between the last post and the next post

Alot has happened in the last 3 years.

Boys have grown taller and stronger and sassier. I've gotten better at sewing our clothes. My stash has grown in size disproportionate to my output. My house has a slab and concrete walls underneath it. The chooks have a fence so I can grow plants again. Several new fruit trees have been planted. My crafty friends and I have a craft night on Wednesdays, so I now have a social life.

Sewing

I've been sewing underpants

And endless pyjamas

I'm addicted to sewing jackets

A few dresses. one of which got (un)equal 1st Prize at the 150th Castlemaine Agricultural Show 2015

A suede vest the ended up too big for me, not sure how I'm going to make that one work. It did get 1st prize at the show though.


I went out dancing a little bit and whipped up some dancing clothes


We made a few toys



Chris and I made a tent and we all went camping


Rolph and I made a school backpack


The boys wanted cloaks for winter

Quilting

I finally finished a hand patched, hand quilted sampler quilt that was started in a class in another city in another life 17 years ago. Excitingly, this won overall best quilt at the same Castlemaine Show.

Knitting

A couple of things have been knitted. 2 Boys vests that are hardly ever worn then got eaten by annoying bugs in their drawers over summer.

Some lovely colourwork in a vest that ended up too bulky for me.


A couple of very cute vests for my youngest


All of these are on Ravelry, you can see if you are there too.

Chooks and the shack

For years "chooks and the shack" was the welcome message on my mobile phone (back in the day when we turned them off)

2 years ago we moved into "the shack", and a month ago we welcomed "the chooks" onto our little plot.

4 x 10week old Australorp chickens now live with us, currently learning how to scratch up the ground. They will hopefully be laying their first eggs on Christmas morning. I'll accept this first laying up to mine and R's birthday in early January.

6 weeks old

scratching where they are supposed to be scratching

garden - wet cold summer

Angelina Pums


We have 2 red plum trees, Angelina variety. They are jam packed (and will be packed as jam), but the trees are breaking. I should have whacked the trees when in full blossom, but couldn't bring myself to do it.
The plums are floury and tasteless, possibly too much water?

Rolphs white nectarine
Rolphs little nectarine tree has only been in the ground 3 months or so and it is only the 2nd season in our household. The tree has really thrived in the massive rains we've had.

the neighbours tree
Nice man next door doesn't look like a bottler, will ask if I can trade chutney for some pickings.