Birthday Presents

I had a great birthday last week.
These are the fat quarters that I received from all the lovely ladies from our Fat Quarter Birthday Swap.
Thanks so much everyone, they are all gorgeous.



By the way, Lea the chocolates didn't last long enough for me to get these photos.


This is a beautiful crocheted "Granny Rug" that my sister has crocheted me.
I have wanted one for years but I can't crochet so I absolutely love this rug.
It even fits on the top of my bed.


This is the beautiful box of flowers that Treasure gave me. I only got them this week as Treasure was away working for my birthday.
We celebrated my birthday the weekend before, camping at Fingal Head near Tweed Heads. It was a great weekend relaxing, reading books and sunbaking. Treasure even caught 2 fish for dinner.


Treasure bought me this Fijian Black Pearl necklace for my birthday when we were in Fiji.


My son and I went out to dinner on my birthday. It's always good to have some quality time with him.
He bought me this great picnic bag for my birthday and Christmas. The bag is insulated to keep everything cold with a setting for 6 people included.
Treasure and I will test it out on Sunday when we go up to Mount Tamborine to the Markets and wineries for the day.

Tuesday's Treasures It's my Birthday

As it is my birthday today I decided to do a special Tuesday Treasures and share some very special photos of my childhood.
There aren't many photos of me taken as a baby because my parents couldn't afford to take photos, I was the 4th child and also a sick baby (I had whooping cough as a young baby).

This is a photo of my Mum and I on Kiama Beach NSW. My brother is in the background. I have always loved this photo so was really glad when my sister had it enlarged and framed for me a few years back.

This is a photo of me in the chicken coop. I don't remember ever having chickens as I was only 2yrs old when this photo was taken.
I love looking at all the old photos that I have as I love the memories that they bring back, especially the memories of my Nan and aunties who I loved very much.
I'm now sitting at home tonight after having dinner with my son being very sentimental thinking about all the good memories of my life. I've been going through my old photo albums (I love looking through them) and have found all my school photos (interesting looking at these) and even a photo that I took of the Aust singer Mark Holden when I saw him live on Countdown in the 1970's. Gee these albums certainly hold some memories.

Don't forget to go and visit Clare's blog to see all the other Tuesday's Treasures. Thanks so much Clare for hosting Tuesday's Treasures. I have really enjoyed playing.

I will now go back to opening my fat quarters from the Fat Quarter Swap that I am in. Thank you to all the lovely ladies for sending me such gorgeous fabrics. Will share a photo soon and also a photo of the gorgeous crocheted rug that my sister has made me for my birthday.

Tropical Tuesaday's Treasures

I thought I would continue with the theme of the tropics and Fiji for this week's Tuesday's Treasures.

I showed you all Savala, the small Fijian island where Treasure and I got engaged, in my last post.


Today it is the 2 pieces of coral and 2 shells that we bought back from Savala to remind us of that wonderful day.

When Treasure told me he wanted to bring back the coral and shells I didn't think we would get them, especially the coral, into Australia. We have very strict quarantine laws here and I was positive the coral wouldn't be allowed. How wrong was I.
We had no problems getting the coral through Quarantine, but if we had more than these 2 small pieces we may not have got them through Customs. As we only had 2 small pieces of coral we didn't have to declare them to Customs.


They now sit on my TV as a reminder of the wonderful week in Fiji.

Make sure you visit Clare's Blog to see all the other Tuesday's Treasures.

AN ANNOUNCEMENT and More on Fiji

While we were in Fiji we went on some tours. We went on day tour to 1 of the villages. This involved going on a long boat up a river past stunning waterfalls to the village. While we were there we were entertained with a traditional welcoming ceremony and dancing. It was a great day.
We also went on 2 cruises, a day cruse and a sunset dinner cruise.

On the day cruise we went with about 25 other people to this small private uninhabited island, called Savala, where we went snokelling and had a lovely lunch.
Savala was really gorgeous. I just wish I could have stayed there longer.


Now to the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!


While we were relaxing in our beanbags on our special part of Savala Treasure proposed to me so we are now engaged. How could I say no when he got down on both knees on a beautiful romantic secluded island.

It was such a romantic day and now Savala will be a very special island to us. We have been calling it Our Island.

Tuesday's Treasures

For Tuesday's Treasures, hosted by Clare, this week I thought I would show you the pond that Treasure made for me last year.


There was a dead area in my backyard just behind my Pergola.

I have always wanted a pond there but no one would build me one.

When I told Treasure this he decided to build it for me. He kept asking me what shape and size I wanted. My reply was "I want a pond there".

In the end he designed and built this beautiful pond.

The pond is outside my sewing room window so I get to look at this gorgeous view when I sit and sew. Maybe that's why I don't always get a lot of sewing done as I spend so much time watching the fish swimming.

They are finished

Back in July I made the 1st Small Quilt Top for the tables next to my lounges.
In September I made the 2nd Top but didn't get round to finishing them.
I have a habit of starting projects but not finishing them.

Yesterday was the day I decided I would finish them.
I used a fat quarter from my birthday stash for the backing for each one.

I decided not to do too much quilting as they are only 14.5"x18.5" finished.
I quilted around the centre and then did a feather stitch diagonally through the centre of the quilt.
Last night I sewed the binding on while watching TV.

They are now both finished and look great in my lounge room.