Post cards arrived

I am in a postcard swap with Expression Studio, a yahoo group and these are a couple more postcards that have arrived.
The first is a beautiful one from Gail, which included this stunning copper heart that she had tarnished, no that is not the correct word because it is anything but tarnished. The second is from Linda, which has another equally lovely side. I feel very privileged to have these.
We were in Adelaide yesterday seeing my mother, she didnt look brilliant and is not moving very well but then with this onset of cold weather nor am I.
Beading last night which was fun, and I must get on and do more.
A beautifully sunny day today after the cold but too tired to do stuff in the garden which is calling out to be fixed.

Rain

We walked across to the dam that has been enlarged and of course it rained and it blew, I had my jacket with a hood on but John only had an umbrella which blew in side out!
I tried to catch the rain falling but I am not sure I did, loved the photo of the reeds and I was sure they had rain drops on them but the wind was so strong it must have blown them off.
I had a play with my sewing machine today and have finally got the wheel to turn so I can fill bobbins and I had fun trying out all sorts of stitching with it. I think I will have to regularly practice with it.
I have it set up in my "other" work room and so I can go to it whenever I want to.
Sent off my 10 postcards this morning so I can relax a little.

From my sketchbook

I havent put up any sketches for ages, but as I havent done much lately except knit and showing a half complete jumper is rather boring.
I have been exploring some bird shapes and then as I wanted a design to embroider a slightly different paisley shape to some I have been sketching before, I rather liked the flower shapes in it.
I have a few ideas buzzing in my head but have to translate them into something useful.
I then got a bit carried away with some acorns I had picked up in Ballarat and a giant slug I found in the kitchen the other day, I believe they are carnivorous, they certainly eat the cat food if they can get in.
Finally a daisy sketch that I am thinking of using as a stamp, we will see.
Wonderful rain about 2 inches but every time I go out for a walk I get wet.
We had a very late foal born yesterday and I didnt envy it coming into this wet and windy and cold world.
Off to walk down to see how much water is in the dam before I feed the dogs and birds, then to watch my team play football tonight.

Good news and bad news

We have had rain, 17 mm overnight and showers on and off today, but the bad news is that my lower back has seized up and instead of jumping in puddles I am feeling sore and sorry for myself. Painkillers are not working.
The first photo is of my new purchase, a Bernina 1006, a very basic machine, and heavy but it only cost $300 and runs like a dream with a 6 month warranty. I had to buy a darning foot but never mind, I can now do free motion embroidery with the best of them, I hope!!
The second photo is of yesterday mornings sky, I missed the really dark pink bit but this was the start of the rain.
Tomorrow is ANZAC day, a very important day in the Australian calendar, quite often the traditional start to our autumn/winter rains. John will go in to the dawn service to remember all those who fell in all the wars our fellow Australians fought in. He has to lay a wreath as our local MP cant be in about three places at once.
I always say I will go with him but if its cold and wet I am not very inclined to go.
We had a power blackout in the middle of the night, our pressure pump burnt out due to the dirt and dust and then the rain on it, so a new pressure pump is being installed.
I do hope my back is better tomorrow, I am trying to both tidy up and finish off 9 postcards I have to sent by the end of the month, they are nearly finished.

Post Card swap

This lovely card arrived in the post the other day from Pam Huggins. I am doing a swap with the girls from Expression Studio, a yahoo Group. I havent started mine yet so there is about to be a flurry of activity.
I did manage to clean the house pretty thoroughly today, but it is still so dusty outside it doesnt last long.
Saw Gaby briefly today and dropped over to see Tab and Millie and John and the girls, all there but Tab who was at the dentist. Millie has not been well, and John is heading back to Alice Springs either tomorrow or Thursday. He hasnt been home for long.
We are hoping for rain, John has been cleaning out the gutters, but it is never ending at this time of the year with all the leaves falling, very typical autumn at the moment, in the morning the calves are bellowing, the nights are cooler but the days still warm.
I would enjoy it if I didnt have so much to do and I feel rather as if time is running out.

More Ballarat

These are a mix of a few more photos. The first is a small sample Isobel Hall had done.
Then Deb's unfinished but good looking bag made out of cocoon strippings.
Next is an interesting one that Jane did, this was I think based on a brown paper bag.
Then p[art of the Quadrangle at the Ballarat College and some of the fun things we found in the morning. Bundles of sticks surrounding a teepee like structure, and finally the facade of the Ballarat College, well actually I think it was the side and the chapel.
I didnt take a lot of photos but I walked fairly early in the morning and the light wasnt brilliant or I was so busy I forgot.
I have just managed to catch my escaped Japanese bantam rooster and saved him from both Oscar and the male pug who like to kill bantams. I really need to sell a few bantams I have too many.
I also bought two more pullets today as my egg layers have been a bit slow and the feed store actually had some, it is amazingly difficult to get laying hens in this district.

home from Ballarat Textile Forum and Isobel Hall's class

First the class photo, I look rather grim in the center, Isobel is second in from the left with the blue apron on sort of center, with our young student Jessica in front, behind her is Deb, then Julie, Zoe behind me, next to me is Helen, behind her is Wendy, then Mandy, Jane and then Doreen and here I get mixed up, either Bobbie or Jan, think it is Jan first and then Bobbie but never did quite get that right.
We had a great few days, lots of laughter and fun.
The second photo is part of Susan Holmes moving displays around the grounds to make Forum fun and unexpected. I will do a few more later.
Then the display of our bags, a few more photos of those to come too but I am so tired it is all I can do to get this done.
Then my silk paper bag, theme taken from the area around Coober Pedy, I really love this bag.
Then as I didnt make the silk paper in class the little bag is to show that I did do some of the stuff we were taught, it is a small clutch made of brown paper with so many layers of paint and encaustic wax and sewing and chiffon scarf burnt back and then beaded. You probably cant see any of it!!
We had a fairly uneventful but long and tiring drive home yesterday. Today I have washed, shopped and unpacked while John thank goodness washed the floors in the back area and cleaned the bathroom.
I hadnt been able to do anything after the children left so the house was a pig stye, still a lot to do but it feels a lot better already.
It is so dry still and really pretty depressing and I came home to a pretty depressed man too. At least he was glad to see me!