Truffles, Truffles and more Truffles.

Our daughter Emily is constantly entering and winning competitions. It is her hobby. She recently won a Twilight Truffle Experience which included a Truffle Hunt and five course Degustation Dinner. Unfortunately (for her) she had to work, so John and I went on the Truffle Hunt and had the dinner. We learnt all sorts of things and met the other people on the tour and of course the guide and the gorgeous "truffle" dogs. The truffles are sold for between $1500 and $3000 per kilo depending on the grade of the truffle. They are sold all over the world. Each course we had was made from truffles. First course was Truffle Soup, then Pan-seared truffle infused scallops. Followed by oven roasted beel fillet with a rich Shiraz and truffle jus. After that Truffle Infused Brie and then Truffle Panna Cotta and Coffee and a chocolate truffle. Each course had wine to suit and I have eaten and drunk far too much and feel a bit worse for wear today. We had a good look around down south and think we should buy some land and maybe try growing truffles. Well, even if we didn't do that, I'd like to live on acreage with this sort of scenery..............and no neighbours. I'm working on it.

We would like to move to the country and have acreage. Not sure where though, but we saw some nice land in Bridgetown and then along to Donnybrook. We are also planning on buying a bus and going around Australia. Although, we are not sure when......but I can't wait.

There were two chefs on the tour, which made for interesting and entertaining conversation. From what I hear, I'm glad I'm not a chef. No wonder they're so highly strung. I'm never even thinking of sending my dinner back.

Aren't the dogs beautiful. They love their jobs. After we found the truffles we went back and watched how they were washed and dried out. The photo of the truffles is of them drying just before they are packed. Only the top quality ones are packed and sent to restaurants.

The last photo is of us all at the end of the night. We had eaten and drunk too much. I don't think I can face another truffle for a very long, long time.....but at least I know all about them.

While you're on my blog pop over to Jak Heath and have a look at her gorgeous card. She has a great tutorial on her watercolour pens and is giving away some sets.

Laugh, Love, Live, Be Happy.

This is my favourite block of a nine patch quilt I am making. I've done seven blocks so far and have really enjoyed making them. Next week I will be 50 and thinking about the words on this block made me think that perhaps if we could try and do these things more often life would be pretty good wouldn't it? I've spent the weekend going through old photos to scrapbook. I came across a few of me at 16, yes I was so slim and a couple of John, yes he had hair, long and curly. The kids marvelled at that revelation. But thinking about the last 34 years together, I thought about all the ups and downs of life, sad losses, a tragic loss of a family member, good times and of course the birth of our great kids and thought how so much has happened and I will continue to laugh, love, live, be happy and most of all grow old gracefully - hopefully.

Tote Bag Finished

I have finished my bag. Turned out to be more work than I expected, but I added pockets on the inside and quilted the bottom of the bag to make it more sturdy and then added a fabric covered plastic insert for the bottom (on the inside). It is quite alot bigger than I thought it would turn out to be so I can fit more in it which is always a plus. I have enjoyed making this, so I wouldn't mind trying out different embroidery designs on the pockets with maybe a different colour combination, like maybe autumn tonings.

CATatonic!

While the rain falls and it's cold outside, this is where Zorro resides!

Teddy Tote Bag

Teddies, teddies, teddies! I'm doing different colours on each pocket. Isn't this a beautiful Sue Box design? I think I need to buy her whole C.D. I was lucky enough to find this pattern as a free design on a machine embroidery web site, but now I want more as her patterns are so pretty. I am changing the pockets though as I have machine embroidered the teddies. I hope my Tote ends up looking as nice as the one in the photo in the magazine. I always have great ideas but then the finished project doesn't look as good as the original. Oh well, it's fun trying! I am using alot of Bali fabrics which were sent to me by my good friend Wendy who lives in Ohio, America. We have been email "pen pals" for about 14 years now. Doesn't time fly? It really doesn't seem that long, except that I remember my son David was two when we started emailing and now he is 16, so that's how we work out how long we've been friends. It is school holidays here so I'm not getting alot done, although David sleeps till 11am so I have all morning to do things. Today we are going to my nephews' for lunch.........but I'm not looking forward to driving there in all this rain. The weather here is quite bad and there is a road weather alert out. Yuk!

It's cold but the Pansy's are out!

It's cold outside but the Pansy's are flowering. Pansy's are one of my favourite flowers. I love the different colours in them. Flowers in general have so many beautiful colours and different colour combinations. I like to use the colours in flowers as a guide when I choose colours for sewing projects or making cards and scrapbooking. I caught the cats outside today. As usual Zorro was trying to eat anything that looked slightly appetizing whilst Oscar showed off and watched to make sure I was taking notice of him and not Zorro. They tolerate each other, Zorro following Oscar around like a little brother and copying everything he does and going and sleeping everywhere Oscar goes. Although Zorro doesn't seem to like the "cat beds" I have in the lounge room and under the window in our bedroom.........perhaps he has enough fur to keep him warm in the winter. Here is a photo of a knitting bag I made for my Mum. I have appliqued the pansy's and hand stitched the applique and quilting. Mum used it all the time until she passed away in 2006, and now I keep my knitting in it and think of her every time I look at the bag.

Today I am going to do some machine embroidery. I have found a lovely Sue Box design of a teddy and a pattern for a little bag which has four pockets around the sides. I am going to put the design on the four pockets and will show you next post.

Bye for now,
Helen