A weekend away..

 I think I have asked this before, but why does everything take me twice as long as I anticipate? It is 2 weeks since I enjoyed a great, relaxing but reasonably productive retreat at Douglas Scrub. I came home and organised some photos from my walks in the scrub and thought about putting them up as a slideshow - that's still a thought! I went walking each morning at daybreak. I saw a couple of kangaroos but you don't get to see them. They heard me first, and were bounding away.  Here are a few of the photos.

 

 

 

 and this one didn't fly away.... (it is a Guide camp site)

 I worked on a project started 5 or 6 years ago at Quilt Encounter (Topsy Turvy Houses with Beth Miller) -  quite a challenge working out where I was up to, so my houses have undergone some renovation! Now to finish it before I go to Quilt Encounter in July....
Early last week I thought I would just make my tea cosy, so that I am ready for the Red Poles Exhibition (Unravelled: opens on June 2), and then I could devote my time to blogs and family history etc. Well, I finished the tea cosy yesterday. It only took me about 4 times as long as I thought! (I'll post a picture when the exhibition opens). So, no family history or slide shows on blogs, and the next deadline looms - a postcard for 'shanty' by next week.
I must change the jug and echidna photos too, though I don't seem to have acquired any for ages.

Retreating for the weekend

I'm looking forward to spending the weekend quilting at Douglas Scrub - not too sure what I will be doing, but I have pulled out the basket of unfinished projects and will try and get one finished! The weekend is organised (and very well too) by Deb Wight from the lovely Whyte House Gallery at Victor Harbor. You can check it out at  www.whytehousegallery.com.au/ 
So, good friends, good food (we don't have to cook it, and only do the dishes once!), lots of laughs  and a lovely setting with bushwalks and, if they feel like our company, kangaroos....  and a chance to put in some hours on a current project.

This isn't Douglas Scrub, but it kind of captures the relaxed atmosphere. It was surprising to see this recently near McLaren Vale - 2 chairs in the middle of nowhere, beside the road. Admittedly it was a no-through road, but there was no sign of anyone around. Up close, the brownish 'shrubs' immediately behind the chairs is a tangled mess of old fence or vine wire.

I have been working on 6 small pieces for an exhibition at Red Poles in June/July. I think they are finished, but then maybe not. I may embellish some a bit yet. Here is a little bit of one of them.

It is a little bit blurry because I have cropped it considerably.

Below is a picture I took recently of the Myponga Reservoir which is not too far from home, and is our main water supply. It it good to see it almost full. It was very,very low a few years back.

As a great lead in to the weekend I am looking forward to tomorrow night's meeting of the Quilters' Guild of SA, when we have our own wonderful and very talented Michele Hill as guest speaker. Check out her website www.michelehill.com.au  and her great blog williammorrisandmichele.blogspot.com/