The rest of January summary...............

 Well here we are already 4 days into February, and I have had a few 'hints' about a lack of blog posts recently. I have posted of the 8 customer quilts that were done.  Then I wondered just what else I had filled in the rest of the month with after we had returned from the Barossa trip early in the month. 

Looking back into the photo files and the diary, I soon found a lot of activities that filled the time. The following are in no particular order, but some of the reasons that not a lot more quilting happened.

                                                               *************************

My blog book was ordered and arrived within 2 weeks from the US!! Given that it needed to be printed, postage was fast, and makes me wonder why things take so long to travel around Australia??

******************

We have been having a shed clearout!! For as long as I can remember, the shed has been a parking spot for 'stuff' and not a car!! It was time to sort it and make room for a car! I mean, that's what garages are usually for isn't it?? It has been a mammoth task, but was made easier with 2 heads to make decisions as to what is 'keepable' and what wasn't!! 

There was a LOT of junk, and lots of boxes, and 4 trailer loads of stuff was taken to the dump.

There was containers of toys left from my childen's childhood, so I photographed all of this and posted it on a family facebook page, asking what they wanted kept. I now have a list and the rest will be donated or thrown. 

A LOT of stuff has been listed on the local Buy, Sell and Swap pages and sales are mounting up. But it does take time to sort, photograph and list items. There were many plastic tubs with paraphenalia from retreats held here over the years. Some are still waiting to be sorted, but I decided to to offere this bundle in time for Australia Day. This collection has now gone to a new home!!! (I still have tubs with Pink gear, and Christmas in July stuff and Black and Bling!)

*******************

While we were in WA, the local electrician came and installed a new split system in the lounge. The old one in the photo below was effective, but very noisy and it was hard to hear the TV.

This meant that we had a hole in the wall after the old one was taken out. A couple pieces of timber both sides did the trick......

........and now the timber has been stained and a small wall hanging is centred on it. The outside piece is still waiting to be painted brown to match the bricks.

*****************

I had a small bus load of ladies from the Day Care centre in Kaniva come for a visit one day. They were interested to see Max and a few quilts.

*************************

The correct part was purchased to fix the caravan brakes, and the lawn made a comfy spot to work on.

An update re the vehicle dramas.............the main car is still in the workshop being fixed. (The delay is due to the mechanic taking time from work and then waiting for a part to be ordered). The second car now has a new exhaust system and is being used to pull the caravan at present.

A new car has been ordered and arrived last week, but still needs the towing gear to be put on. The car that has done 360,000km will be sold.

************************

One Sunday after church we drove to Willalooka Hotel for lunch, This is about 40 minutes drive from Bordertown, and after lunch we drove through some countryside that I had not seen before and eventually arrived at the sea. We had a drive along the beach at "The Granites', which is not far from Kingston, before heading for home.

***********************

We headed off up the highway for another few days away and to see if the brakes were working ok now. (They did).

We headed to Murray Bridge for a few days and stayed at the MB Marina Caravan Park.

It was Australia Day and lots of vans had flags flying.

Down the hill from the park, was the Marina, with many houseboats...........

They also repaired and built houseboats at the site.......

******************

One of the reasons for out stay in MB (which is where I was born and bred) was to introduce Barry to my siblings and also visit the place that I grew up in).

 This was from an evening with my sister and BIL and niece.................

Looking at this photo, I can see a likeness with my mother and sister that I have not noticed before??

*********************

On Sunday morning we went to church with my mother, and Barry was able to meet up with his uncle and aunty who he had not seen for many years. 

***********************

We also visited the farm, which is now managed by one of my brothers. This is where I spent most of my childhood years............It is many years since I have been out to the farm and there were many memories as we walked around the house and sheds...........

......the farm is called Lake View, and it's a bit hard to see in this photo, but in the distance is Lake Alexandrina.........

In one of the far paddocks is this rock with a plaque, in memory of my Dad. The geranium plant was struck from a cutting taken from the house where we lived a few miles from the home farm, until a new house was built on the farm.

My BIL built a hut at this spot and often camped here with his sons over the years. This is pretty impressive, with screens on the windows, a floor inside and bunk beds with mattresses and even a wood stove from one of the houses on the farm!! All the comforts of home!?

This is the house I lived in from the age of 6 until I left school..................

...........and this is the little house Mum and Dad moved into when they were married and I lived here until I was 6. The geraniums were planted along the front fence and I remember them from when I caught the school bus. 

******************

There are no photos, but I have had blood tests and annual appointments with specialists for checkups and received good results. Praise the Lord.

That about fills up to the end of January. What will February bring??

Blessings, From Jude