Going Back..... to the Magic Kingdom!

For those of you who know me personally, or have been reading my blog for a while, you will know that we used to live in Saudi Arabia. We have lived there twice - the first time for a year, and the second time for 2 1/2 years. We've been back in Australia for 3 1/2 years now, and had our fun on our little farm, quite a different place than the endless sand dunes of Arabia!

Those of us from other countries who go and live in Saudi Arabia call it the Magic Kingdom... because there is something that draws you back, time and time again.....

This week we heard that we are going back for the third time :) Cameron applied for a job in January, and it has taken all this time to get it sorted out.... We are all pretty excited about going back. It will be good to see old friends, although we will miss the ones we have made here.

It is going to mean another international move... which of course we are not looking forward to. But we know what we are in for at least, having done it twice. Cameron will be heading off in a month or so, and we will follow by the end of the year I hope.

Saudi was where I learned how to quilt, and many of my quilting buddies are there still, so it will be wonderful to see them again and spend some sewing days together. All my fabric will come with me of course :) And I am glad I have collected lots of Australian magazines to take to share with people there.

So..... the next chapter of our lives has begun.... Today we sold our piano..... and I am looking around the house at things that will stay and things that will go.... I can't do any lifting or packing yet, but I am at least making plans. A new adventure awaits.... and I will take you all with me through this blog :)

Making a start on Part B - Blocks!

Imagine that! I actually got to do some sewing today :) I cut and put sashing on four of the Christmas Wishes blocks:


I now have all the blocks done for one, and need to do two more for the second quilt. I will try to stitch the last two blocks next week....

Yvonne has also been working on Christmas blocks:


These are so cute, I really want to make some too! I'll see if I can get together with her in the holidays and catch up...

Shelley started on the new Frosty Flakes quilt and finished this block:

And she also finished this one:


And finally Fiona has finished this block:


Oooooh, don't they all look so gorgeous!!

Remember, anyone can join in on this challenge and you can do any block - UFO or something new. Let's just get those quilts done one bite at a time :)

Dramas....

We've had a few dramas the past two days. We came back from visiting people in town last night and doing some shopping, and arrived on the scene of an accident involving a car that had hit two horses.... the poor horses... one was lying still, and the other was trying hard to get up.... but the poor thing, it was awful.... The car ended up in the ditch - the couple in shock. We helped direct traffic for a bit and I checked on the couple - the man said he was fine, but looked a mess, and the lady was still in the car being attended to by another lady who had stopped and had some medical training.

There were five horses, two were down on the road and the other three we managed to round up into someone's paddock.

It was encouraging to see how many people did help out, though. We were all total strangers working together to try to help out in the pitch black of a country road. Everyone just went along their way trying to do something.

We left once the police and fire trucks arrived... and I am so thankful that the couple in the car were not badly hurt. It could have been much worse - when we first saw the state the car was in.... well, they were pretty lucky.

This afternoon I went to the doctor's to check up on my wound - I've been having a bit of trouble with it. He checked it out and said there wasn't an infection, and to keep an eye on it, so that was ok.

On the way home we got a call from a close family friend who recently fell off a ladder and broke his hip, (and whom we had just visited last night) to say that his wife had just been run over on the main street of town! My goodness... your heart sinks right down into your stomach - we couldn't believe it. That too could have been worse.... she ended up with a broken ankle, fractured vertibrae and stitches in the back of her head... but boy, was it a fright.

She will be pleased to see that the local paper has put her down as a "50 year old woman" - ahem - she is about 10 years older than that :) Dear Robyn, she will chuckle when she sees that. She is a remarkable lady. The lady that hit her came to visit her with a bunch of flowers and many apologies, worried that Robyn would be angry - but Robyn just told her that she had been worrying about her!! She is one of those people whose cup is always half full... not half empty...

One funny thing... Robyn is in the same bed in the same ward of the hospital that her husband was in three weeks ago.... :)

We often do wonder what God is up to. I believe there is a reason for everything, but sometimes it sure is hard to understand.... I thank Him that the couple last night are ok... and that Robyn isn't as bad as we first thought... and I pray that tomorrow will be a drama free day....

September Finishing Stitches

For September I thought we'd do something a little different. It's still all about finishing, but since there are some specific things I want to get motivated to finish, I thought I'd add this extra part... and since I am hosting the challenge, I'm allowed to, right?! But I think many of you will like it....

So, I'm going to have this month's challenge in two parts. You can join in on one, both, ... um... er... of course none if you so choose :)

Part A - is the same as the last two months - finish a UFO that has been lying around for more than a month. Really, I don't care how long it has been a UFO - whatever your definition is, is fine by me :) I just want us all to get things done that we have started. Just finish a UFO - big, small, made of paper, wool, fabric, paint, whatever. Please let me know when you finish it and either send me a pic or point me to a pic on your blog that I can pinch.

Part B - this is only for quilters I'm afraid. It is to finish a BLOCK for ANY quilt (UFO or just started). I don't know about you, but I have so many blocks I need to finish for last year's BOMs, not to mention this year's BOMs... and with new quilts coming up every month in the blogworld... well, I want to concentrate on finishing some of them!!!! So my challenge is to finish as many blocks as possible this month. You can work out what your definition of a block is. Small block, big block, stitched block, applieque... Again, just as long as you are finishing....

Ok, let's get busy!!! I took a bit of time this morning to tidy up my sewing table a little, until I started feeling whoozy and thought I'd better get back to my easy chair.. hee heee.... I guess I might have felt good when I got up, but wasn't as good as I thought I was!

My first goal for Part B is to do the last block for Gail Pan's Christmas Wishes BOM. I had it traced out for when I went into hospital, but didn't get around to doing anything on it. And for Part A - when I am ready to sit and use Nina again, I will FINISH MY SEWING BAG!! Really, I will!!! That's the plan anyway :)

Who's joining in and what are your goals? Leave a comment here or email me. Let's get finishing!!!! (And yes... another charm pack will be up for grabs at the end of the month!)

August Finishes and Winner!

Some last minute photos of the last August finishes. Lola finished these three gorgeous table runners:


I just love the colors, they all go so well together.

Shelley has been on a roll turning these bottles:


....into this:



...and this:


...and at least six more of the same lovely decorated creations! Her house is going to look gorgeous with all of these around the place!

But wait! There's more! Shelley also finished this pretty table runner:


Here is a close-up:


It matches the bottles very nicely, don't you think?

Well, I think everyone has made a great effort last month! The best part is that we all have a few more UFO's out of their hiding places and in use now!! Well done to everyone!!!

Alice got her son to pick a name out of the hat and.......

..................the winner is......................

........................

.............................................

......................................................................

STACY from Pink Berry Sprinkles!!!!!!

Congratulations Stacy and please send Alice or myself an email with your snail mail address so that Alice can send you a charm pack :)

Come back tomorrow for a post about the challenge for September!!!

Gold! Pure Gold!!!!

Yesterday I got a big parcel in the mail :) I love parcels, don't you?! And in it was this:


My Gold Club Membership from Keepsake Quilting!!! It was nicely wrapped and came with lots of goodies:



The most precious part of this membership for us Aussies is the that if we buy more than $75 we only pay $15 shipping... and the shipping is usually the killer. I know we have to spend $75 first... but that is not hard to do is it.. hee heee....

I have really been eyeing off their Summer Surprise Scrapbag for over a year now... 100 Fat Quarters for $99!!! And of course lots more cool stuff.. so I need to start saving... :)

Tomorrow I will post the winner of the August challenge... and then we need to talk September :) There's is a special challenge coming up for September... so stay tuned!

A Room With a View

My short stay in hospital was as comfortable as could be expected :) I had a room to myself - but still managed to hear lots of noise from the rest of the ward. Lots of newborn cries.... Funny, the last three times I had this type of operation I took a baby home with me... not this time :) And I have to admit, that I don't think I'd cope... I've decided I'm too old and am quite happy with my big kids :)


I got visitors dropping in with cards and flowers and little pressies...


DH bought me the bouquet above on behalf of my parents who are still overseas and couldn't come to visit. Isn't that flower just gorgeous?

I also got this nice little surprise during my stay there.. perfect timing don't you think:


Yay! I got the blue one :) It is avery cute needle case from Becky that I somehow managed to win. Came with this sweet card and made my stay in hospital just that little bit brighter :) Thanks Becky!

Being home is best though. On the weekend I really wasn't feeling well, but yesterday morning I woke up feeling somewhat human again and today is going along nicely too. The kids are looking after me well and we have had some casseroles made for us too so that has been lovely.

And now on a totally different topic - the August Finishing Stitches... has anyone else got anything done for the month? If so, please email me with a photo or link to a photo on your blog. You still have one day to go.... :)