Loving Donnybrook

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.  We are finally moved down to Donnybrook, it was a massive job for John and I we travelled 1800 kilometres and 22 hours over 5 days starting on the 16th December.  The reason we travelled back and forth each day, accommodation was expensive and it cost us only $50 a day in diesel whereas accommodation was $200 a night.  To say we where exhausted by the end of the week would be an understatement, but it is done now and we are moving on.  Took a few days to sort out our furniture to make this lovely old house into our home for the next six months or so, we have two rooms with boxed stuff that we are not unpacking and still have a bed to assemble, but that can wait until we have visitors coming to stay.  It is a mystery tour finding things but we are getting there, however in saying that I haven't even thought about starting any projects or art.  We spent Christmas day at Kirsty's in Collie which is 50 kilometres from Donnybrook, went home again for a couple of days then back to Collie to housesit and dog sit for two weeks.  Have had time to check out the library where I can use their internet for free, but of course I have to be organised and have everything I need when I go there.  I can update my blogs while John sits and reads the paper all for free, and in air-conditioned room.  Checked out the gym, the nursery and two markets, still can't seem to slow down.  If you are interested in seeing more photos of the house go to my photography blog here http://jackysphotographs.blogspot.com.au/ and more photo's on my Facebook https://www.facebook.com/jacky.mcfarlane I wish you all a happy New Year and may it be memorable in a good way.
love
Jacky

Cheryl's Studio

A few weeks back the girls I have been teaching art journals and book art, met in Mandurah for our last get together and Christmas lunch.  We met at Cheryls home in Mandurah, Cheryl travelled up to Perth, over and hours drive, for the classes.  I really appreciated the effort the distance the girls travelled to do my class.  We had seen photo's of all the stages of Cheryl's shed being built etc and wanted to see it in the flesh so to speak.  Cheryl does beautiful work and it won't be hard to see what her favourite colour is.  Below is the Studio set in their beautiful garden with Cheryl inviting us in.

I like to think I have had a little influence in her style, but her studio is a veritable treasure trove of all her beautiful collections.  I will miss our weekly classes that have been ongoing over the last five years and hope the girls will stay in touch.

Big move 1 week tomorrow

Sorry it has been chaos here since my last entry.  Trip to New Zealand was wonderful, seems like a year ago.  The reunion was like having a big family wrapping you up in its arms, so many hugs, so much catching up.  Emotional trip to the Cemetary where my great grandmother was buried and a memorial stone unveiled, then a trip to each of our late relatives graves but most important finding our brothers grave.  He was the first born after my father left for the 2nd World war, although we never knew him he was always part of our family.  Growing up as the eldest when I felt I was hard done by I would talk to him wishing he had lived to take over the responsibility of being the eldest.

sharing the sisterly love, my mother never knew where his grave was, I guess it was too painful for her

It was great being with my three sisters first time in Gisborne altogether,  probably at my wedding, yikes, so long ago.  Gisborne is the first city to see the sun rising.

There was a bus trip out to Tekaraka where my Great grandparents had the hotel and this is in front of the home they built over a hundred years ago and still standing today.

view of Gisborne our home town from Kaiti Hill