paradise

And then the next day.....

2009-09-25T12:05:00.000+10:00

The dust was all gone! At 6am it was still a bit hazy.

By lunchtime it was all back to normal.

Here is the flag again for comparison

Jodie

Pizza Making

2009-09-24T13:00:00.000+10:00

Lunch on a housebound dusty day. A perfect holiday activity for little hands. Tastes good too!

Jodie

Dust!!

2009-09-23T13:49:00.002+10:00

Freak weather over two states here in Oz today. It is dry as, after months of no rain and today we have powerful winds whipping up all the dust.

And just to prove these aren't really bad sepia photos, here is the flag on our neighbours jetty.

We are holed up inside, with the house all shut up and the air on. There is an eerie yellow glow outside.

Jodie

Yep

2009-09-22T09:42:00.003+10:00

Another one!

Late yesterday afternoon the girls received and unexpected invitation to a birthday party across the street, to be held at 11am today.

(Note to self..... keep a supply of coloured pencils on hand, to save yourself a mad dash to the newsagent. Coloured pencils are expensive at the local newsagent!)

Jodie

all the fun of the fair!!!

2009-09-15T10:46:00.009+10:00

I didn't get my cake made until Saturday night so I dropped it off before mass on Sunday morning. I made a lemon cake. The cake stall co-ordinator said it was the only Lemon Cake they had and she may buy it herself! Don't know if she did.

While DH supervised the girls on the rides I got some bargains. All this from the plant stall for $9!! A large Aloe Vera, some oregano and sage, a tiny parlour palm, a nasturtian and a tiny string of pearls planted in a champagne saucer.

Then for $5 on the plate table I got this purple gingham fabric and behind it is some plain mauve fabric, with matching thread and ric rac.

From the book stall I got a 1000+ piece puzzle (it has a note on the front saying no pieces are missing - hope it is true), some flash cards for DD2 and a travel sized snakes and ladders for our days at the park or camping. These three cost a total of $2.

This Maxwell and Williams "Shanghai" set was my best buy. Still in the box for $8. I debated a bit on this one, but there was a lady lurking behind me ready to pounce if I put it down so I held on to it for awhile until I decided :)

and for my little ironing board I use when I sew, this travel iron. as you can see it was $2. I thought it worth the risk at that price and am pleased to say that it works well. A little stiff to put together, but when I am set up I will probably leave it.

Hope you enjoyed your Sunday as much as I enjoyed mine!

Jodie

lots and lots of pencil rolls......

2009-09-11T20:27:00.002+10:00

Sunday is the school festival (read school fete) and I made pencil rolls. 10 in fact. My favourite was the hot chilli pepper one. Tried to mix it up and not make all of them too overtly little girlie..

then if that wasn't enough, DD2 has two birthday parties to go to tomorrow! so two more pencils rolls and colouring in books.

I still have a cake to bake for the festival and deliver tomorrow!

Jodie

Happy Father's Day!!

2009-09-06T08:32:00.001+10:00

Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's. My lucky DH got a Can-O-Worms Worm Farm! Lol. We (the girls and I) have wanted one for some time and I did a class run by the local Council a couple of months ago so DH (very kindly) decided that is what he needed!

Right now he is enjoying the news paper and a coffee in bed and tonight we are going to BBQ.

Have a good one....

Jodie

strawberry goodness

2009-09-03T13:59:00.002+10:00

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

Jodie

August Sunshine

2009-08-26T11:33:00.003+10:00

School kids get two show holidays in the month of August. The first is mid month for the Ekka, and the second is this Friday for our local show.

BEFORE our current winter heat wave struck we were having our normal gorgeous August weather. The girls and I packed up our picnic basket and headed out to enjoy it.

They started with a few games of "Guess Who" before hunger pains set in.

So we dished out the quiche,

and the strawberries and watermelon.

After lunch there was a little light reading for me,

some colouring in for one, and

some playground action for the other.

Once their lunch had digested it was time for a swim. (not for me though. it may be warm in the sunshine, but not warm enough in the water!) They took a bit of getting in, but eventually they got wet!

Some unwelcome Ibis,

Some playing in the sand, and

a late afternoon visit from Mr Pelican.

Hope you enjoyed our day.

Jodie

life is just a scoot in the park

2009-08-24T20:00:00.000+10:00

We are still here and just scooting along. Life got real busy all of a sudden. I have been sewing (shock), little bits of different things. Need to dust off the camera and take some photos.

It is hot here, and it is still officially winter. The temp was in the mid 30s today (celsius). Long weekend coming up for us. Looking forward to some down time.

Jodie

Lookey, Lookey here!

2009-08-11T11:24:00.002+10:00

I am such a lucky duck, I won some FQs from Rosie Quinlan's new fabric range called Grandmother's Flower Garden.

Here they are just a bit closer.....

and all spread out, I just love 'em .....

And although you should never play favourites....... I love hexagons....... look how cute this one is!

So what to make, what to make? Something for me!!! But I am thinking NOT a bag. Any ideas?

Jodie

'trouble' with Nan-Nan

2009-08-09T11:49:00.000+10:00

My Nan is 95 years old. My daughters are 5 and 7.

(Tess the wonderdog is 10)

Jodie

and just off shore (beach-a-thon part 2)

2009-08-07T18:37:00.001+10:00

can you see the sailboat? Ahhhhh.... dreaming......

Jodie

Beach-a-thon

2009-08-07T17:49:00.003+10:00

We got another gorgeous day this year for the recent school beach-a-thon.

This year DD2 joined DD1 and I. She was a little trooper. She walked the 6kms like it was something she did everyday, just so happy to be in with the 'big kids' (who have been edited out of the pic). Next year when she starts school she will only have to walk 2kms with her class!

DD1 on the other hand complained every step of the way....
"why do we have to have a beach-a-thon"
"when do we get a rest"
"how much further"
"do we have to walk ALL THAT WAY?"

For me it was Paradise. You can't beat the beach on a warm winter's day, and with my two girls for company..... priceless......

Jodie

How cool is this......

2009-07-25T19:12:00.002+10:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEh3Z56v8UQ

Sorry, you have to follow the link, don't know why I can't get it to appear here...

Jodie

We have a 5 year old in the house

2009-07-14T16:12:00.004+10:00

My baby turned 5 on Sunday! Where have the years gone?

We have had several celebrations so far and still have the kiddies party to go on Saturday. That is 5 dozen cupcakes down...... only one more to go.

Jodie

Bernice Bobs Her Hair

2009-07-09T08:39:00.000+10:00

We went to a christening last Sunday and the church was on prime land in Brisbane overlooking the river. Here the girls are enjoying the view. It is also a good shot of their recent haircuts. According to our hairdresser bobs are in!

So who is Bernice? Lol, whenever someone mentions Hair and Bobs it reminds me of one of F.Scott Fitzgerald's short stories, "Bernice Bobs Her Hair"?

'I want you to bob my hair."
The barber's mouth slid somewhat open.
His cigarette dropped to the floor.
'Huh?'
'My hair - bob it!'

(Maybe I need to get out more!)

Jodie

I made a quilt

2009-07-06T17:39:00.010+10:00

Don't Faint!!

I started after dinner on Friday night and went through to 3am Saturday morning. At that point the top was complete and I had basted it, ready for quilting. Then after dinner on Saturday night I quilted it (very simply) and started hand sewing down the binding. I lasted till 12.30am and just had to go to bed. Thank goodness Wimbledon was on, it gave me something to watch! The binding wasn't finished at that point but I couldn't go on.

This is the back.....

The whole quilt....

a close up of the very simple quilting

this is a good colour representation of the fabrics......

Thanks to my quilt model, DH and a huge thanks to SIL who gave me a load of FQs back in August. I picked the prettiest pinks for this quilt. It was a christening gift for DH's newest god daughter - Isabella Rose. I continued to sew the binding in the car during the hours drive to the church and during the ceremony and finished on the way back to their house! Nothing like cutting it fine.

It is very plain and simple, but I really like it. I always make things with the recepient in mind, but this is one I could have kept.

Jodie

Mt Tamborine Botanical Gardens in Winter

2009-06-30T16:35:00.005+10:00

I have always wanted to go up to the Botanical Gardens each season during a calendar year. Haven't managed it yet. But on Sunday we got up there for the first time ever in winter. Not a lot in flower BUT it is still beautiful. There were lots of "scarecrows". The girls and their friend where not too sure about them though.....

Jodie

stillness

2009-06-24T17:44:00.001+10:00

after all the rain

Jodie

run daddy run

2009-06-22T16:55:00.000+10:00

sometimes the 'big kids' have just as much fun as the littlies......

Jodie

at the beach

2009-06-21T04:58:00.004+10:00

a yabby in an oyster shell

a blood worm

a yabby

a running race

Jodie

Yep! Some More!!

2009-06-11T18:45:00.010+10:00

That's right, more pencil rolls. DD2 was invited to another party. Twins AGAIN! But get this....

The party was to be held at a local park, on the same day the local council had a day on. The idea, the council stuff was an added attraction.

So DH kindly took both girls, DD2 to her party, while he and DD1 could wander around the exhibition.

EXCEPT.... no one was there for the party! Now to be fair, the weather was iffy. BUT the Mum who had organised it didn't make contact. DH rang her from the park - her mobile was turned off. They walked around for two hours, by which time he had had enough. Poor DD2 was in tears.

Finally today at a Kindy function came face to face with the mum. She had this story for me about how they were there early on, how she made contact with others and how she didn't know how to contact me. Now firstly I rang her mobile to RSVP the party, so she could have found my number, but secondly and more importantly, WHY WAS HER PHONE TURNED OFF?

I try to give people the benefit of the doubt, but this one has really irked me.

Ok, Ok, rant over...... as you should always look for the good side in any situation - I am now two pencil rolls ahead in my quota for the school/parish fete craft stall!

Jodie

Yesterday's Picture

2009-06-06T08:12:00.001+10:00

currently on the design floor....

Jodie

Long weekends, campertrailers, pretty birds and Oh! she is actually sewing!

2009-06-05T16:10:00.014+10:00

This weekend is another long weekend here in Paradise, Queen's Birthday Long Weekend. Although our camper trailer is progressing it is STILL not ready. Weather here is not that good for camping though, nights are cold and it is still raining on and off.

See all that mess over the canvas covering the tent? That is from these gorgeous guys - Rainbow Lorikeets. These pics are from this afternoon. I have another pic from a little while ago over at Snappy Friends.

I have been computer less for over a week. No crash, DH rented out my laptop to a Dr going to a conference. Consequences of marrying a self employed computer tech! Still don't have all my files back (like my PHOTOS) but at least I am online. So instead of wasting all that time on the 'puter, here is a peek at what is currently gracing my design floor..........

Argh!!! Photo won't load.

DH's birthday present! His birthday was May 28, but he didn't say he wanted a quilt until the day before. It is all flannel, op shop pjs and shirts, plus some solid blue and green donated by my mum. Not sure what to back it with, so it productivity has halted.

Enjoy your weekend!

Jodie