Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Some progress

 I have been stitching away n the evenings and have finished two unplanned projects, I think Lou sent her squirrels over here!

I bought this bag one day poking around on Temu, It cost about $4, thought it would be good for going down to the beach and then one day looking in my scrap bag I decided to try and cover the bag with fabric and this is the result
one side
the other side
all sewn by hand except for the top edging which I did on the machine and then hand sewed the inside bits that missed  😀
Then while I was in the scrap bag I decided to do this
machine sewn, oops this is the fabric layout
and finished. machine sewn to hold all the fabric pieces in place and the end pieces hand sewn in to create the pockets for the book cover to slot into.
I found PixxiBook on line and printed up last years blog, the covers are hard covers and the pages really good heavy paper, they have made lovely books, more expensive that I am used to getting but I am very happy with them.
I have books for 2024 coming in the mail, they have been done with IntoRealPages, slightly less expensive, soft covers, I did have a lot of trouble getting their page to work for me with with a lot of help from Jo, we finally got there. My main problem was that my book was showing from Dec 22nd on the first page to Jan 1st on the last page.....we could not work it out. I emailed the company, they said it can happen when there is a break in the transmission and the data gets muddled. They fixed it all up at their end and I checked to see all the posts were there, it is in the mail and due to arrive later this week.
I am happy to say I have finally finished my Temperature Tree
Is not perfect but I am very happy with it, my first attempt at Cross stitch. I have yet to decide how to finish it off. Thank you Susan for the motivation!
We had a special occasion on Saturday, Finn turned three!!
His birthday present from Nanny and Pa

His birthday present from this Grandmother ( he loves rabbits and has a large collection)


his birthday cake made by this grandmother

he was fascinated by the things on top, he also loves cricket!

Getting to eat one of the gummi bears players. We had a wonderful afternoon, Adam cooked a great roast dinner and then we headed home. 
I had better go check the sprinkler I left going on the garden and check also on the bike battery and see if it is charged, I was planning on a ride today 😁
Happy stitching.
















Thursday, January 8, 2026

Second week of January already

 Time once again is moving quickly, to catch up once again


Shane and Rilla came and stayed the weekend after Christmas, we had a good catch up, although more time would have been great!


We went over to Sorrento on the ferry and then drove to Harmers Haven near Wonthaggi to visit David's sister and bro in law
We had one beautiful sunset looking over the horse paddocks.
We drove to Grantville one day so David and Ellen could do a painting over looking the water - the tide went out fairly quickly, so we were looking over the mud flats
I went for a walk along this path and then onto the football field, behind the trees in the left of the photo - being very vary and looking out for snakes (I an very scared of snakes!)
I managed to get a stick caught in my sandal and it dug into my foot, I had to sit for a while and put some pressure on it as the combination of hot weather, aspirin and mild panic made for a lot of bleeding. After a while I wandered back to the others and got David (bro in law) to tend to my wound and clean me up. Luckily I had a new first aid kit in the car!
nearing the end of the clean up and wrap up mission
Bro in law explaining something to me!!


Hubby fully engrossed in painting

still painting
Not long after this the wind got up, David's easel was blown off the table three times, his sandwich container was blown off and the seagulls enjoyed his lunch!
No fun here in the howling wind so we headed home.
The next day Ellen took me to emergency to have my foot checked, the nurse was very impressed with the care I had received and the way the wound was dressed, I explained my sis in law had horses and she said say no more! 😀 She re dressed the foot, gave me a compression bandage and sent me on my way. 
We headed home two days later, we were going to call in on Ondrea but as I felt I was getting a cold we though better of the idea and how lucky was that! After being home a couple of days I tested positive to covid! My third bout. So we have been housebound as hubby now has it too.
In between feeling very average I have finished the Peas in a Pod quilt top
and finished a KOGO blanket
Sorry about the messy photo.
I found a place on line PixxiBook who print blogs, so I have ordered up my 2025 book, later on I will go back and do 2024, Looks like a nice book, we will see when it turns up. 
My foot is slowly healing, takes while for the inside the inside to heal, the bruising has gone down since this photo too.
I bought this bag before Christmas online, wasn't quite what I thought it would be, so now I have plans of sewing fabric strips onto it with big stitching, lets see if that happens!

I have been seeing lots of orangutan things on FB and Insta, this one took my fancy!
I have just remembered I have the hose running on the banana passionfruit, so had better go and turn it off!
Best wishes for a very Happy New Year, here's to lots of creating and having fun.

Happy stitching.




































Wednesday, December 24, 2025

Christmas joy

 I have received several handmade cards, postcard and ornaments, they do bring joy when you know someone has been thinking of you! Thank you very much everyone.

Adam came over for dinner last night with the box below and wanted to learn to crochet, mmmm he is left handed and I am right so my instruction was all back to front for him. Think we need to find a book on how to crochet for left handers! 

My job for this afternoon, trying to figure this one out. Finn loves rabbits, hence getting this one.

This morning I took Adam to Queenscliff as he was off on the ferry to meet  up with Beth and Finn who have been at Beth's parents house for the last 10 days
Looking up the beach from the old jetty to the new flash ferry building.

the end of the jetty with the old life boat shed to the left


inside the old waiting room, there must have ben a passenger ferry here at some stage

This one appealed to me

It was an overcast cool morning, the wind was blowing up the Bay from the South! There is an art competition at Queenscliff, the paintings/photos/art works are displayed along the jetty (well photos of), it was interesting wandering along looking at them all.  Loved the lino print above.
And off the ferry goes.

Happy stitching.








Reading Challenge

 I met my challenge for this year - just......

46,432
pages read
Susan Palmer
140
books read

Updated less than a minute ago.
Newly completed books appear after a delay.

The Tea Set by Cary J. Hansson
Shortest Book
24
pages
The Butterfly Room by Lucinda Riley
Longest Book
672
pages

Average book length in 2025
331
pages

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
Most Shelved
1,375,809
people also shelved
Adorable Animal Quilting by Ingrid Alteneder
Least Shelved
34
people also shelved

My average rating for 2025
4.9

Diamond Promises by Anna Jacobs
Highest Rated on Goodreads
4.60 average

The London Restoration by Rachel McMillan

My first review of the year

it was ok
Could not get into this one

MY 2025 BOOKS
Exit Wounds by J.A. Jance
it was amazing
Partner in Crime by J.A. Jance
A Midlife Holiday by Cary J. Hansson
A Midlife Gamble by Cary J. Hansson
Dead Wrong by J.A. Jance
Damage Control by J.A. Jance
FIRE AND ICE By Jance, J. A. (Author) Mass Market Paperbound ... by J.A. Jance
Marriage Matters by Cynthia Ellingsen
The Life & Loves of Becca Valentine by Laura  Pearson
Blessing of the Lost Girls by J.A. Jance
it was amazing
Random Acts by J.A. Jance
Dustfall by Michelle   Johnston
The Mother-in-Law by A.J.  Carter
Geneva by Richard Armitage
Are You Awake? by Claire McGowan
Logging Off by Nick Spalding
The Fallen Woman by Fiona McIntosh
The Hidden Girl by Lucinda Riley
Long Way Home by J.B. Turner
it was amazing
How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley
All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin
The Murders at Fleat House by Lucinda Riley
Scrublands by Chris Hammer
Auntie Poldi and the Handsome Antonio by Mario  Giordano
Before We Grow Old by Clare Swatman
A Time for Renewal by Anna Jacobs
The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner
One French Summer by Gillian  Harvey
it was amazing
Fall Down Dead by Stephen Booth
The Love Letter by Lucinda Riley
Kitty's War by Eimear Lawlor
The Last Year of the War by Susan Meissner
The Ledge by Christian  White
The Butterfly Room by Lucinda Riley
Dear Mrs. Bird by A.J. Pearce
Yours Cheerfully by A.J. Pearce
Mrs. Porter Calling by A.J. Pearce
it was amazing
The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George
My Daughter's Boyfriend by Daniel Hurst
Only the Beautiful by Susan Meissner
The Orchid House by Lucinda Riley
The Art of Landscape Knitting by Anne Le Brocq
Summer Secrets at Bletchley Park by Molly Green
Destiny by Madalyn Morgan
An Orphan in the Snow by Molly Green
Midnight in Paris by Gillian  Harvey
A Better Tomorrow for the East End Library Girls by Patricia McBride
it was amazing
A Midlife Marriage by Cary J. Hansson
Evening Stars by Susan Mallery
Dark Waters by J.B. Turner
Barefoot Season by Susan Mallery
Sisters by Choice by Susan Mallery
Field of Bones by J.A. Jance
Missing and Endangered by J.A. Jance
A Winter Wedding at Bletchley Park by Molly Green
it was amazing
The London Restoration by Rachel McMillan
The Other Woman by Daniel Silva
Three Sisters by Susan Mallery by Susan Mallery
Letters From the Dead by Steve  Robinson
Hard Duty by J.B. Turner
The Summer Cottage by A.J.  Carter
Smoke Season by Amy  Hagstrom
Memory Man by David Baldacci
The Tea Set by Cary J. Hansson
The Other Wife by Claire McGowan
it was amazing
No Way Back by J.B. Turner
The Killer's Home by A.J.  Carter
The Art of Hiding by Amanda Prowse
My Life with the Walter Boys by Ali Novak
Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent
Mistress of Marymoor by Anna Jacobs
The Secrets of Eastby End by Anna Jacobs
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
it was amazing
The Librarian of Crooked Lane by C.J. Archer
The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak
Dirt by Sea by Michael Wagner
Down Cemetery Road by Mick Herron
The Next Girl by Pip Drysdale
The Bedlam Stacks by Natasha Pulley
Greek Secret by Francesca Catlow
Mothers and Daughters by Erica James
Elizabeth & Elizabeth by Sue      Williams
it was amazing
Well-Schooled in Murder by Elizabeth  George
The Heartbreakers by Ali Novak
Silver by Chris Hammer
A Scent of Bluebells by Meg Henderson
The American Girl by Kate  Horsley
The Nurses of Eastby End by Anna Jacobs
Walking Your Human by Liz Ledden
Oi Aardvark! by Kes Gray
An Italian Girl in Brooklyn by Santa Montefiore
it was amazing
Here in the After by Marion Frith
The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri
Golden Dreams by Anna Jacobs
Silver Wishes by Anna Jacobs
The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman
Gooseberry Fool by Emma   Davies
Blackberry Way by Emma   Davies
Fear Thy Neighbor by Fern Michaels

Dirt by Sea by Michael Wagner

My last review of the year

it was amazing
Love a good Aussie children's book. ...more
Interesting to look back on.
Merry Christmas and I wish you all the best for the coming year.