OUR GARAGE SALE

The garage sale we had today was the best thing we've done for a very long time. I've realised that having a garage sale is a very social thing to do. You know, we got to meet some lovely people. We got to meet people who told us all about their children, people who told us about their dog, their neighbourhood, their garden, their hobbies, their collections, their love of old furniture and all sorts of other things. We had people who wanted to smell my roses and people who wanted to pat my dogs. We had neighbours who popped in for a chat. If you've never had a garage sale, clean out some cupboards, put out a sign and enjoy the day. At the end of the day you'll be tired but happy. You'll also have a little bit extra cash to enjoy something just a tiny bit special.

HOW DOES HE KNOW

How does this little fellow know it's almost Christmas time. You know, left up to me I'd never realise Christmas has come around again so soon if I didn't have a calender. But these little fellows turn up faithfully every year around this time. They're so pretty aren't they. Have they arrived at your place too?

ANOTHER RAG RUG

This is my latest rag rug made up from my big basket of rag balls. There's not too much of a dent in the stockpile yet, so that's good. I must say I'm not really an apricot/orange person, but this one I don't mind at all. I'll put it on my website later after I try to get a better photo. Tomorrow we're having a huge garage sale, so today will be mainly sorting and organising for that event. Hopefully our junk will become somebody's goodies in the morning, and we'll have a little more room in our lawn locker. Our mower might even be able to squeeze back in there.

ALL READY FOR MORE RAG RUGS

This is a HUGE basket and I have it full of rag balls. I've done little else every evening for the last 3 weeks other than cut up old sheets, doona covers or whatever I can lay my hands on, and make up rag balls. Must say I could have found much better things to do, but other things don't eventuate into rag rugs. Now I can start the crocheting and that's the best part. And what's more I'm going to show you here every time I get one finished. The basket full of balls looks like it will make dozens of rag rugs, but unfortunately it won't go nearly as far as it looks like it should. They eat up the fabric at an amazing rate. But it's all good because it's all part of my effort to save our planet by recycling and make something good out of something that somebody thought was past its used by date.

I came home from the Gatton Craft show with next to none left, so I've got to get my supply happening again.

MY AFTERNOON VISITORS

This family of owls came to visit and found refuge in our big pine tree this afternoon. They looked perfectly at home sitting up in the tree looking down at me and my dogs and weren't in the least bit worried sitting up high. I often have one come to visit, but having a family of 6 was such a treat. It wasn't a real easy photo shoot, but I managed to get some of them in the picture.

JOURNEY FROM RED ROOSTER FABRICS

These fabrics from Red Rooster Fabrics are just new in and belong to a range called "Journey". I love the tone on tone ones and of course the florals co-ordinate beautifully. Also love the stripe that's part of the range too. You'll find them here and for $12.00m they are excellent value.

REMEMBRANCE DAY

Remembering today the 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month.

It's good to remember.

I'm going out later to see if I can find a poppy.

HOMESPUN VOL#10.11

Homespun 10.11 came out last week and on page 79 you'll find Sam's project for Happy Sacks. How I wish now that I had taken photos of them before they went to Homespun because let me tell you they are gorgeous and the photos (even in Homespun) don't do them justice. They are 3 gift bags and while they are designed to hold a gift, they are a complete gift in themselves. There are three in all - Birthday, New Baby and Christmas. I love all three. She is such a clever girl and having her for a daughter-in-law is simply the best.

OPENING NIGHT

We had a wet night tonight for the opening of Christmas in the Country craft show, but let me tell you nobody was complaining about the rain. We drove through a pretty scary downpour on the way there with huge flashes of lightening, and I must admit I did wonder for a while if we'd done the right thing to venture out on such a wild night. The cucumber sandwiches we were served on arrival were very yum and very welcome and although I was tempted with the wine to settle me down, the punch did the trick.

I think everybody enjoyed the evening and most shopping baskets I spotted were filled to overflowing. I know some lucky people will be opening some very special gifts this Christmas.

As usual with our summer storms, not everybody had a lucky spot under a rain cloud. It was disappointing to come home and find that we'd had very little at our place, but I'm sure that those people who got some rain tonight will be very happy and feel very blessed.

CHRISTMAS IN THE COUNTRY

Gatton was 37 °C today, but fortunately the Shire Hall, where you'll find "Christmas in the Country" over the next few days, was air conditioned and a very pleasant place to be. Do you like the Apple Cottage bunting I made this week. The last few letters are hiding a little behind my hangers, but it couldn't be helped. It's a bit of a challenge to get everything displayed on 2 tables, but we did OK. I'm really looking forward to the craft show, and hope to get started on my Christmas shopping.

A REALLY BAD IDEA

We all know what a good idea it is to mulch the garden, especially here in Queensland when we've had such a dry winter and now coming into a dry summer as well. So - my good idea has turned into a really bad idea because I used barley straw. I now have a barley crop over almost my entire garden. I wasn't too worried at first because barley is a winter crop and I thought surely it wouldn't come to anything so late in the season - but I'm seriously wrong. A lot of it is now in shotblade and if I don't get rid of it before it comes into head, I will have barley coming up for many years to come. I'm going to have to resort to Roundup for the bigger areas, but most of it is going to have to come out by hand. Where are those grandkids when you need them...................