My new toy

With the mercury hitting 100F+ for the next few days, I'm having a break from sewing. 

Yesterday I bought a new toy and we set it up this morning


I played a 100 year-old Challen upright piano for over 50 years but it was showing its age so didn't get shipped to Oz when we emigrated. I've struggled without it for over 4 years so was delighted to get this new keyboard. 

I've been playing for the last three hours and my fingers are sore! Bit out of practice but enjoying every minute.  I'll be back to the sewing machine when it cools down a bit

Bring on the UFOs

The new year has begun and January is the time to finish off (or move on to the next stage) several of my quilting projects - going well so far

2 quilts at the long-arm quilter to be quilted

2 tops finished and waiting to be quilted

and 1 waiting for fabric so I can do the binding.

Also waiting for some Cinnamon spice fabric to add borders and finish the top of this one

..................then I'd better work out what to do with this lapquilt

NYE

Picnic, cricket, fireworks and 34 degrees - great night out!

Christmas Day

Spent a lovely day with the family - great food, interesting pressies and good company.  Went on to a party with friends for the evening........ a perfect day!

A hot week

Adelaide had its hottest day since 1931 (44C) yesterday and we've spend several days on the beach - the best way to cool down.  There is a lovely park at Hove with big shady palm trees to sit under too.  hen the girls are with us we make loads of castles and splash in the sea.  Clive and I prefer to sit under the trees with an ice-cold ginger beer and a good book

I'm back!

Just returned from a lovely week's holiday 'over the border' in Victoria.  We stayed in the Grampians at Hall's Gap then headed to the south coast and the Great Ocean Road (staying in Warrnambool)  Traveled over 1200 miles and did lots of walking.  I must have taken over 200 pictures and many of them are in my Flickr account.  http://www.flickr.com/photos/jtct/sets/72157638371962354/ Here's a small sample