Then there was one.....

the world took a wrong turn nearly 4 years ago when my twin sister got diagnosed with pancreatic cancer........sadly in August the news came that the treatments were not working...........its funny how you put yourself inside a bubble while all seems to be going well........you forget it can be fatal because it's being treated..........but then the bubble popped................

since August life has been a roller coaster ride............my sister has been in hospital since the end of August........

many of you will have no idea this has gone on but a lot of the ladies who i have met personally have known the whole time and quiet a few assisted with support in various ways thru the years.............

So this is thanks to you for all the support I have received........

the emails, text and phone calls..........

you know who you are..........

THANKYOU

we have a big family but no other siblings arrived until we were 8 years old so I feel like I have a whole different life at times that they know nothing about............

feeling quite isolated.......

yes my Mum dressed us identical..........every photo we had exactly the same clothes........occassionally the same but different colours............

she chopped our hair short not too long after we went to school as it was to hard to get 2 girls ready with long blond hair and onto the school bus run in time..........

This photo below taken when we were about 10 years old......the short hair had grown and this is the 1st photo I found with completely different outfits on..........not long after this photo my sister got her hair cut short and I kept growing mine............much to everyone's joy I am sure as we finally looked different......so they could tell us apart even though we are not identical twins...................

The last 5 months have taken there toll..............especially the last few were I became carer for my Dad too as he had a major op.......something I very willingly chose to do but it had to be done.......but there were some hiccups along the way.........

all aspects of my life were OUT OF CONTROL.........

And other sad realities of life became clear..........

So I won't be back for a little bit..........we have only made decisions for Christmas today...........

I do know some sleep is high on the cards and some quiet slow time at home............

but blogland is were I run away too so I will not be deserting you........

you have been my companions at all hours in the middle of the night when i can't sleep...........I have wanted to comment on many posts but it is a little harder on my phone and sometimes my brain can't think of the right thing to say at 3am............

As Grace said on my last post "someone some where is much worse off them me"

it's what gets me thru lots in life and it is my first thought when I think things are bad..........
Goodnight........and hugs to those who are like me and not having the happiest Christmas for whatever reason......

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

Disappear....

I wish I could just disappear into this crack...... But it's not big enough.....

Chookyblue.....

Parcels....

the only good things happening around here is the mail and a new phone so I am sort of back on the air and contacts have been saved.........

and I still have not had a chance to sit down and open the mail........

I was just about to yesterday and the phone rang for an emergency............fire at one of the neighbours.............lost a workshop shed.........

Who ever sent this parcel... Thankyou Santa's little helper...... very sneeky....

Should I open it now? 

What do you think?

Thanks Sandi..... 

And all the way from Scotland my Secret Santa Christmas Swap parcel from Josie.......

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No pic but I also have a parcel from a direct swap with Caroline in the Netherlands......

I think it is still in the car...........been away unexpectedly.......and it arrived as I took off.......

&&&.

just posting so people know the parcels have arrived.............

ok gotta run.........heifers to check, lambs, dogs, chooks and goats to feed, 

the house looks like a bomb exploded and sewing is not even on the radar...........

see you when I see you...........

Merry Christmas in case i am not back here.........

Chookyblue

Stuffed...........

and it's not a toy...... my fitbit on Monday, me Tuesday and yesterday my mobile....... who knows when I can get one to replace it...... won't be back for awhile..... who knows what else I might stuff....... take care til next time..... Chookyblue.........

Dust....

Chookyblue...

New 'sheep' dog....

Took Gringo to check the heifers this morning..... 

Not sure he would have been helpful if I needed to muster something.....

Chookyblue.....

Amazing sunrise........

Did you see sunrise this morning????

It was amazing and something I have not seen before............

the sun was red........then slowly changed.........

you could actually look at the sun for about 30mins after it rose..........

My photos are on my phone and it was pretty dark so not the best but OMG it was stunning......

Even now this afternoon there must be lots of particles high up in the sky as the sun is not full strength............

Chookyblue.........

Fat cows and HOT HOT HOT..............

I moved some cows to another paddock.........so nice to see them fat........new babies landing on the ground here too..........couldn't snap a pic of them close enough but OMG I love new born calves.........the cows look nice and glossy...........

We have to do some cattle work tomorrow.......can't put it off............forecast is 41degC (106F) so we will be out at daylight...........get it done before it gets too hot...........we have had cruisy days around  30-34deg until today.............Friday is forecast to be 43C (108F)...........I will just hide inside then..........

Hope you find a cool spot if your in Australia.........

Central Australia has been roasting today..........but it's heading east.................

Summer sure is here.........

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

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

HELP.....HAVE YOU SEEN THIS!!!!!

Missing in action quilt...........

have you seen it............

read this post..........

Contact me or Michelle if you have seen Michelle's quilt

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

Shopping anyone...... ..

Won't find this in a shopping trolley in the city..... 

Chookyblue...... 

burning the candle.............

You know the saying........"burning the candle at both ends"

I well and truly feel like I am doing that at the moment........I think I am about to get burnt....

rarely a day at home and trying to help out with everything here means I have been doing stuff some days before I leave the house and every afternoon/evening when I get home doing more again..........the days are long at the moment...........

harvest at various places, fly blown sheep, heifers calving (one to shoot), let alone the garden which if you have been here will know takes some keeping up for watering alone....trying to supervise school work.....housework OUCH.....don't say that swear word........thank goodness for the washing rack on the verendah as I am happy to go there after dark.......let alone other life issues......and secret sewing OMG.......

10 days to get my SSCS parcel finished............

I know things will ease up 

NO sympathy wanted but my question is do you ever feel like your wearing toooooo many hats.....

how many hats do you wear???

ok must go bed is calling......

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

Life is a blur...........

There is so much happening at the moment I feel like life is a whirlwind.......or maybe one of those spinning doors and your not sure what your going to be thrown into next..............

Mr Chooky has been trying to harvest for family and neighbours........

a couple of late nights at the neighbours trying to beat the showers of rain........

mostly just enough rain to stop harvest...........

great satisfaction to see another silo full of  oats for the neighbours.........

augering the truck into a silo........

trying to decide where to place the pieces................

thanks to Sonia for making the decision for me.......

Happy mail another Lucy Boston block from Shiralee Stitches............

Some secret sewing............heaps more to do............

If your in the swap how are you going?

enjoying the gorgeous purple carpets of the jacarandas.........

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

Chookyblue.........

Therapy.....

Chookyblue....

Farm stuff.....

The heat has hit this last week......we almost went from winter to summer in a week.............we had a run of 36 deg......now nothing forecast under 30............

no rain for a few months has seen the feed we had go from green to brown...............

Lamb marking is done....always a great job to have finished...... 

We brought some hay from the neighbors while there is some around..... 

Lots of hay around at the moment.... Everyone used it all in the drought.....

the hay stack has seen better days for sure.......

Chookyblue

Bits and pieces.....

My last birthday fat 1/4 swap arrived from Wendy this week hence the post......so I have added a few more bits below.......

thanks Wendy @ Sugarlane Quilts...........will be putting these fabrics to good use pretty soon.......

thanks Dory for organising the swap..............

My copy of Carols Quilters Companion DVD arrived......it uses the templates that I have.......not had a chance to view the DVD yet but I will soon..........it's on hand piecing........

and I got a couple of her 1/2 metre packs......these are great for getting bits of fabrics to add variation without buying big amounts...........Cherry Pie Designs thanks Carol...........

Block 12 arrived for Shiralee Stitches BOM Lucy packs..........

I love getting good mail.........i'll show the blocks I have done close up another day..........

12 blocks done to date.........got a few done while I was sick.........I had some prepared so just had to stitch..........i've barely stitched in the last month so was just working on what felt right at the time.........

All the SSCS swap partners have been emailed out.........sorry for the delay........

nothing else good happening here.......

See you when I see you.......

Chookyblue.........

Playing with Lucy....

Don't feel well enough to do anything so playing with Lucy....OMG she sure is messy.... Are you jealous Sonia.....

@@@@@@@
Blasting Adele 21...with my cyber sewing mate diddles....it's warm here she is about to turn the heater on..... 

@@@@@
Waiting for Thank God its Friday on the Abc radio.... And I wonder if Lynda is listening..... 

Chookyblue

missing the crew...........

Missing the crew...........

absolutely smashed with hayfever today.........

it's become a PJ day........

Catch you later.......

Chookyblue.........

Bathurst blogmeet..........

when you can't do what you want to do you run away from home...........

and where do you run..........

to these crazy, nutty, loving, caring, talented, chatty, amazing blog buddies...........

i'll add all the links another day......

Georgina's hexie quilt.........hand done from start to finish............

Simones top she started last year........

Lea's hexie top.............

Friday's lunch at the pub............

Dory's quilt.........

I had a little bit of money in the budget and asked Anni if she would like to whip up a little project........really the scizzor fob would have been sufficient but as per usual Anni always amazes us..........Lea has already finished hers............I was going to start this morning but was distract by fussy cutting mirror play................

soaking up the sun............

Make it, Bake it, Fake it swap..........received from Kate.......

Sonia trying to trade off my made Lucy Bostons for her packs.........

no deal..........

Googy's churn dash..........love it.......

over 1/2 this block finished.........also finished another one..........it's still in the car.........need to unpack tomorrow...........

thanks girls you definitely rejuvenated the soul........

thanks for your love, care and support...........

keep on blogging.......it's what brought us together....

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

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