Black Heels to Tractor Wheels - A Love Story

I finished reading a book the other day.

A cowboy romance with a difference - it is a true story.

A light hearted read which brought a smile to my face on quite a few occasions, as the author, Ree, included down to earth reality snippets within the story of being swept off her feet by her modern, real, ever loving Marlborough Man, as she likes to call him.

The western theme might be enough for some not to want to go there, but don't let that put you off. Ree's telling it like it is attitude through the whole romance makes this book, Black Heels to Tractor Wheels a page turner.

You can read more about Ree on her blog The Pioneer Woman and if you are a recipe buff she has them to share as well.

Sister Linda found out about the book through reading Ree's blog and actually bought the book with sister, Barbara, in mind as she knew that Barbara loves reading western romances. Linda read it first, passed it to Barbara who could not put it down and then I followed. We have had our/Linda's moneys worth out of this book already.

Mum is next to read it but Linda intends to take it to her local book club and share with them as well. She thinks the ladies there will enjoy it as well.

Finally Coming Home

I have written about CiCi before.

She was a stray cat hanging around our place when we moved here over 18 months ago.

As far as we know she had been living the life of a stray for a number of years.

If the slightest thing disturbs her she takes flight but she was not beyond coaxing to come and have a feed and from there we managed to persuade her to sleep indoors.

First in our garage and then, gradually she has accustomed herself to the other rooms of the house.

She often sleeps at my feet at night but it has been very hard to persuade her to take a nap on my lap. Linda has been very good with her and has quite a measure of success but the suggestion of even sitting on my lap was not a good idea.

The other day she popped into our sun room and I managed to pick her up, sit down on my chair and put her on my lap. She sat there for a while, then curled herself up and went to sleep.

Yesterday, even better, she came into the room when I was sitting there and she hopped up on to my lap and curled up again - unbelievable!

Today I looked across to my chair in the sun room and there she was asleep on my chair. I think she has finally come home.

Quilts Really Do Need Labels

Another quilt I have been re-united with on this visit is one that I made for son, Ricky.

The camera shot helped to capture the design that was created in joining the quilt blocks together.

I had won the blocks in a quilt raffle from the Taupo Quiltmakers group and they came together really well to make this quilt.

It has been washed several times (I think) and has become lovely and soft and a bit crinkly and so has a nice feel and appearance.

Nice to snuggle under during this cool period in Sydney.



For the life of me I could not remember when I had made it but when I turned it over there was the quilt label I had done at the time, providing a permanent record of the history of the quilt.

Yes, quilt labels really are worth taking the time out to do.

Every Cat Needs A Quilt

Last night my son, Ricky, slept on the floor amidst a bundle of quilts so that I could have his bed to sleep in.

This morning Oraton thought the quilts would make a nice bed for him. Quite rightly so too!









I had given this quilt to James and Amba the last time I visited in 2009 so it is nice to see it still around and in use.

The mountains of home

Tomorrow, Saturday, I am going to Sydney for a few days to visit with 3 of my sons.

At the moment our mountains are shrouded with snow clouds but prior to this we have seen some spectacular views of them, especially at sunrise and sunset.

I am hoping they will be on show again when I return and I expect them to be blanketed in more snow than ever.



The clouds have been tinged with grey in recent times and the only thing we can put it down to is the volcanic ash that has drifted across from Chile.

The Occasional Piece of Crazy Quilting

My adventures in crazy quilting are less and less these days as my wrists do not seem to appreciate all that is involved in taking me through the process.

Still I can enjoy the achievements of others and occasionally what I do myself.

This rectangular block was machine pieced from quilting cottons and backed with quilters muslin.

I used fusible webbing to attach the silk print and then did some 'free form' stitching to create a floral surrounding for the image.

Even managed to place some petite gold beads at the centre of the yellow lazy daisy flowers.

Crazy quilting is indeed a lovely craft and the possibilities are unlimited.