When the sun shines.

Welcome friends to this lovely Sunday morning. What a difference it makes when the sun shines and the wind quiets. Sweet salve for the body and soul. Speaking of souls, I am still too lurgified to join a congregation this morning,

So here I am in my special corner of the studio for some special time with God. All about and behind me I know is chaos. You don't believe me?

Then indeed, you do not know me yet. Yep! This is me.

My perpetual state of chaos in my studio and sometimes it escapes into the house. It all stems from my flibberty jibberty ways of darting from one project to another and back and forth as the mood and ideas take me.

But that's ok. After 66years I am ok with me. And it seems to be ok with God too. After all he made me as I am loves me with all my foibles good and not so good. We get on pretty well, God and I.

When I settle in for some quality time with Him it's cool. Sometimes my mind takes time to settle and sometimes it just won't quieten so I simply apologize and just chat away or read one of His books. 

With the Lurgy ravaging me these past weeks I have been a lost cause at communing but that's ok. I would just sit here, tell it like it is, drink in the offered balm though sometimes I must admit I was oblivious to any connection. I just trusted it was there.

Now as I sit here there is high cloud coming over and filtering the sun a bit.

It's still warm enough though to sit a spell on the deck and let the warmth soak into my ailing chest.

I love the naked skeletons of the trees and can you see almost at the top of the tree on the right. There is a Thrush and he is singing his little heart out, bless him. Another balm for the soul.

Back in the studio there is utility sewing to do. Trimming and hemming Kerry's overalls, so move over all you other projects, this is serious stuff.

Now I got the bug I might just carry on with some patchwork but first I need to be able to use the iron. Can you see it?

Oh! Yes! There it is under a heap of pictures. There is a perfectly good explanation for this. I was led to hope that there would be a picture hanging day with the wet weather, so I took a lot out of the boxes where they were stored to interview them for their positions on what walls. But alas that day did not eventuate this past week so this is as far as they got and stayed.

Enough of that! There are blocks to cut and sew. When the sun goes into hiding what better thing to do but play with bright colourful fabrics or yarns. These just make my heart skip.

I'm working on two quilts at the same time. This is the softer patterned one. Both quilts are made using my lazy curves style with fat quarters partnered then casually curvily cut with a very sharp rotary cutter. 

Stitched accordingly, pressed then trimmed to size. 

This one I am going through the cutting process twice resulting in two nine patch blocks from two fat quarters. 

So, out of the chaos I managed to mend the overalls and make 10 patchwork blocks. I'll lay them out to show you another day. The lampshade is coming along. Yesterday when I was not doing very well in my communication with God I gathered the lampshade and needs and stayed in my chair talking to Him as I worked on this creation. Of course He knows all about that, creation that is, so we're on the same wavelength there. How exciting it is that we are made creative beings. It's such fun.

A few evenings ago I finished the russet throw and it pleased me greatly to see it draped there in its colourful glory.

A close up of the varied pattern from "Notyouaveragecrochet". Once I had gone through the full range of patterns I did my own thing till I was happy with the size.

The sides were a bit curvy and wonky but the edging seemed to bring it back into line, well almost.

All the different rows. Some a bit tricky but an adventure. Not sure I'll make another.

I did say to Kerry how great the throw would look on a leather sofa. It was a game centered around an old weathered leather sofa I had drooled over in Alley Way. At first it was a definite NO NO! But over the  next two weeks of visiting it and sitting on it and stroking it and playing the game I was told that if I could get it for half the asking price Then yes!

And come Friday I pushed Mr Lurgy out of the way, made my offer, it was accepted. After a month it had to go, so joy of joys, here it is, in place of the two chairs that I gave to them to take away.

Do you see what I saw. Luvly juvly old leather and studs with rolled arms.

Worn and weathered but still sound and very comfortable. A dream realised indeedy.

Back to my little knits for small beings, here is my first make for the fish n chips babies. A wee jumper knitted in one piece.

Will look like this when stitched up. 

And now a ripple crochet baby blanket. Bright colours for the little aids babies of Africa.

Yes! When the sun shines, even if only for a few hours, and the strong winds abate, all about us shines too, all is good, hope is revived, energy renewed, joy reigns.

I do hope you had a good Sunday that renewed and refreshed you. Love and blessings, Trills.xx

Blah and double Blah

Or as Dottie Angel would say ,"Pants and double pants". Yes dear friends that is the state of today.

See what I mean?

To use another Dottie Angel saying, today is "cappitty crap"! 

Casper is not impressed and indeed heartily endorsed my sentiments.

Emmy has retreated to the cosines of our bed which is where I retreated to yesterday. After a whole month of Mr Lurgy I was thoroughly fed up. My fragile chemical balance took a dive. Add to that a minor hangover after we spent Sat night celebrating a friends mid O birthday and wammo! There I hid for most of the day.

Today I am up but just, so I have decided to look back to a week ago and a much brighter Monday.

Yes, here we are with Emmylou. She was due for her COF, so here she is in the checking bay being scrutinized most thoroughly. We were becoming nervous, but eventually we were told the big Boss was there checking up on them. We were very pleased when we got the all clear after such a rigorous going over and celebrated with a coffee, then bought some lunch to take with us on an outing.

Yes, we wern't going to pass up the opportunity on this fine day to take to the road and see where it would take us.

It is surely Winter now with bare trees and a nip in the air.

Lovely green pastures compared to a couple of months ago.

Wow! Now that's a site to behold. The sea, the sparkling sea of the firth of Thames with the Coromandel range rising above the other shore.

When you come to the end of the road you have two choices and today we turned right.

Past the baches and along the sea front.

Till we find just the right spot to stop for our lunch. This is Rays Rest on the Miranda coast where self contained campers can stay a few days, and as you can see there a few there taking in the peace and tranquility of this wonderful place.

The beach is deserted as far as the eye can see.

The water is calm, the sun is warm

We enjoy our lunch, boil the jug, soak up some sunshine, and I fossick among the shells for some special souvenirs.

Gulls circle around

I just love watching them sour so gracefully.

Now I don't know if you can see the little white dot in the water. One of the campers launched himself in such a tiny blow up dingy and is rowing out to a buoy. Maybe he has a net out there and hoping for some fresh fish for tea.

Well, we have somewhere else to go, so say goodbye to the sea,

Head down the road a few kilometers. You wouldn't believe what is already in our vision here.

And down this drive. Behind the trees on the left are some camping grounds, but we're not going there.

Just next door is something magical.

These are the Miranda Hot Springs and on a Monday they are usually very quiet like this. The weekends and school holidays are very different, but today it is almost all ours to enjoy.

There are steps along each side ideal for lounging back and just soaking up that thermal goodness. There is an even hotter spa pool at the end with bubbles added but this is just right for us today. I revel in it and will it to clear away the lingering lurgy. Such luxury, just an hour from home, we will come several times over Winter.

I wished I had a camera on my head as I lay there contemplating the rainbow patterns flowing across my legs with each ripple, and then we were entranced by a flock of about a hundred herons. In the Spring there are usually a few nesting in the surrounding trees. Ther is a large picnic area and a shop for refreshments including the essential ice cream to cap the outing.

The sun was getting lower as we left and headed for Kerry's brothers place at Island Block. This is where Kerry grew up on the family farm.

The farm has been sold now but one niece still lives in the old homestead. Me rv and Frae live down the road a way on a small block in their new house.

After a catchup and afternoon tea it was time to head off into the setting sun,

As it sunk lower

Going, going, and all but gone as we arrived home.

To a light supper and some hooky time in front of tele, savouring the memories of another great day with Emmylou. The garden beckons for tomorrow. 

This little trip has perked me up. I hope you enjoyed it.

Blessings and love, Trills.xx