A bit of history and an amazing gift

A few weeks ago I was involved in an event which highlights the heritage of the lovely city I call home. Twice a year three generous owners open their heritage homes to the public. The latest were...

..the Victorian era Rhossili..

Federation period Ballachulish...

...and 1850s Claremont.

The best part of the day however, came later that evening, when  the call came telling me my beautiful daughter was about to receive an amazing gift.. She had been waiting for many months now for a lung transplant and thanks to a wonderful family's generosity, she has a chance for a longer life to enjoy all the things most of us take for granted. She is recovering well and is determined to honour her donor's gift by living well.

I am so very grateful.

Too boring to blog about...

that is how I have felt during the time I have been gone (but not forgotten I hope) from this blog. It's not true really, but some things in my life recently have been difficult for me to deal with (mostly because they are out of my control), so I have withdrawn into my little shell (my star sign is Cancer). There has been a lot of this happening..

And quite a bit of this...

A fair bit of heritage stuff... (yes, that's me! In Edwardian costume no less!)

A certain amount of socialising... but, very little crafting. The sewing on the treadle is the beginnings of another quilt for raffling. I am being ably assisted by my sister (she is shaming me into it) so hopefully I will have something to share soon.

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!

Wolston House

In spite of the miserable weather we are having at the moment I went volunteering at my favourite place today. Wolston House is a National Trust property at Wacol, an outer Brisbane suburb. The house dates to the 1850s and is open twice a month. I love going, and work with a lovely group of like-minded volunteers. Together we give tours, hold High Teas and Devonshire teas, make and sell craft as well as help to maintain the gardens and the collections displayed in the house. Surprisingly, today we had visitors who braved the rain and came to check out the property.

These clothes are on loan and were made by this very talented seamstress, who, by the way, insists that she is "just a mum who sews!"