Book Week

We all love books in our house, no one more so than our beautiful girl Zoe. She was very excited to be able to dress up for Book Week at school yesterday. Before we decided on the final ensemble we went through a number of books, and a number of costumes before she finally decided on an old favourite "Meg and Mog".

Happiness is...

knowing that you are going to have time today for the pile of fabric/quilts that are sat on top of your sewing cabinet!!



Late last week Mum's quilt arrived back from the amazing talented Emma - see her great pics of the quilting here . I was absolutely delighted with the quilting, and can't wait for Mason's quilt to arrive back as well.

Today I will make and attach the binding, finally make and attach the binding to Ciára's monster quilt, sew the backing for Jack's quilt and hopefully some other cutting that needs to be done. Need to get started on my mother in laws quilt to take to Ireland with us in December! Might even do a few more blocks of Zoe's buddy's quilt!

First of all though, an hour sorting out the toy room. We are getting ready for our renovations. We expect to be out of council by the end of the month so I am spending some time each day sorting out and clearing out and packing up!

I'm Reading...

Tragic I know but I just can't turn down an autobiography, about anyone!!!

Grandparents are Special Gifts

My grandparents live 3 hours west from us, this only happened fairly recently - about 18 months ago. I still struggle with not seeing them on a fortnightly basis as I used to and I really miss them. On Sunday we headed off nice and early to go and catch up and have lunch with them. My beloved Nanny is the most amazing women, so upbeat and positive. It is sad that she is starting to really age and lose her memory ... but for 85 and my Pop is 91, I think they are looking pretty good. It is well worth the trip every time we go. I have been blessed to have had my Nanny for so long, I am about to turn 37...but even more blessed to have had the special relationship that we have shared. I love that my girls have been able to spend so much time with their GrandNan and GrandPop. I hope they still have a few years left in them yet!

It's Thursday Lunchtime...

on a cold and windy, but sunny day. Zoe woke with high temp, rosy cheeks and complaining of a headache. I am still under the weather with my cold and cough and Ciára has a cough. Even though it is a day care day for Ciára, at 8am I announced a PJ Day and we were staying in for the day.

So whilst they have been doing this throughout the morning...




I have been doing this...


It is destined for my BIL's son who is due next month. A simple stitch in the ditch and some hand quilting will finish it off.

The rest of the afternoon will be spent giving cuddles, maybe a snooze and hopefully some more time on the buddy's quilt!

Excitement is...

forgetting that your new clock is being delivered and the door bell going and the delivery man standing there in the pouring rain with a HUGE big box just for you!

I was recently in Adelaide visiting one of my great friends. She took me to a fabulous interior design store, Update Interiors.

I fell in love with this clock. I had to have it. We tried to source it in Sydney, but in the end it was shipped up from Adelaide. The lovely Liz, proprietor of Update gave me a generous discount to help with the shipping costs. I am so glad we decided to get it as it would have been one of those "Why didn't I get it when I saw it" stories.

It is 92cm in diameter and looks huge, and when the house renovation is done, it will go in the family room. Until then, it will go back in it's box for safe keeping until it's special piece of wall is ready for it! Now we just need council to get a wriggle on with our approval!



Not a great photo, as I just popped it onto the dining room table to make sure it was all ok and in working order!

Such a sticky beak...

...and oh so handsome!

Things That Make Me happy...

So my poor little blog doesn't get too neglected, once a week I am going to post one thing that makes me happy. There are so many things in my life that give me a little kick and make me feel grateful that I could do this every day...but with the daily responsibilities of life this is not realisitic but on a weekly basis....very doable!!! I should be going for months!

On Friday night our dear friends Mel, Jon and Finn came for dinner. Mel knows my favourite flowers and gave me a lovely big bunch. I didn't take a photo of these beautiful friends (who make me happy) but here is a photo of one of my life's happy moments - the beautiful tiger lily, ah the sweet smell in my family room right now gives me a lift everytime I am in there!

Today...

A few pages of journalling, both of the arty and the non-arty kind, in this fabulous journal...


I finished "Mason's Journey" quilt top for my step sisters little man who was born in late June. It will now go off to the talented Emma to be quilted.



And some cutting for a quilt for Zoe's buddy at school. Zoe asked if I would make her a quilt to say thanks for "being the bestest buddy ever". This kit was sat there staring at me so thought it just perfect for her Year 6 mate. I will get stuck into putting it together tonight after the kids are asleep.

Something to Live Life By...

"Act as if failure is impossible, and your success will be assured. Wipe out every thought of your not achieving your objectives, be brave and set no limits on the workings of your imagination. Never be a prisoner of your past. Become the architect of your future...and you will see that nothing can stop you
~Anonymous