Merry Christmas and Happy New Year for 2021

Merry Christmas Pittsworth Qld to EVERYONE.

What a year 2021 has turned out to be.

So, since our last blog, Darryl has built an above ground garden in the back yard and it contains 5 tons of garden soil.  

 

 

We have had two crops of baby beets, unlimited crops of silverbeet, carrots and spring onions and not long started harvesting tomatoes. We have had little gem lettuces and currently have bell peppers and capsicums growing.  There are some pumpkin plants coming up and a couple of chilli plants also.

I have had a little success with growing dahlias from seed.  The photo on the packet had ball shaped dahlias but the ones that grew were quite small and flat.

  

  

I have joined the Dahlia Society and a member from Toowoomba is going to come out in the new year and advise us on the best place to plant the dahlias for 2021.

Our dear friend, Gloria, gave us a whole lot of Irises and they were planted in August.  Unfortunately the very hot weather and the hot winds, have played havoc with them and they seem to have demised.  I have been told to 'not give up on them yet', so will leave the dead leaves where they currently are and hope that they re-sprout in the coming weeks.

We have a beautifully fragrant deep red rose on the front fence and unfortunately, the hot winds have played havoc with the flowers here also.  

  

The very small rose near the house has plenty of foliage but as yet, has not produced buds or flowered.

We have had amazing succulent plants in the garden, which unfortunately succumbed to the hot weather and winds in early December.  

 

 

The carob tree, in the yard next door, provides lots of filtered light along our northern boundary and the succulents in pots, are flourishing there.  We have been told that the tree is 150 years old.

 Darryl is planning a succulent garden for this area.

We have been making some small changes within the home and are settling in well.

I am getting back into my sewing and attempting to use up my fabric stash [that has been in storage for the past 7 years] and participate in the Sew Creative TM [Tamborine Mountain] on the last Sunday of each month.  I am also enjoying going to the Pittsworth Crafty Quilters of a Tuesday and am learning lots of different sewing techniques.  I am also learning to sew with vinyl [various varieties] and waxed fabrics.  I am also learning to make different types of bags - all functional but some hold more personal items or utensils and equipment for weaving or sewing.

 this is the Japanese Wedding panel and was sent to me by my Penfriend, Yoko, about 20 years ago.  I have finally layered it, quilted it and it is hanging above our bed.

 I was also busy like many others and making masks for family and friends.

  This is the quilt that I made our dear friend.Another quilt I have made.

 My first attempt at making a clutch purse.

 a small tray made for Darryl for his chair-side table to put his 'things' in.

  A collection of coffee clutches.

 ' Sew together bag'  made with my dear friend Anne-Marie

 A pouch made for my friend, Sarah, who helped me with the Waybarra Mawang [Weaving all Together] classes at the State School.

next is my latest bag - the Crafter's Caddy [pattern by Little Moo Designs].

 

 

I have also attended a 'Resin' workshop for a young lady - Maddy - who is just starting her own business called 'Drippy'.  https://drippy.com.au/

 

It is a long and quite messy process but the trays at the end are lovely.  Once you have put your resin on, you have to leave it to set for 24 hours before you move it.  Thankfully our hostess, Anne-Marie, has an area where that is possible.

I have also joined the Pittsworth History Centre and the Pioneer village and do my day or two each month.  They are a great bunch of people who volunteer to be at the village open it up when needed.  The village is open Thursday and Friday from 10am to 1pm and then on Sunday from 10am to 2pm.

The village also takes bookings for special events and will be open on January 26th for the Citizens of the Year presentations.

I continued with my Wiradjuri language course via Microsoft Teams program on my computer and in November I was able to travel to Dubbo to attend the Graduation ceremony.  I was also able to present my 'major' project to all the dignitaries and have been told that it will be hung in the main foyer of the Yarradamarra Education Centre at TAFE Dubbo.

My major was a woven replica of the logo of the Western Districts TAFE - which is an Echidna.

 

As part of this 'major' I also had to produce a PowerPoint presentation with audio in language [which was presented at the graduation ceremony] and also produced two Student Guides to enable students to do their own weaving by following the written and pictorial instructions.

 Graduands from Certificate 2 and Certificate 1.

 With our Graduation 2020 Covid-19 Masks

 With Auntie Iris Reid, who will be putting the weaving up in the main foyer of the Yarradamarra Centre.

I was also a participant in the inaugural Indigenous Artisans Market in Toowoomba and it was a very special and amazing day.  Networking with fellow artisans was brilliant.  The organisers are hoping to have more markets throughout 2021 - so everyone is now madly attempting to work more product to make them even more successful.

 

Darryl and I are currently in Wagga Wagga visiting family and keeping an ear on what is happening with the current Covid-19 Cluster in the Northern Beaches area of Sydney.  We have just applied for our re-entry passes into Queensland - so fingers crossed we will be back in Pittsworth about the 3rd of January 2021.

May EVERYONE have a safe and Happy Christmas and may 2021 be a far better year for all of us.

Where has the year gone????????

 Welll.....

It appears that the year has flown by.  With Covid-19 impacting everyone.

When I was really ill in August 2019, the decision was made that we would begin the process of looking for a new homebase.  We began looking in earnest in about November of 2019m and found a lovely place in January 2020.  We were given notification in late February that the owner had agreed to our offer and he had completed some items that the Solicitors wanted completed before the sale could go ahead.

In February, I travelled to Dubbo to begin my Wiradjuri Language Course.  The week there was wonderful and I really enjoyed my time.  The block in March was cancelled due to Covid-19 so we decided to visit family instead.

In March we were in Wagga Wagga visiting family when Covid-19 was going wild and the states were saying they were going to close their borders.  We had been out with our sister-in-law Wendy for a great day up near Tumut, and that night the Prime Minister was saying that we were going into restrictions and Queensland and New South Wales were going to close their borders.  We decided that we would travel back to Queensland, to actually be in the state on the date we were to get the keys to our new home.

So we arrived back in Queensland 6 hours before NSW was due to close their borders and nearly 24 hours before the Queensland borders closed.  We double checked with the health authorities in Goondiwindi before we went any further.  We then made our way to Pittsworth and set up camp in their caravan park.  We were on a large site and well away from everyone and were able to 'isolate' ourselves for the 10 days that we were there.  We got the keys on the 1st April and moved the van to the house yard on 3rd April.

On the 2nd April we travelled to the storage locker in Loganholme to unlock it for the removalists.  They then told us to head back to the house and they would sweep out the locker before they left.  They arrived at the house and put all our belongings in the double garage and off they went.

We then lived in the van beside the house whilst we got the electricity etc double checked and we painted the inside of the house.  It is a 1910 chamfer-board cottage with 10 foot VJ walls inside.  A cute cottage and big enough for us.  Over the past months we have been getting the house and yard as we would like it.  There has been no rush as we haven't been able to travel anywhere because of restrictions.

In late April, I began to do an on-line course in the Wiradjuri Language, which I am enjoying thoroughly.  I am hoping that we will be able to go back to face-to-face blocks again next year.

In July I joined the Pittsworth Crafty Quilters group.  A wonderful set of ladies and we have been changing attendance as per the restrictions on gatherings imposed by the Government.  

All our children and grand-children now live in Toowoomba, so we are only about 1/2 hour from them.

We catch up frequently when we go to Toowoomba.  We are also keeping in touch with our close friends in the area and attempt to meet up when we can.

Darryl has re-joined the RSL and has been attending the Men's shed also.  It is great seeing him getting out and chatting with other men.

We are hoping to go away for a short trip in the van soon, but it will all depend on our commitments with the weaving group, quilting group and Men's shed.  

That doesn't seem like much for the past 7 months but it is all at this time.

We are settling into the home and the community and loving the country community.

What!!!! February already!!!

Hi Everyone,
I cannot believe how quickly time passes.
We have been back up in and around the Toowoomba region since December and we spent a lovely Christmas with Beckie and the three younger ones.  We even managed to catch up with Ben and Bradley in the New Year.

 Cheeky Miss G

 Skateboarding fun

 Mr M

Mast L with Granddad and Miss G

 Master L feeling the  cool on Christmas Day

 Beck and Barb in the partially renovated kitchen

 Darryl, Beck and Ben

We have been out to our friends farm and looked after their Miss Pip (dog) and Mr Puss (cat) whilst they journeyed into NSW.  We enjoyed the wetter weather and the change in the scenery from brown to green was absolutely amazing to witness.  Whilst there we had to mow the yard 3 times as it was growing so quickly.
I went to Dubbo for 4 days with the TAFE and began my language course and met some lovely fellow students.  Back to Toowoomba and out to the farm and the amount of growth in the grass was phenomenal. Our friends Sandra and Tom returned home on Monday

 A little friend and her baby came to visit in amongst the murraya.

and we moved into Toowoomba to house-sit for Anne-Marie and David whilst they travel to Victoria and New South Wales for 2 weddings.
We will be house-sitting until April at this stage and then hope to spend some time with friends nearby.
Darryl and I are both well at this stage and hopefully we will stay that way.
Hoping you are all keeping well also.
Love to all.

a very eventful year!!!!

Hello everyone,
So sorry for not being a regular writer even when we have been in internet reception.
We have been very busy and caring for our friends properties during January to July.
It has been a difficult year weather wise [just like everywhere else in Australia] and we all DESPERATELY need good quenching rains.  Not just 20 or 50 ml, but about 100mm [4 inches] and then followup rains also.
It was a pleasure to care for our friends home whilst they travelled Tasmania in Feb to May, and then again in June when they travelled to Mexico for their sons wedding.  We also looked after our friends farm out near Crows Nest whilst they were away visiting the ancestral property out near Barcaldine.
In May, Darryl and I travelled to Barcaldine to be part of the AMLC [Australian Motorhomes Lions Club] GWR [Guinness World Record] attempt at 2 world records.  The first was the longest line of LED lights.  the World record was 660metres.  When the lights were measured at Barcaldine it was just over 5,900 metres. 
There were over 930 vehicles registered to participated in the longest line of rolling RV's.  On the Saturday afternoon and evening all the RV's had to drive out to the Barcaldine/Isisford Road and park up along the edge of the road, and be no more than 1 metre between you and the one in front.  This line of vehicles measured nearly 11kms.  We were vehicle 671 in the line.  On Sunday morning we were to be ready by 8am to begin the parading part of the record, but before we could start we had to wait for a helicopter to come flying over as it was recording the line of vehicles parked up.  At the same time the official distance recorder was marking a 3 1/2km stretch of road with lines at each kilometre.  There were video cameras and still cameras at each km and again at the 3 1/2 km mark, recording it all.
Darryl and I started rolling at 10am and reached Barcaldine (7km away) at 12.30pm.  We had a quick lunch and then had to head back to Toowoomba as I had to be there for Tuesday to teach weaving at the state [primary] school.
It took quite a few months for the data and videos and everything to be collated and went to Guinness World records office to be validated.  In October we were informed that the 'longest line of LED lights was NOT accepted as the line did not form and image.  I can recall that we were told it had to be the longest line, not that it had to form an image!  We found out in November that the Australian Records Office HAS recognised it as an Australian Record.
In Mid November we were informed that the GWR office had approved the longest line of parading RV's and will be recorded in the GWR data as having 868 vehicles [the previous record was 630 vehicles in Italy].
At the end of April Barb had a fall and damaged the thumb on her left hand.  Originally she was told that there was a small piece of bone chipped off it, BUT no one has been able to find it on x-ray since.  In late August she was informed that the joint is full of arthritis and she now has to wear a brace to keep the thumb bone in its correct position.
Throughout first semester Barb was teaching weaving to the students of the state school one day a week.  She thoroughly enjoyed this, and at the same time was attempting to teach the students some Wiradjuri language with the assistance of the Wiradjuri dictionary.  She had applied to do the language course through TAFE and was accepted to start in August 2019.
During May the doctors at the medical practice in Toowoomba changed Barb's medication to a newer form of her diabetic medications.
Towards the end of July, Barb was experiencing Meniere's symptoms and was treating it as per her usual regimen.  It didn't really improve and Barb was experiencing breathlessness on top of all her other symptoms [vertigo, tinnitus, nausea, vomiting] and then she started vomiting incessantly.
This progressed to where she was experiencing chest pain.  Darryl made the decision to take her the 45mins into the ED [Emergency department] at Toowoomba Hospital.  We arrived there at nearly 4 am and Barb was still vomiting and unable to walk more than about 4 metres at a time, before needing to rest and catch her breath.  She was taken through into ED proper and placed on a trolley.  Barb was quite dehydrated but the staff managed to get a sample of blood and then there was a room full of people and we were informed that Barb was in a DKA [Diabetic Keto Acidosis] episode and  we were very lucky to have taken her in when we did.
She was in ED for most of the 24 hours, before being taken to CCU/ICU [Critical Care Unit/Intensive Care Unit] where more procedures were attended and more IV lines inserted to try and get her glucose levels down and her other electrolytes within normal limits.  She was in CCU/ICU for 24 hours before being transferred to the medical unit.  It was here that she was informed that the new diabetic medications that were started in May, had been mimicking her Meniere's, and because she was treating the Meniere's symptoms, the diabetes was getting way out of control.  She is now very well aware that she must double check her diabetes BEFORE thinking it is Meniere's.
Barb was unable to walk as she was very unsteady on her feet and was instructed that she would need a physio review before being able to get out of bed.  After 4 days, she was reviewed and permitted to walk using a wheelie-walker with assistance.  Ummmmm - well, using a wheelie-walker anyway.
Because she was still having a lot of difficulty trying to drink and eat and still experiencing lots of burning in the oesophagus, she was taken to theatre for a gastroscopy, and informed that she had severe ulceration and oesophagitis.  She was commenced on anti-reflux medications via IV and oral.  She was reviewed the next day and instructed that she could go home with oral medications and a repeat gastroscopy in 6 weeks.
Barb stayed with Beckie and family for nearly a week, as she was unable to lie flat due to reflux, and she could sleep sitting up at the house.  After a week, Barb and Darryl moved to their friends home in Glenvale and awaited a review at the hospital.  After the review they travelled to Beachmere [near Bribie Island] for three weeks R+R.  Darryl did some fishing and Barb rested and began learning how to regulate her new medications.
We returned to Toowoomba for the repeat gastroscopy - and given a clear result. 
We then travelled to Wallerawang to spend time with Karen and Trevor.  During this time Barb travelled to Sydney to attend her Post-Grads luncheon at Parliament House and then a mini reunion with several of her fellow trainees.  It was a great time and she managed to spend two days with Gloria and 3 days with Sue.  She also caught up with Sheila (who had travelled out from England), Mary, Celia, Helen and Jenny.
Barb returned to Wallerawang, after catching up with Nicole in Penrith. 
We then spent a week with Karen and Trevor, before heading to Wagga Wagga and staying with Ian, Wendy and Holly.  Whilst here we caught up with Jenny and Family, Lyn and family, Barry and Raylene, Sharon and Stacey and then children, Di and Darryl and many others,  Sorry if I have missed anyone!
Barb also spent time with the Hands On Weavers [HOW] and also visited the Family History Centre to research different branches of the family.
We left Wagga Wagga and headed back towards Toowoomba.  We also stopped for the morning at 'The Dish' at Parkes.  What a fantastic morning we had, albeit with the flies.
We arrived back in Toowoomba and spent some time with Beckie and the grandchildren prior to travelling to Crows Nest to spend time with our branch of the Australian Caravan Club.  We had a great time catching up with old friends.  Hopefully over the next 12 months we will be able to catch up more often.
In November, Beckie purchased a small cottage in Toowoomba and she and the children have moved into their HOME.  No more rentals!
We are now in Logan Reserve spending time with dear friends [who happens to be our mechanic] and catching up with Sue and Gloria whilst we are here.
We are returning to Toowoomba for Christmas with family members before doing a farm sit for our friends Sandra and Tom.

We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous and Safe New Year.

7.3.2019

We are still in Toowoomba house-sitting for our friends.
The weather is still unusually hot - as it is most places.  We did not get any of the weather associated with Tropical cyclone Oma, which was a shame as we were looking forward to getting some rain to put some water in the local dams.  The town water supply for Toowoomba is getting very low - so an input would be welcomed.
I have made a couple of blouses with fabric that I purchased in Alice Springs by artists from the Central Desert. The girls at school like them and because they are cotton, they are quite cool to wear.
I have been applying to do the Graduate Certificate in Wiradjuri Language, Heritage and Culture at Charles Sturt University but am having difficulty.  I have been advised by the uni to do a Certificate 3 in Wiradjuri before applying again, but can only find a Cert 1 through TAFE based at Dubbo (which of course has already started for 2019 and no dates for 2020 yet😕).  I will keep trying but it is frustrating that they want you to do the language before you do the course at Uni!
I also now have weaving in 3 galleries.  They are Denmark WA;  Alice Springs; and Ayres Rock (Uluru) Resort.
I hope that all are well
Barb

lost time 18.2.2019

My goodness me...
Where has that time gone 😕
We have been busy farm sitting and now house-sitting in the Toowoomba area.
We have had some lovely days with the grandchildren and I have been busy weaving.I have sent an order off to the Poornarti Art Gallery in WA, and also one to Voyages Resort Art Gallery at Ayres Rock AND an order to Yubu Napa at Alice Springs.
I am now replenishing my supply of woven goods.  A great start to the new year.
I am hoping that you are all keeping well.
Regards
Barb

Trip to South Australia, Western Australia, Northern Territory and New South Wales #14

Hi all
We have been in Wagga for two weeks now, staying with my brother Ian's family.
Whilst here we have caught up with family and friends and the days have just FLOWN past.  There are lots of people that we WANT to see but it is finding the day and time to see them.
I have been to the Hands On Weavers (HOW) group and renewed some friendships, and went to a weaving workshop where I made a pouch using cumbungi - under the tutorial of Harriet Goodall - a renowned Weaver from Robertson in NSW.
I got some great news on Wednesday of last week - an Art Gallery in Alice Springs want my weaving in their gallery.  I am currently completing orders for them.  All because they saw my Sista Basket when we were in their gallery.  I am pretty chuffed with that.
Only 2 days left before Christmas morning - so we are wishing ALL OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS and a safe and prosperous 2019.
Keep safe one and all.