This and that

We're well into spring, but it's still only 10C during the day and the heater is still on at night! The winter woollies won't be packed away just yet. I finished another Sawyer Scarf, which will warm someone as soon as I can sell it. Just love crocheting them; the (Lincraft) wool is just wonderful, both in colour and texture, and to work with.
I'll be switching to a Wordpress blog in the new year, so I wanted to print out my blogs, which I've written since 2010. My friend Susan from Kiwikids gave me a contact, and I have them all now. Quite happy with them, too. Net time round, I might make the photos a bit bigger.

Everyday cooking is always a challenge, most of the time it bores me senseless. Often, I'd be happy with just some toast and eggs, or crackers and cheese. DH is pretty good and will make his own dinner if I'm really not into it. So, when my friend Melva put me on to a new recipe, I thought I'd give it a go. It's a recipe from Borg's Pastry, Chicken and Leek Pie, and also contains Mushrooms and (my version) a little bacon. I was quite impressed with how easy it was and we had three meals each out of it. Here's the link to the recipe (http://www.borgcraft.com.au/pages/recipes/our-recipes/chicken-mushroom-pie.php).

Our Manchurian Pear tree is absolutely magnificent at the moment, with clouds of white flowers providing nourishment for bees and a spectacular focus for the garden. We've got another, small one coming up, but it will take a while until it's as superb as the older one.
We've also had some visitors to the garden. The kangaroo mum with the twin joeys has been here once or twice. The joeys are healthy and bouncing around happily. The big hare had raced across the paddocks a few times, just a streak in the grass, but one day he just sat for a couple of hours under the trees, catching some rays. 

And yesterday a rare visit from our blue tongue lizard. We see him rarely, but fairly regularly. He was also enjoying a few sunny moments, and curled up against the warm bricks. I wonder where he goes to sleep at night. 

Spring!!

 Well, thank goodness that winter is over! Near enough, anyway. Getting sick of freezing temperatures, wind, grey skies.... Cant say I'm unhappy about rain though. And it has rained, quite a bit. Things are looking green, and soggy.
A couple of sunny days and blue skies have helped getting into a spring mood. My personal gargoyle - a starling is perched every morning on my studio roof, enjoying the warm rays.
Otherwise, things are just clopping along. We enjoyed a Yum Cha lunch in town yesterday, the food at Crystal Jade was delicious as usual. And on the way back we dropped into my fave cafe, Brunetti's, at Myers, for coffee and gelato. Must

 go in on my own one day soon, since DH isn't very mobile, poor thing. Getting old ain't for sissies! Bette Davies had that right!
On Friday, Edwina brought in some books she wanted to recycle, and I put my hand up for some Kaffe Fassett ones. They are beautiful books, with lovely quilts and fabric ideas. Thanks, Edwina! On the quilt front, I'm just about to finish the second last panel of my Kim McLean quilt. That went quicker than I thought. Only started it about a year ago.
I'm still crocheting another Sawyer scarf, and can see the end. Must slow down though, my hands are sore. Went into Lincraft the other day, dropping off Kogo items, and had no intention of buying anything, when I saw they had re-stocked the wool shelves with my favourite wool! AND there was a 30% off sale! AND there were new colour combinations! Well, that was the end of my good intentions... Came home with this luscious bundle, cant wait to start another Sawyer scarf, my favourite crochet pattern atm.
When Chris and I went to the Paperific show,

they had some lovely bags for sale. I managed to walk past them, but then Chris surprised me with this gorgeous owl bag! My new goodies bag for Friday sewing. Chris treated herself to a bag with a whimsical kitty on it.
I've started to collect for a charity, which involves filling a ladies' handbag (can be new or used) with essentials such as shampoo, toothpaste, comb etc. and other useful items. Once completed, the bags can be dropped off at Bunnings in October, and they'll go to the homeless, and other people in need. I think that's a good idea.