Hello Carlos

Tropical Cyclone 'Carlos'

Don't worry. 

We are all organised. Touches, batteries, chocolate and tarps to cover the stash ;)

See you on the other side xox

Coin quilt top :)

And just like that, I have another quilt top!

The strips are a precut sweet roll of Sweet by urban chicks I brought a while ago from fabric patch

I cut them into 61/2" pieces, ordered them in colour, then sewn them up. In hindsight I would have ordered them, then sewn them in groups of 10 then cut. Would have been much easier!

I also would have made the white sashing slightly wider. Other than that, I'm happy.

Please excuse the photo too. iPhone pictures are not the best!

We're on cyclone watch at the moment so I'm off to fill the drink bottles and try to stay dry. Already very very wet and windy xox

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Blogtoberless

Blogtoberfest?! More like blogtoberless lol! I crack me up ;)

So long time no post! Ms Copper Patch and I had a wonderful time. Lots of talk, laughing, sewing and shopping!!

Boy one took quite a shine to her :)

Abbe named a hill. This shall now be known as Abbe's Pimple!

She is pregnant you know so there was no silly business. Well, none on the wine induced kind ;)

Gosh she is a messy chick!

But very handy to have around! 3 quilt tops made ready for me to quilt :)

And Ab's even folded up my washing for me!! A big job indeed! Hoping I can return her the favour once baby CP arrives! Squeal! I love babies :)

We also took a drive out to Kirsty's. I wanted to show Abbe's her gorgeous work. Plus her very territory house complete with fabulous outside shower and loo!

 I just love her style and use of colour! Very clever chick :)

Beautiful quilt made by Melissa for Kirsty's 40th earlier in the year

Everywhere you look, there is something wonderfully bright and hand made :)

Thank you Ms Copper Patch for coming all this way to hang with me and my crew. You are super star that will be one totally awesome mummy! I miss you already

So as you can see I have had a tone of stuff to blog about. Just, you know, real life and all that.

And I have some exciting news too!! I will share tomorrow, promise xox



build up

It's here. 

The time of year after the dry and before the wet. 

Where it's hot, humid and down right horrid.

The plus side is the amazing storms!

My brother took this while he was here. Isn't it amazing! 

I asked him very nicely to get me some curry while he was at the Mindil Markets. This storm literally rolled in while they were getting my tea. And them they got wet, really wet lol!! He's a keeper :) xox

Planes, trains and floods??

So. Dresses are finished, pretty much. Just the hand sewing to finish when we get down south and the hems tonight. Very happy with them. Was a little scared that they were going too be too much but I like! HUGE relieve!! But sorry guys you will have to wait until after the wedding to see them. Painful aren't I lol!

Quilts. Same as they were here and here. I am going to cheat and get them professionally machine quilted. Because I can.

That's the sewing bit done.

Stress levels hit a new high here yesterday. See our adventure down south was meant to go something like this. 

1. Pack the car

2. Put the car on the train

3. Fly to Adelaide with carry on, enough for one night.

4. Sleep, then shop, then pick up car.

5. Drive 4 1/2 hours to family.

Not too bad, anything with large family takes planning, time and energy. So this was the best option for us. Meant that we would have a car in Vic that we could fit in and would have the ability to do our own thing.

However....

For the second time this year the train tracks have been washed away!! So no car!! Seriously!! Life in the NT is never dull...

So. This is now our plan.

1. Repack. This means big one will not be able to take all her denim shorts. First melt down.

2. All luggage will need to be taken on the plane. Husband not happy. Sent to time out.

3. No shopping and catch up with Megs. Me. Sooky face.

4. Train to Vic booked out until Monday. And there are no hire cars (long weekend down south). Panic starting to rise.

5. We all need to be up and organized to catch a BUS at 7 in the morning. Cold sweats and heart palpitations begin.

6. We then need to sit on said bus for 6 1/2 hours.....with all the luggage....and 4 kids.....complete melt down!!

7. Weight Watchers chocolate biscuits do not help.

8. Once we are in Vic. The 1lt bottle of gin gifted by LMM will be had and kids can look after themselves for the rest of the holiday. Screw the points.

So. Yeah. And the icing on the cake is my orchard that hasn't flowered in 18 months has started to flower this week. So we are going to miss it in full bloom.

You can start the violins now. I'm off to eat a weight watchers friendly chocolate cake xox

Australia Day

I love my country

We are the lucky country

And I am proud to be Australian

And, well, proud to be a Territorian

Today is a lot of thing

Different things to different people

Some feel the need to wave our flag....alot

Some go to the Big Day Out or sit around listening to the hottest 100

Some love the day off to watch the cricket or the tennis

Some have a beer and a barbie with a mate

Some hang out at the beach and walk around in thongs

And some morn a life lost, a history lost, a generation lost

Whatever you do today, enjoy you loved ones and celebrate our wonderful country. And also remember, just for a moment, what the history of today really is...

Image via

Happy Australia Day xox

thanks!

Lovely frangipani the kids gave me. Has 4 branches for 4 kids! So sweet!

So this is what 30 is...not so bad!

Thank you for all the lovely well wishes and ideas for mangos!

Unfortunately we didn't get to make any daiquiri's with this lot. I cancelled my party at home and went out with the girls instead. Family drama. But going out was a much better idea!! Just what I needed!! Six of my top end besties with no hubbys or kids (there was one but she was so good and cute!! and I did manage a few mango daiquiri's ;)

My darling friend Carolyn totally out did herself with the cake.

  A singer sewing machine!!

 Pictures are a bit dark. Will post more when I have some from her camera.

See the buttons!! And there was even a needle!! Everything you need to sew. Amazing!

And me. After a few and very please with my cake and my lovely supportive friends

Oh and did I mention what Hubby gave me?? No?? Well.....

an iPhone!!

Even with major family drama, turns out I had a pretty amazing birthday.

Thanks :) xox

PS. Have also had 2 sales on made it! Yay! Play money! xox

...the party

"The Cake"

I know! Incredible right!!

The chocolate cake is so die for! So so yummy.

Made by my amazing cake making friend Carolyn!

Love the faces on all three kids! They all love Littlest Pet Shop.

"Water Fight!!"

Boy one taking on 2 girls for the hose! He won by the way lol

"Happy 6th Birthday!"

Miss 6, friends and family! We had so much fun....

...someone lost their head!! xox

.....this afternoon

giveaway!!

Firstly, thank you so much for the lovely comments about mum’s giraffe! Mum decided, with help from me and the kids, to call her Georgie. Perfect!

Kids with hubby at Crocosaurus Cove

Fresh water crocodile at Territory Wildlife Park

My Mum and little boy one

My sister and little girl one #2

Big one and little girl one #2

Secondly, we have had an amazing week with my mum and sister. I am, however, feeling very sad and flat since they left. I miss them so much L

And because I am feeling so flat, because I have had such amazing luck lately and because Territory Day is on Wednesday, I’m having a giveaway!! Just some fabric, handmade cards and whatever else I have hanging around. And something I picked up today at the craft market in the big town. Especially for the lucky someone. So all you need to do is comment on this post, perhaps about something you do to cheer yourself up, and I will randomly select someone on Wednesday night. After the fireworks that is J Happy to post anywhere! Good luck! xox

working my *beep* off

I'm back! Moved and almost unpacked. *sigh* Not moving again for a very long time. 

Funny story, went though the drive though the other day and I got myself an ice cream and not the kids, little miss 5 started to whinge and little miss 8 said "Hey, mum has been working her ass off, she can have an ice cream if she wants!" Oops, do you think I have been saying that much?! Never! I'm a perfect roll model for my children ;)

Moving is the second most horrid thing you can knowingly do to yourself, first is getting pregnant. Remind me if I want to do either again.

This does make it all worth it though. Did I mention we now have a pool?? I took this from the kitchen window while the kids had breakfast. I know, very lucky!!

In the craziness of moving we did take Flat Stanly here.

Must keep unpacking. Mum and sister are here from down south next Friday!! So excited!! xox

quickie

This is the view from my new bedroom, seriously!

it's been a year!

Well, I never thought in a million years I would be saying this, but I am, I love the Territory! Crazy I know! I don't like the heat. I don't like to sweat. I don't like bugs. I don't like it when people put 'hey' on the end of every sentence and yet I love it there!! And I now on occasion say 'hey' too!  

So in celebration of this occasion our family went into 'town' (Darwin!) to the museum and art gallery. 

Lovely day was had by all. 

'Hello Sweetheart!" Kids thought it was pretty funny that a male croc was called Sweetheart. Very Territory thing to do. 5.2 metres and well over 700kg, yep, huge!

Cyclone Tracy exhibit.....little bit scary. Not sure if it was a good idea to look at that!

Kids checking out the discovery centre part. Very cool! Can look and touch all sort of stuff.

Dad thought it was pretty cool too ;)

My very brave little ones! Really was a fresh water croc, but now he's stuffed! 

We did however run into trouble on the way home. We were on our way to Spotlight, just needed a few things, I promise, and we got a flat. Huh! Thank goodness hubby was with me. So now my big black shinny car is missing one shinny mag and is driving around on a spare that looks like it come from a '92 Camry. Like I need another job to do this week!

Oh and we got somethings for the Kids Mail Swap #2. Kids are sooo excited about it!

So how was you weekend? See any crocs? Get any flat tyres? xox