Liz Needle

Garden at dawn

2011-12-30T22:11:00.007+10:30

Woke up very early this morning with cramp- around 4.30am - and couldn't get back to sleep, possibly because I fell into bed at around 9.00pm the night before - very early for me. By 4.30 I'd had my usual 6-7 hours sleep and my body didn't want any more.

Got up, made myself some Milo then worked at the computer downloading photos. Don staggered up at about 6.30 to find me the early bird for a change. He went back to bed, but I took advantage of the beautiful summer dawn to get some photos of the garden - well, the parts I have been working flat out on so that it doesn't look too bad for the 50th party.

Almost new

2011-12-30T22:04:00.003+10:30

Here is a photo of the new colour for the back of the house. It was taken very early in the morning, so perhaps lacks some of the warmth it shows later in the day.

Still a mess around the veranda, but I still have the woodwork to do before I can tissy it up and make it look smart.

Painting

2011-12-30T05:21:00.004+10:30

With our big day coming up - 50th wedding anniversary - on Jan 8th, I decided it was time something was done about painting the back of the house. It was renovated in 2004, but the outside painting was never done. We could never afford to have it painted professionally and were waiting until we could find the cash. Of course that never happened. Then Don got ill and we had other things to worry about.

Finally I decided a couple of weeks ago I would have a go myself. I had my left shoulder done in September and that was feeling reasonable. Don has just had a pacemaker put in so I wasn't expecting help there. Daughter Jo and her partner Steve offered to help out.

So, this morning I bought paint etc and got started on the taping and cutting in.

Before I knew it, Don was out there with a roller and got started on a wall. It took about one and a half hours and we were humming along and very pleased with ourselves. Jo and Steve turned up and took over - by then my shoulders were about to give out. Three hours later and it was done. And looks great.

Now I just have to play with the woodwork and we will have a new house.

Kenneth

2011-12-20T21:51:00.003+10:30

A regular visitor to our garden has been this fellow. He comes in every week or so, eats the new shoots on the eucalypts, then moves on. On this occasion he was intercepted by one of our dogs and took refuge in a nearby tree. Didn't appear at all fazed by the locals - aka me. Let me take his photo, then continued up the tree.

We have named him 'Kenneth'.

Sydney

2011-10-11T13:03:00.008+10:30

I constantly seem to berate myself for not getting on with my blog, but really I am the only one I have to please because I am the only one who reads it! So, enough of that nonsense. Time to write again.

I recently had three wonderful days in Sydney with my daughter and grandchildren. Bliss to see them again. We did all the things that one does when one visits Sydney and I took all the usual tourist photos. I just loved the gorgeous clivias in the Botanical Gardens. I struggle to keep my one alive. Just too cold up here in the Hills, I think.

And the cream ones are just stunning

Of course I snapped the Opera House. Who doesn't?

And the girls loved the Japanese lion/dog?

A very enjoyable day with three gorgeous ladies.

Liz

10,000 Steps

2011-08-22T21:34:00.000+09:30

10,000 Steps

Very pleased with myself. I have passed the 19 million steps mark. On my way to 20 million this year I hope.

Ramblings

2011-06-24T20:11:00.002+09:30

Such an age since I've blogged. Nearly 3 months. Why I wonder? Too little time? Busy Life? Nothing new to say? All of those things I guess. Sad really.

Tonight we were watching Morse on TV and something came up about taking communion. Don made a comment about it. I replied semi-automatically - as one does.

"Did you used to take communion?" asked he.

Well yes, I did," was my reply. And then I felt obliged to explain.

As a child my parents did not really enforce the church bit. They were products of a mixed marriage - Lutheran and Anglican. Both were forced to go to church as children and both being very intelligent thinkers questioned the norms as young adults. They determined that they would not force their children into churchgoing.

I went to an Anglican girls school, for no other reason than my father was public school educated in England and my mother - a delightful woman always felt envious of and inferior to her cousins who went to private schools in Adelaide. I had been christened quite late (about 8) at the urgings of both school and very religious aunt and uncle who had migrated from England and lived with us for 12 months in the late forties (10 pound Poms) So at school I was urged into confirmation and for some time as an adolescent had the religious fervour to attend church. Besides we had a great priest, a very vibrant youth club and BOYS!!!

We didn't have much money to spare after mum paid private school fees. No decent clothes. I wore my school uniform to church, which was OK when I was in my early teens, but became less appealing as I grew older.

We moved house and I moved church, which was OK. Good youth club. BUT, although by now I had clothes - because I learnt to sew and was good at it, I DID NOT HAVE ANY HATS!!! and one was expected to wear a hat at Anglican services in the fifties!!! Especially in the area in which I was living.

So, I stopped going to church!! How embarrassing for a 16 year old to have to wear her school uniform to church because she did not have a non-uniform hat!!! And what a reason to stop going to church. BUT it was a very valid reason for me at the time.

And the Anglican church was pondering over the reason why the younger people were not going to church!!

I have never really gone back to church - never felt really comfortable, never felt the need. My kids were christened early on, but none of them are church goers now. Is it any different now. I honestly don't know. And do I care? Not at all! I live my life according to my principles. And they are basically christian principles.

What did I get from going to a church school and to church.

I learnt that there is a social hierarchy and that going to a private school did give you entry into some elite circles - if your parents moved in those circles! I learnt that a lot of people went to church because it was the expected thing. I learnt that if you didn't have a decent hat then you felt uncomfortable because you got stared at. I learnt that there were some priests/ clergymen who genuinely felt about the young people in their church and did their best to help and support them (but I could never tell my priest about not having a decent hat). I learnt that lots of cool boys went to my church. I learnt that I could live like a christian without going to church. I learnt that you didn't have to be a christian to live a good and decent life.

I learnt that I could still talk to my version of God without going to church.

Liz

TV Fan

2011-04-03T13:26:00.004+09:30

Ollie has developed a passion for TV. Initially he was interested in the wild life shows and was fascinated with the animals - started with dogs and cats and gradually extended to other animals. Now he will watch any show that is on and especially enjoys football. I suspect it is the movement which attracts him At least now in the evenings I get a rest from throwing the ball - TV is far more interesting!! Liz

My Baby Jane

2011-03-08T20:24:00.003+10:30

Feel like a challenge? I decided to make a mini Baby Jane for a project our group was working on - but never actually finished. The blocks were from the beautiful Dear Jane quilt that so many of us have attempted (and not yet finished in my case!!)Here is my miniature quilt - all 2 inch blocks. I did this in a bit of a hurry and fully intend to sit down one day and spend more time on it. I really enjoyed making this little quilt.

I think I could get addicted to miniatures one day.

Liz

More Civil War Blocks

2011-03-07T21:23:00.010+10:30

Here are my next Civil War Challenge blocks. I am having fun making them although the strange measurements drive me mad sometimes.

This one is 'Birds in the Air'.

Cotton Boll

Lincoln's Platform

Texas Tears

Log Cabin

Seven Sisters

The link for this challenge is Civil War Challenge. Join in. It's fun.

Liz

Civil War Quilt

2011-02-23T20:53:00.009+10:30

Well, I have found a project to get me going again. I just haven't felt like sewing anything except ATCs - and then not very many!!

Barbara Brackman has a Civil War Quilt challenge - a block a week for the year. The blocks aren't all that difficult - except she has designed them all as 8 inch blocks, and that is proving a challenge - sizes like 3 3/16ths etc. Still I am enjoying it. Has a number of plus points for it:

1. It is using up many of my old repro fabrics - oh goodie, an excuse to buy new ones! Some of mine date back 15 years and there are so many lovely new collections around that I couldn't justify buying while I had boxes of the earlier ones!!

2. I love repro scrap quilts and I can indulge to my heart's content.

3. I also love the old traditional blocks, though I like using modern methods of making them.

4. I have a week to finish a block - that I can manage.

5. I am enjoying the online group - Barbara's blog and the Flickr group with comments and photos. Amazing how computers and quilting can bring people of like interests together across miles of land and ocean!

Here are some of my blocks - not always to my satisfaction, but hey - I have a year to play with them if I don't like them.

Catch me if you can

North Star

Richmond

Kansas Troubles

More to come.

Liz

My Kindle

2011-02-08T23:30:00.002+10:30

Great excitement. My Kindle, a Christmas present, has arrived. I love it!! Just one problem that I cannot solve. I bought the model with Wi-Fi and 3G capabilities, only to find that I am unable to connect at home. I can drive 6 kms to the nearest town where I teach and connect straight away but not at home.

I really have no idea how all this technology works. I wish I had my Year 7 boys from last year: they were able to help me out with all my computer problems. Where are they when you want them?

I think the problem is that there is no 3G coverage where I live, although my mobile phone works here. I am probably going to have to get a wireless thingo so I can connect that way. I wonder whether that will work?

Meantime I can get around it by ordering books online from home and they download as soon as I get to school next day. Very frustrating though!

BUT, I love my Kindle and am having fun finding books for it.

Liz

Hydrangeas etc

2011-02-08T23:05:00.012+10:30

That very wet Spring has done wonders for my hydrangeas, though they did burn a bit in that short hot spell. I love the range of shades on the same and adjacent bushes.

A very pretty little Fuchsia

And a colourful rose - 'Shady Lady'.

Luckily the weeds are not showing - and there are plenty of them.

Liz

Christmas

2011-01-14T20:51:00.005+10:30

This Christmas was one of mixed feelings for us. Don went into hospital on Dec 16th for a knee replacement having been given the all clear by his heart specialist. He was expecting to be home about the 23rd and we planned to have christmas at home as he probably wasn't going to be able to travel by car.

Three days after the operation which had gone very smoothly, he had a massive heart attack at 6.00am and was raced to Intensive Care with all the drama of a TV soapy - doctors working on him as they raced the crash cart down the corridors, nurses following carrying all the paraphenalia. They didn't tell him until later that they actually thought he wouldn't make it as his heart stopped and wouldn't start for nearly 2 minutes. By the time I got there, the crisis was over and he was actually giving the nurses cheek.

The conclusion was that they overestimated the strength of his heart and the trauma of the op plus all the drugs he had been given was too much for an already dicky heart. Strangely though, his heart which had been in fibrillation before the op is now beating steadily.

With all this drama happening we decided that Christmas would be at Jo (eldest daughter) and Steve's not at our place and I really didn't have the heart to even do anything about a tree. The Sydney contingent were due to arrive on the Thursday and they were staying with Jo.

Mark surprised me by cutting down a lovely tree for me on the Thursday and the girls and grandkids came over on Christmas Eve and decorated it, as is our custom. My youngest GD even commented that the tree touched the ceiling, also according to a long held family tradition.

What with racing up and down the hills to Adelaide sometimes several times a day, worrying about Don, trying to do all the necessary work around the place and coping with Christmas, I was not really in a Chrissie mood by the big day!! However it is difficult not to feel Christmassy with kids around and although I didn't celebrate with my usual gusto, I did have a very pleasant day. I did feel for Don stuck in the hospital - he does love Christmas so.

Jo's tree - and all the pressies.

Don came home 5 days after Christmas and was able to spend some precious time with the girls before they all went back to Sydney. The knee seems to be an unqualified success and although he gets tired very quickly, we are hopeful that he will soon be back to his normal self.

Liz

They've gone

2010-12-26T20:14:00.005+10:30

So much has happened in the last couple of weeks - and no time to record it. First I'll update you, my readers (?) on the fantail story.

I came home a week or so before Christmas and the three babies were bursting out of their nest. We had a few quite warm days aso little mother didn't need to sit on the nest, which was just as well as there was no way she would have been able to.

I grabbed the camera and took this shot. As I was snapping, one of the babies hopped out of the nest and perched on the branch.

Then, he suddenly took off like a bullet and disappeared over the mulberry tree. Meanwhile mum was swooping around my head and dive bombing me.

And then there were two.

I was a little worried that I might have pre-empted the departure, but by next morning the nest was empty and all three and the parents had gone.

Two days later later Don reported that he had seen the two parents with the three little ones flying around the silver birch in the back garden. So all is well. I wonder if they will nest so close to the house next time.

I hope so.

Liz

The Happy Christmas Song

2010-12-17T21:09:00.001+10:30

The Happy Christmas Song

Have a wonderful Christmas everyone.

Liz

The Babies

2010-12-05T22:32:00.007+10:30

Our baby fantails have hatched amid great excitement. We can see it all from the kitchen window, but the little things are so used to us that I can go right up close and snap the progress. The other day I was taking a photo of the babies while neither parent was home. One parent flew in with a mouthful of food. She fluttered around me for a moment then flew straight in and fed her brood.

There are three of them - now getting too big for the little nest.

Close up. Only a mother could love 'em.

They don't seem at all worried by us or the camera. I am about a metre away.

It's funny watching them sitting on the nest now. Not really enough room in this abode for 4!!

We are hoping the little nest will last until the babies are ready to leave home. It's starting to get quite misshapen and squashed looking.

Liz

Canadian Postal Truck

2010-11-22T22:33:00.000+10:30

The Roaring Twenties

2010-11-22T21:53:00.008+10:30

I didn't realise until I had completed the 1930s blog that I had skipped the important 10 years of the 1920s, so here they are - The Roaring Twenties.

The Jazz era and the legendary Louis 'Satchmo' Armstrong and his golden trumpet. This ATC was the work of Cathy Smith

The first feature length film, "The Jazz Singer" starring Al Jolson premiered in 1927. This was my contribution to great moments in the 20s.

In 1921Australian author May Gibbs published 'The Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie" and delighted generations of Australian children with her captivating gumnut children. Pam Murray created this delicate little ATC.

The 20s were known for a fashion revolution when women through off their long skirts and corsets for shorter skirts and modern designs. This ATC, crafted by Christine McKenna, depicts a 'flapper' from an Art Deco fashion poster.

Margaret Ware added to the fashion theme with a beautifully decorated cloche.

And finally, that great Australian icon on which millions of Australian children have been raised - Vegemite. This clever ATC was devised by Karen Rosewarne.

Liz

The Mating Game

2010-11-21T22:42:00.004+10:30

We love to sit on the verandah and watch the birds in the garden. We have been watching with delight the courting of a pair of grey fantails. These little birds are quite fearless and often join us on the verandah, sitting on the rail or even perching on a spare chair.

We watched their nest building, marvelling in the delicately woven nest, built from spider webs from the verandah eaves just in front of the kitchen window. As the nest progressed we chuckled at the little creatures as they added soft strands to the inside of the nest then sat in the nest and spun around shaping it to fit perfectly.

The camellia they have chosen for their nest is right up against a verandah post and we have to pass within a metre of the nest everytime we go into the garden. They seem to have no objection to us stopping to have a chat, watching us with bright eyes and no sign of fear.

On cool days they snuggle right down, but on warmer days they seem to sit quite high in the nest. We are just hoping they escape the notice of the marauding wattle birds. We have also noticed a couple of little ravens on the back lawn recently. Not sure whether they would attack a nest, but they haven't been around before.

They've been sitting for just over a week now and we are getting quite excited about the forthcoming happy event. We have had numerous blackbird nests close to the house, but this is a first.

Yesterday we also spied a very large koala in one of our gum trees. He was gone today, but he'll be back.

Liz

1930's ATCs

2010-11-19T23:00:00.010+10:30

The 4th decade of last century attracted fewer particiapnts, but the three of us who did swap were not stuck for ideas. It was a decade of despair and misery with the Depression affecting so many lives. Cathy Smith depicts this in her poignant portait.

Through those years popular heroes arose to capture the hearts and spirits of the people. One such in Australia was the cricketer Don Bradman - "Our Don Bradman", whose exploits on the cricket field gave rise to great national pride.

This ATC was my creation for the 1930's.

Shirley Temple captured the hearts of people all over the world with her bright, bubbly screen personality. She was one of the Delights of the Thirties.

Christine McKenna created this delightful ATC in her memory.

Liz

Late Spring

2010-11-19T22:26:00.011+10:30

Spring was late this year in the garden, but the plants have flourished after the wet winter and most have recovered or are recovering from the long hot summer years. Those that did not survive will be remembered in the photo albums we have built up over the years.

Despite the weeds there are many corners of the garden that lift the spirit and refresh my soul.

I love the brilliant blue of the babiana with this little yellow iris. Both flourish in our garden.

This close up gives you a better idea of the colour in the iris.

Another variety if the same iris species. They thrive in our cooler area. Last year I took a fancy to the larger species of irises and they are just beginning to flower this season.

I love hellebore and though they are now well past their best, they still look beautiful with their faded old world beauty.

You don't see flowering chestnuts often in SA, but they are a beautiful tree and grow easily in the hills. This is a white flowering one. My glorious pink flowering chestnut was smashed when a tree came down on it last winter. Fingers crossed that it will come good.

The fuchsias have struggled with the drought, but this little one is a fighter and has managed to soldier on.

And finally the exquisite and delicate beauty of Solomon's Seal. A real oldtimer. I struggled with this for years, but it has finally rewarded me with a good clump of bulbs.

In the words of a wonderful old gardener, "That's your lot for today." Off to snap some of my new irises and the the lovely old roses that are just starting to flower.

Liz

ATCs 1910-1920

2010-11-05T21:24:00.011+10:30

The next set of ATCs. Less swappers this time.

Christine McKenna kept going with her 'corset' theme with these beauties. I can remember my mother wearing something similar.

Some of my very early memories are of buying poppy badges on Remembrance Day. It was a day my mother and father held very dear. This was my card from this decade.

On September 1st, 1912 the Golden Wattle was declared Australia's National Flower and was incorporated into the coat of arms with the kangaroo and the emu.

1st September then became Wattle Day. I don't know if it is still celebrated.

This exquisite card was made by Pam Murray

The last card in this set depicts WW1 - Gallipoli and in particular Anzac Day - April 25th, 1915. This very evocative card was created by Cathy Smith.

Liz Needle

History in ATCs

2010-11-03T22:43:00.018+10:30

One of my interests is to create ATCs (Artists Trading Cards) in fabric, using a variety of techniques. I rarely have time to sit and make quilts these days, so making these little pieces of 'art' gives me an interest, a chance to try new techniques and to express any latent creativity I may still have in me. I swap my creations with friends from quilting groups - mainly the Southern Cross Quilters.

One of my favourite swaps has been the "Past Decades" swap where each month or so we use a decade of the 20th century as our theme. As a history buff, I have enjoyed these swaps as I find they have more significance than some of the other swaps and they set my brain working..

Here are the cards I received in the first swap - 1900 - 1910.

This was my contribution. "Federation"-a representation of Australian Federation in 1901. The trickiest part was making the little fabric flags.

These gorgeous corsets were worn around 1905. This card was made by Christine McKenna

These much loved books - "The Wizard of Oz" and "Anne of Green Gables" were first published in the first decade of the 1900s. Cathy Smith made this delightful card.

The "Breaker" Morant card was created by Karen Rosewarne. The photo does not do justice to the beautiful craftsmanship. The little book opens and has Harry Morant's photo inside.

Women's Suffrage - the right to vote was granted to some women in Australia in 1902. Pam Murray depicts this in her clever card.

One of the fascinating things about this series of swaps is learning what other women consider to be landmarks in each decade. You will just have to wait and see what we thought significant in the 1910s - 20s.

Liz

So Long

2010-10-26T16:55:00.007+10:30

Oh dear. It's so long since I played with my blog that I had actually forgotten my password. Tragedy! Now have a natty little bit of software called Roboform, so my ageing memory should no longer cause me any anguish.

These last school holidays were very fruitful. This year I have been really slack and achieved very little during the holidays, but this time I decided to get off my butt and do something. Each day I made myself do an intensive clean out of part of a room. Brilliant. I managed to get through two complete rooms and the front hallway and since then another room. Everything was washed, dusted, polished cleaned out and left sparkling. I threw out bags and bags of unwanted stuff that had been collecting in cupboards for years. Only 4 rooms and a huge bank of storage cupboards to go. LOL!!

At the same time I determined to work in the garden each day and to complete some sewing - catching up on ATC swaps.

Where to from there - painting inside and out. In my dreams. Still I do feel good about actually getting something completed.

Our poor garden suffered several tragedies of its own this winter. In the fron garden we have a huge willow that has provided welcome shade for a num,ber of camellias, tree ferns, other shade loving plants and the patio. This year it collapsed in 3 parts and fell on the garden underneath it. No way we could cut it up so had to call in a tree expert. Said it was the largest willow he had ever seen. He charged us $2300 just to cut it down and cut it up. We had to dispose of it. So far we have burnt quite a bit of it in the middle of the front lawn, but there is a huge pile of logs that we cannot shift - the agreement was that the tree would be cut up in manageable lengths, but because it was not written into the contract, that did not happen. That's one business we will not deal with again.

We still have another 5 or 6 willows that need to be removed - may have to wait until we strike Lotto!!!

Oh bum!! Now Blogger won't let me download photos.

Here we go after much fiddling and swearing!! This is the tree as it collapsed. Willows are lovely if they are relatively young and not subjected to winds. This one was here and a decent size when we moved in 40 years ago.

This is one part that came to rest on another tree.

Another view of the mess

These are the stumps of the three branches - the main trunk was huge and encompassed all three of the branches shown.

Here we are starting to build up a pile of small brances

Once we got it going we were able to roll some of the logs onto the fore and Mark helped with some larger ones when he got home. It burnt for 48 hours. BUT, we have at least 3 times as much agin to burn when we work out how to move it. Never plant willows!!!!!

And this is what it used to look like under the willow tree!!!

Liz

So Far Away

2010-07-12T23:20:00.005+09:30

My girls - Mandy, Niamh and Erinn are currently holidaying in Ireland. Well, Mandy has been to Italy and now Barcelona as well. They are having a wonderful time, but I wish they were back in Australia. Sydney doesn't seem nearly as far away as Ireland.

Waiting at one of the airports. Amazing pink seats

On the beach in Ireland

With some of the Irish cousins. I wonder whether they will want to come back after all this fun.

Liz

Jump Rope

2010-06-26T14:44:00.002+09:30

Have a look at this video. http://blip.tv/play/Ae+9MJOSSA . And I thought my kids could skip. This group is amazing!!!

Catching up

2010-05-12T20:28:00.005+09:30

May already and it is ages since I blogged - and after all my promises. Still, by this time I imagine I am the only one still reading my blog!!

We have had an eventful few months with Don's heart problems flaring up until last Wednesday he went in for another Ablation procedure. 9 Hours on the operating table! The doctors are fairly confdent that the procedure was a success this time, so we are keeping our fingers crossed. He's pretty miserable at the moment as his heart took a fair beating and there has been a lot of pain. He floated around on morphine for a few days until I pointed out that I wasn't working to keep up his habit. LOL!!

Autumn in the garden. How I love this season. I was a bit late with photos this year, but this old persimmon is a favourite.

Thanks to Mark's enthusiasm we were able to grow most of our own vegies this summer - and supply the restaurant as well. Nothing like home grown produce.

And an update on the antics of young Ollie!! As cute as he is, he is also very naughty!! His latest escapade was to find a half bag of potting mix which he proceeded to spread all over the patio.

Still I guess that was better than the bag of flour I rescued in the pantry!!

Liz

What's on your........?

2010-02-21T23:12:00.005+10:30

This week's challenge is "What's on your Needles'? Any sort of Needles.

Well, here's what's on one of my Needles. My very long suffering Don Needle!

And more traditionally for a stitcher. A couple of my recent ATcs which were made for swaps.

Circles

Butterfly Magic

Liz

What's on your..........?

2010-02-10T23:16:00.003+10:30

Found this fun activity on Lindi's blog and from there I went to Susan's. Looks like fun, so will join in - if I remember. Perhaps it will make me get moving on my blog.

What's on my.....? This week it's Desktop. Currently a photo of a beautiful flowering apple tree in my garden.

A Visitor

2010-02-10T22:39:00.003+10:30

Great excitement last night. We had a visitor!! Not that a visitor is all that unusual, but this one got the dogs going mad, Don yelling to Mark to get the dogs inside and me racing for the camera.

Seen on our verandah at dusk - a red-bellied black snake. The poor thing was more terrified of us than the other way around.

Ollie of course kept wanting to get back out there to tell the snake what he thought of it - from a distance thank goodness. It wasn't a huge fellow, but big enough to make a little dog pretty ill. We have a lot of frogs around our ponds at the moment and the snake was probably on his way home after tea.

And speaking of frogs. We finally have frogs eggs and tadpoles in our ponds. Very exciting!

Liz

My Ollie

2010-02-03T21:57:00.006+10:30

Funny, but we have had dogs ever since I can remember. When I was tiny we had a beautiful cocker spaniel called Trixie. When she died, my dad didn't want another dog for years, so we kids had cats, budgies, white mice etc instead. Then Don and I bought Dad a pup for Father's Day when I was about 19. He was a mongrel and we weren't sure how Dad would take to him as my father was really into pure-bred, quality anythings!
Well, he and the new pup got on like best pals. Dad named him Horace after Horatio Nelson (they both had a patch over one eye!) And, as my maiden name was 'Hornblower (I kid you not), the name Horace Hornblower had a certain appeal. After Dad died, Horace and my mother kept each other company for many years, though neither would ever admit to any show of affection. Eventually Horace disappeared one day when he was about 14 - possibly he found a new home, though more likely he found a spot to lie down and go to eternal sleep.
When I married and started a family, we had a variety of dogs - as you do - from rescued mongrels to pure-bred Dobermanns. My eldest daughter was (and still is) a sucker for any stray and we housed and fed many drop ins over the years as well as carefully chosen and much cherished long term friends. Not just dogs, but cats, ducks, geese, chooks, pigeons, cockies, finches, quail, budgies, canaries, tortoises, mice, guinea pigs, kangaroos, emus, donkeys, ponies, sheep, goats, rabbits, goldfish,. tadpoles, hermit crabs, pheasants, peacocks, guinea fowl, calves, cattle and 2 very lovely dingo puppies.

But in all that time I never actaually had a dog I could call my own - until Ollie! And he is very much mine - according to Ollie. He is a Jack Russell pup - now 12 months old and is probably the smartest dog we have ever had. He's very naughty, very possessive, very human oriented and totally captivating and very loving (my family say spoilt, but they still love him). Ollie does everything I do. he eats anything I eat. He shares the bathroom when I use it, he helps with the washing and gardening. He chases the bird seed when I throw it on the lawn and picks the vegetables with me. He is my shadow. He sulks when I am using the sewing machine or computer, but is ready for a game as soon as he hears the closing down music on the computer.

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I forgot to say he is also very handsome.

Spectacular

2010-01-30T20:16:00.003+10:30

Sitting on Mark's verandah the other night and watched as an amazing sunset lit up the sky. Couldn't resist getting out the camera.

Stunning!!

Agapanthus

2010-01-30T19:47:00.010+10:30

Had a lovely day last Saturday. Started with lunch with our daughter Jo and her partner Steve. We lunched at Howard Vineyard where our son Mark is the head chef. Great meal of tapas and delicious wines. Howards, at Nairne, have a tapas day every Sunday with live music and great food. You do need to book, though. Friday and Saturday lunch is the bistro menu. Superb food, even if I am the chef's mum. Check out the website if you want a pleasant day in the country and good food.

After lunch we visited the Agapanthus Farm at Littlehampton. Don and I had been there before and spent too much money, but Jo wanted to have a look - not to buy, just look.

We spent well over an hour there just looking around. The gardens are fabulous and of course we couldn't resist buying 'just a couple more'!! Check out the website, then visit. You are assured of a warm welcome from a very helpful, friendly family.

Finished the day with pizzas! LOL!!

Liz

Pandas

2010-01-12T16:53:00.008+10:30

Two days in a row. Amazing!!!

Adelaide has been hit by Panda Frenzy!! This Christmas nearly every little girl must have received a panda in her stocking. They were everywhere. Funi and Wang Wang (pronounced Wong Wong because so many jokers were substituting the 'g' for a 'k'!!) must be the best known names in Adelaide.

So, Jo, Mark and I took the girls to the zoo!

After a long and tiring tour of the zoo, we duly lined up with hundreds of others to wait 45 minutes or more for our time to see the precious pair - tedious, boring, but like everyone else there we were captivated by our first contact with real live pandas. We had heard that all pandas do is eat and sleep, but we must have been there on a good day. Funi, in particular put on a very cute and entertaining performance and the several hundreds who were there with us were totally under her spell. Shutters snapped, video cams hummed and the very photogenic pair were captured on a hundred cameras. Small matter that the reflective glass gave a very poor picture - we had our photos!

Just as impressive is the area in which they are housed. When we were there, they were still in quarantine and behind glass, but they are due to be allowed outside mid-January, so next time we will see them in beautifully landscaped custom - built compounds.

I for one am a fan. I will be going back!!

New Year's Resolution

2010-01-11T21:24:00.005+10:30

My resolution this year was to keep up to date with my various commitments - including my blog. So far I have done a pretty lousy job. However I am at least up to date with making my ATCs - if not posting them.

One of my excuses has been that the 'm' on my keyboard has not been working. Quite remarkable what gobbledegook one can write when one letter doesn't work. However, that has been rectified and now I have no excuses.

We had a very pleasant Christmas this year. For the first time in many decades (apart from two restaurant meals) I did not have to cook Christmas dinner - the girls did it and at Jo's place not ours. Have to admit that I did feel very bereft for a while not having a hundred and one things to do on Christmas morning - but a few wines soon made me feel far more relaxed.

The Sydney contingent stayed with Jo and Steve this year which was better all round as they didn't all have to squeeze into the sewing room, but had the luxury of a parent's bedroom and a kids' bedroom.

We had an indecent number of presents under the tree and a mountain of wrapping paper to clean up, but we had such a lot of fun and this was followed by great food and entertaining company - and NO family arguments!!!

In among the wrapping paper.

Erinn enjoying the cream puffs

A quiet moment reading a Christmas book. Lovely now that Niamh can read to Erinn. They share some very precious moments.

I do love Christmas.

Will it ever end??

2009-11-28T21:36:00.003+10:30

Disaster follows disaster. We have had a night and now a day of steady rain, which is very welcome, but along with the rains we have had high winds as well. One of the trees along the driveway shed a large limb this afternoon, narrowly missing Don's little truck. Then, as we sat having tea, we heard a crack and a thump outside and went out to find a large limb of the old willow across the lawn. We have many old willows that we planted 35 years ago to take up the water in the side paddock which is always a bit of a bog. They looked lovely for a long while but as they have aged, they have become top heavy and brittle. During the last few years they have begun losing limbs on a regular basis. In fact the side paddock looks a lot like a bomb site.

So I wasn't too fussed when the willow came down. However 10 minutes later there was another crack and a thump and we went out to find a large limb had fallen from the claret ash, just missing the outdoor table and the chiminea on the patio. This was starting to be a worry. Five minutes another limb down, but by now it was getting dark and we couldn't see it, so we assumed it was one of the willows in the paddock. Since then there have been at least 6 loud noises and thumps - I wonder what we will find in the morning!! Hopefully they will all be willows, but at some stage we are going to have to get a tree expert in to clear the willows as they are now a tangled mess of limbs and far too big and dangerous for us to do anything about.

Lesson to be learnt - don't plant willows!!!

Liz

More Garden Disasters

2009-11-28T21:07:00.003+10:30

Strolling around the garden a fortnight or so back, noting all the work I had to do to clean it up, when I noticed that our beautiful big shrub rose 'Fritz Nobis' was not looking well. This 20 year old rose has been my favourite ever since it was planted and the sight of it not looking well was somewhat of a worry. Looking further along the garden bed, I noticed that a few other shrubs were looing yellow and sicjk. Curious? We had just survived 3 very dry summers and I had been amazed at how well the roses had survived, but this one was looking very sorry for itself, despite a mild wet winter.

I mentioned it to Don and he came out to inspect the plants. Then, he apologised profusely, almost on bended knee!!! And all became clear. A few metres up from the rose, was a flowering prunus which for some years had a blackberry coming up through the middle and we had been unable to get rid of it. Don had decided to cut the blackberry right back and put some poison on the cuts. Normally he is very careful and paints this stuff on with a brush with no problems in the past, but he discovered that he can adjust his sprayer so that only one drop comes out, so he decided to do it this way for a change!!!!!!

Not only did he kill the blackberry very successfully, but he also managed to kill everything within 5 metres all around the darn blackberry!!! He then admoiitted that he had done the same for another large blackberry at the front of the garden. We checked. Sure enough, the trees and shrubs in the vicinity were also long sick, but not as badly affected as the first lot.

Needless to say he has been banned from using this poison anywhere in the garden!!! And we have learnt a valuable lesson.

And here is my beautiful 'Fritz Nobis' in happier times.

Liz

About time

2009-11-25T22:37:00.004+10:30

Why do I do this. Get all enthusiastic for a while, then nothing ............................... for ages. It's no wonder all my thousands of fans and followers have abandonned me!! LOL!!

In my last blog I proudly displayed some beautiful shots from the garden. Alas, since then the news has been pretty disastrous. Our glorious old flowering gum - at least 70 years old - decided to drop one of its very large limbs - right on top of my rose garden and across the drive. It took an age for the tree man to come and clean it all up, but I guess we have enough firewood for next year - leaves a very bare patch in the rose garden though.

A week later, down came another, higher branch. It is a very one sided tree now. We are going to have to get a tree doctor in to look at it, as some of the other limbs are looking rather unsafe as well.

More garden disasters tomorrow when I get my camera organised.

Liz

Holidays!!

2009-10-04T21:45:00.009+10:30

Rather the holiday from Hell - well, so far anyhow.

It began when I woke up on the last day of the term with a lousy sore throat, a stuffed up nose and a headache. Any other day I would have turned over and gone back to sleep , but being the last day, I just had to go to school!

I struggled through the day, my voice gradually becoming croakier and croakier. Just my luck!! As soon as the holidays arrive, I get sick! How often does this happen to teachers???

My worst fears were realised over the next few days as my cold developed into a humdinger. All my good intentions about getting so much done duringthe break, went out the window as I sat by the fire and wallowed in misery. The weather did its best to cooperate - it was just too darn cold and miserable to do anything outside - and I was just too cold and miserable to do anything inside.

At the end of the first week it dried up a little and we were able to get a little done in the way of weeding. I also managed to pass my rotten cold on to Don, so we were able to be miserable together. I am hoping that the second week is better than the first as I am off to Sydney on Wednesday to see my girls - cold or no cold.

I did take a few more shots of the garden - please excuse the weeds and uncut lawns. We need some warm, dry weather.

This crab apple is lovely, but just check out the state of the 'lawn' under it.

More flowering apples - and a whole lot of weeds too.

My hellebores have been amazing this year - and after no summer watering.

This is a beautiful camellia. So simple and elegant.

This one on the other hand is rich and gorgeous

And my favourite flowering tree. Hmm. Didn't notice the car.

And from the other side. We're actually a 3 car family, but I couldn't fit them all in. VBG.

Liz

Spring is springing

2009-09-17T23:04:00.012+09:30

It's taken a while this year, but Spring is beginning to show its beauty in the garden. Now all I have to do is get rid of the weeds!! Too wet and muddy at the moment to even attempt it. My dad always used to tell me never to weed in muddy ground.

The ajuga makes a lovely blue splash wherever I need ground cover.

Such a pity the daffodils are finishing just as the bluebells are beginning. They look good together when I can get them flowering together - not this time.

This dainty little miniature violet is one of my favourites

The blossoms on this flowering crab apple are so delicate and beautiful

Thed camellias are nearly finished now. They copped a beating this year with the rain. Nice to be able to say that, though.

An early fuchsia - in a protected spot.

The birdbath always make a pretty spot .

And of course Ollie has to get into the act. He loves gardening with us. He digs enormous holes - usually where I have just pulled up a weed, or planted something. I am amazed that he is still in one piece, so closely does he get involved helping with digging and hoeing.

Liz from the garden

Ollie again

2009-09-09T22:44:00.001+09:30

Ollie
Originally uploaded by lulubelleliz

I accidentally deleted this from my blog and don't know how to get it back on the correct page.

Ollie

2009-09-09T22:22:00.003+09:30

What would we do without our furry friends. Our two little Jackies give us so much love and devotion and all they ask in return is our love and the occasional game.

I say the 'occasional' game, but with Ollie it's one long non-stop game. He's the first pup we've actually had inside most of the time. Our earlier dogs were mainly outside dogs (by choice - they loved to hunt and roam all over the paddocks, but the roads are busier these days and we don't let the dogs out without us), but since Don has been retired, they spend a lot of their time inside keeping him company during the day .
At night Ollie claims me as his own and would happily chase a ball or anything I throw for as long as my throwing arm holds out. Have to say I can't resist those eyes and that cute face.

If there is no one around to play with him, he gets in to the most horrific mischief. On the occasions that Don has gone out, he has come home to find that Ollie has found something to amuse himself

balls of wool unwound all over the house

toys with stuffing ripped out of them

library books chewed up - the last one cost me $38 to replace

a bag of flour torn apart and spread all over the lounge floor

potatoes chewed up and spat out

soap packets torn open

a set of school assignments home for marking totally destroyed

bags of fabric strewn around and so on.

Now when we go out we Ollie-proof the house. All chairs and sofas are moved to the middle of the room, doors are locked and he is confined to the living area only. Everything is put away or placed totally out of reach. He is obviously paying us out for going off and leaving him alone with no one to play with except old Jeb. Jeb puts up with Ollie remarkably well and will play with him until he gets tired and then he lets Ollie know in no uncertain terms that he has 'had enough!'

Jeb is 14 now and likes to lie around and watch TV with Don. I guess we will have a life without Jeb soon enaough, but meantime we are enjoying the company of these two little lads.

Liz

Bush plants

2009-08-24T21:20:00.008+09:30

I really enjoy photographing plants of all kinds, especially flowers. At Nepabunna I didn't have lot of time to indulge this particular passion, but I did get a few photos of local species. Unfortunately I am not familiar with these species and have not had time to research them, but I hope you enjoy them anyway.

Perhaps one of my readers (if I have any) will be able to help out.

This one is the flower of the bush tomato - one of the members of the Solanum family and regarded as very good bush tucker.

Another bush tucker offering - sweet but with an unpleasant texture. It left a slimy residue on the tongue.

Bush tucker again. Very small, sweet berry reminiscent of ones we used to collect as kids in the Adelaide Hills - we called them native currants, I think. I wouldn't want to have to rely on these for a feed. It would take all day to pick enough for a meal.

This pretty thing is the flower of a native hopbush - a member of the Dodonaea family, but I am not sure which particular one.

This flower looks familiar - a member of the Malvaceae family, I think - some form of native hibiscus, perhaps?

And finally, my favourite. Obviously a pea flower, but I haven't a clue which species. We only saw one small bush of this and I was captivated by it - the colours so delicate for the harsh environment in which it was growing.

Liz

Still Day 4

2009-08-19T21:12:00.010+09:30

Garry was very keen for the kids to give something back to the community as thanks for their hospitality and kindness, so after our gorge visit we planted trees around the little mud brick church and also repainted one of the murals around the town.

And then it was time to get the fire ready for the evening activity. Kelvin Johnson, one of the community leaders had been out the previous day and shot a kangaroo for a feast on the Thursday night. He had also [prepared a large fire which had been burning for about 12 hours and on which we were to cook the kangaroo. Most of the kids were OK about the roo, although some of the girls didn't hang around to see it being prepared and cooked.

Kelvin gutted and cleaned to roo, then removed and skun the legs. The main body of the roo was then thrown on the coals to burn off the fur. If left unsinged it gives the meat an unpleasant taste.

After the singeing, the roo was taken off the coals and the tail was removed. This was cooked separately and is considered to be the best part of the roo. Kelvin the dug a trench in the coals and the roo was placed in the trench and covered with rocks and coals. It was then left for about 4 hours.

Meanwhile the kids and I gbegged for one of the legs and we hastened to the kitchen to ransack the larder for ingredients to add to the leg, which we then wrapped in foil and added to the coals.

Garry and some of the local ladies helped make large dampers to cook in the coals and the kids were shown how to coil strips of damper around sticks to cook over the coals. Once cooked the sticks were removed and the holes filled with butter, honey or jam. Delicious!!!

As it grew dark, the excitement grew. The women who had been helping earlier decided that we might as well have a real party and they disappeared and came back with sausages, chops and salads, while we raided our food supplies for anything that we could add to the feast. We set up a screen on the back of a truck and projected all our photos onto the large screen. The roo was removed from the fire and prepared for eating, our leg was uncovered - perfectly cooked and everyone tucked in to a great meal.

We sat around the camp fire and listened to a muso from the community sing a selection of Buck McKenzie songs about Nepabunna. He taught the kids a fun song about their tummies (we heard this song a number of times in the next 24 hours!!)and all the locals joined in the fun.

It was a great night, warm friendly company and lots of fun. We tumbled into bed, tired but happy, not really looking forward to leaving the next morning. We had a wonderful week, we had experienced and learnt so much and none of us wanted to leave this magical place and return to the mundane life of school. Thank you so much to the people of Nepabunna. We will never forget what you taught us.

Liz

Nepabunna Day 4

2009-08-19T20:22:00.010+09:30

Time I added another day to this blog. This is becoming quite an epic.

Day 4 was probably the best day ever. First we drove out to Malkiwi Gorge (spellings on this one seem to vary a bit), a very important site in the Yura history. The gorge has beautiful rock paintings many hundreds of years old. It is believed that this gorge was used at the route from the Northern Finders to the Southern Flinders area and the rock paintings were done by Yura passing through who wanted to leave messages about important events and happenings in the area.

Uncle Ron, Aunty Shirley and the two sisters Joelwyn and Julette were our guides through this very important area. The gorge is visually stunning and although we visited on a very overcast, grey day, the colours were beautiful and my photos do not really do them justice.

As we walked through I felt quite overwhelmed by the sense of history in this place - almost like being in a cathedral. I felt the same when I visited Uluru. I couldn't speak, just wanted to look. At one stage I turned around and Joelwyn who was normally a lively, happy, talkative lass was strangely quiet and introspective. I commented that she looked like this place meant a lot to her and she agreed that it was very special to her people and to her.

Makiwi Gorge is a restricted area and you can only visit with an authorised member of the community. We were asked to stick to the track and not to pick up or remaove any articles because there are many artefacts there which are being preserved.

The small rocks here are thin sharp pieces of stone that were shaped and honed to be used as cutting tools

As we approached the gorge we crossed this flat sandy area which was used as a camping ground. It is here that we found the cutting stones.

Scenes in the gorge

Uncle Ron talking to the group about the paintings and the gorge

A close up of some of the main cave paintings at Malkiwi

The morning in the gorge was the highlight of my week at Nepabunna and the area really touched me emotionally. It is a place I will not forget.

Liz

Day 3

2009-08-09T12:07:00.016+09:30

Day 3 saw some tired kids - the ones who had slept out, but it wasn't long before they were up and raring to go. This was a brilliant day.

We were introduced to the oldest member of the Nepabunna Community - Ron Coulthard, or Uncle Ron as he asked to be called. Uncle Ron was born in 1931 and has vivid memories of the early days of Nepabunna. He is a story teller and has an incredible knowledge of the Dreaming stories of his people. Ron, as a lad, worked as a stockman with RM Williams who went on to fame as a producer of leather goods. He is a proud man, worried that the traditional culture of the Yura is slowly disappearing as the young people leave to take up lives away from their traditional lands.
Our group spent several days with Ron and his cousin Aunty Shirley (the old chick) and learnt so much from them about the Adnyamathanha history and beliefs. We came away from out trip enriched by meeting to this wonderful old man and listening to his stories. Mt Serle Station was the property on which most of the local Yura lived and worked until the 1920s when they were forced to move on. Most of them moved to Ram Paddock Gate on the Burr Well Station. They were eventually forced to move from their homes here as the station owners wanted the water for their stock. Mt Serle was leased to an aboriginal group in about 1986. It is currently unoccupied and not being worked and the Nepabunna community is keen to obtain the lease themselves. Uncle Ron told us that he visited the station a while back and met the CEO - an Old Man Kangaroo and then the manager - a large billy goat both of whom seem to have taken over the premises.

The Ram Paddock Gate Yura were moved to Nepabunna in 1931 where a mission was set up for them. There seem to be mixed feelings written about this mission. Ram Paddock Gate is now a heritage site and the ruins and artefacts can still be found on the site, though many would have been taken away before the area was handed back to the Nepabunna community.

Ruins of the cottages at Ram Paddock Gate. We were curious to know where the slate would have come from.

Our next stop was at Damper Hill where we heard a fascinating story from Uncle Ron. This site has been fenced off to protect the area. Several weeks ago there was a handover here and numerous people of importance were flown in for the ceremony. Uncle Ron built a traditional hut for the occasion.
Damper Hill

This hut took Uncle Ron about 20 minutes to build - a quick job to show the pollies!

From Damper Hill we drove to a site which is probably one of the most important for the Nepabunna people as it is the site for the Dreaming story about the magpie (urrakurli), crow (wakarla) and eagle (wildu). This story teaches about respecting your elders and has been passed on among the Adnyamathanha for many generations. The story tells how the magpie and the crow who were originally white were very disrespectful to the old eagle and he paid them back by inviting them to a party in the cave, then building a huge fire in front of the cave so that the magpie and crow were trapped and had to fly out through the fire. Consequently the magpie who left first was partly burnt, but the crow was singed so badly that he was black all over except for his eyes which are still white. The rocks at the cave site are very black from this fire many years ago.

Looking at Eagle hill from the cave

The cave in the story

Looking out from the cave

We finished the day with a quick visit to Iga Wata just down the road. Iga Wata is a tourist area, run by a local Yura family. It includes accommodation and an interpretive museum and they conduct tours of the local area.

That night most of the kids slept out under the stars and I actually had the dormitory to myself - no rowdy kids and midnight giggles and whispers!!!

More on Nepabunna

2009-08-06T21:57:00.009+09:30

On the second day of our trip, we were welcomed by members of the Nepabunna Council and then taken to visit the local waterhole, then Vadhalina Gorge some 5 kms away. Our guide was a local girl - Joelwyn - who had been a pupil of our principal when she was a youngster. She brought her 3 year old daughter and 5 year old niece with her. They were like little rock wallabies, sure footed and quick. Our Year 6 and 7 girls instantly adopted them, as most 11 and 12 year old girls will. I'd love to show you some photos of the children, but unfortunately I don't have permission, so you'll have to make do with scenery.

It was the first time most of the kids had hiked in the Flinders and they had a ball exploring, climbing rocks and taking photos.

That evening we had an early tea, then a 60 km bus trip to visit an observatory at Arkaroola where there are two world class telescopes. That experience of seeing the night sky in the outback is one few of the kids will forget. Great excitement when we heard that there was to be a meteor shower that night (1 am ) and Garry decided that any interested kids could sleep out under the stars to see the shower. About 12 took up the challenge and saw quite a good display before the clouds came over at about 2.00am.

The country around the gorge. Dry and bare.

Approaching the gorge

Rocky walls and cliffs

The creek leading in and out of the gorge

I just loved this old tree. How old must it be with a base that large. Fascinating shapes and colours.

On Day 3 we visit some Dreaming sites and hear some wonderful stories.

Nepabunna - the first day

2009-08-05T22:07:00.009+09:30

I have just spent a wonderful week on a school camp. 25 Year 5/6/7 students, 3 teachers and 5 parents travelled up to the Northern Flinders Ranges (just over 600 kms from home) to spend a week at Nepabunna, a small aboriginal community about 60kms east of Leigh Creek in the north of South Australia.

I have been to the Flinders before, but this time was special as we spent time with the local Adnyamathanha people, traditional owners of this land for many thousands of years. Nepabunna is very small and quite isolated. There are around 60 people living there in a very close knit community. They are proud of their land and their traditions and we are so grateful that they shared their lives with us.

My principal, Garry, was principal of the Nepabunna school in the nineties and he has maintained close ties with the community - they love him. We were made to feel very welcome and the locals were so friendly and hospitable. We visited traditonal sites, walked and climbed through amazing country, heard wonderful stories, shared food and songs and had a marvellous time.

We took literally thousands of photos. The kids all had access to cameras and they became snap happy with so many brilliant photo opportunities. Hurrah for digitasl cameras!!! Here are a few of the photos I took of the amazing scenery.

The Flinders Ranges through the bus window

These two peaks represent the two moiety groups in Adnyamathanha society - the Matheri and Arura. Every one belongs to one of the groups and traditionally a person could only marry someone from the other group. This area is called Yorrumbulla and there are a number of caves and old cave paintings here.

The view from the main cave

Near Yorrumbulla caves

The waterhole at Nepabunna. A favourite spot for the local kids. Unfortunately they are in the middle of a drought and the swimming is not very good at the moment. Nepabunna has very little water and the community has to rely on tanks and a very salty bore.

That's your lot for now. I hope you have enjoyed this glimpse of a very old and very beautiful part of the world. More later.

Liz

This and That

2009-07-16T15:59:00.004+09:30

Weeks later, I am back on my blog. So much for good intentions. I just don't seem to have much to say - at least not on the blog. LOL.

Diet update. Still going well. I have lost 7 kgs and Don has lost 12kgs. I am nearly down to where I want to be. Don has another 12 or so to go, but we are feeling optimistic. The weight loss has certainly made a difference healthwise for him. The sleeping is so much better and he is feeling a lot better. One day we'll do before and after pictures!!

The weather this winter has been very cold and WET!!! Lovely to have the desperately needed rain - but, I am over rain!! We have reached saturation point and now all the water does is lie around and make puddles and quagmires. With the weather as it has been, the native birds are finding it hard going to find food, so I have been putting seed out on the lawn. We have always had rosellas, galahs, doves, finches and magpies coming down to feed, but this year we have had loads of lorikeets as well. Up to 30 of them at a time on the lawn. They are such glorious colours.

Ollie loves the birds - well, he loves to chase them. So far he hasn't got within metres of them, but we'll have to keep a watch on this. He has much more hope with the rabbits that are beginning to be a nuisance around here. We must have a dozen or so living in the back garden. Last week Mark was in his room out the back and a fox wandered past his door and stopped to peer inside. Probably attracted by the smell of food as well as the local rabbit population.

Ollie checking out another interesting smell

Liz

Wonder Diet

2009-05-11T23:10:00.002+09:30

Feeling very pleased with ourselves this week. Don was told he had to lose weight prior to an operation, but we have not really had much success. Quite by chance I came across the "Women's Weekly 21 Day Wonder Diet" book in the newsagent and I persuaded Don that we should both try it. It meant following a 21 day regime and most significantly giving up alcohol!!!

Well, we started. It is a very healthy diet based on a low fat, no sugar plan which follows the Australian dietary guidelines quite strictly. The recipes for each meal for 21 days are all set out and a shopping list is included for each week. We found the recipes surprisingly easy and quick to make and quite delicious. You don't have to follow the daily plan, but can swap meals around, repeat favourites and leave out things you don't like. Neither of has felt at all hungry and most amazing of all - it works. After 2 weeks Don has lost about 7.5 kgs and I have lost nearly 4 kgs.

We actually look forward to each day's meals and have every intention of doing another 3 weeks. The alcohol bit hasn't been difficult to stick to, although we did break out a bit for Mothers' Day. Don is a diabetic and this has been no problem as the diet is suitable for his condition. Best of all the food would be suitable for all members of the family and once weight loss is achieved, could be adapted for a weight maintenance plan.

We both recommend this diet to anyone wanting to lose weight healthily. We feel better and know that we are eating more healthily - not that we were eating unhealthily - just too much.

Liz

Scatterdays - Autumn

2009-05-06T23:54:00.009+09:30

It is some time since I have been involved in the Scatterdays - photo challenge , but now I am back to blogging, I will get my camera out and get on with it. This month the theme is Autumn and as I live in the Adelaide Hills, there are a lot of photo opportunities - without even leaving my own garden.

Here is a selection of photos taken in and from my garden. Enjoy!!

I love the colours in the Medlar tree. This year I plan to make jelly with the fruit.

My Nyssa sylvatica - Tupelo tree. Glorious rich colours

Pistacia chinensis - another brilliant tree - can you tell I love autumn colours?

Part of the garden showing off for autumn

Looking down the drive at a Viburnum opulus 'Sterile' - Guelder Rose

The next door vineyards are losing their leaves now and are just past their best.

Autumn is my favourite month in the garden.

Liz

Welcome Ollie

2009-05-05T20:54:00.006+09:30

I am catching up on events of the last few weeks, hence the two blogs on the same day.

After Cooper died, our old boy, Jeb fretted badly and we decided that we - Don and I - would get another dog to keep him company. We sort of decided that we would get an older dog if we could and started looking in the papers. Last Saturday we found a young dog advertised - younger than we had planned, but he sounded like a good fit with us - a Jack Russell puppy about 5 months old.

Off we went to have a look at him. Of course the minute we saw him, we fell in love - as we always do with JR pups. And so Ollie joined the family.

See what I mean? How could we resist? Jeb wasn't sure at first, then he decided that maybe the young fellow wasn't so bad and he deigned to play with him. After 3 days he's not so sure about the situation. He plays for a while then finds a place to hide so Ollie can't annoy him.

Ollie on the other hand loves Jeb - in fact he loves everyone and everything!! He loves chewing things, he loves chasing things, he loves playing games, he loves being put outside to do his bits and then coming back inside to do them! He actually watches TV and reacts to what he sees and hears. We've never had a dog do that before. Very funny!!

Already he is making a place in our hearts alongside all the other dogs we have had over the years.

Ollie wanting to play - Jeb not so sure

Jeb, out of reach, but looking decidedly fed up with everything

Welcome Ollie!!!

Liz

Cooper

2009-05-05T20:34:00.006+09:30

Nearly a monthy since I added to my blog. So much for good intentions.

I have had a very busy time over the last few weeks. First the end of term with all the usual and of term activities, then the Southern Cross Quilters quilting retreat for which I was a committee member. Check out the website if you are interested. Then the school holidays and a visit from my gorgeous grand daughters and my daughter. A very busy few weeks!!

My girls, Niamh and Erinn watching television

Sadly, during the holidays we lost one of our lovely Jack Russells - my son's little fellow, Cooper. Cooper will be sadly missed although he will always be in our hearts and memories.

Cooper was a sweet natured, funny little dog and we all loved him dearly. Mark will get another dog one day, but you can't ever really replace a friend and a companion - and Coop was certainly that.

Liz

Too Good to be True

2009-04-08T19:39:00.002+09:30

Oooooops!!!!

After a night of celebrating our amazing and unbelievable win, we had a phone call this morning to say "Hold on a bit. We think there has been a mistake in the scoring of the Handicap Shield."

Sure enough, it was discovered that the computer operator had given us points won by 'the other' Lobethal school. So no shield!!! Lucky we hadn't already taken possession. I don't think they would have been able to wrest it away.

No matter. We still had a ball. Them's the breaks.

Liz

What a hoot!

2009-04-07T21:22:00.003+09:30

Today, I took a team of 25 Year 5/6/7 children to the Hills Combined Schools Athletics Carnival. This is an annual event and although we don't have a lot of success, the kids are really keen and put a lot of time into practising before the carnival. We are only a small school and so practically every senior student is involved somehow.

Had trouble getting a bus to take us there this year, but finally we were offered a second run which meant we were late getting there and we had to leave early so the bus could do two trips. Not a problem; we sent a few over by car for the early events and coming home before the presentations is never a problem as we don't figure in them anyway.

So, today we had a great day. One of my Year 7 Vietnamese boys got a second ribbon in the Shotput as did one of the Year 7 girls. We also got a few 4th and 5th places which pleased us a lot. Despite the lack of wins, we had a wonderful time and thoroughly enjoyed the day away from books, the fresh air and the good sporting competition.

We left early and got back to school, where I was met by the school secretary. She had just had a phone call from one of the other schools wanting to know why we had left early. We explained about the buses.

"What a pity!" was the reply. "You won the Handicap Shield!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Unbelievable!!!! We won!!!

"What does handicap mean?" asked the kids???

Liz

Great Kids

2009-03-01T18:13:00.010+10:30

I am very proud of my 6/7 class. One of my friends is the principal of a primary school that was in the bushfire area in Victoria. Although none of the families from the school was injured, many of them had to be evacuated and they all lived through a horrific time not knowing if they and their homes would be safe. I asked my friend if there was any way we, my class and I , could help and she suggested we could write letters to her kids. She also said that they would like to take their children away on a fun excursion to get them away form the horrors they had been through.

I took all this to my class and they decided that they would try to raise some money to help the Victorian school finance this trip. They set to with enthusiasm, organising a non-uniform day, a sausage sizzle and a pancake day. Sure they had fun doing it, but nonetheless, they never lost sight of the reason behind their efforts. I am really pleased that we have just been able to send of a bundle of letters and a cheque for over $400.

There's not a lot wrong with the younger generation. They just need the older generations to have a little faith in them.

Liz Needle

A week of mourning

2009-02-13T21:48:00.003+10:30

This week Australia has been saddened by the tragic loss of lives and property in Victoria and Queensland. On the one hand we have had the devastation of the worst bushfires in the history of this rugged land and on the other the widespread and catastrophic floods in the north. We are certainly a land of wild contrasts.

Our hearts go out to all those whose lives have been affected by flood and fire - loss of loved ones, pets and livestock, property and possessions. It will take a long time to recover from the events of the past week.

The one bright light in this tragedy is the way Australians have rallied to support and care for those whose lives have been so devastated. So many people has provided comfort, time, labour, goods, services and funding. It makes me proud to be an Australian.

Landscaping

2009-01-19T00:49:00.007+10:30

I have the bit between my teeth now. I thought I would show you what my clever son has done in the past few weeks. The back garden has needed attention for a while, but we were waiting to finish some paving. Now Mark has paved the area, built some new back steps and landscaped the area at the back of the house, including two small fishponds which I have wanted for the past 30 years!!

The birds just love this area. They drink from the bird bath, but I am sure they think the fish ponds are really giant bird baths as well.

Seen from another angle. The steps and the paved patio area can be seen middle right.

The fish ponds - no fish yet. We are waiting for the cement to 'cure'. Check out the lawn. This is never watered.

Liz at Lenswood

Kersbrook

2009-01-17T22:49:00.008+10:30

So much for my good intentions about keeping up my blog. But, in fairness I have been in Sydney visiting my gorgeous little grand daughters. Sorry I can't show their photos, but trust me, they are beautiful. I can show you their dog, Buddy, but he's not as pretty as the girls. LOL!

Gotta say he is pretty cute though.

Finally my eldest daughter Jo and her partner Steve have taken possession of their new home - well not new, it was built in 1849, which considering South Australia was only founded in 1836, is pretty old for this part of the world.

It is an old sandstone farmhouse on 28 acres of land - the house is in good condition and really only needs a coat of paint of make it liveable, There is a big rambly, run down garden full of old fruit trees and European trees, shrubs and perennials. Jo is a keen gardener and she will have a ball seeing what comes up as the year progresses. They have numerous fruit and nut trees - nectarines, peaches, plums, apples, pears, cherries, lemons, walnuts, mulberries, almonds, walnuts and hazelnuts and, weirdest of all considering we are in South Australia, 5 spindly, sick looking paw-paws. The plants all need a lot of work, but they are certainly worth the effort.

The front of the house with its lovely verandah

The back entrance

Part of the front garden

Part of the back garden

Back to school next week. As much as I enjoy teaching, I am not really ready to go back. Maybe a ticket in Cross Lotto will do the trick???

Liz

Christmas is Done and Dusted

2008-12-28T22:57:00.007+10:30

Oh dear! 6 weeks since I have even looked at my blog. How slack. Term 4 was so hectic, I was sure I would never get everything done. I can't recall being quite so busy and rushed in other years. I'm not sure whether there was more to do, more pressure or whether I am getting more disorganised and less multi-tasked as I get older.

Finally finished Christmas shopping a few days before Christmas and got the tree up - as is ordained by family tradition, it has to be big enough to touch our 11 foot ceilings - and it was.

Oops! That was last year's tree. Wonder where the photo for this year is. No matter. Looks much the same - just no little kids around this year.

Small group of 8 of us this year, but we made up for it with 32 to tea the next day - all family. That was a hectic but fun day. Little kids everywhere, with a new one on the way - another great niece or nephew in June. Very exciting.

One of the things Don and I got for Christmas was an iPod from Mark, so we can listen to our music more conveniently. I've had fun the last 2 days going through my CDs and putting them on the iPod. Now I'll have to persuade Don to learn how to use it. He tends to resist modern technology - more out of perversity than anything else.

I remember years ago in the early 70s when he was still teaching high school maths and he used to take his classes on excursions down to Adelaide to play on these computer things. All they ever did was print out long pages of words or make calendars and Don swore that it was a waste of time and computers would never be of any use to schools. Hmmm. Eating his words now!!

Off to record more albums.

Have a safe and Happy New Year .

Liz

Old Photos

2008-11-15T22:03:00.006+10:30

We were chatting by email about old photos yesterday, so I went searching. I have hardly any photos of myself before I was about 10 - they've been lost somewhere along the way. But I did find some facscinating ones of my husband Don and his family, so I though I would share some of them.

Don's mother and grandmother and their dog.

Don's father and his
twin brother

Don, his mother, grandmother, a family friend, older brother and twin brothers

Don and his 4 younger brothers

I'll have to go searching for photos of me now. Heaven only knows where the few we had have got to.

Liz

Sadly.............

2008-11-04T07:37:00.004+10:30

A friend recently sent a photo by email showing her son holding the most glorious armful of Waratah blooms. Quite breathtaking, but also heartbreaking. Why?

I'll show you my waratah - a prized possession carefully nurtured over 10 years and bringing joy to many over that time. They are a relatively rare species here in South Australia and many passers-by stop to admire this specimen - or they did!!!

This was our lovely Waratah 2 years ago. The Community bus used to drive along our road just so the old folk could see it.

This is it now. It was the first our our shrubs - and the most heartbreaking - to succumb to the drought.

There will be others this year. Already, despite a fair winter, some of the plants are looking less robust than usual. I guess sights like this one will be come more and more common in gardens as the water restrictions hit home. With over 2 acres of garden, my allotted 3 hours of hand watering doesn't go far.
We're going to learn the hard way what plants are going to be most suitable for South Australian gardens!!

Liz

October in the Garden

2008-10-25T16:05:00.002+10:30

October in the Garden
Originally uploaded by lulubelleliz

There always seems to be happening in the garden - always something coming to life around each corner - apart from the weeds, of course. The winter and early spring bulbs and the camellias have just finished and now it is the turn of the perennials, the late spring bulbs and the flowering shrubs and trees.

Here is a selection of what is on offer at the moment in our garden.
1. White camellia 2. Miniature violet
3. Scabiosa 4. Iris
5. Peruvian lily 6. Malus ioensis

7. Michelia 8. Iris
9. Nasturtium 10. Howard Florey rose
11. Babiana 12. Perennial Forget-me-not
13. Arum Lily 14. White Flowering Chestnut
15. Pink Dogwood 16. Camellia

Liz Needle

More broken

2008-10-24T23:52:00.007+10:30

Some more 'broken' photos. Our place is just full of them. The trouble is that with me working full time and Don retired, but not very fit, we just can't get to fix these things - and to pay someone to do it is well beyond my means ( about $15 000 to clear away all the fallen willows!).

Thirty odd years ago 10 acres was fun - hard work, but fun. Now it is getting too hard. Trouble is that we have made this place so perfect (for us), that we can't bear to bite the bullet and sell up. Where else could we have the peace and solitude, the birds, koalas, echidnas and possums, the beautiful garden? Nowhere that we can afford, that's for sure!

Liz

Scatterdays

2008-10-23T07:32:00.004+10:30

Scatterdays theme this month is "Broken" and I have tons of 'broken around this old farm. I'll sart with the old house - not the new one which was built around 1902, but the old one at the back.
When we moved in 37 years ago, we planned to do this old place up and use it as a B&B, but the architect took one look and threw his hands up in horror. It was built of cement and rubble - an old cheap method and the weather wall was sored up and covered with iron to keep the rain out. It could have been rebuilt, but at huge cost to us - poor struggling 30 year olds with 3 kids to raise and an old farm to re-fence and farmhouse to do up. So, the old house was left to die gracefully.

The blackberries have taken over the outside and the swallows, bats, rats and snakes the inside.

Liz Needle

Daffodils

2008-10-07T15:08:00.003+10:30

Daffodils
Originally uploaded by lulubelleliz

I mentioned yesterday that the bulbs have been stunning this year. Here are a few photos I took while the daffodils were out.

A pity in a way that they don't last until the bluebells are out. The blue and yellow combination would be amazing. There probably is a way of managing this, but I like things to happen in my garden without my intervention.

Below is another view of the garden. Last Friday the fog came in about 5 pm and I tried to catch it on film. It actually looked thicker than this in real life, but I still like the effect.

Liz

Bluebells

2008-10-06T19:49:00.002+10:30

Bluebells
Originally uploaded by lulubelleliz

Don and I have been busy trying to get the garden in order. The drought and water restrictions were very discouraging and we let the garden go last summer. After a good winter the garden had sprung to life again and is looking quite lovely. The spring bulbs have all come up regardless of the drought - bulbs are so rewarding. They seem to forgive all.

The daffodils have all but finished and the bluebells are holding sway. The blue is just amazing, but unfortunately, the colours lose their splendour once they are photographed. The garden is awash with shades of blue at the moment. And the occasional pink clump. Such a satisfying bulb. No matter what you do to them, they flourish in the shady areas. I love them. To add to the blue we have babiana just about to flower and grape hyacinth and iris as well.

Soon the roses will wake from their winter sleep and the pinks, whites and golds will add to the spring colour in the garden. It will be interesting to see how the roses recover from the lack of water during the summer. We were amazed at the hardiness of the camellias (we only lost one) and the magnolias. Plants are surprisingly adaptable.

Spot the Difference

2008-09-15T22:01:00.004+09:30

Finally finished the blocks for the Web Challenge quilt and spent today trimming and putting them together - block by block, row by row, being careful to match everything up, get seams butting, blocks in the right position - you know the drill. Done it many times over. Checked it out with my spyhole and everything looked in place. Great!

Photo take. Quilt spread out on the lounge room floor. Dogs locked outside. Ladder in so I could get high enough to get good shots. Finally photos taken and I stood back to admire the effect. Then........................ big expletive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I won't tell you what I said. It was very naughty. Can you see what I saw?

I couldn't believe my eyes. And I had checked it so carefully. Looked at it over and over.

So back I went and carefully unpicked what I had to and did it again, but what a bummer!!!

Below is the corrected quilt. Much better. Now I have to add sashing and borders, then get someone to quilt it. Too big for me to manage under my sewing machine.

It's my first significantly red quilt and I rather like it. Not sure where to put it mind you as my house doesn't cater for red, but I am sure it will find a home.

Liz

Our River

2008-09-14T17:20:00.005+09:30

Earlier this week we took advantage of the beautiful Spring weather and drove along the lower reaches of the Murray River. We had not done this for 6 months or so and wanted to see the deterioration since our last visit in Summer.

I guess for people not familiar with the river it doesn't look too bad - there seems to be a lot of water still, but for those living on and depending on the river, the changes are devastating. Even for visitors such as us, the changes are scary. Every year I take a group of Year 6/7 kids to Murray Bridge for an Aquatics Camp and we have noticed the receding water level over the past few years. Where once the water lapped the lawn verges of the camp site, now there is a stretch of sandy beach. The jetties and loading ramps are high out of the water and worst of all, the lovely billabongs along the river are dry, cracked mud. Where once there was abundant bird life sheltering on these quiet backwaters, now there are only birds in the willows along the banks and a few larger birds on the river itself.

It is difficult to see how these billabongs will ever fill again. It would take huge amounts of water from upstream to see them flourish as they did a few years ago.

The large grey expanse was once water teeming with wildlife. Note the irrigated grain crops on the left hand side of the photo!

What horrified me most was seeing large areas of grain crops (barley or oats) being watered by large overhead sprinklers around Purnong. To me watering such crops is pure waste. But then, I am not an expert on such matters. I guess it's no worse than irrigating rice and corn in the middle of the Hay Plains?

Liz

Web Sampler Blocks

2008-09-05T17:50:00.003+09:30

Web Sampler Blocks
Originally uploaded by lulubelleliz

These are the quilt blocks I have been working on this week. They are part of a quilt called 'Web Sampler Celebration #2', that was put out last year as part of the Shop Hop in USA.
They are a Civil War Classics range of fabrics by Julie Rothermel for Marcus Fabrics and I just fell in love with the range. My final quilt design is from Quakertown Quilts and I can't wait to see it finished.

Wet Photos

2008-09-03T10:34:00.006+09:30

Hmmm,. You can tell I'm on holidays - I have time to spend on my blog. As you can see if you have visited before I have changed the colour and style. I like this green for a change.

Have to say I was disappointed at the size my 'wet' photos turned out with Mosaic Maker. Mine always seem to be small, whilst similar ones on other blogs seem quite large. Wonder why that is? So, I have decided to publish them again because I like them.

These are photos I took of the TV screen during the Women's Road Cycling Race in Beijing.

Wet

2008-09-01T23:31:00.001+09:30

Wet
Originally uploaded by lulubelleliz

I am really pleased with these photos of the Women's Road Race in Beijing. I took photos of the TV screen and crossed my fingers. I like the reflections I got from the rain and the screen.

Cheesemaking

2008-09-01T22:24:00.001+09:30

For my birthday this year, my daughter, Jo, paid for me to attend a cheesemaking workshop with her. It was held in Angaston at the Barossa Valley Cheese Company and the workshop on making washed rind cheese was run by Carole Willman of Cheeselinks, Little River, Victoria.

Having purchased a new pair of clean rubber galoshes, unearthed an apron in the depths of my kitchen cupboard and found a plastic tub with two lids, I presented myself at the venue, ready to make cheese. Jo and I were introduced to the other 5 participants and Carole introduced us to the art of making cheese.

I won't go into details - hopefully the photos will do that, but suffice to say that it was totally fascinating and at the end of the workshop we proudly carried home our embryo cheeses with instructions on how to proceed to mature said cheeses over the next few weeks.

At home we had to keep our cheese at a constant temperature between 11 and 14 degrees until the mould started to show. The hardest part was actually maintaining such a temperature as it has been so cold and unless I put it on the mantlepiece over the fireplace, I could only get a temperature of 10 degrees anywhere in our cold old house. Next we had to wash and turn our cheese every few days until the washed rind culture became established (it was supposed to go reddish, but neither Jo's or mine did). Instead it started to go runny inside the rind, so I wrapped it in baking paper and foil and popped it into the fridge to mature slowly.

Well, mine is maturing! I'm not sure that it is maturing as it should, but it is sitting there doing something. It smells OK and tastes OK, but I'm not sure that it looks exactly as it should. Despite this I will purchase some cheesemaking supplies and try again, because it was fun and a challenge. When I actually taste my cheese in a couple of weeks, I will give you a taste report. Until then I check it regularly and give it more care than I did my children. LOL.

Liz

I have won an award!!!

2008-08-11T22:19:00.011+09:30

Yeah!! I would like to thank Katie for my award.
This is my first ever.

Rules for this award

1. The winner can put the logo on his/her blog.
2. Link to the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs for an award.
4. Put links to those blogs on yours
5. Leave a message on the blog of the person you have nominated.

I am nominating some of my favourite blogs.
Laurie, Taniwa, Lindi, Mandy Sue, Loz, Dawn, Random Applique . Well done, ladies.

Liz

Musing about books

2008-08-07T22:52:00.002+09:30

I have just been adding lists to my blog. Books and authors. I thought it would be an easy task, but I found it really difficult. Who and what to put on - who and what to leave out?

I read through my book diary - yes I do keep records: my friends think I am anal!! As I browsed I pondered how tastes in reading change. There are always some books and authors forever ingrained, but many of my favourite authors of yesteryear are forgotten - or tucked away in the dark recesses of my mind and only brought out and dusted when I spend time browsing in a second hand book shop.

On my bookshelf are many books that I devoured avidly when I was younger, but which I haven't touched for years. One of the problems is that there are so many good books around these days that one has a hard time keeping up with them, let alone re-reading past favourites.

My new resolution - I will not borrow/buy any new books until I have read some of those old ones that have previously given me so much pleasure.

I wonder how I will go? I'll keep you posted.

Liz

Cold Spell

2008-08-06T07:58:00.004+09:30

As I look out of the window this morning, the fog moves in from across the paddocks- another cold wintry day. It has been raining all night - very much needed rain, but not adding to the winter's cheer. It seems to be the longest wintry spell we have had in years, with temperatures regularly down in the single figures and several morings here where it was -1 on our front lawn. We have had a good lt of rain, but it's further north they still need it and even more in the catchment area of the Murray River and it's tributaries. The Murray is desperate - it is dying.

The theme for our photography this month is wet - well, it's wet all around us, but nothing like on the scale of earlier years up here. These photos, taken in different years are actually of the paddock to the side of our house.

We don't seem to get wet winters like this anymore.

Liz

Reflections

2008-07-29T21:33:00.002+09:30

Reflections
Originally uploaded by lulubelleliz

For my reflections I have chosen reflections of the sky.
The first one is the sky using my car window - I found, once I started looking for reflections, that car windows are actually amazing.

Unfortunately I couldn't bring myself to taking photos of other people's cars in case they thought I had an ulterior motive. I could imagine myself being taken in tow by the local copper for snooping.

The second shot is a large puddle of water (almost a mini lake at the moment) at the lowest point of our property and the third shot is a closer one of the same reflection. The colour in the water amazed me.

Liz

ATCs

2008-07-17T15:18:00.004+09:30

Atcs
Originally uploaded by lulubelleliz

Such a while since I blogged. Too much else happening in my life at the moment.
I have the grand children staying and though they are a delight, they take up time. Soon they will disappear back to Sydney and it will seem like a dream that they were ever here and once again I will fret because I miss so much of their growing up.

I have spent a little sewing time catching up on my ATC commitments. Here are a few more:
- a kimono postcard done with foundation piecing - gorgeous fabrics on black taffeta
- an ATC entitled Midnight Lace for a 'Different Fabrics" swap - I found this gorgeous piece of sequinned lace in Spotlight and was waiting for a chance to use it.
- two oriental fans for an "Oriental" swap. These were fun to make.

Now off to finish some butterflies, then a series titled "Checks". No ideas for this one.

This is one of my favourite sets. It is entitled "Oriental". Love the fabrics and the colours that were used. All of these cards were delightful.

Sometimes the cards are a little disappointing, but I guess that's the same with all swaps. We don't all have the same fabric and colour tastes, which is what makes life more interesting.

I am getting quite a collection of these little cards now and so far my interest is not flagging, though it can't last forever - can it?

Liz Needle

Frames

2008-06-28T22:07:00.005+09:30

My reports are nearly finished - only another 8 hours to go. LOL. But, I am nearly there, one more subject and an overall comment - 25 times!!!

Time to choose my favourite frames. I wish I'd had more time to play with this theme as it was interesting. Had me looking at things a whole new way.

My final selection:

The Rose Arch. My garden is divided into separate areas - "rooms" I think Edna Walling called them. This archway leads us from one room to another and gives a glimpse of what is to come. I love the effect. In Spring and Summer it is entirely different as the roses come into prolific flower.

Cousins. I loved the effect of the dark background and the light forground with the two children playing in the pool. Has a nice summery feel to it.

Autumn Leaves. The garden again - it isn't difficult to see where my interests lie. Here I like the contrast between the dark tree trunks framing the tree in the background and the coppery autumn leaves in the foreground.

Now I'm off to see if anyone else has posted their final choices - much more creative than mine, I imagine.

Liz Needle

More Frames

2008-06-22T19:22:00.003+09:30

More Frames
Originally uploaded by lulubelleliz

A few more frames - two accidental and one accidentally noticed.

Part of our city skyline. seen through a window when I was at the Central Market. Luckily I had my camera. Mosaic Maker has cut off one side - as it does!!

Japanese Gardens at Darling Point. One of my favourite places.

I liked this one of the kids playing in the blow-up pool.

Liz

Frames with a difference

2008-06-21T12:00:00.002+09:30

Frames with a difference
Originally uploaded by lulubelleliz

Browsing through my photo collection, I came across some more "framed photos"; this time with a different slant.

The first one I included because it became obvious that Di and I had both visited Remarkable Rocks on Kangaroo Island. I love this photo.

The second one is of Don's father and uncle - identical twins. Have to say I didn't actually take this one. LOL

The third one is of my mother, but I rather liked the baby magpie perching on it.

And finally the magpie(Oscar) watching the cricket, with Jason Gillespie in the frame.

Off to find some more "frames". I rather like this challenge - besides it's keeping me away from report writing.

Liz

Garden Frames

2008-06-16T07:54:00.002+09:30

Garden Frames
Originally uploaded by lulubelleliz

Di's photographic Challenge has got me going. I seem to drive around the countryside seeing frames around every corner, but never in a spot where I can stop. Very frustrating.
However, I decided to walk around the garden for starters and found a lot of natural frames. Very rough, I'm afraid because the garden is wearing its winter doldrums at the moment.

1. The house from under an old flowering gum. I love this view. It's the first one I see when I come home each night
2. Again from under the old gum tree. I love the shape of this old tree - very interesting arrangement of branches and the misty look of the garden in the background contrasted against the boldness of the tree shape - there you go Di, how's that for analysis.
3. The rose arch in winter.It makes an intersting shape and shows off the garden behind.
4 This frame works better in summer when the trees are in full leaf, but I liked the effect of the yellow leafy frame above, echoed by the fallen leaves on the lawn below.

As I said, very rough. I didn't notice te gas bottle in the foreground of number 2, or the dog kennel and droppers, or the untidy furniture in number 4. Still it's realism.

Liz Needle

My creations

2008-05-17T22:57:00.001+09:30

My creations
Originally uploaded by lulubelleliz

I have been really busy lately trying to get myself organised to start a new term. However in the holidays I did find some time for sewing, including making a number of ATCs for swaps.

I find these really enjoyable and relaxing, though I think a number of my friends think they are a waste of time. Not being a terribly creative type, I find myself quite challenged by these little cards and am always quite proud of myself when I come up with an idea. Mine are not the beautiful 'art' type cards, but I like my pictorial ones and especially the quirky ones.

Wonder what everyone else is doing on their Blogs. Must go have a peek.

Liz

I did also finish a quilt top - my Civil War BOM in the hols - photo next time and am about to put the borders on the Jane Sassaman one, so I was fairly productive - for me!

Holiday Project - That Quilt!!!

2008-04-25T12:15:00.007+09:30

Two posts in one day - unbelievable!!

Some time ago I fell in love with a quilt design I found quite by chance on the internet. It was a design by Jane Sassaman, using fabrics from her 'Paradise Garden' range. It really caught my eye, so on impulse, I sought out the required fabrics and duly bought them. Very excited when they arrived, but my excitement was somewhat dashed when I opened the packages. Not me at all. Bright, gaudy fabrics, exotic flowers and twining vines - not at all what I expected and looking not at all like the quilt I had fallen in love with. I put the fabric away and forgot about it.

Needing a new project thsese holidays, I pulled it all out and decided to give it a go. The pattern looked easy, large pieces, simple construction. Should get it done in a day.

Well, from the start, things just did not go right. First I had to make templates as every piece was fussy cut. And fussy cut out of fabric with a black background - oh, my poor eyes! And those colours - iridescent green, orange, pink, red - just not me. Busy, busy, busy!! I hated it. Nearly every edge a bias edge, twining vines everywhere that just didn't want to match up, pieces going in the wrong way, unpicking, unpicking, instructions that did not tell me enough and my husband helping by popping in and saying,"NO, that just isn't you."

Finally, finally, I had it together except for the last border - still not sure about that. And, blow me down, when I finally laid it on the floor and stood back, it happened! It came to life! It actually looked like the photo!! Close up - no, no, no. But at a distance, it wasn't too bad at all. And it's growing on me.

Maybe I will put on that last border and finish it off after all. It's still not me, but it is different, it was a challenge and I am quite pleased with the result. I should be able to find a home for it. What do you think.

Two main blocks. The colours are not good. The yellow background is really much more yellow

The quilt minus its final border. OK, OK, I'll do it.

Chef for a Day

2008-04-25T11:45:00.008+09:30

Despite my good intentions, I have not kept up with my Blog as promised - too much time on my hands. I seem to achieve so much more when I am under pressure and have to keep myself organised to get things done.

The holidays have been slow and pleasant and studded with several new experiences. My son has won himself a position as head chef in a new restaurant recently opened in the Barossa Valley. Before they officially opened, the owner arranged for a TV crew to film the restaurant. This entailed a mad rush as the kitchen, while equipped with new large stuff like stoves, didn't have any utensils etc. They had a head chef, but no menu, food, stores or any other staff. Mark had a week to equip, stock, hire and organise a luncheon for up to 50 people.

It was all hands on deck. Rush orders sent out, a sous chef and a kitchen hand found and a mother (me) co-opted to help in the kitchen preparing for the big day. I had a ball helping with the prep the day before, then actually doing some of the easier tasks, like salads, desserts, cheese plates on the day. I think Mark was a little concerned having me there to start with. Not because I wouldn't be able to cope with the work, but because I might not snap to attention when he said go orif he gave me orders. However, I did exactly what I was told, although I couldn't come at the :Yes, chef", "Certainly, chef" that the others did. The luncheon went off like a charm, everyone said great things about the food and the TV crew were very impressed with the whole day .

Mark in his kitchen

Since then the restaurant has had its opening and promises to be a great success and I have had a taste of what it is like to actually work in a busy restaurant kitchen - not just watch it on TV. This week Don and I went for lunch - every bit as good as we hoped.

Views of the dining area and the bar

10 000 Steps

2008-03-31T07:49:00.003+10:30

This year I have been participating in the "10000 Steps" Program and am amazed at how many steps I walk in the course of a normal day. It's very easy to join and certainly makes you aware of how little or how much exercise you normally do. The aim of the program is to encourage people to walk at least 10 000 steps every day.

The weather has been so hot that I haven't done any extra walking this year, but I plan to now that the cooler days have arrived. The only requirement is that you wear a pedometer and record your steps online. There are numerous charts to show your progress and a huge list of other walkers to compare yourself with.

Give it a try and walk yourself to health.

Liz

Scatterday X

2008-03-29T17:12:00.001+10:30

Scatterday X
Originally uploaded by lulubelleliz

I'm back!!! Probably no-one is bothering to check my blog anymore. Have to change that.
Sport Day is over, the Quilt Show is over and there are only 2 weeks left of this term. The pressure is easing at last and I am back to Scatterdays!!

My offerings this week. Took some thinking for a while, but here goes:

1. Xylophone - well a type of xylophone that the kids construct and play at school. The keys are made from wood which is different from the more usual xylophone.

2. X-Ray of my son's spine. Looks OK to me.

3. X-plate. Tried to find one with 3 Xs, but we are not up to them yet.

4. X-Man - my very favourite X-man, the lovely Hugh Jackman.

In the course of looking for X-words, I discovered that I am an xanthrocroid and could be described as xanthous, but I am not a xenophobe. Rather I am an xenophile. Furthermore X-rays have shown that I have a rather large xiphisternum or zithoid process. Interesting what turns up.

Liz Needle

Yeah!!! The Crows just won!

Great Show

2008-03-19T07:41:00.005+10:30

Well, the show is over! And a very successful weekend it was. The final total hasn't been announced yet, but we grossed around $3500. Once the expenses are taken out, we should have a tidy sum to send to Autism SA.
The setting at Victor Harbor was just superb - the only green patch for miles around. The weather was not fantastic - hot, but it didn't seem to stop the customers and we had a steady flow for the two days.
The quilts, even though I say it myself, were beautiful, and we had some terrific feedback. The company for the weekend was brilliant and the Retreating angels thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
All in all, an excellent weeeknd.

Mr Karl Zander of Autism SA opening the show on Saturday. He planned to just pop in and do the job then get away. I think he felt very out of place. However, an hour later he was still there looking at quilts and chatting to quilters. Very impressed with what he saw.

Yours truly chatting while on gate duty

Angels and assistant angels having a well earned coffee break with the winery owners Neville and Adrian Scott

Liz Needle

Heatwave

2008-03-12T19:32:00.007+10:30

March 11th

Finally back to blogging. I hope you haven't all run away in disgust. My life has been very loaded down with things lately. First a husband who has not been well, though tests have shown so far that it is nothing life threatening and medication seems to have him under control - I wish I could. LOL.

School with the challenge of 6 delightful, but demanding Vietnamese children as well as 20 equally demanding Aussie 12/13 year olds has also proved more of a task than I expected, but we will get there, I know.

Finally, the reason why I haven't been blogging much - the Retreating Angels Quilt Show next weekend. I have been madly finishing quilts, sewing on bindings and attaching labels and hanging sleeves. Did I tell you we are in the middle of a heatwave and I am sitting under mountains of cuddly quilts doing hand sewing!! Here is another of the finished quilts. This one was a set of friendship blocks, finally put together.

The blocks were made for me by members of the Woodpatch quilting group. Many of them needed a lot of fixing, so they were put away safely and only came to light when I cleaned out my sewing room last winter.

I sent it off to Tracey Browning of Constantine Quilting, then hesitated when I realised the cost involved, especially as I wasn't all that impressed with the standard of some of the stitching in the blocks. However I am glad I went ahead because it is a pretty quilt and looks great in my blue bedroom. Check out the quilting.

I mentioned a heatwave. Adelaide has had 8 days of temperatures over 36 degrees - equalling an all time record. Yesterday we had a cool change - only 35 degrees, but today it was back up to 39.2 . And until next Wednesday every day will be over 35 degrees.

No wonder our gardens are beginning to look like waste lands with water restrictions continuing.

Bushfires today through the Adelaide Hills, supposedly started by lightning. One is within 5 kms of my daughter Jo at Williamstown. Fingers crossed they get it under control. I guess we have been lucky so far this summer, but the scrub is as dry as a tinder box and we are all fearful that if a fire takes hold it will sweep through everything.

Off to find a long cold drink.

Liz

Mandy Sue Designs

2008-02-21T22:53:00.006+10:30

Today my second daughter, Mandy, published a blog to advertise her lovely hand made jewellery. From being a child who was totally uninterested in craft work of any kind, she has as an adult, tried all manner of crafts and is in fact far more creative in her thinking than her mother who has been a crafty since she was about 4 years old.

Now she is launching her jewellery in the hopes of making something from her hobby. Go have a look at her blog. She'd love some feedback. You'll find her blog site under "My favourite Blogs" - mainly because I haven't yet learnt how to add a link.

Have now finished the binding on my third quilt this year - a Dresden Plate friendship quilt. I've had the blocks for a number of years and finally have the quilt finished. Photo later. One more quilt to finish before the Retreating Angels Quilt exhibition in March. Watch this space for details.

Liz

2008-02-19T23:19:00.002+10:30

Oh dear!! I have been tagged twice. Does that mean I have to find 14 weird things about myself. I'm not actually that weird - rather mundane in fact, so I'll just stick with the 7 facts,

Here are the rules:

1. Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Post THE RULES on your blog.
3. Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog.
4. Tag 7 people and link to them.
5. Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.

I bet everyone has been taken by now!!

My 7 weird facts

1. I have no desire to retire. I love working. (People tell me that is really weird)
2. My best party trick is standing on my head.
3. I like to take a long hot bath with a glass of wine and a book very late at night.
4. I always tear off a 3 piece length of toilet paper and very neatly fold it into 3.
5. I rarely leave the house without applying my mascara.
6. I have a thing about pens. I only ever use one type - a uniball micro tip.
7. My husband couldn't think of a single weird thing about me.

Liz

Scatterday S

2008-02-16T21:17:00.002+10:30

Scatterday S
Originally uploaded by lulubelleliz

Oh dear!! Last minute rush. Haven't had a spare moment this week to think about Scatterdays. Thank heavens we have a garden!!

Golden - golden SQUASH. We have some growing, but we forgot to pick them in time, so they have , like Topsy, just growed.

Fruit - SWEET melon. I refuse to call them rock melon. They were sweet melon when I was a kid and my dad grew them and they are sweet melon now. Who on earth called them rock melon anyhow? They don't look like rocks! They don't grow in rocks". They are sweet, succulent, satisfying and salubrious.

Itchy stuff - SOAP makes me itch. Any sort of soap. I itched and came out in a rash as a baby and I itch now. In fact if someone could find a soap that doesn't make me itch, I would be eternally grateful!!

About 6.pm today I logged on and immediately realised that I had not done my Scatterdays. I had in fact been busy marking assignments and madly sewing down bindings on my quilts for the Retreating Angels exhibition in March. (BTW if any one wants raffle tickets for the celtic quilt, let me know). I quickly unearthed the camera and raced out into the garden - the very dry, half dead garden. Luckily there are a few things surviving in the veggie garden so I was able to get some photos.

My poor garden is suffering. We have lost our glorious Waratah, several rhododendrons, two flowering currants, a dogwood, a number of banksias and melaleucas and numerous perennials. Amazingly the roses, camellias, magnolias and hydrangeas are hanging on - but for how long, I cannot say. Surely we must get some rain soon? All I can water in the time allowed are the tree ferns and small stuff close to the house. It is indeed heartbreaking and I really feel for the oldies who only have their precious gardens to keep them going. My mother would have been devastated, but stoical.

I am praying for rain!!

Liz

Scatterday I

2008-02-09T21:11:00.001+10:30

Scatterday I
Originally uploaded by lulubelleliz

Had to think about this one - at the last minute as usual.

Yellow - Irises from the garden. They are actually more yellow than this photo shows.

In the air - Insect. Well it was in the air, but I had to wait until it landed before I could actually photograph it. I did try, but went dizzy trying to track it as it was flying.

Australian - Indigenous species. A baby emu chick.

Another Australian - an idiotic, impatient, impossible, impulsive, irritable, impetuous, impudent, impoverished, imperious, intelligent, illogical, immoveable, impecunious, impenitent, irrascible, impertinent, irreligious, incorrigible and quite irresistible, incomparable and irreplaceable individual

Liz

PS. Having dragged my Civil War quilt everywhere for the last week and harassed all my friends, the voting shows that the green border has the nod, much to Don's disgust as he loved the red. However, when I tried the red on all four sides, I had to admit that it did overpower the quilt. So, unless some of the original red border magically appears, it looks like it will be green. Thanks everyone for your input.

Civil War Quilt

2008-02-03T16:40:00.000+10:30

Nearly there with this BOM that I have agonised over. A few weeks ago I was asking if anyone knew where I could get some red and beige stripe from the Nancy Kirk Civil War range. No luck with the red, but I was able to get some of the stripe in green, but somehow it lacks the zing of the red in the original.
I have found another red though and this may do instead. Have a look at the photo and tell me what you think. The quilt has a strip of the red on the left and the green on the right. Which one??? Thge colours in the photo are not as rich as they are really - had to use the flash to get a clear shot, but you get the idea.

Liz

Stars in My Garden

2008-02-03T16:35:00.001+10:30

Stars in my garden
Originally uploaded by lulubelleliz

Finally, the quilt is finished and I am really pleased with the result.

The pattern is a design by Lori Smith. I have hand appliqued and machine pieced the top and it has been beautifully machine quilted by Tracey Browning of Constantine Quilts.

It is huge - far longer than the height of my veranda as you can see. And who is it for, I hear you ask? Moi!! I am even going to paint my blue bedroom gold or green so that it will feel more at home.

Liz - feeling very satisfied with herself.

Scatterday Z

2008-02-02T22:02:00.001+10:30

Scatterday Z
Originally uploaded by lulubelleliz

Well, I nearly didn't make it this week. First week back has been hectic to say the least and late Friday night I decided that I would have to give Scatterdays a miss. Then I had second thoughts and sat down with my trusty Websters and discovered that i wouldn't even have to leave home to find any number of Zeds.

I must admit I did get a bit carried away with my own cleverness, but just had to include these piccies. I did leave some obvious ones out though - like zucchinis of which we have an overabumdance at the moment.

Zebra that I saw at the Zoo when I patted the cheetah.

DH Don - a Zamindar (owner of an agricultural estate) and his brother who sports a Ziff (beard)

Zilch - a photo of nothing and a Zero

insect Zapper and of course a Zipper

Zits - a comic strip I just love and Zodiac sign

Zecchinos (sequins) that I Zoomed in on and Zinc cream, beloved of our cricket teams.

I thought about Zabaglione, but I had no Marsala left and a Zig Zag stitch and orange Zest and Zinnias and a Zebra crossing, but figured i had done enough showing off for the day.

Now back to school work - the Zenith of my priorities at the moment.

Liz

Scatterday N

2008-01-26T14:41:00.001+10:30

Scatterday N
Originally uploaded by lulubelleliz

Easier letter, but I had to think a bit about what to put in. Finally...........

South American - Pablo Neruda, the Chilean Poet.

Orange - what easier than Navel oranges - note the naughty little navels.

Good for me but disliked - my Nose. The bane of my life!! Now reconciled to it, but boy did it cause me some angst in my youth as I watched it grow bigger and bigger!

Pablo Neruda. I had heard of him, but never read any of his poetry, so I looked for it and was quite taken with what I read. Found a series of odes that I really enjoyed. This website has some Elementary Odes - not too complicated for my elementary brain to understand and enjoy. Hope this works. haven't learnt how to add links to my blog yet.

http://sunsite.dcc.uchile.cl/chile/misc/odas.html

Liz

Scatterday U

2008-01-19T21:32:00.001+10:30

Scatterday U
Originally uploaded by lulubelleliz

Running late this week- only just got the last few photos late this afternoon. Had fun playing with Photoshop trying to create a collage.
So, here are my offerings.

Things people pay a lot for - Urban sprawl in the country. Some of our state's best farmland is being eaten up by this urban sprawl. People who want an Unpolluted, Unspoilt, Uncluttered, Undeveloped environment are paying big bucks to live in the country - in a crowded sUbUrb. And we are paying for it by the loss of productive farmland and natural scrub!!

Streets - had to find these in a street directory - and one of them was actually in Lobethal and I didn't realise it. Duh!! It's not like Lobethal is a big place!!!

Cartoon character - Uncle Scrooge of course.

What are we being hit with next week I wonder?

Liz

Fun Day

2008-01-13T00:21:00.000+10:30

Saturday Jan 12th

I had fun today. Played with some more ATCs. Heavens, they are addictive. If I am not making them, I am thinking about them.
This time I cut up a block I received in a Jan Mullins swap. I added a photo image of a sun, machined around it, did some quilting and voila! some more little cuties. Such fun to do and the beauty is if you muck up, its only a few square inches to throw out. LOL.

I made four like this for the SCQ ATC Swap.

This week I got back 3 quilts that had gone to Tracey Browning of Constantine Quilts for quilting. They are wonderful. She is such a talented machine quilter. I really should be binding them as I speak, for the Retreating Angels upcoming show in March. Trouble is I am hooked on these darn ATCs. When I do get the binding done I will show you what a marvellous job Tracey has done for me.

Sitting watching The Da Vinci Code - for the 3rd time, when a strange noise was heard coming from my computer. Totally puzzled I sat down at the desk to discover that it was a Skype call from Ireland - the mother-in-law of DD2. A wonderful lady and a good friend. Trouble is I could hear and see her, but she could only see me!! My microphone isn't functioning. Very disappointing. So I rang her instead and we had a chat. Have to get that mike fixed though - Skype is so much cheaper than international phone calls. LOL!!!

Liz