Reflections.................

Reflections on the dam and the weekend that was............

So what's happening in your world.............

I went to check a dam early one morning...............cool reflections and it was fun watching the sheep and cattle come into the dam...........their behaviour etc.............

the edges are starting to get a bit boggy.........

The clouds have been cool some days when i've been driving around...........

the emus were pretty inquisitive..........

Couple of trees got hit by lighting last weekend at the neighbours...........one of the splinters from this tree metres away...........

This is what the trees would have looks like...........

This one got hit and caught fire..............lucky it must have got some rain over the area..........

amazing to see the shattering/splintering of the tree..............

This weekend I actually had some friends come and sew.........I had a few blocks done to start.............was nice just to be able to grab it and make progress.........It's been so long since I sewed with real people in the Chookshed.........before the renos i'm sure................    

exciting interruption to sewing when hanging out the washing...........I had been suspicious but I found another nest for the guinea fowl and she is sitting and loaded with eggs.............the other nest I found got raided and they stopped laying there..........they are communal nest layers until someone decides to sit on the nest..........the eggs I collected from the first nest are currently in the incubator.......i'll keep a close eye on this one and try and catch her and the babies as soon as they are hatched if she makes it...........If I lock her up in a cage she will raise them well.........otherwise she will be hopeless.......and probably lose the lot..........I've had no luck with mine raising young on their own.............

 made some good progress on the blocks...........

buggered up this trying to sew early yesterday morning in the dark with only the machine light.........

all fixed up this morning............right sides sewn together..........

Lesson learnt turn the light on!!!!!

And I am excited to report for the second year in a row I have a baby spotted bowerbird in the garden............the bower I found last year in the garden is no longer in use but there must be one close by to keep them around the garden........I was only 2 metres away from him and I also took a little video of him..........If I put that into youtube I will let you know........I found some info below...............

Bowerbirds are polygynous, which means one male may mate with several females in a season. The female alone is responsible for building a simple cup nest well off the ground in trees and shrubs. There she usually lays one or two eggs, which she incubates alone. The eggs hatch after about three weeks, and she feeds the chicks for up to eleven weeks before they become fully independent. more info here

Catch you later........

Chookyblue.......

PS there could be a marathon Chookshed Stitchers sewing day for Australia Day 26th Jan keep an eye out........new bloggers are welcome to join.......(25th on the flip side of the world)

Its promising to be a scorcher so a cool spot will be required............

cows, scones, storms and calves.........

The most exciting news of the week is that my blog books arrived.............yes I did say books..........I realised I had not ordered 2022 so did that at the same time with the 50% off.........skimmed in on time.........did bugger up and order one soft cover by mistake but it's not too bad...........I have used the same cover since I started I think............always picking a highlight or favourite photo for the front and back from that year............ 

Now when I left last I was going out for dinner and going to make an entree..........

you can find my recipe here.........Chookyblue's Cooking

During one of the Chookshed Stitchers meetings I ordered some Bloc-loc rulers..........

I had decided on the 3.5in but Janet was on and she said she uses the 1.5 lots and I could see both options at the online shop so I got both............

the little one was perfect to cut my left overs from another quilt so I trimmed them...............

only another 41x8 left to trim...........but it was fun playing with the left overs.........

Opps I can see one on the bottom of the top right pic is the wrong was around.......but you get the idea.........there are options.........

The clouds have been pretty cool lately.............sadly not giving us very much rain.............

sunrise one morning mustering..........

can you spot Lamby...........no matter what she still lives with the black cows............she does not stay with any sheep............and I tried to get her into the yards to put some fly prevention stuff on her and she slipped to the side...........she wasn't too happy that she was separated from her friends when they were all in the yard but I was not getting her in there.........I usually have to bribe her to get hold of her for shearing.............

This little fella was busted after the walk to the yards...........probably only a day old if that.............he had a good long sleep..........

the dams are getting very low..........here is some old fence that we put in last time this dam was very low which was back in the big drought.........we need to pull it out before something gets tangled in it.........the edges of dams are starting to get boggy...........just another job to keep checking them daily to see nothing is stuck..........

According to my blog this dam was desilted back in Oct 2017.........see here

While mustering cattle this stupid ewe was lucky to be found........she was facing up the bank and I was about to grab hold of her and try and pull her out - not an easy task but she did a flip and was wanting to go into the dam further so I had to call in Mr Chooky reinforcements........as it was he sunk to his calf in the silt (with his boot still on) and it suctions onto you so it is not the easiest to pull your self back out of...........but the ewe got up and headed away from the water thankfully............we need to "ring" some of the dams...........that is going around the edge with the silt scoop and pull the bad mud away from the edges - hence "ring" around the edge......(desilting is going across the whole dam and the water level needs to be lower to do that)......we use a couple of tractors to do this........one pulling in and one pulling out............not a fun job.........need to find time to fit this in............

here is a link to some I have posted previously............desilting

Another storm threatened to knock us off work but it went around sadly.............

we only got 11 mm this week...........settled the dust and watered the lawn - didn't do much else.......

We had visitors at work this week and I cooked scones.........plain (served with jam and whipped cream) and date scones.........always a hit........

A stinker of a week coming up..........so i'll be busy watering and trying to keep things alive including myself....

hopefully on Sunday I will find some time to lock myself in the air con and sew......

see what happens...............

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

Chookyblue..........

Chop chop......

 I know I should be working on no 6 for the Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge butttttttt........ 

I didn't know where it was but I did find it today so that was good........ It's now on the sewing table..........

I was in a sewing/cutting mood so I went with it.......

I needed more black & white stripe so I started cross cutting some stripes down........

It was an hour before anyone popped in so I had the music blaring singing away while preparing fabrics and cutting..........

I had a right royal mess most of the time...........

While it was a slow start we had about 16 pop thru the virtual door today.......

All kinds of projects and lots of inspiration..........

just what I needed.........

Chapel Street is what I felt like working on...........

I fussy cut these birds....cute hey.....Chapel Street is making progress........ 

Hundreds more of these needed.......

We've had some great sunrises............plenty of colour........even better in real life............

Bridget the other morning when I went for a walk.............

OK gotta run......well walk...........sheep work is calling - should not take too long but oh sheep!!!!!!!!

This week we could get some desperately needed rain....cross your fingers and toes for me please.........

Catch you later.......

Chookyblue........

Annette's Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge list.............

Annette's already regretting this list but it will just be working on the project in the month............mind you she has achieve great things before so she could get a "miracle" finish............

 1. Owl and Hare Hollow
2. Grey abbey 
 3. Santa, the tree, the Turkey and me
4. Letter to my daughter
5. Tea and Cake
6. Nature's Journey
7. Dancing chickens, flying pigs
8. Sunshine and lollipops
9. Mrs Billings Coverlet
10. Pretty Circle Game 

I know nearly all those quilts and they have lots of work.........

Goodluck Annette NSW....

Chookyblue.......

Chookshed Stitchers Christmas Zoom Sewing Day.........

 

What a wonderful day we had on Wednesday catching up with everyone on zoom.........great roll up for the day..........

I think we had 32 people pop in and out during the day..........

These are just a couple of pics i took during the day................

I did a little bit of sewing on my machine but really I talked way to much.........which was great and so needed..........catching up with people........

Here is a pic of some cementing I got done for my christmas present.......may have even had to push wheel barrows of cement or several on Christmas day to get it BUT it is done...........the Chooks are going to be so much happier with this floor in the Chook house...........

OK I'm fluffing today............Mr Chooky mowed yesterday and I put the hoses on............more watering this morning and doing some jobs...........I am now in the Chookshed as it's going to be hot and maybe stormy later today......there's horrible wind out there at present...........zapping the moisture out of everything........me included.....

what's everyone up to.........there was a chance I may have had a visitor arriving today but that's not happening.......maybe tomorrow........and I have more visitors tomorrow so before they arrive I may just be able to sneak in a zoom in the morning (afternoon/evening on the flip side).....They all have long trips to get to me.............I'll see how I go....keep an eye on your emails...........

OMG only a couple of days until we find out what number we are working on for January........are you joining the Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge???

Catch you later........

Chookyblue........

PS trying to catch up on some blog reading......but it is way out of control......

The things you say yes too...........Chookshed Stitchers Challenge!!!

So while on zoom today with the Chookshed Stitchers I made the right "choice" and signed up to Deana's Challenge...........

Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge........ 

Deana has all the details on her blog post here as she is hosting us.......

The logo is on my sidebar..........

So my list is as follows............

1. Churn Dash 2

2. Double Churn Dash

3. Lucy

4. Chapel Street

5. Kiwi Birds

6. SS 2023 bag

5. Floral Quilt (old project)

8. Peace on Earth Christmas Stitchery (Anni Downs)

9. Blue Lanterns

10. Moda Love mini

so there it is.........I may or may not come back and edit to add some pics but mostly I will just be working on the project not finishing it............

So if you want to join us feel free to join in............just need to be a blogger and post your list on your blog and let myself or Deana know that your joining in the crazy fun, encouraging and supporting each other to get sewing on some projects.............

1st of each month Deana will post the number for the month and that's what we will be working on...........but go read her blog post now........

I'll be back to report on Chookshed Stitchers Zoom Sewing Day.........we've had a great roll up so far..........over 30 ladies popping in and out today..........its been wonderful.........inspiring and fun........and I even got a little bit of sewing done.......

Take care.........

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

Chookyblue........

Chookshed Christmas zoom sewing.............

Hi everyone...... 

Don't be shocked but I am back for now............

Here's our "Christmas Tree" yes I went super basic this year as it was a very quiet Christmas here.............

I am going to host a sewing day for the Chookshed Stitchers....tomorrow 27trh Dec......Now we are not an exclusive group.....you're welcome to join in......but you need to be a blogger to join.........

(please note the funny faces they give for the times....)

So what to do.........

wear you pretty Christmas outfit (or not)....i'll be wearing one of my new dresses.........

Bring your Christmas food - breakfast, lunch or dinner........

I'll have trifle.....(for breakfast lunch and dinner)...............

Bring your champagne, mulled wine, tea, water........

Bring your Christmas CHEER and your Christmas traditions........

I'll be up bright and early......

See you soon.......

Chookyblue.......

PS I am hoping this to be a big sewing day.............so pop in or out when you can...........i'll send the invite when I get up............

nature as nothing else to report......

While we missed a heavy quick fall to fill the dams we have had some wonderful rain..... Things were beautiful and green......... 

The last few days have been around 40 so things are drying out and starting to go brown..... 

Lots of different fungi have popped up while it was still wet......

Some lovely sunrises and sunsets.....

The wild orange have been flowering....... My favourite bush tree.....

With a few more twists in life and busy days I'll call this my last post before Christmas.......

Who knows when I'll be back but I'm in need of some sewing time......i was supposed to be having a real sewing day with friends today but it all got canned.......

Have a great Christmas.....

I'll be in touch when we can zoom again.......

Time is over due for the Chookshed Stitchers to gather........

Catch you later.......

Chookyblue.....