Goodbye to another Year

 

And here we are at the end of another year!  How quickly it seems to have gone this time around - I can hardly believe it will be the start of 2026 tomorrow.   My blogging has been a little spasmodic this past year - perhaps I can hope to improve on that for the coming year ahead.

 

We had Christmas lunch at our daughters home with her and SIL, making the 3.5hr drive down to Melbourne on Christmas morning.  It was a lovely day and she had the table set up so nicely for us.  A little more special as they have had their table stored for the past couple of years since it wouldn't fit into the rental they had - but when they were buying their very first home they wanted to make sure the dining table Pete made for them by hand (wood is Mango which was a slab from our very large Mango tree we had in Maryborough that had to be cut down) - a labour of love and it was a blessing to see them enjoying having it out to use.

Lucy was spoilt with toys and a new bed and lots of attention lol - as were Buttercup and Benjamin bunny rabbits

We stayed down overnight and left the next morning to head home since we had Lucy with us and it can get a little stressful keeping a close eye on her and the 2 house bunnies to ensure they all stay well.

Our outside projects have continued with Pete finishing off the fernery area along the side of the pool which needed immediate attention once we chopped out the palm tree to stop it getting any bigger and damaging the pool.  He's now in the process of hooking up a watering system.  I'm hoping to be able to have this plugged into a timer before we head off in May for our big trip.

He's also managed to get a floor put into the boat (the new topper which will sit on top of the ute when travelling) - and I think it's pretty much ready at last.

Sharing this photo for the overseas girls ..... we caught up with friends just prior to xmas, who have alot of land and recently had an emu wander in to eat the feed being given to the sheep ..... the wife has "adopted " it and so it now comes to the house yard fence requesting food!

Crafting has continued with the majority of it being knitting the past couple of month.  I should also show you the other projects that didn't make it into the last couple of posts ........

I decided to turn this old tin that had been with Dad for many years holding all his "special" documents now that I have finally finished dealing with all of that and turn it into a special tin ......

So from this above to this below.  I padded the top and also used cardboard to help get the shape and glued it in - then adding the lace, needle holder, clip holder and magnet.  If you decide to do something similar, just keep in mind you need to be able to close the tin once you finish with the lace....... so maybe check before glueing.

 I joined in on a couple of mystery KALS - one I finished just today  during the Chookshed Zoom - Gnandad, whilst the other remains a WIP that will get finished off during January

And with that I'll wish you all a very Happy end to 2025 and look forward to a very joyful 2026

Hugs Sharm

Daylesford Girls Weekend

 

Here I am finally blogging about my Girls Weekend away in October to Daylesford!  Since I'm a month behind (where are the weeks disappearing to?) I'll keep this shorter........  The original accommodation meant to take 8 of us turned out to be "under construction due to damage" but we hadn't been notified which meant last minute finding a couple of places to spread ourselves accross and just meet up for various things.  

Such a pretty little town ....

Karen and I did lots  and lots of walking whilst there ...... around the lake before breakfast on the first morning finishing at a lovely little coffee van....... and yes, the weather was cold!

Then a meet up with everyone and Around the convent and grounds after a wonderful morning tea

They had a whole host of these great paintings on various walls and we all lined up next to one to grab a fun photo and try to look similar to one of them lol

 Then Karen and I were Up to the botanical gardens which had a wonderful view from this high tower which had lots of steps! ...... I felt like I was in a lighthouse ....

You can be sure I was hanging on going down all those concrete steps!! ...... slowly, slowly lol after the big climb up!

How cute were these Wombat Statues ...... there were a few others around the gardens as well.

The view from on top of the tower ...... only room for a couple of people to stand at a time

And there you have a very quick round up of the Girls weekend in October at Daylesford!

Catch Up Time

 The weeks have been flying by with the days slipping through my fingers so I need to catch you up on all sorts of things but I'll try to make the wording short and work through the photos ...... 

Firstly - apologies for those that sent comments and I didn't reply to ..... I had a gremlin enter my email inbox and I'm in the midst of sorting throug 15000 plus emails ....... now down to 13000 ish

September ...... I started off crafting wise by crocheting up a couple of items for the campervan and also made a couple of drawstring bags for various items to keep them organised but easily stored 

And after a week  or so of vertigo - I fell down a Gnome hole as it saw me knitting my very first ever Gnome which I actually really enjoyed watching come together ...... Meet Gneil (pattern: Gnome Pun Intended)

Gneil was sooo much fun and it just happened that the designer was about to have a Gnome MKAL ........ 

I couldn't decide which one and figured I'd give them both a go ..... this was after Clue 1 - Clues will arrive throughout October.  I'm hoping to have Gnumpkin completed by the end of October with Gnettle not far behind.......

During some decluttering I stumbled upon a WIP so I decided to get it finished and give myself another cowl to wear

Another Test Knit for Fogbound Knits - something I haven't done for quite a while...... must be almost a year...... this was a fingering weight double beanie - I should have gone for a larger size as this fits very snuggly - I didn't account for the double fabric when I tried it on whilst knitting. I'm sure somebody will enjoy it

Also managed to knit up another Road Trippin Beanie which is also nice and warm and little  more comfortable to wear

A start has been made on the "In Control" travel caddy ..... I'm halfway through it - can't say I'm enjoying the process but I know I want the finished item so I'll continue to plod along..... 

The other excitement for September was to attend a sewing day retreat with Christine and Silvia west of Melbourne where we had a lovely day stitching.  It was very popular (and crowded) with 130 women in a hall...... so a tad squisshhy ...... but fun non the less.

Of course spending a couple of nights at Christines also included us taking off for a shopping trip lol

A new dress may have also found its way into the shopping bag, but we won't talk about that lol

And then October arrived ......... I've started working on a little jacket - Idalou by Fogbound Knits 

We've finally been able to stop feeding the fire, but still have some cold morning and nights.  This lovely fellow started chatting to me as I came in from the morning walk making it clear he would like some rolled oats put on the feeding tray if you please lol

Which leads me into the garden........ with spring all the flowers are beginning to bloom - I'll leave you with these and catch you again soon - very soon I hope!