Missed It By That Much

Quilting the table runner:

I filled the body of it with dogwood flowers, then did leaves around the border. Look how far I had to go when the bobbin ran out:

I just needed to squeeze in one leaf on either side!

Productive Day

Started making a table runner using a free pattern from here. Half sewn together:

It went together very quickly. It is easier than it looks, because it is strip-pieced. Here it is all sewn together, with a border:

Neither of those photos show the colours very well. Once it is quilted I'll take it outside to get a better picture. And then I will probably throw a few more together as quick gifts!

Outside, the fence between the carport and the garden is taking form:

There will be a gate in the part closer to the camera.

This rose was just a bud when I was out in the garden this morning. But tonight here it is:

Peace.

New Arrivals

Another new rose open today:

"Vienna Charm"

Two new chooks arrived:

Blue Andalusian behind, Silver-pencilled Wyandotte in front.

The four older chooks:

On the left the Barnevelder and Australorp cross who arrived almost exactly 2 years ago. On the right, an ISA Brown who arrived in October 2010. I'm not sure how old the big Australorp cross in front on the right is, but I've got a picture of her looking just as big in August 2010, so I think she is at least 8 years old. She's older than my blog, anyway!

Mystery Step Two

Thirty-six units made, which is roughly a third of the full amount.

Rose "Double Delight" in the garden:

A little scorched around the edges from the hot wind, but smelling fantastic.

Here's the link-up for this week. Check out everyone's mystery progress!

More Orange Things

Spotted in a junk shop today:

Who could resist an orange sewing machine with pretty flower decals all over it?

It is a hand-crank machine. All the mechanism moved smoothly, and the bobbin case was there. But there seemed to be a problem with the bobbin-winder. It is missing! So $89 seemed a bit steep and I left it there.

Back home in the garden some pretty orange flowers of our own:

Men At Work

A larger-than-expected concrete mixer arrived this morning, with enough mix for the foundations of the fence across the back of the carport:

Foundations for the fishpond wall:

And a bit left over for the greenhouse floor:

Later in the day a new toy tool got a work-out:

The tractor now has a mowing attachment.

Fish Home

Formwork for the foundations of the fishpond:

Ready for the concrete to arrive tomorrow.

Where the fish are living in the meantime:

They've been in this sad-looking spot on the back verandah since moving from a luxurious pond in the city. The old gate keeps them safe from kookaburras. The new pond will need something to serve the same purpose.