And This Little Pig said No Stitching Weekend

Firstly I have had no internet since Friday night, currently on my laptop with limited wireless, so will have to report first thing Monday morning, but thanks to my very good friend Sue I have been kept very busy to really notice and have had a weekend of absolutely no stitching. None. Nothing. Nada! And I am completely exhausted.

Weekend started Friday night, when I went out to Sue’s to check one of her beef cows, too much milk for her calf. Ever tried to milk an eight year old beef cow? No? Well she was excellent, didn’t move, didn’t kick, brilliant. Not so brilliant mastitis in one quarter, so milked out as much as we could, and decided course of treatment, which meant a trip to the Vet’s on Saturday morning. Out again to Sue’s milked as much as we could, inserted (lovely tech word there) some ‘dry cow’ up her teat to help treat the mastitis, then three injections later ‘Pretty Face’ was starting to feel like a pin cushion.

Sterling Silver

So while there I was like better bring Polly in as well, her calf isn’t touching that front quarter either. Polly is only three, and again she was a little trouper, even milked her into a bucket. Went back again this morning, and milked her again, just to keep on top of it, her heifer calf is only four days old, and of course silly me forgot the camera. She is such a little sweetie.

Gourmet Popcorn - Yes I know it's sideways... tomorrow, I'll fix tomorow

Now why was my weekend so exhausting, because Sue and I attacked the Wilderness! And I am happy to say it is no more. All my bins are full and the neighhours offered me their trailer as they were going to the dump, and we filled it too. Still more to rake up, but at least I can see all the fences and hopefully deter any snakes that thought my yard was a good place to hang out. No photos of non-wilderness, maybe tomorrow.

Gerainium

But I did take time out to photograph some of my roses, the first two roses are the same flower, a Delbard (French rose) France Libre, taken with sun shining directly on the rose. No adjustments to the photo, that is it, nearly incandescent. The next one is taken right on dusk, no flash, again no adjustments to photo. The other roses have their names under them.

I did say my weekend was busy, Dad came down today to pick up ‘Alan’ the cow, he dropped me off some goat manure for the roses, and another visitor for me to take care of for a couple of hours, until his new owners came to pick him up… Lando, and he is a boy.

Laying on the ground, looking up, he was such a good boy, he had just had his bottle.

Being inquisitive, in other words trying to stare down the camera.

Strange photo I know, but I couldn't resist, half his face was blurred, so cropped out the blurry bit.

And a very unique way of looking at the carport and pot plants.

Lastly it was a beautiful weekend, just look at that sky. Gonna be a hot summer, if this weekend is anything to go by. I'm exhausted the dogs are exhausted, they are in bed, and I'm heading off there right now. So good night, or good morning, and seeya soon.

LiBBiE in Oz :@

And This Little Pig said More Show Photos

This is how you really win Champion Rose at a Show, you get the Rose Faeries to weave a special spell, a magic wand and faerie dust. My good friends Lyn and Michelle.

Better photo of the Champion Rose, more natural light, Mr Lincoln has stood up so well.

A view from the top.

Winning "Christmas Cake" in the decorated cake section, so cute.

Sat and watched some ring events, Pleasure Horse in Harness, I think my friend Sue took this photo, she had left her camera in her car, so we were sharing my camera :@

This one was mine... I think. Then we wandered off to the poultry pavilion, there are a lot of chook photos to come, but these are a couple of favourites.

Bonnie and Clyde... it just suited them.

Life Behind Bars

Does this guy look like a criminal, I think an Enforcer :@

Well off to bed, have to be up early in the morning, to do breakfast for Horse Day at the Show, hope to get a chance to take some more photos.

Thank you for all the comments, love comments :@
 
Talk soon LiBBiE in Oz

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 I'm Back....

I'm back! Life has been busy, our local agricultural show was on at the end of September, and I am on the committee, keep telling myself that this year is the last, and I am going to resign, in all fairness I have been on committee for close to 20 years, just have to wait and see what happens.

Aside from running the Dairy Goat section of the show, and serving on the bistro and bar, myself and another dear lady do all the schedules, this was our 8th year. And while it is a lot easier than when we first started, it still takes anything from eight to ten weeks (weekends) out of our lives. There are 18 sections to produce along with a full schedule. We winge and whine every year, but we do have fun.

Mum came down for the show, I will put pictures up tomorrow, with our results.

Then we had a holiday weekend, so I off I went to Mum's. Which involved the following... goats, pick up hay, kids, unload hay, goats feet, chickens and a 24 hour milk production test for our milk awards, then back home and back to work for a rest.

I have joined the Little House Needlework SAL for Diane's Family Sampler, and my pattern and Crescent Colours floss arrived last week, I am so excited, this is my first LHN.

Like all LHN patterns it is just beautiful, but with this one you get to personalise to fit your family. I have had a wonderful time working out how to fit everything in. Graph paper, pencils and eraser has gotten quite a work out. I think I have got it just right.

Finally this weekend I sat down and started, my fingers are just itching to go back to it.

Also spring is in the air, and my roses have finally started to open. Three weeks too late for the show. I won Champion Rose last year, and this year didn't have a single flower out to enter, but they are just beautiful. Well as long as you don't count the sooty mold, which has been a bugger to get on top of this year :(

The results have been worth the wait.

Red Vase - red rose is Topsy Turvy, red and white stripe Scentimental (my fav) and the red with red strip in the middle Red Intuition.

A new rose from last year, this is a French Delbard rose Alfred Sisley, part of their Painter series.

And two macros--Centre

And petal edge

And This Little Pig said Updates All Round

Just a general update. Le Tour de Pig is finish, all backstitching done, have started another le Pig. 

Actually started my major work (wip1) still a mystery, started the first colour.

An early Spring is on the cards, while doing yard work last weekend, I was lucky enough to catch these parrots--Eastern Rosella's--checking out this old down pipe next door as a nesting box.

I had a chat with the male, told him this probably wasn't the best place to nest that I didn't think the babies would be able to get out. I do believe they have taken noticed, as they have not been back. Which is a disappointment in one way, but a hollow log is a better option.

Okay you must be getting sick of my roses, but I left the Camille Pissarro flower until this last weekend to finally prune, love the way the stamens dry off.

My Gourmet Popcorn continues to flower, has all winter.

Day out on Sunday, belated birthday lunch with friends at a local nursery, their cafe is divine, we were lucky to get a table, forgot to ring ahead and reserve. Lovely sitting just in the sun and right next to an outdoor gas heater. Was very restrained, I only brought one new rose, but that was only because I couldn't find the other two I was looking for... purchased a Delbard, France Libre, very appropriate considering my love of the Tour de France. I can't wait for it to flower.

And This Little Pig said Wet, Windy = Miserable + Long Post

I seem to be saying this alot lately, but this is the first wet winter we have had in quite a few years, leading everyone to hope for a really good spring and summer. We have been more in drought than out in the last 10 years.

Today was so strange, woke up to pouring rain and then became more windy as the day went on. This also means there were less cattle yarded, and to be perfectly honest, not a day for taking photos.

But by the time I had finished weighing, this is what the day looked like. Above photo taken at 8.34am the photo below 10.58am. 2 hours and 24 minutes difference.

Now for an Evie update she is settling in well, learning to get a long with Quincy an energetic, roughhousing seven month old, who won't take no for an answer, well she did that one time, but that is the natural order of things.

And a snooty Meah, who does not want another thing taking away Meah-time.

She seems more happy when we are out in the yard, not as ridged, enjoys running round, always comes when she is called, tail wagging, even if she does drop to the ground, when you bend down to pat her, but I believe this is a symptom of not being patted, not of anything sinister. She has begun jumping up on my leg for a pat, so progress.

Toilet training is going great, even if it means getting out of bed between 5 and 5.30am when she starts to whine, but for a girl who has spent no time inside.

How much time has Evie spent inside, well she did not know what a lounge/sofa was for, I mean they are for laying on right? We showed her how to get up, and she laid their and watched me iron my work clothes, and what a quick study, showed her in the morning, and that afternoon after I came home from work, and we came back inside, straight up on the lounge. Good Girl.

Yes we have taught her some bad habits :D but isn't this the natural order of things?

One sad note, Evie has not learned to give kisses… yet.

Note to Moo (that's Meah's nickname) you sleep on the bed, Evie sleeps in a crate.

About a week ago I complained about my camera, well before I went home for my newphew's Christening, I invested in a new little camera (discounted), this one is a Panasonic Lumix, and I am happy with the results to date, I have not enhanced any of these photos, and my geranium now looks red, and dead :D

Definitely one of the last of my roses, a Delbard, I think Camille Pissarro.

And my ever faithful Gourmet Popcorn.

Plus a macro, a dandelion gone to seed, or as children we called them wet the bed.

And This Little Pig said Last of the Roses

As I pruned the last of my roses this past weekend, I found a few still hanging on, and at least one of my 'Gina Lollobrigida's' with a beautiful strong bud, so I have left it to see what happens.

So the last of my roses

Gourmet Popcorn, miniature. I love this little rose it just keeps going and going, but I have to prune. Look at all those buds.

Topsy Turvy, released 2009, and I think this poor flower is a little confused, two centers in one.

And a geranium/pelargonium which ever takes your fancy. I had a whinge about my camera in my last post, this geranium is as red as my Topsy Turvy rose, I am so disappointed, but it was detail I was after, and I suppose it gives it a nice shimmering look... see looking on the bright side