Australia Day Weekend

What a great long weekend it's been.  Bundalong has been a popular spot for all the boating - fishing and water skiing all celebrating Australia Day here on the Murray River!  It was so very busy, that hubbie and I decided we would take the fishing boat and kayak to Lake Moodemere, not far up the road and a much quieter spot.  Pete went fishing and Scruffy and I went for a paddle in the kayak, which Hubbie bought me for Christmas this year.  Scruffy was very good, and settled down in front of me!  Unfortunately I couldn't get any photos as I left the camera in the car!!

Sewing has been on the agenda this weekend..... attending to some swaps that are coming up and using the FNSI......  I'm attempting to model the apron I'm almost finished...... just have to do the initial bit, unfortunately the pic didn't come out very clear 

starting on some Christmas sewing (yes, one xmas item a month) - check out the sidebar
a little pot holder, plus I managed to pull out some kits I've had packed away.......

Secret sewing for my swap partner for the Initial Heart Swap being run over at Gone Stitching
a little clearer, but now you have to stand on your head!!

Crochet for the dishcloth swap over at The 7 Pillars Home

And along with a lot of other bloggers from all over the world, we have been blog hopping with the Grow Your Blog Party hosted by Vicki at 2 bags full!  What a fun time its been!!
Hugs Sharm

Grow Your Blog

Hi everyone! If you have come here via the Grow Your Blog link up, grab a comfy chair and a


cuppa......... I'm Sharmayne, but my friends call me Sharm, and I started Country Fragrance  back in 2010. 

With my daughter, Stacey

 We had  moved from country Vic up to Townsville for a life style change, but work was not guaranteed for hubbie, and the climate was more than we could bare, as was the cost of living up there, so we decided to move back to the NE Victorian countryside.  
We live in a little township of just 300 people ( although less most of the time as it is more of a holiday type spot).  
Bundalong is right on the junction of the Murray River, and Ovens River,  ( popular for fishing, & water skiing) .... Yarrawonga is our closest town that offers shopping, banking, etc......           

So this blog charted that progress of the move back........ Leaving one son, DIL & grandchildren in Townsville, but with our other son, daughter & her partner all moving back with us.

Doing all the necessary things to the little cottage here, which is set on around 1/4 - 1/3 acre block ..... Which was all completely  covered in a thick layer of prickles and nothing else, on our arrival!  .......initially getting water tank for drinking water ( town water has since come), getting a veggie garden, fruit trees in, etc , etc.     

I am in my very early 50s, and love to be at home doing various crafts and homesteading type activities, when I'm not busy with part time work as a nurse and care coordinator.  So my blog here also shares my love of various crafts........ Crochet, sewing, soap making, cooking,  and various other things.   Last year my blog posts dwindled as life became super hectic, and I  realised how much I missed blog land......... It seems to have a nicer feel and pace than other social media like Facebook .

 

 

Sometimes I host a swap,  and sometimes I take part in other swaps........  And sometimes, I just enjoy having you stop by for a cuppa  while we just sit and chat about nothing in particular!
Thanks for stopping by, and I do hope to see you pop in again,
 Hugs, Sharm

Aussie Swap Arrived!

The postman arrived today with a lovely parcel.....

the Aussie Swap, sent to me by Debbie from Sweet Little cottage! 
 And such lovely little parcels with some wonderful things inside.  I had so much fun opening each of them up....a  tea towel, thread tidy, lace, stitching, ribbon, hanging/decorations......

I already have the tea towel hanging in the kitchen and also the little cinnamon and clove sachet hanging from the little cupboard above the stove rangehood.  The beads say "inspiration", and will be just perfect to hang at the top of an inspiration board I recently did up! I will enjoy using all these wonderful goodies! Thankyou so very much Debbie for all the work you put into this little swap for me.   Big Hugs, Sharm
I'm afraid I still cant show you what I sent until my partner receives it........ hope it gets there soon!

Homemade Dishcloths

I fell in love with homemade dishcloths a couple of years back.  I'd never come across them before, and for the life of me, I just couldn't get my head around how a crocheted or knitted square would

work for cleaning my kitchen benches........ until a friend from overseas sent me a couple!!  Made from cotton yarn, I fell in love with them.  They look so much nicer on the sink than the horrid chux cloth or sponge that has been used for who knows how long.  They work a treat and just get literally thrown into the washing machine again and again!!  Mine get well used, and I get a good life from them,  and I've found they make great gifts when I  make extras, but its time to replenish the stocks.  Since my other blog is all about the Home, I decided to run a dishcloth swap over there.  If you want to join in, registrations close on 20th Jan with posting date 31st January.  Its a nice quick and easy swap for anyone wanting to take part in something.  Just a hint with the dishcloths..... you need to use cotton yarn (available from spotlight - go for 8ply ones or buy online) for use in the kitchen,  the other synthetic type yarns just won't hold the water spills - but those types are great for using on mirrors or glass!

Oi, Oi, Oi

Well I have just posted off the Australia Day Swap!   I've had so much fun putting this together......some items have been handmade and some bought.  Hope she likes them.......and my quirky way of having used the Letters!

Getting some swapping together

After a busy time with work and soaring temps, I'm madly working on the finishing touches to the bits that will form the Australia Day Swap that is being hosted by Jewells.  I can't really show you any pics just yet, but posting day is tomorrow, so I'll be busy wrapping it all up in readiness for posting to my partner!    Then I'll be getting stuck into some serious initial heart work for another swap, and also getting some dishcloths crocheted up for my dishcloth swap that I'm running over on  my other Blog .  We are supposed to have a cooler night tonight and then a slightly lower temp tomorrow....... given we are in the mid 40 Celsius, something cooler sure would be welcome! 

Dishcloth Swap

If anyone is interested in taking part in a dishcloth swap head over to HHEREere to get the details.