NEWS and the wild west...

My daughter Aisha and her hubby Tim have a hankering for some cowboy/cowgirl furnishings in their Sydney home so for Christmas I'm making them a western quilt with matching pillows.

The fabrics...

 

The planning...

 The cutting...

The piecing...

Now to send it off to my sweet friend Dawn so she can work her magic and machine quilt it for me in time for binding, wrapping and posting away before Christmas. 

But you know, this gift fades in comparison to some exciting news my girl and her man have been keeping quiet about the last couple of months....

 They are expecting a new baby next April!

And I'm going to be a Nana once more.

Can't wipe the smile off my face.

Nor can I refrain from sketching ideas for a baby quilt.

In case you're new to the blog here is my precious girl and her one year old angel, Frankie, back in July when they flew in for a visit. (see more here)

 Frankie was quite ill last month and spent time in hospital. 

Daddy's arms were a comfort...

Seeing her out and about and having fun again was such a blessing and answer to prayer!

Now she's back to her normal happy self and spending time with mummy at the local cafe.

She's just like her Nana because cafes are my second home!

Never underestimate the power of prayer. Frankie's illness is still a 'mystery' to the doctors but she recovered and I know that was by the hand of God through prayer. 

(thank you everyone who held her in prayer - you are warriors for the kingdom and we're so grateful)

Today let us send our prayers to Mexico as Hurricane Patricia bears down. 

 It's already the weekend here in Australia so I'll wave you goodbye and set my sights on housecleaning, washing, ironing, cooking, and spoiling the love of my life - my husband. 

Be blessed,

Dreams come true...

I have no words to express the joy that is overflowing from my heart after four days spent with my daughter Aisha and her precious toddler Frankie, so I shall just share these photos of moments captured with them and Blossom at home, up the mountain, and along the beach we call the Strand.

Thank you for all your warm wishes and prayers this week - they were felt, appreciated. xx

Aisha & Frankie

  Aisha and Blossom making sure Frankie is all secure in the pram.

Frankie, Blossom and Aisha along the Strand.

 

  Cool drinks and ice cream for morning tea. Frankie and Aisha.

Bathtime for Frankie with Auntie Blossom

Tickles from mummy (Aisha) for Frankie

Cuddles with Nana (me!)

 My beautiful girls.

 Overlooking the foreshore next morning - Aisha, Frankie and me.

Then up the mountain in the afternoon.

 A bit tuckered out, Nana.

After pizza that night - Blossom, me and Aisha...

We love a bit of fun.

An auntie and her niece should never be parted.

Next day at the airport for the plane trip home. Hugs. Tears.

Missing them.

But overwhelmed with the blessing I've just been given.

So proud of Aisha - she is the gentlest, most natural mother I've even known. Soft spoken, attentive, mindful, and oozing unabashed love.

And Blossom - motherhood will come just as naturally to her when it knocks on her door. This was so evident watching her and Frankie together.

Yes, I've been blessed.

hugs

We mountain girls...

Every winter you see a few blog posts of our stitching days up the mountain, and this year will be no exception.

For seven months of the year it's just too hot to spend the day sewing up there (no air-conditioning you see, and here in the tropics that makes it very hot)  so we make the most of it from May-September. This was our first trip to the Heritage Tea Rooms on Hervey's Range for 2015, and it was just as beautiful - maybe more so - as we remembered....

Heather and Barb had arrived first so they had set up in 'our' room (because we always sew and laugh and feast in that room!),  then Blossom and I drove in just ten minutes before Wendy...

We ordered breakfast and while the girls chatted I took a little wander with my camera.

This homestead is very old, built in 1865, and the current owners have left much of the old world charm on display or in use for patrons...

We took tea...

...and tasted good old fashioned sweeties...

...in between laughing...

 ...and teasing...

...serious conversations...

 ...and sewing.

(Barb had packed up her stitching before I took my stitching pics, but she was sewing a "Sparrow"block just like Blossom - two wonderful young ladies supporting Sparrow Ministries)

 It was wonderful to have Blossom with us for a Friday sewing date. We all had the day off work together this time...

While we were in such a pretty place I asked the girls (Barb and Blossom) if they'd hold up my new quilt top so I could get a nice outdoors photo.

Well, they really are crazy (second cousins twice removed and the same nutty sense of humour) so decided they'd hold the corners in their teeth!

You know, their joy was infectious and that really brought home to me every word displayed in the quilt.

Hope, bless, love, dream, laugh, cherish. 

Heather and I are blessed to call these young women our daughters. xx

Too soon the day was over, and it was time to pack up...

What a precious time we had.

Saying goodbye tends to bring more laughter...

...before footsteps slow to delay the final goodbyes.

Even the best of days draw to a close.

Until next time...one last look back...

I find it very precious to be behind the camera and recording these moments with the people I love.

hugs