More Dolls

More of my family of dolls completed today

Maudie Dolls

With Christmas not far down the track I have been finishing Maudie dolls for The Southbank Market and my Etsy shop. I was halfway through this group of dolls and my sewing machine went on the blink. All is now fixed and I the dolls are finished. I have another group of dolls started. Each doll has her own personality with sometime vibrant hair and beads. I do get asked for the male version so will put on my to do list.

RMIT Electric Car

This is the is the green electric car T and 6 other engineering students at RMIT built this year as their final year project. Last weekend we went to Victoria University at Werribee to watch the car go through its paces. Met other Mums and thoroughly enjoyed the day. I had seen the car at presentation night but the car was stationary that night (maybe not quite finished!)The electric car is an extraordinary achievement and a car of the future getting to speeds almost as fast as the top petrol cars.

At last a photo

Thanks to Busy Gnomes help I can now publish photos again. This is Mopsy on our camping trip to Daylesford

Camping at Daylesford

At the last minute on a Friday afternoon we decided to go to Jubilee Lake at Daylesford. We have a small camping trailer which makes setting up camp a breeze. I made dinner before we left so we only needed some food for breakfast and for the dog. This was the first time we had taken Mopsy camping. I was a little nervous in case Mopsy barked and kept other campers awake - we all know how awful that can be. I did not need to worry. Mopsy had a wonderful time meeting new playmates. When it was time for bed she went into her cosy spot under the camper and thats where she slept all night with only a growl at some fury creature which passed by and a bark at something else.
Jubilee Lake is a superb setting with picturesque walks around the lake. We plan to go back soon although life is getting busy before Christmas.

Tea Cosies and the Yoghurt Cake

This morning I made a delicious yoghurt cake using cinnamon and honey yoghurt. I iced the cake with chocolate icing I made using 79%cocoa chocolate then topped with coconut. The only messy thing about this cake is that you beat the egg whites separately. Now I have my magical new mixer in a fabulous green I only have one mixing bowl. A second bowl is rather expensive but I might put it on my Christmas list.

This tea cosy came off the needles one day and had a new home the next. I have another cosy in this pattern on the needles now - in pink and green . I am making a larger size this time and have some ideas for finishing the top.

Springtime

The vegie garden is still producing the best vegies. I have grown some of the vegies and some flowers from seed so I am doubly proud. Having a potting shed (well, its half of the bore pump shed) has made all the difference. The tomatoes are even looking good as they are protected from the frosts.

The wattle has been magnificent.

As a child I remember going for walks in the spring and there would be such an array of wildflowers. I don't see such flowers along our road here but I came across

a little posy of blue. Eventually after a few days I picked the grape hyacinths and enjoyed them in my studio. The fruit trees David planted are all looking healthy with blossom or leaves appearing. Waterwise the trees have had a good start this year.

I am off to bring inside the yarn I dyed today. I will take a photo and show you tomorrow.

Farm Happenings

Meet Broker! He is rather a solitary sheep, seen here resting after lunch. He is usually found at the opposite end of the paddock from the other sheep. Guess he just likes doing his own thing and growing a beautiful cinnamon fleece.

Meet chook. We only have one chook at present. This generous chook lays 6 eggs each week. The cycle at present works so chook has Sunday off, no eggs on Sunday. Must add to the chook population soon. We have enjoyed eggs from our one chook all through winter.

Chook shares the yard with Goosie, a very cross and crabby goose. Our son T was given this goose when he was in primary school. T finishes Uni this year. Note: when T left home he didn't take goose.

Meet goose. Although T can tuck this animal under is arm and carry him to bed I often have quite an ordeal getting goose to go to bed. We have lock up goose and chook from the foxes every night.

Morning Walk

A casual morning walk turned into quite a game for Mopsy. The garbage truck had had a difficult time in the wind yesterday. There were bags littering the roadside. It seemed logical to me that Mopsy and I could walk down the road to the creek and I would collect bags. Well Mopsy wanted to collect each bag, tear it to shreads so I was running all over the place on a windy morning to catch the bag now in several pieces.
It is difficult to get Mopsy to stand still for a photo. Even when I managed to get her atttention the wind blew through her coat. The weather is getting walmer but not enough to chance clipping.