It's Show Time!

My last post must have been the calm before the storm! It's the local Agricultural Show this week in our town, and I spent my entire childhood living and breathing the local show around this time of year (in another town) as my Dad was the Show Secretary for 26 years. It just means that it is ingrained into my make up to support the local community in it's efforts to show case talents and produce and get the kids involved. My mother, I'm now convinced is Saint. In fact I think I will call her Saint Jude when she arrives at the weekend, for a visit and a Show excursion. She ALWAYS encouraged us to find some category we could enter and it was always a VERY busy time. When I took my own childrens entries in last week, and some of my own, the lady at the office said there had been little support from schools this year. Of course I "fessed" up that I was a school teacher and would head back to school and rev them up a little and try and find some more entries for them. I think this is when the stress kicked in. I ended up with 79 Posters for Grades 1 & 2 entered and 10 Woodwork entries from Grades 3 & 4. I was "under the pump" yesterday, getting it all organized but today I just have to take it all in for display. The kids are VERY excited and the lady at the show was VERY appreciative, so I guess it was all worth it. I just know that if everyone said it was "too hard" it would be a dull old show. I will be going on Saturday and we are looking forward to seeing our entries.

I have snuck in a little craft on the side however (just to keep me sane!). I am in cushion mode at the moment and used some Aunty Cookie pieces to make this cushion just for me. I just LOVE her work. I am a big fan!

...and a little bit of crotchet - extending my basket patten to make an extra flap which made a litte bag. I have found a suede leather black strap in an op shop and will try to attach that to finish it off. I was quite pleased with how it turned out.

Saturday night was my big Girls Night In, and I'm pleased to say it was a great success. Lots of women, neighbours, craft friends, work friends, and we raised almost $400 for Breast Cancer Research. It was a fun night and great to have so many friends all at my house all at the same time. The only problem was, the night went too quickly and before I knew it, it was all over. My very first Poppy of the season came out for the party. They are just so divine. With the rain we had at the weekend and now some sunny days this week, I have quite a few poppies dancing in my garden now.

This is one of my favourite friends in my garden ... meet Dainty Bess.