Well I think I’m organised and you will forgive me if I mention yet again my operation.

I am incredibly nervous, terrified in fact. Not so much of the operation itself, but the waiting that goes with it, the unknown pain levels afterwards and just the thought of “Will I be able to cope with doing nothing?” I guess that’s all part of any surgery at any time. I’m trying to keep myself positive and it helps so much knowing that my hubby and kids are there and more than willing to help me as much as possible so I can recover faster. I just wish I could fast forward the day 24 hours and it would all be over by now.

Have I made the right decision to go though with the surgery? Absolutely Yes….in fact a resounding YES.

I had to do a small amount of hand sewing today - not more than five minutes worth in fixing the binding on Nicola’s quilt. She had asked me sometime ago to fix it - but in the confusion rush to get everything else done I had forgotten. A gentle reminder (ie Nicola waved it under my nose this morning) prompted me to get on with it. Talk about agony. It was excruciating so that alone has convinced me I’m doing the right thing.

The house is organized, washing done, ironing will be completed this afternoon. Tomorrow nights meal is out of the freezer and defrosting (Chicken Casserole and Apple Pie). I have made a huge pot of vegetable soup working on the theory that when I get home I won’t feel like anything else. My hands are in pretty good condition - so long as I don’t hand sew…vbg. I have followed advice and been resting them and the photos I have been showing in recent posts are from previous weeks - not this week so please don’t think I’ve been cheating….roflmol.

The phamplet and other information from the hospital regarding the surgery arrived this morning in the mail. I made the mistake of standing at the car reading it before I went to buy the last few groceries - talk about pass me a bucket. While the photos were very clinical (and extremely well drawn I might add) I really didn’t want/need/desire to see them…but I have been a good patient, read all the information and am now fully informed. It was nice to read that I didn’t need to shave anywhere for this op……wicked grin.

And so dear friends I shall leave you photos of my garden (taken in good years when we had rain) to tide you over until I’m back again. Thank you all for the supportive emails and comments you have left not only about my op but also about my sewing and gardening endeavors. While I shall never aspire to have a blog post which receives 100 replies or more, I am more than content with the readers I have - your support and friendship means the world to me. I will get Ashley or Elise to post how I’m going for those who may be curious and no there won’t be any graphic photos of my wounds - I couldn’t look at them so why should you…lol.

Chat to you soon

Good grief I have actually managed to post every day for nearly a week. Now I’m organised it will all come to a screaming halt on Friday darn it.  Never mind hopefully there has been enough eye candy to keep you going for a while.

I finished the last  two of the Baltimore Blues Blocks I had to make courtesy of Sindy’s web site Fat Cat Patterns.  Sindy has rearranged things a bit and it’s definitely a slicker site but with lots of fabulous patterns as always - do pop over and check it out.

Block 3 (or March as it is other wise known) was wonderful.

Simple, stylish and my kind of block.  While I love the Baltimore blocks I’m tending to lean towards the simplier variety as more my style if you know what I mean.  Not to mention the fact that they are easy to sew.  I used a wider and more open zig zag on these blocks and I’m far happier with the result than the satin stitch I had used on February’s block.

Block 4 - aka March - had lots of little tiny leaves that were a right royal pain even with the new improved zig zag I was doing. I was soooooo glad to get it done.  At first I thought I would leave them out - but the block didn’t look right without them - so in they went.

Now I’m all caught up on these blocks.  May’s block can wait until I am able to commence sewing again.

I also found time to make up James’s Guinea Pig Cushion that i had promised to do after Ben the Guinea Pig passed away.  It suddenly dawned on me last week that I had better get my butt into gear or poor James would be waiting for a while.  The pattern was another of Sindy’s fantastic patterns.  Check out her Hooty Toot Owl pattern while you are there (it’s on the same page) they are sooooo cute and very tempting to make….not that I need another project.

Now can you tell just how proud and pleased James is of his cushion??????

I used flanelette for the cushion front (check out the cute lady bugs I couldn’t resist…vbg) and checked green and white flanelette for the back. It was so easy to applique onto. I just ironed a bit of interfacing,  cut so it was just larger than the applique,  to the back of the cushion front which made it super easy to sew and gave a nice crisp finish to the guinea pig.  By not interfacing the entire cushion front means it has retained its softness and is really cuddly.

This morning it’s lovely and overcast but not looking like rain so I have pottered in the vegie garden for a little while weeding and putting in some seedlings that needed planting.  Not that there were many.  I also managed to pot up the Pigeon Pea plants that  I had successfully grown from seed - so they can now grow nice and strong in their little pots until next Spring when they will be planted out.

Pigeon pea is a a legume crop which provides shade and food for not only humans but also poultry which is one reason why I want to try them.  Where is some information here at Wikpedia and also some here.  I popped the seeds into boiling water for about a minute then planted them into seed raising mix with vermiculite over the top and had the most success I have ever had.  Out of 10 seeds 8 germinated.  Last year out of all I planted only two grew and they were poor specimens - but to be fair I just planted them in the potting mix and didn’t soak them in hot water first.

The pumpkins are nearly ready to pick - I couldn’t resist picking one the other night and we had it roasted - yum.  There are self sown lettuces by the bucket full but I’m not going to pull them out - they are the lovely crisp butter head type really delish in a sandwhich.  It’s a pity we get frost as there are also heaps of self sown tomatoes coming up - but they wouldn’t survive the winter unfortunately and I’m not about to start constructing hot houses for them.   The rest of the vegie garden is a jungle of weeds unfortunately but as there is a fence to go up down there I’m not too stressed about it at the moment.  Now Ashley has the post hole attachments to go on the Kanga plus a pile of wooden posts - there should be no excuse not to get moving on it.  What a pity I won’t be able to help other than to supervise……wickedly grinning at the thought.

Right I’m off to whip up something for lunch then to do a bit of paperwork - boring she cries - then a few more blocks in the Home Circle Quilt I’m making for Elise.  I’m going to try bribery. If I can get the blocks done before Friday I’m going to see if she will sew them together (pretty simple stuff) and if that’s done she can quilt it on the gammill.  What do you think my chances are????  Have a lovely day.

Finally the hospital has rung to give me a time for my surgery on Friday. I have to be at the hospital at 8 am and possible surgery time will be 9 am, depending on how the procedure/s before me go.

I will have both arms in a sling - an excellent reminder to the kids and Ashley I can’t do anything…wicked grin. I also have to see the Occupational Therapist to work out what I can and can’t do. Then it’s just a matter of rest and relaxation and allow my hands to heal. The Admissions Nurse had a chuckle when I said I had raised three independent children - I think she has kids of her own - and that there were more than capable of taking over for me. Time will tell.

So now the pantry is stocked and cleaned. The linen press sorted, so there is no excuse they can’t find anything. Laundry room is tidy so everyone can find the washing machine and iron/ironing board. Meals are stacked and sorted in the freezer. Toilet rolls are laid on by the packet full because that is the one thing we will run out of. Menus for the month are organsied and on the fridge so everyone can see what they are eating and when. Even my sewing room has had a bit of a tidy with the more precious/don’t want the kids to cut them up by mistake items put away. There are a pile of new books and magazines ready for me to read and I might just stock up on a few DVD’s to watch along with some old favorites.

Gosh to think I will be allowed to spend the entire day/s in my pj’s and no one can complain like they normally do….roflmol.

Lissa mentioned that she was doing the blocks for a Block of the Month quilt in a recent email and I just had to check it out.  Now I admit that while I like the idea of BOM’s normally I don’t like the quilts that you end up with - Baltimore Blues being the exception, this one however said “Make me!”.  So following the link on her side bar I entered the world of Claudia’s Quilt Shop and her amazing Block of the Month quilt - which I might add is free.

Duly hooked I printed out the instructions that were there (several months worth) and decided that it would be a nice easy quilt to make when my hands were better.  Thinking I would show Elise and guage her reaction - imagine my surprise when she said “I really like that and I want to make it!”  Good grief - knock me down with a feather and all that but who am I to argue.  It possibly helped heaps that I had just received my parcel from Homestead Hearth and all those lovely bright fat quarters were in said parcel and Darling Daughter couldn’t resist them…..wicked grin.

So far Elise has made Month 1- Nine Patch Blocks

Month 2 - Four Patch Blocks

and Month 3 - Double Four Patch Blocks.

I just looooove the fabrics and if it wasn’t for the fact that Ashley would disown me/divorce me/have heart failure - I would buy some more of them.  It has helped that Elise even had some scraps of bright fabrics from other projects and it has been a good way to use them up.

I should warn you this may be a long and slow quilt to be made.  These blocks, while easy, are being fitted in between homework and school so they will be done as time permits.  Next Elise has to make Frayed Four Patch Blocks which I think she has the pieces cut for already then some houses which both of us just adore.  Check out her piecing by the way - not even my corners meet as well as hers do and she is a whizz at the rotary cutter.  Being a really good Mum (not) I’m staying out of the way - I was threatened with a large bundle of scraps - which I might add were too small to do anything with - and told not to interfere.  The cheek of it and it’s my machine she is using…..vbg.

Now you know me. You know I would never, ever celebrate the fact that it is Monday morning and all the children are back at school after two weeks holidays. You know I would never, ever celebrate the fact that there is just me, four dogs and a cat at home all by our lonesomes. Yeah right - guess who is doing the happy dance this morning…wicked grin.

I had to share some photos of the weekends adventures. Ashley decided, that after much pulling of hair, stripping of parts and rebuilding that his race car/buggy was ready for a test drive. Hmmmmm I could think of far more exciting things to do but being a dutiful wife I went…..actually I wasn’t given a choice.

Now I have to tell you that the sight of this race car, or any of his previous race cars, do not fill me with delight - but Ashley informs me it is safer than the car I drive every day. It possibly is - I just don’t want to think about it.

A saftey harness is a must and boy was it tight to do up. Look at the look of concentraction on his face!!!!

Off in a cloud of dust. Ashley had his GPS with him to check his speed. 154 km!!!!! I’m not kidding, I looked at the GPS too. ……and apparently he hadn’t hit top speed.

While it was easy for Ashley to negoitate the trail of destruction that the dust storm last week had created - it took some creative driving for the Range Rover to follow the same path.

If it wasn’t for the fact it’s my husband in this car I would love this photo.

Seriously though - Ashley is quite safe. He takes extreme care in making sure the car is as safe as possible. He wears a fire rated suit, gloves, shoes and helmet and has up to date seat belts/harness. It’s just me that worries. The Race Car Driver has a ball! First race is the weekend after my op but it’s only 30 mins from home so whether I go or not depends on the pain levels. He has told me he is taking the bus so I can be in comfort and is thinking about camping for the night - many of the competitors do and it is supposed to be a real family event which will be nice.

So after all that excitement James and I did some gardening.  He announced at Murrabit that he wanted some plants so he could have his own garden.  Hmmmm what does one buy an eight year old boy that he won’t kill instantly, will survive lack of attention and water and still look interesting/funky/the type of thing your mother loathes.

Cacti of course.

Prickly enough that Milly won’t touch them (trust me I know!!), different enough that his sisters wouldn’t want the same and tough enough to survive anything - well just about anything.

Actually I have to admit they are kind of fun and look good and just maybe we might have to extend the collection a little.  Each plant was $1 and the pot was from the Op Shop and the black stones were kind of cool and one cacti looks like it might even flower and lets fact it it’s a drought and these are drought tolerant.  Ohhh I don’t need more plants - I just admire these for a while.  Well until I find some more…vbg.

I’m off to enjoy the peace and quiet and to continue cleaning.  I hope your Monday is a good one.

As I mentioned in my last post we were supposed to be going to Bendigo on Wednesday for a shopping/explore the op shops/visit spotlight trip.  Unfortunately Elise wasn’t feeling well and my hands were incredibly sore so we cancelled the expedition - and it would have been an expedition - Me and four children….hmmmmm…it could have been interesting.

Instead we organised a sewing day here.  Elise and Belinda had picked out fabric well before Christmas to make a bag each.  Part of the long running process to not only teach them to sew but to get them hooked on patchwork.  Yes my mind does work along devious means at times….wicked grin.

It is getting to the stage where I need a bigger sewing room.  With three of us in there sewing room is becoming a premium - mind you a clean up may help…. just a little….vbg.  That might be this weeks job.

Belinda was allowed to sew her bag but only with close supervision from Jess.

Belinda’s Bag

Elise’s bag.  Both girls used the quilt as you go method which made it really quick and easy - even if Belinda did have my sewing machine set on it’s slowest rate…vbg.  I don’t think she was impressed when Elise speeded it up for her……although she did cope very well with going a bit quicker.

A reward for me was the arrival of my fabric from Homestead Hearth.  I have been itching to try some of the Aunt Grace 1930’s fabrics and couldn’t resist a fat quarter pack of all 30 fabrics.  Now to work out what I want to make with them.  Some ideas are floating around but nothing definite yet.

I also couldn’t resist a remant pack of Civil War fabrics (at least I think that’s what I ordered).  Either way I love them and ideas are starting to brew as to what to make with them.

There was also a bundle of 25 fat quarters in bright fabrics but Elise snaffled them before I could photograph them.  Photos of what she is making with them soon.

By the end of the day I was exhausted.  Between making apricot jam, teaching sewing, running a parcel or two down the street for Ashley and fondling fabrics it was a very long day.

Just had to show you James’s latest purchase…vbg.

On Tuesday Nicola, James and I did a quick stop off at the local St Vinnie’s Op Shop. We were meant to be going to Bendigo Wednesday but didn’t end up going. Needless to say James was very upset as he wanted to spend his pocket money - so a quick stop off at any shop was just what was needed and as I was already down the street it wasn’t too much out of my way.

The kids were busy cruising around as kids do - I’m hunting for bargains when all of a sudden Nicola comes running up yelling “James’s wants to buy a sewing machine!!!!”. Well of course the whole store heard that. Me being me was intrigued and ready to talk him out of such a purchase until I saw the machine.

Isn’t it just gorgeous…….and green!!!!!!!

Look at the price and James was warned (by me) that if it didn’t work he had done his money. No probs says James - I’ll sell it on ebay and get my money back. Not likely son. I’m no expert but I think that machine has some history.

Look at that gleaming paint work - if only I would look that good at that age…vbg.

It even had a reverse lever and a bobbin winder that is much the same as the kind you find on the older Singer Sewing Machines.

The Pinnock Company was established at Elizabeth in South Australia before General Motors Holden became Elizabeth’s main employer. They were the only sewing machine industry in Australia at the time and were employing fifty people making machines for export. You can find more information here at The Needlebar including a photo of Mr Pinnock, the grandson of the companies founder, a photo of the factory and some of it’s employees. There are other photos here of more Pinnock Sewing Machines - James’s machine is also pictured.

Ohh and yes the machine does work. Ashley needs to get a new belt for it. It’s one of the “v” shaped ones like you get on a Singer sewing machine and then it should be all systems go - it ran with the belt it had on it but not as good as if it was the correct belt. There was very little dust or dirty build up on any of the parts (someone has cared for it) and the paint work is in nearly new condition. One or two minor scratches you can see in the bottom photo and there is a bit of paint missing right near where the cotton reel sits and that’s it.

So what can I say - I have trained my boy well and he is well on his way to his own sewing machine collection. I must add - Nicola wouldn’t buy the machine cause she was worried it wouldn’t work and when she found out it did spent the rest of the afternoon saying how she preferred her old Singer but if I wanted to buy a new machine for her (the emphasis being on “new”) I could go ahead with her blessing. Figure that one out if you can.

At last Ashley mediated between the camera and computer and got them talking again….vbg….so for your viewing pleasure the last of the Block of The Day blocks are posted to my flickr album for those interested.  There will be no more posted for a month or so or until I can sew again which ever comes first.

I confess to “cheating” a little on a few of them.  Applique is not my thing - I don’t mind the Baltimore Blues blocks I’m working on but some of the Block of The Day blocks just don’t grab me.  Still I did make a committment to myself that I would try all the blocks - so a small “fudging” of the applique ones is permitted.  Well I’m permitting myelf…vbg.

April 23rd’s block is a prime example.  You can see by the calender there were a lot of these clusters of leaves and they were tiny…..and I mean really tiny and to be honest I just couldn’t be bothered with anything that small.  Plus I had the dilemma of how do I do that bias - when my bias skills range from non existant to incredibly bad.  So I fudged the block - did the bias lines with silk ribbon in a stem stitch and made only four flowers instead and in the end I quite like this block. Don’t mind the thread on the bottom corner flower.  Elise was taking photos so I shall blame her.

Some blocks I loved - despite their having fiddly peices - April 12 being one of them.  I could see this in all different shades of blue on a white back ground.

April 24 was a cutey and all done with 2.5 inch strips - a great stash buster idea I think.  I could see this in a really scrappy quilt.

May 8 - in my humble opinion - is another good stash buster block.  All 2.5 inch squares and strips and sooooo easy to put together.

I should have said right back when I started these blocks that if anyone sees any block that they particularly love and want the name or details of it - please ask.  I haven’t included the names cause I’m too lazy and quite frankly looking up a date is easier….lol…but I’m prepared to put in the leg work for anyone interested.  Please just leave a comment and I will email you with the information you require.

Bonnie, at Quiltville, found the most stunning quilt in an antique shop while on one of her trips.   You can see the post about it here.  Bonnie decided to make the block herself and call it “Kentucky Album” and it really is stunning.

Of course in the wonderful style of blogging one thing lead to another and Judy at Quilting with Ragdolls  has decided that she would also like to make this quilt using Civil War Fabrics and put out a call for anyone who might know the name of the block or where she might find a pattern.

Well me being me and with nothing else to do, did a bit of a search and found this fascinating web site Patterns from History which just happened to have that particular pattern and best of all it’s free!!!  The block is known under the names of Chimney Sweep or Album Patch.  Mind you there are probably plenty of other names for it as a great many blocks seem to have plenty of aliases depending on who and where they were made - which I think is just part of the fun of quilting.  Needless to say I have passed on the link to Judy and I hope it is what she is looking for.

As for me - weeeeellll I don’t need another project but it is a really pretty block and I do like the idea of using those Civil War fabrics or for that matter any fabrics at all - soooooo it just might go onto the to do list.

On achievable things today -  I have cleaned the house while the girls did home work (yes even on school holidays they have homework) and James went to work with Ashley this morning.  Nicola has worked on her latest quilt “Star Struck” another of Bonnie’s wonderful Scrap quilts. She is making 25 blocks in total and has made really good progress.  So far the strips are sewn together, been cut into 4.5 inch blocks and approx fifteen of those blocks have the corner triangles sewn on.  I have to say I’m impressed at the speed that Nicola is sewing at and the accuracy of her seams.  Far better than her mothers at time.  I would post a photo of what she has achieved but for some reason the computer and camera are not speaking to each other so I can’t until Ashley can sort out the problem.  I was also going to put the Block A Day photos in my flickr album but that didn’t happen either. Hopefully tomorrow.

Fast post but just had to let the world know…..ie you wonderful readers….that I have finished all the Block A Day blocks up to and including May 11.

Guess who is now really doing the Happy Dance……roflmol.

Photos will be uploaded to my Flickr site as soon as I’m organised.

It’s such a relief to have those blocks out of the way. Now I just have two Baltimore Blues blocks to make - which will be relatively quick and easy - I hope - and I’m just about organised and I still have another week to go of the holidays.

I hope your weekend is going as good as mine.