Dynamics...

On Thursday morning I dropped my DD1 off at church and along with some of the other youth they boarded a mini bus, waved goodbye(no I'm gonna miss you Mum nonsense)and drove to Rotorua for a Youth Camp!  I always find it intriguing how with one member of the family missing how the dynamics of our family change.  Our home is noticeably quieter and there has been a lot less fussing at one another, but they are really missing her, I'm sure the boys wont admit to it once she's back home of course! As a last practical joke they packed a teddy bear inside her sleeping bag just in case she might miss them! Now I've said all that to get to this... I have finished another project(only just) for this month bringing it to a grand total of 2 projects Lol! But I can't prove it as DD1 has taken the camera with her all I can share is a photo I showed a couple of posts ago...

A table runner, I think it will be a present for someone!

We have had an interesting day, Poppy made a new friend today, another horse had found it's way to her paddock and Poppy was not impressed when it's owners came to collect her. I say her because I thought the owner had called her a wally, DH thought the owner called her Holly and DS1 thought the owner called her Molly! What a laugh! Maybe we all need I ears checked!

On Monday night I have been asked to help at Virtuous Women, it's a group that was started by a few of us a number of years ago to help each other and younger mothers, to learn to sew, knit, crochet etc to share what skills we have with others etc.  Over the years I have taught embroidery, helped with sewing and quilting, etc This time I have been asked to help with household hints, It kinda makes me feel old now, have I been a mother/wife that long that I'm am able to share from my wealth of information(not)I certainly don't feel up to the task, I am sure there are others that are more up to the task than me. I am going to try my best though, I have been asked to share my washing powder recipe, but I thought I would pose this question to my blog readers... 

"Do you have any hints or tips that really work for you?"  

I would really appreciate it if you could leave a comment or two. 

Thanks in anticipation... 

Animal Antics...

Miss Poppy has found her way to the kitchen, she certainly knows where her treats come from...

Do you think Mum will see me here?

I'm helping, honest!

OK I'll just watch from here all this hard work is starting to make me sleepy!

Our home is never a dull place, I have been flitting about like a flea in a fit this week. Today I'm helping with transport at school(for DS2 and DD2) for a science road show and Friday we have swimming and Americana Day. My two students above have been working very hard despite Georgie's help;-D I almost had to wrestle Ruth away from the computer yesterday to take her to piano lessons, she was enjoying her research for science so much! Weird I know but it did have something to do with horses Lol!  DS1 went on his very first trial bike ride on Saturday and had so much fun! DH, I always call him my biggest kid took a fall off his motorbike the other day, I'm pleased to report no broken bones, just scrapes and bruises, it's enough to scare a wife/mother silly, but I know they all have to grow up sometime(not sure about the DH) and test out their wings.

My wonderful Mum is a real giver and likes to buy me surprises!(any time Mum)Well this is what she bought for me the other week...

It's gorgeous and a perfect size for storing a project in.  And this is what I have been working on this week...

I'm up to the quilting stage I want to get this done before the end of the month so I can show 2 finished projects for OPAM. You would never guess what happened yesterday, well maybe you would. I was almost finished my Gail Pan BOM stitcheries I only had a few Colonial knots(don't like doing french knots) left to do and I ran out of thread, just as well I had to go to town;o)) So as of this morning all the stitcheries are complete!  I may get this quilt finished in time for Christmas!

Well better go get myself more organised for the day, it might actually help if I get dressed! Put on some teacher clothes! Hope you all have a great day!

And the winner is...

For the purpose of this exercise I have convinced DD1 to take off her cowboy hat... 

Now enter my trusty  assistants...

And drum roll please...

Congratulations Rebecca!

Thank you all for entering and all your kind words and encouragement over the last 100 posts, don't forget I'll be having another giveaway as soon as I finish my design and write up the pattern, make sure you keep looking out for those clues as to what it is I'm making the closest guess will win the pattern and perhaps a kit of the fabrics I used as well.  The clues could come anytime, anywhere on my blog so keep your eyes open...

A little bit of cuteness...

I have been a little snowed under lately with our new homeschooling regime but I have managed to finish this cute little bag...

I've only had the pattern and handles for about 4 years and the bag body made for about 6 months all I had to do was sew them together! My first finish for OPAM this month.

We  had a bit of excitement(not) here the other evening, my DD1 was out riding her horse along the grass verge of the road we live on, it was still very much light, she had all the safety gear on and a reflective jacket! Can you see where this is leading... Meanwhile I was all snuggled up on the couch with my dressing gown on and just settling into a good book when... I heard a screeching of tyres and then nothing... Well I don't think I've ever moved so fast I was out that gate in record time not sure what to expect... I don't think I breathed at all until I saw my daughter still intact and on her horse!  The driver(a neighbour) who was also unhurt admitted to taking the corner far too fast, hit some gravel, looked up to see my daughter and panicked only missing her my a mere few meters, and ended up stopping part way through our fence and 2 meter's from a power pole! Praise the Lord, that  no-one was hurt!

Last night my friend Catherine and I went out to Indian Zaika for tea before heading to Claires @ Cinnamon Lodge for a night of laughter and stitching and a little shopping*grin* Look what came home with me...

Mmm it's a Rosalie Quinlin design and the fabrics are sew yummy!  I can't wait to start it.

This photo' doesn't show the true colours of the fabrics the white ones are actually a duck egg blue...

Just after our meal last night, something very random happened to us, we were taking a walk through the centre of town when this guy comes up to us and asks if we have children, I replied warily 'Um yep" Cool he says Would you like some Lego I am shifting(he points to a trailer)and don't want it anymore! "Um yep, sure that would be great! Thanks"  So off we walk back to our cars, with a box of Lego worth about $100! I am pretty sure it wasn't stolen as he was genuinely shifting from an upstairs apartment, it has been used but it's in almost perfect condition. As I type this I have Lego covering most of my dining area/lounge, I think they are having fun!

I have been buying lot's of goodies lately which I have not shown yet so stay tuned...and don't forget if you haven't entered the Giveaway yet it closes on Saturday so there's still time!

Enjoy your day!

This is it...

Yup my 100th post, where has the time disappeared to? I thought I would just try this blogging thing out totally unaware that it can be a little addictive! Lol.  For my giveaway I have gone a little spotty, or should I say a little dotty(DH would say dottier!) SO without further ado here is what I am giving away...

A gorgeous Maxwell and Williams mug, some beautiful Cath Kidston tissues, some spotty dotty ribbon, a tape measure thingy, a strawberry bag(made by yours truly) some spotty dotty blue fabric and because it's Valentines day tomorrow some fat 1/4's with a lovey dovey theme!

So if you would like to win just leave me a comment on this post, for two entries leave post about my giveaway on your blog(leave a comment of you do) and for a third entry become a follower(if you already are you are automatically entered). Right so what are you waiting for?

Oh yea you have until the 20th of this month...

What's up?

What's up? Another giveaway, and this time from a fellow Kiwi! So pop on over and say Hi to Lara http://sewmanystitcheslater.blogspot.com/2010/01/little-giveaway.html  And speaking of giveaways my next post will be my 100th and you all know what that means!  I was going to giveaway my pattern for the project I'm working on, but it is a little ways from being finished, you know how when you start something and it keeps evolving well thats the path this design has travelled.  Nothing like my original vision for it, but I think it has stopped evolving now and I have all the fabrics I need so now it's heads down and tails up... OK Enough dribble!  So I have other plans up my sleeve but you'll have to check out the next post to see what they might be...

A Giveaway...

Lis over at  Online Quilting is having a fab giveaway, so pop on over and check it out here...  http://shiny4444.blogspot.com/2010/01/100th-post-giveaway.html

Lis is one of my first blog pals and guess what???  She is coming to New Zealand very very soon, I do hope we will be able to meet in person:OD Wouldn't that be grand! (Fingers crossed)

It's been a very long day today, I feel a little weary tonight so no stitching for me it's off to bed I go...

Jiggity Jig...

Home again, home again Jiggity Jig... Yup back to reality, I could have stayed for another week quite easily!
My batteries have been recharged, and I'm all geared up to face the school year. Michael(DS1) will be homeschooling alongside Ruth(DD1) this year, we started today and while it took a bit of getting back into the swing of things I am rather enjoying it!
One of the things I enjoy when visiting other blogs are photo's of their home and surrounding countryside, to be able to see some wonderful sights from the comfort of my own home and dream about places I would love to visit(once the kids have flown the nest) So I thought I would share a few photo's of our view from the bach from left to right...

The Manawatu river...

The estuary...

The river mouth...

Bird Sanctuary and Estuary and in the distance 'The Sand Dunes'...

This path leads to 'The skate park'...

Where many hours were spent by the younger members of our family, me I was just content to watch from the comfort of the decking!  The oldest member of our family (not me!) went 4 wheel driving in the sand dunes, where himself and the boys had to dig there way out! Lol  We had an 'uh oh' moment when my DD1 walked into a window...

She reckons she didn't see it and she had her glasses on! I think she was having a blonde moment!  Thankfully she only had a small bump on her noggin to show for her efforts, it could have been a lot worse!!!  

There was another 'uh oh' moment but that belonged to another beach goer who decided to leave his friends car on the beach overnight(he had been drinking). When they came to collect the car the next day they found it here...

Oh darn... they did manage to rescue it, not sure why(I guess they couldn't leave it there)I sure hope the friend can see the funny side. 

Sadly the fishing left a lot to be desired, only DH caught 2 from his kayak, in the years we have been holidaying here it is the first time the kids and I haven't caught anything, I guess we will just have to go back next year and try again;O)

DS2 was buried by his little sister, later I think she wished she'd left him there!  All in all we had a great time and yes I did check out a new to me quilt shop, but that will be for another post...