A Carer's Break Away!

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to participate with other Carers a trip to the 

Snowy Mountains of New South Wales 

A pic of sunset at arrival

DS trying out a tandem bicycle he has purchased to take JoJo for rides with Mr Armchair assisting

The welcoming fireside at our venue Rydges Snowy Mountains

A cushion I purchased........as if I need a new cushion but this was TOO hard to resist

the back

The Sun coming up over my view at Lake Jindabyne

On the last evening there was a Masquerade Ball and I wore an authentic mask and cape purchased in Venice by DS

The Menu for Dinner but of course I had the gluten free version

A most interesting dessert

One of the beautiful prints on display

The next morning we were in for a treat

I knew we were going to Thredbo but I didn't know this included going on the chair lift

A W E S O M E

Going up

On the way up some parked machinery

A quick selfie......and I was loving the cold

whoever thought I would miss it lol

1 deg celsius up top

Up the top

and coming back down

Thank You Carers ACT

I had the best time

Now back to the business of caring and working out this new NDIS scheme

(National Disability Insurance Scheme)

~A New Wood Fire For Us and Mimi~

Just very recently we decided to latch out and get ourselves a wood combustion stove for heating....

This is the first time in many years that we haven't had wood and we were really starting to miss it....

Above is our first pile of wood ordered

And these are the gloves of a Worker......JoJo who has been looking forward to this load so she could stack it up.......How cool is that......one less job for me!!!

All done and stacked with the help of Mr Armchair......

This is the gas heater that will be replaced

The corner is this living room was the best spot for the stove

The step had to be shortened so it could fit into the corner

And yep, the flue was going to go all the way up through the ceiling!!!

Step cut and stove positioned

And covered over while the big job started

I went outside and thought these flues looked pretty cool standing there upright!!!

Ceiling hole cut and skylight appeared......for a little while anyway!!!

View looking down from upstairs when installed

And all ready and waiting to go!!!

Alight and looking lovely

By putting the flue all the way up we have an extra 30% heat and lovely warm bedrooms and bookcase too!!!

And the first fire and how warm is this......we just love it and JoJo brings wood in each day!!!

All done by Jason......I thought I better put his truck in so I know where his number is if we even need him again!!!

Our steps were covered with carpet which we pulled off

At the top step we pulled out the first piece of timber and look there was a little branch in one of the boards......how incredible is this!!!

I had Mr Armchair chip it away and I will keep it as I'm not likely to see anything like this again!!!

And look at Mimi how she's grown except she doesn't know she's big!!!

Here she is under the coffee table a couple of months ago.......she doesn't quite fit now LOL!!!

And her beautiful new 'punk' collar!!!

These past few days have been a whirlwind for us

JoJo has just had a birthday......we went up to Canberra to celebrate at La Scala Restaurant......

her favourite!!!
On Friday it was the Canberra Craft and Quilt Fair

and Phantom of the Opera at Canberra Theatre on Friday night
What a show this was......absolutely superb!!!

Today some visiting and then home this evening
We are exhausted but happy and I have soooooo much catching up to do in Blogland and emails!!!

Meanwhile the fire is going.....Mr Armchair is cooking dinner and all is well in our little World!!!
Happy Weekend everybody......Love Dzintra

A Candle Warning

Yesterday evening I got the shock of my life!  

Lucky I was in my sewing room near a coffee table upstairs outside the bathroom.

I looked out of the doorway and thought it looked a bit bright so I had a look and blow me down I had a little mini fire atop my candle.

It's one off those that house a tee light and then above that in a little bowl you add some wax.

Well somehow wax caught fire!!!!  I just stared at it!!!

Thank goodness the bathroom was there and I poured 2 cups of water on it which put it out.

And oh dear a little shaken about this...especially since my beautiful topper is ruined and it was a birthday gift from Friends in Stitching this year...

Below left is the candle holder......even the remote copped it......and my little phone cover as well is singed! 

The biggest lesson here for me is to keep an eye out when a candle is alight......lucky I was right there

~OPAM...One Project A Month......and Mogo Melodrama~

Just a little item this month for OPAM

Above are fabrics JoJo chose together with a Santa button to make the pattern below

'The Christmas Goose' by Anni Downs of Hatched and Patched

She specified just the Santa......no ric rac but Christmas ribbon was okay and the lining the same as the outside

All filled with treats for our Christmas in July dinner that we had last weekend in June!!!

And the reason not much stitching happening and the Christmas in June dinner

I'm involved in a Melodrama at Gold Rush Colony in Mogo

The Gold Rush Colony is a fabulous 1850's  Theme Park depicting life as it was in the early Australian Gold Rush Days and I just love going there!!!

Here I am above warming up by the huge open fireplace there

Flyer for the Melodrama

Did Joe Flanagan hit the jackpot?

Lots of Sing-a-longs......and it's all so much fun!!!

The Melodrama opens this Saturday and for the next 2 Saturdays for a matinee and then a final performance on Saturday 27th July in the evening

All held in the Digger's Rest Tavern

I'd swear you were back in the Wild West