Monday, 23 August 2021

I am still here!!

 Today I have decided to make the time to catchup with so many tasks that have slipped under the radar in recent weeks. I do realise it is more than 3 weeks since I have posted to newsfromjude and my apologies to anyone who has been checking, and I believe there have been a few. Where are the weeks, in fact where is the year going? I have been back into the photo files to find out and this usually offers up a few clues, but I have to admit to not taking too many pics lately. So off to the diary and my memory and perhaps this tells me more.

THE COMPETITION

My last post was to announce the competition to celebrate my 10 years of blogging, and thanks to those who commented, and to the 2 ladies who were cleverer than me to realise that the number of posts for each month were in fact on the archive listing for all to see. They say that we learn something every day and are never too old!!

As promised a case of goodies will go to Jo and Di for being clever and I have packed up 3 of these cases to send off soon.


I changed the competition to see who could guess how many comments had been left on newsfromjude in 10 years. This was much harder and thanks to those who had a go. Even though I have been blogging for 10 years, in the early days there were not a lot of comments. I appreciate that for many reasons a few ladies find it difficult to do so, and some leave one and then are unable to do it again. I often receive messages via email or phone text. Jean McGee was the closest with her guess of 3,435 and in fact the answer was 3,450! 

OUR GROUP NEWS

The planning is underway for our group's scheduled quilt exhibition in October, so committee meetings have taken up time. We are making plans but are well aware that in our world today that things can change at a moment's notice. As it is the 25th year of our group we are planning to have a slideshow of photos covering our 25 years screened onto a large TV. Much time has been spent going through my photo files which are scattered over 2 computers, many USB's and also saved on hard drives. So far there are more than 1500 photos which need to be checked for duplicates etc. It has been a real trip down memory lane and I have printed off many pics that I put into an album.


The Angels had a sewing day where much was achieved, but no photos were taken.

Our 25 year history books have been printed and delivered which was exciting.


QUILTING

With the looming deadline of our quilt show comes the urgency to get member's tops quilted with bindings and sleeves to be done. Counting back on Max's files I note that since July 1st I have quilted 30 tops and 6 of these were custom! I am feeling good about where I am on the schedule and hope there is a little time in September to get some of my own quilts done as well? I will be back soon with a separate post of customer quilts.
This is the next custom quilt waiting to talk to me!


DELIVERIES

This heavy box arrived at my door one afternoon, so it was exciting to check out the contents.


Who can resist a 50% off everything in the store online sale? It was a good chance to stock up on a variety of wide backing fabrics. Thankyou Alison from Canterbury quilts. 


I ordered my next blog book on August 10th and this afternoon, the 23rd, it arrived at my doorstep. That's a very prompt printing and delivery from the USA!!


News Years Day was spent zooming with Chookyblue and friends so I chose that photo to go on the cover of my January to June, 2021 book.

SOCIALIZING

There have been a few social occasions to enjoy, including a trip to Murray Bridge to visit with Mum. DD1 and DD2 travelled from their homes to meet up there. It was a beautiful sunny day with blue sky and few white puffy clouds, which was very welcome after a much cold wet and wintry weather.



DS and family visited on their way home one Sunday morning. It was lovely to see them and the piano got a good (?) workout by Miss Bridie and Mr Tate.


Mary celebrated a special birthday and the Bible Study group enjoyed coffee and cake with her.


APPOINTMENTS

A portion of my time has been spent going to appointments, including medical and financial. It was a nice trip up the highway for one of these and as I had a driver I was able to photograph the spring scenery. But I think I left my moment too long as I didn't get the view from the top of the hill that I had intended!! I did manage to get a lot of sky though!


My 92 year old neighbour has not been in good health recently and I have driven him to appointments and helped him with meals. He is currently in Respite care and hoping for his health to improve.

LEARNING CURVES

Recently I made the decision to trade my car in for another. I plan that this may be the last time I do this if I don't travel the km's that I have done for the last few years. Covid and lockdowns has certainly reduced my recent highway travel.


There is definitely a learning curve associated with current vehicles. Perhaps they are getting too smart for us "older" drivers?? (Like those SMART TV's and phones that you need a University degree to operate?) It was quite disconcerting to feel the car drive itself back to the centre of the road when I veered too close to the white line at the edge of the road! Does this tell me I like to be "in control"?? 


This is my current reading list, and there is so much I don't understand. I just want it to start when I turn the key. I am pretty happy with it, but did do a lot of complaining because cars don't have CD players in them anymore. I like to play my music while I drive up the highway and wasn't happy. 


Yesterday a friend was here and showed me how to get all this music onto a USB so that I can listen in the car. And I have to say that perhaps it's much better that now I have what I want to listen to on this little thing, and don't have to have all the above discs floating around in the car? Here endeth my complaints for now.
Thankyou Robyn.


I guess that summarizes recent weeks for you and explains to me why I haven't had much spare time? Chookyblue had another Zoom day last Saturday and I had intended joining in while I did some binding, but the day had other plans for me. I have been trying to get some order into my garden again, as winter has been very cold and wet and I've not ventured out too much. Seems like you might have heard this story before? I am way behind in reading blogs, and when I do 'almost' catch up, in 2 days I am way behind again! Life at the moment is separated into before exhibition, and after exhibition!!

Time to finish this post and head to a warmer part of the house. Be back soon with a quilting post for you. Thinking of all that are in lockdown in the eastern states. 

Blessings, From Jude













12 comments:

Raylene Edwards said...

You certainly haven’t been idle for those 3 weeks. Max has been extremely busy & photo sorting is very time consuming. Some social butterflying is needed & so was a new car ( or was that wanted ๐Ÿ˜‰) Well done to Jean, such a close guess ๐Ÿ‘

ButterZ said...

Wow, that was a catch up post. Congrats to Jean for a close guess. I do hope you start to like your car. Keep safe.

Jean McGee said...

I am so excited to find I've won the guessing competition, it was a pure guess and seems like a lucky one! Thank you Judy, It's made my day. Good to read all your news again and good luck with the new car, lots to learn there, a bit daunting for me if ever I have to get one.
Thanks again for your news and lovely family photos . Take care and keep warm ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜

loulee said...

You sure have been busy.
The dragonfly quilt is a stunner, have fun with it.

Janice said...

A nice newsy post Jude. Both our cars no longer have a CD player. We have been bemoaning the lack of being able to listen to music without having to download it to our phones, which we haven’t figured as yet. I like your idea of saving it onto a USB and playing it that way. We may have to try it.

Gail said...

You've been very busy! It's a good thing to be gifted with enough to keep busy. Time evaporates more quickly every year. Stay well-be happy.

Maria said...

No wonder you haven’t had time to do a post with so much going on at your place….
Hope you got the garden looking better …
Oh a new car is tricky with all those bells and whistles on them.
Great Robyn popped your music in the USB for you…..

Karen's Korner said...

You certainly have not let the grew grow under your feet. Enjoy your new set of wheels....very exciting.

kiwikid said...

Busy times at your place Jude. Enjoy the new car, it will feel normal very soon I am sure. Love that dragonfly quilt.

Susan Smith said...

You certainly pack in a lot each day, so no wonder there is no time for blogging. The new car sounds interesting & we once saw that new cars had no CD players & can hopefully see our old car out. Thanks for talking to me this morning in your busy schedule. Take care & stay safe.

Joy from Days Filled With Joy said...

You're such a busy bee! Thanks for the nice long update, lots of exciting things to share with us! xx

Chookyblue...... said...

enjoy your new car......you have got lots of quilts done.........hope you are ok.......
Zoom seems a great idea to have on your lastest book cover......we've had lots of calls.......hopefully you will be right to join us on the next zoom........we did miss you on Sat but thats ok.......everyones got there own stuff happening and fit in when they can.......