Chookyblue........

spam emails..........

2012-01-30T09:02:00.000+11:00

I've received a few spam emails over the last week.............I know one friend who clicked on the link in a spam email and it caused lots of trouble.

Gmail is where all my online emails go and I don't get much general spam but they have a great filter and it all goes to the spam folder and I delete them all without even opening them...............

BUT sometimes you get spam from friends..............they may have clicked on a bad email link/website.........somehow their account has been compromised..............

mostly they have no idea spam has been sent out to you...........If they are friends I always send back a new email to them to let them know I got an odd email............

So how do you know if it is "dodgy"

1. you keep getting emails from people you don't know (like Cheryl Ashmore - I am not sure who you are but I keep getting spam from you)

2. the email has an odd "subject" to what you may "normally" get from that person.........

3. The link isn't making sense to what they may have sent to you..........eg a link to a blog post ..........it is usually longer and the web address may make no sense at all...........

4. the email may have gone to LOTS of people in the "to" spot..........The only group emails I send out are to people who are part of a group I am emailing for a specific reason eg. SAL, SSCS,

5. Sometimes you get links to join things or view pictures of your friends, a mailing list you haven't joined up to...........usually SPAM.........

6. sometimes blog post get spam comments...........if you see a blog comment that has nothing to do with the post you just read with lots of links don't click on them.........

SO IF IN DOUBT DELETE

Your friend won't be upset if you delete what you think may be a "spam email"..............when you email them to let them know they sure won't mind emailing you the link again if it was a good email that you should have opened..............but they sure will be happy to know they got hacked..............

how to protect yourself

keep your antivirus/security up to date.............and remember to scan your computer regularly..........

if you get hacked by someone change your passwords..............

don't open emails that don't "look right"

I'll add the link to this post to the help section on my sidebar

.........take care til next time.....Chookyblue.........

Calling USA friends...........

2012-01-25T19:00:00.005+11:00

Happy Australia Day....

lots of events held all around the country..............cities and small country towns.........what a wonderful country we live in..............I am so lucky......

I am slowly improving with my USA geography...........

Now I do know where some places are now...........

Don't get excited because unless I win lotto I am not coming

but.....is anyone near Houstan, Pennsylvania or New York (city) (also Washington)

Also if your around that area do you have a sewing group, great quilt shop etc............

.........take care til next time.....Chookyblue.........

Advent swap sent................

2012-01-25T19:00:00.001+11:00

Following on from yesterdays post this is what I sent to Kris in Fee's Advent Swap

As soon as I saw this in Country Threads I knew I had to stitch it for Kris............she is bear crazy..............

up close..........

I made mine into a wall hanging..............it's a bit dull in the pics as it was cloudy when trying to take the pics...............I know she loves soft and pretty...........

The design is by Deb and she had it published in Country Threads Vol 12 No5

here are some of the other goodies I sent to Kris..........

It was fun getting all the bits and pieces together..........enjoy Kris

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

Advent Swap received............

2012-01-24T19:00:00.001+11:00

This year I was part of Fee's Advent swap for the 3rd year...........we had a blog where we could post to show what we all received...............Advent Swap 2011
this was a direct swap and had one main present and 24 small presents to open each day leading up to Christmas..............2 crazy girls who shouldn't have signed up being too busy were paired together...............but we had a great time..................this is the main gift below from Kris......
3 ruler covers with Chooky stitcheries.................I just love them............perfect and I have a ruler to pop into each one...............

I love the blue chooks............wonder why................

anyone want some eggs............

here are some of the other goodies she sent me..............

cute mouse........the only one I want in my sewing room............

some decorations............

lots of wonderful gifts.............

Thanks heaps Kris.............I love everything you sent to me.............
Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

FIS swap sent and received..........

2012-01-23T19:00:00.005+11:00

My online group Friends in Stitching had a Christmas swap..........5 small parcels from the 20th Dec and a main present on Christmas Day...............Now I did show what I received on the group blog at Christmas so that's ok..........firstly what I made..............one of these key fobs was one of the smaller presents..........I don't have any pics of the other gifts I sent.......you can see what I sent here....but small bits and pieces and some cards...........

I got this pattern when i was at Anni's - The Home Patch late last year.............linen and "Strawberry Fields" fabric.............Fig Tree Quilts "Notions To Go" I started making 2 and I have another nearly finished for myself...........

some of the stitching I worked on out at the cows last year............... finally into a finished project...........2 of the stitcheries from Tis the Season quilt by Natalie Bird.......so different to my Tis the Season quilt................
All these goodies went to Kylie..........I loved making for Kylie......we have met a few times too which was lovely.............enjoy the gifts Kylie...........

now De was sending to me...............the first day i got a bottle of champagne...........(I think De has been reading my blog)..........I the bag with a some of the smaller parcels...........

A cute reindeer to hang on the tree............

This gorgeous backpack was just perfect.............

Designed by Brenda Dean in Patchwork and Stitching Magazine Vol6No5
It's very cool how it is nice and wide but narrows in when shut..................
I love all the gifts you sent De thanks heaps.............

Sorry I am so late with the posting..............
Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

random emails can = new bloggers.........

2012-01-22T21:12:00.000+11:00

Sometimes I get emails from non bloggers..............people I have never heard of..............sometimes they are thinking of blogging and have a question..........sometimes they might want to join the Stitch-a-Long SAL or the Secret Santa Christmas Swap SSCS.........both required you to be a blogger - my rules but it works..........any way one of these random emails was from a lady who wanted to join the SAL.............it the time it was full but I explained that you need to have a blog and she didn't have one but was a little keen..........anyway several months and emails later she started the blog and now she is on track after a visit from her son to get her a little more sorted and I also had a spot available in the SAL now so Yvonne has a few posts up and she is ready to start a new quilt..................welcome to blogland Yvonne...........head over and welcome her to blogland...............a little nurturing goes a long way.............

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You never know where a random email may lead...............bit like the email from Cindi (no blog) in the last post...................we have kept up sporadic contact over many months..........trading goodies................

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So I wonder how long it will take Salley to get moving..............you know you want to Salley..........lol.

.........take care til next time.....Chookyblue.........

i'm back.........

2012-01-21T19:00:00.002+11:00

i'm back.........well we'll give it ago and see how long it lasts......21 days and 2 dodgy posts- sorry........the holidays are winding down and I have done nothing I had planned except a quick trip to Sydney to see "Annie" and a couple of days with 2 lots of friends catching up with a few others while there too...........everything else hasn't happened and we have been busy with other things............anyway today I have finally had a day of nothing..............me and the lounge had a date......laptop on my lap............I have been catching up with the SAL blog and going thru emails...........I am nearly done.............I have some blog posts to catch up on that I had starred when I was toooooo busy to do anything else and finally my reader says no new feeds..........

I have totally lost the plot with my blog.............. unusually I have forgotten what I had posted last.....I had to go back thru to see what I was up to myself...........lol.........anyway I so needed to update the header photo...........Christmas is long gone and I can't believe we are so far thru January...........

I had to go hunting for something new for my header............I took these pics in November..........I think it was late November when things started to get too crazy busy.....it does come with the time of the year so is expected but I have usually caught up by the new year.........finally I can show you.........

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I see there are lots happening in 2012...........so many challenges, BOM, a few swaps, goals etc............OMG it is overwhelming...........I am not going to do anything for the time being.................and I am not one for making new year resolutions............but goodluck to those who have plans...........i'm just going to wing it for now.............and I hope to get some good time at the sewing machine soon.........or even hand sewing..........it's been about 3-4 weeks and not a stitch..............I had a little home maintenance sewing yesterday but that's it and I can tell you that wasn't exciting bit depressing really......................

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this is a parcel Cindi in the USA (no blog) sent to me before Christmas.............she had seen a post where I was asking for a magazine (the one on the right)...........it wasn't available here anymore anyway she tracked it down and a couple more and sent them off to me............and look at that cool piece of fabric she included too.........thanks so much Cindi............she was repaying a favour.........not that she needed too..........

Earlier in the year I helped her out with this pattern............one of the months in the "Breast of Friends" BOM....the block by Leanne Beasley.........I still had the magazine with the design and when she saw the gorgeous cushion Maree made for me she asked about the pattern...........

and I thought I had posted this photo but I hadn't so now here is Cindi's version.........she made it for a friend who of course LOVED it............

Anyway I have emailed all my pics to posts and I have about 7 to do to prepare to show you everything I am behind with................so i'll go and prep another one now and be a little ahead..............maybe............hope to see you again soon...............

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

PS who is Annette that was at Anni's shop this week???

just popping in............

2012-01-05T21:52:00.000+11:00

well i'm just popping in to let you know I may be off for awhile longer then planned...............this afternoon I was going to sort out the posts I wanted to do it and get organised and I have been chasing Mr Chooky and his vehicle problems...........lets just say the afternoon went pear shaped.............bit like the last week or so................I wasn't in my working clothes by any means (a dress) and ended up doing some farm work......had my ~~Cardygirl work boots~~ thongs on......when I should have been cooking dinner I was drenching sheep with the boys (I have an extra boy for a week) while Mr Chooky took a couple of cows to the saleyards..........lucky for him he brought home some dinner..........then it was back out again to pick up a broken down vehicle and finally in at 8.45pm...........so far removed from the plans I had it's not funny............

I did find out about a little blog win so while in the heat dust and sweat of today that made me continue on........

I had great sewing plans for my holidays off work..................I have not got to sew a stitch yet.......a few visitors here and there......the farm jobs have been busy - catching up on work.............I am sick of sheep and we have more work to do with them...........lucky I will miss some of the cattle work on the weekend while I am busy with Fairy Girl.....then it is back to paid work so I am not sure when i will get back here..........I am very sorry as I have so much to show and be thankful for but for now it will just have to wait.............I also have posts to comment on which I am trying to do.............and I am trying now to keep up with the emails..........there were 150+ emails in my in box....google reader is out of control.............anyway I know we all have busy times and it will pass.............sorry Cardy I will try and catch you tomorrow night..........oh and the summer heat is here..............gee we have had it nice but not now................anyway off for now hope to return soon............while all the work is on we are having "quality family time" bonding like you do over stock work..............

.........take care til next time.....Chookyblue.........

signing off...........

2011-12-31T09:27:00.000+11:00

I know i have posts to do..........gifts to show..........sewing to show............things to tell but really I am just going to sign off the internet for a day/few days..............how long I am not sure.........i'll be back soon but I just need to ignore everything for a little while.............nothing wrong I just want to go sewing and not get caught on here...........comments are turned off so I don't have to reply to them when i return..............

.........take care til next time.....Chookyblue.........

SSCS main presents 8...............

2011-12-30T08:00:00.004+11:00

I'll have a wrap up post to come of the last few bits but this is the last post for now...............
Half of the SSCS participants have posted a SSCS post and everyone so far is just so excited.............this is the reason I do the swap............so much joy........it is very special............someone on the other side of the world spent time making a beautiful present which has given some joy at Christmas.........hand made especially for you..............
I can't wait to see the rest of the posts..........
THANKYOU
to all my wonderful Santa's.........
I know I am the one who organises the swap but without you wonderful Santa's it would not happen.......................

Tracee for Lori

Tracey for Gracie

TracyG for Trash

TraceyR for Kristi

Trash for KrisM

Ulla for JennyJ

Vicki (Vix) for Flo

Vickie for Oddbjorg

Wendy for FionaFLY

JoJo for Kaaren

Shiree for KateS

Lynn for Leanne

THANKYOU

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

SSCS main presents 7...........

2011-12-30T00:01:00.000+11:00

I'm going to block comments on these posts and you can comment on the final one I put up.............

Also if you love something here go and find their blog and leave a comment there............

the list is on the right sidebar and there is an Australian list and an international list................

All swaps were between Australia and another country...............

SandyC for Grethe

SandyN for Tami

Satu for Bev

Shari for Linda

Sharon for FionaBubz

Shauna for Lise

Sherry for TracyR

Shez(Sheryl) for LailaLS

Simona for JoJo

Simone for Rosie

Sonia for Elin

Sue for Loulee

Susan (AUS) for Shauna

Susan (NZ) for Peg

Tami for Noela

Terry for Lorraine

more to come...............

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

SSCS main presents 6.............

2011-12-29T16:00:00.001+11:00

I'm going to block comments on these posts and you can comment on the final one I put up.............

Also if you love something here go and find their blog and leave a comment there............

the list is on the right sidebar and there is an Australian list and an international list................

All swaps were between Australia and another country...............

Miche'le for Fee

Michelle for Sonia

Nancy for Deb (AUS)

NarelleC for Wendy

Narelle L for Nemo

Nemo for Carol-Lee

Nemo for NarelleL

Nicky for Annette

Noela for Ann-Mari

Oddbjorg for Maree

Odette for Jeanette

Oddette for Jeanette

Patricia for Cheryl

Paula for KateW

Peg for Terry

Pia for Julia

Rebecca for Sharon

RoseMarie for TracyG

Rosie for Annelise

Ruth for Vicki(Vix)

more to come.............

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

SSCS main presents 5...............

2011-12-29T08:00:00.000+11:00

I'm going to block comments on these posts and you can comment on the final one I put up.............

Also if you love something here go and find their blog and leave a comment there............

the list is on the right sidebar and there is an Australian list and an international list................

All swaps were between Australia and another country...............

Liz for Simone

Lori for KateK

Lorraine for Shiree

Loulee for Claire

Lurline for Carole

Lynda for Ulla

Lynn for Dzintra

Margaret for SandyN

Maria for Lurline

Marica for Beth

Martine for Lizzie

May Britt for Annie

MayK for Susan (AUS)

Meg for Anne Heidi

Melinda for Jan

More to come.............

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

SSCS main presents 4............

2011-12-29T00:01:00.003+11:00

I'm going to block comments on these posts and you can comment on the final one I put up.............

Also if you love something here go and find their blog and leave a comment there............

the list is on the right sidebar and there is an Australian list and an international list................

All swaps were between Australia and another country...............

Karol-Ann for Janice

KateK for Michelle

KateS for Laura

KateW for SusanAUS

Kerstin for Jo

Kerry for Deb USA

KrisM for Lynn

KrisP for Melinda

Kristi for Tracee

Laila for Helen

Laila for Liz

LailaLS for KrisP

Laura for Joy

Leanne for Anita

Linda for Dawnie

Lisa for Laila

Lise for Marica

Lizzie for Ruth

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

SSCS main presents 3..............

2011-12-28T16:00:00.001+11:00

I'm going to block comments on these posts and you can comment on the final one I put up.............

Also if you love something here go and find their blog and leave a comment there............

the list is on the right sidebar and there is an Australian list and an international list................

All swaps were between Australia and another country...............

Fran for Lyn

Gracie for Lynda

Grethe for Illene

Helen for Martine

Illene for Rosemary

Jan for MayK

Janice for Judith

Jeanette for Josie

JennyJ for Paula

JennyM for Satu

Jo to Caroline

Josie for Sue

Joy for Kerstin

Judith for Cathy

Julia for Cat

Julie for Denice

Kaaren for SandyC

more to come...........

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

SSCS main presents 2.............

2011-12-28T08:00:00.001+11:00

I'm going to block comments on these posts and you can comment on the final one I put up.............

Also if you love something here go and find their blog and leave a comment there............

the list is on the right sidebar and there is an Australian list and an international list................

All swaps were between Australia and another country...............
More amazing gifts............

Cheryl for Shari

Christin for Shez

Christine for Anne Heidi

Claire for Simona

Dale for Sherry

Dawnie for MayBritt (even May Britt in the picture)

De for Maria

Deb (Aust) for Andrea

Deb (USA) for FionaH

Denice for Marg

Dzintra for Anne Marie

Elin for Christine

Fee for Karol-Ann

Fiona Bubz for Nemo

Fiona Fly for Pia

FionaH for Kornelia

Flo for De

more to come..........

Catch you later
Chookyblue

SSCS main presents 1............

2011-12-28T00:01:00.001+11:00

Starting now at midnight then every 8 hrs i'll pop up a new posts until they are all here............
I'm going to block comments on these posts and you can comment on the final one I put up.............

Also if you love something here go and find their blog and leave a comment there............

the list is on the right sidebar and there is an Australian list and an international list................

All swaps were between Australia and another country.

prepare to be inspired..............

Alison for Sandra

Andrea for Tracey

Anita for Alison

Ann-Mari for Kerry

AnneHeidi for Chookyblue

Anne Heidi for Chookyblue

Anne Heidi for Lisa

Anne Lise for Patricia

Anne Marie for Rebecca

Anne Lise for Vickie

Annette for Nancy

Annie for Margaret

Berit for NarelleC

Beth for Laila

Carol-Lee for Christin

Carole for Fran

Caroline for Dale

Cat for JennyM

Cathy for Annelies

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

SSCS Received from AnneHeidi

2011-12-27T07:46:00.002+11:00

Christmas Day sure was pretty exciting....................firstly I had to open my SSCS out of the swaps I was in...............all my swap parcels were beautiful and I will get the other post prepared very soon...........

Anne Heidi sent the most gorgeous wall hanging........I just love the stitchery and the colours................

I love pinwheels..............

and the corner stitcheries - so cute.............

then there was a parcel for the Chooky family.............Fairy Girl opened this........

Anne Heidi made 4 table runners..........that is all I use daily..........these will be great..............

very cool cow print in the middle and on the outside........my favourites........

thanks Anne Heidi a perfect swap parcel................

this is the 5th year you have joined me in the swap and it just wouldn't be the same without you..............

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

hhmmm........

2011-12-26T14:23:00.000+11:00

I'm trying to get motivated to get organised.............only opened my swap gifts yesterday and I had some other parcels under the tree from blogland so slowly opening them today.........so I can enjoy everything...........

I have updated all the names on the ornament swap posts.........

had leftovers for breaky and lunch...........breakfast was leftover tomato/onion salad on toast.........lunch was desserts - tiramisu (I used drinking chocolate instead of coffee yummo) and summer berry trifle............plus a bit more rubbish and spent most of the day on the lounge..........Christmas day is always lovely but such a big day...........now to have a nanna nap and lets hope motivation to do something has returned............

no need to comment then I would have to reply and I still have emails to reply too as it is.............see super lazy.........more to come soon I hope.............lol..........I think I have soooooooooooooo much to show I am not sure where to start.............

.........take care til next time.....Chookyblue.........

SSCS Ornaments post 7.........

2011-12-25T17:00:00.014+11:00

SandyC for Grethe

SandyN for Tami

Satu for Bev

Shari for Linda

Sharon for FionaBubz

Shauna for Lise

Sherry for TracyR

Shiree for KateS

Simona for JoJo

Simone for Rosie

Sonia for Elin

Sue for Loulee

SusanAUS for Shauna

SusanNZ for Peg

Tami for Noela

Terry for Lorraine

Tracee for Lori

TracyG for Trash

TraceyR for Kristi

TracyR for Kristi

Ulla for JennyJ

VickiB for Flo

Vickie for Oddbjorg

Wendy for FionaFLY

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

SSCS Ornaments post 6

2011-12-25T06:00:00.014+11:00

Merry Christmas..........enjoy opening your gifts....

Miche'le for Fee

Michelle for Sonia

Nancy for DebR

NarelleC for Wendy

NarelleL for Nemo

Nemo for Berit (extra gift)

Nemo for Carol Lee

Nemo for NarelleL

Nicky for Annette

Noela for Ann Mari

Oddbjorg for Maree

Odette for Jeanette

Patricia for Cheryl

Paula for KateW

Peg for Terry (sorry it's sideways)

Pia for Julia

Rebecca for Sharon

Just a tiny ornament...........

Rosemarie for TracyG

Rosie for Annelise

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

SSCS Ornaments post 5.....

2011-12-24T21:00:00.003+11:00

1 more sleep................

Liz for Simone

Lori for KateK

Lorraine for Shiree

Loulee for Claire

Lyn for Leanne

Lynda for Ulla
(in the snow above and sunny Aust below)

Lynn for Dzintra

Margaret for SandyN

Maria for Lurline

Marica

Martine

May Britt for Annie

MayK for SusanAus

Melinda for Jan

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

SSCS Ornaments post 4.................

2011-12-24T16:00:00.003+11:00

Karol-Ann for Janice

KateK for Michelle

KateS for Laura

KateW for SusanNZ

Kerstin for Jo

KrisM for Lynn

KrisP for Melinda

Kristi for Tracee

Laila for Helen

Laila for Liz

LailaLS for KrisP

Laura for Joy

Leanne for Anita

Linda for Dawnie

Lisa for Laila

Lise for Marica

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

SSCS Ornaments post 3

2011-12-24T09:26:00.001+11:00

Fran for Lyn

Grace for Lynda

Grethe for Illene

Helen for Martine

Illene for Rosemary

Jan for MayK

Janice for Judith

Jeanette for Josie

Jenny J for Paula

Jenny M for Satu

Jo for Caroline

Josie for Sue

Joy for Kerstin

Judith for Cathy

Julie for Denice

Kaaren for SandyC

Annelies for VickiC

Christine for Anne Heidi

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

SSCS Ornaments post 2...........

2011-12-23T20:53:00.001+11:00

Cheryl for Shari

Chookyblue for Nicky

Christin for Shez

Claire for Simona

Dale for Sherry

Dawnie for May Britt

De for Maria

DebA for FionaH

DebR for Andrea

Denice for Marg

Dzintra for Anne Marie

Elin for Christine

Fee for Karol-Ann

Fiona Bubz for Nemo

Fiona Fly for Pia

FionaH for Kornelia

Flo for De

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

SSCS Ornaments post 1............

2011-12-23T11:35:00.001+11:00

2 more sleeps...................

Well here we go......so many gorgeous ornaments too many favourites..........the start of the show and tell...............i'll fill the names in later as some Santa's are still secret...............and you will get quite a few posts as I get things moving with 7 posts of ornaments all scheduled over the next few days.......

i'll sign off for a few days til after christmas............when I start to share the SSCS gifts..............can't wait to see everyone's posts.............we have 8 parcels still to be delivered which is very sad.............they have been floating around on the sleigh for 3-4+ weeks now so I just wished Santa would get them delivered today so everyone has something to open on Christmas Day..................

enjoy and have a safe and wonderful Christmas.............

Alison for Sandra

Andrea for Tracey

Anita for Alison

Ann-Mari for Kerry

Anne Heidi for Chookyblue

Anne Heidi for Lisa

Anne Lise for Rebecca

Anne Marie for Rebecca

Annette for Nancy

Annie for Magaret

Berit for Narelle

Beth for Laila

Carole for Fran

Caroline for Dale

Cat for JennyM

Cathy for Annelies

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

2011-12-20T06:20:00.000+11:00

5 sleeps........

.........take care til next time.....Chookyblue.........

SSCS ornament sent...........

2011-12-18T07:00:00.000+11:00

This is the ornament I sent to Nicky Farmgirl Stitching.............it took awhile to get across the ditch......

all will be well if she stays NICE and doesn't open those presents early and become NAUGHTY....

Be good 7 sleeps..........

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

some gift boxes...........

2011-12-17T06:00:00.001+11:00

8 sleeps.............

Fairy Girl and I made these gift boxes up................rocky road and chocolate balls...........

Little Chicken found the boxes in a party shop.............perfect for foody gifts...........

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

Christmas is coming ready or not............

2011-12-16T09:21:00.000+11:00

9 sleeps til Santa comes..............

15 parcels to be delivered..................

.........take care til next time.....Chookyblue.........

catching up......

2011-12-13T20:14:00.000+11:00

Kris you may need a cuppa.............lots of bits here...........
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While I was in the "big smoke" for a few days I got to have a quick blog meet lunch with Sonia.....after approx 5 years online we finally met........now not really knowing what Sonia looked like I spotted her by a lovely stitched bag with this quilt poking out..........she has quilted it by hand and it is gorgeous check it out...........so nice to see another finished quilt as part of the first SAL...............we enjoyed a lovely lunch...........thanks for the little prezzie..........

I am loving all the goodies from Kris in the Advent Swap organised by Fee.......

....Kris also included a little parcel for Fairy Girl since she knows she opens every second day of my parcels.......I only get to open 1/2 but we do it together and she remembers first thing every morning.................this parcel below Kris said she could open now or later...........as Fairy Girl has no will power to hold off it got opened ASAP.........thanks heaps Kris she LOVES the gift you sent to her and felt very special............much appreciated.........you should have seen the look on her face when she was sorting thru the dates to find the first parcel and found one with her name on it............

Fairy Girl and I had great fun making these ornaments...............super quick and easy and very cute hanging on the tree...............the round beads look much nicer then the oval ones..........you can find a tutorial here with Annette.........she made some for her teachers too.......

we had a good fall of rain on the weekend............the biggest for 12 months........I had a pool in the front yard for awhile...............still a long way from our annual average rainfall................what we have had all year is nearly the same as what Maree has had in the last few weeks...........no wonder she has been flooded...............
the last few weeks have mainly been high 20'sC temp wise............very mild really for December in my area so I will enjoy it while it continues..........the next week looks much of the same............when the heat comes we'll be in for quite a shock...........the garden is loving the rain and me the break from watering all the time.........lucky I have a dam to water my garden and now it is FULL along with all the other farms dams bar one...........

some mystery envelopes went off to some special friends.............hope they arrive before Christmas but not sure.............

My Friends in Stitching parcel below was sent off and I received mine in the mail today....Thanks to the sender i'm very excited...........you know who you are............

Slowly the SSCS parcels are arriving.............mine hasn't landed with the receiver yet............I wished the sleigh would hurry and deliver............don't forget to email me ASAP as we have some anxious Santa's waiting to hear about parcels.........EDIT just got an email to say mine has been dropped off the sleigh.........and I have a happy recipient.........yeh......
&&&&
With the wet weather the Fairy Girl got the Christmas tree up while I was sewing..........
.......I just love pulling out all the hand made decorations and wall hangings............some from my beautiful blog friends...............
&&&
Two Christmas parties to go to this weekend if it doesn't rain......
it is predicted so we'll see what happens...........
&&&
Finally school holidays start in a few days.............I am so excited................no bus run..............no routine...............a few weeks holidays from work over Christmas too..........
&&&
this post is a bit of everything but it has been in the planning for a week or so and I started to write it this morning and I have been working on it for 2 hrs since I got home in between phone calls and cooking dinner etc.........so i hope it makes sense.........off to finished some teacher present - cooking little boxes with choc chip biscuits, rocky road, chocolate balls..........Fairy Girl has loved helping
&&&
12 sleeps til Santa comes......he's watching so you better be good....................
Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

86 and counting...............

2011-12-08T19:13:00.000+11:00

86 parcels have been delivered.............so 49 to go...........

17 sleeps til Christmas......

OMG I am so excited......

postage is so erratic......some parcels have traveled as expected...........other seem to be taking forever..............this time of the year is soooooo unpredictable...............

&&&

Still need to put the tree up...............

.........take care til next time.....Chookyblue.........

SSCS blog list...........

2011-12-06T07:37:00.000+11:00

don't forget to check out the links on the sidebar.........I see someone the other day only just found a blog in the SSCS...........the list will only be there for about another month so check out some great blogs while you can...........

Hope you're being good as Santa is watching...............the above little sewing/knitting kit was in a toy shop window...........isn't it gorgeous..............

.........take care til next time.....Chookyblue.........

Sunrise

2011-12-04T06:10:00.000+11:00

Watching the sunrise over the beach........something I never see.......... R u doing something special?????
Chookyblue

my SSCS has arrived...........

2011-12-02T06:00:00.001+11:00

Look at this gorgeous ornament Anne Heidi has sent to me.................

I love the pic she took of it so have posted it here to keep me cool............

Anne Heidi, Nemo and Laila are sending to 2 girls this year as I was short at the last minute a few international girls........these girls have been in the SSCS every year.....and they keep telling me Christmas would not the the same without the SSCS.............it has become a tradition..........thanks girls I appreciate for assistance...........

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

PS have a great weekend I know I will..............

I love my mail man......................

2011-11-30T13:47:00.000+11:00

WOW it was a great mail day yesterday..............the big parcel on the left is some batting and weaveline from Kerry I knew it was coming...........but all the rest......very exciting.......

a parcel from Nemo and another one from Cheryl...........both surprises............both not to be opened until Christmas day..........I need to get my Christmas tree up and pop them under...............

the box has my Advent Swap parcels from Kris.........very exciting........Fairy Girl spied one with her name on it............thanks Kris.............

During US Market I left a comment on Amities blog and they sent me a little bundle of blue pieces of fabrcis.............especially love the one on the left.............thanks so much they are lovely fabrics............

Kate from Bella's Patchwork had a celebration for 300 posts...........I won a pattern of my choice from her shop................thanks.............love Margot Languedoc's designs

and this pile is the remnants of some secret sewing...............various projects................

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

are your parcels on the sleigh????

2011-11-25T22:02:00.001+11:00

This gorgeous parcel is on the sleigh.......

.....it's from ???? in ???? and will be delivered to ???? in ????

Is your parcel on the sleigh..........time is running out..............

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue
PS edit............I forgot who this parcel was from/to (once I changed the file name) but it is now delivered and it is from Simone for Rosie..........

SSCS girls.............

2011-11-24T09:52:00.000+11:00

Hi Santa's

not sure if you have noticed the box on the right but I added a box where I will continue to add names of people as parcels arrive at destinations.............

trust me there are lots of gorgeous parcel travelling on the sleigh so far............very exciting..............

I wonder who made this ornament and where it will land..............

The Elf............

Chookyblue

Advent swap sent.........

2011-11-23T07:59:00.000+11:00

this pile of goodies is off in the mail to Kris.............

Fairy Girl helped my wrap them so they have lots of extra little christmas sticker.............I usually only get to open about 1/2 th parcels as each day we take turns..............and I can't open a parcel until she is up.............

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

SSCS Posting starts..........

2011-11-19T10:51:00.001+11:00

The last minute rush is on............

The parcels should be wrapped..............

And ready for the sleigh to pick them up..............

Don't forget to write SSCS somewhere on the outside of the parcel.............

email me when you send your parcel..............

email me when you receive your parcel..........

.........The Elf aka Chookyblue.........
PS hope you like the new header.........

sewing with friends...........

2011-11-16T16:52:00.000+11:00

Recently I had a few friends over sewing..........

simple easy lunch...........

one of my friends attaching the binding to her quilt............

another was cutting out fabric for this quilt in an American mag..........need to find a copy of this mag for myself................

a friends quilt top.........just to add a piano key border I think it is now...........

my internet has slowed to dialup as our usage has overloaded..........think updating ipods is responsible..........bugger though as there are a few more days til the 24th or 25th when it resets...........so if you have sent me pics of your SSCS it's too slow for me to open some emails with pics......sometimes I can hardly open an email esp if it has animation or pics in it........

......i'll get back to you next week when I can open and download the pics properly.......

.......it's driving me nuts........apologies now as I probably won't be replying to comments here unless necessary............

SeCrEt SaNtA cHrIsTmAs SwAp

postage starts this Fri 19th. make sure email me when you send your parcel off............

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

blog meet.......

2011-11-15T06:36:00.000+11:00

I know i'm a bit slow on getting this one up but it was very late when i got home Sunday night..............and i've been chasing hoses watering etc here...............and then I fell asleep last night part way thru the post so here we are..........3 days late.......

pretty hot day yesterday, the thermometer said 36 deg.........I had the fan on all night.......very different to the super pleasant 24-25 in Bathurst on Saturday when we had our blog meet...........summer is here for sure..........

Saturday was wonderful.............meeting old/new bloggers..........it's like meeting up with best friends since you have been getting to know them for so long in some cases.............

Anita and Sandy headed west from the city.....I head in from the bush..........the others weren't quite so far - Deb, Khris, Kate (and non bloggers Alison)..................the km's we do for a blog meet............

Anni in front of her Some Kind of Wonderful book - quilt My Favourite Things.........
I seriously want to make the blue/cream quilt on the left..........it's in the book too...........

the chrismas display in the shop..........lots of gorgeous things everywhere...........

Deb and Khris being served by the gorgeous Margaret (not in photo)

thanks for the great service Margaret I know you will be reading this....you always make our visit so lovely.................

Not quiet sure what Kate was doing with my hexagon bag..........nice "hat".......NOT...lol...........

I am determined to get Anita doing a little EPP.............she is going to GDITC in March where Sue Daley is the tutor and she has to do some then.............this little hexagon flower can be a starter...........I wonder if it is finished yet............Anita????

a super delicious lunch...........the lady just locked the door and left us sitting there chatting while they did there own jobs tidying and preparing for the evening....................
Lucky Kate didn't get away with my little sewing bag from Janet......I'm thinking my little bag might need a security guard all the girls what to keep it for themselves..........no matter where I go................

Great idea Anita to meet up and so glad the date worked............we will definitely be doing this again sometime next year..........
shopping well yes I did some and some is secret............so well skip that post probably............
Chookyblue............

9 sleeps til posting starts.......

2011-11-10T08:18:00.000+11:00

Hi Secret Santa's

Hope everyone is going well and nearly done.......

9 sleeps until 135 parcels start flying around the globe.........

you should have an email in your inbox from me............

.........take care til next time.....Chookyblue.........

tiny finishes.........

2011-11-07T08:51:00.001+11:00

Marg Low Designs................The Spirit of Christmas...............I stitched these on the road with the cows and finally got to the sewing machine last weekend and finished them up.............it was the only things I completed while Cardy was visiting......(slipped them into OPAM with Peg and Kris)

I slipped this one (below) into Cardy's bag without telling her..............oh I wished I could have seen her face when she opened her sewing bag and found this in it............lol...........she thought she'd stolen it......hehehe......I snuck it into her sewing bag as a little surprise..........I knew she loved them...........

some parts on the present and ornament I stitched in single thread.......

Very cute............

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue
PS thanks for visiting the Points Princess too.........she'll get back to you very soon.........

Lurkers/new blogger...........

2011-11-05T13:13:00.000+11:00

I have lots more to share but we have a new blogger in the midst......

.....seems I have infected her with the blog virus......

......head over and wish her well in her new addiction............

Now for LuRkErS (wikipedia agrees you are called a lurker) out there..............it is easy to "de-lurk" and start your own blog............super easy.............head here

Apparently Wikipedia tells me about 90% of the people who visit here are LURKERS..............come on pop you head in and say hi...........

leave a comment here as to why you would start a blog......

what you love about blogging................

.........take care til next time.....Chookyblue.........

Road trip...........blog meet

2011-11-04T06:12:00.000+11:00

Anyone up for a road trip next Saturday morning.................

Anita, SandyN and I are meeting up.............

Where at?????

Well it has to be Anni's shop The Home Patch (need to check opening time)

Super easy to find on the corner of the highway............

After some shopping we'll head off for lunch together............

Can't wait to see Anita...........she is a LLOOONNGGGGGGG time blog friend..(only meeting thru blogging).........Sandy I met briefly at the Quilt Show in Sydney (after Cardygirl was stalking her) so will be great to chat more to her too............we didn't have enough time then...........

Anyway let me or Anita know if you are coming and if you're joining us for lunch...........

.........take care til next time.....Chookyblue.........

Cardy's visit..............

2011-11-01T19:00:00.000+11:00

Wow we had a lovely time...............Cardigan (as she is referred to by Bookworm) is a wonderful guest.............

drinks and nibbles Friday arvo.............

picked some mulberries and made a mulberry pie............ sorry forgot to snap pics of that...........

I ~~forced~~ encouraged her to do some TTS sewing (see the post)..............

she forced me to pull some fabrics out for my Some Kind of Wonderful (SKoW) SAL...........

I like them what do you think??? a base of 1930's plus others............

I found a willy wagtails nest right at my back door with 3 eggs in it........super exciting.......

Cardygirl and Fairy Girl made a marble cake...........mixing up the pink.........

swirled ready for the oven............

Cardy was on lamb feeding duties with Bookworm (even if she did get sacked)............

wonder how long this will take to get finished.............

this is her sewing stash she brought for the weekend...........Cardy showed me how to hand piece........must have a go at it............she's doing a great BOM hand piecing............i'm sure she will show pics on her blog.............it looks fantastic.............

thanks heaps Cardy for a wonderful weekend............even if I talked too much and didn't really achieve much I had a wonderful time..........

(I was a little tired and worn out to concentrate on sewing)..........

Your welcome to visit anytime.....

(...especially since you didn't take any of my quilts from the spare room....)

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

25 weeks & 2 days but who's counting............

2011-10-31T15:25:00.000+11:00

Sadly Cardygirl has made her way home safe and sound and I will have some pics and news from her visit next but the biggest news of the weekend is that

the cows are now home....

last week I ended up with 2 days in the cattle yards............one day sorting cattle out working out what to sell, what to wean and who owns which calves...........the other sorting up for sale etc..........for the truck to pick up.................big days drafting with Mr Chookyblue and FIL.......

the first day was fine..............they were happy enough to plod along at my pace..........I was picking the cattle out for each yard............they were on the gates "blocking" etc................I will not BLOCK anything that wants to get away bad enough...........they can go I say and I will get them out again...............

the second day was different..............they were impatient men and I threaten leaving them to draft on their own several times............we got thru the day...............lots of cows sold and and lots of calves weaned to another property..............

On Saturday morning we were going to get up bright and early and start to bring the remaining cattle home..........but it was looking stormy and we decided to wait...............good thing we did as we got a bit of a storm come thru.............Sunday morning Mr Chooky headed off and started to bring the cows home...........gave them a break along the way then back at it again............we went down for the important part........pushing them along for the last bit......

.....it was very exciting ........NOTE Cardygirl has her ~~working boots~~ thongs on..........

Finally thru the last gate and they are home...............the little calves were pooped but I am sure they don't know what hit them today..........wandering around a big area as they please.............

we got 20mls (80points) of rain on the weekend and everything looks so fresh at the moment..........

We still are very short of rain for the year.............but lets hope it's awhile before I have to go droving again.............and we have made the right decision...........

My Chooky pincushion can now be retired from the car................she has been my constant companion and thread rubbish holder since moving out to the road 6 months ago..............wow 6 months............there has been some good and bad days in all that but it is wonderful to wake up this morning and not have to worry about who's going to the cows.............and if it is me pack a lunch box and sewing and hope the day goes well..............

Thanks for

putting up with numerous cow posts.............

suffering a lack of sewing on the blog.......

putting up with a lack of posts when I temporarily lost the plot.............

the wonderful supporting comments you have left............

blogging yourselves as it gave me posts to read on my phone which killed the boredom at times.......

funny amusing comment and emails you sent me during the time..........

your friendship............

&&&&

I'll leave you with a sunset photo I took on my phone coming home from town the other night..............

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

Cardy's has gone country.........

2011-10-28T21:20:00.000+11:00

Yep Cardy has arrived safe and sound.............checked out the sights of town...........had lunch in town with another friend also........ then out to the farm.........the kids have dragged her around doing their jobs............another girlfriend called in and a bottle of champagne later..............no sewing yet but hopefully we'll get some done tomorrow..........to much chatter happening...........it's going to be a great weekend.........

lined up some cattle work for her tomorrow morning..............he he he...........

.........take care til next time.....Chookyblue.........

garden visit and SSCS...........

2011-10-26T07:49:00.002+11:00

Some photos from open gardens I went to recently.............started taking lots of pics and forgot to pull my camera out in the last ones..........woops.........
Anyone want a ride............

Do you know the name of this rose???

Pigface flowering amazingly like it can...............

Heaps more photos here.........

&&&&&
&&&
&
I've received a few emails yesterday with pics of SSCS progress and finished gifts....
.. gorgeous gifts for ???? oh thats right I can't tell you...........
....how are your presents going.........
.....less then a month to go now........
.......the excitement is building.............

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

not the usual car problems...........

2011-10-24T07:22:00.000+11:00

Found this tree on Thursday............I have been going past it for months at a distance but I was close the other day.............look at all the bumps on it...........cool........

Bookworm was playing games with a new calf when we were putting them in yesterday...........putting his hat on the calf..........

Bookworm headed home on the motor bike and stopped not very far down the road holding these up.....from a distance I thought he had 2 rats..........but it was much better 2 bearded dragons............he caught them on the road together............then he popped them down so we could head home and the ran up onto my car tyres................lol.............

took another 10-15mins to get them off the car...........well one disappeared but this one was very persistent.............

Finally got him off the car tyre and Bookworm let him go and he ran up the 4wheeler tyre................once he took him off here he went over and put him on a tree..........

some flowers I found..........

pretty and the colour came out right in the photo.........

thanks for the comments on my last post........my weekend was spent at the cows..........I did get some hand stitching done.................it was a warm weekend .........there is a reasons why Mr Chooky and I usually split the difference with the kids taking one each.............they were tired and narky yesterday and I had both of them.....But I am on countdown as Cardygirl is coming to visit...........OMG I am so excited..........

.....off to do some cattle work..........supposed to be 32 deg.......hot, dusty and flies.......yuck.....but it will be good tonight once it is done............

Catch you later.............Chookyblue............

IIIIIIIIII........

2011-10-21T09:34:00.000+11:00

I hate hayfever............

I detest daylight savings.......

I hate google ads.........

I am annoyed by blog feeds that only show the first couple of sentences...........

I am sick of not being at home..........

I wished it would rain more...........

I love my cows BUT...........

I can't wait to pick up my Ruby fabrics today........

I hope we make some money on the plant stall at the fete today.........

I had some great phone calls this week with some blog friends ..........

I love all the excitement of the SSCS (thats why i do it)...........

I wished I had house cleaning fairies......

I love the smell of roses...........

I wished Cardy would come visit........

I am sorry I don't have a photo to share in this post...........

I love posts with photos.........

I hope you have a great weekend..........

.........take care til next time.....Chookyblue.........

Ruby Flannels.........

2011-10-19T06:23:00.001+11:00

.........I have been waiting for them to come in for quite awhile......finally they are here.........

.......Kerry has cut a shaggy quilt kit for me.........going to have exciting parcel this week............

These fabrics only got into the shop on Friday and Kerry has already cut several quilt kits up already............

Get in quick if you're keen for some Ruby in your house.............

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

SSCS International postage.......

2011-10-17T07:51:00.001+11:00

Everyone should have an email from me last night..............you must reply to it please.........

A few have mentioned postage............so i found an old post and dropped the info here for you.............

Not that postage is happening yet (19th - 25th November) but as people are preparing their parcels I have received a few questions.............hope this helps.............

If you are posting to Australia this info (here too) may be useful of goods not allowed..........also probably not a good idea to send chocolate to the southern hemisphere at this time of the year as it could be quite hot and melt while under the christmas tree...........

If you're an Aussie girl posting to another country look at this Australia Post site as they give country specific information..............

Australian girls you can even calculate how much your parcel with cost to send here

&&&&&

&&&

If there is an issue for your own country leave a comment with the country and problem here and others can then read it.

CUSTOMS DEC's

Also I realise you have to put your name and address on the parcel..................it is only a secret until the parcel arrives but the goodies inside will still be secret.............the ornament is opened when the parcel arrives but the main gift goes under the tree for Christmas day.

Get creative on the custom declaration.

Don't write bag - write what it is made of - fabric, buttons, pellon, etc...........

not telling any lies but not saying what the gift is.

.........take care til next time.....Chookyblue.......

spring has sprung...........

2011-10-16T20:10:00.000+11:00

"Cecile Brunner" is flowering beautifully...........love the fragrance...........

the chickens are getting more feathers......................

the lambs are growing............we have 6 at the moment.............see the little one at the front...........that's "Addy" she got mis-mothered at lamb marking............she's doing it tough but I think has finally headed in the right direction.......she went missing the other day and we found her in a big post hole.............

"Circles" the lamb below....(he's been with us for about a month now)............obvious name as "circles is blind and when we got him he had bad eyes and walked around in circles..........now his eyes have cleared up but he is blind.............he'll just hang out in the sheds yard for the rest of his life.............he can walk in sort of straight lines now...........we call out and keep calling and he makes it back to us..............

A better photo of the white calf.........

I went to some open gardens today so hopefully i'll get the camera downloaded soon and share some pics..........

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

passing on addictions............

2011-10-15T12:07:00.000+11:00

At the cows the other day I had a brand new baby........slowly I watched it come to life..........learning to walk........mum licking it to clean it up......having it's first drink........precious

some gum trees at the house flowering..............more photos here.............

I have numerous visitors at the moment............but one of them she doesn't sew but loves to see what I am working on...........well she wanted to have a go at English Paper Piecing (EPP)........well she did each step and now she has 2 flowers done........talk about get it.........A+ student.....

.......so later last night after lots more talking, stitching etc I finally remembered where had seen precut hexagons we ordered these precut hexagons using Hometown by Sweetwater..........and then this morning look at the post Possum Blossom put up for me..........

Then after chatting to Kerry at Cottage on the Hill she told me she does precut hexagons too so she will be able to assist with the background fabric precuts..........

And my other friend Kerri has some yardage for backing so all is sorted...........

&&&&

&&&

in regard to the GDITC post before this one Lise is planning a road trip - she's looking for passengers.........want to join her..............Loz is.........imagine the fun you could have...........

I've met Lise before but Loz and I have been talking about meeting up..........it looks like it really is going to happen..............

&&&

hope your weekend is going great mine is.............

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

GDITC 2012..........

2011-10-13T07:20:00.000+11:00

Is it tTtTtoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo early to mention Girls Day in the Country 2012.........(GDITC)

I mean Christmas will be here in no time and then it will be March 24th in a flash.............

Always a wonderful weekend in Nundle catching up with heaps of blog girls (and some of there friends)..........its a bit like a blog reunion/gathering now so many have been going years now.........always a few extras coming and going each year............

took this from Kerry's email........

The Cottage on the Hill

Nundle

Presents our 5^th Annual

Girls Day in the Country

Saturday March 24th

0r Sunday March 25^th

2012

Join us in Nundle for one day with

Talented Guest Tutor

Sue Daley

From “Patchwork with

Busyfingers”

I just got an email from Kerry and I am so excited.........this is why I have got into my EPP.........

So ARE you COMING to GDITC????

Each year I meet some more new wonderful people.......some start new blogs because of the gathering.........like Jen, Cardy, Patricia, Sandy........

Contact Kerry on email here for more details..........or phone 02 6769 3297

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

Chookyblue's name.........

2011-10-11T07:53:00.004+11:00

Dawn was asking about blog names.....................mine is very simple..............

love my chooks (chickens/hens) and love blue..............jammed it together..........sounded okay so that was it..............

I never knew then the repercussions that would have................

all good............so thank goodness I picked something I really liked................

When I am with other bloggers everyone calls me Chookyblue, Chooky or even some Chook...........

sometimes people email me and say sorry I have to call you Chookyblue but I don't know your name...........well I like it so no need to apologise..........it's what everyone calls me.............

Back early in my blogging days I was in a swap and I sent a parcel to Margaret...............she was so happy and that started her bag addiction..............

She makes the most gorgeous gifts..............I was blown away when this parcel arrived as Margaret wasn't sending to me ........the post about the bag is here............

&&&

So in answer to someones question about my blue chook icon.........did my name come from it.........no I used to have a daisy and then I changed it in the last year or 2.............

Margaret designed this bag especially for me............I feel so special..........I carry it everywhere and it always have a stitchery project in it and it always get amazing comments...............it super special..............

I wasn't going to post about my name as last week just disappeared............but as I still see some posts popping up I thought I would do it now............

It has been fun reading why/how you picked your names...............

thinking I might need to get a security guard....... especially when you read posts like these.........

here and here............

So leading on from Dawn's post of whats in your name............a couple of girls said why they started blogging

BUT........

Why did you start blogging??????

.........take care til next time.....Chookyblue.........

campoven dinner.........

2011-10-09T08:15:00.000+11:00

Recently I got to catch up with Janice at a mutual friends house for a campoven dinner..........it was lovely to see this bag below...........this was a present from Linda to Janice in the SSCS last year...........the bag is pretty big size which you would not think from this photo......but it is gorgeous..............I went hunting thru my SSCS pics to find this photo...........

HOW IS EVERYONE'S SSCS PARCELS GOING??????????

a little fire........someone threw some copper wire in............pretty blues and greens in the flames then.............but I couldn't capture the blue in any photos.......

beautiful camp ovens for dinner................legs of lamb.........

more campovens with vegies in them...........

The cows are calling again...........I am late..........

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

bits and pieces..........

2011-10-08T07:38:00.000+11:00

This was some of my sewing from Thursday at the cows............

this is a Gail Pan stitchery.....

bit challenging as I only had a black pen (permanent and too dark) with me or white pen (which doesn't show up on white fabric).............so it was lots of creative stitching..........but I think it is pretty much right............

this new calf was at the cows............super cute.......resting her hoof on her nose..........

playing with some EPP stuff...........

got some chickens from some friends.............all different varieties.......they breed them......

Last weekend I found an echinda crossing the road in my travels.............

usually they roll themselves up very quickly so I hardly ever get views like this...........

it was heading straight for me............

too spikey to touch................

have a great weekend.............lamb marking here so I am off to the cows............what a great excuse to miss the sheep work...............

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

Tis the Season...........

2011-10-01T14:21:00.000+10:00

Yesterday was a sewing day..............weeks ago I had planned a day with a couple of friends............I knew I had this week off work and it is school holidays so perfect...........no matter what I was going to fit it in somehow..............champagne, yummy lunch, chatter with friends - talk about recharging the mind..........perfect.........

finally we got into some sewing.............

as the deadline was looming I set to work on the Tis the Season..........by Natalie Bird.....

this is my label block.........

quilted in the ditch around the white stitchery blocks.........

preparing the binding..............

The fabrics I used are Robert Kaufman - Sparkle All the Way

finished the binding just before midnight....(deadline 3oth Sept)........had a few of the quilting threads to fix up this morning............So pleased to have this done..........

The Stitch-a-long blog is very busy.................heaps of posts yesterday and today so head over and check it out.............there is also a slide show on the left sidebar where I keep adding finished quilts............

My favourite block...........

Can't wait to hang this one up for Christmas..........

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

Quilt Airing Cancelled..........

2011-10-01T14:16:00.000+10:00

Unfortunatley due to rain Kerry had to cancel the quilt airing..........

.........take care til next time.....Chookyblue.........

Quilt Airing Nundle.............

2011-09-30T06:40:00.000+10:00

Cottage on the Hill NUNDLE

3rd Annual Outdoor Quilt Airing

This Saturday 1st October
10 am to 4pm

In the paddock surrounding the Cottage
Come and enjoy the over 100 quilts on display Devonshire tea will be served all day

Fingers crossed that the rain over the last few days will clear and that Saturday sees the sun shining.
Kerry will up date her Blog on Saturday morning to let everyone
know what the weather in Nundle is doing

www.kerryswainscottage.typepad.com

My plan for today is to sew with some friends at home

so lets hope I can make some progress on my Tis the Season............

.........take care til next time.....Chookyblue.........

the great escape..........

2011-09-29T15:48:00.000+10:00

highlights of the day..........good and bad...........

Lots of rain so planned to loll around tidying etc in PJ's until lunch when road would be drier
phone call at 9am to say the cows had escaped and were miles away from there break
tell Fairy Girl to grab some food in a back pack fast.....(6 tim-tams, 2 muesli bars, 2 snack packs of BBQ shapes yummo.....)
another phone call to say some of the cows were in someones crop
mobile going flat
mud flying everywhere while riding on the bike to the cows
electric fence at break broken in several places - cows obviously been out since about 1/2way thru the night
Fairy Girl singing me songs with new words esp for me......very funny
MIL's at home to pass messages onto Mr Chooky since phone was going dead
Rocks - used one to hit a post back into the ground
approx 70kms on the 4 wheeler - numb bum
Mr Chooky having wet sheep and finished early so knew of our troubles and brought pies and coke
Unfortunately Mr Chooky also found another 12 cows who has wandered about 12kms away from the break

The escaped cows being headed back to break............took several hours...........

See the row of gulars on the fence not so clear as I snapped it on the phone........

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

OMG it stuffed up and rained.........

2011-09-29T05:59:00.001+10:00

Super eXcItEd here............last night it RaInEd

I am sSsOoOoOoOo HaPpY.......

Nearly 2 inchs of rain (48mls)

(photo sourced from internet)

This means we have now had just under 7inchs and we are 9 months thru the year............our annual average is 20-21inchs so we are a long way short but lets hope we get some more and maybe just maybe the cows will be coming home within the next month...........and we can stop feeding the sheep.............and boy that will be a happy day...............

the cows will stay in their break and we'll see what the weather is like at lunch time.......(me and black soil roads don't agree).......maybe we'll have to go down on the motorbikes to let them out for some grass.............see what happens.......

....house cleaning here I come............

.........take care til next time.....Chookyblue.........

hmmm.......

2011-09-28T06:34:00.000+10:00

Yesterday I was back at the cows.............it was a #*^%^&$%(^ day everything was going fine......till I went to leave........flat tyre.......so me and Fairy Girl ended up on the motor bikes all day at the cows...........NOT my plan...........to windy to stitch..........the grasses and wind was seriously driving my hayfever NUTS........

Not sure if I am going to make the SAL deadline for TTS............my eyes were so yuk last night I couldn't sew............

the grasses above are the worst for me.......barley grass and the little thin one at the top makes me want to scratch my eyes out...........lucky I had the eye drops with me...........anyway as i knew my day wasn't going to be fun I decided to snap some photos of the beautiful things I saw.......I couldn't stitch and you can only play angry birds for so long and I had read all the posts in google reader........

"r ap e flower"

Milk thistle

gum blossom

not sure this trees name but i'll try and get a better photo of the flowers today............

here is the tree.......very pretty

a new baby for the mob........

a stray sheep who thinks he is a cow now........

Have a great day...........thank goodness I have the car today........

....it's going to be very windy once again.......but hopefully tonight some rain............

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

hey........

2011-09-25T13:03:00.002+10:00

Just popping in to say hi............I've have had a great week...........3 days at work (busiest week of the month) and then after work on Wednesday straight into a choir camp for 3 extremely full days and nights (24hrs/day) as one of 2 main parent supervisor of 24 mostly primary girls (in our cabin) with one other main supervisor and a few others popping in at breakfast or tea/bed time to help out our cabin which was a wonderful help........170+ kids in total take a lot of food, supervising and WATER..........we had a fairly warm week for spring..........the big concert was last night and the kids all did sing and perform so well.........a few tears here and there from some very tired kids over the last few days but all in all we had a great time.......yes I would be crazy enough to do it all again.............even if my knees and feet are killing me right now.....

I'll tidy a bit here and then find where I am up to............I know I need to sort out a couple of things for the SSCS.....with a quick look on reader I see much excitement for the swap......I have lots of posts to catch up on.............and my backup assistant for the Stitch-a-long blog Maree has helped me out there again this week updating the blog - thanks...........I MUST get my Tis the Season finished this week.......DEADLINE 30th Sept............

i'll try and get back here soon with some sewing news or you will all stop visiting my blog..............

.........take care til next time.....Chookyblue.........

Blog stalking........

2011-09-18T22:14:00.000+10:00

For all the Secret Santa swappers you should have your swap partners details in your inbox.............let me know if you don't and i'll resend it............

Lots of blog stalking happening...............in the nicest possible way............

If you haven't posted for a bit get to it and pop up a post for your new visitors...........

I only doubled up on 4 girls matching with someone they have sent to before and I have managed to change them all around so all is ok...........I just keep moving names and details around in the list until the countries are all mixed up...........I could go nuts if I thought to much about it like peoples styles etc...............so it is all very random..........so long as your sending overseas that my main concern..........

&&&&

I'm not sure if you have noticed but the linked list of swappers is up ..........I did it different this time so all the links will be fine but just make sure your name is there............head over and check out all the blogs.........there are a few that are new to me too.............so go visit and leave a comment............you might make a new blog friend........

......I know there is lots of blog stalking going on and present planning..........someone has already started their ornament............well done.............we only have a few months to make this year since I am a little later then usual starting the swap................I am so glad I did as your all SOOOOOO excited about the swap..............makes my job so much easier..............

.........take care til next time.....Chookyblue.........

Car sewing.......

2011-09-16T11:24:00.001+10:00

A view in the front of the car........big mess of food, sewing, thermos etc.......busy busy.......preping my new big EPP project......very excited.....lets hope the momemtum keeps up.......

Also SSCS girls I have sorted the list since I remembered the laptop this morning and will start mailing tonight.....when I get on the net........ It will take me a few nights so I will post here again once it is done........lots of emails to send out.......

Also found some frame features on my phone so I played with the landscape pic.......

Have a fab day........

Chookyblue........

slight delay...........

2011-09-14T21:39:00.002+10:00

UPDATE CLOSED
Sorry SSCS girls.....

....slight delay in the parners bit I just need a few more overseas swappers to balance out the swap so if you're reading this and your not from Australia and would like to be part of the swap then read this post and email me ASAP

.........take care til next time.....Chookyblue.........

emergency skirt........

2011-09-13T07:43:00.000+10:00

Today sports at school is "world cup rugby day".........all the kids have been designated a country from the world cup...........Fairy Girl is Russia and has to wear red and white (since we don't have a russian outfit).............well since she didn't have a red or white skirt I had to whip one up last night..............the things mothers do............

Fairy Girl ratted thru the fabrics and found this red and white print with little apples............think I got it from Spotlight last year........cute with white leggings and a red top...........

Those in the Secret Santa Christmas Swap - the email has gone out so check your inbox.............

welcome to the swap for 2011...........

off to work...........have a great day

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

Catching up...........

2011-09-12T06:44:00.002+10:00

Another couple of nights away with kid commitments finally home again.....some rain while we were away too.............22mls...........approx 5 inchs for the whole year though when it is usually about 21inchs........also throw in a Christening, 30th party and confirmation life sure is busy............I got an afternoon home yesterday which was madly spent cleaning and tidying the house and washing.........then a few hours chilling out on the lounge watching the rugby curled up under a quilt......it's nearly a month since I had any time at home during the day.............

Off to the cows this morning.........hopefully just for a few hours while Mr Chookyblue runs some wires in a fence...........

Over the weekend the beautiful weather went back to mid winter..........freezing chilly winds...............

perfect weather for the little girl above to wear this woolen christening gown..........it's very special to me.............I wore this gown when I was christened.........my great grandmother (who was approx 80 at the time) knitted 2 of these (twins) gorgeous gowns for our christening...........

&&&

To all the girls who have emailed me I think I have replied to all of you.............i'll put the list up as soon as I get a chance and you'll get an email shortly..............thanks for keeping the secret still too.......much appreciated............

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue
PS oh and I nearly forgot I got to have coffee with Patricia...........(thanks for getting them) was lovely to catch up even if briefly.............we'll have more time next catch up hopefully.............

all good things come to an end..............

2011-09-05T17:39:00.001+10:00

Gotta take the good with the bad............lucky I was on such a high on Sat and got radical and put the SSCS up yesterday morning........(lots of emails to reply to)..........yesterday was a shocker at the cows...........about an hour after I got there I got sick and thank goodness Fairy Girl was with me on her motor bike as she kept the cows in check.............I was up and down all day..............but we got thru the day..............on the way home we found another lamb............poor thing trying to get a drink off it's dead mum (couldn't get up after lambing)..........so i rolled the dead mumma over and got the rest of the milk out of her other teat so the lamb got some colostrum and brought it home..............Fairy Girl was so excited .............so meet "Nathan" (back right)

"Coke" at the front left and "Lambogini" (who you haven't met) front right and back left is "Daisy.

You met Coke and Daisy here.......now they are about 3 weeks old.........the older 3 are going so well...........

"Nathan" needs a bit of special care and we'll see how he goes............

A rare blossom in the garden...............seriously lacking in water................

Today the cows were not well behaved...........one jumping into a cropping paddock a few times..............what a nightmare............lucky a girlfriend called in with a thermos so I could have a cuppa tea...........I forgot mine running out late this morning.............so that was a good bit of today but the only good bit...........oh and the girlfriend who picked the kids up from the bus stop and dropped them to me.............

###

When I got home I was tired and dusty - the cows went in early so i came home and the kids are now out helping Mr Chooky feed the sheep...........lets hope they don't find another baby to bring home..........

but when I am hot and bothered and dusty a shandy works wonders..........

oh a shandy and a nice shower to clear all the dust away............

made such good progress on the EPP on Fri and Sat but nothing since...........

the blue, brown and cream one is affectionately nicknamed the octopus (even if there are only 6 legs)............

Better run and cook dinner.........before I fall asleep on the lounge...........thank goodness for town work I say..........not back at the cows until Sunday or Monday.............yippee.........might be mia again..........

Send me your rain............PLEASE.

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

Chookyblue........

spam emails..........

Calling USA friends...........

Advent swap sent................

Advent Swap received............

FIS swap sent and received..........

random emails can = new bloggers.........

i'm back.........

just popping in............

signing off...........

SSCS main presents 8...............

SSCS main presents 7...........

SSCS main presents 6.............

SSCS main presents 5...............

SSCS main presents 4............

SSCS main presents 3..............

SSCS main presents 2.............

SSCS main presents 1............

SSCS Received from AnneHeidi

hhmmm........

SSCS Ornaments post 7.........

SSCS Ornaments post 6

SSCS Ornaments post 5.....

SSCS Ornaments post 4.................

SSCS Ornaments post 3

SSCS Ornaments post 2...........

SSCS Ornaments post 1............

SSCS ornament sent...........

some gift boxes...........

Christmas is coming ready or not............

catching up......

86 and counting...............

SSCS blog list...........

Sunrise

my SSCS has arrived...........

I love my mail man......................

are your parcels on the sleigh????

SSCS girls.............

Advent swap sent.........

SSCS Posting starts..........

sewing with friends...........

blog meet.......

9 sleeps til posting starts.......

tiny finishes.........

Lurkers/new blogger...........

Road trip...........blog meet

Cardy's visit..............

25 weeks & 2 days but who's counting............

Cardy's has gone country.........

garden visit and SSCS...........

not the usual car problems...........

IIIIIIIIII........

Ruby Flannels.........

SSCS International postage.......

spring has sprung...........

passing on addictions............

GDITC 2012..........

Chookyblue's name.........

campoven dinner.........

bits and pieces..........

Tis the Season...........

Quilt Airing Cancelled..........

Quilt Airing Nundle.............

Cottage on the Hill NUNDLE

3rd Annual Outdoor Quilt Airing

This Saturday 1st October 10 am to 4pm

In the paddock surrounding the CottageCome and enjoy the over 100 quilts on display Devonshire tea will be served all day

the great escape..........

OMG it stuffed up and rained.........

hmmm.......

hey........

Blog stalking........

Car sewing.......

slight delay...........

emergency skirt........

Catching up...........

all good things come to an end..............

This Saturday 1st October
10 am to 4pm

In the paddock surrounding the Cottage
Come and enjoy the over 100 quilts on display Devonshire tea will be served all day