Seeing the light ...

Well, I have finally reached the last stages of THE DRESS..
Ready to take up to Sydney to have the final fitting and make last adjustments ..
Unfortunately the lovely photos I took will remain under wraps until Sept 25th!!
Hope the Bride is happy...(fingers crossed)

 I'm smiling as I'm finally feeling well again and can see the dress coming together...

The sun shines in Cygnet on and off...but there is not much warmth yet (unless you are behind glass)

We all go up to check on house progress. The fires have been installed...you can see the flues coming out of the chimneys now

 John is in his element as his IKEA shelving has been delivered...slowly the Library room will take shape.

 Poor Tom is not feeling too good this week...
Has Monday/Tuesday off school with a nasty headache/ fever...then starts to come down with a heavy cold towards end of the week..

 He heads off to Scout Snow Camp on Friday night ..
Going to Mt Field ..he has been looking forward to it for so long...John and I have our concerns about letting him go...but Tom insists he will be fine..

On Saturday, John and I go up on the hill . I cage 14 trees that will need protection from possums and wallabies until we finish the perimeter fence..and Spring growth will begin soon..

I go back down and do more sewing while John works in the library.

Sunday we host a book launch for local author Carol Ann Martin.

She has written a children's picture book called "Underneath a Cow".

Ann wrote the Cocky's Circle books for Scholastic Books...I remember these books when the girls were at school.

I spend the morning setting up table/ bunting etc..

John goes up to do a bit more in the library during the morning.

Ann has arranged for her husband Paul (clarinet) and mates Malcolm(trumpet)  and Brad (guitar)to come and play some children's music. 

Lovely Suzy Manigian brings along her gorgeous teacups and teapots and does a grand job of keeping tea going all afternoon.

I have set up a colouring table with pencils and crayons..and Ann brings some sketches form the book for colouring in.

Ann's friends Anne and Sarah lead the children through a treasure hunt...including ending up under a "cow" table... then read the book to the children   Lots of fun.

 Ann gives a short speech...

We donate the proceed of book sales to Ann who is an active campaigner for the rights of children.

She intends to donate to an organisation that supports the release children in detention and also another organisation that supports indigenous children's education.

I figure out a great way to measure out all the tulle for THE VEIL...

And last but never least...my darling boys...growing up fast..roll on Sept...can't wait to see them again

Long time between posts...GRADUATION DAY

I seem to have a one track mind these days...
This is my focus...
Just slotting life in around stitching every day.

Everything else is a bit of a blur...work has been constant..
Tom had a second Snow Day ...with school cancelled on the Wednesday again due to low snow...but not as low as on Monday..
There was an incredible flock of seagulls circling the paddock out the back during the very cold days for some reason...

We work on fencing and caging on Saturday..

Lovely to see the snow on the distant mountains..

 I have a go at cutting Tom's hair...

Chillier day on Sunday

Jess tells me Ben has mastered opening the front gate...eek!!

My darling boys...

I go down to garden on Thursday.just so they remember what I look like!!. and enjoy a morning of weeding and chat...but don't stay for lunch feast as John has a cream to fill and pack..

Friday is Hannah's Graduation Ceremony in Hobart..so we all head in after work/school.

Very exciting to find her and friend Mel all togged out in their gear..

I take the odd photo or two..

 So proud of Narns..(great bomb Mel)

An interesting ceremony...with a pre-lecture about Graduation etiquette and formalities by a rather pedantic fellow.. (I thought he must have been the warm-up comedy act..but he was deadly serious!!)

 That's him!!

 Of course I missed the magic moment in all the excitement...but you get the idea..

 Happy happy..

 We adjourn to Westend Pumphouse for an amazing dinner..
Jark talks us through the various dishes...wonderful and delicious...
So proud of these two gorgeous nurses working in Critical Care at the Royal...such a huge learning curve ..

Back to business on the hill on Saturday..stacking a load of wood.

Making preparations for moving in at some stage in the next months...no time line though

 We plant multiple varieties of apples and hazelnuts

 The kitchen is coming together..

 We even have a picnic lunch in the dining room...cosy

 The wood stack looks impressive

 Back at work...we are gearing up for another book launch

I pretty- up the lining underskirt of the Dress!!

Whos' that darling fellow...oh it's Jacob.

 Check these out...just precious!! Big B and little J