Tuesday 29 December 2020

Meeting Baby Hamish

Finally got down the south coast to meet our new grandson Hamish.

He has doubled his birth weight and is a very pretty baby.

 
Below is Hamish, sitting in the little cane chair that has been passed through the generations. 
 
I've been keeping this chair safe for the last 30+ years with the 
promise that it would be handed on to Andrew's first child. 
So here it is with its new custodian complete with new padded cover crafted by me. 


Okay, that's three grandchildren and one on the way!
Who'd thought!



Monday 28 December 2020

'Woody to the Rescue'

 
Here is my latest finished quilt, a Toy Story quilt featuring Sheriff Woody.
 
Its for baby Hamish.
 

 I wanted it to look like the type of 5 patch quilt a cowboy's mother would make him out of scraps of old clothing and leftover fabric!
 
Then I complicated it for myself because the top and bottom borders were a different size square to the left and right borders. And then of course I made diagonal patterns out of the colours so had to use a grid to work out the colour placements... 


Wonderful quilting as usual, by Sandra. The Wagon Wheel fabric is one of the new generation digital prints, brilliant isn't it!
 
 This patterns called 'Stars on a String', which matches Woody's badge and will also work well with the second Toy Story quilt even though its completely different in colour and design.


If you can't guess who stars in the feature panel of Toy Story quilt number two, then I'm not giving you any hints.

The second top is finished, backing sorted and all. 
Just waiting for the quilters to open up after the January break. 
However, I have 2 other finished tops that will take priority as they need to be finished for March 2021 babies. Will the production line ever end?!

Its now in Gerringong with Hamish.






 
 

Sunday 27 December 2020

More Christmas 2020

Christmas day was just, Graham, me and his Mum. And Miss Lizzy and Teddy of course.

Menu

Smoked Salmon & Cucumber bites

Chicken & pinenut meatballs with beetroot dip

~~

Roast Pork stuffed with dates and herbs

Roast potatoes & parsnips

Green salad with walnuts

~~

Lamington & Strawberry Wreath 


The crackling was amazing and I cheated with a low fuss dessert.

 On boxing day we had the rest of the family and ate all the leftovers. As well as our body weight in cheese.

Repeat of the ballerinas!

Above:- Edie and Florrie

 

And, of course here is  KIMBADALE circa 2020


This year due to social distancing Kimbadale has been split into two locations and a satellite town has sprung up over  near the TV.

New for 2020 is The Jolly Trolley.

Which is a little tram driven by Santa.

The sound of it rattling up and down the tracks has driven Graham nuts over the past few weeks! 


What is that lurking in the background?

The Tardis! Don't know where the Doctor is, she must be in disguise.
 


I probably should have tidied the house before taking a movie!

Never mind, just ignore the messy bits Dear Readers, and sorry its a bit wobbly!


 

Hi there my Mum's Dear Readers,

Its me, Miss Lizzy here to share my Christmas triumph!

Do you remember Christmas 2019 when my mate Ted and I hunted the Christmas cheese?

Here's a reminder...


 Well look at me now!

No Cheese! Humph! 
But a comfy spot to get up on and have a snooze when Mum's not looking!
 
Love, wet noses and doggy Christmas wishes - Miss Lizzy 
 

 






Sunday 20 December 2020

Christmas 2020 ~ Pre-Christmas!

Well, thanks to the Goddess, 2020 is nearly over!

And the world will never be the same again...

Its nearly Christmas, but first it's..

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIMBA"


The tree is up.


Anyway,,, here is Christmas at work.


This year everyone was gifted a mixed package of coffee/tea.

I packaged and tied bows on about 60.

 Yes, it really was

'We wish to expresso how tea-riffic you are'!

~~~~


And now for the Clark Center Christmas dinner at the 'White Bull'.

Above:- Chloe and Martin
(Martin is currently doing my NUM role while I'm on secondment).

Above:- Elle and Mary-Anne

Above:- The crew
 
Above:- Lizzy with her flashing Christmas Tree necklace
 
Not many Christmas parties this year, and Christmas day will be very quiet for us, and a lot of other people I suspect. 
 
Covid has ramped up again in Sydney so it looks like our plans to see Mum and Dad after Christmas have been  scuttled. 


Anyway, to put you in the Christmas mood,

'All I Want For Christmas is You'

Performed by Emma Wiggle and the Sugarplum Fairy.








 

 




Saturday 19 December 2020

And... We have a new Grandson!


Hamish!


A very small baby.. clothes size 5x0. 00000.
 
We haven't met him yet, but that will happen after Christmas!

He has his fathers nose!
 
 

 And here is Andrew and Hamish with the proud Great Grandmother.
 





Favourite Photos of the Past 10 Years - Episode 10 - 'Our Close Encounters'



Above:- 'Tembo'

Kim's favourite big animal shot of the last 10 years

TEMBO

Elephant Whispers’ magnificent six and half ton gentle giant and leader of our herd.

AT A GLANCE
Sex: Male
Age: 35 Years
Shoulder Height: 3.45m
Approximate Weight: ±6 ½ tons

https://www.elephantwhispers.co.za

Yes, there is a handler on top of him.

'Elephant Whispers' Hazyview, South Africa, November 2015

Above:- "Tembo talks'

'Elephant Whispers' Hazyview, South Africa, November 2015

(I've named our current house Hazyview, it was one of the most amazing days of my life)

Above:- 'Tembo and another Elephant'

'Elephant Whispers' Hazyview, South Africa, November 2015

Above:-'Big Ears to Hear Big'

'Elephant Whispers' Hazyview, South Africa, November 2015

Above:- 'Feeding the elephant Snacks'

'Elephant Whispers' Hazyview, South Africa, November 2015

 Above:- 'African Elephant'
 On Safari, Kruger National Park, South Africa, November 2015

Above:- 'Australia's Last African Elephant'

'Cuddles'

Its been banned to import anymore, and fair enough too.

Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo NSW,  August 2012

Above:- 'Cuddles in her Bedroom'

Breakfast Zoo tour with the Car Club

Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo NSW,  August 2012

Cuddles the elephant dead at 46

Taronga Western Plains staff in Dubbo are in mourning following the death of Cuddles, the zoo’s longest resident.Cuddles arrived at the Dubbo zoo the same year it opened, in 1977. She was shipped from Britain with two other female African elephants, Yum Yum and Cheri.

The Daily Telegraph
 
Above:- 'Sad Indian Elephant'
Melbourne Zoo, August 2016

Above:-'Breakfast with the Giraffes'

Breakfast Zoo tour with the Car Club

Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo, NSW,  August 2012


Above:- 'Another Giraffe'

Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo NSW,  August 2012

Above:- 'Close Contact'

On Safari, Kruger National Park, South Africa, November 2015

Above:- 'Giraffe Family'

On Safari, Kruger National Park, South Africa, November 2015

 
Above:- 'Hello!'

On Safari, Kruger National Park, South Africa, November 2015

Above:- 'White Rhino'

On Safari, Kruger National Park, South Africa, November 2015


Above:- 'Black Rhino'

On Safari, Kruger National Park, South Africa, November 2015

Above:- 'Australian White Rhino''

Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo NSW,  August 2012


Above:- 'Pumba! A Warthog'

On Safari, Kruger National Park, South Africa, November 2015

Above:- 'OOOK! An Orangutan' 

Melbourne Zoo, August 2016

Above:- 'Hippo'

No far from our bungalow, we could hear them at night!

Hazyview, South Africa, November 2015

Above:- 'Humpbacks'

Merimbula, NSW, October 2019

Above:- 'Whale Tail'

Merimbula, NSW, October 2019