Festival of Birthdays

You could be forgiven for thinking that I had somehow missed March altogether.  The truth is I had a rather biggish birthday that turned into a month long celebration with friends and family far and wide.  I had such a good time that I actually haven't had time to think about turning the big scary number and I figure that now that I have been that number for almost a month it is useless to have a crisis over it now!
My festival of birthdays started with my boy taking me away on a surprise weekend to Sydney.

We stayed right on Darling Harbour on the top floor of the Sheraton (with fabulous views) and they had a fireworks show that night - just to celebrate my birthday LOL

My special weekend also included lunch with one of my besties at a beautiful Italian restaurant on the beach at Cronulla.  I couldn't believe that James and Ness had planned all of this in secret for months!

  It was such a wonderful getaway with my Prince Charming that I felt like I had already had the best birthday ever!

Later that week my gorgeous quilty friends took me to the Crafers Hotel for birthday tea and surprised me with beautiful handmade cards and a spa voucher and a scrumptious chocolate cake decorated with an aqua ribbon.  Then on my actual birthday James took me out for breakfast and we went to the kids Sports Day where Dan's class sang Happy Birthday to me and his teacher gave me a lovely, thoughtful present.  This long-legged beauty came first in her sprints and 3rd in the cross country (clearly not getting her sporting ability from her mother!)

 My friend Amie sent me flowers.  That afternoon I drove to Clare with my friend Christine to attend Kathy's Fibres and Moseley Park Farm's Fibre Retreat.  A whole weekend of spinning, knitting and felting at the beautiful Bungaree Station.

While I was there I picked up my birthday present (a 12inch knitters loom!!!) and over-indulged buying books and fibre!  We made a felted bag, learned how to spin with beads, and learned how to knit toe-up socks.  

One of the girls even decided to "destash" 17 kilos of fibre so we all came away with a bit of Ingrid's stash!  It was a wonderful weekend of fun and friendship and all things wooley and so liberating to be away with people who speak my language!

The following Thursday night I was off to Melbourne for the very first Australian Close To My Heart Leader's Conference at the Rialto Intercontinental.  We were spoilt every step of the way; awesome venue,  exquisite food, inspiring and motivational speakers and lots and lots of great ideas as well as some playtime!

 This beautiful artwork is by the talented Chris Lothian!

 After the conference my lovely friend Lisa picked me up and took me back to her house and the next morning I got to catch up with my Melbourne teaching friends (whom I hadn't seen for 12 years!) Not surprisingly we picked up right where we left off and there was much gossiping and laughter over a long lunch!

 And then home to a week of work.  Thursday night my scrappy girls surprised me with homemade chocolate cake and champagne at our workshop! Then I finally finished the festival of birthdays with a lovely lunch at Pike and Joyce with my inlaws yesterday.  And of course in between all of the party going there were messages and texts and cards and heartfelt handmade presents in the mail (thanks Jude! I love it!)  I feel so thoroughly spoilt and loved and truly blessed.  I am one super lucky girl!  Now it is time to exhale and enjoy the school holidays.  I am looking forward to some quiet time at home with my kiddos and a little bit of cooking and crafting.