New Grandchild on the Way

Yeah!!

At last I can reveal that I am going to be a grandmummy again!

After my wonderful daughter (in law) had a miscarriage late last year we have all been on tender hooks when we learnt she was pregnant again. But today she reached the magic 12 weeks and said, "that's it I don't care who knows"!

Mind you, she has popped out so much that people have been asking her if she is pregnant and assuming she is about 5 months!!

Anyway, I can now officially announce to all and sundry - of course this means that one of my UFO's will have to get finished.

Remember the Christening Robe I was making? Well, all the embroidery is done and now I just have to make it; easier said than done because I am not a sewer but .... Of course the main reason that one got relegated to the UFO pile was because I broke my arm.



So my handsome little grandson, Nathan (6) will soon have another cousin to play with - such excitement. Although poor Mare (DIL) has had 24 hour morning sickness all the time, we are all hoping it starts to ease off now so she can enjoy her pregnancy....lol.

I've put a ticker on the blog (as if I could forget when she is due.....rotfl).

Making Baskets from Fabric and Clothesline

Knowing I have enough UFOs to keep me working for the next ten years I promised myself I would not buy any more patterns or fabric until I had made a sizeable dint in the UFO pile.

Alas a book catalogue found its way onto my worktable and like an infamous siren's song there were several books calling to me. Now the good thing was that all but one were cook books, although if you saw the size of my very very large cookbook collection you would think I was crazy to want more.

But there was one book that stood out and called the loudest - It's A Wrap by Susan Breier. It shows how to make bags, baskets, purses etc from clothesline wrapped in fabric. Now I do love making bags and this looked a great technique.

I loved the easy instructions included and the fact that you cam use up scraps. Basically all you have to do is wrap the line with fabric and then zig zag together; moulding as you go.

Love the finished baskets, they look great and I can't wait to try one out. I did a little googling on the subject and found that you do use a lot of thread so it is a good idea to have a half dozen bobbins filled ready to go.

So now my book (and the cook books too) has arrived I can't wait to give it a try. Will have to take a trip to Bunnings for the clothesline and then raid the stash cupboard.

Can't you imagine taking a lovely basket like this out shopping, plenty of room to throw goodies in and all hand made!

But don't worry I have done a little work on one of my UFOs so I don't feel too guilty....rotfl.

I have started sashing the quilt I began while my husband was in the Palliative Care Unit and intend to donate it to them when I finally get it finished.

Listen to the Rain

I sit here and listen to the rain falling outside my window - we live in a land of vast contrasts, that change daily, hourly even.

Victoria is still battling bushfires, the death toll climbs each day with fears that it may exceed 300; the homes lost over 1,830. It has become surreal - the magnitude of lives lost overwhelming. But as usual Aussie dig deep and the Red Cross alone has over $71 million in donations.

I donate some money, a quilting group I belong to is collecting fabrics etc so I donate some from my stash - but it just doesn't seem real. How can so many people have perished so needlessly? Many years ago I worked for the Bush Fire Council and each year in winter areas of bushland were systematically burnt to prevent wildfires. Over the years this has been scaled back till it is almost non existent. There were lots of factors not just the greenies (of which I am one but I knew first hand of the usefulness of prescribed burning) and so the bush grew thick and wild.

But no -one could have escaped the rage and strength of the firestorms that Victorian became. Whatever was in its path was eaten, no mercy spared, no quarter given - people, homes, our wonderful wildlife and the bush itself. All that was left was powered ash and burnt out shells of lives forcefully taken.

This time next year the trees will have regenerated and the scrub will have covered the scars on the land but what will cover the scars burnt into our hearts?

...................

Queensland, meanwhile, is trying to cope with floods with two major highways cut; lives have been lost there, including a small child thought to have been taken by a crocodile.

Here in New South Wales we have gone from temperatures exceeding 44 (over 111F) to 18 (64) in the space of a few days. As well we have had two shark attacks in as many days, fortunately the people have survived but one, a navy diver has already lost a hand and may lose his leg and the other may lose also his hand. One happened in Sydney Harbour and the other at Bondi Beach.

Meanwhile I sit and listen to the rain.

Our Saddest Day

Regardless of your religious or non religious beliefs please take the time to think of the poor people who have died so violently in Victoria through bushfires.

The toll is 108 and the understanding is that this will rise as the firefighters are able to get into burnt areas. (Some reports have said the final toll may even be over 200). Over 750 homes have been lost.

This is the worst natural disaster in Australian history and what is even more tragic some fires have been deliberating lit.

And spare a thought for those wonderful firies who have worked tirelessly for so long.

Just contacted my niece via her mum and so far they are safe although there is an out of control fire only 10kms away and heading in their direction.


View horrify yet amazing pictures here

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/slideshow_ajax.aspx?sectionid=9016&sectionname=slideshowajax&subsectionid=150966&subsectionname=bigfires#27

May The Goddess take them gently to The Summerland.

Bits and Pieces

Not much work on the UFO front this week but I have made a little progress.

My lovely daughter in law has her own business (book keeping) but has been ill and needed a hand so yesterday I got a crash course in data entry and have brought home a large pile of work to help her get back on track and up to date. My UFOs will have to sit for a few days.

Speaking of UFOs not only do I have ones that are fabric related I have a couple that are painting related.

This 'naked lady' has been outlined in charcoal for ages and I had decided I would paint using oils and pallet knife rather than brush. Fortunately it is summer and hot so she isn't cold on her canvas...lol.

Anyway I have made a start on her and she has a bit of colour, there is a lot of work to do on her but at least she has a coat of colour to keep her warm if (and this is a big if) we ever get a cool day.

The temps have been steadily rising with 43 or 44 (110) predicted for the weekend; we are going to get the heat that has plagued Victoria and South Australia. It has been a very hot new year and I heard that it was the hottest January on record for Sydney.

I have had more work done on my solar water - this time they have put on a small tank that holds about 10 litres, the idea being the hot water will release into there instead of through the pressure valve and it should solve the problem. I will reserve my judgment, they said thew same thing after all the other gadgets they put on each time. Turns out the plumber doesn't have to wear all this cost. Apparently when I got the new panels the wrong ones were sold - mine are the top of the line, glycol and for semi shade. They should not be put in full sun but the manufacturer didn't tell anyone so they are paying for all these gadgets that have gone up plus all the pressure valves.

Think it is a few grand so far - there have been 9 pressure valves (they are $295 to me), some other valve that would have cost me $675, a governor which was around the same price and now this kit with the extra tank, plus all the labour! Anyway it will certainly face the test this weekend when we get the over 40 heatwave!

Still having problems with my kitchen ceiling - the paint peeled off in one place about 6 weeks after the painter had been (remember how my house was damaged in the big hail storm). It took until just before chrissy for him to come out and redo it, only when he started scrapping it was far too big and had to be re plastered. Plasterer came and then the painter came back this week to paint it. I had found another spot where it was cracking about 10cm round, but when the painter touched it the whole lot came off. Basically the length of the kitchen and one sheet wide. Had the builder out and it was caused from the original paint job when the house was made - they use to spray the ceiling and use no undercoats, the paint would stick to the dust and after 30 to 40 years it just peels off.

Builder is sure the insurance will cover it though because it isn't happening anywhere else in the house and is only happening in the half of the kitchen that got wet. He feels that the water activate the problem. Anyway he turned up here the other day to take pictures, said the insurance company wanted them and that usually means they are accepting the claim. I hope so, although number two son said if they don't he will out a skim coat of plaster on it and do the paint job. As you all know I just cannot do anything in the usual manner I love (NOT!!!) to have lots of dramas, expense and annoyance.....lol.

For those of you interested I have posted the latest in the dating saga on my other blog.