100th Post

Happy Australia Day everyone! What a great day to celebrate my 100th post.

A quiet family day here with some holiday prep for E and some good Australian Open tennis on the TV. The boys went to the DuO in Ballarat first thing. The DuO is a combination foot and MTB orienteering event with a run/bike/run format. Our son won the Junior long event of 4.5 km run/15 km bike ride/ 2 km run. Good effort. Known for extremes of weather, Ballarat was today "freezing" according to the boys and  a light mist fell all morning. But if you go just a bit further north it is very hot!

Beach Holiday

My family has been enjoying a holiday at Kiama on the coast south of Sydney NSW. We have had company too as we met up with my cousins from Ben Lomond NSW there. Just a beautiful spot ... lovely coastal views and then we discovered the Minnamurra River mouth which was even better! Crystal clear clean water for kayaking, swimming, and snorkelling and changing experiences depending on the tides.

We also enjoyed the coastal walk and seeing the Little Blowhole and Kiama Blowhole and Lighthouse. The Little Blowhole seems the best as the bigger one has been eroded out over time and the effect is being lost.

A drive through picturesque Jamberoo to the Minnamurra Rainforest and the walk to the Falls and picnic with local relatives Helen and Joan was a great way to spend an afternoon.

French General Quilt Top Completed

I love this fabric range! The top I worked on during Connected Quilters' retreat in December is completed now that the two borders have been added. The larger red print border caused some headaches getting the repeats lined up and I just had enough fabric by cutting the strips lengthwise instead of across the fabric. How good is that?

I think I will quilt this one myself so plan to finish the KF Snowballs one as well and then have a big basting day as I know I will be quilting that one. I have been trying to get to my machine but have been sidetracked a lot.

Red Flowering Gum Tree

G's red flowering gum is about to turn one year old and also flowering ... it's amazing!

When you take a close look it's fascinating how the little caps on the flower buds pop off and the flowers start to unfold and emerge, a bit like a butterfly.The tree is covered in flower buds and has done really well. Two previous trees failed in the back yard so the front is obviously the way to go.

Pumpkin Scones

Made a batch of delicious pumpkin scones this afternoon as requested by daughter E. The boys delivered a couple to her at Bunnings when they went to pick up a "few things". She also asked that I save a bit of uncooked dough for her ...

Belated Trophy

At the Bayside Kangaroos Orienteering Club Christmas Dinner on 11 December 2010 I belatedly received my 2009 trophy for "BK Most Improved Female Orienteer". It was an honour but it was a shame I didn't know of it until now! I did have a good 2009 though with 2nd placing in my age group in the State Series, some success at the Nationals and several placings in Street O. It does spur me on for 2011!