Aussie Birds number 2!~

Here it is - the second version of the Aussie Birds Quilts.  This one is slightly narrower than the other.

Today I managed to get the backings pieced for both quilts. The extra bird fabric I had went further than I expected.  I almost had enough material to do the backings for both quilts and I can make up the shortfall with some of the other fabrics used in the fronts.

Woke up to the gorgeous sound of heavy rain on the roof - love it.  I must say I am not really complaining about the amount of rain we have had this summer.  My only regret is that I have only had a couple of swims in the pool this summer.  So frustrating to look at it and tend it all year and then not be able to use it much when summer is supposed to come.  And then when we do have a day that is warm enough that will be when I have to go and collect Guitar Hero for his music lesson or take Fly Boy somewhere.  Maybe next year will see more swimming.

Anyway, back to the rain.  It was definitely stay at home weather so I spent the first part of the morning making two small salmon mornays.  Comfort food from my childhood.  I can remember in my early twenties hitching a ride home from RAAF(Royal Australian Air Force) Base Richmond in NSW to RAAF Base Pearce in Western Australia.  I didn't tell my folks I was coming and got a lift from the base to the school where my Dad was the principal.  He was sitting in the staff room, at the end of a staff meeting and I snuck up behind him and gave him a kiss on the cheek.  He was so stunned that he jumped up, welcomed me and then took me back to him office, all the while forgetting his walking stick!

Guess what I requested for dinner that night - Salmon Mornay!  Yum!  My mum was a great cook - I loved most of what she made except for curries - I will never learn to love those.  She made the best shepherd's pies too.

I make them for the boys but they tell me they don't like them coz they are too tomoato-y - that is the best part.  I think my boys are just too fussy so I make what I want to eat now.  Tonight Fly Boy and I were the only ones home as Hubby is away on business till Monday and Guitar Hero is on Music camp.  Of course Fly Boy wasn't pleased with salmon mornay - but then that is no surprise as he seems determined to not like any of the evening meals I make except for home made pizza - but I enjoyed the salmon mornay.  :-)

Just in case you think you might like it here is the recipe.  

Take 2 tablespoons of butter and melt in a saucepan.  Remove from heat and stir in 2 tablespoons of flour.  Slowly mix in 600ml of milk, constantly stirring til it thickens.  As soon as it thickens remove from heat and add in 1 1/2 cups of grated tasty cheese.  Line a casserole dish with mashed potato.  Spread the base of the casserole with some of the cheese sauce.  Drain a can of salmon, remove the bones and mash the meat.  Sprinkle it on top of the cheese sauce and then top with the remaining cheese sauce.  Sprinkle with bread crumbs and then top with cheese.  Place in the oven and heat till warm through and the cheese is melted.  Enjoy!

I did heaps of cutting out today - most importantly I managed to cut out the entire quilt for the ten year old boy in the family of five that we are making some goodies for.  I had enough fabric for the front and the back from the yellow check and the fabulous car fabric.  That was a bonus and I didn't think that was possible so I am pretty pleased.  

I also cut out the start of the quilt for the International Charity Bazaar.  This is where I am up to so far.   

The colours are so much more vibrant in the flesh.  I am planning that this will be a square quilt.  I think there will also be some nine patch blocks with olive green in them around the outside.  I really like the black squiggly line aboriginal look fabric.

Busy day tomorrow. I have to go across town to collect Guitar Hero from music camp.   I have to be there at 1230 to see the concert of all the things they have done all weekend.   Music is huge at his school.  They are lucky enough to have David Stratton as the Director of Co-curricular Music.   He is not only one of the nicest guys I have met he is extremely talented.  He plays double bass (as well as guitar and bass) for many of the best musical productions - Wicked, My Fair Lady, Billy Elliott, Chicago, Mama Mia and so many more.  How lucky are the kids to have access to a musician like him?  He often brings his friends along to work with the kids.  The after camp concert is always great to attend but it makes for a long afternoon.  It will be dinner time by the time I get home and then I have to talk Guitar Hero into unpacking before he reacquaints himself with his computer.

Probably no sewing and maybe even no blogging tomorrow but I got more done today than I had hoped!

Till next time......happy stitching.