloween is happening

I have to tell you that Halloween isn't really celebrated much downunder and this is the only photo we have of anything Halloween related. This is Darling Daughter, the blonde witch with her friends a couple of years back at a school run Halloween community event which was a fun night for families, the kids really got into the spirit. We have had a carved pumpkin on our verandah once because our kids have an uncle who runs a roadside concession stall selling pumpkins on the highway in San Francisco and he sent stencils and carving tools over. It looked great but sadly it didn't last long as it is quite hot this time of year. Must be organised for the little 'trick or treaters' tomorrow evening, there are always a few in our village who make an effort and visit the houses that leave their front light on.

All heart

This one is for Darling Daughter, she is not a typical girly girl who will very soon be a teenager but a few hearts from her mum won't hurt. These latest cloths are made from Bendigo Woollen Mills 8ply cotton which is on special at the moment. Order a colour chart for yourself, they're free and they offer a discount on your first order.

First day of the 'Nippers' season

Click for a closer look at this art work

It's late spring and already it's feeling very summery. Darling Daughter is in her second last 'Nippers' season and was keen to get back into the swing of things, first up a board race way out to sea around some cans and then back in on a wave, fun. She was really excited and happy because she met a new friend who has just moved to Australia from Zimbabwe, fun times ahead this season. Surfer Boy I have to say wasn't keen, he's way too cool for 'Nippers' and the Surf Club it seems but with some encouragement he had a great day as a Water Safety person, making sure none of the young nips got into trouble in the surf. He is a patrol member so he is used to the rescuer role and he amazingly ended up staying for an extra 2 hours doing special senior training and had a great go on a ski!

I also had a lovely time, walking and scrounging in the debris brought in by the very high tide due to the full moon last night, there is always something interesting to see on a beach. Found a very expressive piece of beach sculpture 'Blue Rubber Glove' by unknown artist! Many people walk this beautiful beach as I saw by the number of different footsteps in the sand. A shy little gull was peering at his reflection in a shallow pool. Barnacles and blue bottles caught my eye.

Happy Days, summer is the best time of year for our family.

Birds eye view

This is where I live. I found this new aerial photo in an internet newsletter that arrived minutes ago. This photo is part of the advertising for land sales in a new estate that adjoins our village. You can see why my kids just couldn't imagine living anywhere else, it's a kids paradise and not too shabby for the adults either. We swim at the river and all the beaches just depending on the wind and tides, they are all gorgeous and clean. Walking is my favourite, there is always something new to spy. Two days ago the kids and I were on our neighbours back patio watching migrating whales frollicking in our bay with a huge pod of dolphins leaping about, must have been a school of bait fish around as there were sea birds swarming on the surface. Can't wait for summer to get going, today is cloudy with very fine misty rain, I wouldn't mind if it really rained but just get on with it and then give us some nice sunny days again.

All male review

Found this little pattern here, it is the 'His Dishcloth' and thought it was perfect for my Surfer Boy and I was right. He was very impressed with his new face cloth that was made just for him. Hopefully it will get some use! You know what teenage boys can be like, personal hygiene isn't high on their list of priorities.

Just busy working........nothing is wrong!

I am very tired but knew that I just had to let you know that all is ok with me. I don't mean to worry any of you when I don't find, or make time to blog as often as I normally do. I have simply been caught up with work and family life. Today I have been dressing up the shop where I work. Gorgeous new Chez Moi fabric called Fresh Air is just so rich and colourful, had to bring some home! Christmas is only 2 months and 2 days away so out came a whole lot of seasonal joy. Also hung a lovely quilt called 'State of Grace' made from Shangri-la fabric in the front window, this design uses Jelly Rolls, simple but effective. Check out the free quilt patterns at Moda Fabrics. Also loved the Flea Market Bag and Barefoot Roses fabric designed by Tanya Whelan of Grand Revival. Click on the photos for closer and slightly clearer viewing!

I promise I will blog a bit more in the next day or so, there are a few things to show for my blogland absence.

Little time for sock making

I went away with all that was necessary to produce one pair of cotton/wool blend socks................not much knitting was done. The pattern I took was a bit deficient so with some mods these socks will have shaped tops and a centered pattern.

We went away to visit Dear Husbands old hometown of Griffith and do some riding with Little Sis and her family. We did ride although it was quite warm some days, up around 30 degrees Celcius. We rode between 15 and 30 kilometers each day which we needed to with all the great meals we ate. I have never once lost weight on a cycling holiday!

We caught up with a lot of friends and checked out some of the old haunts of Dear Husbands childhood. One great place the kids enjoyed was The Hermits Cave up on Scenic Hill. A man actually lived up on the hill in the rocks and caves, building little rooms and gardens from 1929 to 1939.

The drought has really got it's grips firmly on this country and the communities are really starting to show very obvious signs of suffering. I have to say I really enjoyed our trip out west and recommend to any of you out there, go and explore this great country and put some dollars into these struggling communities, there is so much to see and do you won't regret it. Forget about the typical tourist destinations that we all commonly think of, find out about this country and what makes Australia the great place it is.

New fabrics

I spied these lovely vintage looking fabrics while away and just couldn't resist..........I'm not very strong when it comes to fabric! Not sure what they will be made up into but the bottom photo is actually one piece of fabric with the four different prints across the width of the fabric, very clever idea. I love the little birds on the unusual grey fabric.

Snapshot of Griffith last week

The citrus display in the main street is an amazing display by local businesses and some very creative people.

This little fellow just loved to snuggle up.

Dusty and hot!

Big kids, little kids and more kids.

Little Sis and the very cute little abandoned babe.

Mr's Trimboli's baking, the best!

Hardworking Italian immigrants have made Griffith what it is today, it is said that 60% of the population are of Italian descent.

Great Italian breads, nothing better. The first of 3 punctures, the dry weather certainly makes good thorns!

You might think this weird to visit the cemetery when holidaying but Griffith cemetery is very interesting, the pioneer section is a wealth of information but the kids were in awe of the memorials Italian families erect in memory of their loved ones and they are so beautifully cared for.
Mr Battaglia is 82 years old and has been cutting hair for over 50 years in his own shop, his son and grandson work alongside him these days. Surfer Boy has a very economical haircut!

This home with the emu and kangaroo from our countries coat of arms reminds me of the movie "The Castle", we all love our homes no matter how big or small.................ahhhhh the serenity!

Road trip

Seven hours west by car with the kids and it's amazing all the things you see along the way. The trip was long and the kids got over excited couped up together in the back but we all survived it and feel very happy about the place that we live after seeing the results of six years of drought conditions on the communities of country New South Wales.

Little break

For all my regular readers and anyone who has just found my humble little blog I have to inform you I am taking a short blogging break. Good news though I'm sure I will return with new material to blog about!

These little flowers grow around this area down in the sand and they are called 'Pigface'. I don't know how they have this very unattractive name because they are the happiest little flowers that open and close with the sun, they come in gorgeous colours, they say 'summer' to me and that makes me smile.

She made her mark.....or several

Darling Daughter worked away in front of the TV watching 'Sahara' on DVD. Great action packed movie we all highly recommend it. It was too hot to do much at all, but look what she turned out, lots of stitch markers for the ladies in my knitted and felted bag classes or those knitting from my patterns on their own. Don't they look lovely all carded up and packaged.

Summer is calling Surfer Boy

It's hot, very hot and windy, it's only early spring but the sea is calling to that boy of mine! Happy days..................school holidays downunder.