National Service Medal

Today I am a very proud mum. My eldest son Matthew was presented with the National Emergency Medal. The National Emergency Medal is an operational service medal which recognises significant or sustained service to others in a nationally significant emergency. This medal was approved by Her Majesty the Queen in 2011.

Matthew was awarded the medal for sustained service during the 2009 Victoria Bushfires. The Black Saturday fires in the Summer of 2009 were the worst bushfires in Australia's history. 47 major fires erupted during the day on 7th February across the state of Victoria. 173 people lost their lives and many hundreds of people were significantly injured. Around 78 communities were directly impacted and whole towns were wiped out or left unrecognisable. The fires destroyed countless animals, more than 2,000 properties, 70 national parks and reserves and around 430,000 hectares of land. The weather conditions during these bushfires were oppressive and temperatures reached  more than 46.4C (115.5F) and winds were at 120 kms per hour.

The fire brigades worked with courage and commitment to protect others and those that received awards today are very deserving of recognition for their service to the community.

The centre of the medal depicts Australia's national floral emblem, the wattle, and the edge symbolises sacrifices made in service to others during times of crisis. His full name is engraved on the back.

Well done Matty, you are a hero!

Cheers,
Lynda

Just off the hook

Fibi Fox, pattern by Lydia Tresselt is my latest finished project. This was fun to work on and took two evenings to complete. It would work up faster if you didn't have to crochet so tightly to avoid the stuffing showing through. I used a DK yarn and crocheted tightly with a 2.5mm hook. The yarn is Moda Vera Merino blend in colour 202 and Moda Vera pure wool DK in white. I used scraps of leftover yarn for the black. In my DK yarn Fibi measures 33.5cms or 13 inches from head to foot and she has a little fat tummy.

Fibi is always playing around the chicken coop searching for her favourite feathers and she is always looking for ways to escape outdoors.

Now I will have to crochet her friends as there are several other sweet patterns to try.

Cheers,
Lynda

Is the Spring coming, he said

 "What is it like?"...
It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine...”

Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

That quote sums it up well for us here in Melbourne. We welcome the Spring rains because our Summers are so hot and dry and water can become scarce. The garden is looking pretty and colourful with Spring flowers blooming and the blossom trees bursting into bud.

Plum blossom and nectarine blossom

It was a beautiful first day of Spring. A  perfect day for all the fathers who celebrated Father's Day.  We spent the day enjoying the sunshine and doing family activities together and in general fussing over our Dads. 

Playing fetch with Ruby

Cheers,

Lynda