Thank you NSW RFS and Bungendore Fire Brigade

You may have seen the news and the terrible fires around NSW and Victoria over the last 24 hours. On Monday evening we received a catastrophic fire alert from the NSW Rural Fire Services for the following day.  We started monitoring the area early yesterday morning and kept informed through the Fires Near Me NSW app, twitter, facebook, news and local radio.

We had two close fires reignite after lighting strikes on Saturday, and a new bigger crowning fire (Sand Hills) in the tree tops 13 kms east of town, 1052 hectares burning. The highway between Bungendore and Braidwood was closed.  The fire was uncontrolled and we were on alert to evacuate if needed.

It was a very sleepless night and the firies have been working around the clock to keep the western and eastern sides controlled. This morning just before 6am the warning was updated to 'Advice' status and the fire is now controlled.

Thank you Bungendore Fire Brigade, NSW RFS crew and volunteers that have kept us safe and informed. Lets hope the fires are out soon.

You can see the coverage of the firefront here.

Happy New Year 2013 and Happy Birthday Kade

Wishing you all a fantastic 2013 and the biggest Happy Birthday to Kade who is now 11!

Merry Christmas

This will be my last post before Christmas. I had intended to do lots of Christmas ones, but did not get the chance. I will leave them until next year.

This year we decorated our little white tree with vintage tinsel, baubles and a few glittery birds sprinkled in for good measure.

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas with family and friends. Safe and happy travels if you are on the roads. I hope Santa brings you lots of goodies.

Thank you for your support and friendship over the last year and will see you after the Christmas break. Enjoy the holidays.  Tam and family xxoo

A quick whip around in the sun..vintage finds

Boy, it has been hot over the last couple of days, yesterday was no exception. They moved the date of the Queanbeyan Swap Meet this year as the bad weather usually brings rain - it is normally the weekend after my birthday in September. Now in December, its a little hot! We had only a quick whip around, Kade had a birthday party to attend and we had to get to the shops to buy a present. Don't you love a 2 day notice birthday party?

I didn't buy much this year, and the biggest purchase of the day goes to Mr ATP. It took a little bit of joggling to fit it into the boot and India had to travel back with Mo and Bo (aka Grandma and Poppy). Kade was squished in the back seat which could not clip back in fully as the bike was coming through from the boot. We were sweating it passing the booze bust as we would not have been awarded any parenting prizes by Mr policeman. Luckily they were on their tea break and we got home without incident. Kade was wearing a seatbelt though! Oh dear, this sounds really bad..hahaha

Back to the goodies:

My new wall shelves. Lovely carved details with remnants of white, pink and blue paint

It now hangs on our the kitchen wall. The perfect place to store a few glasses etc $45

I bought this Aspro tin on etsy a little while back, $12. Another piece for my Aspro collection, see here.

And then there were three...another pair of opera glasses to add to my two pairs that I sent home from England. I bought this pair more for the case, $20

This trophy is huge with the original heavy wooden base. It is engraved p.c.s.f.a 1934, 1st Grade, St Columbus, A.B Ducker. $25

Mr ATP's purchase, $400. He is always on the lookout to add more retro dragsters to the collection. This is the boot offender!

Umm...do you think we have a problem? We have a Speedwell parked in the hall, the new Malvern Star is in the small back room and we have a Flying Wedge in the kitchen. Can you see the bike stand behind the new addition, it is holding a newly sprayed frame, ready for a rebuilt. Did I mention that we have a few other bikes in varying stages in the flat, I think that count is up past the 12 mark now. His pride and joy (Raleigh Chopper) is also waiting to be built. Yes, these are their permanent parking spots!!!

What has been your favourite find of late?? Back with more of my paraphernalia soon, T x

  
I have exceeded my image storage size in picasa and found the following useful instead of purchasing additional storage: If you reach your storage limit when uploading from the Picasa desktop software, you'll only be able to upload at free storage sizes. All photos uploaded over the free size limit will count towards your 1 GB of free storage.  It seems the size limit for photos is: 800 x 800 pixels. I resized my photos to 800 pixels on the longest edge and it seems to work! I will let you know if I start having problems with free image storage. source

Thank you Lovely Ladies!

A bit of housekeeping before I wow you with my most recent finds. Its also the Queanbeyan Swap Meet tomorrow, so maybe a few more things may be added to the list.

I have met some lovely people - as I am sure you all have too - through my blog, and I have to say a big thank you to the following people for the special gifts that I have received in the mail.

Sorry this is a super long post as I have been super slack!

When we went to England last year (I can't believe the last year has gone so fast) we stayed at an amazing place called  Farleigh Wood, Tellisford, Somerset. Here we met Bella in person in a fleeting moment as we turned down the wrong path to the cottage that we were staying in. Bella and her family own the accommodation, which is just across the way from one of the white horse chalk carvings and near the Farleigh Hungerford Castle. After we arrived home, I discovered that Bella is a amazing artist and has a blog also. Bella kindly sent me some of her artwork and some yummy parma violets. You can find updated on Bella artworks here. Thanks Bella!

Gorgeous cards and wooden bunny hanging

The prefect addition to my owl collection

Bella painted this weather vane in Bradford on Avon (the loveliest place on earth). I remarked that we have the same one on our garden shed

Our weather vane, aging nicely.

Bella's attention to detail is just amazing

I also received some gorgeous stamps from another lovely Somerset blogger, Vintage Jane. She always find that most amazing pieces and travels to the local markets to sell her wares. I purchased some special gifts last year from her for a friends wedding, they were just lovely. Thank you M, x

I am sure that many of you know Kylie, Lucy Violet Vintage, if you don't then you had better scoot on over and say hello! Kylie is the opposite to me, she like mid century modern, clean lines and little clutter. My favourite period is Victorian with lots of clutter..haha. Kylie knows that I also like shell figures and this little parcel arrives a few weeks back. Thank you Kylie :)

One of Kylies handmade cards!

This guy made me laugh out loud..haha

The creepy shell doll Kylie posted about, actually she is smaller and nicer in person.

A card organiser to add to the collection

Yay! my own notebook..have to keep it hidden from India, the queen of paper! and a gorgeous table cloth

Another big thank you to Vintage Bird Girl, we share a love of birds and vintage finds. She wears the most amazing vintage dresses ever! You may even know that her favourite colour is green. Its also nice to receive a message or two on my facebook page, thanks Leisa :)

The sweetest card

Don't you just love the recycled book illustration wrapping paper

These are so cute! I even managed to find a home for these in my kitchen!

India just loves this fox. She is desperate to have her own room and is collecting pictures to decorate the walls.

Did you make it to the end??

Blog land can be a really nice place with lots of nice people. Thank you!!!