35 years on...

.... and who are the young couple in this photo from way back in 1977??  The years have just flown by (and we no longer look exactly like this any more!!!).  It doesn't feel like so many years have passed by.  We were married on a hot (very hot really as it got to 42 degrees) summer's day at Manly.   We are going out for dinner tonight to celebrate.

Christmas Mini Quilts

...sent and received.  The last mini quilt swap for the year was a Christmas one.
I received one from Sue which featured poinsettia flowers with a beaded centre.  It reminds me so much of Christmas and the poinsettia that Mum had growing in the back garden in the old family home.

Thank you Sue!

I was making for Sue, which was quite convenient because we happen to live in the same town.  My time management skills at this time of the year have been a little bit off and Sue waited patiently for my gift to her to arrive.  (I was in contact with her to let her know).  I made a Gail Pan pattern, sized for the 12 inch square that we are all making.

This time of the year is always hectic at work..and there are now just 3 days till the end of the school year.  Phew!!
I  traced out another stitchery of the basket of flowers that I made for the Spring mini quilt swap..now I have 2 weeks to stitch it as a gift for Mum before I head over to Sydney to spend Christmas with her...just the two of us.  My husband is off to see the orthopaedic surgeon tomorrow for his 6 week check up following his hip operation.  His progress is really going ahead now.
The sun is shining outside...finally...and the washing and a few chores are beckoning..so I'll get on to them and reply to some overdue emails that need my attention later today.  I haven't forgotten.  After 3 interruptions, while I have been writing this post, I'd better finish it off and get it published before there is another one.
Happy Stitching
Lyn

It's December ...

and we are still waiting for the warm weather to arrive.  In the meantime what does..

                                        Plus

                                          Plus

                                           Plus

                                           Equal....

      Well it is a Christmas Swag ..sent by Bev as part of my SSCS 2012 gift.

I got to open it when it arrived and the other parcel is put away till Christmas day.  I just love what Bev has made me..reminds me so much of home..even though I have lived in NZ for a long time now I still think of Australia as 'home', and Bev could not have made a more perfect gift for me..Thank you so much Bev..

Time slips by...

.....and before you know it, it is 4 weeks since my last post.  It has been a busy time here, but it should start to slow down in a few weeks and be a bit more relaxing!!!.  Some secret sewing going on and trying to meet deadlines.  I have been very lucky to have a couple of wins on giveaways..it is always exciting when the mail arrives.
From Sarah's giveaway I received this pattern by Rosalie Quinlan

 And then this lovely surprise win of the e-book for Home Sweet Quilt, when I commented on one of the blogs that was profiling Jill's new book.  I had decided that it was a book that I would just have to buy myself, as I didn't think I would be so lucky as to win one.

   My daughter and I have found the most tempting chocolate.

We were intrigued by it and thought why not give it a try.  Well the first block did not last very long at all and the 2nd block has not fared much better...
On the home front...my husband's operation went well and he has been making good progress since he got out of hospital a few weeks back.  Now that he is feeling better and is more mobile, boredom is setting in for him..he is not used to having to sit back and take it easy.  Meanwhile he has to rely on me to drive him places and I have been busy doing lots of the things that he usually does.  It will be time to do the lawns again this weekend ..oh dear..the last time it took 2 hours of pushing the lawnmower around.  The old quarter acre section gives you plenty of room around the house, but it means there is lots of grass!!!  I can understand why people want to downsize!!

I think Spring has sprung a leak here...

The weather has been very changeable considering it is the end of October.  Grey skies, rain and cold weather seems to be the order of the day of late.
I've managed to do some more blocks for my SKOW quilt..I am going to focus on doing the applique first and then will do the stitchery parts after that.  I will get some photos up on the weekend when I have a little more time.  I don't know where the time has gone...
Just a quick post.  Life is a bit hectic at the moment.  My husband had his hip operation (at last) and we've just got back from seeing him in hospital.  Hopefully he'll be feeling a bit  better tomorrow.

The Mini has landed...

The Spring Mini I sent to Helen has landed on her doorstep in Australia...it's always good to know that they have arrived.  So I can now show more than the peek from the other day.  I didn't want to show too much the other day in case it was the last one to arrive and there would have been no surprise then on opening it.

Turning Tulips..

...is the name of the mini Spring Quilt I received from Danette...all the way from the USA.   We are in Cheryll's Mini Quilt Swap group.  It is just a gorgeous little quilt and I love it. ( I was lucky to get a lovely piece of fabric in the package as well).  Thank you so very much, Danette,  for this lovely little quilt.

Here is a sneak peak of the quilt that I made.  It has to wing its way North West of here so that could be anywhere in Australia, but it is going to ...... and I'm hoping that it lands on my partner's doorstep soon. (I ended up tracing out a second pattern to make one for my Mum as well..)

It is a lot of fun being a part of the swap organised by Cheryll and you can read about what the swap entails here.  The next theme for swapping is Christmas.  Yippee!!