Ramblings from the Hills

 Every year our first Christmas card always comes from Nydia and Ken of Thorngrove Manor. It was in this card that Nydia told me how much she misses my blog posts.....so here it is Nydia and Ken just for you (and all of you reading this x)! There are so many months between my posts so during that time we've had some lovely walks in our local area from the forest to the sea.......

The Summer school holidays start next week so I am sure we will have more memories with the younger family. Last school holidays we decided to spend time in a holiday house in Goolwa so we included a short trip on a paddle steamer.......

Maisie and Wade even had a turn of throwing the wood in the paddle steamer furnace.........

Larry found out early this week that he has to stay on immunotherapy for a while longer. While he was disappointed he also appreciates that these treatments are available. I've booked a face to face appointment with my cardiologist following a phone call from him where he discussed some events that my internal device recorded. He suggested I need to consider a cardiac ablation but I'm not sure I am quite ready for that. I'm also struggling with painful hands and especially fingers, but mid year started weekly injections to try and halt progress, so I am hoping that my days of not being able to stitch are far, far away. Despite that I managed to complete another bigger doily quilt, some gifts for our Christmas dinner, and also many pocket hearts to share with our local community who touch lives and make a difference. You can read more about this amazing project here: 1000 hearts Project .....

A month or so ago we heard of the loss of one of my nursing colleagues to cancer. Five of us were still meeting regularly and three of us went through chemotherapy at the same time, so we were able to share the down side of treatment including all being bald at the same time. So a couple of weeks ago we met in Bernadette's favourite cafe Tealicious Cakes to remember the good times we shared but she was deeply missed.  The cafe was all decorated for Christmas but still as charming as ever.......

So we look for the good moments and our little garden brings us joy with wonderful perfumes and colour.  We were especially pleased with the progress of our weeping cherry this season.......

Friend's Lessa and Roger impress us each year with their tulips that were spectacular as always.......

On our walks for a local coffee we pass pretty blooms too.....

We were lucky to have had a wonderful drive with dear friends in their vintage Riley......a most enjoyable time was had by all............

It is hard to believe that it is only 19 sleeps to Christmas! So with that we would like to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and all the best for the coming year. May it be filled with special times and especially with good health. Lots of love from us xx

Let's forget about Winter!

 So this post is especially for those of you who told me I needed to do it as you've missed my natters...you know who you are both near and far!! So thankyou for your subtle nudge :) There truly isn't much to report but I will say that like many this has been the longest and coldest winter that we can remember. We have had the most horrendous storms locally and the local jetty no longer exists and we've lost many gum trees too.......but sunshine is on the horizon and I suspect we will be complaining about the dreadful heat soon! Nothing much to natter about but I seem to take photos from time to time so guess there were events worth capturing. One chilly weekend we went for a walk around the nearby reservoir and I love this majestic tree........I've been known to hug or stroke a tree or two!

On this walk Larry and I were intrigued with the wall below and on closer inspection came to realise they are bags of cement that make an illusion of rocks........

Since my Autumn post we have had another Mother's Day pass us by and I stitched and beaded many brooches for each of our village mothers.....

Some time ago a friend was having a fundraising afternoon tea for the Sisters' of St Joseph in Peru, so it seemed fitting for it to be a "Paddington in Peru" theme. Being conscious of copyright I thought it was safe to make some tea towels without Paddington to help with their fund raising. I've also been stitching tea towels with our local leafy sea dragons and seagulls for our upcoming Red Cross morning tea fundraiser........

Some weeks ago a group of us went for an enjoyable day trip to see the Morris & Co. exhibition at Carrick Hill. (More images are on a previous post)

The new shop tempted a few.........

We have had another birthday with Maisie turning eleven.........

It was also July school holidays at the same time so Wade spent time with us too. I love these images and one would think they are actually siblings......

Larry and I celebrated 47 years of marriage in May using a very generous voucher we had been given at a local venue;  Aqua Blue. Dinner was amazing and we were greeted with this sunset when we arrived.......

We also snuck in a few days away at our beloved Robe as well..........

High on the to do list is always coffee at Robe's Mahalia Coffee Cafe......

Larry is doing okay but does tire easily on the immunotherapy that he has to continue for some time yet. So we enjoy each other's company especially over coffee often!....

Last month I was invited to speak at a quilting gathering in Loxton in the Riverland so we spent an extra night in a cosy cabin. I received some lovely native flowers from the group that lasted over two weeks. I also purchased a display from the same guest florist who spoke of her methods of arranging. It was pretty wet and cold while we were there but this little chap in gum boots and jacket didn't care as he gathered rubbish with his wee truck......

I put my hand up to bake at one of the village dinners and this time decided on baked cheesecakes that needed over a dozen eggs, so we are lucky to be able to get them direct from a local at a great price too. They are so fresh and the yolks so yellow!......

On a visit to our local library I couldn't resist the photo of the animals in the children's corner taking in the view........

And another local coffee venue but don't be deceived by the sun streaming through the window....that day was about 10C outside!! A coffee is always a great reward for a walk.........

Just today we have discovered that the noisy and pesky corellas are back with vengeance. They make a dreadful mess of the gum trees and one often sees fields of white after local farmers have seeded, but now they have decided to attack my ranunculus so I am pretty cut up about that. So I am currently enjoying the beauty of a simple easy to grow daisy inside on the kitchen windowsill......

On a final note I seem to have found myself teaching again! I haven't taught for almost 10 years but my recent lecture at Carrick Hill created some enquiries regarding beginner's appliqué classes. Penny at PennyLane Patchwork in Victor Harbor has been itching to have me teach again so I've decided small projects might be best. So I've created three cushions in a hurry. Dates haven't been finalised yet as Penny has been having some building renovations done but keep an eye on her facebook page for updates; PennyLane Patchwork..... 

Well I seem to have filled up a page or more with rambling so thanks for dropping by and we hope life is treating you well x