what's happening.......

 Well not much today.........
Still been unwell.......but went into work this week........this cold thingy is hanging on........

survived the week but had a terrible nights sleep last night so i've barely done a thing today.......

But I have started to do some more prep for "The August Escape"..........went to tag that post from last year and found it in drafts so I will publish that later and back date it til last year.........

But The August Escape is happening again this year..........

late August.......

it worked so well last year and was perfect winter weather for a retreat.........

think smaller scale to Scrub Stitchin'.........

shorter, less people.....

Some of the same girls and some different ones..........

still an amazing awesome group of girls.........

Back to last weekend I pottered around in the cattle yards again on Sunday to get another mob vaccinated..........

but I would do something then stop and have a break to catch my breath again............

It wasn't hard when I got to hang with these cuties.............

Lamby took off to join the cows again when I let them out.........she had missed going into the yards with them...........she's looking a lot better since she got shorn.......but she's getting old for a sheep........

I just checked and she is 10 years old now...........

She joined the family at the 2016 Chookshed Birthday.......see here.....and hear........

Its been a pretty cool week and Monday was a cracking frost for our first frost........

very late this year..........

The photo above was the bore drain Tuesday morning.........it was the steam coming from the bore drain..........a bore drain is an open channel of water that feeds water around a property.....the water is warm as it is artesian water coming up from under ground.........most of these open drains are piped now days.............

Late one afternoon driving home the sun was setting and there was the tiniest sliver of a moon.........so cool.........

Ok best go and do some more prep for The August Escape............

Catch you later........

Chookyblue.......

hello.......

Hello friends..........I really had hoped to have zoomed by now but last weekend I fell sick with a cold and i've been snotty and barking all week.....Last Saturday was a cold bleak day and was perfect to be curled up under a quilt on my recliner next to the fire..............I worked from home during the week which was good as I stopped and started as suited........otherwise I would have taken the whole week off............improving this weekend but keep coughing and running out of puff when talking or doing to much.........

this tiny flower is about the size of a pea............

the roads been pretty interesting with the bits of rain......

quite a few of the ramps are messy like this one............

Coming home one night I got out to open the gate and wow the sky was so pretty............

you always need to keep an eye out on the sunrise and sunsets...........

you never know what treat you might get...........

A few weeks ago I went to the "Phuck It" luncheon.......girly treat day with some interesting speakers......a wonderful day with friends.....

above myself, Natasha and old friend Sarah

the plants have kicked off so well after the rain as it had been so warm..........they have had there little solar panels out sucking all the goodness in.........such a vibrant green it is stunning at present........there was a touch of frost yesterday...............

A little parcel arrived from Janet @ Rogue Quilter...........full of chooky goodness and some of her gorgeous hand made soap..........maybe one day we can have a zoom soap lesson????? thankyou so much Janet............now to plan a project........I do have a few more Chooky fabrics I can add to the bundle...........

while we are on good mail Jindi @ Jindi's Cottage sent me this cute little stitchery celebrating the Chookshed birthday but hey I don't have to keep thinking what year now when she started.....

Jindi said she took a bit deciding on the right chook and I think you have nailed it.......love it thankyou.......

This weekend I have tried to do some things but keep running out of puff..............but yesterday we did get the cows vaccinated.............some of the herefords..........they are picking up...........

the green really is as vibrant as in this photo.....sooooo good.............the calves playing peekaboo around the tree............

we will get a smaller mob done today.........thankfully only a sprinkle last night as the round yard is a quagmire..........and it is gumboots only in some pens in the yards...........but the job needs to be done........and given it is winter it doesn't dry out so fast..........

other job for today is cutting some more wood...........

Have a fabulous weekend girls........

Catch you later......

Chookyblue.....

the weekend that was...........

A little zoom session to start the weekend........Nice to see a few girls on..........

Finally winter feels like it finally arrived this weekend...........Saturday was a bit foggy and it took ages to clear completely........Cloudy most of the day...........

We'd had a bit more rain Friday hence the puddle...........OMG everything is looking such a vibrant green........its is so beautiful...........

There's been some colourful sunrises and sunsets.........

The roads a bit of a mess.......

but some of the paddocks to town have lambing ewes.....

everything is greening up..............

A perfect sunset for the winter solstice...........

I started writing this post on Monday and it's now Thursday but it sure has felt like winter although we have not yet had a frost..........

I do love all the season...........

I'm trialling a compacted fortnight so I can have every second Friday off..........tomorrow is the first Friday off..........i'm so excited even thought I have some farm work to do..........

Have a great weekend girls........I am off to a luncheon with an old girl friend and a new girl friend........bit of self care so I can't wait........

Catch you later.......

Chookyblue......

Scrub Stitchin' 2026 - Day 5 all good things come to an end........

Sunday always is sad for me........this year for some reason I didn't hit quite as low after the retreat which was great.........But Sunday is always a happy/sad day......grateful for the time we have had together, saying goodbye to everyone goes on all day which is better then everyone deserting at once.....the last hug always has a little extra squish in it.....the reality is who knows if/when we will see each other again......the disadvantage of living so far apart.........

but because of the distances I sure appreciate the travel everyone does and it makes the time more special that we have together given the effort involved and this year the extra fuel costs which were pretty high also........

Sandy @ Shiralee Stitches forgot her machine table so she improvised...........it worked a treat.....

Creations in progress...some packed up.......

This year we did Simply Serene as the group project....see here.....

Did anyone else play along at home???

This is Jo's version...........she had it all cut and pinned to a sheet when she got here and got the top together before she left........

Jenny @ Bird on the Border made a bright version.......

I started cutting for the 1/2 square triangles and finally this morning on zoom I finished trimming them........

Stephanie, Betty and me............

No idea what we were all talking about here...........

a few more here............

And here................

Jenny's Simply Serene quilt was all laid out into rows before she left...............

Then it was lunch time..............tables packed away as the numbers reduced.............

Lea's baby quilt..........quick easy one she uses regularly...........

This year I stayed Sunday night.........was going to be easier with the food etc to dump at home.......

Jo, Janice and Sandy were also staying Sunday night due to their travel plans.............

This was arvo drinks..........I did actually get some sewing done...........

I'd do a bit of sewing and then pack a bit, sewing, packing, sewing, packing.........

Thanks to the girls for helping pack the kitchen stuff after dinner.....I was avoiding it but they made it so quick.......

💙💙💙MASSIVE THANKYOU 💙💙💙 to all the girls who helped here and there......I did cater this year but would not have taken that on also without knowing some of the girls were backing me.......I do love that side of it also........hence the lack of sewing but as you're not taken away from the room in the kitchen it doesn't feel like I was separate and it also gave me some special time when one or 2 girls were in there helping and we would be chatting, then when I was fading our newbie Ann-Maree had run out of sewing and was like the "energiser bunny".....

Monday morning car packed bright and early (I had to send some stuff with Miss Jules and Mr Chooky too) and I had to go via home to work to unpack on the way and find a uniform for work........Yes I looked tired and yes I was tired but so worth it....

I am so blessed with the group who come along💙💙💙

That's a wrap on Scrub Stitchin' 2026......

Now all plans have started for Scrub Stitchin' 2027 and I have big plans and so do some of the girls as it's going to be a special one......

🌟🌟🌟10th Scrub Stitchin' Retreat🌟🌟🌟

Wow the years have gone fast but we will be celebrating in style for sure and have some fun stuff in the pipelines already......

I'll need the whole year to get prepared.....lol......but it will be so much fun to plan it all.........

Catch you later.......

Chookyblue....

 

Scrub Stitchin' 2026 - goody bag...........

Its always fun to make up the goody bags.............

The bags always look great on the tables when it's all set up.....

Once again the bags had the projects in them, a mug, caramello koalas, and I wanted to add a ruler which turned into 3 items 3x12 ruler, a short 4 in ruler and a one inch hexie which could also be a key fob.........all had the little 

Janice kindly made some butterflies, Jo some little purses and Brenda a coconut ice.......

This is the full range of mugs I had I brought them over 18 months ago.......so pretty.........Way too organised but when I found something I liked I got it.............

Liberty Lasenby Cotton fabric range Gifts From The Garden and I paired them with 4 different coordinating solids and some linen...........

This year I designed a very simple project so that it was very achievable..........

So we had a zipper pouch........I didn't get to doing the instructions with life happening so I made everyone make there pouch together on the Friday afternoon..........

I remembered to get a group photo on the Saturday with all the finished pouches and just about everyone was done.....the USA girls had headed off so not in the photo...........

This is my sample I made prior the the retreat and when I was packing up I popped heaps of my rulers in there......perfect size and looked after them well...........

I think everyone was pretty happy to have there project finished..........

Catch you later.........

Chookyblue.......

Scrub Stitchin' 2026 - Saturday Day 4..........

Saturday came along and we started to see some more progress on projects the girls were working on or more to the point I got some pics...........

Smoko time on Saturday..........enjoying scones...........

lots of hand piecing in this one by Annette.......

Quilts for twins above and below............

this quilt I borrowed from Picton Patchwork.........love the colours in it and I got the fat 1/4 bundle to make it.............I have chosen quite a different background......

Robin let me have it for the weekend and we had it hanging up.........

Sandy and Deana I think also got the kit.........

The pattern is Fanciful Floor by Wendy Sheppard

Sorry I can't tell you right now what the fabric range is but it looks great and I have gone with a pickle colour background........

Love this one Lea is working on.....

woops can't remember who was making this one.............

or the one below...........

And there is always a beautiful sunset to enjoy in Baradine when we go for a late short walk to get some some fresh air and stretch our legs...........

Catch you later..........

Chookyblue......