On a lighter note - OPAM January finishes

Well, I actually completed two bags over the weekend for some flood victims. I meet with a group of friends once a month - we started out many years ago creating cloth dolls. We decided that we would like to give to some of the nearly local people who have suffered badly in the recent flooding in Queensland. There are many groups making quilts and sewing things, and we thought things for personal use might also be needed. So, cosmetic bags with some toiletries, pretty things to make them feel good, pencil cases with some essentials for notes and lists, and some bags for them to use.
Here is a cosmetic bag and a little purse.

Army helicopters

I hate the sound of the army helicopters coming in. We live under the approach path for the local hospital, and the arrival of an army helicopter means that they have found yet another body down the valley. Our base hospital is the morgue for the flood victims. I wish I wasn't so emotional about this - tears easily spring to my eyes still thinking about or seeing the flooding. One of my workmates is moving to an apartment today - he and his family live at Murphy's Creek which sustained a lot of damage, and his house is uninhabitable.

Drought to floods at Toowoomba

When I left on holidays at the beginning of September our dam levels were at 7%, with less than one year's water supply for our city. We were on level 5 water restrictions - no garden watering, washing of cars etc. When I returned at the beginning of November, our dams were at 60% and we could water our gardens twice a week for one hour. Today our dams are full. We had a flash flood through the centre of town. At least one life was taken and others are missing. Queensland is very wet. At least Toowoomba is not suffering as much as many other communities are.

Jenny of Elefantz is having a giveaway

Jenny reminds us all to Give Thanks for what we have. We need to appreciate our lives and give thanks. Jenny is creating a BOM reflecting the idea of giving thanks, and you will find it at her blog from February.

Retromummy is having a giveaway

Retro Mummy (Corrie) is having a giveaway and there will be two winners each scoring  a fat quarter bundle of the luscious Lecien Flower Sugar fabrics ..all sweetness and colour like fairy floss

You can enter her giveaway HERE.....

The end of the first month

Well, here I am back again, at the end of January. Finally having a go with my photos - here is a dandelion in our back yard, with light colour adjustments.

In December 2008 we went to New Zealand for a visit. This is near Mt Cook one afternoon. There are many things I enjoyed about NZ - the scenery, the people, and the artistic sense of the communities we visited. I think it may have something to do with the beauty that surrounds everyone.

Best wishes for an inspired 2010

Best wishes to everyone for the new year. One of my resolutions is to learn to drive this blog, and to actually update it regularly. Thank you Ange and Julie for your encouragement and support. You will hear more from me.
I return to my paid work tomorrow, and am not really looking forward to it. Although I have had a few weeks off work, I am only now feeling relaxed. I am trying to organize my holiday for September and October this year - I am taking my daughter to France and Italy  - 4 weeks in each is the plan. I am having difficulty in deciding where to leave out.
Further updates to follow.
Susan