Mmm... Yum!

I took a break from my reasonably strict eaten rituals today.

As tradition in my little family goes, On Queen's Birthday weekend, we make olibollen and appelflappen. Well this time we went a little further and made croquettes as well. And Yum Yum they all were.

What on earth? I hear you asking. Olibollen is a traditional Dutch kind of donut (minus the hole) which some currents added and are sprinkled with icing sugar. Best eaten while still hot. Then they have a crisp outside. Appelflappen are similar but have apple and some cinnamon added instead of currents. These would have to be my favourite.

I wish I had taken some photos so I could show you all how well they turned out but alas I don't even have left to take a photo of. Yep they were all gobbled up. But believe me they were really yummy.

Bernie

A little time to get away and relax

Relax. Yes ok, I will.
I have just returned from a relaxing weekend away with my man. This would be the first time in a long time the two of us have been away together without the kids.
We ended up in Bright, Victoria instead of Wilson's Promontory National Park as was first planned. I think we would have got blown away and ended up with icicles hanging off our noses if we had of gone to Wilson's Prom.

Bright was beautiful, as it always is. The weather didn't cooperate until we were looking at going home. But you know I'm always going to nosey through the shops no matter what the weather is like. And guess what, in Bright it self there are two gorgeous little shops full of all sorts of quilting things and notions and embellishments. Ah yes, I was in my element.

Sew Bright Alpine Quilting

Sew Bright Alpine Quilting is a gorgeous little shop that sells fabric and a heap of embellishments. What I loved the most was all the quilts they had hanging around the store. It was such an inspiration to see all of them and all so beautifully finished. You can view Angela's store here. However I think being in the store just has a specialness about it.

I also had the rare opportunity to show my man what a machine quilting set up looked like and how much room it takes. Finally I think he has agreed to let me get one in the future (something I have always wanted) and will allow me to take over one of the rooms in the house. However as much as I would like it to be the lounge, I think it will be a bedroom when one of the boys move out.

Country at Heart

I also popped into Country at Heart, also in Bright. It has everything you could ever need for Christmas in the way of statues and quaint little ornaments for the tree. But it was the back of the store the I loved the most!!

I loved it so much I just had to share

This whole area of the shop was devoted to the autumn colours that Bright is so well known for. All the fabrics were rich rustic colours and woven wool fabris abounded. They had patterns to match with all the autumn colours and highlight the season so well. Once again browsing through the website does not come close to meandering through the corners of the shop and feeling the fabrics. But for those who can't get there in person you can visit it here.

I got back to our little cottage for afternoon tea and all that could be done after seeing all I did today, was stitch. So with a nice cuppa and the sunshine poking through before it set, I settled down to stitch for a little while.

It was inspiring to look at what others have created and to dream about what could be and purely relaxing to sit in the sunshine and stitch. Overall the weekend was great and I find that my love for crafting has had some rejuvenation along the way.

Bernie

I love Craft Night

Last night was "Craft Night", as so affectionately called by a rather crazy group of us who get together once a month to craft. There are all sorts of handcrafts brought along by the ladies and all sorts of conversations had. (Sorry what's said a craft night stays at craft night.) I must admit that its something I look forward to for the whole month. Getting to get together with like minded people, chilling out and doing what we all love - craft.
So what do we do? Well there was knitting, crocheting, patchwork, cross stitch and sewing and lets not forget the cutting out for the next project. The mix always seems to differ and the amount done always varies based on the conversation being had. 
Last night, we were in for a treat. We got to see Mrs S's newly finished house. It is gorgeous!! But what had some of us really excited, was the craft room. Mrs S has a purpose built craft room with space for everything and more. What caught my eye first was her gorgeous glass jars with buttons in them.(pictured) 

They were perfect sitting along side jars of ribbons and pins and buckets of markers and brushes. Everything is visible and the room is well lit. A good size work bench for the sewing machine and all the cutting that needs doing is easily accessible. Mrs S you have done it. You have created a fantastic space for craft. 
However there was only one chair in there and I don't think even dragging other chairs into the room would have allowed the 8 or so of us to sit and craft. So around the big kitchen table we gathered.
We talked quietly serious and then laughed loud and at the end of the night, I wondered if I would have a voice at all in the morning. I love that there is no agenda, no rules and no kids. Just us ladies and our craft. 
What great friends are made when craft is the common thread.

Bernie

The cricket is on

I have been having the most amazing time lately. I haven't been to any exotic places or purchased anything extravagant. I am just in a really good place at the moment.
The cricket has been on TV (boring!!). However this has created a rare chance for both my man and I to sit down and chill. He loves watching the cricket and I have taken the chance to crochet and chat to him at the same time. This is so special and I love discussing the silliest things to more serious questions. I know I sound like a silly newly wed but we are far from that. In just over a month we will be celebrating our 12th anniversary and to be truly honest, he is my best friend and my soul mate.

I still find cricket boring but this is a little something I got finished the other day, thanks to cricket! :)



Bernie

Out at the park

Loving the sunshine at the park with the boys. Yep made sure we all have sunscreen on.
The boys have met a bunch of kids from school who are fishing but a think they may have caught some tadpoles and frogs. It makes me think that maybe I should have bought with me some stitching to do.
I can't remember the last time I caught a frog or tadpole. Such funny childhood memories. I was more likely to be the one trying to catch grasshoppers.
As kids my mum & dad used to take us camping multiple times during the year. Mum would always make sure there was a container that I could use as their temporary house. They were my pets until the holiday was over.

Bernie

I don't want to go through that again

This past week I have found myself in situations that were rather stressful to say the least. I didn't need someone to tell me that I was experiencing stress or a professional to diagnose it. I knew it by the way I felt and the way it altered my ability to think clearly and make the right decisions.
It took a lot of self talk and a couple of supportive people, which included my man and some ladies from Craftaholics, to get me back on track. However I don't think the Craftaholics ladies would even realise how fantastic they were on Wednesday night and how they helped. Love you ladies.

It got me thinking though. What are these times of extreme stress doing to me?  It is amazing how bad it is for our minds and bodies whether it is long term or just short periods of it.
Apart from the common signs of stress; headaches, sleeplessness, irritability, loss of appetite; did you know that it can also cause the following: nightmares, excessive burping and flatulence (Oh that wouldn't be fun), muscle spasms, hives and unexplained allergy attacks, forgetfulness, disorganisation and even confusion. http://www.stress.org/topic-effects.htm 


Breaking it down, it makes me want to be more in control of how I handle the situations that cause my stress. How on earth do we do that when ultimately none of us are in control. I suppose we need to limit the amount of effect the stress has on us.
For me its the self talk. The words and phrases that I use to bring things back into perspective are so very important at the time when the stress is most prevalent. Then its the support of the people around me, not to let me cry on their shoulder. They are there to say "Hey come on, you're better than this situation. You have dealt with bigger problems than this." And they are there to stop me replaying the situations in my mind. Hindsight can be great but not if we are looking back at what we would have done differently and bashing ourselves up for it. Use the hindsight to work out what you can learn from the experience and what you would do different Next Time. Once I have run these things through my head, I must move on and be ready for what life throws at me next. Journal your feelings, thoughts and actions for next time. I find it so benefical to get things out on paper and stop them circling around in my mind. Just take a slow deep breath and move on.

Yep it is always easier said than done!! If you can do it, Well Done. Pat yourself on the back and reward yourself with some me time! For me, it will be crochet this time, on my comfy recliner with a little yummy too. Right now my only stress is which yummy will I eat first. :)

Bernie

Perfect time for crafting

You know there is one really great thing I love about an Australian summer and that's the tennis.
Watching the Australian Open is the perfect chance to get crafting done. It offers the perfect excuse to take time out for me and kick back with some hand stitching or quilting. 
I mean really it is more fun to watch others run around playing tennis! Especially when I can do the things I love at the same time. 
So Happy Stitching!!


Bernie