Game of two halves ..... first half

Well it's been a busy week again...but I have managed to fit in a couple of evenings quilting.  The first evening I managed to get my final boarder onto my pink little girls quilt.

Which meant Wednesday evening I was able to start designing the boarder while at my weekly quilting evening with HW.

It is also the Easter break - four whole days of doing my thing - D has to work Saturdays - so it was decided we would have the first half of the break - Friday and Saturday - at WR and then off to the BH for Sat night, Sunday and Monday - the second half .  Two short working weeks (always a bonus).

Good Friday allowed us to continue with the veg patch - a good dig over and a good weed in the morning meant we were able to get the raised bed down Friday afternoon!

Looks sooooo good! Can't wait to fill and start planting - many of the seeds planted in March are more than ready to be transferred into the ground - just need it to warm up at night so they are not hit by the frost.  The second set of seed - mainly flowers are going great guns - all but a few have poked their heads up to say hello.

Saturday was pretty miserable, so glad we decided on the garden yesterday.  So with my list of chores off I went....all the usual, bathroom, washing, ironing, hoover etc etc - and so the list goes on!!  Spicy Chicken and Bean Stew was made for Saturday tea and the rest made it into the freezer for a couple of meals later. 

Also managed to sew round one length of my boarder...

Great day - so much achieved.  Off to the BH.

Is there someone out there??

Someone is reading my blog!!  I had 25 page's viewed on Saturday - now a couple may have been mine as I went about updating my blog, but 25 views means someone (or perhaps even more than one) else is reading it - let me know - leave me a comment!! 

 

Sunday was a lot warmer than yesterday so I continued with the tidying of the garden. D gave his go ahead on the veg patch in the corner of the garden so I needed to move a couple of plants, and rearrange the rocks we had put down a few years ago.

One hole left, on removal of bush.....

New hole dug, for replanting of said bush.....

One job down....



Planting some colour.....

This is the climbing rose I cut right back last year (as I didn't like the way it was growing).  I did cut it as low as the stems would go - and I actually thought I may have killed it but look - it's coming back to haunt me!!



Some light refreshment....

Some wildlife in the garden...... look very closely under the rock and you'll see a frog.



A few hours later.....

And the wonderful pipe..... still there, with the cracks, just cannot decide on the next move.

Time for sort out, here

You'll have notice that over the past few weeks I have been rather busy installing the Kitchen at the BH.  I have been looking round WR this week and I have to say I have let things go here (a bit).  D and I decided to stay here this weekend so we could catch up!  And as you can see I am spending my time wisely by updating my blog!

The last week has been hot, considering we hit April tomorrow, it has been much hotter than the average March.  Things have started to happen in the garden.....

My new peg bag has had it's first outing this week (given to me from CD for Christmas)

The back of the garden is starting to look a little overgrown...needs a little bit of a trim and dig....



A couple of hours later ....

                                   

A little bit of colour needed - until my seeds have grown.....

I needed to transfer the seeds D and I planted back at the beginning of March ......

Most survived the transfer from the seed trays to the larger pot - had a bit of problem with the lettue - not sure if I'll use the trays next year.  No idea how I'm going to transfer the carrots - really didn't think that one through!!!



And some more flower seeds sown for my pots .......



Best go and tidy the kitchen before D arrives home....going to see if I can talk him into a veg patch at the end of the garden.....

A Weekend of Quilting and DIY

Saturday- a whole day of quilting with the girls.  We had the return of EL - who had been travelling since mid Feb.  It was great to catch up with everyone (although AB was missing).  EL had returned from the USA with a bag full of goodies - she has great taste.  Having found a $10 bill last month I asked her to spend it on my behalf  - it's great when you can spend and it's some one else's cash!  A layer cake was purchased - can't wait to make something with that!!

Off to the BH for one night only ..... Well a huge surprise, A had made amazing progress on the Wednesday - finishing the plinths and cornice, doors on the fitted appliances etc.   In fact we have a fully functional kitchen - a sink - running water - a working oven - worktops - all mod cons!!!

Of course we have small things to finish - splash backs, tiles but all this can be slotted in now when we have more time - I prepared a late breakfast (as we had not got to bed until 4am that morning).  And we then took a box at a time and started to put things away. 

I can't say how pleased I am with the work we have done - and all our friends.  I think I would even go as far as to say I would do it again (so long as it's in a few years and not next week!!).

Ooops......

I slept like a baby last night....after the long day at Olympia, and then the drive to the BH - I was in bed as soon as I was able!!  Wide awake at 6am ... laying listening to the birds signing loudly, and the sun trying to poke itself through the curtains ... I turned to see D smiling back - also wide awake!  Cup of tea in bed I declared - such a long time since we did that.  We had decided during the week that we would have a lazy morning and try and catch up with ourselves but as we were both raring to go we were up and 'Kitchening' by 7am!!!  Yes, 'Good Lord' I here you say - yes, I did use similar words myself.

Doors to be hung, space to be cleared, wall to be sealed, drawers to be made.  Nearly a whole days work completed in a morning.  We decided that a pub lunch was in order as we had achieved so much - plus the fact that I still have no worktops (well that the excuse I'm using)!

Such a beautiful day....a wonderful lazy lunch, a walk back along the beach, a sit on the rocks.....

The afternoon shift started about three ...  by about four that afternoon ... I decided that one last job was to be done ... the drawer front to be fitted ...and then DISASTER.....  I dropped the drawer on my way to cabinet - well to be exact the drawer front came away ..... and a large chip was made in my new laminated floor...... (a few unprintable words were muttered) ....

I decided a long hot bath was required to calm down - leaving D to finish up for the day!  We had taken another two days holidays - so luxury no journey home tonight - and both in bed for 9pm - it must have been that long lunch we had!!!!  We will deal with the chip another day.

Awake bright and early - our builder, A, was coming today and plumber - well the plumber was suppose to come but I sent our address to someone else...not sure who!!! So with plumber rearranged for Tuesday we made a start.  All works tops - hob and sink to be in within the next two days - anything else would be a bonus. 

I did feel at one point we were creating more mess than we were cleaning up!!!  Worktops cut and in place by end of Monday -  leaving Tuesday for other things!

Tuesday  - Fridge/Freezer wired up and put into its place, extractor fan - proved to be a bit of a bugger - taking a little longer that thought.  Handles completed - all doors finished.  Really starting to take shape - even prepared lunch on my new worktop.

Note to all short friends: Integrated Fridge/Freezer - if replacing your kitchen and considering integrated appliances you should consider these carefully - being only 5'2" - I think I may need a stool for the top shelf of the fridge! My mother - being below 5' may need a step ladder!!!

Leaving very late Tuesday night after grabbing a quick bite to eat with A, we headed home after another hugely successful few days..... what that you say .... what about the large chip in the new flooring - well thanks for reminding me..... 

Stitch and Craft Show 2012

Olympia here we come.  Saturday (17th) (Yes I know a bit late in updating my blog!) saw myself and HW off to Olympia for the Stitch and Craft Show 2012.  Quilting on the top floor (along with Knitting), Cross Stitch on the middle floor and then Crafts on the lower floor.

A show, that contained my favourite hobby, Quilting, along with many others I would maybe come to love.  I, particularly, was looking forward to the large selection of knitting wools on show - hopefully to help me move forward some crochet - well as soon as my time allows!  Also a chance to see some quilts produced for the Olympics. 

The quilts came in two sections - small quilts - being given to each country participating in the games. 

And small pendants - given to each athlete competing in the games.

I, unfortunately, did not contribute to either set of quilting gifts, a little sad maybe on seeing the wonderful creations that I would not be a part of history.  I do sometime think if only I had more time.... but then I think well it's not like I'm sitting on my backside doing nothing!!!  Next time - as I say to myself so often!

Top floor was most definitely the better floor for me - quilts and wool - my main interest really ... a few items purchased and much admiring of the goodies on offer.

Debbie Bliss wool to try for my crochet blanket I will try and make in the near future.....

Wonderfil thread - as recommended by HW - this is a box of testers - I'm going to use on my JR Scrappy quilt - hoping to try the thread in the bobbin - never done that before!.

After a very quick lunch we moved down to the lower floor - however - the use of the word Crafts was not really as I expected.... the whole floor dedicated to card making - not really my thing but certainly by the number of people on that floor there was a large interest in that hobby.

The second floor offered a little bit more for us.  Lots of cross stitch items - HW had certainly indulged in some bit before but not on this occasion.  We both enjoyed the bead stands - both coming away with beads to finish projects started earlier this year - mine are for the completion of the Scrappy quilt.

I also - having vowed not to purchase buttons -  came away with some interesting one...

Just can't help myself sometimes.

Late afternoon we settled into our course we had booked - Make and Mend: Button Jewellery - as the button - real odds - were handed round I did wonder if I would be able to produce anything wearable but it came as a surprised as I hunted through - and a surprise at all the other wonderful necklaces that were made!!

A good day - the show I think missed many opportunities to offer something different.  The wool on offer was nice but not a large choice - and we had both gone with the intention of splashing out on some thread for our new (ish) crochet love but it was not to be - ah well enough pennies left for a cup of tea before heading home.

Training for the Olympic's

I was most surprised, this morning, on my way to work to see the Synchronised Swimming Team training in the local park.  It really made me smile.

Having watch for a good few minutes I think their routine is well worth a gold!!!