Happy Christmas Wishes

A while ago I made myself a Christmas apron from fabric which has been in my stash for......oh......a hundred years, at least.  It would have looked even lovelier had it been ironed, now you all know what a sloppy housekeeper I am.

 The pattern is in a book bought on our last trip to Canada in 2009, "Canadian Heritage Quilting".  As soon as I saw this pattern I knew it was for me, isn't it great?  It's a lovely book, a very interesting read about the history of quilting in eastern Canada, and has wonderful patterns.

Here's a basket of pretty Aussie wildflowers for you all for Christmas, as a 'thank you' for reading my blog and sticking with me.

This afternoon I have been making some yummy goodies in preparation for our older son's visit, and some more will be made tomorrow.  Nothing like chocolate and nuts at Christmas, is there?  A pork roast (won in a raffle at the local lawn bowls club - meat raffles are a great thing here, and we are lucky enough to win from time to time) is defrosting in the fridge and tomorrow evening will be rubbed with a mixture of sage, lemon rind, garlic, oil, salt and pepper ready to be roasted for lunch on Christmas Day.  There is also a small rolled turkey breast roast with cranberry and apple stuffing because the aforementioned son likes turkey, and they will be served with roast potatoes, roast sweet potatoes, caramelised onions, and fresh asparagus.  And gravy.  Mustn't forget the gravy.  To be followed by traditional Christmas cake, pecan brownies (also to be made tomorrow), chocolate nut slice (made today), rosè wine ice (currently being made), cherries, and ice cream should your little heart desire.  It will be served with sparkling wine.

I won't think badly of you if you refuse seconds.

While our older son is visiting we hope to spend a little time on the computer chatting to our other son, who lives on the far side of the known universe from here i.e. Toronto, Canada, and to his lovely partner our girl-in-law.  We miss them and are sorry they are so far away, but glad they are happy.

We have been hearing lots of Christmas music on the radio, fortunately not much has been of the "Winter Wonderland"/"Let It Snow" variety.  They are songs about winter, not songs about Christmas, and Christmas in Australia is not in winter.  By all means play them until you are tired of them (and you may already be so, for all I know) on the other side of the equator, where they are more appropriate.  While I quite enjoy most Christmas music....for a while.......by about tomorrow it will all start to sound a little too familiar.

Before I leave you with the quote from my 1885 etiquette book without which no blog post would be complete, I would like to extend my greetings to you, dear readers, and your families, for a happy and peaceful Christmas.

"Praising Dishes.
A hostess should not express pride regarding what is on her table, nor make apologies if everything she offers you is not to her satisfaction.  It is much better that she should observe silence in this respect, and allow her guest to eulogize her dinner or not, as they deem proper.  Neither is it good taste to urge guests to eat, nor to load their plates against their inclination."

Have a wonderful Christmas, and I hope the fat man in the red suit is good to you all!

Some pretty orchid goodness

Today while digging in the garden we managed to keep intact some clumps of these beauties....Aussie native rock orchids.....this was taken at Mount Annan before we left Sydney.  We will see if we can get them growing and flowering.  They were almost hidden under some plants that we didn't like, so all had to come out together.

Aren't they gorgeous?  Wish our green thumbs luck.  According to my 1885 etiquette book, in the language of flowers orchids stand for beauty.....a bouquet of these would indeed be beautiful.

At present the radio is playing a tribute to Spike Jones who would have celebrated his 100th birthday a few days ago, if he were still alive.  Did you know he played drums on Bing Crosby's original recording of "White Christmas"?  Neither did I until a few minutes ago.  My generation grew up with Spike's recording of "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth", and of course "William Tell Overture", as well as other gems, and I still enjoy them.

Speaking of "White Christmas"......during World War II my father spent time in New Guinea and never ever spoke of his wartime experiences, but my mother once told me that the soldiers sang a parody "I'm dreaming of a white mistress", which was considered a very risque thing to do at the time!

The clothes sewing is proceeding along nicely.  One skirt has been made, and was worn to a Christmas party last night.  When I am in the mood the next skirt will be cut out; it won't take long to make.  It will be green, lovely dark green, gorgeous green.  

Unfortunately last night's Christmas party wasn't enjoyed as much as we had hoped it would be.  The company was fun, the food was excellent, but the music was loud.  Way too loud.  Loud to the point of pain.  The musicians, a duo who played guitars and sang, were asked to turn the volume down - but didn't.  We gave up trying to talk (it was more like lip reading), and left early, in company with many other people.

"When a color is chosen which is favorable to the complexion, it is well to associate with it the tints which will harmonize by analogy, as to use contrasting colors would diminish its favorable effect.  When a color is used in dress, not suitable to the complexion, it should be associated with contrasting colors, as they have the power to neutralize its objectionable influence."

One suggestion for harmonising with green is crimson, blue, and gold or yellow.  All at once.  Oh dear......

Enjoy your days!

Today's post is brought to you by the letter J

This bird is a Black Neck Stork, commonly called Jabiru in Australia.

Several years ago I recall seeing an Australian alphabet in cross-stitch, and the Jabiru represented J. Don't those legs look fragile to bear the weight and height of the bird? Unfortunately we couldn't get closer to get a better picture.

Speaking of better pictures the quilt I won last week is still un-photographed because the weather has not been kind; strong winds for a few days, followed by rain, rain and more rain. The quilt is too large to get a good picture inside but never mind, outside will improve soon. We hope. Summer may be a little late this year but that's OK, the hot weather will come soon enough. I don't mind if it stays away for a little longer.

This week the sewing room has been in use for making some clothes. I have been digging into my Retirement Stash of fabric and out came a few pieces which will be used to make summer skirts; the one currently under the machine needle is a white faux (that's a fancy word for fake) broderie Anglaise, but instead of the fabric being embroidered it is printed with yellow around the edges of the holes. Because of the holes it is fairly sheer, and I am past the age of wanting the world to see everything I own, so it is being lined in deep gold solid. Last summer I bought a gold tee at a local op shop which matches beautifully, so that and the new skirt will be my Christmas outfit this year.

The next piece to be made will be a gorgeous solid green, not quite teal, not quite jade, a lovely rich cotton fabric bought in Toronto, Canada, in 2007. (Have I ever mentioned that I really like green?) Here in the Small Smoke I was able to find a matching green and white knit fabric for a top, so that's another new outfit. The last piece in this sewing session will be a skirt in a border print which shades from deep blue at the hem to pale aqua at the top, overprinted in black - there was no way the colours in this fabric could be matched, so its top will be black.

I am enjoying the process of making clothes. When I was a sweet young thing of 18 or so I bought a second-hand sewing machine, a pattern for a little top, and a yard of fabric......cut it out and sewed it up.......and was so proud of myself. The only sewing I had done was at school and that wasn't very much; my mother didn't sew, so I just blundered along on my own. Over the past umpteen years I have clothed myself, and my children, and even my husband. I have made wedding gowns, and 19th century-style ball gowns for myself (until just a few years ago I used to do vintage dancing, and made all I needed - gowns, hair ornaments, everything) but now I only sew for myself and just everyday clothing at that, because it suits the life I lead. Have you noticed how many quilters are dismissive of those of us who use our machines to make clothing? "Oh", they say, "I used to do that but now I can't be bothered". That's their choice, just the same as making clothing and quilts is mine. Over the years I have gained many skills in sewing, and how I choose to use them is my business.

"Indifference to dress.

Indifference and inattention to dress is a defect of character rather than virtue, and often denotes indolence and slovenliness. Every woman should aim to make herself look as well as possible with the means at her command. Among the rich, a fondness for dress promotes exertion and activity of the mental powers, cultivates a correct taste, and fosters industry and ingenuity among those who seek to procure for them the material and designs for dress. Among the middle class it encourages diligence, contrivance, planning and deftness of handiwork, and among the poorer classes it promotes industry and economy. A fondness for dress, when it does not degenerate into vain show, has an elevating and refining influence on society."

Correct taste, deftness of handiwork, and economy.......all sound like me.

Enjoy your days!

Lucky lucky me!

What a lucky time I have been having! Today my reward from Sara arrived for choosing Daisy's name, and Sara made me this pretty pillowcase....lots of stars in this galaxy, aren't there? I do like these fabrics.

Yesterday my name was pulled out of the hat, or the box or barrel or whatever was used - I wasn't present so didn't see - and I won a quilt! Pics will be shown, a few were taken today but they didn't turn out very well; it's not easy pressing that little button while balancing on a ladder. It has embroidered blocks (one of which was worked by me) bordered in blue, lots of bright fabrics joining the blocks, and is backed in green. Have I ever mentioned that I am very fond of green? It's a lovely quilt made by the quilt group at the local craft centre, and I am very fortunate to be its owner.

The quilt shown in my last post, 'Windmills of My Mind', has been entered in Quilting Gallery's weekly contest because this week's theme is "stars". You can see the quilts, and vote for your choice, here. Stars are a popular quilt design, aren't they? I have a book entirely about star quilts by Mary Elizabeth Johnson; it was one of the first quilt books I bought many years ago and it's still one of my favourites.

Next week 'Windmills of My Mind' will be delivered to the local gallery as it's going to be in an exhibition of works by gallery volunteers, of whom I am one. We were asked if we painted, or photographed, or knitted, or quilted, or just about anything else, and if so would we like to have something hung in the volunteers' exhibition "Time to Shine 2011". Isn't that something?

This coming weekend will be somewhat busy: Monday night choir practice tomorrow afternoon, Thursday night choir Christmas party tomorrow night, Monday night Christmas carol concert on Sunday evening, somehow need to find time in there to do some baking for contributions to both the party and the concert........I thought retirement meant sitting around and doing not much at all........

"Dining should be ranked among the fine arts. A knowledge of dinner-table etiquette is all important in many respects; but chiefly in this: that it is regarded as one of the strong tests of good breeding. Dinners are generally looked upon as entertainments for married people and the middle aged, but it is often desirable to have some young unmarried persons among the guests."

If dining should be ranked as a fine art.....I wonder if it would be the subject of an exhibition?

Enjoy your days!