There was panic stations on Saturday, when I discovered my digital camera was not working!! How was I going to live without it? I use my camera every day! I use it for everything! In fact, the other day, I very patiently recorded the new hens taking their first step out into the big, bad world outside the new hen house. BTW the new hen house is standing up to the weather no bother at all. You may wonder why I say that? I did not tell you that it is a Sanday hen house, that is to say it is made in the Sanday style. Here in Sanday, nothing goes to waste. Everything that can be used again, is recycled, so the hen house was built this way. Wood left over from other projects was used. Not bad, eh?

Anyway, back to the camera. I spent part of yesterday trying to sort it, but to no avail. I took out batteries, swapped cards, but it was just being difficult. We were hoping to go on a guided tour of the Sanday lighthouse today, and I wanted to take pictures. As a last resort I phoned up the Wildlife Ranger, who does a lot of photography, went round to his house, and he worked it out within minutes! So I caught up on my goodies photos, and also took a closeup of the emu feathers, especially for Rosa. I must apologise for not thanking the ladies for the goodies in the last photos - Margaret, Rhoda, Marion, Sylvia, Marg, Margaret and Jenni.

The picture at the top shows the lovely things I received from Geraldine, Patricia, Petra and Rosa (again!) The materials are beautiful, and if you look closely there is also a huswif, sewing charms and a patchwork badge. I would also like to thank Petra's husband for the Scout badge. What a nice person!

Below are the emu feathers from Marg.

Till next time.

tich

Late

Edit - I am sorry the pictures are not coming up bigger, when you click them. Blogger sometimes does this to me and I don't know why!

I am a wee bit behind in my blogging. I was over in Kirkwall, all day Wednesday, and yesterday was a day to recover. The summer ferry time for the Wednesday ferry is 7.30 am, so that meant getting up about 5.45am and rushing around to get down to the terminal at least 20 minutes before departure. We had a lovely morning on the Mainland, which I will blog about later. The afternoon was spent at the physiotherapist and shopping! Yuck! But we managed everything and got home just after six. On the porch I had five parcels waiting for me, all from Australia, and there was one yesterday, again from Down Under! Look what was inside!!

There was all sorts of craft goodies, because Jenni read Rosa's post about me and Jenni then posted about me on an Australian group. I got beautiful material, including aboriginal design material, which I have earmarked for a project in the future, embroidery thread, which I am dying to dive into, buttons (oh, oh, oh!) an embroidery kit and an applique kit (which will both be ideal to do on the ferry), stamps, beautiful cards and sentiments AND ...Emu feathers! I am going to make something special with them, maybe a little bag, but they are too much fun not to use. Every time I pick up a piece of the materials I have received, or use some of the craft goods, I think of how this has happened and of all the wonderful people all over the world. It is unbelievable, but I will have happy memories and a lot of good friends for years to come!

Please excuse the quality of the following pictures. It was near midnight, and I had to hold my arms above my head, which I find very difficult.

We had an unexpected visitor last night -

A peahen!!

We have no idea where it came from -

but it flew about a bit and then disappeared!

Till next time.

tich

New Baby Girl!!

This is our new granddaughter, (no name yet), born yesterday, 7th July, at 7.45am. She was 8lb 3oz. Isn't she gorgeous (says proud Granny!)? The picture in the middle shows her sister, Holly, and her other Grandfather, who lives nearby. Happy birthday!

Till next time.

tich

Henhouse and Goodies

We decided we needed some more hens. We have a very posh henhouse for the older hens, but , of course, the old hens and the new hens cannot be mixed, so we had to get a new house. My husband decided he was going to build one, and then got a phone call from the supplier that the hens were going to be delivered in two days. Mr D did a fantastic job. On top is a picture of the henhouse without the nesting boxes attached. Notice the droppings board on the right hand side under the perches. I suggested that it might be a good idea to put in a waterproof membrane on the floor, to make it easier to clean. There is only a 14" space between the dropping board and the floor. Guess who was flat on her face pinning the sheet to the walls!!

But doesn't it look good?

This end has the pop hole, and those boxes containing the hens have just been delivered.

The hens inspecting their new home ...

and the perches.

I thought I would try the Dear Jane block G6. I quite like miniatures, but I did not do well today ...

The seams don't meet, and to add insult to injury, I put the the triangles round the wrong way! Anyway it is good practice.

I would like to thank Marie for this pretty piece of Civil War material, which the postie brought.

Thank you so much. It was really kind of you. I look forward to using it in the quilt.

Till next time.

tich

Dear Jane Blocks

I was so tired last night, I managed to delete the pictures of the packages I received Yesterday. I decided to start again today. I did, however, manage to sew some blocks. I sewed M9 and M10 of the Dear Jane blocks on the machine. Elly had made an alternative tutorial for making M9 on her blog and Aunt Reen kindly sent me a list of blocks which do not require the book, as shown on That Quilt blog. You've guessed it. I still did not have the book or the rulers. (as of yesterday!)

Today was a different. The Dear Jane book and rulers came at last!! Oh, did I drool! I can at long last pick any pattern I want to sew.

I tried to work out where I would put selected colours, but I think that is going to be difficult. Anyway, I started on the centre block and decided to do it by machine.

As I said above, I deleted the photos of the packets, but I put all the material together, to show you the continuing kindness of patchworkers far and wide. The material on the right is from ladies in Australia! Every time I wash the material, iron it, or cut it to make a Dear Jane block, it reminds me just how fortunate I am to have such wonderful friends. Just look at this gorgeous card I received.

This is an actual mini quilt. The patches are less than 1cm, and sewn together. Gorgeous!!

Thank you so much Rosa (fourth time!!) Anita, Freda , Lynn, Carol, Hope and Trisha. Boy am I lucky.

Till next time.

tich

Dining Out

I wrote yesterday about the Lunch Club, we have on the island. There are about forty members, who are over fifty years old. We meet fortnightly, in the community room in the school. There we are served a two course meal and then we either get a speaker or play games like scrabble, or cards. The club also serves another purpose. A lot of the older residents do not go out a lot, but here they can meet friends,have a good meal and a good natter (gossip).

I did not get my book, (sigh), but I got two boxes and five packets in the post. Jeni, the lady who sent me goodies yesterday, wrote about me on one of the Australian newsgroups, so the two boxes were from people who read that post. There was some really cute Australian material and the other box held felt material and a huge amount of really wonderful craft goodies. And stamps!! I also got my first siggie block sent to me. Oh my! Something else to get involved in. There are definitely not enough hours in the day! Thanks go to Froma, Coral, RV, Carol B, Carol C, Edna and Mary Alice.

Till next time.

tich

Little Happy Dance!!

Would you look at this !! My first Dear Jane block. I still have not got my book from America, but dear Rosa told me to cut out three squares, and I made my first siggie block. I have never made or seen siggie blocks either (haven't I led a sheltered life?), so I think life is going to get really busy in the future! I know it is a really simple block, but I feel as if I have made something really difficult. Daft, isn't it?

I have got really organised. I have my folder ready to hold all my finished blocks, and Rosa suggested I write a journal, not only about DJ, but also what is happening, whilst I am doing this. I am going to put in the little address labels from the packets I have been receiving, some of the nice letters, photos and cards. In future years I will be able to read it, and think of all the lovely people who have made this possible. I have had so many nice letters and cards of encouragement. Rosa has also got us organised with our Dear Jane Pages, so if you click on the button at the side, you will see my progress. There is not a lot to see so far. Hurry up book!!

You will notice I have not been putting 'Thankful Thoughts' on the blog. I am so thankful I met Rosa on the Net. I now have Elly, just a few miles away by (two) ferries. I also have three other ladies, Cyn, Frummie and Elaine who are part of the group. And then there are all the ladies who read Rosa's post about me. I have had parcels from all over the world, and they are still arriving. Look what the postie brought (our usual postie is so tired he is on holiday this week!!)

Just look at those lovely stamps, even before the packets are opened. During the long, dark winter evenings, my husband and I often get the stamp albums out. We are going to be really busy this winter with stamps from all over.

The experiences of the last few weeks have been made up of a lot of 'firsts'. First time of seeing Civil War material, first siggie block, first time of having overwhelming kindness from ladies I do not know. And now I have my first Australian magazine. Jeni saw Rosa's post and sent me the magazine and also some material from Australia. I would also like to thank Beth for the pretty material and card.

The weather here is lovely. As the school is closed for the holidays, we had our meal for the Lunch Club at the local hotel. It was really tasty, and I was stuffed! I spent some time in the garden tackling the nettles and dokens, working it off.

We are supposed to get rain tomorrow, so I took advantage of the good weather.

Till next time.

tich