Our new bird toy

This is our birds' new play pen.  Made from hoola hoops.  They love it.  Play on it for ages.  Have to update the toys regularly!  Variety is the key.

Didn't realise how complicated keeping birds could be.

Marg

Another new bird and our baby is growing......

This is our baby of last week.  Growing and getting lots more colour.  Getting more adventurous, too.  

This is our new Scaly breasted Lorrikeet, called Libby.  She's about 6 weeks old.  She was rejected by her parents and has been hand raised from about 2 days old - breeder didn't think she'd survive.  She's a real cutie and very cuddly.

This is Pip with Libby.  Pip seems to have decided that she can be Libby's mother.  Where Libby was raised she had the same type of bird take on the mother role, so is feeling very at home with Pip.

This is Libby.  She flies in when we are feeding Dobbie and helps herself to his/her food.  Still wants to be a baby, I think.

Marg

A Christmas finish

So many times this year, I've looked at the other blogs and thought ......."next month".  Well, it finally came - I've got 10 ready to go and five completed.  It's been fun, so just have to find some cute Christmas mugs and there's presents ready to go........

Marg

F.R.I.E.N.D.S swap finished!

Here they are - at last!  All wrapped up and ready to go to the Post Office.  Hope Irene likes what I've selected/made for her.

Thanks Khris for organising this for us - it has been lots of fun thinking up ideas for each of the letters and looking at how to wrap and display them.  Look forward to your next one........

Marg

Half way through the school holidays

Well, it's the half way mark.  I've got some things done - but lots more to do.  Our new baby bird is settling in well.  My sewing jobs for my bird breeder friends are underway - but this means I'm not getting lots of creative sewing done.

In terms of quilting I've been working on my hexagonal quilt - the one with the 1/2 inch hexies.  I'll organise a photo of it - but have finally completed the top row of the body of the quilt - slowly working my way in filling the gaps!!

I've organised my Secret Santa Swap materials and pattern - now to get some sewing done on them.  My F.R.I.E.N.D.S. swap is almost complete.  The Keeper is the last thing to organise - have looked at lots of patterns, but no decision yet.  This week definitetly.

I love school holidays!

Cheers

Marg

Busy days

This was the sunset last week - just beautiful.  However, it was because of all the fires around our district.  I didn't hear of anyone losing houses, but there was a lot of smoke around.  Not a good time for asthmatics.  But  it did make a beautiful photo.

This guy has been a frequent visitor to our garden.  He is just beautiful.  Unfortunately, the Rainbow Lorrikeets chase him away - but each day he returns and looks for his favourite seeds!

This is Libby - she is a Scaly breasted Lorrikeet and she is about 3 weeks old.  She'll be coming to live with us soon.  She's a little darling.  She was left to die and was rescued from her parents - she was given to the woman we are buying her off.  She fed her around the clock - every hour for about 3 days as she was so dehydrated.  However, she is full of life now and very bossy.  Think that this is the reason she survived such odds - she's so tenacious!

This is our other baby - no name yet as we don't know if it's a boy or girl.  A rainbow lorrikeet.  Only about 2 1/2 weeks old.  She's going to come and live with us too.

These were our guests at breakfast this morning.  They ate together nicely for a short while - then the Rainbows got naughty.  For such little birds they create quite a fuss in the bird world - the bossiest birds ever seen.

It's been a busy first week of the holidays.  I've been asked to sew some "bird accessories" - some covers for cages and some "happy huts" for birds to sleep in.  I've also been learning to make bird toys.  DD and I have had lots of fun over the last few days.

I've also been working on my F.R.I.E.N.D.S swap - just about finished it.  Hopefully will have it in the post by Monday at the latest.

Eldest son comes home tomorrow - he's been working at a camp that's run each year for children with disabilities.  He enjoys it - but gets to work with some challenging children.

We're having a day at the coast on Sunday - eldest son is abseiling.  Hopefully the weather will be good for the day.

DH and the other kids will be home next Wednesday.

I love school holidays.

Cheers

Marg

Colour coming

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If you look closely there's just the tiniest bit of colour coming in the tail and wing feathers.

Feeding time - 5am

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It's 5 am and we're all up feeding Dobbie. I wonder how long I'll have company for the morning feed!! It's fascinating watching the bird eat. And if the temperature us not right he/she won't eat it. Has to be slightly hotter than you'd feed a baby! Learning! Learning! Learning!

New family member

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We have a new family member - a 10 day old Alexandrine Parrot. He/she has been named Dobbie. I'm off to buy Farex - baby porridge. Thought my days of feeds every 4 or 5 hours was over!! What fun ahead!

School holidays have started

It only seems such a short time when we were anticipating the last school holidays - it's been a busy term.  DH and 3 of our children left today for about 10 days on our country block - bit sad as I would love to go, too.  But the other kids have too much on in the holidays so I'm staying home and being the taxi driver.  We're planning a few days up there when term starts, so that I can have my fix!

As well as being a taxi driver, I've lots more planned.  A big tidy up of the sewing room is the main one.  I've also got a number of projects that need my time - a couple of swaps to get sorted.  So, it will be good to be here.

There's some costumes for Sound of Music as well.  Can't forget those!!

And, photos of my little bits and pieces from FNSI.  Get on to that tomorrow.

Our other bit of lovely news is that we have found a Scaly Breasted Lorrikeet to replace our little Laina that died recently.  She's just a baby - met her about a week ago.  She is just gorgeous.  We'll be catching up with her in the holidays, too.  Still thinking about the name for her - I think she'll tell me eventually.  She was just starting to lose her down and get her coloured feathers when we met.  Will get some photos this week.

With spring arriving so are the birds in our garden.  The Lorrikeets tend to boss all the other birds and don't let them stay and feed.  But we are getting some beautiful King Parrots and a pair of pink and grey galahs.  Will try and organise some photos.  Have heaps of the lorrikeets, but the others are harder to get.

Here are the lorrikeets feding in our garden.  They are so cheeky! Noisy, too - but it's a happy noise.  I love them.

Cheers

Marg

Flat tyre

We bought 4 new tyres for our car this week - nearly $1000 worth! Bought the boys to a photography course this morning and one is completely flat. Sitting waiting for DH to come to the rescue. How would you be?

F.R.I.E.N.D.S Swap

There are a few lovely swaps going at the moment and it was hard to resist getting involved - so I didn't!  This one is organised by Khris - and you have to think of at least 7 things that spell out friends. I'm lucky to have met Irene through this - lovely lady from Texas.  I've just about got this one together, so I'm hoping she will enjoy what I have selected.  Have to get it into the post next week.

Secret Santa Christmas Swap

Thanks to Chooky Blue for organising it - I'm part of the Secret Santa Christmas Swap.  We have to make a table runner or centre and a Christmas Decoration.  I've bought my fabric and threads - can't wait to get started.  We should be finding out who in the next day or so.

Lots of fun to be involved in - and the extra fun of a surprise under the Christmas tree.

With October almost upon us, I can't keep avoiding the subject of Christmas - and the lists and the presents, etc!

Local Agricultural show and some catching up

It has been so long since I've blogged - been following comments through email, but haven't had the chance to do much else.  Our local show was last weekend and for the 10 days before DH was away.  He went about 8 1/2 hours away - my brother's farm, he was helping them with their renovation.   He took one of our kids with him - leaving me with the other 7, so it was a fairly busy time.  Lots of driving!!

I'm involved with the needlework competition for our local show and we also decided this year to enter the photography competition.  I put some photos in and so did two of my sons - they got a second and a third for their photos.

This was the second place

One of mine - sunset at Cottesloe Beach, WA.  No prizes, but I love the memories it brings back.

Miss Three on a swing - serious business - swinging!

Miss Three again - this is one of my favourites - and hers, too.

We're growing this plant at our property near Bundaberg.  No idea what it is, but the flowers are quite unusual.

Horse jumping at our local show.  Love watching the grace and power of the horses.  Never been something I'd like to do, but enjoy watching it.  Have two daughters who would love to have the chance!

They make it look so effortless.

This is camp drafting.  A bit of an Aussie sport, I think.  Basically, it's the ability to control a cow from horseback.  They have to take the animal through a serious of moves.  Can be quite interesting to watch if you get someone very skilled on horseback.

Of course, it wouldn't be a show without the fireworks.  Always a highlight.

In needlework I received a Highly Commended for one of my dolls and a First for a table centre with machine embroidery.  My daughter did quite well - she received a prize for everything she put in - a quilt, a doll, a dress, an outfit for Miss 3 and a bag.

The first day of the show ended up quite wet - really heavy rains came and then the coldest wind followed.  It was such a cold night.  We always go along on the Friday night - it's a show based on "rural" exhibits.  There was horse jumping, wood chopping, calf scruffing, fire works (of course), camp drafting and clowns.

On Saturday I had to take my eldest son to an abseiling course about a 2 hour drive away.  We had to be there very early and then I took number 3 son to a presentation ceremony for a piece of art he did for Child Protection Week.  He didn't know that he was getting a prize - he seemed quite pleased, but he doesn't cope very well being singled out and being "in the limelight".

We went back to the show on Saturday afternoon to go on the rides.  Not me - not into being made to feel sick!  Our second youngest girl couldn't wait to go on the Dodgem Cars.  Youngest daughter had a boat ride and a ride in a tea cup.  Lots of fun.  On Saturday night they have a crash up Derby - not my thing, but some of my boys stayed with friends and their families.  It was very cold again, so I was happy to go home.

That was the show for 2011.  We have our needlework classes sorted for next year's show!  Now, if only I could start now..........

Friday Night Sew Iin

I got some sewing done!  Wasn't looking great there for a little while - but I did.  Just started a beautiful new hand stitching project I bought at Homespun and Beautiful - Garden of Life Quilt designed by Calico Farm Designs.  I'll get a picture up soon.  Tereasa has picked the loveliest soft floral fabric to complete the stitcheries on - just gorgeous.

I've also completed some more stitcheries on my second Tis the Season Quilt.  Hoping to get the this completed in the school holidays - yeh! the next two weeks and not one school lunch to organise!

I'm currently updating blogs and sorting out life in general - waiting for two of my boys and 3 of their friends to finish their latest Nerf War day.  Don't ask how I got talked in to this one - but they have so much fun.  I guess they don't understand my love of sewing either..........

Keeper Swap - Cookies and Cream Craft

I've just joined the Keeper Swap Sandy's organised.  Should be lots of fun.  Only ever made one before, - now I have an excuse to make another.  Thanks Sandy.  Today's the last day to sign up, so go over to her blog to have a look.http://www.cookiesandcreamcraft.com.au/blog/

New Sue Box Design

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Just tried out the free design from the new Sue Box Collection. Just gorgeous.

Our little ballerina

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Isn't she cute? Our littlest ballerina. You can't see in this photo but the shoes are gum boots. Just what every ballerina needs.