1 sleep to lift-off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First we had a bath!!






Then I was taken and dumped!!! At least she left me some food, and my favourite chair...you know, the one I sat in at the market so she had to buy it!












Next this kind lady picked me up and I waved goodbye...I wonder how long it is for this time!!

2 sleeps to lift-off!!!

Final stitching done today..machine things are finished but my clothes sewing isn't! And as for the hand sewing?????? Will have to take that with me! Tilley is almost packed and I am partly packed. I'll never make this plane!
Todays pic is of Ballan Primary School. We don't have a secondary school in Ballan.
Nite all!

3 sleeps to lift-off!!!

Another stitching day. Still lots to stitch! I can't believe I only have 2 more days to get ready! Today I went to the "Beauty Parlour" It didn't work, but I tried! See you all really soon!!!

4 sleeps to lift-off!!!!

Only 4 nights to go...can't believe it! My Greyhound pass arrived today, this time with my name on it!! Did a little stitching, went and got my haircut and some more stitching this afternoon/evening. I'll never be ready to go!!! Here's a pic of the Hairdresser with guess who ;).I was looking today and we have four Real Estate Agencies in town. I think maybe the town is growing...just a bit!

5, yes 5, sleeps to lift-off!!!!

Another day of stitching, sorting and computer. I can't believe it is only 5 more days! I'm not ready! Too much still to do! Here's a picture of St. Bernards Catholic Primary School front garden. Nite all!!!

6 sleeps to lift-off!!!

This morning I started stitching my Hershey exchange piece, did boring things like catching up with the washing, returned all my library books and then made up the bench part of the garage pack. Still have to add the door and make 3 drawers! This evening I spent on the puter, talking, but now I am off to stitch. Nite all!

7 sleeps to lift-off

This is the result of delivery men delivering a garage pack. They broke the post off below ground when reversing their truck! But I did get my garage pack, and made up the cupboard yesterday. On the positive side I have finished designing my Hershey exchange project!

8 sleeps to lift-off!!!

This morning I spent beading and have finally finished my beading project. Will share it one day :)
This afternoon was spent on the phone trying to sort out my tax return...'nough said!
Todays pic is of the Freemasons Hall. Not a very attractive building, but quite old.

9 sleeps to lift-off!!!

The countdown has really begun! I can't believe it's almost time!
Another beading and puter day and some visiting. Hi Ina!
Tilley says hi to all!

10 sleeps to lift-off!!!

Off to collect Liz this morning, then to Spotlight in Ballarat for fabric. Then over the road to KMart to try and find out what has happened to a delivery that was ordered July 23. Even though delivery was 2-3 weeks it is booked for August 3o!?!?!?! Not good enough. It will now be delivered Friday! It better be or you'll likely hear me in Canada! Finally off to Patchwork at Guild. Hmmmm...I beaded!
After Guild, back to the travel agents to collect the rest of my tickets! Whoops..my Greyhound Canada pass has someone elses name on it, but my passport number! Cannot be altered or it becomes invalid so it has to be returned to Sydney and reissued!! I hope they let the person who has the ticket with my name on it know he/she is likely carrying a ticket they can't use! I am also very glad we noticed it before I tried to get on the bus in Calgary!!
Then went and got my International Licence. Not sure I want to drive on the wrong side of the road, but at least I can if I need to! A few other things then home.
The picture today is of the Entrance to the Hostel where my mum lives. I think the statues were carved with a chain saw!

11 sleeps to lift-off!!!

Well today started out the same...beading and sorting, but I'd run out of photos so Tilley and I went for a short drive....very short as it happened!
Out the drive and around the corner...thump, thump, thump!
So I pulled over. Sure enough a flat tire..flat as a tack! Would I drive the next 2 blocks to the garage...nah. Rang the RACV (Automobile Club). They'd be about 10 minutes. I had barely hung up and he was there! Tyre changed and I asked for a photo. Of course Tilley had to be in it. I meant on the ground , but he thought picking her up was a better idea! Then off to the garage to get the tyre fixed. The puncture was from a broken tip of a Stanley knife...not mine! Eletrician, plumber, or builders..who knows? Anyway while tyre was fixed we had a short chat with the local constabulary, who consented to his photo being taken for you all.
The last photo is for Mandie's kids :)

12 sleeps to lift-off!!!

Another quiet day. More beading and puter. I need to get back to stitching!
And I've run out of photos so we will have to go take some more tomorrow. Tilley will be pleased to get out. Hope the weather is fineTodays pics are of two of our 3 hotels.
We may be a small town but we have the necessities, 3 pubs, Post Office,Hospital, Nursing Home, Hostel, Ambulance, Police and train station, chemist, hairdressers, laundromat, caravan park, hardware store, plumbers, two "op" shops, milk bar, takeaway, bakery, and a new supermarket. And some others.
Not so small I guess, but not large either!
More tomorrow....nite all!

13 sleeps to lift-off!!!

Another day of beading, stitching and computer. Sorted out some things about the cruise and other events after Hershey. Less than 2 weeks to go!
Todays pictures are of the Ballan Courthouse, which is also the Historical Society Office.
The other is the Mechanics Institute. At the back is the Community House where we do lots of courses. I even occassionally teach some :)
Nothing else to report today...nite all!

14 sleeps to lift-off!!!

Can you believe its only 2 weeks to go??? I can't!
Another day of beading and puter! Been really lazy today. At least by not going out I'm not spending my trip money!!
Todays pics are of the original Ballan News Office, our local newspaper which has gone through many changes even in the 20 years that I've lived here! Its last use was as the Hospital Op Shop before it moved over the road to its new premiseswhere it's been for a few years now! We've got a quiet weekend so perhaps I'll get some more sewing done...lets see!
Nite all!

15 sleeps to lift-off!!!

Another day of beading and sorting, until this evening when we went off to Bacchus Marsh for the "Not Just Quilters" group. Just as well its not just quilters because I took my beading. Did a little but it was more talking than work! ;)
Todays pics are of our Shire Office here in Ballan, and then inside, 3 stitched pieces worked by members of Ballan Art and Crafts Society Inc. I was not a member when they were worked, but I did do the sign in between the two wool embroideries! They are of Australian flora and if memory serves me right are of two zones of Australia, one was tropical I think. They are beautifully worked with lots of different stitches. Wish they were mine! The wool tapestry is huge and partly three dimensional. Three amazing pieces!

16 sleeps to lift-off!!!

Nothing happening today except for beading. Cold and very windy outside so we didn't even go for a walk. Slept in in fact.
Todays pics are in the centre of town. The Rotunda and play area in Macleans Reserve, next to the Coffee shop and over the road from the Newsagents. Right in the middle of town as you head towards the train station. As its still very windy and getting worse, I am off to bead some more before nature closes down my puter.
Nite everyone!

17 sleeps to lift-off!!!

Today was a very quiet day with pleasant weather so Tilley and I went off to take photos after we had visited Mum.
Today we are sharing pics of the "Teapot House".
Originally a private home, it has recently been sold and the new owner is hoping to open it as a tearoom.
The garden is open to all, just make sure you shut the gate!
Tilley had a wonderful browse of the garden and on the way out I tried to leave a decoration in the fence! Decided against it and removed her ;) I'll have to leave her soon enough!

18 sleeps to lift-off!!!

As promised, here are the pics of the Quilters Retreat. I actually only took one quilt pic, but there were lots there! And lots finished, or almost finished on the weekend.
Our list of requirements for the weekend included a slip of paper with an item on it. We had to wear this on Friday night and remain "in character".
A lot of laughs were had!
Saturday and Sunday we stitched and supped, and of course talked and laughed. It was a great weekend. Thanks Rae for arranging it all!
The photos start with two views of Allawah Lodge, where we stayed.
Next the dress-ups!
Cowboy Hat
Fishing Rod
Gumboots
Evening Gloves
Hula Skirt
Hard Hat
Magic Wand
I missed some...sorry about that!
Then there are photos in the hall, one from upstairs looking down and one from downstairs looking up, then the marvellous bargello quilt. It's based on dinosaurs!
The last photo is of a very small piece of bottlebrush. The only one I saw all weekend. Must be an early bloom!

21, no 20, no 19 sleeps to lift-off!!

This is just a quick post to let you know we're home. Friday was a really busy day,firstly driving Tilley to the Marsh for her "sleep-over", then back past home to Ballarat for a Guild "Sit And Sew" at Hilda's, and then last minute bits and pieces in Ballarat before the drive to Lady Northcote Camp for the Quilters Retreat. The road down to the camp was awful! Steep and winding, very steep!! I was glad I made it before dark....some didn't and missed the entrance! The signage points towards the Marsh and if you haven't been there before you wouldn't see it coming from Ballarat. I missed it and had to turn around and go back.
Todays photos are of Hilda's "Sit and Sew". Tomorrow I will share the ones taken at the retreat, and tell you more about it. "See" you then!