Some girls like diamonds .......

Earlier this week I reached the milestone of Halfway to 70 (not quite halfway to 112 yet though Miche'le?)     I'm one of those girls who really wants her husband to 'know' exactly what I'd like for my birthday, but of course without me having to tell him, and this year he has absolutely come up trumps.  This chook house arrived home on the trailer with he and the girls on Tuesday night, and I couldn't have been more surprised(and totally thrilled!)  Funny thing was he went off to town telling me he was picking up my birthday present and ended up running a little late getting home.  I left work and was on the way home, drove up to an intersection only to see hubby and the girls driving past with this on the trailer.  My jaw hit the floor, and I laughed hysterically as I followed my birthday present all the way home.  Their plan had been to get home before me and decorate it with lots of balloons.  The girls were even blowing them up on the drive home  ...................so a grateful thanks to my beautiful family for a wonderful surprise!

I had chooks in an old falling down hen house years ago, but we had a lot of stoats around one summer and they slowly but surely killed them off.  The hen house was pulled down and buried, and I've been keen to get some more for ages now.  SO, if you have any recommendations on your favourite kind of laying chooks I'd love to hear them ............. and one day soon I shall share photos of some hens in their new house.

Till then ....................take care ........ Nicky

Mondays Friday Night Sew In Results

I know, I know, I'm running a bit late for a FNSI update, but better late than never right!  It's been a terrible weekend of sleet and snow and hail, and so today the sun has finally come out in between snow showers for me to get some quick pics.  I should be at work today but we're stranded here with the snow and I've heard the roads right around the region are treacherous today, so I'm staying put.  Firstly what I finished up on Friday during FNSI, were my June blocks for the Tis the Season Stitchalong.  These blocks are fun to stitch, and I'm about two-thirds the way there now.

Also finished in the last few weeks were another couple of Butterfly Garden blocks.  I couldn't believe that this little 4" section of stitchery could take so long, boy was it slow going!  

I've also finished up the little quilt top in Pom Pom de Paris, not sure if the lattice look to it is quite as effective as I thought it would be, but overall I'm happy with it.  Now to decide how to quilt it??

I've also broken my pledge to myself not to start anything new, and have a little cross-stitch well underway, but I'll share that when it's done.

Well that's it from me today, I'm off to make some pumpkin soup for a late lunch, the girls are just heading out to play in the snow .................... so I'm sure they'll come in ready for something hot soon.

Have a great day ....................happy stitching .................. Nicky

Friday Night Sew-In ................

Tonight is Friday Night Sew-In hosted by Heidi, you can click on the link to head on over and sign up.

It's been a very non-stitching week for me so far, so I intend to put that right tonight with some hand stitching while watching the rugby, All Blacks v Fiji.  When that's over, I might reacquaint myself with my sewing machine and get some borders on my June Tis the Season blocks.  If you're joining in with FNSI, have a wonderful evening stitching and I'll look forward to seeing your progress over the weekend!

Cheers .......... Nicky

Chilly days

Greetings!  It's been a slow week here, the girls have had a couple of days off school while we were snowed in.  We've also had no landline phones in the whole distirct for the last couple of days so it's been very quiet, not sure if that is snow related or not but I hope they fix it soon, as we don't get mobile reception here either.  We've just been crossing our fingers there would be no emergencies!  Last day of school today, so we're all ready for a couple of weeks break.

Not much relaxing in this chair this week.......

And we've all been having fun in the snow ..............

I have finished the long-lost bag for my friend, I hope she'll feel the wait was worth it. lol    One more thing to cross off my WIP list!  I've also pieced the little charm pack quilt I showed last time, and started piecing the back for my niece's Abracadabra quilt in Bliss fabrics. 

Angel Pin Carry Bag - Rosalie Quinlan Designs, from Homespun # 21

 Finally thanks for the comments on my last post about the Silver Ferns sadly losing the netball World Champs final.  I can tell some of you (Kiwis) are feeling my pain. lol  When our eldest bought home this gift on Monday from her cousin/best friend who has just been on holiday to Australia, I couldn't stop laughing!  So appropriate, a kangaroo with boxing gloves on ready to give someone a hiding. LOL   I love it!   

                                  

 I have a little something in mind for Chookyblue but she might regret saying there's no hurry......... that's a dangerous thing to say to me.

Hope you're having a great week, take care ........................ Nicky

Tomorrows headline ....

Check out the headline in tomorrows edition of the  "Chookyblue Times"    ........... after opening my big mouth and challenging Chookyblue to a little wager over the result of the World Netball Champs held tonight ................ looks like I'm going to be the one doing the stitching..... lol

It was an absolute nail-biter, all tied up at full time with those Diamonds sealing the victory in the last few seconds of extra time ............. virtually a repeat of the Commonwealth Games Gold Medal match, only Aussie pipped us at the finish line this time!

I have to confess to being a bit of a sports nut and almost certainly a very sore loser, but I guess us Kiwis will have to take this one on the chin, and congratulate your Aussie girls on a hard fought win.

So Chooky, any special requests???  

Long time no see........

Hi again -  I'm back, and after my last record of  3 posts in 3 days............. I didn't intend to be away this long.

I have been getting a little stitching done, but have had some busy days on the farm and at work, with lots of school and sport happenings for the kids too.  Below is the beginnings of the charm pack quilt using Pom Pom de Paris, and the new pattern book I purchased a while back.  The fabrics are so pretty and it's coming together pretty nicely so far.

These are two halves of a bag I started making for a friend about eighteen months ago, and I threw it away in a hissy fit after I sewed the strips all together in the wrong order.  I finally dragged it out and and have got it to this stage, half the quilting is done now so it won't take long to finish it off now.  She did say there was no hurry when she asked me but I don't think she ever suspected it would take this long. The bag is Angel Pin Carry Bag by Rosalie Quinlan, and it is such an easy bag, this is the third one I've (nearly) made.

 It has been a terribly wet few days here, which then turned to snow last night and most of this morning.  The sun is out now though, so the thaw is on.  Still cold though, so I might get that bag finished yet!  Or maybe even catch up on my Tis the Season stitching .................

It's been a big sporting weekend here with the World Netball Champs to watch each night, our Silver Ferns have made it through the quarters and semis and tonight is the big final against the Aussie Diamonds.  What a battle that will be - hope we come away with the spoils!!!    And then there was the Super 15 final last night, which sadly the Crusaders lost to the Reds, but is was a very close exciting game.

Hope you're enjoying a lovely weekend, take care .............. Nicky