When things seem too hard

Sometimes things just seem too big to tackle so I either put it off, try to ignore it, make a million excuses or use the procrastination technique that Aaron is so good at.

The last time I studied was in 2008 but I had still not finished my university qualification. I stopped with three papers to go. I found all sort of excuses... no time.. sick children... husband studying... full time work,...moving house...costs too much.  

Over the last 6 years these excuses have been removed one by one. We are healthy, we are settled in our new home, Aaron finished his degree, I work part time, it no longer costs as much.

So I took the plunge and enrolled. As soon as I had I found a million other things to do than to start. I now have a super clean oven, some clean windows (not all), a seat for the end of the bed, a tidy sewing room. 

But in actual fact, once I got over my first few days where I did hissy fits and was stressed 

It's actually not that bad and I am really interested in my subject, I feel it relates well to my work and it is fascinating me. 

But I had to put myself through all that to get to this point!!!

I thought I had finished.

I have slowly been completing more blocks for this quilt and had calculated on 12. All done, including using the offcuts. But I think that it will be too small and make the quilt difficult to use. 

 So although I have finished my blocks. I am now starting again and will make another row. Love red and grey together.
Linking to these places and finish it up friday.

White fleshed nectarine

 When we moved it was autumn and difficult to tell what the different fruit trees were. Our predecessors obviously were like me though. We have now discovered that we have one "Mabel" nectarine. A golden fleshed nectarine and this white fleshed nectarine.

Juicy and delicious and I think it could be another Mabel. To prove that all I will need to do is cook it as Mabel is like a Black Boy peach.  If cooked or bottled they turn dark purple. Unlike the Black Boy peach you don't have to deal with a furry outside. So fantastic for school lunches.

Today this was my breakfast, along with coffee, in front of the computer watching my first university lecture! I have enrolled to finish my Graduate Diploma in HR and am so nervous about it. The term started this week and I have exhibited stress to my family!!! Concerned about the amount of time, understanding referencing requirements etc etc. I feel exhausted. 

But I have to say this has got to be the most relaxed way to study. Everyone who knows me well will understand me being in my dressing gown. 

There are many other people who are raising families, working and trying to juggle study. At least I have empathy with them - another great HR skillset. Best dash. Have time for a walk before my next online at 12noon. Sigh no more free time on a Thursday.

I made a seat from two bed ends

And I am so stoked with it!! It took me about 2.5 hours. I had been putting it off for ages and the bed ends had just ended up in the garage taking room. But with University study looming I am frantically trying to get stuff done, as I will not have any time now for ages.

At the moment it has a pile of cushions on it, but I will make a squab to fit. I wanted to paint it but Aaron decided he liked the wood look, so he will do a test sand. If the colours are not going to match then I will paint it. If the wood all matches then I will just polyurethane it all. 

I started with these two Pine single bed ends. Obtained from the Salvation Army Op Shop for a few dollars.

I measure through the centre of the bed end and cut it in two. This was for the arms. I used a hand saw as our skill saw is old and goes wonky. So all the cutting took forever!! and my arms got tired.

I attached the two halves to the headboard and started to feel confident of my design. I had to go to Mitre 10 to get beading and wood for the seat. But they had a scrap bin and all I ended up requiring to pay for was the beading and front board.

I was so absorbed in my project that I missed a few stages with the making. But you can see the beading and strutting I did underneath.

I was really thrilled that everything matched up. My front was flush with the seat. To be honest I was surprised and when I put it on the garage floor and it did not wobble, I was ecstatic.

Finished in the garage, so proud of myself.

At the end of our bed. I think it is too high sitting there but Aaron likes it. Long term I might chop the top down. But at the moment the building is finished. Making it look pretty now has to start.

I link to these places.

The meals I was most happy with this month.

Who needs a restaurant, when you can do this from your own garden. Dinner last night was wild venison back steak, seared and rested. Using blackcurrant jam to de-glaze the pan and pour the juices over. With a strawberry and radish salad. Oh so delicious. 

Lunch with my sister. Home made Ciabiatta bread, chicken liver pate and raspberry jam. With some home grown tomatoes and lovely local kumene kaas cheese. 

A healthier lasagne. Using zuchini in every second layer instead of pasta. 

Getting the new pizza oven into use. Garlic and chilli bread. Yum 

Thrilled with the refashion

I went from a stack of linen shirts and jackets, all from Op shops at a total cost of $8

To a casual colour blocked shift dress. I used a dress that I enjoy wearing and overlaid it as I cut items for this. That pattern worked out quite well considering I did not even make a paper pattern.  

I really like natural fabrics being linen, cotton and wool. This being 100% linen shirts has made it a bit stiffer than the shift I modelled it off. I need to start thinking about the flow of material. Recently I have purchased a few "fake" material tunics and the drift about the larger body frame rather nicely. 

I was really struggling to get enough dark material for the bottom of the dress so made a bias binding and used that for the hemming 

Absolutely thrilled with the secret pockets in the front of the tunic. I get really annoyed that ladies gear often does not have pockets. What to do with my phone and car keys? Drives me nuts. So these are quite deep. 

Now I have some sleeves and lots of buttons to do something with. Can't waste a thing. 

This has been on my to do list for about two years. I put it onto this quarters projects to finish with "2016 finish a long" to motivate me. And yay it is done.

 as well as these other links and now a new link up with one of my favourite refashion blogs "Sew Outside the Lines"

From the sublime to the ridiculous

At our favourite camping spot. We are all on the bridge.  

We were joined by my brother-in-law, nieces and nephews.

Quite a lot of swimming and a lot of walking went on. Well for some of the smaller crew there was a whole lot of being helped going on. Great to see the cousins so involved with each other.

Sometimes holidays are exhausting. 

A bit of quiet time before bed. NOT!! Anyone that knows this book will know it is not a restful bedtime story, but it is fun. 

Family time together. 

Oh my goodness we swam with massive stingrays!! Not on purpose. But just as we got onto a different jetty in the sounds two huge rays went past. To say Jakob and I freaked out is a mild understatement. 

Then in the middle of it - We got evacuated from the campground. Huge flooding expected. 

But one and half days later it started clearing and we went back to the camp. 

Did a lot of this in the rain though.

Another great week camping at Pelorous Bridge.

A bit of yummy bread making

I had a little bit of time to think about cooking as we came home from holiday early at Christmas. So I pulled out my bread book. First I made Ciabatta. This is rising before heading into the oven. Not as good as it normally is, maybe because the yeast was expired in 2009!!! But I did test it first and it frothed etc as it should. So being a bit disappointed I then heading for a no fail recipe.  

I followed the recipe to the letter and made gorgeous Chelsea Buns. The filling looked fabulous and this was the look prior to rising.

Oh my goodness what a success!! Tasty tasty, with soft bread and a delicious mixed spice and fruit filling. The glaze was meant to be made with orange water but as I did not have any I substituted rose water and it worked really well.

Linking to these places