Home Again!

Where to begin?! After two weeks internet absence I am suffering Blog Withdrawal. Now I have to catch up with everyone & see what you have been up to!
Over the next few days I will give a synopsis of our visit DownUnder. Unfortunately I took only a few photos & none from the time in Brisbane but I will show some of those events I did manage to capture on film.
In Brissie where we stayed with friends[from my College days] I was fortunate to meet up with an internet quilter friend Carleen who took me to the SewCo store in Mt.,Gravatt. There I purchased a half yd. of this lovely Hoffman & a panel of "The Sisterhood of Quilters". Both are no doubt available somewhere in USA but I had not seen them so I gave in to temptation!
Our hosts MA & DH were gracious & we were delightfully accommodated, fed & entertained in their lovely home in the suburbs of Brisbane.

We were visiting Australia at this time specifically for my Dad's 98th. b'day.
Some family gathered for a fabulous lunch at the award winning The Deck Cafe/Waterfront Bar at Soldier's Point Marina, Port Stephens, N.S.W.

The staff here were very excited to see my Dad. They told us that my Dad looks exactly like their father/grandfather did, what a coincidence! So my Dad got very extra-special treatment! Here are the staff, wishing Dad happy birthday, the owner on the left his two sons & daughter.

We were all treated royally at this family owned restaurant & my Dad had his favorite "cream sponge" birthday cake complete with a sparkler & they even had those "popper" streamers! If you are ever in this area we highly recommend a visit to this terrific restaurant.
This was Sunday, the day before his actual b'day, so on the Monday we took Dad to the Fighter World Museum at Williamtown RAAF Base. Here we treated ourselves to a delicious traditional Devonshire Tea in the Fighter World Cafe.

This is a very popular treat, you may often be invited to "Afternoon tea" DownUnder. The scones[pronounced with a short "a" in the BE world] most often are served with strawberry jam & we indulged several times during our visit [next issue "The Diet", lol!]
Tune in tomorrow for the next installment of the Aussie Chronicles!

Andrew's latest toy....and my new fabric.

Oldest DS came by this afternoon to show off his latest project, a'70's Mercedes Benz "gelanden wagon", & while it isn't actually a jeep it's that type of vehicle, very cool anyway and he plans to fix it up for CO.
Glen and Khris left this morning on the next leg of their journey, heading for Oklahoma. We had a great time visiting with them and were sorry to see them go but they have many places to go and people to see the next 8 weeks or so. Khris & I have a very sympatico relationship, much in common, both antipodeans, both quilters & each of us has lost a beautiful son named Matthew.
Yesterday Khris and I did a small QS hop, three quilt shops plus Joann's. We made a reasonable contribution to the economy but nothing over the top.

I bought this fabric for my cowgirl/quilter/LA'er friend Gale in CO., the 'Udder Cowboy' very cute, plus a few pieces for my own stash as follows.
A set of 4 different quilter panels which will make nice bags, 8 of them in all-


this adorable quilter's fabric with longarm quilters on it the first time I have ever seen that and I had to have it, don't know yet what I will make from it, an apron perhaps, do quilters have time to cook....

A panel of labels for the many gift quilts I make, they will come in very handy-

and these three fabrics, the retro will be good for lap-top bags [or whatever] isn't it great,


the red poppies are for my watercolor quilts, gorgeous,

and the elegant green Asian will join the rest of my Oriental stash, of course I have some WHIMMS percolating around for that collection.



The last stop was at Joann's for a few half price notions, a new automatic retracting rotary cutter for me, all in all a successful hunt but rather tiring so today has been a little more laid back though DH has begun to put up Christmas decorations including the purchase of a new permanently lighted tree.



I guess now he expects me to decorate it, LOL.