It's been a while....

since I posted, almost 2 years!  My father-in-law took up quite a bit of my time during 2012 and on the 24th September he passed away.  I haven't felt like blogging since then.  His death hit me harder than I imagined it would.  We knew he was going, he was 84 and had been unwell for about half of his life.  It didn't make it any easier though.  I knew him for over 30 years and in that time I can't remember him ever getting angry, he was such a kind and gentle man.  He never lost his cheeky sense of humour either.  I still miss him.

During this time I lost my mojo for scrapping and for patchwork.  Even the photography is on hold.  I just don't feel all that creative any more.  We did have another new arrival though and I made him a little quilt.  It's made from a jelly roll so it came together quite easily.

We are still working from home and enjoying the flexibility and freedom that comes with that.  There have been times when we've worked 7 days a week but that's okay, we know there is light at the end of the tunnel and it won't always be like that.  We were lucky enough to travel to the eastern states for work earlier in the year and had some spare time to have a look around.

Now for something completely different!  A friend had this old meat safe that didn't suit her new house and none of her family wanted it so I am babysitting it for her.  I've put my quilts behind the doors and my vintage linen collection is housed in the drawers.  Love love love it :)

Daybreak

at Renahan's Bore, on the Tanami Road.  I scrapped this for a comp over at Scrapbooking Top50 Australia.

I'll be back with more photos from our central Australia visit soon.

Central Australia Visit

My husband has a thing for deserts that I don't really share...I don't mind the deserts as such, I just don't enjoy the corrugated roads...so I was grateful that three of his mates were happy to travel from the south west of WA across the Great Central Road into Alice Springs.  One of the mates had long wanted to walk the Larapinta Trail which stretches approximately 225 kilometres from the Alice Springs Telegraph Station along the West MacDonnell Ranges, absolutely stunning country....immortalised in the paintings of Albert Namatjira and it was the promise of seeing some of this country that persuaded me to join them all by flying in to Alice Springs.

The first night we camped out was extremely cold (by my standards lol!) - it was 2 degrees Celsius.  

 Sunset at our camping spot

 Our friend Torb's set up

 Our outback bedroom

The billy on the campfire...

 And the sun disappears over the ranges.

Koblenz

We arrived in Koblenz around 8am and H was there waiting for us, ready to take us to his apartment for an everyday German breakfast.  We went with him to shop for breakfast at the butcher and baker, then a quick drive and we were at his apartment.  H made coffee and we all sat down to share an assortment of meats and breads.  We then went on a excursion around Koblenz and spent some time at the German quarter.  

 Koblenz was full of charming heritage buildings

 The Rhine from our ship - Koblenz originates from Latin for 'confluence' as it's situated where the Rhine and Moselle Rivers join.

 According to H, the cable car was built for the Federal Horticulture Show but it will only be there for three years, as it's in a World Heritage area.

 The monument for German emperor William I was erected in 1897 by his grandson William II.

 

 Basilica of St Castor

Castle ruins....just a taste of what was to come!

More Scrapping

This page had to be scrapped in a Shabby Chic style and include hand drawing or doodling.      The photo is of Mum and me circa 1965 :)   Hmm, it looks crooked here but I promise it's straight irl!

this day, this moment

Just a quick post to show you my latest scrapping creation.  It's for a challenge at Chookscraps and the criteria was for it to be minimalist with some bling.  My niece had just given me this photo taken at her wedding and I thought it perfect.  Mum wouldn't be happy to be on the www but what she doesn't know won't hurt her ;)  

Tree planting

Part of our business is re-vegetating a farm back to natural bushland.  So every winter we employ some backpackers and our son and off we go, spades in hand and raincoats at the ready :)


Finally, after a mammoth effort, we have finished this year's planting of 5000 tree seedlings.  Here's a few pics but unfortunately I didn't get one of Mary from Ireland :(

 Mark from Scotland modelling the latest in planting wear :)

 Kevin about to lay the trees out ready for planting.

 Our son Craig, channelling the Man from Snowy River.

Me and the infamous red buckets.  Boy were they heavy when they were filled up with baby trees!


I can't tell you how relieved I am that it's all done!