182

I love the look of the crochet around this rock... the combination of softness & hardness... lightweight & heavy... such contrasts... such beauty...

to me it represents the earth, the world, the attitude of people...
the yarn is from Mums stash & she says it's called silk, although the inside label says rayon but it's lovely to work with even if it's a bit springy[is there such a word..] at times... it had been used to crochet booties for my christening outfit.

this rock I crocheted with the variegated blue so as to represent the sky... clouds...

and this little guy I thought had to be yellow for the sun...

it needed beads to add to it's beauty & sparkle...

and when they are put together we have a ahu

Lucy's ahu ready for her to take back to her new home...

Angel Messages...

Happiness will never come to you

from the outside,

Not unless you open wide

the door of your heart.

181

My girlfriend has been to sleepover at our place this w/e... it wasn't all play as she had to work during the three days... but t'was so great to catch-up on girly talk & the like in the evening...

We both did a bit of crochet while we chattered...

What a laugh this morning when I went looking for my glasses...

ummm which ones will I take??? there were only the two of us but, L forgot her glasses so she had to try a few pairs of mine out before she found... just the right pair...

We did seem to solve all the problems of our worlds so that means we had a good time... thanks L for the visit...

Angel Message...

You are protected this very moment,

always & forever.

Take comfort in this

& live your life in harmony

with your Higher Self.

181

What a mad week this has been... Hot beyond belief I reckon considering 'tis only late Nov...

Even relented & put the air-con on of an arvo to get some relief... luckily for us it's not been too bad of a night so we have been able to get a reasonably good night's sleep.

Been to visit with Mum & my sister during the week & got to take some photos of my B-I-L lovely shade clothed pergola area where he grows such lovely leafy plants, caladiums, broms & anthuriums... so I snuck in & took a few photos... this area just loves the humid heat it generates with it's little pond & all.

Our home is looking like a bomb has hit it, but, have been busy trying to do some more de-cluttering... mainly going through my massive book collection, at present... I adore art sortta books, love the feel, the smell & all the inspirational photos & works in them, but what do I do with them, then... when I've looked & caressed them enough, gleaned as much as I can outta them... when it's time to move onto something else... ohhh the dilemma... they are too good to be thrown out nobody really wants them soooooo.... maybe I will have to look into selling them on-line... just that they are good books so rather heavy for posting... ummmmm

I've been busy doing bits of crochet here & there... finishing off some things but others are still WIP as they say... wanting to stiffen some of my crochet but not sure how to do it... I searched the internet for ideas & decided that Modge Podge would be best so off I went today to buy some... first, I baulked at the price then when I read it, I remembered how long it took to dry on paper arts... dried but still sticky... that took weeks to go away, if not, not all together... so it's back to the drawing board... any ideas would be gratefully accepted...
Ideas thought of so far are... sugar solution - here, that's a disaster as the bugs love it & sometimes it collapses with the humidity... some glues leave residue... some stiffening goes yellow with age... all gets so confusing... help is needed, please...

What in the devil is thi,s you might ask too...

Well back to shifting things around with the de-cluttering. I brought my old wardrobe to my house from Mum's house... hubby put some shelves in it where the hanging space was so that I can store some of my yarns & fabrics in there - safer from the bugs than out in my Gyrlie shed but the problem was it's a shade bigger [well... dam well a lot... ha ha] so it's not fitting in as snug as I had hoped into my computer room so other furniture has to be shifted around, so... better get off of here & get it done... I have my girlfriend coming for a sleepover & we have to find her bed yet... ha ha...

Angel Message...

Birds fly in the sky without worry

and flowers bloom without fear.

Nature is a treasure trove of such good examples,

offering lessons for us all.

180

Did you notice that...

Gosh there is another one...

Look there's one over here too...

Here comes another one...

OMG there are more...

Oppps there they go again...

Where will they land next...

Ohh there is the pink one...

There they are, all together again...

My internet friend NetPets is making butterflies to sell for a good cause...

I asked her if she would share her pattern & she even went further than that she make a video... I'm so grateful... so do pop on over to her place & have a gander & then have a go at crocheting them yourself... Thanks so much A. for your wonderful good spirited sharing...

Angel Message...

There are so many different paths that you could follow.

You just have to choose the one that's right for you,

take a step forward & then keep walking.

179

Well you can see by the lovely new leaf on one of my ferns that nature is doing it's thing here without me keeping up with it all... in other words life is passing me by...

well... not really... have been doing 'some' de-cluttering... [that means not a lot but trying...]

I got a fair bit done before my friend Jean arrived but been a bit slack on it since she has gone home...

We had a great week together.. gave all the 'good' shops a good going over... also did the coffee shop 'thing'... think I've got her lovin' frappe's now... I know I'm hooked on 'em...

We got & did some Stampscapes stamping, and then we crocheted flowers... sorry no cards to show said flowers on cards... me t'ink we did too much shopping... ha ha

We also got to visit with these lovely ladies as well... the time was all gone before we knew it & now it's already been a week since Jean has left... Ohhhhhhh dear

I have been doing my share of crochet here & there... really need to focus on finishing some now... too many projects on the go is no good for me... I'll be back where I was years ago with way toooo many WIP...

Lesson learnt the hard way... 'stay on track'... 'stay focused'...

I'm really getting into the Christmas mode & found Sarah London is having a great fun time over on her blog... 'the mystery Christmas crochet project'... of course, I have joined in the fun too...

Started with one colour green - loved the yarn, didn't love the colour, so went searching in my 'old' stash [shhhh... I know... I really do have an old & a 'new' stash but, we'll keep Mum about it OK!!!]

Anyway I found a more suitable green [it's just so hard to believe that there are so many different greens around at the mo...] so am madly playing catch-up... go on over & have a look-see, maybe you would like to join in too... Sarah has lots of photos so you would have no trouble playing...

Angle Message...

Focus on the challenge in hand.

As you sincerely & diligently carry out your task,

it will change in the process.

[I just want to say that the Angle Messages are picked randomly,

like, I just let the book open itself to a page...

just blows me away the messages they keeps puttin' out there for me...]

178

I've lashed out & bought myself some lovely gerberas for this w/e... Why? just cause I could & they are such happy flowers

I've been busy trying out many different flower patterns of late with my friend Jean's cotton she gifted me...

We are going to put them onto cards, I think, while she is visiting with me...

It's been lots of fun & I'm enjoying her company...

Of course, when I have friends visit, it's always a good excuse to go to as many shops as we can fit into one day... just for the looking at... of course, ha ha... ummmmm don't think we will go there...

Angel Message...

Whatever it is, try to accept it with a 'Thank you'!

That way, it will become yet one more of life's blessings!

177

Gosh, I'm a bit erratic with my posts but that really is how life is feeling at pres.

Never mind things are falling into place slowly but surely...

Finding some more 'energy' for the de-cluttering would be good...

I went really well but it seems to have come to a sudden halt this last week but I have a girlfriend coming to stay so I have to find her a bed & a place to sit in my ArtShed so I have no excuses any more...

Don't you love the nasturtiums... DH has them growing up the back yard & they are looking very pretty... always putting on a lovely show & waving happily... spreading smiles...

I have Crocheted another Art Rock... this is a special rock that my son brought home for me many many years ago when he was working on a station out Winton way [western Queensland].

These rocks are what are supposed to have spewed out of volcanoes and if you crack them open they are said to have crystal rock inside but I just love their roundness so have not had the heart to bust one open, just to see... I bet there is a special name for these rocks.

My rocks are only very small but they can be even too big for man to lift.

Collecting rocks is a heavy job...

The ones he brought me home were excavated out of a dam when it was being cleaned... I'm told this job is called de-slitting of the dams... yes dams do/should be clean every so often apparently so they can hold more of the precious water so needed. This is a specialised job for some people but I'm not sure what they are called, it's gotta have a better name than a 'dam cleaner'... My DH says that larger stations usually get these guys in [during the summer] to maintain the main roads into & around the station & they also do the de-slitting of the dams...

Now that's not just a couple of dams, a lot of stations can have 20+ dams on their properties. One of the stations our son worked on had 45 windmills alone, so full-time work in the windmills & many of these windmills pump into dams for the stock be it sheep or cattle... even goats.

We've noticed that all the dams that we can see traveling to our DD1's place in the last year have all been done - up her end of the track - that means so some contractors must have gone through that way.

Talking about 'de-slitting' of the dams, I had better get to my 'de-cluttering' here cause I can see talking about it is not getting it done. I really have to put some/lots of manual effort into it... so off to work I go....

Angel Message...

Carefully cleanse your mind's eye of the clouds & impurities.

Then, goodness, beauty & truthfulness will be revealed to you...

176

Boy of boy, I'm having to keep my weekly planner[diary] with me all the time to keep up with what's to do next truly... I'm still trying to fit in the de-cluttering/re-organising of my place as well...

Did you notice in my last post I had an extra Crochet Art Rock... here it is again...

Yes I have finally got this little number finished...

The blue at the bottom is to represent the waves at the beach & the up & down waves of the cream is the sand as the sea retracts...

These are some shells, weed & stuff that washes up with the waves...
This is the rock I was trying out the idea on for my girlfriend's big Fingal rock...

Here is her Fingal rock to give you some idea of it's size... think it will have to wait until I have more time... or maybe I need the distraction at the mo...

Angel Message...

Tidy up your surroundings and try to live simply.

Your problems will gradually disappear with the clutter,

allowing you to journey unburdened through life.

[gosh how true is this, especially for the mo...]

175

Ohhh Boy it was a hectic end to the week that is for sure... things are really moving at Mum's house... We're at the stage of getting the last of the furniture out - I believe it was like a beehive yesterday with comings & goings... I now have my old wardrobe back... strange after 40 odd years... My girlfriend is shifting in a week or to too so we're being gifted quite a bit from her place... sooo after 3 or 4 round trips today, we now have lots of more... nice plants, as well...

It's all doing my head in a bit with all the comings & goings as my friend is also having a garage sale next w/e so I am also de-cluttering my place to take to her GS, so everywhere is a hive of activity... just wish the energy could keep up with me...

I'm doing my best to keep my sanity by crocheting whenever I can... my rock collection is growing one by one...

This week is going to be really busy with this & that... something nearly everyday but it will all quieten down in a few weeks I'm sure... that's if Christmas doesn't catch me first... they say it was 10 weeks to Christmas last Friday... ohhh dear I do need to get my skates on...

Angel Message...

Try not to withhold your feelings for fear of getting hurt.

If you express them with love,

you will create an opportunity for better understanding.

174

I'm amazed at how far one large 50gm ball of crochet cotton will go... Jean can you imagine how many Art Rocks I could do with what you gifted me?...

All of these... plus one more that I'm still finishing...

This is my newest 'finished' one...

Been busy at Mum's house one day this week then went over to visit Mum another day...

Love to see Mum & do really believe she is settling in now to the new routine & starting to enjoy the company of others...

The one thing I do really not like is all the traffic I have to contend with going back & forth, just so frustrating but I guess this is the sacrifice I need to make...

Angel Messages...

You can only do as much as you can do now.

Trust the rest to the wisdom of Nature.

173

What a windy, dusty day it has been today but a good day for us all the same... nice to be at home doing our own thing... We did take time-out and went & had a cuppa with my girlfriend & checked out what plants she would like to give me as she is moving over the border and apparently she can't take them with, which is sad[for her], as they are all looking so lovely at present...

I even got in & did some urgent re-plotting this arvo... the wind had blown the bottom outta one of my hanging pots with bromeliads in it... Well it had rusted through, actually was hanging by a promise & a thread as I had used the wire frame-work of an old electric fan [courtesy of some side-walk shopping... council dump pick-up]. I got a heap more frames over Mum's way when they had their pick-up too - seems people had picked over other people's junk, but don't see the value/potential in electric fan frames like I do... ha ha... They make great hanging pots with a bit of wire/chain to hook onto the frames - by the time they have rusted out it is time to re-pot anyway. That can be my "Hint" of the day/month...

Here is another crocheted Rock Art...

My collection is growing...

Angel Message...

To blame others is to blame yourself.

To blame yourself is to blame others.

172

Life has been somewhat more peaceful here lately & I'm feeling more revitalised... I think it might stems from the fact, I feel, Mum is settling in a bit more now at the Shalom.

While I was in Japan I could not find a suitable little gift for Mum so when my sister bought this fold-up mirror to use I asked if I could have it when she had finished with it.

She was pleased to know it going to be transformed as I thought I could decorate it with things we had bought in/or were relevant to Japan. The papers we got off different articles we bought or were gifted, while there & dragonflies were made with paper off the chocolates I had bought my hubby & a dragonfly punch. I did have to stick the gold chocolate paper onto cardstock to give it more body... Mum liked it & I see she is using it as it is always within hands reach in her room.

When our eldest Grandie was here we did some trimming of the the Golden Palms... he was thrilled to find this little wee green frog on one of the branches... it is all of about an 1" long... so he was very quick to grab my camera to take this photo... he is like his Mum she takes lovely photos too...

I have been keeping my hands busy of an evening & here is another Crocheted Rock... I'm working on another at present as a proto-type, as my girlfriend has given me her very special rock from Fingal - it's one of those big enough to hold the door open [doorstop] - & she wants me to crochet around it & I have something special in mind.

Angel Message...

Do not worry about the results of all the efforts you have made.

Be grateful & happy with yourself for having done the best you can.

171

Do you ever wake up & feel today I'm going to start sorting/de-cluttering my home... well for the first time in ages I felt like that this morning... must be something to do with finally getting Mum settled - she's still not a real happy camper but we have done the very best we can for her & she knows that & does appreciate that... so it will only be time that will make her feel more settled.

I can only imagine how dreadful it must be to have lost all your independence in a matter of a couple of months & then not be able to return to your home of 40 odd years...

Anyway back to re-organising/de-cluttering or what ever you want to call it... maybe it's the call of nature... Spring-cleaning time... OK Spring was in Sept here but that's only last month & this month is only new...

so only a short post to show you what else I've been crocheting... running out of rocks so will have to stop that soon but have Christmas items in mind next...

Angel Message... Relax and tune into the harmonious rhythms of Nature.

Impatience and aggressive action may well cause stagnation.

170

Ohh... it's sooo quite here now, with just Hubby, Gilly[our fur baby] & me... the Grandies have gone back to their own homes ready for school this week... We went to the movies one day & saw G-Force in 3D which was fun, even for me... you know how I love the kids movies.

Our eldest Grandie came to give us a hand with a few jobs around our home, so we got some fence painting done, some palm tree trimming, some awning painting & ripped out a whole garden which had been over-run by nut grass. So lots accomplished... plus many trips to the park in the arvo... one playing on the play equipment, the other trying his hand at fishing...
Ohh me... Well, I drank coffee & caught up on the latest goss with my girlfriend

After a quick trip to the shop for the Sunday papers today I noticed that our crucifix orchard was out in flower & knew just what vase I would put it in...

Mum's single flower crystal vase... isn't it a lovely...

I have kept my hands busy & have added to my Crocheted Art Rock collection...

Now this was a bit of fun too... another Crocheted Art Rock. I used a small smooth rock, what you would no doubt call a skimmer rock, then made it into a necklace... lots of fun... & great for my short attention span at the mo...

Angel Message...

As you look up at the sky, be aware of the blanket of benevolence spread above you.

As you gently close your eyes, know that blessings are raining down upon you.

169

I found my little box of rocks I had collected from the high tide mard at beach at Fingal Lighthouse when I visited just before I went to Japan - hate to admit it but I had forgotten about them... I've been busy crocheting a couple into Crocheted Rock Art... it is such fun & I have orders for a few from my just as crazy friends cause I'm sure my hubby thinks I'm a tad crazy... ha ha

I think it's fun to do out of the 'norm' things myself plus it adds beauty to the world....

I didn't realise, until I looked at my photos, but this one is a bit like a heart shaped rock...

I will need to find some more lovely smooth rocks to do some more... ohh how I wish I was in New Zealand, [I have a daughter living there] they do have the loveliest of smooth grey/blue rocks that fit into the palm of your hand...
Jean, Thanks for the crochet cotton thread... it is being used well.

Angel Message... Do not waste your energy on that which is unworthy of you. Live fully in this precious moment with Joy.

168

While my sister & I were away in Japan her, hubby decided to go fishing/camping in a local spot they love to go. Their other camping friends told my sister they would look after/keep an eye out for him so it was rather a joke when one couple arrived with a Hot Rock

for him to keep his bed warm so he wouldn't be cold or lonely... when we got home & I saw the Hot Rock, I immediately asked my sister if I could crochet a cover for it as it was nice & smooth. I'm finding it very hard to find nice sized rounded smooth rocks & I've been wanting to crochet covers for rocks since I saw them first on Margaret OOman's blog Resurrection Fern. It took me no time at all to make the cover & put it on the Hot Rock...

My sister & hubby have gone camping/fishing again so they have taken the now Hot 'Crocheted' Rock with them to return to their friends... would love to be a fly on the tent wall, so to speak, to hear the reaction..

. [this is a five cent piece to show the size of the Hot 'Crocheted' Rock...]

Like I said I've been admiring Margaret's rocks for sometime now & was thrilled to see where Crochet Today [a crochet magazine] was publishing an interview with her & some patterns but for the life of me I could not find CT in any of our Newsagents so was on the lookout for them in the Airport bookshops/newsagents... I really thought I had missed this issue of the mag as I found on the CT website that they had their new issue out already... we are just soo behind here in Oz, sometimes... but low & behold when I had just finished the Hot Rock, I found the CT mag in our newsagent when we did our grocery shopping after coming home... yaaa.

I really didn't need the patterns, as such, but I wanted to know how Margaret finished the underside of her rocks which turned out to be just about the same as mine...

Well this looks like it for this post... I can't seem to download/upload? whatever, the rest of my photos & as it has taken me about 5 hours to get this far, I think I will call it quits for today...

Angel Messages... Take a good long look at something that may seem small & insignificant. Therein lies a big message.

167

Home again... Yes I have been away, again & not just up the road either... I've been on a week's holiday with my sister to visit her eldest son, his wife & their lovely girls... where you ask?... in Tokushima, Japan.

Yes you can see rice fields in town... so Tokushima is really more a country village even if it has a much bigger population than here...

Ohh what an experience it all was... the old knees let me down a bit but I soldiered on to have a great time... We saw lots of places, enjoyed being the 'only' Europeans in the area where we were treated with such kindness & respect. As for the food it was wonderful & a great experience... just take a look at this... yummmmmmm....

Joan's granddaughter's are beautiful but did get so very tired with all the running about plus going to kindy each day [they love to learn]- here they are having a nap on my bed before the night activities...

I had only been home less than an hour when I got a call from a Aged Care facility with a room for Mum... [& to think it was a facility that we never thought we would have a chance of getting Mum into... as they say 'Never say Never'... ] ohhh what a wonderful end to our holiday... Mum should be settled in permanent accommodation very soon...

166

Welcome to Spring... gosh it's the 1st September here Down Under & the weather is very changeable at the mo...
I have worked for 2 & half days putting photos up on my Flickr account for you to see all the wonderful crochet - ArtWork - in the Sydney Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef... the display has now closed but I will never forget it with the photos that I have... Do pop on over here & have a look... I have two sets of photos one of the reefs & how they were set up & the other just shows you the wonderful colours & texture of the crochet & all... You will be surprised to see all the different fibres/stuff/things that were used to make this wonderful crocheted reef...

Thanks to the girls from In Stitches for your incredible work of setting the reefs up - I know there was a lot more work than that, what with collecting & sorting & & &... the list goes on & now the pulling down... very time consuming but do know we appreciate it & it was the most fabulous show - 10 days wasn't really long enough eh?
Please do have a look & if you recognise 'your' piece of coral, pop on up to the top left of the photo & add a note... drag the square to your lovely piece of coral or even if it's one you want to ask something or say something about... it would be just so wonderful to know you all & know what you all think of the installation... look forward to meetin' you there...
Enjoy your spring...

165

Life is keeping me rather busy still - that is why I've not been on here with any updates...

My Mum is still waiting to go into a permanent aged care facility... the hold-up now being that she has now had to be re-accessed & is no longer 'low care' but 'high care'... not too good on her pins now so needs someone with her whenever she moves around & of course that's not much now. She is very sad & still quite crabby all the time but to cheer her up we keep taking some of her long-lost possessions that we are finding at her house so she can tell us the stories.

When we meet on Thursdays to do more on her house we can all share the stories she has told us so we are bonding again as grown-up children now collecting our valuable family history. Many are the things we are finding & ohhh so interesting... They[my parents] have had a wonderful life even if hard at times I think that makes for a more appreciative life.

Here is a drawing I had done of our old farm house some years back...

I have allotted myself to be the photo collector so have all the photos I can find so I can scan them & put them on USB sticks or discs to share with the family with names etc so it makes sense to the younger ones coming up the family ranks. You can't believe how many photos I have here to scan - I think every box of letters [some dating back to 1940] contained some photos - it will take me a month of Sundays for sure but I'll get there as they are too precious to lose. I guess this is the bane of photographers in the family....

In the meantime our eldest daughter got put into hospital with pneumonia so we had a quick dash to their home to help the family & spent a week there... Y. still wasn't the best when we left but there was just too much happening at home to be away longer...

Also been keeping my fingers busy with some crochet but need to concentrate on some items now as with-in 10days my sister & I are off to Japan to visit with her son & his family & I have presents I wish to complete to take with us. Sadly we have not had anytime to get organised or excited about this trip as Mum is filling all our thoughts, worrying about her welfare...

Thankfully we have now finished sorting the house... now it's time to get everyone to take what they want so we can see what is left... sad to see your old home in such a state of dishevelment as I lived there for a few years before going out & getting married myself, but my older sister & brother have never lived at this house so it doesn't have the same memories for them... A bit like our home here as we moved here since all our kids have made homes of their own so this home doesn't hold those special memories.

I did do something this week that I've had planned for sometime now & that was to fly to Sydney with my girlfriend Lucy to visit the Sydney PowerHouse Museum to see the Sydney Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef. We only went for the day but it was so well worth it... I think between us we took something like 300 - 400 photos & we still didn't get everything. The lighting was very dramatic so it made it somewhat hard to focus on the coral & strangely we found the red coral very hard to photograph. I would say we loved it as we spent nearly 5 hours there & I did get to meet three other artists plus Michaela who was one of the organisers... The girls did a fabulous job of putting the display together & it was very exciting to see my name in lights on the wall along with the other 343 participants.

I have culled the photos down to about 200 so there are way too many photos to show here, I'm loading them into my flicker account so do pop on over & have a looksee. Please also check out the Sydney Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef set too... Please, let your friends know too... Here is the blog site as well...

This is me with my first piece that I found... it sure was a thrill to find one of my pieces up there, front & centre, on one of the displays & I recognised some other folks work as well - if only we could of all been there together to meet one another... can you imagine the hum-ding we would of made... lol This was a very BIG bright spot in my week... thanks Lucy for sharing it with me & always encouraging me to do my 'thing'...

164

I thought I would pop in & let you know I'm still around but, life has been moving far too quickly for me of late & this has gotta be the first time I've been free for more than an hour in the last month or so... yes truly it has been this busy one way or another. [that busy, since writing this up I've been out to see the doctor...lol]
Last post I told you my Mum was in hospital... she now has to go into care so we are awaiting an aged care facility to have a placement for her... she is very sad she can't go home & it really breaks your heart to see her like this especially when she had looked after herself so well, for so long & she still ends up having to go into care... but I do think in time she will be happy with this new arrangement but this waiting time is very trying for her & us alike. We are now busy sorting her home & finding many many treasures... my sister found where I cost Mum & Dad the grand total of 10 pounds 11 shillings & 9 pence to be born at our local little hospital, wayyyyy back then... me t'inks this packing up her house will be taking an extra long time when we look at everything but we must...

To add to our worries my hubby's Mum past a week or so ago... she was very fraile & she was too tired to go on anymore. We had her Celebration of Life last week where I read the eulogy & we had a photo presentation of old & new photos of Mum with the family which gave everyone a good laugh remembering so many happy memories... & that is how I know, she would want us all to remember her... the fun & special times...

With such sadness, some happiness comes & this was in the form of all our kids coming home & having a big sleep-over [Nanna's favourite fun thing to do with the kids] after the funeral. They had all come from far, very far & nearer... flying, driving & just up the road. We have just bid the last one to leave, GoodBye, this morning so I guess life will go back to some sort of normality now... but what is 'normal'...

During all of this busyness in our lives, I have kept my hands busy to help stress free my mind, even though some days I did not get to crochet which was a shame.

During this time, we also have had a wonderful visit from our friends from over the ditch but, I will tell you about that another time. One of our friend's young daughter's fell in love with our Gilly [our toy poodle] so when Mum & Dad went shopping they found a grey/silver toy poodle soft toy which was not that much smaller than our Gilly to give their girl, as it's not too practical for them to have a house dog at this time. Everyone loves [&/or laughs] at our Gilly's crocheted vest so I made Hallie one for her toy dog too, as well as a collar... I found it a bit hard to make when you don't have the toy here to in front of you. I think it looks rather cute so would love to see her dog in it - if it fits???
Angel Messages… Fate is not what governs you. Fate is what you choose & create for yourself.

163

Well it seems I have done it again... what you ask?

Well I've missed the big Knitta Please Event at the National Gallery of Australia [in Canberra]

seems I was too busy living too hectic a life here... then I found out I not only missed the event in blogland but even in the real... it's all over, as it was on the 5th - 12th but don't let my slacko-ness stop you from popping over & having a look... it's amazing & I'm thinking my letterbox, even some of my palms could do with a little wrapping woolly goodness in this cold weather... so as soon as I send off my Coral Reef I'm into making some wraps for my place...

The Gallery has a Flickr site too...

Grrl+Dog was at the forefront of it all with her Guerilla Knitting... check out her place in the blogsphere... She has another great knitting event coming up too so do check it out...

Here are what other's have to show...

Buttontree Lane; Distilling Waters; Whispering Gums; Ms Textual...

I believe a lot of the Fun knitters are doing Sturt Winter School in Mittagong - a weeks classes with Loani Prior having a great time I hope... great work folks & to the folks from all over the world that contributed to Knitta Please...

162

Life is still throwing me many curly, curvy balls.
My Mum is still in hospital - improving slowly - my hubby's Mum is not well either - winter-time is not good to either of them.

Thank you to those of you that have sent me caring emails, they are much appreciated.

I've been hooking away[helps with the stress levels] & am thrilled to say that I have finally worked out what I was doing wrong with my crocheted corkscrews.
For the life of me, I couldn't make them stay curled & they wanted to lie flat... I even tried putting some elasticised beading thread through them but they still looked a bit dicky.
Thanks to Quoin who put a video up on U-tube just to show me 'how', so after looking at it several[many, many] times I got to see what I was doing wrong... I know I'm a bit slow but I did get it all on my own "eventually". I've now got my crocheted corkscrews sorted, so am now re-doing them on my new piece of Hyperbolic Coral Reef that I've been working on... I know I'm being pedantic but that's OK with me... ha ha

Angel Message... Say 'Thank You' promptly & open-heartedly.
Enjoy the warmth of Love offered to You.

161

Woo what a day... for that matter what a week... Today I see the world has lost a great entertainer whether you liked Micheal Jackson or not he gave so much to the world with his music... we also see the passing of Farrah Fawcett after her very public & brave battle with cancer - I don't think there would be many who didn't know her smile, her teeth & her 'hair'... there are rumors flying around that other greats have pasted today as well but time will tell...

I have also had a rather hectic week myself with my dear old 93 year old Mum having fallen again the day before her birthday last week & ending up in hospital over the weekend. She is fighting to stay with us but we thought she was going to go & be with Dad the other day. I've had my youngest daughter's birthday over the w/e, mine this week as well, but no one feeling at all like celebrating. Our eldest daughter arrived with her boys to visit with Nanna[Mum] but they have had to go, so we are to follow them now & stay bush for a few days over stocktake time.

Can anyone tell me if life ever settles to a lesser pace??? On the brighter side of things I have been to the doctors/hospital myself to have treatment on my shoulder so am anxious to get out there into our garden & trim a few shrubs, do some gardening & finish off some outside projects while my injected shoulder has little pain but I also have the weather against me[raining so often] so must not be meant to be... yet.

Eldest Grandie took this photo of me through a wet/rainy window...

I've been keeping my hands busy with crochet & I've made/crocheted my little mate, Gilly[our toy poodle] a cute jacket that looks like a singlet top & her mate Snowy a frilly jacket so they are looking rather smick at present. Sorry the photos aren't the clearest but these girls don't like to keep still for long...

And here's that thing... So what do you think it looks like???

160

Brrr it sure is cold at present... these mornings are hard to get motivated & the evenings are feeling cooler earlier in the day but the Sun is Shining & the weather is fine... it's cold cause it's winter here Down Under & we must be thankful that we don't get snow so why complain... well I think I must be pretty thin blooded or something, cause I'm feeling it this winter... NO it is not old age either, so you just keep that laughing to yourself, OK...
I've working away on a few things here & there but the weeks seem to be blurring into each other without too much effort... I have made another batch of Postcards for my international PostCrossing exchange. They take time to make but I do enjoy the creativity it involves plus I enjoy studying up on the different subjects/images I use so I can tell PostCrossing folks some interesting facts - I like to feel I'm a ambassador for Australia.

I made this case for one of my daughter's cell phones as she wanted to give her old phone sock to her son.

This is what I did with some of the flowers I've made... I have sewn them onto a piece of felt then attached a brooch back & a hair pin... I think they look quite smart & not too grandma-ish...

Now this is something that has been keeping me busy for a few weeks on & off... What is it??? Well it's nearly finished... then I can show you it... but I'm thinking it keep growing &now it's telling me it wants something else added so we will all be wondering I think...

Angle Messages... Try not to be affected by the words & attitudes of others. Instead, calmly consider you own words & attitude.

159

Ohh what wonderful weather we are having - it is offically winter here, it is mild but that's OK with me... not into having to wear heavy jumpers, etc...

I have had a lovely few days away on a Carer's Retreat up the north coast & then when I got home I had enough time to check the mail, wash & have a wee rest - well retreats can tire you out, you know - then off to the first Textile Art Festival - ohh how fantastic... right up my alley that's for sure... A festival/fair of all the textile arts... such as fibre, fabric & yarns & all the things that go with these textile/feely arts... Plus lots of lovely 'eye candy'... walls of displays/installations... plenty to get the creative juices overflowing with inspiration...

To say I enjoyed the Textile Art Festival would be a slight understatement but I really feel that it's a Festival that is catering for the more touchy feely arts - no matter what 'new' name they have for it these days...

I found this great feel good meditation [for want of a better explanation] on another couple of blogs. Do click on the link it will start your month of June out on the right foot for you, I'm sure... be patient as it does take a min or so to upload but well worth the wait... http://lshs64.com/enjoytheride.html

158

What a wonderful day I had yesterday... thanks to Art4Sol, living on the other side of the world, for pointing me in the right direction... I got to do a great workshop with Prudence Mapstone here in Brisbane... Prudence's specialises in Free-Form Crochet & has written several books about it + travels the world teaching - I feel honoured that she was home again to be able to do a workshop with her. Here is her blog of a Scrumble a Week...

We have the first Textile Arts Festival in Queensland this Fri - Sun & Prudence is here to have a stand there & then go on to do other Craft & Quilt shows in Oz. I'm looking forward to going to this the first Textile Arts Festival a festival of Fibre, Yarn & Fabric... do have a looksee at it...

The one thing I wanted to learn for sure was how to do the bullion stitch so was ecstatic when I finally got to do it... not a master at it for sure but, with practice I'll get better...

The top photo shows all our work together & the other photos are of the scrumble I did at the workshop + some close ups... still need to work on keeping it flat but I was thrill with my first effort.

Here is what I made when I got home...

Angel Message... Asking without giving invites dissatisfaction. Giving without asking leads to contentment.

157

Gosh everywhere I look on the net lately I've come across someone, somewhere, read/learning/doing Hyperbolic Crochet... some even call it FreeForming crochet but, I really think it is a Crochet of it's own, this thing called Hyperbolic Crochet. Have you seen the video of Margaret Wertheim from the Institute for Figuring talking about Hyperbolic Crochet - Crocheting a Coral Reef...

Now I might not know too much about mathematics[even had to look up how to spell that correctly] but I do know about bringing awareness to our World Famous Coral Reef along the coastline of Queensland & northern NSW - the Great Barrier Reef and how we must protect it, even protecting it from ourselves, our rubbish etc... Our reef is precious to our country & I'm sure to other countries that have their own reef systems. So do go have a look see at this video... I'm sure like me you will want to see it a few times to really absorb it all & when you have the time also look at the gallery area of the Institute for Figuring.

Sydney is having it's own instillation of a Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef in August 09 & many people the world over are contributing too it as has been done in other countries. They are working hard to put it all together in time & are holding workshops each month - wish I lived closer.

I've been working on some Hyperbolic crochet myself... just hyperbolic crochet flowers at present, to show but I am also working on some crocheted coral reef matter as well... if you are into crochet why not make something & send it along... I guarantee, you will have lots of fun making crochet reefs... Go on, have a Go... I dare you too....

Angel Messages... from the book by Juan Nakamori

Today's Message... You are protected this very moment, always & forever.

Take comfort in this & live your life in harmony with your Higher Self.

156

Well I'm determined to post something today... even if it's only a whinge... ha ha

Can't believe it is so long since I last posted but we have been up visiting the Grandie Boys again for about a week but came home with the 'dog's disease' - cold/flu, whatever you want to call it, all I know is it makes life very miserable so I have been hiding out in front of the cp just surfing...

We have have just got back from the quack[she really is the loveliest doctor one could ask for...] took the old boy along as well - he is sicker than me but it must be a 'boy' thing he wasn't going to the doc so when I said I was... amazingly he said he would come too... 'Men'... ya just gotta love 'em or you would k... 'em... anyway we are all dosed up so should be back on track in a few days... I have lots to tell you & show you too...

Thanks for stopping by my blog & leaving me comments I do really appreciate them each & everyone, even when I'm a slacko... I've had some folks say how lovely the purple flowered plant was I showed you last time... It is growing beautifully at my eldest daughter's... she took it outta it's pots & put it in the garden where is seems so very happy. I have mine in pots but I think they would like some new soil. The purple flower has a edge of white & the leaves are a lovely green... it is known here by two names Geisha Girl or China Doll - I have been told that one is the pot sort & the other the shrub size but me t'inks they are one & the same just grows to where you plant it. Here is a little write-up on it.

I do hope all the Mum's out there had a lovely Mother's Day... I know I did & of course I was very spoilt by one & all. This is what I had when I had coffee just before Mother's Day when I just 'had' to go get a few more 'craft' supplies before visiting the Grandie Boys again. It was a chocolate mud-cake cupcake & it tasted as good as it looked too... although it would be a waste on me this week...

I bought this lovely book a while ago & I love to read the messages out of it... it's just one of those books you just open to whatever page comes & it will be the right message... I thought I would share some of the messages with you from time to time...

The book is by Juan Nakamori... Angel Messages...

Today's Message:... Instead of angrily doling out blame, try to offer gentle encouragement. Do this regardless of whether you are dealing with yourself or others....

155

I think they call people like me a Slacko... cause I’ve not blogged in a while… but there again life does get more interesting in the ‘real’ from time to time…

We have had a lovely week away visiting the Grandees, celebrating the eldest Grandee’s birthday & spending Anzac Day with them. Sadly the Birthday Boy wasn’t able to march with Pa this year with his broken ankle but there is always next year…
On the other days I was able to do some crochet. Yes ‘crochet’…
I’m getting tired of lugging soo much stuff when we go to visit. It is so nice & quite, while there [our daughter lives in a little country town], I do so love to sew, paint or whatever takes my mood at the time but, like I say lugging it all is a pain but so is organising ‘myself’ to know 'what'. It’s lovely to be home again; surprisingly the weather has turned cooler while we have been away…

Now I was going to tell you about my ‘new’ adventure into ‘crochet’… Well it’s not really ‘new’ more like re-visited, as I’ve been crocheting since I was really quite young – I remember the first thing I really crocheted that was recognisable [to everyone, besides myself, that is…lol] was a ‘mod’ flower cap for my niece when she was about 4 or 5 so I must have been about 15 or 16 at the time. Mum says I was crocheting much younger than that but I’m wondering if my mind is slipping or hers???… ha ha anyway that still makes it over … well… a darn long time… ha ha thought you had got me didn’t you…
So what got me going again in such earnest, well I happened up Attic24’s blog – well worth your popping over to have a looksee at Lucy’s place. English Lucy of Attic24 is a whizz at crochet & takes the most wonderful photos too… so it has to be her fault I think… not that I need to blame anyone, as really, I had never given it all up… I usually do a bit each winter, but as our winter’s are so mild & short not too much gets done, let alone ‘finished’… if you know what I mean… lots of UFO’s - well not near as many as were at our old house.

I never knew there was such a wealth of crochet knowledge to be had until I started poking around on the net… free patterns galore too so I’ve been having a blast… Folks are crocheting all sorts of things from the usual doilies, rugs-afghans, beanies etc to Hypercolic crochet, Coral Reefs & exquisite jewellery – Man what mushroom have I been hiding under??? So enough for this time I’m off to do some hooking…

154

Well Easter is all over for another year... these school holidays are nearly done here in Qld so by next week all will be back to 'norm'... whatever/wherever 'norm' is these days...

This time next week we will be celebrating our eldest Grandson's 17th birthday... goodness that time has flown - poor fellow has a broken foot at present... not been his best year so far... but I know he is looking forward to his birthday with the gusto of youth.

I was driving over the Gateway this week & I was thrilled to see all these little Morris Minors driving north.

There were tradition coloured ones, wildly painted ones, real Girls ones as well was Boys ones, soft tops, utes & vans... fabulous to see them all, all looking their very best. Apparently they had their 14th Morris Minor National Rally here over Easter & this week is spent having a bit of a touring... Hope you all have a great time, as I noticed several were from Victoria, I was too busy looking at them all to notice the number plates until I ran outta cars... ohhh, how we love our little Morries... it all ends with a private viewing of a great collection of Morries in Toowoomba where the club first began 20 years ago... It was a shame that we never saw anything advertised or shown on the TV about the rally - we do watch the news every night but sadly these 'feel-good' events aren't newsworthy enough for TV news.

Did you notice this... umm must tell you about my new/re-newed adventure in craft... No, I never stop finding something else to do... just ask my hubby...

153

Here it is nearly in the middle of our Easter w/e... I do hope you are all having a wonderful Easter... celebrating as is appropriate for you... I've packed the eggs & they have been distributed to some of the Grandies with their socks... I often wonder what they will say in years to come ... 'our Grandie used to give us sock & a couple of chocolates each Easter... how boring...' but I know their parents are thankful of the socks & really we don't want them too have too much chocolate when it turns them into little [big] monsters... Now it looks like DH & me will have to finish off the last of the chocolate packets ... ummm... hope it won't turn us into monsters... ha ha
We have spent some time with family already... there will be more to come next week - all being well... I have a movie or too picked out already...

I've been doing a lot of blog surfing of late... I mean a real 'lot' in the last few months... seem to be in some sortta slump... I'm not really sad, just can't seem to get my lard a___ outta the chair & go make art or any kind, although I seem to have lots of ideas but actually accomplishing... well there seems to be an imaginary mountain to climb before I can start...

I know we all have these times - times of no mojo [but I have the ideas, so I don't really think it's that one] more like that Inner Critic saying 'you think you are 'that' good you can make 'that''... Yes I think it's more that Inner Critic that's inside my head- lately he seems to have taken over my whole being. I've noticed a lot of other bloggers seem to be going through the same dilemma of late... it got me thinking today - why today? you may ask... well, I woke after a reasonable sleep-in, feeling all refreshed & ready to face the world with more ideas but a way to accomplish my ideas as well, a way that pleased me & a way I know will work for me...

Like I was saying, I wonder why so many of us have these dilemmas at this present mo... could it be the lead-up to Easter - I mean the true Easter not the Easter Egg kind... death, rebirth - the birth of new critters... is it the death of our old ideas/work, that feeling of same old same old, wanting our Inner Critic to end his hold, the rebirth of new ideas & the means of making these new ideas into reality... to me, it seems to all fit... maybe I've been married to a Vietnam vet for too long... anticipating his down times & keeping him on an even keel...

No matter how it happens so long as we all get ourselves back on track... doing what feels right for us... End the reign of our Inner Critic...

Enjoy the rest of your Easter & Stay Safe...