Weekend Away!

Here we are, it's Tuesday ... I think!! ... and I'm a little muddled and losing track of where I'm up to cos we've just had a long weekend to celebrate Anzac Day and I always get a little muddled about what day it is after a long weekend! :0) Guess I'll be muddled again next week, too, since we have the Labour Day long weekend. PHEW! Wish we could spread some of these long weekends out into the second half of the year a bit! :0) Still, my Beloved Geek Boy and I decided to make the most of a four day weekend (I always have Friday off and GB had some overtime up his sleeve) and we headed off to my parents place at Mundubbera for a quiet family weekend.

The main reason for our visit ... besides catching up with Mum, Dad and Tiffy ... was to pick up a couple of pieces of furniture we bought last time we were home. Mum had found a great garage sale and despite giving me a hard time every time I buy something to add to my collections of vintage bits and bobs ("Where are you going to put THAT?!?!") she suggested we take a peek and we bought two items that need some TLC ...

These two items triggered some lovely childhood memories, so they just HAD to be given a new home ... at OUR place! :0) The kitchen cupboard at the back is just like one my Nan and Pop used to have in their dining room, except theirs didn't have the stained glass panels (and this one needs the second one replaced) and it was painted depression green. I remember, as a child, being fascinated with the lift latches and it seemed there just HAD to be a treasure hidden in the drawers I couldn't reach! :0) This one definitely needs a new coat of paint, some repairs to the stained glass panel and a matching stained glass panel put into the second door, but the mesh in the sides is in pretty good condition and the shelves are nice and sturdy, so it has "good bone structure" and just needs some "cosmetic work". I know the feeling! Tee! Hee! Hee! The front piece is the bottom of a kitchen hutch, the shelf part having been removed at some time. Someone has had a go at restoring this one, though it could definitely use a bit more work and an extra nail or two put in to secure the slightly wobbly top, but it reminded me of a hutch my Nan had in her dining room that housed her every-day china trios - cup, saucer and sandwich plate. No matter your ailment or dilemma, my Nan firmly believed it could be improved with a sit down and a nice cup of tea ... or two ... or three! :0) As I get older, I appreciate my Nan's wisdom, cos most situations (and our state of mind!) usually benefit from us taking a moment to catch our breath, have a little 'time-out' and re-hydrate ourselves. Even if it doesn't SOLVE the problem, it often helps us get a more realistic view of the situation so we can proceed. She was a smart lady, my Nan! :0)

As well as collecting our garage sale treasures, I was pleased to give Mum the mug bag I showed you last post for her Heart Sister (I found a pretty cup with butterflies on it and filled it with sachets of 8 different teas for her to pop in the mug bag!) Mum was really chuffed and said she was sure her Heart Sister will love it. And she commented that perhaps she needs something like the mug bag to take a cup and coffee sachet with her when she volunteers at the local tourist information centre or art gallery or the several other places Mum volunteers. (Did I mention my Mum does a LOT of volunteer work and I have to just about make an appointment to call her?!?! Tee! Hee! Hee!) My reply to Mum was ... "Funny you should say that ..."

Cos here is the mug bag I made for my Mum! :0) Isn't it nice when you finally manage to get a step ahead of your Mum who ALWAYS seems to be a step ahead of YOU! Tee! Hee! Hee!  Mum's mug bag is pictured with Finn, a hand stitched mohair bear I made quite a while ago - he was named after Huckleberry Finn from the adventures of Tom Sawyer, cos he just looked like a mischievous little boy! :0)  I chose blue and red fabric for Mum's mug bag to match a backpack I made her a few years ago ...

So now she's all set to be trendy and stylish next time she heads off to one of her volunteer sessions. The mug bag was also accompanied by a packet of 12 individually wrapped choc-coated Turkish Delights (a weakness Mum and I both share!) and a box of cappuccino sachets, so she says she's set for Mothers' Day now! :0)  There might be another surprise for her, but I won't tell for now! :0)

I hope you all had a lovely weekend, too, especially my Aussie blogging buddies who enjoyed the long weekend. And of course, as the weekend was to commemorate Anzac Day, a huge thank-you to acknowledge the role of all members of our armed services, past, present and future for their willingness to risk their lives and their futures that we might have both.

"... At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them."

"LEST WE FORGET"

Til next time,

BEAR HUGS!
CHEERS!
KRIS