River Murray Adventure

Hi Gang! This was the most relaxing trip I have ever enjoyed. Going up the River Murray on a house boat with 8 mates was a blast. We had a masterchef class where I learned how to make sticky date pudding with caramel sauce-YUM!
I got to drive the houseboat through the area where there is a ferry crossing. It was a great new experience but the guys have suggested I not give up my day job to become a houseboat captain. A Tim Tam slam is part of every social event-well it is in Oz when I am there! Did you know that pelicans grow in trees? Well almost. So do Sulfer Crested Cockatoos. Me and my mates Shelley and Rosemary had a great time. Good food, good drink and good friends-who could ask for anything more? If you ever get a chance to go on a houseboat don't hesitate.
G'day Eh!
Bern

It worked!

It may be winter outside but in my heart it is spring......
So I was wishing for sunshine and today it was sunny, sort of, for a little while. So I took my socks off. I had a wonderful quilt day-yes Jane I am on pic 65 of 111. Past the half way mark! I have bought some fabulous wool batting-at least I think it will be fabulous, I will let you know after I quilt it. So I have a new protege-my friend Jenn's daughter Danna is getting the quilt bug. I have started her with something simple-the chop suey quilt. Scraps, scraps and more scraps which I begged from the community quilts commitee of the SA Quilters Guild are being put to good use. Danna and I are going to make some charity quilts and then she is going to do her own quilt. Jenn was working on report cards so Danna and I were busy doing other more fun things. I made chocolate orgasm muffins-no really that is the name of them. I am reading Australian authors this year and the last book I read was by a gal named Kerry Greenwood. The heroine of her books is a baker named Corinna who bakes and solves mysteries. There are always recipes at the end of the book. This one sounded good. I think I am going to have to play with it a bit though I don't think I used enough chocolate. Perhaps I shouldn't have taken those few little bites out of the bar.LOL.

Jane I got my hands on a stack of 5 inch squares-got any ideas for a nickle quilt? Mandy and Anita how are your gardens growing? It's hard to believe that July 1 is just around the corner. I am teaching my possums "Land of the Silver Birch" and have a stash of dulse to share with them this Canada Day. OK I will also share my Ganong Chicken Bones.

Just 2 more weeks til I visit the red center. I can't wait to see the desert. So what are you all up to this summer?
G'day eh!
Bern

Happy Winter Solstice!

BTW I almost forgot it is the shortest day of the year here in the southern hemisphere. YEAH! That must mean more daylight is coming my way soon. YES. Ok so only by 3 minutes a day but we can all use a little more sunshine in our lives.
miss you,
Bern

connect with the world

Hi y'all,
I had a problem with my mobile phone-I dropped it at yoga class and the plasma bled. It might have been the karma-it was psychedelic. Anyway the end result was the phone no longer works. I mostly like things that work. I am now back in the world of cell phones but I don't really know how to use my new phone so be patient if you text and expect a reply. On the up side of life I have handed in my RC's and am going wining and dining tonight. I am quilting tomorrow so life is good. How you going?
G'Day eh!
Bern
PS thanks Jane for your encouragement, sometimes I have a hard time focusing.LOL

To all my teacher friends.........

I too am up to my eyeballs in report cards-seems a bit strange in a way. Winter is indeed upon us here in Adelaide. Yesterday was the coldest day so far at 14.3. Brr. It's the lack of central heat and dampness that is the problem. I have actually had socks on for an entire week! As your school year comes to a close I will be envious of your long summer holiday. Think of me and raise a glass on Canada Day. I will be thinking of you all........

I have discovered a new thing. Bed socks. Warm woolies that you wear to bed if you don't have a personal foot warmer. You all know how much I LOVE wearing socks but I thought I would give this a try. I am also wearing the beautiful and warm CANADA hoodie my daughter brought me to bed. I am a vision of loveliness at bedtime. Tee hee. Almost as lovely as my flannel jamies back home that I wish I had brought with me. I often go outside at lunchtime to sit in the sun and thaw. I really must have a warm heart as I always seem to have to cold hands these days. My new leggings are working great for the bike ride to work. I feel a winter solstice party coming on soon.

OK this is NOT getting my report cards done. Thanks for helping distract me Yvonne. Congrats on your gr 5 next year too! Happy summer everyone!!!!!
G'day eh!
love and miss you,
Bern

PS Jane I can picture your new yard too! Great job on getting all the inside stuff done. Now you will be bale to enjoy the ourdoor time. BTW I will update the quilt pics as soon as I get some more done on it. Now a days I am too tired and cold from school. Besides I have that new addicition-Masterchef Australia.

First Day of Winter June 1st

Hi Guys!
Well it's the first day of winter. Yes it was a lovely 18 degrees here today. Except for every building being damp and cold it's not too bad. I go outside during the day to get warm! You can always spot a gal from Middleton, particularly when she is having a bad hair day. I went to the arts and crafts guild in Middleton and bought some Feijoa Jelly as well as some Mandarin Marmalaide-I have never tasted anything like it-yummy. You will have to google feijoas-I did. learn something new every day! Since I have been basically eating my way around Oz I decided I should become a little more active. Tonight I went to a yoga class. You never know when being bendy or stretchy will come in handy...... The class was neat-the instructor had placed a candle in the middle of the room and there were red heat lamps glowing all around-nice and toasty. I was pleasantly surprised that I could get back up from my downward dog and I actually worked up a sweat doing sun salutations. Oh and did I mention that my friend Pat has got me hooked on the Australian Master Chef program so now I watch telly when I am not busy at quilting or yoga. In honour of my new homeland I also watched the Glee episode with olivia Newton John on it. Come on now we can't sight see and tour around ALL the time. I hope you are all keeping well. I miss and love you all!
G'day eh!
Bern

PS A couple of you have asked about the fish measurement station in one of the last pictures. You find them on Jetty's and they have the different fish on them and what you can keep and throw back- and yes they are measured in man inches!!!LOL