Lenora Jenkins Designs

With nerves and excitement

At around lunch time today, my babies are being sold.

Well, they are not babies anymore, they are now 18mths old. But they are ready to move on to greener pastures, a beef farm not a dairy farm, where they will be mated and have their own babies.

I do enjoy selling our cattle at auctions. I have a mixture of excitement and nerves. I wait with bated breathe for our pen to be sold. I will the crowd to bid up. I try to keep track of the numbers but they change so quickly. Sometimes the numbers are great and sometimes they are far from what I expected. In less than two minutes my nerves change to either sheer delight having made a fortune, or full disappointment, cursing the time and energy we have wasted. But today their is no we/ours, they are totally mine to sell!

So think of me at lunch time; I am already jittery with the prospect.

Lenora X.

Christmas Wishes

 

Wind through the olive trees softly did blow,

Round little Bethlehem, long, long, ago.

 

Sheep on the hillside lay whiter than snow,

Shepherds were watching them long, long, ago.

 

Then from the starry skies angles bent low,

Singing their songs of joy, long, long, ago.

 

For in a manger bed cradled we know,

Christ came to Bethlehem, long, long, ago.

 

 

Love this carol, probably something to do with the mention of sheep and shepherds I suppose.

Well, the baking is done, the presents are wrapped, the carols are sung and it is nearly time to curl up in bed. I wish you a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones, and the happiest memories of those who are not with you.

Lenora X.

Meeting Bloggers

I received an email last week from a blogger whom I have been following for so long. So long, I cannot remember her not being on my favourites page. In the email this lady stated that she was coming along the Great Ocean Road and was wondering if I would be free to meet up. (Free, I would have cancelled any appointment.) 

So today was the day we got to meet, and it was not just her, but her family as well. I feel so honoured. It was really hard to pull myself away, I wish we had days not hours. I have been so fortunate to find so many lovely people through blogging, and it is so warming to meet them in person. So who is it?????? Well, I am not going to tell you today, it is her holiday and I will leave it all for her to tell.....  but I am sure you all know her.

We met at Gum Valley Patchwork. While I was there I picked up a few items,

Some felt, fabric and those gorgeous note pads from Anni Downs of Hatched and Patched. And see Rudy, Miss 10yrs has resisted him over the last few visits, but today was the day that she weakened. Looks like we are making a Rudy.

Miss 13 (who keeps reminding me that she is almost 14), has decided that she wants to make the "To Georgia with Love" quilt designed by Leanne Beasley. She picked up a collection of fabrics in mauve's, pinks and blues.

It has been a lovely day. One I will remember for sure!

Lenora X.

 

Another look

I have just been sorting through some of my work and I came across this,

a version of my "Footpaths in the Forest" table-runner pattern. Linda made it for me to take to AQM, and I have been very remiss in not sharing it with you. sorry! It is made from the Curio range of fabric (Moda). 

Lenora X.

Under the spell of Woodland.

Sometimes a new design strikes me like a bolt of lightning. Other times it is born out of frustration (the slumber party bag), and other times the design is a slow process that starts with the temptation of fabric. I see a fabric and somehow get drawn to it's presence. I see it again and then it plays on my mind until I weaken and make the purchase.

When I first saw pictures of Woodland, I thought it was cute. Then I saw it in the flesh at AQM, and fell in love the intensity of the colours.

I have an idea bubbling away, but I am keeping a lid on it until I have all the Christmas shopping under control. Oh, the excitement of a new project..... it is worth savouring.

Lenora X.

Endings

As the sun sets on another day, another job is crossed off the board. 57 days ago we started harvest, and 1,868 rolls later we have officially finished. Well, there are still quite a few rolls in the paddocks to be carted in, but no more grass to be cut and baled. No more scrutinising the weather forecasts, or nervously committing to events.

The end of harvest brings a gentle ease to our life, an end to the busy seasons on our farm. A time we can sit back and just let things tick over until calving time comes again.

For me it means freedom. My days are less ambushed with "Have you just got a minute...". I can find long hours to sit and sew and create, and the arm chair does not put me to sleep this time of year. Yep, Life is good on the farm.

Lenora X.

The Christmas Wanties

Does it happen to you? Do you go Christmas shopping only to find things that you would absolutely LOVE for yourself. It happens to me EVERY year. However hard I try not to look for myself, I always find things.

Quite often it is a book. (Oh, I do love books).

I found this lovely book sitting patiently on the shelf, just waiting for me.

It is a treasure trove of information and lovely photographs.

The perfect way to end a busy day, reading a lovely book with a hot cup of tea.

Hopefully the wanties will just stop here.

Lenora X.

Lazy Days

It has been a really lazy week, lots of housework and jobs to catch up on, but a body that doesn't seem to want to get moving.

So I took another day off today and visited Gum Valley Patchwork, then wandered about some open gardens around Timboon.

 

Nothing like a day in the garden. Maybe tomorrow I might go back to work.

Lenora X.