Winter is coming

Winter is coming and it's coming quickly if todays weather is any indication. It's rather cool and wet here. So yesterday our knitting group decided to start making blankets to give to the salvation army so they can distribute them to the homeless.

I've started making mine by making four squares which I will sew together and then go around all of them with a boarder until they are big enough.

We should have a dozen to send off by the end of next week. 

Has the weather changed at your place?

Only took ten years

Before

after

Apparently you can't rush these things 

site inspector

Following intuition

That urge to keep knitting was strong yesterday and I continued to knit this little girls jacket. I kept going all afternoon and finished it. About ten minutes later I got the txt to say dale had delivered h baby daughter.

So I was right, it was a girl and I had to finish it now! 

So I will visit my sister in law and give it to her to give to her sister in the next week.

I might add a few things but I'll buy those, lol

Feeling poorly

Not feeling the best today, I got over excited and went swimming two days in a row. Bad move. No spoons left.

Also I have been knitting a lot lately and have hurt my wrist do all I can do now I'd rest. I did do a fee loads of washing but thats it for today. My beautiful bella is sitting with me. How do they always know. She is even holding my sore hand. 

You will never feel unloved with pets. So very good for the soul. 

Yet another camper

Hubby has convinced me we needed another camper trailer as the one he bought off the net was too hard on his body. 

Well I could of told him that! We looked and looked at second had penguins but non had everything we wanted and were almost the same price as a brand new one.

Se we bit the bullet and ordered a new one with everything we wanted, needed, to make camping out bush as comfortable as possible. 

It's estimated time of arrival will be the end of May.

This is one they had in the showroom, apparently the new design puts the bed in the back and the kitchen in the front, mirror image.

I don't care, as long as its easy to put up, which it is, and the bed is comfortable.

This camper will be used for going bush, while my nice big van will be used for those extended trips around Australia. 

Which we are planning on doing another big trip next year!

So there you go, in the end its just better to buy the best you can afford because that way your body will thank you.

The kids will be able to borrow this one too, so they are excited 

See ya

Babies are coming

We have two babies that are coming, one is my sister inlaws sister and the other one of our mechanics.

My sister in laws sister is due anyday! I totally thought I had more time. We don't know what she is expecting so I have started a little girl jacket as it knits quickly, but if she delivers a boy I will stop the jacket and start a blue blankie. 

The jacket will not go to waste as our youngest mechanic knows he is having a girl.

Really this year is going way to fast, omg must knit faster lol

An average day

After spending hours playing in the water a sleep on the washing machine is exactly what I need.

then this is the look I give my mummy when I want my dinner.

So is very good and gives me prompt service.

Enjoy your weekend xx

Bella

Valentines day

We normally don't get into all the hype but today hubby bought me a valentines day gift. All I got him was a small box of chocolates. I got this!

he said he. Ought it because it had an owl in it. Ohhhh I love owls 

and a bunch of roses  also some chocolates that I will let him eat 

I think the fact that Wonderson had roses delivered to his fiancé at work may have made him feel guilty.

Have a great valentines day everyone, remember its not about the stuff but loving each other everyday that matters 

More smoke

Heading south towards dromana. It's very smokey and lots of cars have their lights on and it was only around 6.00 pm. 

Rain has been forecast for tomorrow, let's hope they get lots where they need it to help put  out the fires 

eerie!

We in Victoria have had a string of very hot and dry weather. All over the news we have been told that the conditions we now face are worse than those that caused the bush fires that killed 173 people five years ago. But people don't listen and 12 fires have been deliberately lite. Other fires have been caused by lightening strikes even though we got no rain and some due to winds knocking down power lines. 

How ever they have started once again Victoria is burning and today their is smoke in the air. That first photo is of the sun. It doesn't do it justice. The sun is red through the smoke. 

Please everyone stay safe, and if you see something suspicious call the police, these fire bugs must be stopped.

Such a lady

Miss bella is such a lady, look at how nicely she tucks her tail when sitting.

Butter wouldn't melt in her mouth, yeah right. I know better lol

See ya

Peer pressure

Ok I admit it. I fell for the hype and bowed to peer pressure. I bought a coffee machine. 

It's not one like George cloonie advertises, its the one from Aldi. I had hubby with me and he was like yeah just get one. He loves gadgets. Then the big decision. Which flavour to try. And hubby again pipes up and says just get one of each. 

Now you know why I go shipping on my own. 

So I have tried the light chocolate, very yummy. And the reggio. I'm impressed. 

Baby girl visited today and she had two of the chocolates. She loved it. 

So there you go, even the best of us have week monuments every now and again.

So who's for a cuppa?

Molly

This is our dog Molly. She was named after Molly weasley from Harry potter. She is six years old. She loves to dig a hole and sit in it to keep cool. No matter what we do she digs her little hole and sits. 

We have tried everything but she prefers to dig and sit.

She is is very lucky we love her. 

Can you see the news she has made, but she doesn't care. Look at her smiling for the camera! 

She knows she's cute and gets away with murder lol

Getting motivated

Today I will so something I haven't done in a long time, in public with minimal clothes on. 

Any guesses?

SWIMMING. What were you all thinking. Lol

Trying to get this body working without too much pain.

Wish me luck 

Pretty flowers

Some oleanders

my lillypilly tress, these will turn into beautiful red berries during winter. The chickens love them!

and some of my roses. You can see the burns on them from the heat. I tried to pick the ones less affected.

Finally finished

I have finally finished my shawl. It's taken lots of wool and lots of time. At the end it was using one 50g ball every 5 or 6 rows.

It's very warm and once its washed and blocked it will sit much better at the ends. 

What do you think. I was in such a hurry to finish that I did make a slight little boo boo at the end but unless you know you may think its just a finish lol. So I'm not telling 

Monday surprise

Sitting in bed this morning just checking emails and Facebook I could near bella playing with something under my bed. I looked and omg a mouse! 

I am ever so grateful she didn't decided to jump on the bed and give it to me.

Good girl bella, but daddy has now taken it away and she is not a happy girl. She wants her toy back. 

Ummm no bella you can play with the toy mouse the real one is just too gross.

Lammas

LAMMAS

2nd February (Southern Hemisphere)
1st August (Northern Hemisphere)

Other names used for this holiday: Lughnasadh (pronounced 'Lunasa'), Lammas, August Eve, Feast of Bread, Harvest Home, Dozynki

Traditional Foods: Apples, Grains, Breads and Berries
Herbs and Flowers: All Grains, Grapes, Heather, Blackberries, Sloe, Crab Apples, Pears
Incense: Aloes, Rose, Sandalwood
Sacred Gemstone: Carnelian
Ritual actions: Breads are baked and eaten, or placed in the fire. Grains are woven into corn dollies or Goddess or God symbols. Visits to fields and planting the seeds from the fruit consumed during the celebration are performed. A "fall cleaning" may be done at this time, changing the drapes and linens, preparing to store items away during the winter months. Loaves of bread, sheaves of wheat, barley, oats, and fruits are placed on the altar. The corn dollies may be places there as well.
History of Lammas
With the coming of Christianity Lughnasadh became Anglo-Saxon Lughomass ("'loaf-mass.' It's roots were in Lugh's Mass") and later 'Laminas,' meaning the corn the corn king but were (i.e. grain) harvest and the killing of "bread made from the officially" replaced by a mass in which the loaves of first sheaves harvested were taken to church and blessed. Columcille (the Ploughmen" with St.Columba) tried to change Lammas into a "Feast of no success.
It is in Irish Gaelic that the feast is referred to as 'Lugnasadh', a feast meant to commemorate the funeral games of the Irish sun-god Lugh. Though many believe it celebrates the death of Lugh, the god of light does not really die (mythically) until the autumnal equinox. If the Irish myths are read closer, it is not his death which is being honored but the funeral games which Lugh hosted to commemorate the death of his foster-mother Taillte, the daughter of the Fir Bolg king Mag Mór (Great Plain) who later became the queen of the Fir Bolg. As a favour to Lugh she cleared the Forest of Breg, making a plain for cultivation, and died of exhaustion for her trouble. Lugh decreed that a feast was to be held in her honour every August 1st at Tailtean (Telltown in County Meath). That is why the Lugnasadh celebrations in Ireland are often called the 'Tailltean Games'.

One possible derivation of the name of Lugh is from the old Celtic word "lugio", meaning "an oath." A traditional part of the celebrations surrounding Lughnasadh is the formation of oaths. From before
recorded history into the twentieth century, marriages, employment contracts and other bargains of a mundane nature were formed and renewed at this time of year. Since the agricultural year had its culmination in the harvest and the harvest festivals, oaths and contracts that had to wait until after the
corps were in could be focused on at this time. Marriages, hiring for the upcoming season and financial arrangements were often a part of the Lughnasadh activities and in many areas fairs were held specifically for the purpose of hiring or matchmaking.
Another common feature of the Games were the 'Tailltean marriages', informal marriages which lasted for only 'a year and a day' or until next Lammas. At that time, the couple could decide to continue the arrangement if it pleased them or walk their separate ways. Such trial marriages (or 'Handfastings') were common even into the 1500's, although it was something one 'didn't bother the parish priest about'. Such ceremonies were usually solemnized by a poet, bard, shanachie, or possibly a priest or priestess of the Old Religion.
Lammastide was also the traditional time of year for craft festivals. Medieval guilds would create elaborate displays of their wares, decorating their shops and themselves in bright colors and ribbons, marching in parades, and performing ceremonial plays and dances for the entranced
onlookers.
The 'Catherine wheel' or sun wheel was a ceremonial highlight. Though the Roman Church moved St. Catherine's feast day all over the calender, it's most popular date was Lammas. They also kept trying to expel this much-loved saint from the ranks of the blessed because she was mythical rather than historical, and because her worship gave rise to the heretical sect known as the Cathari. A large wagon wheel was taken to the top of a near-by hill, covered with tar, set aflame, and ceremoniously rolled down the hill. Some mythologists see in this ritual the remnants of a Pagan rite symbolizing the end of summer, the flaming disk representing the sun-god in his decline.
Lugh was the chief god of the Tuatha dé Danaan in their later years. He was the son of Kian and Eithlinn, daughter of Balor, the Formorian king. To escape Balor's wrath, he was fostered out to Mannanán, Goibhniu, and/or Tailltiu, depending on the myth. Later helping the Danaans defeat the
Formorians, he drive them from Ireland, killing Balor in the process, thus fulfilling the prophesy that Balor was trying to thwart. He is called Samhioldánach, "equally skilled in all the arts," and is the patron of craftsmen and artists. He took over from the elder gods Balor/Cromm/Bres, taking the fruits of their power but not the power itself and was later replaced by Cúchulain/Finn, and then St. Michael and St. Patrick. Lugh remained in folk memory as Lugh-chromain ("little stooping Lugh"), or Leprechaun.
In the Celtic nations of Europe traditions surrounding Lughnasadh still continue from pre-Christian times. Most often, celebration of the holiday occurs on the first Sunday of August or the Sunday just before the first day of August. In modern Ireland the tradition still continues that on the last Sunday of July families ascend into the hills of the countryside to pick bilberries, symbolic of the bounty of Mother Earth and of the fruits harvested when Tailltiu made a place for the grain that would feed the generations to come after her. With the coming of Christianity to the Celtic lands, the old festival of Lughnasadh took on Christian symbolism. Loaves of bread were baked from the first of the harvested grain and placed on the church altar on the first Sunday of August.