DUST

I wonder why I thought that after a dust storm I could simply wipe the dust off all surfaces and that would be the end of all dust in sight. Now I know I thought very wrong. I have wiped with all the latest "you beaut dust clinging" expensive super market wipes you can get only to find that they are next to useless. Obviously they only test them in super clean environments. I have wiped with damp wipes, and rewiped with damp wipes and mopped floors and remopped floors. It seems that every time I dust and wipe and mop that no sooner do I turn around and it's all back again. I do believe that my place would put even Shannon Lush to the test. I don't have her books, but I do hear her on ABC Radio at times, and she makes cleaning actually sound like fun. The fun has worn a bit thin with me at the moment. I'm hoping that the weather man knows what he's talking about when he says there might be a shower of rain later in the week. I'm thinking it might be the only solution.

SERVICE WITH A SMILE

I had 2 willing workers turn up at my place this morning. It's quite amazing how highly motivated you can be to do jobs for cash when you have your sights set on Playstation 3. I stupidly thought at first they wanted to help just 'cause they love their Grandma!!! I should have known!! Anyway, they helped me load 7 bales of barley mulch for the garden and Mr Apple now has a very clean and highly polished ute. Maybe next time I'll get lucky and I'll have a clean and polished vehicle as well.

IRIS IN BLOOM

I love it when the irises come out in bloom. This one was waiting for me this morning looking so beautiful and and so proud to be the first of many more. It didn't seem to mind at all that we've had terrible dust and wind this last week. It's like it's just waited for the right moment to display it's gorgeous deep purple apparel.

GEHAM MARKET WEEKEND

My camera was never in the right place at the right time on the weekend, so there's no pictures. I do need to tell you though that the Geham market was excellent. It was a credit to the girls on the organising committee, right through to the young school students who served the coffee and did endless errands so cheerfully. I decided I could use a few of them at my place! Everyone was friendly and helpful, and I'm sure all who went thoroughly enjoyed it.

A very big THANKYOU to everyone who supported me, from those who wished me "good luck" to those who purchased from my stall. I can hardly wait for next year.

SETTING UP FOR THE WEEK END MARKET

This is our little corner of the shed for the weekend market at Geham. I always find setting up a little daunting, but having Sam come and help this morning actually made it quite fun.

MY ESCAPING MRS CLYDE

Mrs Clyde took it into her head to explore the world a little bit further than she should have on Sunday morning. It seemed at one stage the whole neighbourhood was out searching for one elusive cockatiel, but it was several hours later we heard the familiar chirping in a tree across the road. She obviously realised her escapade was a little more daunting than she'd anticipated and I think she was more than happy to retreat back to the more familiar surroundings of her cage. I decided I'd have to cut her wing in case she tried her tricks again, but I don't really know if what I've done is the right thing or not. I just cut the long feathers of one wing, so I'm hoping it will prevent it happening again. She's used to coming and going in and out of her cage as she pleases, but we were a little careless with leaving the doors open now the warmer weather has arrived.

FAMILY OF DOLLS

Sam has been making rag dolls to send to an orphanage in Indonesia but they're so cute, I've persuaded her to bring them to the Geham market first. She will have to top up her supply for the orphanage after the market, but she's stuffed so many legs, arms and bodies, I think she'll be able to make them in her sleep now. She couldn't find a pattern she was happy with, so she just made one up. Milly helped her name each doll and they all have their own individual name tag. If some of the names are a little bizarre, it's because Milly, who is 5, has a fairly vivid imagination.

Sam has also made up some gorgeous aprons for the market. I don't have a photo of those ones, so you'll just have to come to Geham to see them. It's really close now. Not much more than a week away on 19th & 20th September, and it's just a short drive north of Toowoomba on the road to Crow's Nest.

CHLOE'S CHICKENS

The chickens in this nest are all made by Chloe and they're going to the market at Geham on 19th & 20th September. Chloe is my 11 year old grand daughter and she's such a clever little crafter. She's filled them with lavender so the perfume is divine. I can highly recommend the market at Geham if you can possibly get there. You'll find it at the school about 20 minutes drive north of Toowoomba. It's on Carnival of Flowers weekend, so there's heaps of other things to do and see around the area that weekend.

NEW RASANT THREADS

My range of Rasant Threads has grown with the addition of dark grey. It's so good to add to the colour range, be it all so slowly, but we're getting there. I now have natural, beige, brown, dark blue, yellow, black, light and dark grey, dark red and forest green. I love Rasant thread and my machine loves it too. It comes in 1000m spools, so it lasts for such a long time. I had my sewing machine serviced not so long ago and the repair man confirmed my belief that this thread is one of the best. He loves it too. I was so pleased to hear it come from someone who works with machines all the time. You'll find them here under "Needful Things" if you look on my website.