winter is on it's way...............

woohoo.............sitting here writing this in my tracky pants and a jumper.........the cool weather has arrived today.........I love it.....I love to have different seasons......no rain to report but it's been drab and cloudy all day..........I love days like this - we get so few of them........I could not live like this full time.....lol......will definitely be digging out some more winter woolies as Saturday is supposed to be pretty cold.....well 13deg Cel is very cold for us as a day time maximum and that is what they have forecast...............
bring on the autumn colour.............
it's got to 19deg just now the sun is trying to poke it's head thru but mostly about 15 all day..........
it's pretty brezzy from the south so the fire has been lit for the chilly night (5deg)......I love the warmth of a wood fire........
Whats the weather like at your place???

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

a little piece of my heart is gone............

Yesterday was a sad day here..............late December I decided we were not going to manage when the school holidays were over.............no rain in sight............FIL out of action for many more months....I work part time in town so no able to work everyday with Mr Chooky.....I knew I needed to work out some assistance.......We decided to get a backpacker but instead found a young couple from Belgium - Kim and Damien......they arrived early January.......as I got them earlier then expected they came to stay with us instead of staying in a cottage on another property.........

16 weeks later they have left us.............it was a sad departure.......they never went to the cottage.......

they have learnt so much from knowing nothing about farming at all.............

they jumped into everything and never complained about anything.......and things were pretty bad when they arrived................

feeding cattle and sheep, driving tractors, motorbikes, bring sick sheep home then taking some who died away, pulling bogged sheep out of dams, doing mixes for feeds, fencing, molasses mixes, looking after the numerous poddy calves, mechanics, shearing, and once things slowed down a little and we had a few wet days they learnt to sew in the chookshed.......

Very quickly they became part of our family, being so young I am about the same age as their parents....

they just fitted in perfectly..........pulling crazy faces in photos etc they are just like my extra children and I think it is the only reason I stayed sane over the worst of the drought...........I still had to smile and be nice to them.............it sure did help........we have so many funny stories, a few translation issues.........but we will have memories forever........they did not want to leave and surely don't want to go home.......Damien wants to be a farmer in Australia and as they survived the worst of things here he will be able to manage in the future.........was so nice we got some green before they left and finally stopped feeding cattle only a few weeks ago.......

they have headed off on more of there adventure in Australia and will head home to study and will be back in a few years to visit us again............and if I" win lotto" I will be heading to Belgium to see them.........

a piece of my heart is going to live in Belgium............

Catch you later

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

scones, crutching and shearing...........

I have to look after my shearers................they usually get scones one day.............

here's the big basket full I made.......being school holidays there were extra rousabouts in the shed..........more scones needed.......and they always get served hot out of the oven with jam and cream...............yummo......

my nephew dragged a few out for the shearers.............

we crutched the ewes earlier in the week............then shore the lambs...........

lovely bright white wool.............

"Boy Wonder" having a go at shearing...........he crutched a few the  day before................

Getting instructions from the pro..............

always a problem in the shed for wool contamination but i love to see a black sheep being shorn............it's usually only a lamb.............we don't keep them longer then that.........

the colours as they are shorn always amaze me......

not sure if the wool is useful to anyone but if you pay the postage i'll send it off to you...........we have a couple of lambs fleeces

It's another long weekend in Oz...........attended the ANZAC service in town yesterday...........

Catch you later

Chookyblue

easter catch up & instagram help????

I got to spend a delightful day with Lise The Chocolate Cat..............we got to go to the farmers markets, Spotlight sale and got some lunch to eat in a gorgeous garden..............spent the afternoon there sitting around talking and a bit of a wander around............I haven't seen Lise for a couple of years so it was a wonderful time together.........

The weather over Easter was glorious.............a nice quiet easter here.................

Instagram HELP!!!!!!

I know nothing about it I thought you used it to look at pictures................someone smaller in my house is hassling me about getting it............should I let her get it????

how do you chat to people in it???? (she tells me you can do this)

 Do you need to make private settings etc????

is it easy to do this????

Do you set it up with your proper name or like blogger whatever you want to use????

I goggled a couple of bits but it looks like it is tied up with facebook and you now what I think about that.............

HELP.................
ADDED whats the difference of pinterest also - it's for photos too isn't it?????

ok got to run just made a batch of scones for the woolshed..............been crutching ewes and shearing the lambs.........thank goodness I had to work in town and they will finish today so avoiding the shed except to deliver "smoko".......see if I get some pics to share.............

Chookyblue

sorry dory...........

So sorry Dory..............I thought I had brought barramundi at the shops..........but it was Dory instead...............

Good Friday is always fish and prawns etc......no meat............

we did the prawns on the BBQ for nibbles.........

the left sweet chilli sauce..............on the right lemon and garlic.............

Then we cooked the dory and had chips.............yummo............

OK must off to bed.......I have a big day tomorrow.......super exciting bloggy catch up.......can't tell you who yet but I am so excited.............I can't wait to give my buggy a huge HUG.............it's been quite some time since we caught up............

Have a great easter weekend....

Catch you later

Chookyblue

holiday fun.............

wow what a busy week it's been................"boy wonder" had some mates come to stay................2 arrived last Friday and they went home this morning..............2 others came and went over that time too..........it was so nice to see them interacting together......tell/showing each other how to do things better/differently in the cattle yards.........5 teenage boys in the house - most would say I am nuts but they were great.............not once ounce of trouble.........bonfires, camping in swags out in the paddock ......"boy wonder" is sound asleep at the moment..........a very long nanna nap...........

one day we had a big day of cattle work........took longer then planned so the last were unloaded off a truck just on dark..............

I looked up and thought of Leanne The Stitching Room..........so had to snap this one...............

(missed the lunar eclipse.....just the slightest glimpse last night as we had some cloud)

I love all these silhouettes of the western sky............

big sky country..............

this is the best of a bad bunch but considering it was just my phone in hand it's not too bad

Was trying to get the silhouette of the cattle as they jumped  off the truck...........

just about now was when I got a face/neck full of cow S&#%..........think face mask...........

the very next day we had some of the steers stuck in the dam............2 of the boys got in and got them out...........

the boys could stand on the silt layer with flat feet but the hoofs of the cattle were busting thru...........you can see the wet shorts of when the boys dropped through.............we hadn't got this dam desilted due to it drying up and not getting the tractors out there to do the job.............now it only has some water that has run in from the batters (sides)............hopefully the others drink more carefully...............

then the boys raced to the edge..............

And I have found a few moments to do some sewing prep work.........nearly all the hexies are glued and ready to start joining...............

Fairy Girl had a friend out.............now she has another..............it's a bit of a revolving door here.........I have to do a head count each meal to know how many I am feeding......

But I wouldn't have it any other way.........

Have a great Easter........got my fish and prawns for Good Friday............

busy in the wool shed next week (thank god I have to work in town 2 of the 3 days) so not sure when I will be back..........enjoy the holidays if you have some..............

&&&

Calf update

 we lost both the last 2 calves we brought home..............one a few days ago the second one this morning............for some reason he decided to swimming fell into the dam getting a drink yesterday..........goodness knows how he got out but we blow dried him last night and tried to feed him but it was the final straw and he was just too weak and not drinking..............I think they were both to drought affected to drink properly..........

Goodnews - the blind calf (pink eye) can see a little bit more.....he hangs out with his buddy we feed him with.........all the other calves are cruising along...........fat little things.......I tell you there must be some good stuff in green grass.................it is so nice to see all the stock here fat and healthy...........

Catch you later

Chookyblue

Wow.....the new cabins...........

Wow Kim and Heath sure did put some thought into the 2 new cabins they have created at Fossickers Tourist Park in Nundle.....they are the "hostest with the mostest"....I have been staying there for atleast the last 6 years several times a year.......for Girls Day in the Country and also my retreat weekend....slowly the cabins numbers have grown...........and this year they have excelled well beyond previous new cabin expectations.........we were the first to stay in them...........not actually available  for bookings until this month........but since I am running late with this post ring and book your weekend away now.............

Kim has enjoyed planning the decor for the cabins...........I am no good at describing styles but let me tell you she has done a fantastic job..........heaps of space.......I had to find out where the orange rug and pillow came from for one of the girls I shared with..........

just perfect for a girls sewing retreat weekend at Kerry's..........huge table area.......plenty of room

lovely big windows, excellent light for sewing of a night (not sure if this was a fluke or Kim thought of it)

plush sheets and towels, nice throws, lovely black cushions were added to our beds after I took this photo (below).............

The bedroom layout is 2 beds and an en suite on one end (above) and 2 beds and a bunk bed on the other end also with an ensuite (below)....if you are couples the singles can become king beds............

Kim and Heath - thankyou for a wonderful visit.......nothing is ever a problem.actually they go out of there way to assist...........

Yes I have booked the rooms for my retreat weekend later in the year..........I can't wait.............

Catch you later

Chookyblue

Swaps, shopping, and prezzies............

The gorgeous Chez aka Dory gave all the girls on her table a little present..............

(right pic borrowed from Kerri)
On Friday night the bloggers had a swap..............I did 2 swaps.........I knew JoJo - Dzintras daughter wanted to join in so I did a swap between us.........it was fun getting a parcel together for her.........

This is what I got from JoJo............

The swap was the same as what we have done at the Bathurst Blog meets
Make it (handmade goodness)
Fake it (too busy so you buy a present)
Bake it (cooking etc)
I received from Shez..............she faked it but also made something..........bit of a mix......
a slice tray, cookie cutter and one of her wonderful hand towels

I had actually paid Kerry too much money for GDITC soI had some spending money and I got this jelly roll book I have been eyeing off for quite some time.............and a bit of Anni Downs fabric.............

guess who scored the left over lemon slice from Shez...............lucky me.........

some fabrics from a couple of besties..............thanks girls.........

This is a lovely parcel my friend Carole in the USA sent to me a little while ago...........but it's where all the troubles started with Kerri regarding the magazine......lol.......but thankfully a lady called Chris had a copy for her........thanks so much Chris...............

Catch you later

Chookyblue

Sunday breaky the beginning of the end..............

Sunday morning we all joined together for breaky........the finally gathering of bloggers at GDITC....

the beginning of the end..............starting to say farewell to everyone........

I will miss these girls so much until I see them all again...........

Sonia was coming to visit but her car had other plans............maybe next time Sonia...........

still smiling and laughing........lucky we had the place booked just for us once again......it doesn't matter how much noise we make then................

just after this all the hugs and farewells begun...........

everyone went off in many different directions.............

hundreds and thousands of kms later we were all safe and sound at home..............

Thanks girls for the best fun weekend........see you all next year.......I hear a few newies are coming and some of the oldies will be back.....yippee.......the countdown begins............

Catch you later

Chookyblue

Sat night....

What a treat it was to see these gorgeous quilts of Lynette's but even more special these 2 have been "remade" in Lynette's newer fabrics by my blog friend Kate from Stitched with Love

I always think she is very industrious stitcher when she starts a project there is no stopping her.......but OMG Kate made "Love Letters" above in 17 days...........I don't think she slept in that period of time.........no wonder she has been quiet on the blog front............

She also made this older pattern in new fabrics - "Waiting for Santa"

Some of my stitching on the day.............

A lovely surprise Tracy from Sunny Corner Farm called in to say "hi"

Dory checking out her new name tag..............
now onto Saturday night.................

Lynette thought about having a sleep over with us but thought better of it.....lol.......we chatted and sat around til later but she needed her sleep to teach again the next day..............

I missed taking pics at show and tell because I was helping hold up the quilts........but there were some gorgeous quilts done by the girls......I got this photo from Shez of me and Dzintra holding up our Gardener's Journal quilts. Dzintra finally got hers finished late last year................
After the great BBQ dinner at the caravan park we retired to our cabins..........

The light in the new cabins is fantastic for stitching.........

everyone was industrious except me..........was it was so nice relaxing and chatting with the girls............

Kate checking out Maureens stitching............

Kate modelling her stitching..................

I had a great time sharing with these girls..............it's non stop laughing...........
Catch you later...........

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

time changes..........

Thanks the lordy be the clocks back to normal time.........I hate daylight savings............

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

Sat at GDITC.........

Finally I have almost got my posts prepared for GDITC.......Friday night you can find way back here.......
here we go.........Kris have you got your cuppa..........
Huge anticipation waiting out the front of the hall for the doors to open.............what has Kerry decorated the tables with, what is the project, what fabrics will we have, what type of coffee mug will be get..........
I got a green one this year........I had a red one but  I knew Jenny LOVES red so I swapped with her............
This is my 7th year...........I have not missed one.........
1 & 2 with Leanne Beasley and Rosallie Quinlan
3 & 4 with Anni Downs Hatched and Patched
5 & 6 Sue Daley
7th Lynette Anderson

So many happy excited ladies........

catching the morning sun before we head in............

Everyone finding there tables and getting organised.............
Loved the blue boxes Kerry popped our projects into...........

I "had" to stop sewing and give Lynette my chair so she could show us her applique techniques..........
Anita this is the reason I didn't get my project finished..........lol...

Lynette Anderson and her great bag design we did for our workshop............

Some of my non blogging buddies on this table..........we always catch up at GDITC............

Betty and Chris also came to our Bathurst Blog meet........

Hi lurkers...........lol........

the room buzzing with activity and happy ladies..........

Maureen, Susan, Dawnie, Suzie, Ann and Sam on this table.............

Dzintra, Jenny, Janice, Fiona, Lynda, Cheryl, Maree and Aunty Alison

?, Miss Jules, Alison, Kate, Lea, Sonia, Jan

Lynette shopping only......lots of her patterns, buttons, fabrics some kits....
I think this was before the shop opened.............

Betty brought along this gorgeous quilt to show me.......I should have stolen it from under her table....do you think she would have noticed...............I LOVE it..........gorgeously quilted by Betty too............

Dawnie, Kerry and Lea
Oh and incase your vague, busy or missed it Kerry's blog is now at this address.......I only worked this out yesterday when talking to Kerry and she asked had I not seen the gorgeous new French General fabrics on her blog..............woops was still following the old blog address not the new one............all sorted now though.............

I want to make this one..........

My table.....
back - Jenny, Gail, Peg, Kerri (hiding), me and Dawnie (table crashing)
Front - Dale, Dory aka Chez, and Shez
I got to sit next to Shez for the day...............let me tell you girls...........
I had to confiscate that ipad of hers........she was getting no work done as she was too busy on it.....no wonder she had to have a "nanna nap" later in the day............
seriously though it was great to spend the day next to her............

I had the best time with Kerri coming to stay before the weekend.......we spent a couple of days in the chookshed it was so nice...........not that I achieved much as I had trouble focusing on a project but it was nice to just be out there...........but Kerri made great progress on a quilt top............

Lots of ladies enjoying a drink and nibbles while watching the trunk show by Lynette.........
more to come.................
&&&&&&
Oh and did you know this time is 350 sleeps 1hour 2 mins and 23 secs we will be doing it all again............not that I am counting down or anything.......
But I heard there are a few newbies for 2015 OMG I am so excited and some of the old girls will be back.......some of my blog buddies I only get to see while here so it is a special time together....
If you want to come you need to contact Kerry today as it is pretty much already booked out for 2015......she only has so much space in the hall and that's the biggest venue in Nundle.
Catch you later

Chookyblue