And This Little Pig said I WON!!!!

Ok people time to get excited!

Yep that is Champion Rose in Show, this is the second time I have managed to win this, can you do the happy dance :-) Will take better photo tomorrow in better light.

So up early this morning to go down to the showground, to help with the horticultural and produce section, in other words bookwork. I have been sweating on my Mr Lincoln rose all week, well the last three weeks actually, and he was the one and only rose I had any chance of being out, all the other are still buds. Wasn't the biggest line up of rose, but was not the worst either. I left before judging, work can be a bother sometimes. And I knew the very worst I could do would be win the red rose section as I was the only entry in red rose, and I truly didn't think I had a hope of winning the Champion, as I did not think he was open enough.

So after work this afternoon, I went back down to help out in the bistro, again more work. I thought I would pop in and see the girls in the horticultural, you know not one of them rang me, evil friends. As I was walking into the pavilion, I thought that championship ribbon is about where my rose was this morning... Oh! My! God!

I also entered photography, a Highly Commended, with "1921" this was a dog I photographed while on holidays in Tasmania, we also called her the fish and chip dog, as she quite patiently sat with us while we had fresh fish and chips for lunch one day, and when we were finished moved onto the next lot of people. I sure her owners don't have to feed her.

And I won my class with the photo of Mum's hand, the steward told me I was in the final three for Champion Photo of Show, just blown away.

Cross Stitch, second in a big class with LHN Pumpkin Hollow Farm, and Highly Commended with Pumpkin Cottage. I think they were both a little too 'American' for the judge. Will get a photo of them framed, when they come back from the show. The winning piece was beautiful, but a very old fashion pattern.

I have had a great day all round, helping again tomorrow and on Sunday, so busy weekend.

Seeya soon LiBBiE in Oz

And This Little Pig said Cow-Day-Wednesday

Yes I'm back from Holidays, and you know how it is, getting back into the swing, home, work... life. Still working through the holiday photos. But did take the time today to take Cow-Day photos.

Don't you love this guy's forlock, a bit of Ying and Yang.

You can't see me.

This is what you call a Mohawk at the "other" end.

Not a Cow-Day photo, but I took this the other night in the carpark at the supermarket, right on dust. Beautiful colouring with an unusual bank of clouds.

Finally back into stitching hope to have one of my Crazies finished by the weekend.

Seeya soon LiBBiE in Oz

And This Little Pig said We Have Been Keeping a Secret

When I came home this afternoon, I grabbed the Sony Nex-5, and thought I would take some shots of the dogs. I was playing with the settings, and found the continuous shutter setting. Yes!

So while taking the photos, I realised that we would not be able to keep our little secret any longer, particularly since Evie decided to pose like this...

Yes that is a belly full of puppies :-o) we have 12 days to go. She is in whelp to Quincy's father Larry.

Evie wanted to know if this angle made her 'bum' look big?

Then she wanted to do the regal lady-in-waiting pose.

Also being pregnant is not slowing her down, and she is keeping up with her exercise.

Quincy and Evie playing the lets chase people walking their dogs from one side of the house to the other. You can just see the absolute joy on Quincy's face.

Doesn't the Nex take a great action shot.

Meah is not happy, as well... you see... she has been made play with the obnoxious one. Quincy doesn't give her any choice, while Evie will play, she is not up to rough and tumble anymore.

I did do some stitching today, here is the result.

Nothing but frogs, I didn't really have to, but I wasn't happy with the colour I had already stitched, it was just too dark, I kept staring at it. So while I was at my LNS, I grabbed the next shade lighter, I put in a couple of stitches, and am so much happier.

Well it is still early, for once I am not blogging round midnight, big day tomorrow, we have over 500 head of cattle, and I opted out of doing the paperwork tonight... 6am job in the morning.... Oh well it 

was my choice.

So this little pig is off to bed... nite... LiBBiE in Oz

Before I go, I would just like to say thank you for all the kind comments of support from yesterday, the accident is still sinking in, and the surviving lady is doing well and listed as stable. Funerals later in the week, and early next week. Still lots of hard times ahead. Again thank you.

And This Little Pig said Crazies Day 14

Crazies Day 14, and I think my sanity is going to survive... just :D

Started my second biggest project today, leaving the big one for tomorrow... LHN Pumpkin Hollow Farm, this is a beautiful pattern, and I have been in love with it since it was released.

This and CCN Pumpkin Cottage are on scroll rods, it has been years since I have used them, I discovered Q-snaps, but they are both too large for stitching 'free hand', just couldn't get the tension right. And I don't have a small Q-snap.

I went out early this morning with the camera, I have this weed that grows in the front yard, I've never pulled it out, as a lovely caterpillar usually comes and eats it for me! They were a bit late this year, but last night I noticed it had been stripped of all it leaves, and they were starting in on the seed pods.

I have been wanting them to come so I could try out the Sony Nex-5, it did a beautiful job. Here is a collage of the same picture, I've done different things to it, enhanced the colour, wasted it out, sepia, antique in different levels, then enhanced it again.

The caterpillar on it's own. Divine isn't he/her.

So this afternoon, I had them printed in 5x7, in the different shading of antique, I love the way it looks, it has been done up as a gift. I hope they like it.

And This Little Pig said Crazies Day 12 + Cow-Day-Wednesday

Day 12 of the Crazies rolls to a close, with the flood situation in Queensland, having not improved. It is a slow motion disaster. But at least the residents of Ipswich and Brisbane, know it is coming, and have a chance to get to higher ground, and at least save some of their processions.

Unlike the poor residence of Grantham, their stories of survival and loss are horrific

There is some good news if you can call it that, the death toll has risen by 2 to 12, but the missing which climbed to 90 today, has been revised down to 48 this evening. It is more of people finding each other than being found (hope that makes sense). Most of the missing are from Grantham.

So onto Day 12, I was going to get so much more stitching done today, but my cousin rang me on the way home from work, and we talked for an hour :D This is good, and I told her I was going to blame her as well.

So the last of my LHN Ornaments Joy to the World, I was determined to get at least one of her wings done, but it was not to be.

Today is also Wednesday, so that is Cow-Day. I love Brahman cattle, so when I get the chance, I go a little overboard. Such a beautiful eye.

So thought I would have a nose day, and try out the Nex-5 with up close shots.

Love the heart shaped top of this nose, and the bubbles.

Hairy nose. Don't you just love the bi-colour.

Just to show how pretty she is, check out the fringe on those ears.

So This Little Pig says Goodnight, and I forgot to mention that my brother and his family are safe.  And I am far from harm, will find a map in the next couple of days to show you where the Hunter Valley is... LiBBiE in Oz

And This Little Pig said Crazy New Year

Just thought I would take a moment to wish everyone a very Happy New Year. May the next year be filled with all the joy and happiness you can endure and good times ahead for all.

I have finally finalised my List for Crazy January Challenge 2011.

It consists mainly of Little House Needleworks, along with one from Country Cottage Needleworks and a lovely band sampler freebie offered by Kathy at 
Gracewood Stitches. All are just beautiful in my opinion.

Will be putting a list somewhere on the right hand side :D That's the next thing to do.

Still not fully prepared, brought all my threads in the post Christmas sales, just have to order a few speciality threads from America, oh and get all my material sorted and dyed... but apart from that all's well.

One last photo, taken with my new Sony Nex-5, a picture of my mother's hands. They are work hands, that is for sure, and Mum says she should be ashamed of them. I think they tell their own story.

Again, a merry, happy, safe and prosperous New Year to all... Look out 2011, the crazies are coming.

And This Little Pig said Merry Christmas

Well Christmas is all but over in Oz, but it has been a lovely quiet day.

This is our off year, sounds funny doesn't it. But we have a year when all the married sibling go to the outlaws, then the following year is our full family year.

So first what I got for Christmas, it was actually a present to myself. A new camera. Sony Alpha Nex-5. It is a new concept camera from Sony, not a digital point and shoot, and not a digital SLR, it is an in-between, but the more comfortable and confident I become with it the more I can use it like a D-SLR, without the size and bulk.

I Love It!

So Christmas this year was at my youngest brother's and his wife, a simple lunch, cold meats, including prawns (shrimp) with salads, on the front verandah, overlooking the dairy cows from next door as they grazed quietly. With a beautiful pavlova made by my SIL's Mum, for desert.

My nephew Lachlan, being asked to smile

Little Harrison 8 months

Lachlie and Grandma, reading a new book.

Baby Brother Michael with Harry.

Like Father, Like Son

All the above photos were taken with my new camera :)

I hope everyone has had or is having a very Merry Christmas, and may you all have a safe and happy New Year.

LiBBiE in Oz