Living the life!

The problem with not blogging for a while is trying to decide whether or not to bombard the Dear Reader with everything that has happened since or to pretend as if I blogged yesterday and just carry as usual.

Hmmm.

 Well, with my parents visit there was a lot more activity than normal, eating out most days for lunch,

visits (sans les enfants) to wineries in the Hunter Valley (if you've not tried a Hunter wine yet apparently you can get hold of some in M&S),

wee day-trips up the coast to Port Stephens.

Mother and I even did a spot of shopping.  We are not compatible in this area, she is a shopper, I am not.  Unless it involves markets.  But we do enjoy a nice Mother/Daughter lunch date.

Obviously the kids were involved with pool days,

walks to Blackbutt (my butt ached for 2 days after the walk home up THAT hill) and general nonsense with Grandpa.

I tried and failed to teach Mother to crochet, she tried and failed to encourage me to be a better housewife, although they did insist on buying us a tumble dryer (never had one and still don't really know what to do with it...) and a new bin.


There were plenty of cuddles, especially Robert who now misses his Grandma :-(

There was some making, including some quilted placemats for Ma & Pa's hosts,

a glasses case for Mother (no photo), I started a scarf with some Noro yarn that Mother brought with her but need to source some more,

and I've made some hot water bottle cozies from an old ripped wool blanket.

Pattern from Martha Stewart here.

And now it is officially Autumn here.  The days will get shorter and it will get (relatively) cooler.  I'm looking forward to getting to use one of these babies myself!

Sadly Ma & Pa went home a week ago and we don't know when we'll all see each other again.  Hopefully it will not be too long, and maybe it will be us going back to Scotland next time!   To cheer me up, and as part of the ongoing 40th celebrations, hubby and I got to go on a date to Lizotte's to have dinner and hear the wonderful Eddi Reader (you may know her from her Fairground Attraction days).

What better excuse than to get out the gorgeous birthday bag sent from 2 lovely Edinburgh ladies!

When we first got married nearly 19 years ago, hers was some of the only music we could agree on so it took us right back.   Definitely need to make more of a effort to get dolled up and go out on our own more!

So that's about it for now, hope all is well in your neck of the woods!