This and That

I feel so happy that I am finally quilting again. It seems such a long time since I have wanted to pick up a needle and sew. I have had this Pies and Tarts BOM quilt waiting for me to begin again. I love bright colours but I find that I am enjoying working with these colours that are not really me. I am not a paper piecer either but I am finding the process very relaxing and enjoyable.

My favourite flowers are pansies and I am filled with such joy when I look at the window boxes on our back deck filled with these delightful colourful beauties. Spring is such a wonderful time.

I am growing herbs too. Mint and basil are my favourites.

Even though I am back quilting I still find time for some mixed media painting. I bought some more Dina Wakley stencils and I had such fun playing around with them. Surrender is a word that keeps cropping up for me this year.

Beautiful Queensland

 

We visited the beautiful Flanagan Reserve camping area at Barney View a few weeks ago. It is about an hour and a half from Brisbane. It was wonderful to be out in the fresh air surrounded by beautiful scenery. That's Mt Maroon in the background. The Logan River runs through the site and it was such an idyllic and peaceful place. Our grandsons loved it.  

Our daughter loves kayaking and she had a wonderful time leisurely enjoying the beauty around her. Grandson A also enjoyed having a paddle.

 I love taking photos and I especially loved this one.... 

 

  

It was a great place to reflect on the beauty that surrounds us, how we must protect it and just how much I love my family.

More Postcards - yahoo!

A big THANK YOU to Mari, Jennifer, Carole and Ally (and Mel from last week) 

for my fabulous postcards

and a big THANK YOU to Sian for arranging the swap

A colourful and mouthwatering delight - from Mari

  This beautiful bird makes my heart sing with joy - from Jennifer

Brought back many happy memories - from Carole

I love hearts so much - from Ally

Valentine Postcard Exchange

I was very excited to get my first postcard from Sian's Valentine Postcard Exchange. It was from Mel in the UK and I was doubly thrilled as I love Mel's 'I Speak Melsh' blog.

I love and collect LEGO minifigs and when I told my grandson A that nanna had the new unicorn minifig he said "that's great" and off he went to play with his LEGO. I was so thrilled, and I did have a few teary moments, when a few minutes later he gave me a unicorn that he had just made for me. Thank you A so very much. As you can imagine my special unicorn holds pride of place and every time I look at it I think I am so blessed.

I am taking part this year in Ali Edward's One Little Word. My word for 2015 is CHOOSE. I had a hard time choosing between that and ENOUGH so when I saw these gorgeous little soul mantra talismans from Liz Lamoreux I knew I had to buy them. I love holding one, thinking about that word and just taking a deep breath.

Till next time.

Two visitors - one welcome and one not so much

A few weeks ago we got a visit from a possum who often 'stays overnight' in our garage. Over the years she has brought her babies for us to see and that has filled us with much happiness and delight. We get visits from brush turkeys, green frogs, lorikeets, kookaburras and sometimes galahs and sulphur crested cockatoos - all are welcome. A not so welcome visitor came last week ......

a red-bellied black snake. A bite from one of these snakes is not usually fatal thank goodness but it was quite a shock to see it in a corner of our garage. A (very) quick call to the snake catcher and she was caught and released in a bushland area where we hope she will live a happy life away from people.

a bit of this a bit of that

Here we are Grandad and Nanna in a drawing by our much loved grandson A. It is such a treasured drawing and it brings us such great joy.

I am taking part in the one and only Mary Ann Moss's sketchbookery class. This is my first attempt and I am so thrilled with it. It is such a wonderful class and I am learning so much especially just to have fun and not give up.

A visit to the Chung Tian Temple was such a delight. The gardens were serene, peaceful and beautiful. It was such a wonderful place to take some photos.

Spending time appliqueing is truly a joy for me. I seem to have been so busy doing other things that I have forgotten how much I enjoy spending time with a needle and thread in my hand.

Finally the joy of colour in our home. These two gorgeous chairs were once white and unloved. A couple of cans of spray paint and viola instant love and happiness.

Do I miss going to work?

I retired at the end of 2013 and I am loving it. I was asked by someone I knew if I didn't miss going to work. I think my photo says it all. The photo was taken while on holidays at Kirra Beach on the Gold Coast. I am enjoying my life filled with family and friends. I have been attempting some painting and having a ball.

 I have been growing cucumbers - they are delicious and been out and about with my DSLR camera.

  

I am truly grateful for each day. 

Having some CANON fun

I have been having a great time lately with my Canon camera. I usually take my photos with my Sony cyber-shot but I have been trying lately to use my DSLR more. I must admit that I am loving using it.

I love these red chillies......

and our gorgeous tibouchina......

A trip to SEA WORLD

We bought one year passes to SEA WORLD (Gold Coast, Queensland) this year. This is our third visit and we always have so much fun. The best thing for us is to see it through our grandsons' eyes - the anticipation, the joy, the excitement and the fun, fun, fun. Our first stop is always......

One of our stops is always to see the recovering pelicans who have been injured by fish hooks, etc. They are so DELIGHTful......

For me the best part is our visit to see the sharks, rays and fish. This time we spent most of our time looking at the reef section. The colours of the fish were breathtaking and we could have watched this amazing display all day......

 

The little fairy penguins, as always,  made us smile......

Nanna and Grandad can't wait for our next visit to this amazing and spectacular place :)

My word for 2013 is DELIGHT

This year I am taking part in Ali Edward's One Little Word. There was really only one word for me for 2013.
Having three adorable grandsons I feel DELIGHT is my word. 
I hope to find DELIGHT in the ordinary and mundane, in the extraordinary, in my successes and my failures, and in my everyday life. I feel happy just thinking about my word - it's DELIGHTful.

Holly Jolly Sandcastle

This amazing, fantastic and delightful sand sculpture is part of the Sugarplums and Possum Chums - A South Bank Christmas [Brisbane]. It doesn't officially open until the 13th but to be able to peep through the fence was a truly magical experience.

When we saw the sculpture it was still a work in progress - the baby wombat has yet to be finished.

This is the back of the sculpture - around the side on the left is an emu (you can see his head in the previous photos) and on the right is Rudolph with a red nose.

I am sure this truly magical sculpture will bring delight and joy to everyone who sees it.

Love my macro lens

I have always wanted a macro lens and I finally decided that the time had come. I bought a Canon EFS 60mm f/2.8 macro lens and I absolutely love it. I am still not very confident but I like the results so far. I can't wait to take some portrait shots of our darling grandsons. I am looking forward next year to taking lots of photography classes.
I have taken part in some wonderful and inspiring online classes lately - the divine Hannah Marcotti classes are such a joy.
My camera muse is calling so...........until next time!

Nanna has a new toy

I have watched my grandson, Ashton, have a great time on his iPad and I decided that I would really like to have one. My daughter, grandsons and I went off to the Apple store with the intention of buying a black frame and blue cover. As soon as we saw the white one it was love at first sight and the pink cover just had to come home with me. I love love love my iPad and I know I will have so much fun with it. If I need help I can always get my grandson to help me.
I love digital scrapbooking and I just had to have the stencil of the lips on my photo. They are from a kit by Holliewood Studios at one of my favourite online shops Deviant Scrap.

Kooroomba Vineyards and Lavender Farm

We visited the Kooroomba Vineyards and Lavender Farm near Boonah, Queensland. What a wonderful time we had. The lavender was in bloom and just beautiful. The food was divine and the lavender icecream was absolutely delicious. A visit to the shop was a must and I came home with some lovely lavender soap and two French lavender plants. It was wonderful to visit such a beautiful place with my gorgeous grandsons (and their Mummy and Daddy). A day not to be forgotten.

CROCS

Our darling grandson, Ashton, now has a pair of Crocs just like his nanna. He wouldn't stay still long enough for me to get a photo of him wearing them (hopefully later). I just love my Crocs and I even wear them to work - they are so comfortable and I am so thrilled that Ashton and I can have fun, fun, fun in our Crocs.

Our new grandson

We are so happy to welcome our new grandson Harrison - he is just so gorgeous. His big brother Ashton is thrilled to have a little brother. Mummy and Daddy are in seventh heaven (as are Nanna and Grandad and Uncle Richard and Aunty Ann in NY). How blessed we feel to have two wonderful, amazing and adorable grandsons and now we can have double hugs and cuddles.
                                ASHTON AND HARRISON - WE LOVE YOU HEAPS.

Festival of Sails

Festival of Sails is a local festival run in conjunction with the Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race. It is held at Redcliffe's Sutton Beach on Good Friday. It was amazing - lots of people having a great time, lots of yummy food, live entertainment and beautiful Queensland weather.

 The view of the yachts was amazing and breathtaking. A perfect day. I did wonder though "where were all the seagulls?" and I found them .....

My favourite photo from our wonderful day was a photo of our grandson with his Daddy having a dip in the water. He had so much fun and for his Grandad and I this was the highlight of our day together.

Granny squares and Ripples

 

Crochet has always been such a joy for me. I have been hooking some ripple blankets and now I have reawakened my love of granny squares by making BIG granny squares. I am having such fun. I love all the magical colours and everytime I look at them I just have to smile. One of my grannies is for our grandson Ashton and the other is for his little brother who is due at the beginning of May. Joy, Joy, Joy.

A Beautiful Start to My Day

This beautiful butterfly came for a visit this morning. What grace and beauty to start my day. I haven't blogged over the last year but now I am only working part time I have time to enjoy myself and do all the things I never seemed to have the time for. I feel free and happy - I can go for a morning walk, learn more about my camera, see my darling grandson during the week, play, have fun and start a journal. What pleasures await me...tra la la la la.