Our anniversary

On this day 33 years ago we were married 

Not many thought it would last lol 

But here we are 33 years later 

Two beautiful children 

Married to two wonderful partners 

And three granddaughters 

Very blessed we are 

Hard lockdown is over so we are going out to eat 

It’s exciting after all the weeks of being locked in 

Stay safe and well 

See ya 

For me

Before  lockdown number  four I got to go to the quilt shop and I bought myself some stitcheries 

I love sitting and hand sewing and I especially love something not too complicated 

I then make a quilt or wall hanging with the finished pieces 

The problem is my hands are now not as strong and they ache, especially in horrid weather like we are having now 

So stitching the binding was always a painful experience 

But I saw these little clips in a couple of sewing tutorials on YouTube and thought they would

Be great for holding the binding then I just have to just sew and not have to hold the binding down the whole time 

They work a treat and make sewing a much more enjoyable and quicker experience

And here is the finished product 

I searched my scrap bag to make the wall hanging. 

The spot I have in mind isn’t very wide so I didn’t add any extra fabric to the sides 

Once lockdown is over, and hopefully that’s sooner rather than later, I’ll go back to the quilt shop and buy

A special wall hanger 

Sometimes it’s nice to make something just for me 

Stay safe and well 

See ya 

Getting ready

In a few weeks, assuming lockdown is over.  Our daughter in law is going back to work part time 

So I will have Anastasia one day a week to come and play 

Unfortunately Trixie loves her. Soooo much that I wouldn’t be able to lay her down to have some play time without 

Trixie wanting to play with her. So I ordered this play pen 

It comes with plastic balls which will be nice for Ana to throw out and have Trixie play with lol 

But she won’t be able to do that for a little while yet

Numbers are going up unfortunately, but hopefully they will steadily decline and then stop as the lockdown starts to work 

Not holding my breath though. 

We will deal with whatever comes 

We always do 

Stay safe 

See ya xx

The hardest part

I know lockdown is hard on many people for many reasons 

But for me. This is the hardest part. 

Not seeing my girls 

They grow so fast. Specially at Anastasias age that I feel I miss so much 

Last year I missed almost a whole year of Melody’s and Brianna’s life 

At least that’s how it felt 

I do look forward to the day we can visit again

And I can get cuddles    I never have enough cuddles 

Hopefully they will continue to give grandma cuddles for a long time 

Even when they are much older 

Stay safe and well 

See ya 

Another day of crafting

This morning I woke up around seven again 

I wish I could sleep in that would make the days shorter but 

It just doesn’t happen 

So after doing the quick morning chores, like bed making 

I went into the craft room to see what I could get into today 

I did have a few patterns I had printed and some I had made via YouTube so I packed them into a binder 

And then I saw the bag with all the tea towels I have purchased during our trips around Australia 

I’ve already made one quilt using tea towels, and I have enough for another one 

So I’ve washed them and they are drying near the fire 

I’ll get onto that once they’re dry and ironed 

But today I think I’ll sit and stitch 

I’ve got my audiobook going 

I don’t have to think while doing the stitchery so I can concentrate on the story 

I just don’t know what people who don’t craft are doing to keep busy while in lockdown 

Binge watching Netflix I guess 

But I really need to keep my hands busy 

What are you up too? 

Stay safe and well 

See ya xx

Reset

Well we are back to day one 

We are in lockdown for seven more days but at least today the rain has gone and we have sunshine 

Might be an omen, maybe it will only be seven more days 

I spent all day hand stitching the binding. It’s now finished and hanging with the other quilts 

It turned out nicely and will keep someone warm 

Probably me. I think I might end up putting it in the van but I’ll decide later. 

I went looking through my stash and found a bundle of lion king fat quarters 

So I think a simple square quilt would show off the pictures. 

It’s rather large so I think I might make two smaller quilts and then give them to charity 

For little boys 

It won’t take long to sew the tops up 

And I have a few other packs of the fat quarters with Disney characters 

I think lots of smaller quilts for charity might be what I’ll be making over the next few days 

I won’t be able to finish them as I don’t have backing fabrics 

But if I get the tops done that at least will keep me busy, and away from the kitchen! 

I need to lose the lockdown weight ive gained. I really don’t need to add to it 

Stay safe and well 

See ya xx

Day five lockdown five

Ive finally sewn on the binding and will now spend the rest of the day hand stitching 

The back 

The blanket was quilted ages ago but it kept getting pushed back as other projects had to come first 

Our lockdown was supposed to end tonight but we have just got the news it’s been extended for another seven days 

States all around us are also going into lockdown as the delta variant goes through the population like a fire 

We are all hoping it gets extinguished before it becomes a huge bushfire 

Other than that 

The weather is again wet and cold 

So hand stitching a binding on a quilt is actually a the best thing to do 

I have my audiobook going and a poodle fast asleep right beside me on a crochet blanket 

All in all. Not a bad day ahead 

Stay safe and well 

See ya 

Day 4 lockdown 5

A few weeks ago I was telling the swim girls that I was going to be looking after 

Anastasia one day a week while her mummy and daddy are at work 

They asked if I needed a stroller and I though that it would be nice to have one to go for walks 

So this stroller came to me 

First it was nana Sue’s 

Then nannie Dianne’s 

And now it’s mine 

It’s so cute 

But as ana will still be rather little when I first start to have her regularly I though she might like something suggly 

To sit in 

I remembered last year during lockdown I purchased some flannel fabric because it was cute 

I was going to make a blanket but she has so many of those I didn’t and it has been sitting waiting on the perfect project 

I didn’t have a pattern. I just did some measurements and kinda winged it. 

I did have mini heart attack when I saw I would have to make five holes for the straps 

But I kept measuring and cutting and hoping it would all work out 

Well it did. Yeahhhhh 

It’s not the prettiest thing on the market 

And I seriously don’t want anyone looking too closely to the stitching around those strap holes! 

But I’m sure Anastasia won’t mind at all 

Hood back down and ready to roll 

It only took a couple of hours and that’s with constant interruptions  for pats from the fur babies 

Now to do the boring stuff like washing 

Not rushing. I have all day 

And tomorrow 

And the way the numbers are going up 

Probably the rest of the week 

Stay safe and well 

See ya xx

Day 3 lockdown 5

http://peppylady.blogspot.com/

Peppy lady mentioned she loved weather vanes so I told her I’d post a pic of the other one I had. 

This one has been up there for many years and I often will look at the lady flying around with her cat

There are so many different weather vanes around now they are a little addictive. 

I saw one with an old truck and thought that would be perfect to have over at the workshop lol 

So peppy lady. This pic is for you 

Yesterday afternoon 

One of our ewes had a lamb 

They usually deliver during the night so we don’t see the big reveal to the rest of the group 

But I did see her introducing her baby to the others. 

They all came running and the little baby wagged his tail and they all surrounded the mother and bubs and each one 

Touched their nose to the little one

It was quite touching to see 

I’ve tried to get a pic but right now it’s just not happening so if I get a good one I’ll post it 

The rain has stopped for now, but it’s really wet and muddy out there 

We have had more positive cases 

And lots of new exposure sites 

So lockdown being lifted on Tuesday is looking more and more unlikely 

But we live in hope 

See ya xx

Day 2 lockdown 5

Remember my poor tree 

Well scrolling through my Facebook this weather vane popped up. 

Yup big brother is always listening 

It wasn’t expensive around $30. 

I thought that might look nice. 

So I ordered it. 

It was delivered 

I put it together 

And hubby installed it for me 

It’s a little hard to see as it’s so grey outside but I’m sure in the sunshine it will be better. 

If not I’ll paint it a different colour lol 

But for now that’s what has been installed to complete the project 

Who knows i might find something else and I’ll replace it 

As for the rest of today 

Well let’s just say I'm not in a hurry to do anything. Why should I. It’s not like I'm going anywhere or anyone is coming over 

Can’t even go for a walk as it’s raining 

Looks like another day relaxing in front of the telly 

Stay safe

See ya xx

Day one lockdown five

Meat balls in slow cooker for dinner 

Chicken wings in oven for lunch 

DVD on. The hunger games. Seems appropriate 

Crochet and a comfy couch 

Let the games begin 

And may the odds be ever in your favour 

See ya xx

Groundhog Day

Victorians are now about to start lockdown number five 

It was only a few weeks ago we were let out of lockdown four 

So this time they are saying five days but as we are painfully aware it can be extended 

At a drop of a hat 

No one is happy 

There are grumbles everywhere 

But there is nothing we can do 

We must just get on with it and deal 

Hopefully after five days they start to ease up again 

Fingers crossed 

Stay safe 

See ya 

My life

Yesterday I spent the day with my daughter. Her girls were in day care

So it was just the two of us. 

This hasn’t happened since she was pregnant with her first baby so it was lovely to just spend the day 

And chat and laugh and not worry about looking after little girls. 

It was a special day for me 

My daughter in law takes her grandmother out one day a week and she comes and collects me as well 

This is also special and precious and such an honour to be included in her loving day for her Oma 

The down side is I always crash after a big day out 

I won’t stop going. I will not let my health issues rob me of special time spent

With the ones I love 

Especially after all the lockdowns, special time is precious and I will not miss a moment 

So today I had a sleep in 

I’ll go slow

And I will take care of my self 

Because I won’t lay down 

I won’t quit 

And I will get up again and go out with my family 

To laugh 

To enjoy 

And to make memories 

This is my personal battle 

And I’m determined to keep fighting it for as long as I can 

I hope you continue to fight and win your personal battles 

Stay safe 

See ya xx

And even more

I was reminded by a fellow blogger 

http://local-kiwi-alien.blogspot.com/

That I wanted to try and make some lemoncello 

I was going to go and buy some vodka but remembered I had a bottle of grappa someone

Had given me ages ago  

So I have used that to soak the lemon rinds in  it’s supposed to sit for three weeks 

So it’s been put away to do its thing and hopefully 

I’ll be able to make some lovely liquor to enjoy. 

I’ll let you know in another post if that works 

A swim friend suggested I make some lemon butter/ Curd 

So some of the skinned lemons were used to make this. 

It’s only three little jars but hubby had a taste test and said it was realllllly good 

I think I’ll get me a few more jars and make a second batch 

The a

Hardest part of making this is stirring for over ten minutes waiting for the mixture to cook and thicken 

I still had more lemons that I had skinned and more of the blood oranges 

So I made a big batch of orange/lemon cordial 

These are passata bottles  that I had washed and kept 

So two full bottles were made. They are in the drinks fridge 

To have once the weather warms up a tad 

So more of the produce has been used there is still a little left but honestly 

The amount now is negligible 

I’ll be able to use it in general cooking 

I do love abundance but seriously that was just way too much work 

I’m pooped! 

It’s cold again today 

The fog is thick 

So I think I’ll spend the day inside crocheting and bing watching something on the telly

Have a great day 

Stay safe 

See ya 

Lego play day

Melody loves lego

Tiny little lego 

So grandma bought some lego friends princess 

Sets. Here is grandpa helping get it all put together 

Melody is very good. She follows the instructions and pretty much was good on her own. Grandpa was definitely just the helper 

Brianna only wanted to play with the stickers, which are last to go on 
So she was busy showing grandma her games on the iPad 



We had a lovely couple of hours playing with the girls 

Had a laugh with our daughter and son in law, 

and now back home relaxing 

It’s really cold again today and a miserable grey outside 

We won’t be venturing far 

Hope your having a lovely day

Stay safe 

See ya xx

More!

Over the weekend my parents dropped off lemons, oranges and some mandarins 

From their trees 

The weekend before I received a heap of lemons from an aunt in coburg 

So I spent a day making marmalade 

I usually buy sugar with the pectin already in it 

But couldn’t find any so I added a couple of very green apples 

It’s not as firm as I’d like but I’m sure it takes ok 

I sent a heap of lemons and mandarins to the shed for the boys to eat and take home 

I’ve kept some lemons and oranges so I can make some cordial 

I love being gifted produce but seriously 

The amount has been staggering 

Got to love the abundance 

Stay safe 

See ya xx

Kindness

A lovely neighbour and customer of  ours made home made sausages 

And gave hubby some. He also gave him some of the left over mince and said. Just make some 

Hamburgers 

Well I decided I was going to make some sausage rolls 

I added some chopped up leek from my garden

Some kale, cabbage, carrot and beetroot from the refrigerator 

Some eggs to bind, no need for spices as he had already done that 

Defrosted sorry puff pastry sheets and 

Viola! 

Sausage rolls that smelled amazing 

And tasted even better 

I had two sheets of pastry left so I quickly broke up some feta, added eggs and got some 

Silverbeet from the garden that I chopped up finely and made a quick greek cheese and spinach pie 

Hubby them brought in more silverbeet, and leaves from beetroots and I’ve cooked them up 

To eat as a salad later 

So a big day of cooking 

Because a nice man kindly shared his abundance with us 

Might have to make him some thing nice for hubby to give him 

An apple pie perhaps? 

Stay safe

See ya xx

Requests

My sister gave me some fabric and asked for some bowl warmers, she wanted them bigger than a bowl warmer because she wanted to 

Be able to put bread in them for the table. 

So I made them 15 inches instead of ten 

They should do the trick. Well I hope so. 

She also requested some coasters so I used the left overs and made her half a dozen simple ones 

To match 

She also gave me yarn to make baby blankets 

She has started fostering and got her first baby and decide she would like to give each one a blanket to go home with 

I make one for the current baby very quickly as we didn’t know how long she would be there. 

She is only doing short term emergency fostering

But I’ve working on the the rest 

This should be ok for a while 

I’ll keep making them from my stash and add to her stash as they go 

My parents popped in today and as they live close to her I sent the lot home with them 

The weather is cold, very cold 

This is the current temp and it’s four in the afternoon 

So I’ll be inside taking it easy 

Hope you have a lovely weekend 

See ya xx