Wedgewood Quilt - the quilting

Yes, it is a zingy quilt, and yes it was easier to make than it looks, strips, sew and cut and re-sew.  The quilting has 2 black dogs in each bottom corner to represent Belle and Charcoal whose kennels were just outside the master bedroom, and in the middle is a bay horse to represent Bozo - the rest is covered with sheep - just like Wedgewood!!

Birds and Flowers but no Cria

Enjoyed a busy, tiring but very successful weekend at the Shoalhaven Poultry Group's auction at Berry, sold 5 silkies for very reasonable prices.

Yesterday evening, Eddy was outside bbq-ing when he heard a thud, and found this bird on the ground behaving like it had been stunned - must have flown into the window.   Its a shiny bronze cuckoo - says in my book they hang out in dense forest or tall scrub, so surprised to find it in our backyard!!  Put it up on top of the budgie breeding boxes out of harm's way while it recovered, and half an hour later it flew away :)

Finally finished my entry for the Hanging of the Quilts next weekend at Yass - phew!!  Even with the clothes line at full height it was still too big to suspend, but you get the gist!!

Another iris - this is one I brought from Nowra Hill in a pot - its still in a pot, but should make it to the garden after its finished flowering!!  It looks much darker in real life.

Sweet Pea Update

Its a balloon Penelope.
Its a baby John
*POP*
Its a BALLOON Penelope!!

With each passing day our cria gets more or less likely!!  If she really is pregnant, then we are venturing into rarely charted waters, day 387 since definite spit off on Oct 2, and so each day the likelihood of Sweet Pea giving birth must be increasing.... at the same time, I have to admit that its starting to look increasingly possible that even WITH cria kicks being visible, this may be a phantom pregnancy!!  Boo hoo!!  I'm not sure how she's managing the cria kicks, but it must be a possibility that this is a very elaborate hoax, and I will be very disappointed if that's the way it turns out - after Azzura's pregnancy (mysteriously) resulting in no cria earlier in the year, I'm not even slightly well placed to be looking at a second non-event.  Being a llama farmer is turning out to be the school of hard knocks!!

Think positive thoughts people!! TIA :)

Iris - such jewels!!

The iris continue to star, today I found some fabulous new ones in the side garden.  The apricot has fully opened and has 3 floweres on the stem - looks fantastic :)

Baby blues in the front garden

And new to the front garden this lovely peach coloured iris - several stems - to die for!!

And this was today's find in the side garden - how good is this??  Came out of nowhere - smashing!!  Love it!!

And in the front garden the sulphur yellows continue to do well :)

When we first looked at the house I was thrilled to see so many iris in the garden, but Freya was quick to remind me that there was a good chance they'd all be gone before settlement - I am so pleased that they were still here when we moved in - I am enjoying them immensely!!

Lose Lose!!

This morning, on my way to do my stint at Murrumbateman Field Days I met several roos!!  The first 4 encounters passed without incident, but when I met #5 and #6 it was a different story, they jumped out of the creek bed while I was crossing the causeway - I've got no choices on a causeway (bridge with no side rails) and #5 crashed into the side of my car taking out the side mirror.... not a good result for me or the roo!!

Murrumbateman Field Days

Today I was happy to be working on the Llama Association stand at Murrumbateman Field Days.  Got to care for Armadeus and his mother Carmen - lovely llamas who charmed the crowds :)
Armadeus:

His mum, Carmen :)

I've always been interested in cattle, and my breed of choice were represented at MFD, here a couple of miniature Galloways, belted:

and white with black points, they also come in dunn and red points :)

Not for everyone, and an abomination to some, coloured merionos!!

Goats are trouble, everybody knows that!!  but this girl's coat pattern is very lovely, I'd learn to cope with the feeding habits to have her :)

Lambies!!  Too cute, and they let me in the pen!! only had to promise not to chase them!!

At MFD again tomorrow, so if you're also visiting, stop by the llama stand and say hello :)

Nowra Road Trip and the Garden

On Wednesday I was off delivering ducks and quilts to Nowra and surrounds.  I stayed overnight with Shayne and Brad which was lovely - as always.

Got to play with Minto and Lily - who is a gorgeous puppy :)

Lily and Minto play a LOT!!

Minto - best kelpie - bar none!

Brad was busy with chores when I arrived, and is a man after my own heart - why wait till you've finished mowing to enjoy a cold beer, if you can combine the two!!  Way to go!!

More of Brad's handywork - he has been busy erecting fences to enclose Tarquinn and Freddie when they come to live at Cambewarra next month.

Also got to catch up with my friend Gayle and check out her almost complete new house!!  Very modern and very chic.

Here at Mt Tanga the garden keeps throwing up these amazing little finds, like this truly fantastic apricot iris - love it!!

And this almost sulphur yellow one - a perfect foil for the baby blue :)

The baby blue iris - several of these, very nice :)

And not far from the daphne there is this 'wanna-be' bush, clumps of tightly clustered flowers, no back petal colour and no scent, but very flashy :)

Sweet Pea's news

Sweet Pea's news is that there is no news!!  Another day, another no show - stay tuned, this cannot go one forever!!

Llamas and the Garden

Fortunately the two are separate!!  After brekky the girls are no big hurry to leave the yards, they seem to enjoy a sleep in the sun most mornings :)

Azzura is such a cool cucumber that most mornings she chooses to stay cushed while I give her a neck rub and back rub!

Black Narcissus loves to roll in the dust!!

Black Pearl is always on the scrounge, she is improving her body score with gusto!

 Usually they rest with their legs underneath them, but this morning Orchid was having a full stretch lie in the sun before I disturbed her, you can see by her sleepy expression that she was pretty much out cold moments earlier.

Even the slightly nervous Trinket takes time out in the mornings for a rest.

The other day when JayJay came in for brekky I noticed that she'd torn her ear, dont know how this happened, but seems to have healed OK.

Sweet Pea this morning, also taking a time out, doesnt look like she's having a baby today either!!

And now the garden, I planted 7 peonies, 6 were 'gamblers choice' pinks and reds and one named variety that I really liked.  Of course all 6 of the cheapies have started to grow, but as yet no sign of the expensive one!!!  I had also got my head around the 'they wont flower in the first year' thing, but plainly this plant has read the book!!   Cant help being pleased about that :)

The wisterias are starting to flower, a bit later than others I've seen around, and they seem to growing leaves at the same time, rather than after the flowers.  No matter, very pretty, and so sensible to have them on their own frame.  Standard blue/purple on the left and pretty, if less vigourous, pinkish one on the right.

Llama Hugs

Yesterday was the branch meeting of the Llama Assocation - it was held at Glynda's house, which is always good because there are lots of llama hugs to be had :)

These 3 llamas were all very keen have some human company and I was happy to oblige :)  They look kinda funny after shearing, especially Llapolean who has just had the saddle done!

Today's Pep Talk

Each morning I tell Sweet Pea to get on with the job and pop!!! But not today, today's pep talk was quite different, it was 3 degrees cold wind blowing and raining hard this morning, as it seems to have been most of the night, so I did the bit from Shakespeare where Ceasar is being implored not to go to the Senate, 'Juli Juli dont go!'  I said Sweet Pea, Sugar Pie, Sugar Lips dont go popping today!!  By Tuesday it's forecast to be 26 and mild overnight - much better thought.  Fingers crossed she got the message ;-D

Lead and Halter Training, Kiki in the Orchard and the garden

Every morning we have a little lead and halter training sesh for the 'babies'.  Pleased to say that some are making good progress :)  We are using halters designed by Lavender Park's Ruth King and they are brilliant, the snap to close fittings make it much easier to fit  and not pull their hair and they come in a range of fab colours, though I must admit to liking purple and red best - nothing new there!!

Bracken is improving slowly - looks dashing in purple :)

Eddy with Maggie Mae, she is a real star, but all credit for her training must go to Ruth, we are just adding new skills like different handlers and new situations and surfaces.

Phoebe is a blue black and looks dazzling in her red halter.

Tarquinn has a buckle up halter and he is not fond of having it fitted as it is almost impossible not to get his long coat tangled  in the buckle.  He seems to have realised that there is such a thing as too close to the camera - at last!!  LOL!!

The orchard is looking fab at present, the trees are all in flower, these are apple and pear trees.

Kiki in full flight through the orchard.  She is sporting her new choke chain instead of a collar and its hoped that this will be less wear and tear on her neck!

The garden is also full of flowers, a stunning lilac tree.

Dutch irises in the side garden.

The front garden has just popped with some very pale/white bearded iris :)