Organising and preparing

​lately my life has been all about cleaning, winnowing and organising 

Yesterday I got my scrap tub out because I needed more squares cut out 

This is what I took out to iron and cut. 

They’re either small pieces or a fat quarter that is a colour I don’t particularly like, or one that would be hard to match for a large project 

In this bag are strips that are the correct width for binding  

When I need some binding I’ll sew them into one long strip  long enough to do the whole quilt 

This next bag had smaller pieces that I have big plans for  

Stay tuned for that 

After cutting all the squares, this is what was left to throw out 

A tiny tiny container of little bits of scraps 

Starting to pin a hexi on each square 

This bag is full of all the pieces cut from each square to give it the correct shape, 

Making it easy to stitch into the hexi shape. 

I’m going to keep it all. Just so I can see how much was left after finishing the quilt top. 

So far, for how many hexis I’ve made. And how much of a dent I’ve made into the stash pile, is isn’t a lot of waste. 

This makes me very happy 

Hubby has left to stay thd night at the farm  he’s getting a second quote for the stand alone solar power 

Today is a lovely warm day  I don’t need  fire to keep warm

But, as I do not go out after dark when I’m home alone I needed to get the fire and the firewood ready in case I do need to light it 

The box and the two plastic tubs are full of wood ready to use if I need 

I’ve also cleaned the fireplace and got it ready to light 

If it gets cold tonight I’ll lite it but  more than likely it will get lit tomorrow so the house is nice and warm for the girls 

I did my weekly shop using door dash 

One order from woolies and one from Aldi  

I needed fruit and something easy to make for lunch tomorrow 

I took the fruit that was slightly past their best and instead of giving it to the chickens 

I used the good ones and cooked up a jar of jam 

There’s blackberries, raspberries and some strawberries in here  

One jar of yummy berry jam 

The fruit that wasn’t good enough for the jam is going to the chickens 

I’ve got some stale bread to give them as well

They love these little treats  and it keeps them busy while I collect the eggs  

Now the rooster is gone it lovey to go in and chat with the girls 

So now your all caught up

I’ll definitely rest today so that I’m ready for tomorrow 

I wonder what we will get up to together 

Wordless Wednesday

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Sewing

​this morning I started in the craft room  I wanted to finish those hand towels 

The machine was giving me grief so I pulled out the new cheap one from Aldi. 

I got it organised on the dining room table and started to wind a bobbin for it 

I realised that the quilting machine wasn’t winding the bobbin properly. 

After finishing the towels I wound some bobbins on the new machine and I’ll see if that makes any difference. If it does I’ll buy one of those small bobbin winder thingies

That’s the technical word for it 

My machine all ready to go 

I need to find a name for her. 

My quilting queens name is Elly elna 

Yeah not really original. But I do like it 

Since I bought this at Aldi I think I need an old fashioned name starting with A 

Suggestions welcome 

The four hand towels are done 

The have chickens on them, not that you can see them right now  

They will match these 

I also have one long mat in the set 

Even though my chickens will be far away safe at home, I’ll still think them while I’m away 

After all that I vacuumed all the tiled floors and moped them. 

I still need to vacuum all the living areas. I’ve got the vacuum out and that’s where it’s staying right now 

I need a rest 

I’ve been cutting my expensive meds by half. The doctor was happy about that. Unfortunately the pain is now constantly breaking through the barrier 

It’s still way less than before the medication, but definitely can feel the difference 

I’m on 12 tablets a day!

So cutting two out has to be better for me. 

Included in that number are the vitamin D and melatonin tablets. I hope to only need those for a few months. 

I feel like I’m rattling as I walk around 

The situation will be monitored and if I have to up the meds I will. 

I guess we will see 

Home

Yesterday I wanted to make some kitchen hand towels that you can hang on your oven ​or anyplace really that has a handle 

I had made them before and I had made a pattern but I couldn’t find it. 

It’s wasn’t hard making another one 

I made this one out of cardboard. Hopefully it will be easier to find. 

As you can see I’ve got two tea towels with chickens on them  

They match the rugs I bought for the kitchen 

These are for the farm house 

I needed help choosing the fabrics 

So I took lots of photos and asked my friend, who lives in Queensland, 

To help. 

We both liked the greens. 

I wanted to use fat quarters that had some pieces cut out. 

I didn’t want to use large pieces of fabric. Those can be used for bigger projects 

The fabrics we chose came from the fabrics that I got from the lovely old lady. 

She had cut bits of them for whatever it was she was making 

I’m cutting the tea towels in half as they’re long. So o needed four topper’s 

In my head I knew each towel needed to pieces of fabric 

So I traced two pieces each. 

But my brain told me to fold the fabric 

So I ended up with eight toppers 

I did sew those as well. I’ll use them to make Christmas presents. 

I do like to start early. 

Hubby arrived home around five. 

He has taken control of the remote so we are currently watching a football show 

Yep. Back to normal. 

Family birthday

​today we had Annie’s family birthday. 

We of the  older generation just can’t do lots of children in a huge play centre 

It was lovely to catch up with daughter in laws family. They’re lovely and I always get hugs. 

Although I had given Ana her birthday gift. I didn’t want to go over empty handed. 

I had saved this from when wonder son was young and had a single bed doona cover 

I was thinking of making an ironing board cover, but then found those really cheap ones at the reject shop. 

They

 were priced cheap but they’re definitely not made cheap. They’re padded and have thick cotton. Lovely 

Ana had been talking football at daycare and has decided to follow Collingwood 

Makes grandma so proud 

So to continue with the indoctrination I made her this pillow 

She was so happy 

She had a cupcake with a number 5 candle. She had the big birthday cake last week. 

We all had. Cupcake each. Mummy had made them for her, and they were very yummy indeed 

Her she is with her nonno 

Bonding with balloons 

Soon the elders of the family, including me, headed off home 

I’ve given everyone their dinner, got firewood in for the night and Trixies indoors toilet too. 

When I’m home alone I don’t open the door or go out after dark 

Hubby texted and said he will be home sometime tomorrow. 

So that’s the weekend wrap up. 

It’s gone by so quick 

I’ve not had the time to miss him 

All alone

​this morning hubby went off on a motorbike ride with his mates. He won’t be home till Monday 

I love being home alone. I don’t have to cook if I don’t want too and I get to control the TV remote 

So I could enjoy my time I got  up

And got stuck into doing all I needed to do 

I planted the seedlings I bought on Thursday and covered them. 

I didn’t use the pipes and netting as I had ordered some covers that fit nicely in the wicking beds 

The black meshed cage was missing when I got out there. 

I looked all over the backyard thinking maybe it was removed for weeding 

Nope couldn’t find it. 

Then I remembered who I married 

I instantly knew where it was. I opened the back gate and found it. Just over the fence. We had those string winds the just picked it up and dumped it. 

He hadn’t tied it down. 

It’s now well and truly tied down with bailing twine 

The farmers go to for fixing anything around the farm 

I used two covers on this bed. You can see the zip ties I’ve used. I chose bright colours so that I can see them easily 

This cover is small but it had covered the broccoli I planted. 

I’ll plant some silver beet in the area that’s not covered. They’re hardy and usually pest free. 

I had to pull out these kale plants and two spindly chilli plants, before planting the broccoli. 

The girls appreciated them 

Now the demon rooster is gone, even the girls are happy. He would constantly mate with them. One poor girl was his favourite and was getting bald spots due to his constant jumping on her. 

Once I did all that I cleaned the kitchen and headed off to art. I also visited the pharmacy to get my prescription filled 

Once home I cleaned the fire place and got it ready to light tonight if needed 

Then I had to vacuum the mess 

I’m now waiting on a woolies shop to arrive. Once that’s all packed away my day is clear   

I plan to sit, watch movies and knit or sew. I’ve not decided yet. 

I like to surprise myself lol 

The weather forecast is for warm sunny days. At least for the next few days 

Hopefully my seedlings will settle in and start growing. 

I’ll wait a few weeks and plant out a second lot of seedlings 

That way I won’t have all crops ready at the same time. I’ll be able to harvest as I need rather than because I have too 

Another week gone

​Fridays seem to be coming round faster and faster. 

It doesn’t help seeing the girls growing so quickly either. 

I had to get different toys out for Georgia  

She loved pulling them all apart and banging them together. Grandma put some of those rings you can see in the largest box and rattled it  

It took about ten seconds for Georgia to try and do the same 

Ana decided to sit in the soft baby chair. 

She said it was very comfortable 

It’s still hard putting Georgia down once she’s asleep. Here she it literally hanging on to me 

I was able to put her down on my chair by gently rocking it   

She needed to be away from me as she was over heating. Her cheeks were very red. 

She did cool down and woke much happier than she was going down 

She still has a few teeth cutting though 

I love the way the girls interact. 

Georgia especially just watching Ana the whole day,  and will yell at her to get her attention.

Ana and daddy left early to get to swimming lessons, and  grandpa volunteered to give Georgie her bottle  

Once she had finished she fell asleep. 

It didn’t take long for grandpa to follow suit  

I have to say  I’ve frequently done the same over the years 

Eventually mummy arrived to collect Georgia and they headed off home 

Another full, and  fun day