Early Birthday Gifts

Tomorrow I am 50 years old. I don't know how I feel about that but we will see! Yesterday, I went to my friend Hetty's for the afternoon as per usual. I do this every Sunday. We chat, cross stitch and generally watch a movie.

Yesterday was a bit different because another dear friend, Gail, from Perth arrived for a cuppa too. I was duly presented with two early presents. Gail's early gift I could understand. I won't see her tomorrow but I am having lunch with Hetty! She never can hang on to a gift once she has it for you. I have experienced this on more than one occasion.

Hetty has gifted me with Kasey Chambers' book "A little Bird Told Me..." She knows I like Kasey Chambers and I am really looking forward to sitting down and reading it. For thos of you who don't know who Kasey is, she is my favourite Australian Country Singer.

Gail presented me with a beautiful hand embroidered wall hanging featuring 9 different tea pots. She knows how I love my pot of tea! It is truly an inspiring gift. I was thrilled to bits with it!

My new quilt and book

Detail - sorry can't work out how to rotate it!

Trying!

to be a good girl, I am! And posting a bit more often.

This week has been all about redecorating. Unfortunately I failed to take pictures. We had floor coverings removed from the sewing room and study and had lovely vinyl flooring laid. This had the knock on effect of painting my sewing room and the guest bedroom. It is finally done and the furniture back in place. We are now just awaiting the new blinds. Then I will take pictures and post. :)

Today has been very unexciting so far. I have vacuumed and scrubbed the grout in the passageway tiles and mopped the floor. Riveting stuff! This afternoon, I plan to do the ironing. Isn't my life exciting!

The upside is that will leave tomorrow totally free to do what I want to do. Some sewing more than likely!

Later gaters - I have a date with the ironing board!

Better show you these...

The boys both asked me for quilts late last year.

Matt requested an all black quilt with the logo of his favourite band Alkaline trio and Michael didn't care what he got 'as long as it didn't look like it came out of Target"!!!

Here are the results:

Matt's Quilt 

Detail - Matt's quilt

Mick's Quilt -ever seen this in Target??

Cough!

Okay, I nearly choked  when I realised it is nearly two years since I last posted. Mind you, in that time, quite a lot has happened in our family!

A quick summary of events: (not necessarily in chronological order)

We have sold our business. Jeff retired in September last year and I got to stay on at work for 8 more months. Lucky me. I finally finished in May this year.

Gilly, my BFF and I spent 3 1/2 weeks in April and May 2010 meeting up with friends in the USA and had a blast of a time.  We met some amazing people and saw some amazing sights. We are looking forward to going back in October 2012.

Gilly's eldest daughter got married in October 2010, which resulted in me embellishing Caris's wedding dress for her. A job done with much love. The wedding was a fabulous event and the happy couple are still in bliss 12 months later.

The other thing that occurred because of the wedding is that the Ushers finally have a family photo with all the family members together!

Matt has changed jobs. He is now working as an advertising sales rep for Community Newspapers in Perth. He and his girlfriend Kerry Anne are now living together. Great news. Jeff and I both adore Kerry Anne.

Michael has also changed jobs. He is now working for AARnet as an IT guy. He has a new girlfriend too. We have only met Amy a couple of times but she seems lovely.

Chi the cat is still soldiering on. He is 16 now and a little arthritic but is enjoying having Jeff and I home most of the time. Jeff is spoiling him rotten. Honestly, who feeds their cat camembert cheese? Please!!

Plans for the future? Right now, we are just taking it a day at a time. Jeff is happy working on the garden and riding his bike. I am happy researching the family tree and finishing off the pile of unfinished quilts I have accumulated over the years and also starting some new projects.

The Usher Family!

Matt and Kerry Anne (she is wearing six inch heels!)

The happy Couple - Thomas and Caris

Caris and the embellishing!

The Magpies - Chicago

The Magpies - New Mexico

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Franca & Diana - The Magpies San Francisco 

Quilt for Kerry Anne

Completed Row by Row Quilt from 2006ish

Everything Old is New Again Challenge - Northam

Latest completed quilt - Beyond the Garden Gate

More Pictures from Melbourne and Daylesford

OH! MY! GOODNESS!!

I knew it had been a while since I posted but JULY!!! Wow. My friend Nann has prompted me to post as she had her 2nd blogaversary recently and it co-incided with her 100th post! Congrats Nann! And thanks for the kick up the butt!

In the last five months, life has been plodding along as normal. My hubby Jeff has been spoiling me rotten - as per usual. In October he sent me off to Melbourne again to visit my sister Deb. It was great fun. I went for a week this time. I shopped, caught up with my mum in law and my friend Elizabeth and generally just had a great time. Deb and Roy took me up to Daylesford for a day too. It is a lovely arty village nestled just out of Melbourne. We had lunch in a great little store and wandered around for most of the day. We also visited the old convent which is now an art gallery and reception centre (I think!)
Some amazing doors in the Convent Art Gallery

Deb and Roy


I spent one day wandering around the Shrine of Rememberance which was very moving. I also took lots of pictures.

Same Bridge - with water!

Ali, this one is for you. This is the same bridge I took pictures of sitting in the middle of the river bed. As you can see - that wasn't possible this time and the water has dropped from this time last week. This time last week that square block wasn't visible either. The three bits of wood sticking out of the water are the same bits that you can see all of in the previous photo!

First three blocks for Cats Garden

As requested!!

Me and Deb (my little big sister!)

More Pictures

Pictures

One more

This is one of my favourite places.

More...

WA Landscapes

I have recently joined a couple of online camera groups and have been told they are looking forward to seeing WA landscapes.
Here are a few. The ballooning shots were taken from the front verandah of my house back in August last year when I was a raw beginner. The other was taken about 10km from our house.