A new month has arrived

 And I am catching up again!

David has been to see the oncologist, much was explained and advice was given and David has decided to not have chemo. Big sigh of relief from me! The information we were given was that chemo causes Parkinson's like symptoms so could cause David more damage than help and they didn't want to do that to him. So now he has blood tests every 6 months and a CT once a year to keep a check on him. David is away this weekend on a boys weekend, guys he has known since high school and Uni, I haven't heard anything but I am sure they are having a wonderful time!

I had a quiet weekend planned, was even influenced by a squirrel that popped over from Janice's place. Today was to be a day of cutting fabric as I already have the foundation paper sheets

But life had other ideas and I have had a busy day doing other things.

We are getting a lift installed to make it easier for David in the future and so we can stay in this house.

The builder has been here since Thursday, has not long left ( 5pm Saturday) and will be back tomorrow to do a little more so the lift fitters can come Monday as scheduled. I  wonder about the scheduling as their is no time allowed for the unforseen and there was lots of unforseen in this house!

We have a flat roof, no man hole, and it makes it a challenge doing anything electrical.

Yesterday afternoon upstairs floor

Upstairs ceiling ( the ceiling was too low to fit the lift so a bulkhead had to be created, lots more work that expected)

End of work today, floor, the area covered with tools will have the floor vinyl that was cut out, glued on to it, so it looks more floor like  😊

Underneath looking up.

It looks strange at present but will be much better by Tuesday. 🤞

Today I had to drive to Torquay (an hour away) to change the sim card I got for the lift - the lift has an emergency phone inside. The info from the lift company says to get a normal sim card not a pre paid. That was going to cost $50 a month. Mark the builder said NO!! Swap it for a yearly sim card that costs $76 for 12 months, much better. So he rang a contact at the Torquay shop and she said come on over and I will help. So I did and she did and she also sorted issues I was having with my phone, not a problem with my phone just something that was not explained to me ( yes I was the problem 😁)

Well worth the drive over. While there I finished at Adventure Lab in the howling wind and spitting rain

I had to sit the phone on the hand rail to keep it steady in the wind.

I found a lovely bookshop in Torquay and bought two new books, Twice by Mitch Albom ( I have enjoyed other books by him) and Nobody's Girl by Virginia Giuffre.

I also went to he Information centre and found two badges for my Aussie Travel map

Not the best photo but I got the VW Great Ocean Road badge and the 12 Apostles - of which there are only 8 left I think.

During the week I have quilted 3 quilts for Christine and Judy

Peas in a Pod

all scrappy quilts using up peoples scraps

I have started my own Peas in a Pod quilt, using jelly rolls I got on special from Spotlight

I was given a large bag of African themed scraps, so they have been cut up and are being sewn into a kind of post and rail design - I have a few large pieces that will stay large and be fitted in where ever possible. I was also given some Australian themed fabric so that will be worked in too. 

 So much for not starting anything new this year!!! Blinking squirrels!!!

A little more progress has slowly been made on the Temperature Tree, fitting in the October leaves.

I have sewn together the first few rows of the hexie quilt, I am waiting until the lift is finished as there is plaster dust through the house and my design floor is gritty!!

That is me up to date for now, off to sew a few more post and rail bits and Peas in a Pod bits, Tomorrow I will cut the edging fabric for the peas.

Hope I have not put you to sleep with a long post!!

Happy stitching.

 

End of the month

 And challenge #7, the quilt top is finished. Yippee!! I did have a few hiccups on the way (again)

something looked wrong here 😁

Mmmmm another woopsie

Phew, many hours later!!!

the quilt top is finally finished - this is based on the Daylesford Quilt pattern by Jen Kingwell.

We had some visitors to the garden, first time since we have lived here, the cockatoos came and were munching on the wisteria - they picked flowers had one bite and threw the rest on the ground!!

I do love to see them in the garden but not when they eat the flowers I like to have around. I went and told them off, they flew up onto the roof and clumped around up there for a while and then flew away.

Yesterday I went to Torquay to do some geocaching, it was raining and cool when I left but as the day went on it fined up and warmed up

coastal view near Bells Beach

Limestone being slowly worn away by the sea

Looking over Torquay, the rain heading to Melbourne

Bells Beach - a huge surf carnival is held here  around Easter, Sunday things were quiet.

I had better be off and get some dinner.

Happy stitching.

Out and about today

 Today I had to take the Guild laptop to the laptop Dr to get looked at as it was not well. It has been left there for tests and hopefully it will have a full recovery as it needs to be in good working order for the next newsletter.

I had to go over to Torquay, down the coast from us about 50 mins drive, not allowing for me getting lost and having a little Tiki tour.

Coming home I decided to stop at the beaches along the way

Whites Beach in Torquay, windy today so the waves are rolling in.

Barwon Heads, I am not sure what the dark blob is, maybe my finger? This is the calm beach with the two bridges over the river.

View under the bridge

Looking up the river at Barwon Heads to the open sea, the building to the right is a restaurant.

Under the bridges again.

Ocean Grove, a collection of lost items.

Looking up the beach

Looking down the beach

Brave swimmers

Lunch in the car before heading home.

Ingrid was here for the weekend and on Saturday afternoon (late) she decided to make a mini quilt. All the pieces are one and a half inch square and is called Planning a Trip quilt, Ingrid beavered away and by later in the evening the quilt was done. She is now working out how to keep the zig zag edge and bind.

I have managed a measly three foundation paper pieced hearts, plus a little hand sewing with hexies.

Maybe more will be done tomorrow. I am not bothered I have had a good day.

Happy stitching.

Torquay

Yesterday we drove down the coast to Torquay to take the laptop to the laptop doctor. After dropping that off we did a bit of a tiki tour and had lunch by the beach.

After lunch we had a drive out to Bells Beach to show Jenny a place she hadn't been to before

Some brave bodies were out surfing

These guys were just heading out, they needed shoes to walk over the rough stones

One caught a wave 

It is beautiful coast line down here

Jenny has been working away sewing squares together for KOGO blankets, last night I finished the crochet edge on them. Ready to be sent back now.

We have sewing group at St Leonards this morning so I had better get myself organised.

Happy stitching.

Wild and windy day

Today I wandered off to Torquay to visit the new quilt shop there,

this shop has been open about a month I think, and work is still under way.

A cafe is being built in the left corner (out of the view here) and there was a strong smell of paint, but there was loads to look at and enjoy, you can't see the colours here, but there are colours everywhere.

of course I couldn't come out empty handed

I bought this beautiful book, I bought a book by this same author about 4 years ago in the UK, the books are lovely just to look at and enjoy the illustrations. I do hope to make something out of here one day!!

this pattern and fabric also came home with me!

I went to a cafe near the beach and got a cuppa, was too windy to enjoy it outside, but was good to see people and dogs on the beach having a walk.

Back home now this fabric has been calling to me, I found it in the bottom of a bag a few days ago, I have been doing my best to ignore it, but think I may just go and give it some attention!!

Happy sewing.