Long time no post!

Hello friends!  Sorry I haven't updated here for quite some time (thank you Bean for your concern...all is well...just busyness keeping me away).

This will just be a quick one as well, as I have to go pick Denver up from the school bus soon.

 

Still getting organised in this house, being bigger and older means more to clean and try and keep tidy, plus Marnie's  health is still not too good so much of my time is spent caring for her and Denver.

 

Also had eldest daughter Natasha and 3 boys here from Thailand for 2 1/2 weeks and son Jefferson here from Sydney for a few days during that time too.  Lovely to see them all, but as you can imagine it was quite a busy time :o)

 

Getting back to my normal (?) routine now.  We've had lots of rain (it is the middle of winter so to be expected) and the river has been in flood.  Unfortunately I don't usually take my camera with me when I go walking but will try and get you a few photos soon.

 

And because you all like photos :o)...here are a few to tide you over.... 

 

 

 

This is the lap blanket I am working on at the moment.  Using up random 8 ply acrylic yarn I have left over from various projects and adding in some beige/fawn yarn (which I bought ) every second round.  It's coming along nicely....

 

Reading this book (which I picked up at the op shop yesterday).  I am enjoying it so far.  It's set in the backwoods  mountains of America in the early 1900 ( a setting I like - the country backwoods and the era) about a family of midwives. And as I'm interested in herbs I'm enjoying the reference to them throughout the book. 

And one of the charities I knit for has requested baby cardigans, so have started knitting one from this variegated yarn I had.  I had actually knitted it up into a garter stitch diagonal baby blanket, but didn't really like it when finished, so undid it all and will knit some cardigans and jumpers from it.

 

 

that's all folks....

 

It sounds like I spend all my days knitting, crocheting and reading (I wish!), but you don't really want to hear me moaning and grumbling about the reality of my days do you?? ... :o)

 

Gotta go...

 

Will try and get back sooner rather than later.  xx

Flowers

Not the real kind, but fabric ones!

 

 

I'm in a snail mail/round robin yahoo group and to celebrate our anniversary of the start of the group we have a swap each year.  This year it was a bookmark and some fabric.  I think 10 ladies took part and I have received about half of my fabric so far.

 

I decide to do hexagonal/english pieced flowers with mine.  I like to wash my fabric first, so here it is drying by the' hungry monster'...

Then I found a template pattern in one of Marnie's craft books.  The smaller one for the paper pieces and the larger for the fabric.

Her are some of the fabrics I've received so far...

Cut out and piecing...

And some of my 'flowers' made up.  I've done 9 so far and I'm eagerly awaiting the fabric from the rest of the ladies so I can make more...

The Hungry Monster

I'm so happy to have a wood heater at our new place.  And now we have something to feed him!

 

He has a choice of this....

Or this....

 

 That should keep him (and us) warm for awhile :o)

I also finished my 'rainbow blanket' I've been working on.  Now for another project....

And this morning the sunrise was so pretty.  The photos don't do it justice as it was so beautiful.  This one was taken about 7am...

And this one was taken about 10 minutes later...

 

 

 

I'm hopefully off to buy a washing machine today.  This washing clothes by hand is fun for awhile...but....

 

I hope you all have a blessed day!!  xx

Thank you Bianca

Bianca took the time to write this lovely comment to my post about possibly closing my blog.  I've copied it here for those of you who don't read the comments:


Hi Lynda,

Your blog and Christian journey has been a real pleaure to relate to, and I have always loved the plain & pleasant appearance of your site & I must say, at times it's been a sprig of good medicine for your thoughts & pretty photos remind me to slow down. Mostly, I want to wish you the very BEST in all important things! You are so lovely, just the best and wonderful Luck! ...you have inspired me to take more walks in parks & to keep up my faith and if you decide to go for some time ...please come back in Spring!

love Bianca

And in my reply to Bianca I wrote that if my blog makes a difference (and is an encouragement) to even one person, then maybe it is worth keeping it going!

So it looks like I'll stay around for awhile :o)

We get the keys to the new place tomorrow.  Some men from church are helping us move the heavy furniture on Saturday and Marnie and I will move the rest in our cars.

Will try and get back next week with another update. xx

going...going...

...but will I? ...go?

Trying to decide whether to close my blog.

 Seems I'm not alone in this dilemma as a few blogger friends seem to be having similar thoughts.

Will be moving house in a couple of weeks.  Marnie, Denver and I will be sharing a house together.  We have separate place at the moment (both of which are too small for us to combine in) so we are moving to a bigger house a couple of blocks from where I am now.

What with caring for Marnie (with her ongoing health problems) and looking after Denver, I don't really have time to keep this blog up.  I also question the relevance of it (when I would prefer to write letters) so think I may close it for awhile and maybe open it again after we get resettled and when spring arrives in a couple of months.

Also not with the Mennonite church now.  Did go back for a few weeks, but couldn't settle there.  Feel I need a church that is not so 'inward focused', but has more outreach into the community.

So ... I'm back with the Baptists! 

Will just have to see how it goes.

A bit of an update for you.  Will think on the blogging question over the next week and let you all know what I decide. xx

Morning walk

I thought you might like to come on my morning walk with me :o)

 

Down the hill...

 

 

...to the roundabout, railway crossing and road bridge over the river...

...check for trains...

 

 

 

...the river from the road bridge...

...along the walk track...

 

 

...the river...

...the walk track...

...one of the ponds...

...over the river walk bridge at one end of the track...

...taken from the walk bridge...

...along the other side of the river to the walk bridge at the other end of the track...

...taken from the walk bridge of the spillway and looking back to the train bridge...

...back over the road bridge...

...up the main street hill...

...around the corner...and it's all down hill from here...

 

 

Congratulations!!  You've just done a 40 minute walk :o)

Sunday thoughts - The Home Friendships

Friendships in the family, require most gentle care and cultivation.
We must win each other's love within home-doors, just as we win the love of those outside—by the sweet ministries of love.
We must prove ourselves worthy of being loved by those who are nearest; they will not truly love us unless we do, merely because we are of the same household.
We must show ourselves unselfish, thoughtful, gentle, helpful.
Home friendships must be formed as all friendships are formed—by the patient knitting of soul to soul, and the slow growing of life into life.
Then we must retain home-friends, just as we retain other friends—by a thousand little loving expressions in all our fellowship.
We cannot depend upon mere relationship to keep us loved and loving.
We must live for each other.
We must give as well as receive.
We must be watchful of our acts and words.

(In Green Pastures - J R Miller)