Gum Valley Patchwork

Christmas Flies!

I was planning on spending a few hours in the garden this morning before the weather heated up too much. I did make a start but the flies were so bad and I’m sure the fly repellant I was using was just attracting all of the fly relatives visiting for the holidays …….... arrggghhh!!!! I will have to try and find my fly net before I venture out again…..….they are a must have accessory at this time of the year on the farm - don’t look very attractive but they keep the flies off your face. So I decided that since my gardening plans were karputted I would do a blog post.

I hope that everyone had a great Christmas……I did. I am very lucky as I have been able to spend every one of my 47 years with my Mum for Christmas lunch. As we live so close to both sides of our family we spend the evening meal with Russell’s family. Our Christmas lunch table grew this year as we welcomed boyfriends to join in the Goode family feast. I guess it’s the next phase that our family is going through and we all had a great time and my brother even took Hannah and my nephew Alexander down to the dam for some fishing…….Pete always has a few rods in his car……he is an avid fisherman……….and I mean AVID don’t I Andrea!!!!. Well they guys didn’t catch anything but Hannah caught 2 large yellow bellies that we released in the dam about 15 years ago……go girl!

 
My plans this year for a handmade Christmas disintegrated somewhere in early December when I knew that time was running out so I settled on just a few handmade presents. One of these was a satchel for Emma, which I made out of the ‘Suzani’ fabric range by Michelle Marvig.

I was really happy with the way it turned out…….and so was Emma…….and I’m keen to make myself one now…..but out of the green fabric which I love sooooo much. The flap has 2 appliqued patches from the main fabric which added an extra touch. The pattern is by Nicole Mallalieu. You can check out Nicole's website  or her blog .

Linda   :)

PS. Don't forget to enter my giveaway to celebrate my 200th post. Just leave your comment on my previous post (not this one) to be in the draw to win some prizes. Good luck to everyone who has entered so far - I have really enjoyed reading your comments.

200th Post Giveaway

Well here I am writing my 200^th post……..and what better way to celebrate than to have a giveaway. I have really enjoyed being part of the blogging world and the friendships that it brings. It certainly makes the world a smaller place.

The other day I heard how shoulder pads are making a comeback…..yuck! Leave a comment and tell me what fashion trend / item of clothing you hope never ever comes back in style and I’ll draw out someone to win a package of goodies…..maybe I’ll even give out a couple. To get the ball rolling here’s one that some of you will remember / love to forget ........... ‘Treads’ – those sandels with the tyre tread for the sole and the suede for the straps. My sister had a pair and I was so jealous that I didn’t have a pair too.

Because of the Christmas holidays, I won’t draw the winner until the last day of 2009.

Linda   :)

City slave

This morning was the first time in almost a week that I milked the cows. No I haven’t been sick…….no I haven’t been on holidays……..no I haven’t been sacked (actually I don’t think that will ever happen!)……..in fact I’ve had my nephew staying on the farm and he has been helping out. AJ is a 16 year old ‘city’ teenager who has spent the last week learning how to milk cows, use a chainsaw, drive the farm ute and motorbike, spray thistles, and generally do lots of physical work. He’s got blisters and has used muscles that he never knew he had. AJ was so tired this morning that he slept in and missed the morning milking. As a treat I’m taking him eel fishing down on the dam tomorrow night (remember the water lilies….in that dam). The eels always put up a good fight although they are not that pleasant to handle…..very slimy. As kids we used to catch, cook and eat them and they were great…….I tried a couple of years ago and just couldn’t even put them in my mouth……funny how your taste changes over the years. Anyway I don’t think AJ is going to take up farming any time soon and I think he will even sleep through Christmas.

I will be back soon as I have a special giveaway to announce.

Linda   :)

As proud as punch

Wasn’t yesterday a scorcher of a day. We were frantically trying to bale the hay…..after a few breakdowns with the baler……as we had to leave for Melbourne by mid afternoon to attend a very special event. We were attending Emma’s graduation at Telstra Dome Etihad Stadium. It certainly was an eye opening event…..very different to the school presentation events that we have attended over the last 15years. There were over 5,000 students graduating with about 30,000 family and friends in attendance to watch.

 
Although we only got to see Emma for a few seconds on stage as she accepted her certificate, it was well worth the wait and the heat.

Right from an early age Emma has always shown a love of learning and after 4 years of Uni (which has just flown by) we were just so proud to see her graduate with first class honours.

 
Her dedication to study and the thirst for knowledge sees her returning to Uni next year to complete her Honours.

She has graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science, Laboratory Medicine, with Honours 1^st Class.

Congratulations Emma, we are all really proud of you.

Linda  :)

PS. Emma.....Just imagine how much Pa would have paid for this !!!!  

Opening later

I will be opening the shop later than normal - at 12.30pm instead of 11am - on Thursday 17th December.

Linda   :)

Sneaky present

This little gift was hidden in my Christmas Tree at the Shop……..

 
I only found it on Sunday afternoon…….the card reads………

 
Thanks Dianne…….it now sits under my tree at home waiting patiently for December 25^th to arrive……it does smell very nice though!

Linda   :)

Men Only

No it’s nothing sordid or rude……...it’s a shopping night at the Shop just for men. The Shop will be open from 6pm thru til 9.30pm on Tuesday 15^th December for the men to do their Christmas shopping…..well that’s the idea anyway! So ladies if you are sending your hubby along and would like to let me know what you’d love him to buy you for Christmas, I can then steer him in the right direction! Kits; books; fabric (jelly rolls etc); vouchers; candles; etc. I will even gift wrap it for him….you know how great guys are at wrapping gifts….not!

Linda   :)

I was made for loving you........Suzani!

As I mentioned in my last post the lovely new fabric range by Australian designer Michelle Marvig called ‘Suzani’ has arrived in the Shop. I have finally unpacked it and it is now ready for some devoted patchworkers to take it home and love……..which wouldn't be hard to do.......check out the beautiful blues and reds......

 
 Aren't they just wonderful!

And check out the greens……..drool drool…..

 
Michelle has a project in the current Quilters Companion using her new range.

The fabric is $22 per metre, and I also have 2 of the laminates in stock ....they are $35 per metre.

Linda   :) 

'Suzani' has arrived

A lovely surprise awaited me when I arrived home last night – the beautiful new ‘Suzani’ fabric from Michelle Marvig. I haven’t had a chance to take a photo of it yet……too busy dreaming of what I can make out of it! Am also busy preparing for a catering job tonight so unfortunately this will be a very short post. Before I go I want to let everyone know that I will be closing the shop early at 2pm on Saturday afternoon (12^th Dec) and opening late (12noon) on the Sunday morning (13^th Dec).

Linda   :)

Waterlilies

Many years ago…..about 24…..I was a member of the Simpson Garden Club. Newly wed I would travel to the monthly evening meetings with my neighbours and it was a great chance to meet lots of ladies who also enjoyed gardening. We would have competitions and also a plant stall….which was a great way to expand one’s plant collection without parting with too much money. There were always cuttings, bulbs and pots to buy. On one night I purchased some waterlily tubers. I took them home and not having a pond to plant them in I decided to put them in one of our farm dams. I just threw them in and let them float to the edge of the bank. Over the years they have multiplied and when the water drops down low and the tubers are exposed the cows have a bit of a go at them but they always come back.

 
I know that they will never cover the whole dam as it is deep and they like the shallower water.

 
At this time of the year they flower and although they are white they still look lovely.

 
When the girls were younger we would go fishing for eels in the dam…….amongst the waterlilies was always the best place to find the eels lurking.

Linda   :)