Fun at the fun park

While everyone else was struggling with soaking wet slippery slides, too fast cornering down steep hills and sunshine, I was quietly enjoying a break from housework.

With just a friend to talk too, icecream to eat and a wonderful shady roof over my head I was able to spend Saturday crocheting to my hearts content.

.

What to wear for walking.

We stayed at the Falls Mountain Retreat in Wentworth Falls. 

We had a top studio with a rear outlook onto trees and the central courtyard in the front.
It was a lovely quiet place to stay

OK Here I am ready for a bushwalk in the Blue Mts.

I haven't been bushwalking in years but I did grow up doing a fair amount.

If there are any runners in my possesion I can't remember where they are so I donned these flat sandals.

Then we came to our first off-the-track spot.

The water was divinely cool and we took advantage of it by having a little splashing fun.

Next stop down the track and I still haven't returned the shoes to my feet.

I love walking barefooted.

Even through mud.

And over stones.

I've discovered (?) that my knees no longer have that old spring in them so walking without shoes helps me to get a better feel for the surface and react quicker than I would with shoes.

Maybe I am still just a little kid but it seems like my daughter enjoys the experience too.

She did end up putting her runers back on but I walked all the way home in my bare feet (except for the bits of hot tar on the final stretch!).

My blouse is a genuine, baggy $10 top from Millers that started with a full collar, longer length and rolled up sleeves secured with tabs. 

It's one of the few things I have bought new for a while but even then my intention was simply to use the basic cut and light material and transform it into my own product.

I've shirred about 2 inches at waist height between the back darts, shortened the overall lenth as well as the sleeves and replaced the collar with a v-neck. 

The crochet detail was originally a round doily. 

There was only enough for the front of the blouse so now I know that I would need a bigger doily or a smaller width from the outside of the same size doily to go around the full neck.

I simply cut it in half after removing the centre, sewed the edges down and bound the whole neck with a bit of bias made from the leftovers. 

The central crochet flower is to hide the fact that I've stretched the neck a bit in the making.

Grand Creations

Mostly we all have craft blogs. We love to make and do and create new. We love the comments we get prainsing our abilities.

But do we ever stop to think and thank the Grand Creator for the things we can only copy?

colour

form

 shadow play

 shapes

 playfulness

 contrasts

 curves

 delicacy

strength

greatness

November is my no-spender

Well it has finally happened.
After a couple of years of enjoying the rewards of constant op-shopping I have been put on a diet.
Almost like an AA for op-shoppers.
I have promised to not frequent or possibly even enter these places for the whole month of November.
It is going to be hard, real hard.
I'll have to take the less scenic route into town now so that the desire of my eyes does not force me to make a little foray in to my favourite one.
But at least I have admitted I have a problem.
So anyone else up around here who loves vintage tablecloths, doilies and crocheted cardies can rest easy for this month knowing that the said items will still be there for them when they get there a little later than I used to.......
Please think of me people's while you are enjoying your month of goodies.

O and did I tell you I have also pledged not to buy anything unnecessary for November either?
Sadly that also is true.

And if I just slip up and post about some special goodies (wink, wink) please don't tell the local police, er, I mean my daughters.
I don't weant to get in trouble.

Sigh.
Well here goes.....

These pictures that my son took have nothing to do with this post.
But I still like them.

Thanks Tinniegirl and Curlypops for a fantastic Blogtoberfest.

PS Monetpaisley has just offered to go shopping on my
behalf in November which makes me feel SO much better.
lol

Old Bar Festival

I forgot to take photos whilst browsing around the market stalls.
It was good but as a crafter I was saddened to see no true craft stalls, mostly imports with only one stall selling vintage goods.
We got to watch "Celebrity Chefs" Mossy & Gabe preparing spring lamb cuts with greek salad and also had a little taste.
Yummo!
Especially the salad.
Maybe I'll try Old Bar's 100 odd garage sales next time it is on. It might be more up my alley.
See you tomorrow.

I always love the ocean

Sometimes I'm scared of it.
I've even had nightmares but funnily enough that is only when I don't live near it.
But here in Forster on the NSW mid north coast the sea is always there.
Every day you can see it's mood by the colours and sparkle or lack of it.
Today it was displaying it's marvelous blue green.
Happy and just right for the holidays.
Some days it sparkles with pure abandon, frosted in diamonds from end to end.
Other times it sulks in heavy blue-grey, telling you it is time to head on home for a warm cuppa.
There may be sea mists that come over in the evenings or dark clouds drenching the horizon.
If you listen carefully at night when all the traffic has gone you can hear the waves rolling in
and out or crashing about if the winds are up.
Because winds are also part of the fabric of life in Forster.
Winds and the smell of salt.
So refreshing.
If you ever need your head cleared come to Forster.
If you are anything like me you will find it just perfect.
PS We also have 6 op shops right here in the twin towns and many more within a 40 mins drive.

Wordless Sunday

Seven things you probably didn't know about me

Ok. So Joanne from Framed -A Photographic Blog has kindly awarded me the Beautiful Blog award. I'm not normally into these types of things but I've seen this one around and rather enjoyed reading some of them.

So here goes.
Seven things you probably don't know about me.

* I read my Bible every night and believe that all the Bible propecies will come true soon.

* I useed to live in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea when I was a kid and am totally devastated that all my memories and homes and schools and shops and and the bung (market) and the airport that sold the best chewing gum in the world (or maybe just the best wrappers) are now buried under metres of volcanic ash.

* I love cows and unfortunately also the smell of cattle trucks. Goes back to having lived on a farm for a year in my childhood.

* I love, love, love windy days and crashing lightening and thunder (my apologies to anyone who has ever been hurt in any of these situations).

* I hate cooking and ironing.

* I love the bush and the ocean although I cannot swim.

* I have had two miscarriages and three living babies.

There so now you know a little bit more about me.

Now I am supposed to nominate some more people to share this award with. This is where I really come unstuck because I want to send this to all the blogs I read but don't know if you like awards and can't remember if you have already received this.
So I am sending this out to anyone who comments on this post.
And thankyou Joanne too.

These pictures are from last weekends road trip to Tamworth. I am very proud of my youngest daughter who did all the driving including really windy and very steep roads, crossing single lane bridges and ones without any siderails and driving always within the speed limits. No one got sick which was even better.

Time to say goodbye but it's all covered in the log book

And all the long miles for this lovely extended weekend away were recorded in my DD2's learners licence log book which is covered in scraps of Denyse Schmidt fabrics and some lace from the stash.