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I was going to quit blogging in 360 as it seems that most people have a Multiply blog now. One of my good friends, Miss Vie, said she really missed hearing my news, yes I know, it’s hard to imagine but I believed her so here I am back blogging at both 360 and Multiply. That is of course if it works!!
Yay! I finally have some time to start this blog. John is napping on the couch so I thought I would take the opportunity to make a start on this. I have so much to write about!! Seems like forever since I have blogged. Today we have spent the whole day at home. Now that is really odd for us, it being a Saturday and all. There always seems to be something to pick up or someplace to go on Saturdays! This morning I cooked breakfast for the boys and then did the laundry as well as tidied up the kitchen. We had a guy come to fix a pipe in the upstairs shower so the water was off for a while so I went down into the garage and gave it a good sweep out. I couldn’t believe the dog hair that had accumulated in a week! I then had a closer look at Sadie and Brissy and noticed that they were shedding their undercoats! Ahhh! Tomorrow I will give them both a really good brush and try to get it all out. I then ventured outside and weeded the dandelions in between the day lillies along the driveway. If I don’t do this, John weed wacks everything, flowers included! We spent the whole afternoon in the garden, mowing and tidying up. I also scrubbed Ruby’s and Sheba’s igloos and put them up on the deck for the days I am at work. They have good shelter in those and those two girls stay on the deck on my work days. David raked the grass and he did a very good job too. We all came in around 3.30 as storm clouds rolled in. We intended to grill out but the weather doesn’t look like it is going to get any better so later on we are going in to town to pick something up. A Thai take out for me and Burger King for the boys!
Last weekend was a mixed bag. I intended to blog and tell you all about my job and also the Tulip Festival. I had a really down day on Sunday. Really missed my kids and grandkids and my own Mum and just couldn’t pick myself up. I mooched around in my pj’s for most of the day. John wasn’t much better which is unusual for him. I think he was thinking about his Mama as well. Louize had sent me some Asiatic Lillies, chocolates and a nice vase and they arrived Saturday night. I also had a sweet card from her that had been teasing me on my kitchen counter for a week or more. I also got to talk to her on the phone. I didn’t get to speak to my boys at all. L
The tulip festival on Saturday was really cool. The flowers were spectacular, so many varieties that I had never seen before. It was a gorgeous day and we parked and walked about 2 miles to get to it. We didn’t mind a bit as there was lots of sights to see along the walk. The houses in that part of Albany were very old and quiet unique. There was so much to see at the festival, rock bands, a pipe band, pony rides, petting zoo and a gazillion craft and food vendors. I found the Greek vendor and zoomed over to get a lamb gyro. Mmmmmmmm. We have a very good day there and were quite exhausted when we made it back to the car.
Back to Sunday, I got off track, LOL. Around 3 on Saturday John said, come on, get showered and dressed and I will take you out for dinner somewhere nice for Mothers Day. I didn’t really feel like making the effort but I did and so glad! We drove to Oneonta which is west of us about 35 miles. My bosses had told me of a really nice restaurant there called The Farmhouse. So that is where we went. We just had on jeans and sweaters as it was pretty chilly. The place looked like an old farmhouse when we pulled up. There were cars everywhere. Inside it was old world charm and fine dining. Everyone was all dressed up for Mother’s Day and the wait staff were impeccably dressed too! It was really lovely. The food was delicious, the best I have had in ages and it was so heartwarming to see people out with their Mums. I loved that! Some of them were very elderly too. - dear old things. I was instantly cheered up and felt like such a goose for wasting a good part of what should have been a nice Mother’s Day. I hope all my friends had lovely days. J
My biggest news is my job. I really love it and am so pleased with the hours. It is perfect for me! I love having a three day weekend and also Wednesday off. I have been working on projects this week and that makes it fun. Thursday and Friday I had to sew some quilt blocks for a display. They were curved blocks and a challenge but I did it and was quite happy with the results. I will take camera next week and get a pic. I was allowed to choose my own fabrics and the girls laughed at the bold choices I made. Oh well, I guess that’s just me. I quite liked the result and would like to see it actually quilted up but most of our displays are just quilt tops. We have a long arm quilter in the store and I am keen to get my hands on that! Haha.
David is happily adjusting to going to his program every day and life seems to be back on track for all of us.
I have been having lots of fun with the birds that inhabit or visit our property. I have identified and photographed quite a few now but that is another blog for another time. My sewing has been put on the back burner these past few weeks but I do feel inspired again and a nice discount on fabrics and notions at work makes it all the more fun. My stash has already grown!!!
Well it seems that I have got to the end of this blog and it is still Saturday, so I will hunt down some photos to put in and will bid you all a good night or a good day. Hugs and smooches my friends. xx

Tulip Fesitval photos..

some pics of inside my workplace..

my Mother's Day flowers, day 1, day 2 and day

Today I am wearing a short sleeved tshirt. This isn't in itself peculiar even though I have not had many occasions to wear a short sleeved anything since last October! While washing the breakfast dishes this morning, (me bad, no gloves) I noticed a strange darkish mark on my wrist and rubbed it a little before realizing that it was a tan mark! I look at the other hand and yes it had one too! In all my days I have never had a tan mark on my wrists and I laughed so hard to myself. And yes it was a strange phenomena, a reminder of where this girl from the sub tropics now lives. I live where the only bits of my body that are exposed for long months are my face and hands. Yes as you can see,, it does not take much to amuse me!

Well my lazy hazy days are coming to an end. Tomorrow I start work at my new job! I will be working 3 days a week at the quilt store in the village close to where I live. I am stoked! How fun will that be? Will I ever get to bring home a pay check?? Stay tuned for that one. Ha!

I have lots of bird pics to share but they are on my upstairs PC. It has been a lot of fun photographing and identifying the various birds that come to our feeders and trees. Some are totally new to me. I will share those photos on Wednesday.

Hope everyone is enjoying their gardens and other Spring projects. Your blogs have been awesome and I am so happy to be part of this multiply family. For now I am saying goodbye to 360 as it is too frustrating and time consuming. If it ever stabilizes, I will double blog again.

The photo is one of my favourites of youngest son Zac, at Esperance in Western Australia.

Have a great week my friends! :)

I love digging in the dirt. I love the smell of the earth and the feel of it in my fingers. Last weeked John and I mulched some garden beds here. Planting cannot be done until Memorial Day - so I have a few more weeks to wait! However, there are daffodils blooming now and tulips and other mystery bulbs with buds on them. We have had some nice spring rains the past few days and this is helping with the greening and growing process. The trees all have new growth and the willow trees by the creek are a shimmering and golden. The surrounding hills and cliffs are awash in the pretty pale blush of spring. This morning I watched two deer chasing each other in the field below me, then a little while ago I spied three chipmunks playing hide and seek in the garden by the kitchen window. The world around me is coming alive after the long cold winter. There are birds everywhere! Chickadees, woodpeckers, cardinals, blue jays, juncos and black birds. What a magical time of the year! We, all of God's creatures are enjoying this wonderous season called Spring!

some flowers from my garden in Virginia last year.