Blogtoberfest - the end

Ha! bet you thought it would never come and you'd forever be reading things that weren't interesting just so I could keep up the post a day!. Well today's post isn't very interesting either, just me rejoicing that the end (of Blogtober) has come. Stubbornness can be a pain in the....
I meant to have a give-away and everything, but let me tell you folks- posting every day sucks the creativity right out of you (me anyway). Maybe I'll save my give-away for my 100th post.. coming soon.

Thanks for putting up with my sometimes witless ramblings... things should return to normal soon!
PS the rose photo has nothing to do with anything.. it is pretty though.

Day 30 - Blogtoberfest

One of my favourite things to bake is scones and I have a great recipe I make using buttermilk. Lots of people rave about Lemonade scones, so I finally got around to trying a recipe. I was pretty happy with the result, they are dead easy to make. I found several recipes on the internet but this is the one I used.

During the month I have managed to visit some of the other people who signed up for Blogtoberfest.
Check out the the blogs from here, here and here.
Only one more post!!!!.

Day 29 - Blogtoberfest

Today I went back to the 60's.. sort of. I attended an open day to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the High School I went to in 1961-2. I was in the first group to start at the school. This is the uniform we wore then! Very glam!!!

Here is my class. That's me on the right in the row of three.

And this is me today (on the left) with two of my besties from way back when. We haven't seen each other for over 20 years!

Day 28 - Blogtoberfest

I was in Brisbane today to have my hair done (yes, they do have hairdressers here in Ipswich, but...) and hoping to lunch with a friend who lives in the suburb of Bulimba. Unfortunately, she got a last minute call to work, so I was on my own. I had hoped to lunch here at my favourite bookshop/teahouse, but sadly the deck was full.

After lunch elsewhere, I wandered down Oxford Street to check out a couple of shops including this one, Just Plain Gorgeous.

The owner, Simone, stocks a beautiful range of decorator items as well as jewellry and hand-made soaps.

You can check out her blog here.

I just had to buy some of this delicious oilcloth.

Day 27 - Blogtoberfest

The humble banana

Bananas have been a bit scarce here in Queensland following the floods and cyclones in January. A bit expensive too. Unless you happen to have some of these in your back yard...

I cut down a bunch the other day which ripened all at once so today I made banana chutney. 

Here is the recipe,(although if you don't have them in your yard you might have to wait until the price comes down).

Banana Chutney

12 bananas

2 1/2 cups malt vinegar

1 cup stoned dates, halved

1 cup raisins

1 tblspn salt

1 cup sugar

1 tblspn cinnamon

1 tspn nutmeg

2 tspns turmeric

1. Peel and slice the bananas, put into a saucepan with half the vinegar, bring to boiling point, then simmer, stirring all the time, for 5 minutes. Add rest of vinegar and stir for another 3-4 minutes.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and continue simmering, stirring occasionally, for about an hour. Turn into warm, sterilised jars and seal airtight.

Enjoy!

Day 26 - Blogtoberfest

More quilts. Yes, I know what you're thinking... doesn't she have anything more interesting to blog about?
The answer is NO.. not today, sorry. I am so close to making it to the end of Blogtober, only five more posts! I'm exhausted but determined.
Anyway more quilts from last Saturday.

Below is a close-up of the one above. I love how the trees are different.

Maybe tomorrow will bring inspiration.

Day 25 - Blogtoberfest - Tuesday Treasures

After a busy day today teaching a rather lively group of Year One children, I decided that my treasure today is TIME (and energy!!!). Time to sit on my verandah enjoying the view; time for craft; time for family. There just isn't enough!

Don't forget to pop over to Melody's to see who else is sharing today.

Day 24 - Blogtoberfest

As promised, some more quilts. These two are my kind of quilts because of the stories attached. The women who made them are part of a quilt study group run by Queensland Quilters.

The arcs of this Double Wedding Ring quilt were bought in the US. They are genuine depression-era  fabrics and have been finally put into a quilt by the maker.

The hexagon quilt has a similar story, although in its case, the top had been completed and just needed backing and quilting. Apparently there was some minor repair needed.

Both women have hand quilted their quilts. I think their stories make these rather special.

Day 23 - Blogtoberfest

Just a couple of the quilts from the show yesterday that my sister and I liked. More tomorrow. More hexagons you'll notice!

Day 22 - Blogtoberfest

My sister and I went to the Brisbane Craft and Quilt Show today, so I'm posting a little late. I didn't buy much in the way of fabric or notions but I did buy this lamp. It is the latest model and they were doing a very good deal for show visitors. I have wanted one for ages but was always put off by the price, skinflint that I am.
I will share photos of quilts tomorrow... there were some really lovely ones this year.

Day 21 - Blogtoberfest

Image from here

In Brisbane today helping out at National Trust  Head Office. Preparation for the Annual Conference meant lots of envelope stuffing to get the news out to members. This year's conference is being held in Toowoomba at the City Hall, with lots of visits to historic places on the Sunday. Looking forward to going as Toowoomba is less than an hour's drive from my place. I will be posting more about it after the visit in a couple of weeks time.

Day 20 - Blogtoberfest

Help!!! I've been browsing through all my Christmas related craft books, trying to get ideas for our Christmas craft fair at Wolston. I want to make things that aren't too difficult and that people will want to buy. All I've managed to do is confuse myself. 

I hate making decisions!

Day 19 - Blogtoberfest

On Monday I posted about my latest acquisition- Rachel Ashwell's most recent book. I have been drooling over its romantic photos and was particularly taken by the section featuring an artist who lives in the Catskill Mountains in New York state. Her little studio is probably the most romantic thing I have ever seen and she has a blog!

Photo found here

 Here is the link to 'My shabby streamside studio'. The artist is Sandra Foster.
I have 'borrowed' some pictures to share with you.

Photo found here

Photo by Trevor Tondro

Swoon! But rather impractical probably.

Day 18 - Blogtoberfest - Tuesday Treasures

My treasure today is my pine kitchen pantry. This cupboard used to be in the shed at my grandmother's house, painted a dingy green and filled with all sorts of junk. My Granny had the hoarding gene which she passed to my Dad and he to me. 

Dad also had the reuse, recycle gene, and kept all sorts of things because "they might come in handy one day". He also was a wizard at building and making, I have many other treasures around to remind me of him every day. He didn't really like restoring timber things, he preferred to make new pieces as he loved working with wood, however, his country upbringing meant he couldn't bear to chuck out something that could be fixed.

This cupboard was restored by my Dad and eventually made its way to me. It has travelled with me for a while now, fulfilling a few different roles, until it finally came to rest in my kitchen where it fits perfectly.

Don't forget to pop over to Melody's to see who else is sharing today.

Day 17 - Blogtoberfest

Look what came in the post today! Delicious eye candy. Yummy stuff that won't add weight!!!

I got it from here at a very reasonable price.

Day 16 - Blogtoberfest

Lazy Sunday on the verandah, my favourite magazine to read, while soaking up the freshness after yesterday's storm. (totally ignoring all the yard work that needs doing!). Ahhh... bliss!

Day 15 - Blogtoberfest

Yay!!! Halfway!

Day 14 - Blogtoberfest

On Selina's blog this morning she mentioned her favourite op-shop and showed her great find. This is my discovery from the same shop (have you guessed we were there together?). A cute little demitasse cup and saucer for around two dollars. Bargain!!

Day 13 - Blogtoberfest

At Wolston House we are often given vintage and antique items to put in the house or use for other displays. These two cloths were donated by one of the volunteers; they belonged to her mother. The white one needs some minor repair to the crochet work (guess who volunteered to do that!) and then will probably go on one of the tables in the house. The other is waiting for someone to embroider it. All the cotton needed is included... even an embroidery hoop. Don't think I'll be offering to do that one! I have enough UFOs of my own.
Aren't they beautiful? The white one is about 1.5 m square.. and the crochet is so fine it must have taken ages to do.

Day 12 - Blogtoberfest

One of the things I wanted to do after I first (semi) retired, was to enter craft work in the local show. I thought that it would be a good way to give myself a deadline to finish something, since I am the world's worst procrastinator. I didn't do anything for the 2011 show because of my trip to France, but I did have some things in the 2009 & 2010 shows. I didn't win anything but I have had a couple of Highly Commendeds. The pumpkin hanging was one of them.

This cross stitch was in last year's show; I was up against some very stiff competition in a very popular category and of course didn't get anywhere. Not that I was expecting to, I was just glad to get it out of the cupboard and in a frame. I was thinking the other day that if I want to enter this category next show (in May) I had better make a start. I have two kits to do- both bought on trips to the UK. One is of 'The Shambles' in York and one is of Jane Austen's house in Chawton.

Which one???

Day 11 - Blogtoberfest- Tuesday Treasures

One of my treasures today is a glass vase which belonged to my grandmother. I remember it sitting on her dressing table, surrounded by one of those crocheted doilies that were starched so that they stood up in ruffles. It is very delicate and I don't use it for flowers, although sometimes I put lavender in it to dry.

My other treasure I bought on e-bay. It is very similar to one I had as a girl, which was made by the same grandmother. I don't know what happened to the original; lots of things went missing over the years as the family moved a few times. I left home when I was 22 and lived a fair distance away for many years. I guess if you're not there to stake a claim... 

Don't forget to pop over to Melody's to see who else is sharing today.

Day 10 - Blogtoberfest

When all else fails... Bella to the rescue!

Boring day today, bring on pictures of pets.

Day 9 - Blogtoberfest

The clothes range from the 1900s to 1970s

Last Friday when I was in Brisbane I went to see this exhibition at The QUT Art Museum, near the botanic gardens. It is called 'Dreaming of Chanel' and is a selection of garments from the Doris Darnell collection which was featured a while back on the ABC's Collectors program. There are about 50 garments in the display.

The suit in the foreground is a Chanel c1960s

The thing that makes it special, I think, is that each garment has a story to go with it; who wore it, when and for what reason.

The exhibition is only on until October 16th, but well worth a visit. 

Day 8 - Blogtoberfest

Today began with a storm- not the wildest I've experienced, but a bit weird coming before breakfast. I pictured a day of rain, with me curled up reading, but it turned into a fine day, which made me think that I should do something useful. So, I decided to make some passion-fruit butter using the last of my harvest. It is labelled because I will be taking it to Wolston House tomorrow to sell in our gift shop.

Here is the recipe for those who are interested. It tastes yummy on toast.

Passion-fruit Butter

Grated rind of 1 medium sized lemon

Strained juice of  2 medium sized lemons

6 passion-fruit

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

60g (2oz) butter (I use unsalted)

Mix together lemon rind and juice, passion-fruit pulp and sugar. Beat the eggs and stir in with the butter cut into pieces.

Cook over boiling water, stirring constantly, until it thickens (enough to coat the back of the spoon). (It will thicken more as it cools).

Pour into small sterilised jars and seal airtight. Refrigerate after opening.

Enjoy!

Day 7 - Blogtoberfest

A busy day today means a late posting to keep the blogtoberfest schedule on track. 

These photos show what can happen when you neglect your garden/backyard. Don't ask me where they came from... I certainly didn't plant them.. and in  among the rocks and paving??? Amazing.

Day 6 - Blogtoberfest

Nothing else to say really...

Day 5 - Blogtoberfest

Image from here

Living in Ipswich one gets used to the sound of planes from Amberley Air Base just down the road. On Monday I heard a different sound in the sky and went outside for a look. And there were these guys putting on a show practically right over my house. Awesome!

Day 4 - Blogtoberfest & Tuesday Treasures

My treasure today has a bit of history attached. It is a Pear's print from early in the 20th century. The soap people, Pear's, used to give these out with their annual magazine and this is one of many collected by my grandmother. Some she had framed and others she stored, rolled up in a cupboard. Fast forward to the 1940s when my Mum and Dad were married, and Granny gave the rolled up ones to Mum, who carted them around with her until the 1970s when my brother was working as a picture framer. My siblings and I all received the framed print of our choice. Mine is titled "Tempted but shy".
Don't forget to pop over to Melody's blog to see who else is sharing today.

Day 3 - blogtoberfest

Look what I grew... and there's more to come!!!
This daily blogging could work out... if I just do short posts...maybe?

Day 2 - Blogtoberfest

Today was my first paid gig as a tour guide as I took a group around my home town of Ipswich, showing them all the wonderful heritage homes. We stopped for morning tea and a tour at this fabulous home, "Goolawan", whose owners consider themselves as custodians and graciously allow groups to wander at will (after first treating them to a fabulous home-baked morning tea served on beautiful china in an exquisitely furnished dining room). I was in heaven.

The garden was lovely too!