A quilting trip to Orange

Last Friday Robyn and I left the city life and took to the open road with the Quilters Guild of NSW on a bus trip to Orange to immerse ourselves in quilting for the weekend.

 

We left Sutherland soon after 7:30am and headed for Strathfield to collect more quilters. Our first stop was Glenbrook where we had plenty of time to visit the Post Office Patchwork shop then find morning coffee and stroll through the other shops there. 

On then to Blackheath. There was quite a long hold up on the way because of an horrendous accident but we were able to keep to our timetable well. Lunch and more shopping in Blackheath. I left having bought all the items on my shopping list for the weekend. The Patchwork Place shop is in a lovely cottage.

On again to Orange where five patchwork shops stayed open for us after 5pm. Here I bought a wall hanging as a present and a length of beautiful bamboo print fabric, something Surrey and I have searched high and low for both in shops and on the internet. Surrey would love it!

by the end of it all I'd had enough of quilt shops and was pleased to take the short ride to our motel, settle in and head for dinner at the Orange Ex-Services Club. The food and company was great.

Back to the motel feeling exhausted but very pleased the the day's purchases and experiences.

On Saturday we were up at a leasurely hour with breakfast at 7:15am. The bus left at 9am to take us to Lucknow and the 2 Fat Ladies clothing and gift shop. I actually bought a top for my 'mother of the groom' outfit. There was an ugh shop across the road where both Robyn and I bought new ughs.

Back in to Calare Public School, Orange to visit the quilt show, have lunch and have the general meeting of the Quilters Guild. Then there was a very inspiring show and tell session and I learned about 'leaders and enders', a technique for machine sewing. What a great idea! Robyn showed her beautiful machine quilting work on a quilt she had recently finished, inspired by a door at their house. It is magnificent.

There was a wine tasting at the Totally Local winery and Robyn and I were able to replenish our cellars. The cheeses were also delicious so be risked buying some of those to take home.

Back to the Templers Mill Motel where we sorted our purchases before going to dinner at the club again.

On Sunday we headed back home via Millthorpe. Here we visited Hazel's patchwork shop and also the Markets that happened to be on the weekend we were there. I was able to buy another present at the Craft Cottage. Robyn and I treated ourselves to coffee and cake at the old butchery cafe.

Further east we stopped at the Bathurst Hatched and Patched quilting shop. The owner had opened especially for us here as well. It is a lovely shop and I will have to return some day. 

Just as we left Bathurst the rain started in earnest. There were violent thunder storms and heavy rain. But when we arrived in Blackheath again for a quick toilet stop it stopped raining while we were there. More rain on the mountains making driving slow for our bus driver Warren.

We arrived back at Sutherland by about 6:30pm with a tonne of purchases. I had a quick but delicious dinner at Robyn and Geoff's before coming home to collapse and enjoy a long night's sleep. A great weekend away.

A short trip to Berry

Last weekend Ellen and family and I went down to stay overnight. Just a short trip but very full.

Janice and Rauri are always happy to have their adopted grandboys to come and stay. There are cattle to check and the fencing to be done.

 

There is a bull to try to coax closer (but the bull was having none of it.

 

 There are lots of peaceful places where you can sit or wander.

And after all the work the gear (and dog) are all left ready for the next job.

It was a bit scary for small boys when the cows came very close to the ute. It was the promise of getting through the gate to a new paddock of grass that had lured them. However, we were actually only going there to fix the electric fence.

 

A really cool find by Luke was a huge snake skin. He is taking it to Kindy in a shoe box today for show and tell.

There are so many tiny things to see. The fairy wrens loved the tangle of garden.

This lizard was hiding in the crack of a log. We even heard another big lizard digging away inside one of the fence logs.

 

Today's Progress

Kim and I worked hard today to clear Carport 3. It is wonderful! Here is Kim enjoying a well-earned cold drink after all our exertions. I now have full bins and a pile ready for the next street cleanup collection. I can also park the car in this carport if I go away or need to get out of the hail.

 

Thea and I enjoyed our lunch in the carport as well.

Thank you Kim for all your hard work. The list shrinks slowly.

Underhill - tiny wonders, huge wet

Geoff and I went down to Underhill last weekend. Our first task was to call in at Cal's to collect our CB Radio. But when we arrived at the block we forgot to test it because we were distracted by Mick and mates at #9 chainsawing the huge tree that had been down on the fence for years. But to go and say hello we had to slosh through mud as there had been so much rain. These few tiny treasures were loving the wet conditions.

This little frog was in one of the post holes from the never completed tank stand. The posts were sitting in water so Geoff took the opportunity to remove all but one (too hard). We put a stick in this hole so the frog can climb out. 

We then went for a walk to find that the 'waterfall' is actually running (well trickling is the best we ever get).

All dams are full and overflowing. The rain gauge was full at 280 mm so we don't actually know how much rain there has been in the last month but it is more than that. Here is the bottom dam...

... the far dam ...

 

... the overflow from the top dam ...

... and the very full top dam.

The middle dam also has some water in it.

Here is the 'creek channel' that Greg and I cleared years ago to try to catch the run off from the uphill block and divert it from our driveway. It is actually working!

The top dam at capacity...

 

Carport Capers

Those of you who have not visited for a while will remember the chaotic carports that have been rubbish sorting places for many years. Even before Surrey died, the second carport was full of crap. Above is a more recent photo of the second carport and the water gardens just beside it.

These are more photos of the messy carports.

 

The mess is no more in two of my three carports. Kim and I finished the carport capers at midday today. Here she is enjoying a sit down after a very humid morning getting my next area tidied.

This carport is now my potting shed. I have a few more cupboards from Geoff's old kitchen still to come yet and need a bit more carpet for the front section. I also need to work out a way to store my garden tools so they are out of the weather and easy to access. Suggestions welcome. I will also be constructing a woven bamboo wall on the side behind me and will grow some climbers up it.

The first carport has been functioning well as a clothes drying area now for some time but I have now been able to tidy out the last of the rubbish. The clothes line has been put under here and I can hang out washing even when it is raining. All that is left now is my firewood at the back in various buckets and containers. It is all nice and dry for winter.

Progress is slow as always but eventually Kim and I have a day together and finish a section. It is most rewarding. 

Thank you Kim.

Alex is now a Joey!

 

A Coat Workshop

Lyn Hewitt ran a Bog Coat Workshop last weekend. It was fascinating making a reversible coat from two rectangles of fabric sewn together.

The best bit was that instead of using two bought fabrics we could create our own fabric from bits we had. I used a panel that Geoff and Jen bought me in Japan, some grey fabric I bought at a quilt shop in Vermont (flood affected and very cheap) and a length of navy blue that Surrey and I bought in Hong Kong for some long pants for him (I only ever made the brown ones we also bought).

Here is the reverse side of the coat. I think next time I will make a shorter one because it looks and feels a little long on me. I might also make a longer one as a dressing gown. I am still using the one I bought in Marks and Spencers when we lived in London in 1983! That says something about quality!

I stayed the night with friend Lynne and we had a long, relaxed catch-up. Thanks Lynne and Lyn.

Fun in the pool at Janice J's

Last weekend the whole family enjoyed a gathering at Janice's. We started the day with the kids in the pool, Geoff acting as life saver.

Rod was life guard and entertained the boys by throwing them in.

The boring adults just stood around watching (including me) but it was great entertainment.