From chores to treasures and back again.

 Phew — what a weekend. After seven short‑staffed shifts in a row, I was more than ready for some days off… though they turned out to be just as busy as the workdays.

Saturday started early when the first of two loads of laundry went into the machine before I went walking. Then the moment I walked back in from my early stroll I headed straight into the kitchen. A lemon cream pie was assembled, a huge roast of lamb tucked into the oven, a batch of feijoa jam bubbling away, and a chocolate slice cooling on the bench. Chooky was on Zoom, so I perched the laptop on the window ledge and had cheerful company while I worked.

Once the kitchen marathon was done, I claimed my chair and stitched hexies for a while. Then it was back to chores until our friends arrived — ready to help us tackle that enormous piece of lamb.

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And about those friends…

While I was working last weekend, Debbie and Ange went to the Altrusa craft sale — and they thought of me.

Ange gathered a bundle of batik pieces.

I’m sure I’ll find a use for them, but for now they’ve been squeezed into the batik drawer. Funny thing: I just took two queen‑size quilts out of that drawer, but you’d never know. It’s still very full. Shh… don’t tell Tony.

Debbie scored on my behalf too — a quilt kit.

The fabrics in the kit are batiks of course.

Debbie also found these two bundles of fabric.

She knows I'll use them up. 

Then came the big find. The pair of them were poking about together when Ange spotted a box tucked under a table. She pulled it out for a look… and they both agreed instantly it was a Loulee box. For the bargain price of $10, they brought home someone’s abandoned scrappy hexie project.

The papers are made from old school exercise books — little maths problems and rows of neat handwriting on the backs.

Some hexies were sewn into strips.

Some into larger pieces and there were piles of individually stitch basted hexies too.

Of course I tipped the whole lot out for a play and a tidy and then packed them neatly back into the box

A treasure, truly.

I have some incredibly thoughtful friends.

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We had a lovely evening with our friends, and after dinner we even played a game of Snakes and Ladders. Simple fun, but so good.

This morning it was back to chores — plenty to do before the children arrived. I got a chicken casserole into the oven, then we headed outside to finish the last few jobs before our big trip. The children came, lunch was eaten, more games were played, and now the cleaning up is done. Another quick trip out to the garden saw all but one task completed. That will have to wait until a trip to the hardware store.

Time at last to sit and sew. I need just five more hexies on my latest creation, and then it’ll be ready for quilting.

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2 more shifts at work.

6 sleeps.