Hi Honey, I'm Home!

Hi!
I guess that is the simplest way to start.
I returned home last evening - it's been more than 3 weeks since I have sat here to write a blog post - other than the one for the release of our Huka Falls Gift-Away which I think went greatly unnoticed because I wasn't home to promote it at all!

We'll recap that more later.
Most of all I want to scream out just how glad I am to be home.
If you have followed along on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube and sometimes Threads or even Blue Sky you may have seen some of the things our Craftours group got up to in the videos, photos and slide shows I tried my best to keep up with at least once if not twice a day.
But there is so much more, and I don't know where to start!  Where do you start with all of this?
I thought I'd do something different and start in the middle of the end.  Because - why not?

Some of us out to dinner at a Pakistani place in Melbourne.
Some were too tired to come, but the rest of us were up for adventure and it was really fun to order several different dishes and share all around - highly recommend!
We got some great input from regulars who told us what we should order. 100% approval!

Sunset at Uluru, Also known as Ayer's Rock
This photo, taken by Katie is one of my favorite.  You know why? We look like the old lady fruit bottomed fabric.  LOL!

Ummmm...yeah.

From the front -

We had been on a hot hot hot afternoon excursion that had us hiking around the base of Uluru a bit, and learning the history, folk lore, and seeing sacred sites of the indigenous folks who gave Uluru its name.

We were honored to be on their land, learning some of their ways and referring to things as they asked us to call them.

Sunrise from the other side.

Also. Sunrise.

We watched the sunrise in the East coming from behind us and shining on the rock face.

We watched the sunset from the West side for the same reason, the sun always at our backs.

It might look like a loaf of rock just sitting there, and you wouldn't think that it would have any width or depth at all...but take a look at it from the top:

Nasa Photo!

This thing is enormous!

And I can only imagine when early peoples thought of this monstrosity.

From the bus as we drove around the circumference.

It looks so different from every angle.

The trees are dwarfed!

Nooks, crannies, crevasses -

I can see why the indigenous call this a very special place.

Majestic in all of its might.

And I should mention that it was about 110 f degrees at this part of the day.

SERIOUSLY hot.

We were allowed to touch in certain areas.

My hand upon Uluru.  I did the same with the great pyramids in Egypt.  There is something special about leaving my foot prints and hand prints on things so ancient.

Interesting rock formations

How is that tree growing up there?

Things this large make me feel so small.

Out here in the middle of nowhere.

And even in the desert there are watering holes if you know where to find them.

Folks in our group listening to our guides tell ancient stories passed down through millennia.

Such an amazing place I won't soon forget!

Now..the downside of travel.  My suitcase didn't make the flight from Brisbane to Los Angeles for some unknown reason, though I was assured by the baggage clerk that it would come the next flight which landed at LAX yesterday while I was flying from LA to Atlanta and home to Tri Cities Tennessee.

When will I get my suitcase with all of my fun souvenirs? A few days on FedEx maybe?

In the mean time the things I am missing are the cord to my laptop (too heavy for my backpack so I put it in there. Dumb move.) My electric toothbrush (bummer. I'll have to brush the old way for now) and the key fob that I even forgot that I had tucked into a pocket of my purse. I emptied everything I needed from my purse, but forgot to grab that.

We have a second fob, so that isn't a problem other than the expense of replacing it should my suitcase go on permanent walkabout.

Oh! The gifts from Aussie quilters are in there, and the fabric I bought is in there and....

Most of all....I finished ALL of the fill-in hexie sections and more for my current eternal hexie project. If those go missing forever I'll really be upset!

Yes, I know - first world problems and small inconveniences, really - but still.

So back to this:

Did you get your entry in on THAT POST?

I'll be drawing for 2 winners who will each receive a Huka Falls PDF pattern from me and:

A Facets of Aqua fabric roll from our friends at Cotton to Quilts. And check out their selection of neutral rolls while you are there. Such a fun array of wonderful prints!

I'm drawing for our two winners tomorrow, 1/30/25!

I have placed the Huka Falls pattern on sale at 25% off in the Quiltville Store. No coupon code is needed. The price is already discounted. The quilt finishes at 77'' X 77''.
The sale will automatically expire at 11:30pm Eastern on January 31st.
And with that,. I'm hitting send on this post and beginning the excitement of playing catch up with outgoing mail order and opening incoming mail and setting things right.
It's good to be home and back with everyone.  I've missed you.

And I hope to soon be sitting behind my machine putting pieces together.

I think it's Wednesday?

Have a good one!