quilt show...........

after and email from a city blog friend and a massive phone call to another I am all organised for a trip to the city in June for the quilt show............it's very exciting with all the talk of Paducah Quilt Show - bad luck about the flooding causing lots of changes for them..............

ANYWAY back to the story i'm going to the Sydney Craft and Quilt show at Darling Harbour.............when I live so far away I need to get organised.................survived the nightmare of trying to work out accommodation online and now it is booked...........already have tickets to a stage show while there for me and Fairy Girl and even though it is a little under 2 months away I am excited..............the calendar is pretty much booked up til then anyway........

.......Also I know you girls who live closer don't need to get organised quite so far out so some of you probably haven't even thought about it but what do you think.......

......are you going to go?????

.......want to meet up sometime?????

.......i'm hoping to get there for a couple of days but the plan at this stage is to be there all day Friday for sure..............anyone else going to the quilt show????

 I know a few girls already i'll be meeting up with........

&&&

I have only been to a couple of different craft/quilt shows and I think this one is the best......

......for you regular quilt show girls do you know how far out it is they release the workshop details.................though I  may like to try and do one.

.........take care til next time.....Chookyblue.........

dam play...............

Bookworm wanted to set some traps in a dam the other day and the bait for me was "but Mum there are some great shots there - bring your camera" so off we went

Quite an adventure..........the grass around this dam is REALLY thick and tall............

he had set some traps in the dam.........since we had taken the new pup with us and Bookworm was looking in the grass where he thought he found a sheep no maybe a hare "i'll put the pup onto it" (he thought) no next minute there was SCREAMING..............so funny...........running and screaming once he finally stopped screaming I found out a big old kangaroo hit him..........he was sick or injured and hiding in the long grass but DIDN'T like being disturbed............Fairy Girl and I had a great LOL..........

other then that screaming it was so still, silent and glorious at the dam.............

the clouds keep coming around but won't drop any rain.............

less then 1.5 inchs for the year so far............very, very dry

We had the flooding rains Nov/Dec and then the taps got turned off.

Which one is your favourite photo?

What's the sky look like at your place?

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

Chookyblue
PS like the new header?

Finally my A Gardener's Journal............

Finally I have the camera and the quilt in the one spot.............the last month has been pretty busy..............I got out early yesterday morning and snapped some pics...........the first ones aren't the best but they show you the gorgeous quilting Bec did on my quilt.............sometimes it is hard to capture the quilting......

beautiful borders..............

I really LOVE all the quilting............thanks heaps Bec...........

I changed this block to get rid of the dog and the cat and changed the glass to a wine glass...............

A Gardener's Journal by Anni Downs Hatched and Patched. 

An amazing aussie designer. 

This quilt was a book Anni release a few years ago and it is still available. 

This was the Stitch-a-long we have just finished up. Thanks to the support and encouragement from the girls in this group which started out as a challenge between me and 2 other friends Peg and Dale and grew.........

THANKYOU 

............this would probably still be a UFO without you. 

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

Chookyblue...........

back to reality........

wow I survived.................for the last 2.5 weeks I have had a constant stream of visitors........

...........some of those stayed the whole time (yes we are speaking and they are more then welcome to come back again)...........

It has been a great holiday time.............the 2nd week got even more busier with shearing etc and them more sheep work on the weekend..........my girlfriend on the weekend made a statement when she came here many years ago.........the background story is we had to go to pick up some hay at a neighbours - "oh i'm not into manual labor"...............lol............so funny cause if the work is on here now days she is in the thick of it............the joke continues......

The cooking is always constant with so many in the house.............

Made these Milo biscuits - Recipe here thanks Lise...........

Yet again more scones.............I always make them the morning they leave.............(i'll try and get a post up on making scones very soon..........)

someone amused themselves lining up bottles while they were here over easter..........not going to incriminate myself and say how many I added to the collection but Good Friday sure was good.............

me playing games here............finally the girls are back into laying eggs...........

Hope you've had time to spend with friends................I am so lucky to have lovely friends...........

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

Chookyblue

shearing..........

I snapped these shearing photos the other day on my way to work.........not long before Bookworm came off the motorbike..........I would have got more but I just didn't have time.............

they work hard............

Everyone has gone to the woolshed to finish pressing up some wool bales so I snuck in to share these pics............

Bookworm is good...........bruises coming out............

Curly Pops and her baby boy Cops are good..........

more visitors arrived yesterday morning.........

Good Friday today so we have fish, prawns, hot chips, salt and pepper squid...........

Hope you all have a wonderful Easter and ANZAC Day on Monday 

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

Outpatients.....

Sitting in outpatients...........bookworm is ok just damaged pride, scratches & bruises .........a few days feeling sore and sorry for himself..............

.........take care til next time.....Chookyblue.........

PS. Nurse came in we can go home

PSS. he came off the motorbike...

FIS Swap Sent..........

Well I had something else planned to make for the Hatched and Patched Swap for Teresa in the Friends in Stitching online group (private group) but once i got this pattern at GDITC I just had to make it up...............

the pattern is "No Place Like Home"

I changed the thread colours to match my bag fabrics............Moda "Aviary"

I used a honey bun for the outer bag and I think I have enough left to make another outside............

I added a pocket to the inside of the bag too...........

the bottom was fiddly but I am so glad I persisted............now I want one for myself.............
This has been a wonderful swap.........
&&&
Also thanks for all the comments on my post about Curly Pops.............late yesterday she was looking pretty good and moved up the paddock more and was feeding away so all great signs...........the calf is going really well.......I'm sorry I haven't replied to all the comments (thanks very much for them) but yesterday went pear shaped and I ended up mustering sheep for shearing today............

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

Chookyblue

a traumatic day for Curly Pops.......

Wow what a day yesterday was................it was very traumatic.....Curly Pops first starred on my blog here.......she became a very special poddy calf.............most posts with her in them here........she has become part of our nearly everyday life...........esp for the kids she is a very special cow as she has remained very quite and the kids can do almost anything with her which is very uncommon..........only a few weeks ago Bookworm was riding her - well until she got sick of him and off he went...........

&&&

remember I said Curly Pops was going to calve soon the other day.............

well the kids have been riding the motor bikes over what seems like a 1000 times a day to check the heifers and yesterday morning she was off on her own and very close to calving.............

not long later they went back and she had prolapsed........(i thought about pics but really it was way too big and disgusting to blog).........

...seriously bad news........dh was in town so the neighbours came over.............looked pretty bad............since she is so precious we called the vet..............(Curly Pops mother died from a prolapse as she calved in the night and was dead when we found her)

&&

.......we found her calf hiding in the grass where she had him and he was covered in slimmy stuff...........while she was down in the paddocks we got the calf on sucking a few times before the vet arrived........the kids had some rags and were trying to clean up the calf.....

&&

The Vet arrived and said oh it's never good when they have their name on the ear tag........

...she was looking pretty bad at this stage .......the vet proceeded to work on her and got everything back inside and stitched up.....gave her numerous needles and bags of stuff and we got her back up on her feet and off she went.............the bill won't be good but it would be better then the sad people I would of had to live with if she died..........and if she and the calf live they would recoup the money..........

&&

No pressure on the vet..........6 adults and 5 children all looking on while he worked away on Curly Pops.......

......I was really worried about her she looked terrible but we left her alone and went back a few hours.............she was off sulking on her own and was not keen to be near us but I got her to drink some water and we went and got some oats and more water and now she thinks we are all ok again.................we we took more food and water back over we found the calf again and she started to show interest in him and he got a great feed and she started licking him up clean...............excellent sign...............she has made it thru the night so I think and HOPE all will be ok.............poor Mumma.........

cute big strong boy calf..........

I hope I never have to use a needle and thread the vet used to hold things back inside............

Anyway while waiting with Curly Pops yesterday arvo I snapped a few other calves.........

Another "who's your Daddy" moment 2 days old

Q2 Cutie's baby (I lost out on Little Miss Cutie)

The baby I showed you the other day...............

what they should all look like..........

Today I had to make a pile of scones............made 2 trays for a fundraiser today..........

and of course with everyone here (8 at the moment) I had to make some for them too.........

Lets hope today is less eventful...........hope your having a great Sunday...........

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

Chookyblue

FIS Swap received.........

My Friends in Stitching online group had an Anni Downs Hatched and Patched Swap.................this is the present that Jan sent to me............
Jan said it was Farm Girl stitchery and it was in an older magazine. 

Just perfect I love it...........farm lady, blue stitching and fabrics...................

thanks heaps Jan..............

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

Chookyblue

a nice surprise............

Did you see this gorgeous block holder here............I got this in the mail on a day I was having a shocker at work..............it was so nice to brighten my day.................I am a bit delayed at sharing a pic with everything happening here.....went to take them yesterday and the camera was DEAD.......charged up the battery and all good now...............

fine details............Lisa it is gorgeous and I LOVE it.......I don't have a block holder..............

During the week one of the little sewers had a problem and couldn't pull the fabric out from the plate...............I unscrewed it and this was what it looked like under the plate.............no wonder it wouldn't come out..............

I'll be back soon to share the swap gifts and sent and received in a Hatched and Patched Swap.

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

Chookyblue

Gecko Kaye

Searching for GeckoKaye can you email me chookyblue2(at)gmail(dot)com

this post will help you http://chookyblue.blogspot.com/2008/07/how-to-change-from-no-reply.html

your got something funny going on with the comments and I can't leave one..........
^^^^
Added...............you can find Gecko here she is very new to blogging..............and I was bale to leave a comment now...........

.........take care til next time.....Chookyblue.........

lots happening and we know who Mum is this time................

Hey remember last post where we weren't sure who the Daddy was..........well there is no mistaking who the Mumma is this time...

remember this post way back here when the kids got the belted galloways (Cardygirl - calves not fancy types of dress coats)...........well finally "Cutie" has had her baby..............and I am pretty sure it is a girl so she will breed from her in years to come too.......and look at that lovely white belt and cute white feet on the back...............a lovely surprise in the paddock this morning...........

pot full of yabbies..........

gorgeous sunsets

magical skies.........

random pics..............my camera has started counting again so I have taken over 20,000 pics.............

teaching little girls sewing skills............

"crusty chicks"

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

Chookyblue
PS and there was a big chill in the air last night................down to 6C...............jeans and jumpers required.............

Who's your daddy.........

this is a brand new baby in the last few days.............cute isn't she.............i'm not sure who Dad is though as we have Herefords (red and white) and Angus (black) bulls............never had a calf this colour so someone jumped the fence somewhere............

Here's Mum and baby..............black and white with Angus = BLACK, black and white with Hereford =B&W like mum.......

In between all my cleaning I had to check this new baby out..........worth the trip.........

Everyday for the last week there is smoke in the air at some stage in the afternoon....................lots of cropping paddocks being burnt off at the moment...........creates a little more colour in the sunsets some days..............the haze to the left on the sun is smoke............

I have a pile of visitors over the next 2 1/2 weeks some coming and staying the whole time and others coming and going..........shearing, pipe laying, plenty of stock work, motor bikes will be going everyday, i'll have to make numerous batches of Anzac biscuits plus lots of other goodies........

dust everywhere since it is dry..............my cleaning time is counting down.........they are on there way...........lucky they have a long trip..............

When i get overloaded by the whole lot I will sneak off to the sewing area for a break and send them to the motor bike track..........but it is lovely to have them visiting..............

....the nights are getting cooler and I have a few quilts to bind so hopefully I can get some binding done of a night too

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

Chookyblue
PS can you believe people are talking xmas swap already.............OMG where is the year going.............SLOW DOWN..............

Blog book...............

Last night I saw another post with Narelle receiving her blog book and remembered mine arrived in Fridays mail and when opening the mail I had a little emergency (nothing to worry about now) to deal with so the mail got forgotten............but here is my 2010 blog book.............

wow the photo on the cover is so different from now...........all that water.........so dry at the moment..............

I love looking back thru my blog and it is something I don't do sitting on the computer...........

I know quite a few girls ordered them at the same time so they are are all arriving now......enjoy.........

I ordered my book from Blog2Print when they had a good deal...................

Chookyblue

New shop..........

Wow this is exciting.......my friend Tess is opening a real shop..................she has a new wonderful location...........usually your just hearing of shops closing so if your in the area PLEASE show your support............I am too far away to call in...........

.........take care til next time.....Chookyblue.........

FIS Swap present & TTS blocks.........

In an online group FIS we have a birthday swap............I had to make a present for Vicki............

my gifts had to start with the letter "C"...............Carry all stitching bag, Cushion  for pins and also included some Chookyblue Cards...........the colour is a bit funny in the photo but it is a nice civil war print.........with a cream stitchery panel................

Here are my March blocks for Tis the season Stitch-a-long

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

Chookyblue

cattle work.........

Had to do some cattle work...................

it is very dry............we need some rain................

We had to treat the cattle for Buffalo Fly..........never had them before........poor cows..........they flick, they twitch., they rub their eyes and sides and just don't stand still..........sore eyes...........

they just don't leave them alone...............imagine yourself with a pile of mozzies or flies annoying you.............oh and for those of you who don't have to deal with flies and mozzies think yourself lucky...............it was hard to get  some pics with my phone it is a little slow on the capture and they kept moving........

It has been busy here the last week or 2............with work both here and the job that pays..........

would swap the farm for an inner city apartment right now............the bugs of a night in the lights have been bad so no sewing...........even had to turn the laptop off the other night as they were hitting me in the face so much...........and as for the burning off in cropping paddocks I am sick of smelling smoke most afternoons lately.................it's dry..... it's warm....it's dusty...............I need a change............rain and cool weather would be nice and fix most complaints................back soon with some sewing inspiration hopefully.............

in the mean time I'll be cleaning up for the pile of visitors I am expecting during the school holidays..........nice once they get here just the panic I go thru prior to there arrival getting everything sorted and organsied.

......so if I am quiet don't worry.........

.....and I need to show you my finished Gardener's Journal............need to take some pics............

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

Chookyblue

PS better go and hide I can here a truck full of sheep returning and I don't want to help unload the truck.....I loaded lambs on one this morning............fun fun...........
PSS and I forgot the stupid mice thanks Perri  ............to many of those critters around.........
......and the best news of the day DAYLIGHT SAVINGS ENDS TODAY YIPPEE