I have a new appreciation for the beauty of our small local airport - or more precisely, the rural setting of the airport.
Our regional airport is ten minutes drive from the edge of town. It was dark when we left home at 5:30am this morning, however it wasn't long until the sky was lightening in the east. Only two planes were on the tarmac, one had engines covered to protect from the near frosty predawn air.
The other was being prepared for a journey to Sydney.
Only yesterday Miss E (22) returned to Sydney for studies, an eight hour drive with friends. Today it was Miss N's(16) turn to make this journey - she was provided with a ticket to fly to attend three days of intensive cricket training at the SCG.
Miss G (16) and little Miss E watched as the plane disappeared into the distance with promises of a beautiful (yet slightly lonesome) winter's day ahead. There are certainly benefits to living in a country town, one which is large enough to even have its own little airport.
Sharing at Our World Tuesday, SkyWatch Friday.
The water balloons were filled and frozen, a mallet was used to pounded the ice. Three buckets of icy water!
There's a charity donation challenge doing the rounds on Facebook - the Ice Challenge! It was only a matter of time before our active Facebook children found themselves nominated (by one of their cricket coaches). The challenge must be completed within 48 hours, filmed and uploaded to Facebook, specifying your chosen charity and the friends you in turn nominate to carry on the challenge.
Master T and Miss N relished the chance to douse Miss G - and then push her into our very cold swimming pool (we have had frosts recently).
Another tray of ice balloons for three more buckets of icy water and Miss G had a chance to "assist" her twin in her challenge. Times like this I'm pleased to NOT be on Facebook - and that we have mild winters!
Pondering something our pastor said today - the need to hold in balance our humility and nobility. As Christians we are sinners saved by grace yet at the same time we are sons and daughters of the King.
Photos taken yesterday during my sunset walk with Miss E (6) - I love those clouds and colours....
Sharing at SkyWatch Friday.
It's wonderful having Miss E senior home for winter break. Whether it's a picnic in the park together, or a trip to the movies with the younger ones or shopping one on one, Miss E has definitely been playing the big sister in a special way. Only one more week to go before she heads back to college/uni in the Big Smoke of Sydney.
Master J has been missing this family time as he has been back in lectures (up on the tablelands) for a few weeks already. Last Friday there was a morning of excitement at his uni campus as snow fell. Master J had never seen snow, in fact none of our children had seen snow except Miss E (22) who was too young at the time to remember. I had to chuckle at his email which accompanied his photos -
"Well it finally happened. I can now die in peace knowing that I’ve seen snow."
I promptly replied:
"That’s great news - no point tolerating all that freezing cold without the benefit of seeing a little snow!
Just don’t make any plans to die anytime soon!!!!!"
Still enjoying those beautiful sunsets whenever I can......content to live with warm sunny days and a few frosts instead of the of the snowy cold of the tablelands.
Sharing at SkyWatch Friday.
Royal Whispers is now at the finished quilt top stage and I love how it shimmers in the light.
A week or so back when I placed the almost-completed rows beside each other they just didn't sit well. Too much colour and busyness. This brought me back to the same question I had when I first pulled these fabrics together. With the help of Miss O, who has an eye for these things, I went searching for something special in a blue/navy/?? to place between the rows. I brought home two contenders, one of which proved to be too dark. The Royal Arabesque Satin, of which the shop had only 1/4 of a yard left, was voted the winner.
Yesterday I started sewing the rows to the royal sashing with a width of 2 1/2" but found the blue over-powering, it was shouting rather than whispering. Out came the quick unpick/reverse stitcher. Today I tried a 3/4" sashing strip which seems to be just the right amount to let the rows do the talking.
Basting and quilting will be something of a pleasant challenge. I have a few ideas but the answers will work themselves out as progress is made.
Sharing at WIP Wednesday, I Quilt.
