MONDAY EVENING 7.50PM

Hello my lovelies

It's been a busy time here at number seven.  Papa and I arrived home on Saturday afternoon after our visit to Brisbane.

I unpacked while Papa popped down to the supermarket to pick up a cooked chicken which Papa served up with some lovely roast vegetables.

The evening was spent watching television and just relaxing.

On Sunday, we went up the hill to church.  Our minister Andrew has been off for a few weeks on long service leave so it was great to see him back again.  

At present, he is preaching on the book of Mark.  We have now reached Chapter 4 and the reading took in the Parable of the Sower.

He started his sermon off by talking about a famous film MOBY DICK starring Orson Wells.  The film MOBY DICK was originally a book.  In one particular scene, Orson Wells is preaching from a very unusual pulpit, one that is quite symbolic of the main subject matter of the film - the sea and the whaling ships that sailed on it. 

 The story tells of the obsessive quest of Ahab, captain of the whaler the Pequod, for revenge on Moby Dick, the white whale that on the previous whaling voyage bit off poor Captain Ahab's leg at the knee.

Andrew described the pulpit from the film which I think is actually in a church somewhere in America.  Here's a picture from the film.

Wow!  Imagine having a pulpit like that. It would be a very effective pulpit for a fishing community.  Andrew went on to say that he wasn't suggesting that we build him something similar.  He said he was very happy with his pulpit as it was, thank goodness.  I couldn't help thinking what kind of pulpit we could build for him that would by symbolic of Toowoomba and its community.  All ideas greatly received.

What he went on to describe was how Jesus in Mark chapter four preached from a similar pulpit that the great actor Orson Wells was preaching from - but this time the pulpit was a real boat on the Sea of Galilee. 

Perhaps you can read it, have a think and let me know of you have any thoughts about the Parable of the Sower, the sermon Jesus preached that day.

Love Nanxxx

FRIDAY AFTERNOON 3.21PM

Hello my lovelies

We are down in Brisbane at the moment.  Auntie Emma has not long left and is heading down to the Gold Coast to meet up with her Book Club pals for the weekend.

Wee Fergus is sitting watching Play School and Papa has just left to pick up Hamish.  Angus has basketball practise so will stay on until the match later.  Hamish will return to school around 5.45pm for his match.  The plan is for Papa to take Hamish, stay for his match, and then bring them both home via Grills where they will stop off for something to eat.

I meanwhile, will stay here with wee Fergus and he and I will have dinner together while Papa and the older boys are out.

Uncle Michael is away at a seminar especially for Barristers and had to give a 'paper' this afternoon.  He should be back late tomorrow morning.

We've had a lovely day today.  Auntie Emma, Papa, Fergus and I went for a wee outing near Mt Cootha.  On the way Auntie Emma drove past her new house.  Here's a photograph of me with the two doggies outside the house.

I don't know if you can see the sign very clearly but it doesn't say SOLD it says TAKEN.  That's a new one for me.  Haven't seen that one before.

Here's a few photographs from our morning.

A relaxing morning before heading out.

Fergus and Molly just loved the pools

And here's a touch of spring with the wattle bursting into bloom all over the place.

Love Nanxxx

THURSDAY MORNING 10.27AM

Hello my lovelies

I've just had breakfast.  Washing's out on the line.  Papa's at archaeology class with U3A.  I'm sitting at the kitchen table and can see Molly lying in the sunshine on the carpet outside Papa's office.  Spotty is nowhere to be seen but I know that he is lying near the front gate waiting for Papa whom he adores.  He follows Papa everywhere, and I mean everywhere.  If Papa is sitting having his breakfast, Spotty is sitting beside his chair.  If Papa decides to get up and get something from the kitchen, up gets Spotty too and follows Papa close on his heels.  Back Papa comes, and back comes Spotty behind him.  I imagine Spotty must heave a sigh of relief when Papa finally sits down for a longer period of time, say when he's reading or playing his guitar.

This photograph is of Molly about to go for a ride in a dolly's pram when she was a little puppy.  I love her hat!

We've had a very busy week.  I'm not sure if I mentioned that we decided to give the house a wash with Papa's gurney.  I had 'clean gutters' on my list too, but Papa didn't feel they probably needed cleaning but after he climbed the ladder and had a look at them, they told a different story.  Up he got with the gurney hose with me down below moving the machine along when needed.  He used the force of the water to blast out the old leaves and weeds.  You can imagine the effect on me down below, but nothing a good bath or shower couldn't fix.  While he was up there he gave the solar panels a wash too so I'm expecting a greatly reduced electricity bill next month.

I wasn't able to help with the house part for the whole day as I had something on.  When I arrived back home, poor Papa was looking very wet and very exhausted.  It was late afternoon and some water from the hose had evidently gone into the power point on the side verandah.  This has resulted in us losing all electricity.  Papa had already telephoned the electrician but as he wasn't answering his telephone, Papa left a message.  As the clock was ticking close to 5.00pm it was looking more and more like we would be having an early dinner and an early bed with no electricity until the morning.  Thankfully the electrician's wife telephoned just before 5.00pm and gave us the number of another electrician who came within the hour and fixed things up.

The next day, Papa finished off that side of the house and as we both stood looking at how clean it was we realised that half the paint had been blown off parts of the front door and guest bedroom.  Papa decided that as there was probably a hundred years of paint on the paintwork, it would be easier to strip the architraves off and remake them again.  This has turned out to be quite a job, only finally finishing the repaint on the new wood yesterday.  It looks wonderful and fresh again and we are now ready to start on the next side of the house!

After lunch, we are heading down to Brisbane.  Auntie Emma has a book club get-together on the Gold Coast with her pals.  They try to do this once a year so Papa and I are going to look after the boys.  Michael will also be away as he has a seminar somewhere down that way too.

He will be back Saturday and Emma on Sunday I think.  Papa and I will head home again on Saturday.

Sunday we are going to Bob and Bev's for lunch.  They have been very busy too over the past couple of weeks.  It has been school holidays and they have been helping look after their two grand-daughters, Georgia and Harriet, sometimes known as George and Harry.  They have also had their son Mitchell, his wife and their two children over from Hong Kong for a visit.  It will be lovely catching up with them and hearing all their news.

Well my darlings I must awa'.  The dogs know something's afoot as I have my suitcase open on the bed!

Looking forward to chatting on the telephone.

Love Nanxxxx

FINISHED!

Hello my lovelies

I finished it this afternoon just before heading up the hill to Bible Study.  I even managed to give it a quick wash and laid it out on the table on the back deck.  When I arrived back home it was all dry and ready to have its photograph taken.

Love Nanxxx

PLUMDOG

Don't you just love these drawings?  They are from one of my favourite blogs which is called PLUMDOG BLOG and is written by Emma Chichester Clark.  Here's a link to the blog.

Thought you would like the drawings Liliane.

Love Nanxxx

CARING IN UMBRIA

How on earth did you squeeze all this in your suitcase Liliane?

Love Nanxx

READING IN UMBRIA

What were you reading Freya?

Love Nanxxx

WEDNESDAY QUILTING AT KERRIE'S

Hello my lovelies

At quilting on Wednesday, Leona brought along one of her quilts that she has just started quilting.  Leona has a lot of work to get through before September as a special quilt show featuring Leona's work is going to be presented at The Homestead in Fairholme College in September.

This quilt, as you can see is just gorgeous.  Don't you just love the colours?   Leona has done all the applique work by hand.  

What about this super gorgeous rabbit?

And...

The material that has been folded over the edges is actually the backing material.  Leona has folded it over to protect her end seams while she quilts.

I'm off to quilting at Robyn's this morning.

Hope you are having a lovely day in Umbria.  When do you head home to Geneva?

Love Nanxxx

QUILTING IN UMBRIA AND TOOWOOMBA

Hello my lovelies

I just love this photograph of your Mumma.  She looks so relaxed.  I'm wondering how she is quilting this beautiful cloth.  Has she put in batting and a backing piece of material?

It was a leggings, fleece and beanie walk today but lovely and sunny.  I noticed lots of signs of Spring in the gardens I passed, especially Jasmine which seems to be hanging over every garden fence.

Papa has headed off to his archaeology class and I'm about to have breakfast and have a think about what is on my list for today.  One of the things will be to make the binding for my Christmas quilt.  I pulled out some green bits and pieces yesterday and they are lying beside the machine ready to experience a metamorphosis and become the finished edge to a quilt that will be brought out each year at Christmas.  Aren't they lucky bits and pieces?

Love Nanxxx

WEDNESDAY MORNING 9.44AM

Hello my lovelies

I've been very good today and went for a walk this morning.  As the dogs had already been for a walk with Papa, Molly wasn't that happy about going for another one but I dragged her along anyway.  It was freezing cold and windy but I stepped it out in a brisk manner and managed to keep the blood pumping around the body.

When I arrived home, Papa was ready to head off to U3A and his guitar lesson.  U3A has been on holiday for three weeks, it being the end of semester break time.  I think he's glad everything is back to its normal routine again and he can take off while I am busy writing my lists of THINGS THAT MUST BE DONE!

After he left, I took off my extension piece of material on my Christmas quilt and moved it along to THE LAST PIECE ready to quilt.  I then dragged out my green box and chose some bits and pieces for the binding.  I think I may have enough of the back which still has to be trimmed to make the sleeve.  It's all happening here.

Today is quilting up at Kerrie's.  A good day to sit with a quilt on your lap and quilt as I said it's very cold.  It's to be cold and windy for the next couple of days.

I had a lovely morning yesterday up at Charis'.  Anne Green came along as well and the three of us sat out on the verandah chatting about grandchildren, books, gardens and a million other things that are too many to mention. Charis has taken a term off school so enjoying the days where she can decide what she would like to do.

The photographs of you, Mummy and Carolyn are just beautiful.  You all look as though you had a ball together.  

Golden photographs from Umbria.

Love this one.  Mummy looks particularly naughty.  And Carolyn looks as though she is seriously considering the suggestion.

Love Nanxxxx

SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT 12.24PM

Hello my lovelies

Woke and pulled the IPad out to see what you have all been up to.  Mamma has put up wonderful photographs on Facebook which give a wonderful feel for your day.

Another beautiful day here today.  "These blue skies..."

Papa has just popped out to the shops - can't remember what he's gone for.  I thought we had everything we needed for lunch.

I had a sleep-in this morning.  Couldn't believe the time when I woke up.  I could hear voices in the kitchen.  Keith had popped in and was having a cuppa with Papa.  Was very good, and still went to church.  Quick shower, made the bed, load of washing on, bowl of cereal and out the door.

Andrew the minister is on long service leave so we had a guest preacher this morning.  The poor man had a sore throat and had to suck some lozenges to get going.  But, his sermon was beautiful.  The Old Testament reading was from Numbers 6: 24-25...

The Lord bless you and keep you

The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you

The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you His peace.

The reading from the New Testament was from Matthew chapter five - the 'Blessed' verses.

He said:

3 

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 

Blessed are those who mourn,

    for they will be comforted.

5 

Blessed are the meek,

    for they will inherit the earth.

6 

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

    for they will be filled.

7 

Blessed are the merciful,

    for they will be shown mercy.

8 

Blessed are the pure in heart,

    for they will see God.

9 

Blessed are the peacemakers,

    for they will be called children of God.

10 

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

After church, I headed home.  Papa made a cuppa and we sat out the front until it was time for Songs of Praise which was a wonderful episode all the way from Ireland - County Antrim.  I have never been to Ireland.  The scenery looks like Scotland, only softer.  

There was a fabulous singer, Kathryn Scott on the programme.  HERE'S a link to her singing.

Must run.  Papa is calling me for lunch.  After lunch I'm popping down to see Margaret.

Love Nanxxx

FRIDAY IN BRISBANE AT 11.51AM

Having a lovely time down here in Brisbane.  I think Spot is enjoying some time with his Mamma.

Because Auntie Emma, Uncle Michael and the boys will be moving soon, Auntie Emma and Papa have been busy moving some stuff this morning to a storage place where Auntie Emma keeps a lot of 'stuff'!  They moved the bikes this morning as they tend to use them up at the coast rather than here in Brisbane.

At 1.00pm Auntie Emma has made an appointment for me to have my hair cut.  It's desperate for a cut.  I'm going to feel so much better afterwards.

We have been so loving all the photographs that have been coming through.  And boy, did it look hot yesterday!  Forty three degrees!  I must put the cathedral in Orvieto on my bucket list.  It looked absolutely fabulous.  And the well!  And the frescoes!  And the chairs!

A wonderful day out and time to rest.

Love Nanxxxx

FAIRHOLME QUILT OR THURSDAY MORNING AT 9.21AM

Hello my lovelies

I am just about to pack my case for our wee trip down to Brisbane.  I can hear Papa in the background getting himself organised.  The dogs are getting mighty excited at the sight of the cases and a trip in the car.  Spotty, especially is mad for going in the car.  When we arrive home with him, trying to get him out is a bit of a carry-on.  Each time we open a door he takes himself off to the other side of the car.

Yesterday was quilting up at Kerrie's.  Because my arm has been very sore, I asked Carol if she could give me a 'friendly' consultation.  Do you remember Carol?  Before she retired she was a fabulous physiotherapist. A bit of alliteration there for you.  Anyway, after having a look at me, and shaking her head and pursing her lips a bit she gave me some exercises to do each day to loosen the muscles in my right arm.  I have been spending too much time quilting without breaks for stretches.  So, I had to put down the needle yesterday but had a wonderful time looking through Kerrie's ABC Gardening magazines.  I took notes of things "to do this month".  Although the magazines were from previous months, I shall put the notes in my relevant 'to do' monthly notes.

Fairholme College are having an anniversary celebration.  Can't remember for what but a quilt is part of the celebrations and Lynne, one of the ladies in the group is making the centre piece with other ladies making blocks to go around.   Here is The Homestead at Fairholme, where the quilt show is held in September.  

And here are a few photographs of Lynne's work to date.

Must run.  PS  The contract is definitely going through for the new house in Brisbane.

Love Nanxxx

WEDNESDAY MORNING 10.49AM

Hello my lovelies

I'm off to quilting in a couple of minutes, so a quick post today.

Wonderful photographs from yesterday, but I must say the convent and 'folly' you visited looked quite unusual.  I loved this photograph of Mummy hiding the more private parts of the lady behind.

I also loved the line where her knickers have left their mark!

Must run!  

Love Nanxxxx

TUESDAY MORNING 9.59AM

Hello my lovelies

We've been getting fabulous photographs through from Umbria.  What a wonderful place to be.  We also looked at the video.  I think you weren't long up and Daddy was making breakfast... 

 I can't believe it!  I had typed reems and reams and it's all disappeared except the first three sentences:(

Your weather looks so warm compared to here where it is very cool but sunny.  There are little signs of Spring though in the garden.  The snowdrops are popping up their wee heads, the jasmine is flowering and the magnolia in the corner of the front garden is in flower.  We also have some daffodils budding.

Wee Spotty Boy seems to be going well.  He occasionally limps to remind us he does have a sore leg, but on the whole, he is a lot better.  We give him painkillers in his dinner each day which I think helps.  Last night he was gazing longingly at the couch and obviously didn't feel he could jump up.  "Have you given Spot his medication?" I asked Papa.  I had been out when the dogs were fed and Papa had forgotten.  He jumped up, drew some of the medicine into a syringe and squirted it down his throat.  He wasn't impressed.

Molly Dolly is going well too although she needs a bath every other day.  I think it has something to do with her fur.  Spotty Boy wanders around with his beautiful, silky mane with not a leaf or burr to be seen, unlike his little sister Molly who walks around like a forest in the Autumn :)

Girls!  I have been looking very closely at your dresses.  They are beautiful.  Is your stripey one now your favourite Liliane?  Has the spotty one been thrown to the back of the cupboard?  There is a lovely Japanese lady who has written a book about tidying and folding clothes.  One of the things she says that when you are finished with a piece of clothing and you are about to throw it out or pass it on, you must look at it and thank it for the service it has given you.  Perhaps you could keep this in mind when you are ready to send it on to new pastures Liliane.

Freya!  One of the photographs I just loved was the one with you in your long white dress standing on a balcony like Juliette or perhaps a Roman goddess.  You looked gurgus gerl!

Yesterday, my Bible Study started up again after its three week winter break.  We are now studying the Holy Spirit.  Simone Clarke the minister's wife takes the study and she is just wonderful;  very gentle and very kind.

Here she is with her husband Andrew.  At the Bible Study she was telling us that Andrew has been studying Astrophysics.  How it came up was that at the beginning of the study, we were looking at the first verses in the Bible in Genesis and where God was and what he was doing when the world was created.  While we were discussing the seemingly contradictory views of God's creation, I mentioned the great mathematician, scientist and Christian John Lennox.  Simone mentioned that Andrew read quite a bit of John Lennox's work and then went on to talk about Andrew's studies.

And...for your viewing pleasure.  I can't remember where I saw this photograph.  It was on one of my blogs.  I've just remembered.  It's from posy gets cosy.  You've got a while to go yet, but perhaps you can start thinking about how you are going to decorate and organise your bedrooms when you get back to Australia.

Love Nanxxxx

MY HOUSE IN UMBRIA OR SUNDAY MORNING AT 10.33AM

Hello my lovelies

Because you are in Umbria and our thoughts are full of all things Umbrian, Papa and I decided to haul out our old DVD of the movie from this book.  We had seen it before but it was wonderful to watch again.  I didn't remember half of the story and was very surprised by the happy ending.

Maggie Smith, the main actress is a joy to watch and listen to. Here she is stepping into a train compartment in the movie.

As you would probably guess, her clothes were magnificent in the film.

While watching the film, I was reminded of Adelaide.  I think it must have been the grapevines and the European weather.  The beautiful garden that was created  during the movie reminded me of Adelaide too.

William Trevor, the writer of the book, was not only knighted by the Queen but also received many awards for his writing which included being nominated five times for the Booker Prize, and was listed for the Nobel Prize for Literature as well.  Here's a link to some information on him.

At the end of the movie, the viewer is left with the feeling that Emily Delahunty's (Maggie Smith's character) life is going to be filled with what everyone imagines living in a house in Umbria brings - sunshine and happiness.

I know that both you girls, as you look back on this holiday with your Ma and Pa, will also have wonderful memories of your time in The Castle in Umbria.

Love Nanxxx

THINKING ABOUT UMBRIA ON FRIDAY MORNING AT 9.34AM

Hello my lovelies

Daddy sent me a link to the gorgeous castle you will be staying in in Umbria.  What can I say?  It looks just wonderful.  I notice that the temperature is going to be around the 38 degree mark today, so there will be lots of time for sitting by the pool.

Have a safe journey.  Send me a postcard for my fridge and give Carolyn a great big hug from me.

Love Nanxxxx

THURSDAY MORNING 9.25AM

Hello my lovelies

Lovely day today although quite cool.  The main plan for the day is some lawn weeding but I'm going to leave it until after lunch when the grass should be much drier than it is at the moment.

We had a bit of an emergency with wee Spot a couple of days ago.  We have been noticing for a while now that he has had a bit of a limp at times.  Sometimes he seems alright and other times it looks as though he has a sore leg.  Anyway, on my way back from our afternoon walk around the blog, just as we were arriving home, he got a fright from the cat next door and jumped backwards.  He let out a yelp which I knew immediately indicated he was in pain.  I picked him up, came inside and called for Papa.  We both locked up the house, grabbed the car keys and head down to the vet.

We had to wait quite a long time as we hadn't made an appointment but we didn't mind as we could watch all the interesting dogs coming and going.  My favourite was the Bijon Frise which had come in with her two wee puppies.  You would have loved them girls!

After we were called in to see the Vet, he began examining Spot.  Spot was in quite a bit of pain and stuck his head under Papa's checked flannel shirt for comfort.  The outcome is that he dislocated his knee.  He is fine now, although he will be on pain killers for a few days.  We have decided to just take him for small walks for the time being, so Papa takes Molly and I take Spot.  I think Spot is rather liking it as I see this as HIS walk and allow him to lift his leg whenever he wants to and to sniff around posts twenty times if he so desires.

Mamma sent an email saying you will be ringing in the morning.  So looking forward to chatting and hearing how your wee trip to Montpellier went and your plans for Umbria.

Love Nanxxxx

WEDNESDAY 4.15PM

Hello my lovelies

Just received an email from Frances with a couple of photographs of her lovely ducks.  As I said, Frances uses tiny scissors to cut out flowers from fabric and then uses her sewing machine to sew them all down using one eighth of an inch seam.  Even the leaves have been cut out.

Aren't they just gorgeous?

xxxNan

TUESDAY 9.25AM

Hello my lovelies

Auntie Emma and Fergus have not long left to head down the hill back to Brisbane.  We've all had a lovely couple of days together.

One of the first things Fergus and Papa did together was to make a wee trailer to go on the back of his bike.  Fergus loves to put things in 'trailers' as he's mad on trailers and anything else that can be hitched on to a vehicle of any sort.  Here he is with Papa putting the trailer together.  Papa had prepared all the pieces before he came.

And here is the finished product.

I think he was quite pleased with it.  It has been packed into the back of Auntie Emma's car and is now on its way to Brisbane.

While Auntie Emma and Fergus were here we took a drive to see if we could see some of the new Bypass that is being built here in Toowoomba.  We took the road up to Highfields from Toowoomba.  You don't go too far up the road before you can see some of the work - not a lot though.  While we were driving to another lookout to see if we could have a better view, Auntie Emma noticed lots of large trailer type vehicles with other smaller vehicles with flashing lights.  Before you could say "Wow!", Auntie Emma swung her car off the highway on to some dirt and grass where all the vehicles were parked.

After talking with some of the men with the yellow jackets on, we discovered that these vehicles, together with police vehicles had escorted the huge trailers carrying steel all the way from Brisbane.  They had set off around 10.00pm the previous evening so that there wouldn't be too much traffic on the way and arrived at the site around 5.00am.  So, it was a long trip.  We were so lucky to arrive when we did as the trailers and escort vehicles were getting to leave to do another trip to collect more steel for the bridges that are being built on the new Bypass.

Here's one of the smaller trailers.  Two huge ones had already left and as they were leaving gave big 'toots' with their horn especially for Fergus.  Fergus got a bit of a fright and went and sat in the car to watch the last one leaving.

After they all left, two of the yellow-jacketed men came over and chatted to us and gave us lots of information about what the journey that day had entailed. To get up the Toowoomba Range, the trucks had to be pulled up!  Here's a picture showing how large the trailers were.

Here's a video showing drone footage of the progress on the new road.

And a wee picture of Fergus and me chatting while having lovely strawberries and ice-cream.

Hope you had a nice time down in Montpellier.

Love Nanxxxx