Farm work

I know chooks are always a favourite so thought I'd share these today.

I have good news! Finally found the tool that will get me to clean the house!! No, not something I spotted on a late night infomercial, it is a great site for books on the ipod! This fabulous new-to-me site called audible.com and they have all my favourites, even unabridged Georgette Heyer. I had been looking in bookshops and some books on Cd were up towards the $100-and there were very few good titles...that's a lot of normal books! I have been exercising and cleaning to Heyer's "These old Shades" for 2 weeks and it has made those normally tedious jobs a pleasure! You don't have to go just for historical romances though, it has everything, even Janet Evanovich, but Australians are only allowed the short versions, not the long of Evanovich, i wonder why? For the first 3 months it is $7.50 a month to join, which gives you one included book download a month and a discount on the others. I am loving it, and the hardest decision is what i download next. I also have Rebecca, and Pride and Prejudice.

In between all that i have proof that I do in fact do some real work around here. There was noone around to take a picture of me helping with lamb marking, but my boy decided to get some snaps of me and his father sorting the weaner cattle to go to the saleyards.
No fancy Pioneer woman horsey shots of chaps here, just me still in my circuit training clothes, with the runners swapped for workboots!
Rosie the pup escaped and thought she may like to train with cattle!! I am just saving her from her folly ....

Probably not a good career path for a pampered pooch who still lives very close to the ground!
Hope your day is great,
If you have any other book good download sites, feel free to share, Tracey

Random musings, VERY random patchwork scarves and two winners.

School holidays only have a day or two to run here.

I have had a lesson reaffirmed.


Don't believe reviewers in relation to kid's movies!! I did know this already, kids movies and adult reviewers aren't always a happy mix. Reviewers told me Ice Age 3 was a 4/5 and H. Montana a 2/5. Well, for all those Australians only just getting to School holidays, some advice from me is that I would sit through hannah a few more times but i actually slept through a section of Ice age!!I am wondering if the reviewer did, hence the 4! No zing, a big disappointment to me (and my girl) after the first 2 were great.The 5 and 9 yo boys said 'not bad', but they were the only ones. I feel old, but with kid's movie tickets exceeding the $10 mark well and truly here, and adults are heading for $16-you can understand the advent of the downloaded movie! Movies days are an expensive treat and it especially feels like a waste when you sleep! I could have bought the DVD in a month or two at full price and still had lots left over for 'groceries'. (read ..fabric!!)

Ashes cricket is looking interesting, starts here at about 8 pm. I am trying to go to bed by midnight and tape the rest. I find it very hard to go to bed with good cricket on!

Last night I played with some scraps while watching so as not to be wasting all my time. Seemed like an improvement on cleaning the kitchen.

My friend, Chris had a few H. Bailey bits left over at Quilters one night. She knows I like scraps so threw them my way. They were fairly small and thin, so perfect for a scarf play.

Longer would probably be better, but as all quilters know, a container of scraps only stretches so far. It's nice and warm, and long enough to fold around the neck and have the ends tucked in.

I decided to make another, bit bolder this time. I took an in process photo for anyone who hasn't use the flip and press method onto a foundation piece. The foundation piece was calico cut to the size and length I wanted. I just fairly randomly sewed, flipped and pressed.

When i was finished I just sewed the polar on, right side to right side, left one end open then turned the whole thing through and top stitched the ends. Took about an hour, total!

It is actually quite straight, just looks curvy draping on the couch. I think a bit of free motion quilting would go well, as long as you didn't make it scratchy or hard around your neck, it's nice and soft as is.

Has anyone else tried one? Drop me a comment and perhaps a link, because I think they could be a fun was to use up bits and pieces...and great presents...for the right person!

Onto my card site winners.

Thanks for all the lovely comments. The thing it really bought home to me was that almost everyone picked a different favorite, personal taste is a tricky thing to cater for. That's my excuse for constantly adding to the range. A big welcome especially to new readers and bloggers, HI!

My helpers pulled 2 names from the hat; Gina, who lives somewhere near the cricket! And Clare's craftroom. If those girls want to drop me a line, we will extend on the favourites and they will be on their way.

The neighbor decided our cold wet weather was perfect for burning down an old tree last night. It was windy and sparks were flying everywhere so it almost looks like fireworks coming off it.

Have a great day, Tracey

Launch of card site and a possible prize!

We at the farm would like to make a BIG announcement!!

As a direct result of the fun I have had on this blog, and the fabulous support and encouragement i have received, I started producing my own cards. I have previewed these many times on the blog.

This little hobby is now rather larger, I'm retailing them around the district and doing regular markets. it has been tricky to show the whole range for those interested so it now has it's own blogspot,

http://countrycards-tracey.blogspot.com/

If you click on this link you can check out the whole 125!!!

As a little taste of what you will see, I have included a few here.

I have no intention of these becoming what the blog is about, other than a link in the sidebar you wont hear much after next week, but it wouldn't be a real launch if there was not a competition. You know I love them!! So pop over to visit and come back and tell me your TOP 5 in these comments. The cards are all numbered so you just need to give the numbers...comments are most welcome as well!! There will be a number of packs of 8 cards, with complimentary gift cards, to win...your choice of card. Winners will be chosen at random by my junior assistants!

As an added launch week bonus, Choose 9 cards at $2 each and I will post them and your complimentary gift cards for only an extra $2 to you anywhere in the world. ..And we are talking Australian dollars people!! Any quantities can be mailed, with deals available for higher quantities....just email me regarding your order.

Competition closes Wednesday, 8th July.

Have fun choosing! Tracey

Must read medical information - for women!LOL

Received this email and thought there were almost enough grins to make it worth sharing...Tracey

Pregnancy, Oestrogen, and Women PREGNANCY Q & A & more! Q: Should I have a baby after 35? A: No, 35 children is enough. Q : I'm two months pregnant now. When will my baby move? A: With any luck, right after he finishes university. Q : What is the most reliable method to determine a baby's sex? A: Childbirth. Q: My wife is five months pregnant and so moody that sometimes she's borderline irrational. A: So what's your question? Q : My childbirth instructor says it's not pain I'll feel during labour, but pressure. Is she right? A: Yes, in the same way that a cyclone might be called an air current. Q: When is the best time to get an epidural? A: Right after you find out you're pregnant. Q : Is there any reason I have to be in the delivery room while my wife is in labour? A: Not unless the word 'child support payment' means anything to you. Q: Is there anything I should avoid while recovering from childbirth? A: Yes, pregnancy. Q : Do I have to have a baby shower? A: Not if you change the baby's nappy very quickly Q : Our baby was born last week. When will my wife begin to feel and act normal again? A: When the kids are in university. 'OESTROGEN ISSUES' 10 WAYS TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE 'OESTROGEN ISSUES' 1. Everyone around you has an attitude problem. 2. You're adding chocolate chips to your cheese omelette. 3. The dryer has shrunk every last pair of your jeans. 4. Your husband is suddenly agreeing to everything you say. 5. You 're using your mobile phone to dial up every bumper sticker that says: 'How's my driving - call 0800-'. 6. Everyone's head looks like an invitation to batting practice. 7. Everyone seems to have just landed here from 'outer space.' 9. You're sure that everyone is scheming to drive you crazy.. 10. The Nurofen Plus box is empty and you bought it yesterday. TOP TEN THINGS ONLY WOMEN UNDERSTAND 10. Cats' facial expressions. 9. The need for the same style of shoes in different colors. 8. Why bean sprouts aren't just weeds. 7. Fat clothes. 6. Taking a car trip without trying to beat your best time. 5. The difference between beige, ecru, cream, off-white, and eggshell. 4. Cutting your hair to make it grow. 3. Eyelash curlers. 2. The inaccuracy of every bathroom scale ever made. .......THE EMAIL DIDN'T HAVE A #1!!! Can you give me one? Tracey

Back... with 3 baby quilts.

Hello, hello, can anyone hear me, is this thing on??

Probably more to the point is anyone out there after a 2 week break?

Unavoidable, family life called louder than the computer-funerals, lots of sorting out, flu for me, tonsillitis for my girl, a tummy wog for my boy, a DH who needed time and sleep and a birthday party for a dozen 9 year olds. A slightly typical(?) or not, mother's fortnight.

The one slightly good thing about the flu was that it was a bit of a slow recovery so sewing seemed the best choice. A few quick and easy baby quilts to catch up on my present giving.

Love this tractor panel fabric for a little boy farm baby. I think it was from equilter, that or hancocks.

It's joined on the fence by another little chenille and cotton baby quilt. This one is pink John Deere! Perfect for a little girl farm baby.

Here's a closeup, isn't it cute fabric. I bought it at a field day, but have seen it, I think, at equilter.

These are the backs. I just reverse the fronts, so have a white one side, a pink john Deere the other. If people for any reason don't like the shaggy look they could use it this way.

This last one is for Clancy's little brother, Sydney. His Mum likes bright..luckily!

I think this is mostly equilter as well... I like the farm alphabet blocks.

I know everyone likes birthday cake ideas, so here is today's pirate ship effort. The candles were meant to look slightly like a burning deck, the big candle is the cannon, polly pocket was sacrificed as the model who is on the front of the boat, a han solo figure is the pirate and the sail are pictures of the boy, he was happy!

Hope everyone is well, I am hoping to start on the bloglines soon and begin to catch up!

Tracey

Feeding time

On a happy note...

Feeding time at our zoo...I really don't have enough hands for 7 babies!

An almost newsworthy set of twins..

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On a sadder note...

RIP to Grandma. A very tough 3 week journey at it's end.

Two more finishes.

The Lone Star finish got me in the mood, so in between working on bushfire quilts and chasing sheep I have finished another couple of UFOs.

We celebrated my older niece's 4th birthday today, she received her big girl quilt to go along with her book I showed last post. I made a matching one of these for her doll's bed as well.

I also finished this little baby quilt/throw. It is made from Fig and Plum charm squares and about a half a yard of coordinating green, with the cream binding. There are cream daisies (in the binding colour) appliqued on. I was bored with this just as squares and had sat it aside...(a fatal mistake here!), then visited Anne Ida's blog and her daisies were just the inspiration I needed! They need a green button in the centre yet.

I just backed it in cosy polar so the appliquing is the quilting, I did it in a light pink to make the back as useable as the front.

I tried a different binding, just because the nights are lonely!! I folded the binding strip in half and ironed the fold down. Then folded each side under and pressed, then sewed through all layers onto the quilt. Very quick and easy for a basic blanket.

Took some more pictures of the quilts before they diasappeared, with my some of my favourite props. Did you notice the pink one has a little daisy in the right bottom corner, this is because I put the scissors through the sashing when i was cutting off threads this morning!! I have decided to keep some of the pink dot material aside, I told my sister we can add a daisy every time a texta is left open on it, paper scissors go astray or it is jumped on and the seams come loose... I wonder how many daisies will end up on the quilt in the next 6 years?????!!!

My mother-in-law is entering her 3rd week of struggle, the medication is finally keeping her peaceful.

Have a good day...and happy pretend birthday to the Queen today, my kids enjoyed your Monday holiday to visit their cousins and see "A night at the Museum 2" which we all thoroughly enjoyed."

Do it now!

Oh, I am sad! And it feels strange, I only knew this person through the blog but learning of her passing is still awful.
I have been calling in at "what's happening with Carol" for a few weeks to see how she was going and there were no updates on this fantastic young quilter, mother and teacher's cancer battle, so i decided to comment and tell her we wanted an update -and the news of her passing was in the comments. She didn't seem to have long after finding out.
The reason I have entitled this, "do it now" is because so many times I think, "i should send a card, or I should visit/ring that person and tell them what a good job they've done /how I appreciate them/that they are in my prayers"... and sometimes I do, and sometimes I find I wait a few extra days and life gets busy then i forget and they are gone..or sad..or troubled.. and I am really sorry I didn't "do it now!" Making the time for people when you think about it is the only way to ensure your life isn't about regrets..
I have a lovely friend, and it's funny, but when i ring her she almost always says, 'do you know I was just thinking of you'...we know it's time!
Well, when I initially read of Carol's diagnosis I contacted her and sent some of my cards and some books for Maya...and anyone who has one my prizes knows that getting straight to posting is not my forte!.. they were posted the next day and I had a lovely email or two from Carol, that i now know were followed closely by her hospitalization. I am just so glad i took the time to connect, but still very sad at the senseless loss....
On another, gift related note, Julie at bush Baby jag, just received a long lost Easter swap parcel that had inexplicably been found with other items next to the Brisbane River! This is a good lesson for all of us to place our gifts in a zip lock plastic bag with the address on it, before sealing in the paper envelope...double protection....
have a good day, Tracey

Ripe tomato chutney recipe.

Finally, the Ripe tomato chutney recipe!



4 lbs of tomatoes

1 lb apples

3 lb onions

3 lb sugar

1/2 lb sultanas

1/2 lb currants

1 tblsp salt

1 teasp cayenne pepper

1/2 teasp mixed spice

2 tblsp cloves tied in a muslin bag.

and....GOOD QUALITY VINEGAR....in at least 2 litre plus quantities



(* I usually double this chutney recipe when i make it, as it makes the time spent cooking more worthwhile. I just turn all the pounds into kg quantities and double any "spoon" quatinties.)



Peel your tomatoes, cut up onions and apples, (small). Put all mixture in a big pan together and cover with vinegar.

( Voice of experience...not enough vinegar means it goes a sweeter, almost jam like arrangement-my friends liked this, my fussy family did not. Too much vinegar just means it takes longer to boil down, and would of course, slightly reduce the sweetness. My family and MIL told me to err on the vinegary side.)



My MIL's recipe says boil together for 2-3 hours. well, perhaps hers took a long time to get to the boil, but on my last double batch I think it may have simmered away on the stove for closer to 8 hours.

Seal hot in hot sterilized jars. Great on meats, in quiches, cheese and chutney sandwiches..etc, etc

My final brew looked like this....


And the half way along progress shot is a couple of posts back.

I have been playing with children's book writing. I am combining my vast collection of photos with coming up with the perfect book for some of my favourite small children.

My little Clancy,who smiles at me and puts his arms out to me at Church, has a new baby brother and he is also fixated on farm life so this is his big brother present. I just did that one in a display book as it needed to be handed over.
I have done another one for my niece's 4th birthday, based on her favourite " D*** the Explorer" television show.

It is all about the search for her missing "Quilty", at all her relatives places. Quilty is the quilt I made her when she was born that she has to sleep with. I have laminated this one and am getting it bound tomorrow.
No improvement with my MIL, Dh doing night 10.
Have a good day, Tracey

Finished my hand pieced Lone Star!!

Whoo-hoo...light the fireworks,break out the whisky (any excuse!!) ....we have an identified and competed UFO!!!!!

TA-DA!

Okay, well, that was a slight lie. It is completed in that it is bound, the star is fully finished and appliqued on-AND the star is shaded in...wait for it...drum roll please...real, honest to goodness, HAND QUILTING!!! I am hoping for more hand quilting in the big gold areas, but as it is attached to a pre-quilted back there isn't a desperate hurry for this.
Yes, that is correct, the only thing not done by hand on this quilt is the attaching of the binding to edge-everything else has been completed by these hands that spend half their time playing up on me! The star was all individual diamond templates.
My Dh and I had date night by his mother's hospital bed last night, between that and two kids playing sport I have got a lot of work done on it lately.


It is from Kathy Shmitz's blackbird Village range of a few years ago. It was started a few summers ago and has waited patiently for me to work out how to complete it for a LONG time! I love Lone or Bethlehem stars and am very proud of this one!
Thank you for all the kind comments and support regarding my MIL. There is no improvement, it is my DH's 8th vigil tonight. I am very proud of him. They seem to be rapidly increasing her doses of morphine, but even then she is only settling for an hour at a time.
Too much depressing stuff, not what my blog's point is, so today I took some farm photos for you when i was going around the ewes and lambs. Unlike Scarlett's offsider in Gone with the wind, I do know a bit about birthing babies and I bought these two into the world, then enjoyed the sun on my back and the restfulness of kids at their grandparents and not being able to wake DH at home for half an hour while I watched their Mama go about her side of the deal...

Licking them clean and dry....
Let's just hope for her sake that is spearmint flavoured!!

Cautious first steps..


She's just smelling to check I wore gloves-oh boy, did I ever wear gloves!!
Off to dig up the chutney recipe..I must find the chutney recipe!-and sweep the floor, and do some exercise and clean out the kid's school bags..and wash...sigh!....
Hope your day is great, Tracey

ps, the reptile on my knee last post was a blue-tongued lizard..and I still love them! And yes, they do bite, something my Mother may have taken into consideration but then I wouldn't have one of my favourite pics!