My quilt world - Ripe Strawberries - progress report

I'm still going on the ripe strawberries quilt!





I'm very happy with the feature fabric although I've had some problems trying to get an even center square so that the borders will fit.



I considered trimming the centre, but then decided to do some creative fiddling with the borders. This seems to be working okay.



I should have this top completed in the next couple of weeks - its time to buy the backing and the batting..

Until next time .... Kim

In My Life - Weekend at Copeton Dam

Recently Graham and I went on an adventure with the car club. 11 people and 6 classic cars hit the open road.



There was our Lotus, a Triumph TR6, Mercedes, Riley, Morris and a FJ Holden.



The Saturday was a beautiful clear sky day and we kept the top down all the way (But it was a little cold on the nose!).



We spent the night in the cabins at Copeton Dam. This dam holds nearly 3 times the water of Sydney harbour.




It has only been full once since it opened in the 1970's and currently is only about 6% of capacity. But it still seems to have a lot of water in it! It is a popular fishing and boating spot.

There are Lots and lots of kangaroos.

At night a great BBQ was enjoyed by all - although it was a very 'slow food' type of barbie,,,,,,,,,,,,,







.........with the steaks having to be cooked in fry-pans due to lack of heat!





On Sunday - following bacon and eggs for breakfast - we headed south to Bingara ... It was a little more overcast that day so we put the roof on the car - This was also to stop me going any deafer from the wind noise...



Our goal was to meet up with the Inverell car club and then travel in convoy to the five ways rally. There was a great turnout for a cold day with about 70 cars on display.




As soon as Graham got out of the Lotus he was surrounded by admirers - all wanting to talk about the car ---- and all the blokes flocked over to us when he took off the 'Baby's' bonnet. The poor baby girl is given no dignity!




On our way towards home she got her own back - she threw her hub-cap off on a cattle grid - causing much mirth to our fellow travellers. It was found easily as Karen and John behind us could easily watch its shiny path as it shot off into the paddocks. But, we decided it was safer to go home without it and kept it in the back!

Until next time ....Kim

My quilt world - Who Let the Dogs out? - Finished!

Here is the finished cot size quilt - ready to send off to the new parents. I only did a minimum of quilting on this ... stitch in the ditch around each block.



below is the back and the label

Until next time ...Kim

Our sunny weekend at Port Macquarie

Graham and I spent an enjoyable weekend at Port Macquarie on the NSW coast. Its approximately 31/2 hour drive from Armidale. haven't been there for years and I was amazed at how much it has been developed. What use to be a pretty sleepy seaside village is now a city.


I didn't take many photos but I've been able to supplement this page with downloads from the web,, he he he,,,

Above is looking north from the lighthouse..... I took this one!

Unfortunately, I had worked the previous 2 nights and was really tired the whole weekend - I think I'm getting too old to work nights and then expect to function as a human straight away!


Above is looking south from the lighthouse and I took this one too.....

It was really nice to escape the cold of Armidale and get some winter sunshine. We booked a whale watching cruise in a jet boat, however while we waited for the cruise to start we went for a drive up to Tacking point lighthouse and saw a whale from there swimming up the coast!



Above, is a picture of Tacking Point Lighthouse from were we saw the whale (I didn't take this photo) and below is a photo of the jetboat we went on (I didn't take this photo either, of course)


Click here for a Link to Port Jet for a lot more info on rides and the boat "Wild Thing" including a video.

When we went on the jet boat we only saw distant whales -- I picked the wrong spot to sit in the boat as I kept getting wet, a bit like having buckets of cold sea water thrown in my face!

But it was fun, I spent a lot of the time laughing and squealing and dripping - hence no photos of the event...

We stayed at the Mecure hotel which was just a short walk to the shops and the green and everything.



Above is the is the view from our room and below is the hotel.

We had a lovely night out on the Saturday at the Whalebone Wharf Restaurant and splashed out on the seafood platter.

For more info on the restaurant click here for a link to their website.




Here is a photo of our dinner which I took -- I have to get into the habit of getting others to take our photo at these things!




We then spent the Sunday morning visiting the markets before heading home to two very pleased to see us doggies!

Until next time, Kim ......

In my life

Well, its been a bit busy this past month - work has been full on - lots of sick people, lots of bizarre incidents and the unit seems to be constantly full...


Andrew has moved out of his flat - and he has returned to a bachelors life after 4 years. He is having lots of trouble finding a suitable flat - thus he has moved home! (with the rabbit and the fish). So the house is a little full at the moment, but we are all getting on okay,,, so far.


Georgie would like to get to know the Ginny rabbit a little better!


Andrew won't let me take a photo of his room as he says its an invasion of his privacy.... He hasn't lived here since he was 18ish ( he is now 23) , but things haven't changed - there's something about the look and smell of a teenagers room! What I don't understand is that the flats he's had have always been neat and tidy - maybe he's always had someone to pick up after him..................



Fortunately he finds the fact I keep a blog very embarrassing so he won't be reading this!

Sean and Emmy are coming to visit this weekend - I don't know where they'll sleep - they'll have to bring a tent! LOL.


Graham has also been busy and we now have a bigger living room - with the fireplace removed. Its still a bit of a mess and I need to get someone to come and repair the carpet. Now I just need to be able to afford some new furniture (lounge suit) but I think I'll have to wait until 2011......



AND its been cold, with a big frost last night. Just as well the dogs have stylish new coats.

Here are Georgie Girl & Alfie Earl posing in their new fashions!

ABOVE: This is Georgie's denim number and Alfie's cammo coat.

ABOVE: Alfie has this fetching flannelette Sesame Street number

ABOVE: Here is Alfie in his trendy Beatles Coat

ABOVE: Georgie says "One day I'll get to meet that cat next door"


ABOVE: Georgie also has a pink Girlie number

Until next time , Kim....

My quilt world - Ripe Strawberries! - Progress Report

I have finished all the baskets now and I am working on the pink/blue/gold sashing.




Its not fitting together as neatly as I hoped, I think some of the basket blocks may be a little wonky. Probably due to the number of pieces in each.




Still on track to get this finished by Christmas - which is good as I've already bought fabric for my next BIG project!!

Until next time, Kim .....

My Quilt World - Who let the dogs out?

I've finished the top - Ready for the basting ( which is sandwiching the three layers together). These photos are from a week or two ago, before I put the final border on.



I'm going to quilt this very simply myself - just "in the ditch" around each block ---- just waiting for some free time to get it done. Next time I post about this quilt it should be finished and ready to go to its new home.



Until next time, Kim ....