BLESSED SPEEDY

What a pleasure it is to be a nanna! My daughter Aimee came with her two girls for two nights but left the older one Mia here for an extra day.  When Mia is here she likes to have nanna time and Gary time. Of course Gary time is usually spent in the tractor, doing farm work etc and her favourite being a fence (which involves standing with arms wide stopping cattle going somewhere and she is really good at it) Well this time in nanna time is asked her if she would like to learn to make a little quilt and she was very keen.  Fabrics were chosen by her.  I cut them - she had to iron them and then I sewed a few together and so did she. By this time her concentration was beginning to wane so I didn't want to push the issue so offered to finish it off for her which I did after she left.  She will be getting it before she heads back to Bendigo as she is currently at her dads in Cohuna.  Looks pretty good for our first effort. When I told my mum about our effort sh...

Things have been moving along here on the farm - we now dont have sick cows -we have sick calves :( So... lots of long long days feeding each calf very carefully with the best colustrum milk we have (freshly calved cows milk) and also giving them antibiotics etc and lots of love etc - sadly we have lost 6 heifer calves and 3 bull calves - hopefully no more though! BUT on a positive note - we had lovely visitors at easter time (see below!) Mia and Maddison and their parents Aimee and Jason came - its lovely to have kids around and to watch their joy at just being on the farm - things that were sad to us, seen in different eyes have given us a new perspective - and they give pretty good hugs too! I also managed to get a little quilting done - this cute little wallhanging was a kit I was given from my secret pal who lives somewhere overseas (I think America) and she send me a giftie each month - its a part of the Dear Jane group of which Im part of - I send gifts to someone el...

I've had a busy time cleaning up my now much smaller sewing area.  Before we renovated I had a much bigger space but due to having to move a large kitchen hutch into our sun room, my sewing area is now a lot smaller - although I have gained extra storage!Once I decided to clean though it wasnt too bad - and I found things I had forgotten (as you do!) even chocolate - but it was off so serve me right. In the process I refound several plastic baggies of leftover fabric from various things I had made - so Im determined to use them up or if not move them on to someone who will use them.  First two efforts are shown here - the lap size quilt is made up of leftover tumbler blocks from a large bed quilt I gifted to Mia last year and the table runner is from leftover Egyptian fabric I had from a queen sized quilt I made Aimee probably 6 years ago - but now all used up and two (yes two!!!) empty plastic baggies. Its a good feeling.

We've just spent a lovely weekend with Mia and Maddison (and Aimee and Jason too) coming to visit - much fun was had - and even some farm work too! As you can see Mia is still one of the best "gates" around and is always happy to do it - yes we did this safely as if you look closely the gate is tied with hay band just in case the cow got a bit "cranky" Mia is also very helpful when you are rolling up an electric fence or setting one up - its so much easier with someone holding the posts for you as you walk along! And Maddison was Very Impressed with sitting on the wheel of the tractor - just didnt really like the loud noise it made when running!

How lucky am I? Last Friday my daughter Aimee and hubby Jason brought my gorgeous granddaughers Mia and Maddison for a two day visit for an early mothers day treat.  Aimee was wonderful - she cleaned, changed my sheets on the bed, took me shopping etc and really looked after me.  Jason had a great time around the farm and riding the motorbike and Mia and Maddison had a great time too - and yes there were lots of cuddles!

Long time and my blog has been ignored - sorry one and all! I'll try and do a catch up on what has been happening in the last month six weeks or so. Firstly, my gorgeous granddaughter Mia started school - it doesnt seem that long ago that I was blessed to be at her birth, and here she is all grown up! Next my other gorgeous granddaughter Maddison turned one - again doesnt seem that long ago that I was at her birth as well, my how quickly they grow up! And thirdly, my baby Megan has spread her wings and gone off to Bendigo to study nursing at La Trobe University - once again, how quickly they grow up! Add into that mix me heading off twice to Melbourne in a month, firstly to the Dairy Australia Leadership Program and then to the Murray Goulburn Supplier Development program life here has been busy. Gary and I are enjoying just being "the two of us", and I even have been able to fit in some cow time. Phew.... how's that for a catch up?

I spent a lovely day in Bendigo yesterday babysitting my two granddaughters Mia and Maddison.  They were both so good and we had a great time.  I even managed to get Maddison to have a sleep and she slept for 45 in her cot during the day which apparently is unheard of - I must have the Nanna touch! The absolute highlight was that Maddison said "nan" for the first time and continued to say it over and over so I got it on film! I also took my Mum with me for a day out and she had a great time too - after our "work" was done we did a bit of shopping and then headed home - tired but happy.

Came down to Bendigo yesterday for specialist appointment so of course I had to visit the two most beautiful granddaughters in the world Mia was busy doing "schoolwork" in her journal/diary ready for starting school this year as she doesnt want to get behind! I took down a bag of apricots which Maddison immediately hopped into - she just loves fruit, which is a wonderful thing indeed. And another plus was I got to meet up with some real live ravelry  people last night. Its a group of Bendigo ladies who meeting weekly and or bi-weekly.  Just lovely. The only downside was the temperature 40C+ and its going to be the same for the next few days.  The drive home was comfortable of course in the airconditioned car, but was really glary so I struggled a bit - lovely to be home, even though it was 44 degrees and the vat had broken down due to the heat etc etc

  Dear All, Well here we are already at the end of 2012, and hasn’t this year just flown? Unfortunately this year we have had lots of down moments and sadness, my stepfather died in August which was a real shock although he hadn’t been well for some time. We also had to send our beloved cat, Speedy, to heaven which was also sad as she had been with us for 15 years. We have had trouble with cattle being sick, dying of blout and various other “incidents” as well as Dianne being extremely sick and being hospitalised for several days and Gary being injured by a cow!   BUT..... There were some highs as well – we welcomed to our family two new granddaughters – Holly and Daryl’s first child, Addison and Aimee and Jason’s daughter, Maddison. They are both gorgeous! Sarah has finished university (studying photography) and Megan has completed year 12 (as well as taking an alternative “schoolies” trip to Cambodia). Number 1 granddaughter, Mia gra...

 What a lovely weekend - my two gorgeous grandchildren here to visit - what more could I ask for, and I dont think many words as required!

Spent the day in Bendigo yesterday at a meeting, having more test and most importantly catchin up with Aimee and Sarah as I wont see them for their birthdays on Wednesday and of course to see Mia and Maddison.  Hard to believe how much Maddison is growing - and she is trying to crawl ! And of course she loves her big sister Mia very much

Look who is now 5~oh how quickly the years go by!

Praise God for the wonderful arrival of Maddison Dorothy Rivett at 2.14am on Sunday 26th February 2012 in Bendigo (and yes I was present and yes it was a privelige)

The chook quilt (which Speedy the cat was inspecting on a previous blog post) is now finished and delivered to Mia - of course she loved it - she always loves anything that I make for her which is really gratifying. Now that is done Im moving on to the "rest"of the pile of stuff to be finished.........sigh.........its huge! I have a needleturned panel that was from a class a year or two ago which I really must finish as Im not really that in love with it but very determined to finish it!

Today I went to Bendigo and  brought Mia back with me as she is as her fathers this weekend.  As we had a bit of spare time before he came to collect her - she came up to the dairy and helped us with herd testing - herd testing is something we do each 6 weeks or so and a small sample is taken from each cow and sent away for testing - then the litres each cow is producing, the components of their milk, their cell count etc is sent to us in a report.  Sound a pain(and it is!)  but very necessary for herd management. Anyways I digress - Mia had time with us in the dairy so of course Gary had to try and squirt her with the hose and of course she didnt like that.  So....once Garys back was turned she squirted him and then was "very helpful" in hosing cow poo off people feet, legs etc.  However when I asked her to squirt my feet she misaimed and I ended up with wet knickers - thank goodness its almost 40 degrees celsius so I really didnt mind!

Well today I attended my very first baby shower - for my daughter Aimee who is expecting her second child (its a girl!) in 5 weeks time.  What did we do?  Played baby shower games of course and ate yummy food and chatted .... oh! and I got to hug and play with Mia so all in all a good day

Well with one granddaughter born we are now awaiting the birth of the next one - my daughter Aimee's second and Mia's little sister. so.....whats a nanna to do but make matching outfits for them both all ready for when the baby is born.  The pattern is in threes a baby cardigan (ravelry link) Ive only used acrylic yarn but that is ok as they were made to be used and washed and used and washed......

We are very blessed at the moment - we have my granddaughter Mia staying with us for a few days while her Mum and husband go to the summer nats in Canberra.  She is a pleasure to have here and totally gorgeous (yes Im biased but its true!!!!!) She loves being here on the farm and doing "farm work" - which usually means riding on the motorbike or helping out Gaz and we have also starting making her treasure maps- which she has to follow and find a treasure at the end Of course at the end of a busy day there is nothing nicer than a yummy paddle pop (chocolate of course)