A finished quilt

Made for Peter's mum in memory of Peter's Grandma Pat. I started in 2008 using some of Pat's clothing and finished it in time for Christmas 2011 (I didn't work on it very consistently...a bit here and there, in bursts). For the back I used fabric my mother-in-law gave to me a few years ago from her stash. Mixing the cotton fabrics and polyester clothing meant the quilt layers were a bit shifty in places as I stitched, but I think overall it came up lovely.

I wrote about this quilt here as well. We did manage to convince Leilani to give this quilt to her grandma :)

Hello next year

Peter took these photos on Boxing Day. Eowyn wanted to go exploring to see flowers so he took the girls and his parents to the Botanic Gardens. Eowyn and Leilani were over the moon and kept a list of the flowers they saw.

Thank you for your congratulations and prayers for our pregnancy. So far so good, praise God.



Happy New Year!

PS - I should ask Eowyn what the name of that flower is...

So many lollies :)

On a lighter note, our newest friends

Daisy and Sunshine. Eowyn, Leilani and I (and Peter even - though he would never admit it!) adore them. Very soothing creatures our guinea pigs.

And that probably concludes my blogging for December...
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and hoping to see you in the New Year!

16 weeks

And I can no longer hide my tummy in person, so I won't hide it here either (most of you know me in person anyway!).

We are expecting, again...I say with trepidation. We would so much appreciate your prayers for our pregnancy. The past 16 weeks have been some of the most nerve-wrecking of my life; not lightly written words. There are still, Lord-willing, 24 weeks to go. Peter and I are so grateful for this little life so far and dearly wish to raise our child. We are hopeful, but emotional. Trying one more time is one of the hardest decisions we have made together.

Love, Jeana

decorating at our house

The tree is fake, the smiles are real.

s l o w l y progressing

Slow as in stealing five minutes here or there to work (why am I now stealing time for my work?).

We've been getting up to a little bit of Christmas crafting and catching afternoon sleeps whenever possible.

I've lost subscribers, I know. I just can't blog everyday, stick to business or stay interesting lately. It's survival mode, my friends. Thank you to those of you who are still here. I am grateful, even if you are only reading because you are my sister or my mom :) It's a tricky time in our lives here in the Blackert household.

recently

-I cleared my wall and made a fresh start on new work. A commission for a friend, I'm loving it the more I get into it. Almost ready to stitch.

-We celebrated Thanksgiving in our usual way with our fellow ex-pat friends. I'm sorry I haven't gotten round to all y'alls blogs (homesick southern speak...) to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving in a timely manner...I do hope you all had a lovely holiday!

-Eowyn has decided eating meat makes her sad (except for sausages, apparently). We are fine with that, we aren't overly carnivorous and have been trying to expand Eowyn's diet beyond pasta with cheese (she would eat this 24-7). Stir-fried veg with tofu was a success, veggie burgers not so much.

-In sympathy for her sister Leilani has also decided she is vegetarian. Except for "wolf-chicken." Wolf-chicken is whatever meat she happens to be eating at the time (limited to chicken nuggets and sausages for this child). In her words, "I call it wolf-chicken so Eowyn won't feel sad." She has been heard at a restaurant trying to convert another 4 yr old to her twisted form of vegetarianism while at the same time consuming wolf-chicken. Anyway...

-I'm trying to keep up this blog and keep up with my blogging buddies rather unsuccessfully lately...3 more weeks of the school year to go, then holidays, sweet holidays. I'm planning to spend a lot of time in my pyjamas.

Love,
very tired
Jeana