Life in Lockdown ?

Still waiting for  all that "Spare Time" to materialise.

I must admit to quipping that "We are waiting for the Weeds to grow - so we can pull them out!" 

Although, there are plenty at DD's to keep us occupied and still keep within the Physical Distance rules.

(There's a Gate here somewhere....)

Back at home I have been getting on with some projects

 that were not on "The List"

We recovered the small Ironing board - padding out with some reflective batting - I will see how that goes before tackling the larger 1800 x 600 Quilt board.

I also dusted off the Over-locker and got it Working.
(I can't remember the last time I used it!)

Next to Elbow its way to the top of the List is our
"Well who says we can't have fun while having a takeaway Coffee in the Car" project.

Basically it is a very narrow Table Cloth,
Or an exceptionally Long Serviette...

Either way it is an effective Crumb Catcher for Brekkie on the Go.

Today was the first "Let's have Breakfast Out" day in a month - Yes folks it has ONLY been a month!

Finally I have been able to finish a Project that was in danger of becoming a UFO.

A Ballet Bag for my Great Niece who turns 5 on May 4.

Now all I have to do is work out How to get it to Her!

As I was about to finish this Post, DH presented me with this.

The Rose does not know what is happening in the World other than the Air is clearer and the Rain sweeter and so it continues to bring Joy and Pleasure with its delicate fragrance.

Happy Sunday Everyone.

Stay Safe.

ANZAC DAY 2020

Commemorations and Catch Ups over a Beer and a Game of Two-Up. Not this Year.
Not since the 1919 Spanish Flu Pandemic have we been asked to Not Come.

Today we were asked to Remember Them - At Home.

Some Stood at Dawn in Gateways with Candles, Others created their own Eternal Flame with a Brazier and Flags.

Those that could from Children to Oldies played "Last Post" on any Instrument they had.
Eerie, Beautiful, Poignant.

From Simulcasts at the War Memorials to Wreaths made from Red Cup Cake Wrappers and Chalk on the Pavements-

We DID remember Them

They Will not be Forgotten.

22nd April 2010

Marks Quilt "Shattered"
read the story on my "Quilt with no name" page

It has been 10 years since we lost him.

I still miss the random knock on the back door
and the inevitable Opening Line

"Hey - Aunty Wendy!
Do you know where I can get...."

Time passes - the hurt remains.  My Brother and Sister in Law cannot bring themselves to visit him.  It is left to me. 

Lets Hope and Pray that there will come a day when everyone can go to work and come home safely again, and that NO ONE will have to go through what we did 10 years ago.

Stop "Workplace Accidents".

Thought for the Day

Gardening is a very pleasurable pastime especially in these times of having to 'Stay at Home'

I didn't mind the Cabbage Moth Butterflies
until I planted Cabbages....

Other Bugs have come in for a look.

These are (according to our friend the Entomologist) a variety of "Stink Bugs" and not to be too concerned...

Fine as long as you don't step on them!

Then there are the Bees.

They are working frantically while the weather is still warm and the flowers are plentiful.

The Beekeeper down the road will be reaping the rewards of our Pollinator Garden and all is buzzing along beautifully.

BUT

Don't presume that just because the flowers are finished that the Bees are too....

Yep - I learnt a valuable and painful lesson - It not HOW you get the Sting out but how QUICKLY you do!

I think I am going to have to be EXTRA careful with wearing gardening gloves in the future.

Easter Sunday 2020

Today is Easter Sunday -
A Day when we Celebrate Passover,
Or the Resurrection of Our Lord .

Maybe it is the Arrival of the Easter Bunny that has provided a welcome distraction from the current events.

However you are Celebrating this Day - Give a Thought to those on the Front Line who are separated from their Families so they can Care for Yours.

We can't shake their hand - 

BUT we Can

Just Buy Them A Coffee

(Click the Link to find out How)

*"After consulting with Healthcare professionals - the most common request for support was 

"A Cup of Coffee"

The Appreciation Page allows us to pay for a Coffee for Hospital Staff in Various Locations in AUS (City and Regional) as well as NZ. 

Speaking personally, Our 'Coffee Budget' is looking fairly healthy at the moment. 

And although we live in Melbourne, we are more than happy to shout a coffee for a Nurse in Hobart or a Doctor in Dubbo (NSW).

We can do this!

Mark 9:41

*Source:

www.weekendnotes.com/buy-them-a-coffee

Tri-Panel Quilt

I have finally been able to find the binding and finish the Oriental Quilt I have been working on for the past 2 - 3 years.

The pattern I used was Leesa Chandler's 'Southern Jewels 2". 

An Oriental Border Print was an easy choice for the main panels however finding "Just the right" fabric choices for the rest was a bit harder to decide on.

All it needs is a label and a Name...

"Eastern Jewels" perhaps?

I'm Still Here...

3:30 pm on a Tuesday afternoon in the middle of School Holidays the Local Shopping Center should be a bustle of tired parents with irritated children being dragged around for new shoes or the obligatory haircut.

Today it is eerily deserted.

Local Playgrounds became an Oasis for Children and their Parents who have wanted to get out of the house.

Last week the Council closed ALL of them.

(Oddly this is the first time in 40 years that I have seen people actually respecting a playground barrier.)

So Paddington, who has kept watch from my bedroom door since I was 17, has decided it is time to do his bit to cheer the Children in the street, by joining the Bear Hunt.

(He has recently been joined by little Prayer Bear)

In all of this 'New Normal' there is still a Household to run and an elderly Mother to assist and I find myself wondering where all this 'Spare Time' is supposed to appear from...

So, in precious moments that I can call my own.

I have been working on my Temperature Quilt

While listening to "The Secret Garden" (a free Audio Book) I passed through Winter and into Spring.
12 Sections of 25 Blocks finished and now 'Just' 70 more blocks to go.

The End is in sight!

House Hunting

SUCCESS!

Tonight they were able to
(with Socially Acceptable Distances Observed)
place the SOLD sticker on their First Home.

And as they say

"Pics or it Didn't Happen"

The Obligatory Selfie!

So glad that they were able to finalise the sale

 before the Stage 3 restrictions came in.

They are Happy.