You've got to love technology!

Just enjoying Saturday night at home..listening to some beautiful music..enjoying a nice glass of wine..text message telling me to go to Orange and log in and put in a password and voila...this gorgeous photo of my darling daugher comes up.  Here she is sitting in Liberty of London, one of our favourite London haunts.  Thanks to Bek for taking the photo.

Weight Watchers @ Work

I am sure everyone has heard of Weight Watchers..the most successful weight loss program there is. I have been so lucky to have been part of Weight Watchers @ Work conducted at my workplace, the Queensland Teachers' Union.  It all came about following an informal conversation with me friend Jann. We are in our second session at work, and eventhough I am a life member and really need not attend, I just love our little sessions on a Thursday.  Brian, our leader, from Weight Watchers, has been amazing.  I really don't know how he comes up with so many little inspirational tips to keep our little group on track. Anyway, today I said I would photograph my dinner and put it on my blog.  Well, I have a favourite at the moment and it is from the Programme Cookbook..Japanese Chicken on sushi rice.

Well I think I need Donna Hay to help me out with my food stylist skills.  But it tasted good eventhough I forgot to include the sugar snap peas (I discovered them on the bench later). But I did add some capsicum for colour. I went a bit crazy with my camera then and couldn't resist taking some shots of my seahorses (a gift for my 60th from a my dear friend Ivan).  They are on the wall behind my 'photo shoot'.

By then, Addy thought I should include a photo of her.

Isn't she gorgeous?

Parks and a Poem

Addy's need for a 'wee' break on our drive home from Holmwood forced me to stop at a most delightful park at Walloon.  The Henry Lawson Bicentennial Park is home to the moving "Babes of Walloon" memorial which commemorates Henry Lawson's poem about the tragic drowing of two young sisters.

The beautiful poem is even recreated in part on the toilet block:

And to think I would never have discovered this beautiful park if it wasn't for my little dog.

Sunday at Holmwood

 On Sunday, I took a drive in the country to visit my friends, Anne and Gary, who are about to move to their new home on their property at Thornton, about 20 kms from Laidley.  Their new home, designed by Gabriel Poole is just about finished.

 It looks sensational.  Anne's mum (Jessie) is moving to Holmwood with them and has her own little part of the house. 

Anne and Gary are growing lavender on the property...and maybe the sign down the road is an indication of what they will turn their little bit of heaven into.

As well as this gorgeous house, Holmwood also features:

 

 a pizza oven!

a swimming hole (or a paddling one at any rate!)

and self-contained accomodation for guests (meaning me!)
 Continuing with the lavender theme, I couldn't resist buying them this door mat from Peter Baker Finch at Annerley.  

 Anne and Gary on the lavender mat:

Me (and nearly Addy) on the lavender mat!

Addy had a wonderful day and rather fancies herself as a farm dog now.

Needless to say, a super day was had by all..and I wish Gary, Anne and Jessie loads of happiness at their new home.

A Quirky Quilt

My friend, Nicole, is a self-taught quilter and has a real eye for quirky fabics.  I love having work colleagues to share my passion for quilting.  Nicole made this quilt for a housewarming gift - what a lovely surprise it will be for the lucky recipients.

The quality of the photos don't show the wonderful detail in the fabric...it was the first time Nicole had used an Ipad for her photo shoots!

the quilter's rest

My friend Anne  and I had the absolute pleasure of visiting the quilter's rest on Sunday and Monday. Alan and Marion Lees run this marvellous facility on their stunning property, Tamalba, just outside of Kingaroy.  The purpose of our visit was for Anne to buy her new sewing machine.  Marion is a distributor for Phaff  and Anne couldn't resist this little beauty - an Expression 2.0.

Marion was an excellent tutor and it wasn't long before Anne was confidently working on her quilt.  The facilities at the quilter's rest are excellent..lots of big tables, great lighting and views over the property.  All very conducive to working on those unfinished projects...which is exactly what I did.   I have been working on a quilt for my nieces son, Guy.  It has been dragging on for quite a while so I took advantage of the large tables and got it pinned.

So I now have no excuse to get it finished.

There is also a shop on the property..which stocks everything a quilter could need.  I couldn't resist this cute little steam iron and ironing mat/cutting board.

 The shop is well stocked with a gorgeous range of fabrics.

It was a wonderful mini break made so enjoyable by the wonderful hospitality of Alan and Marion.  I can't wait to go back for a weekend retreat with my quilting/sewing friends.

Anne and I reluctantly left on Monday morning to return to work in Brisbane.

No visit to Kingaroy would be complete without a visit to the peanut van!

Granny's Orchids

My late mum (the Phil of the PhilandJack) would have turned 90 today.  She took great pride in her pot of orchids that sat beneath the large tree in her front yard.  The orchids always seemed to flower around her and Jack's (the Jack of the PhilandJack) birthdays.  I think the original orchid came from a neighbour..but that is a long time ago.  The orchids outgrew their pot and with great trepidation (and after reading hints of dividing orchids) I broke them up into smaller pots.  My sister has one, my brother has one, and now this one is for Bree.  I still have a big pot which is just about to flower.  Then it will be time to divide it up again for the other grandchildren.  

I hope it remains a living legacy of a much loved mum and grandma.