Golly Gosh!

I can't believe it has been more than two months since I last posted! Guess I have a lot to update you on!

Last month I spent four days with Aunty in QLD, it was busy busy as our time was cut short due to dh having to take his mother to a solider reunion for the company that his dad was in, and also due to a change of exam date for my studies (got a distinction for the exam). The kids loved the beach and had a fantastic time. They bought prawns straight off the boat, walked a waterfall hike and visited an aquaponics place. The girls went wedding dress shopping with me for aunty, no she hasn't decided which dress yet but she did say that we helped.

We weren't home long from QLD (our first trip away in twelve months from the farm, aside from day trips) when had a trip through Sydney to dh's mothers surprise 80th. Coming home we had car trouble which ended up being costly and time consuming to fix, and the car drives better now than it has done in years.

I have spent a lot of time in bed the past three months but with some changes (from the naturopath) I am up and about. We have a baby due in April that we are all very excited about! Due to being so sick I wanted to have my scan and make sure everything was alright before letting too many people know; everything is fine. After Christmas I will start shopping the op shops for baby things as most of my stuff has either worn out or been passed on/lent out.  

With the new baby coming I ummed and ahhed over the quilting baby books, didn't need them but I ended up purchasing Anna Maria Horner's 'New Beginings'. I LOVE this book! It has so much more in it than I expected. Maternity and breastfeeding clothes for mum; clothes, toys and quilts for baby; toys and bags for dads and siblings etc.

I got my new camera last week, after not having one for a number of months. It's not up and running yet but will be soon. I have lots to show.

Just before going to QLD the older two children went to leather work and MrZ made leather thongs and JessieGirl made leather sandals. They are fantastic and the kids are so proud of their achievement. Miss Busy went to leather work last weekend by herself to make a belt and she ended up making her own sandals too! Her sandals are more suited to her tastes, one sandal has red straps and the other has blue!

During the winter we bought a second hand industrial sewing machine from the leather work teacher; dh has used it to repair his bee gloves and I have visions of HIM (not me) making some good canvas tarps for the farm with it! A very handy addition to have!

I have been busy sewing (in fits and starts) on my machine. I have completed five quilt tops ready to be quilted, my Friends in Stitching secret santa present, a few smaller things for Christmas gifts and a number of things for the children (dolls, bags etc). I am STILL stitching Butterfly Garden, only have 2 blocks left to stitch and then about five to machine applique. I started this quilt January 2008!

Our milking goat had twins last weekend, a girl who looks like mum and a boy who looks like dad! I will have photos of these soon, they are so gorgeous! We also have two Wessex Saddleback pigs, and Peking duck eggs in the incubator. Two weeks ago, in all the rain we had, one of the four milking cows calved and lost her calf to the weather before I got her in. It's nice to have fresh milk again but not so good to lose the calf. I am hoping to get a poddy to foster onto her soon.

Bec xxx