Mel does the Fleurieu Penninsula

BEWARE PHOTO HEAVY POST

Tony and I have just had a few days away, we stayed at this beautiful cottage in the Inman Valley. It was the most restful, peaceful place and I recommend it wholeheartedly.

It is not suitable for children which is why we left ours at home Hee Hee.
You can visit their website here.
Here are some of the views from the cottage.

Look they even knew I was coming and had a stitching chair with a light in the corner.

They are not on the electricity grid and generate their own power via a wind turbine. It was the most lovely place to stay.
As you may have noticed Mel came, they allow monkees made of knit but not children.
These were some of the locals.

Mel insistded that we visit some local attractions, the first being.

He wasn't interested in the home made crafts only the Premium wines luckily the cellar door was not open the day we were there or so I lied.

We went to Cape Jervis Mel wanted to go to Kangaroo Island we said we would do that another day. Tony was there just in case he jumped overboard he was soooo depressed when we told him the winery was not open.

We saw the wind farm.

South Australia is so brown we have had a little rain over the past few days but we need such a lot more to make it look lovely and green again.
We then went to Victor Harbor and over to Granite Island.

Doesn't that boy look a bit intimidated by him, perhaps that is because some crazed women threw this green knitted monkee up to him and asked could she take a photo.

There was much talk about pengiuins and Mel was eager to meet one.

I explained that the penguins only came out at night so he had to settle for a cuddle with these.

He had a very scary experience with this very large fellow but we will not go into that.

I had better go now catch up on bloglines and sorry if I have not replied to your comments I will try really hard to do that today. Oh I did get quite a lot of knitting done while I was away will take a photo soon.

Happy Easter & PIF

It’s the Pay It Forward Exchange. It’s based of the concept of the movie “Pay it Forward” where acts or deeds of kindness are done without expecting something in return, just passing it on, with hope that the recipients of the acts of kindness are passed on. So here’s how it works. I will make and send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment to this post on the blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I do not know what that gift will be yet, and it won’t be sent this month, probably not next month, but it will be sent (within 6 months) and that’s a promise! What YOU have to do in return, then, is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

I was lucky enough to hop on to a PIF on Stina's blog I think I am very lucky as she does some fantastic work.

No crafty photos to share but over the last few week as I drive to work this is what has been happening.

The fig trees on the side of the road are dropping their fruit and these little ducks are more concerned about their tummies than their lives. Thankfully cars slow down for them and I have only seen one casualty. I doesn't worry them to slowly waddle across the road in front of the cars.

They even like to play golf.

Wishing you all a safe and happy Easter.

Bow bag & Noah's Ark stitchery

This weekend was the perfect weekend to stay inside and stitch, hopefully the cool change that is predicting will arrive this evening ending 13 days straight with temperatures above 35C.

This is what I accomplished - it has a bow.

I could even use the base from my old one.

A new bow bag.

I also managed to finish the bunny stitchery from Lynette Anderson's BOM.

Blogging housework

On my last post Outback girl ask about my small pin cushions one was a mistake making the other one - you can find a tutorial on how to make them on May Britts blog.
I also liked her collective noun for pin cushion a caution of pin cushions.

I have been meaning to do this for a while add some links to some new blogs that I have come across out there in blog land. Some I can not read but the pictures are great Vintage Lane Stitches - By Susuko - MHelena Artes - A Latte Quilts - Carpen Quiltem - Beth knits - Wandering Rose - Tallgrass Prairie Studio - Stillmeadow quilting -Riley's Ramblings - Crafty Bits and Bobs.

Cicero Sings - I really enjoy this lady as she takes me far away from home with her great photos.
Spilt Decisionz - if you need any tips on changing your blog this is a great site.

A while back I was tagged by Anita to post 7 random fact about myself so here goes:
1. I like summer better than winter.
2. I listen to audio books when I walk and in my car.
3. I have been to Russia before the wall came down, seen the midnight sun & worked on a Kibbutz.
4. I am either gaining weight or loosing it - I struggle with the in between bit.
5. My husband is shorter than me.
6. I have a word I use - here it is in a sentence - I should get some peas betteni - you will not find this word in the dictionary and my family always tell me off when I use it - my husband always ask me to conjugate that verb.
7. My favourite colour is green.

Of late there has been much discussion in blogland about tagging and although I don't mind the 7 random things I don't like tagging people for lots of different reasons so I will leave this open if anyone wants to join in feel free.

Adelaide is in the middle of a heat wave we have had the last 12 days over 35C - 95F yesterday when I walked at 6am it was 32C - 89F and it got to 40C -104F our gardens are looking terrible and it really is quite depressing.

This was sunrise at 7am yesterday.

Pin cushion sharing

Over on Lynette & Carey's blogs they have invited us to show our pin cushions this is my collection 3 of which I use and 2 just sit around.
I wonder what the collective noun is for pin cushions?

The other night Lucas asked could he make himself a cup of coffee using a Nescafe cappucino sachet I have that I use if we go away. I warned him I didn't think he would like it but "yes" he could make one.
A few minutes later I hear a rather loud swear word coming from the kitchen. I gather the instructions said add water and beat - this was the result.

With a bemused expression on his face he said"why do these things always happen to me and not Gemma"
There are a million responses to that question but we wouldn't go there - you just have to smile back.

It is going to be another hot weekend 39C predicted for today.

A lovely message

LIVE WHILE YOU'RE ALIVE

HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1. Try everything twice. On Madam's tombstone (of Waylon and Madam) she said she wanted this epitaph: 'Tried everything twice...loved it both times!'

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. (Keep this in mind if you are one of those grouches.)

3. Keep learning: Learn more about the computer, healing, feng shui, natural therapies, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain get idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.' And the devil's name is Alzheimer's!

4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath... And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time with HIM/HER.

6. The tears happen: Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. LIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love: Whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever.
Remember: Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help. You are worth it!

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
11. Forgive now those who made you cry. You might not get a
second time.
Lost time can never be found! So make sure .. you find time to love unconditionally

My friend sent me this lovely email so I thought I would share it.

Spreading the word

Just though I'd spread the word Lynette Anderson is posting a stitch a long Noah's Ark BOM pattern it looks like fun. Visit her here and just because I never do a post without a photo this is Jordy my nieces puppy.

A disgruntled Mel

Mel had a word to me the other day saying he was not happy with the bag I took him out in.

He said he had seen other monkees being carried around in much better bags have a look here and here. He did have a point it was one that was given to me when I went to a meeting for work. He had a look through my many bags and decided on this one.

He was even more delighted when he realised he could sleep in it.

As he was so happy in his new bag we decided to go for a drive where he got to see this.

This is the big rocking Horse in the Adelaide hills he wanted to climb to the top (I didn't). He also made friends with this beautiful bird.