Stitches are being made!

The top cut out last week is being assembled, now that I have worked out why my overlocker wasn't making a proper stitch.  Nothing to do with the overlocker, you know......it was operator error, pure and simple.  Early this year it was used to make a wrap to match my Mother of the Groom skirt, and as I hadn't previously used it to make a rolled hem the assistant at the local Bernina shop showed me how.  One has to move a couple of things, the cutting blade width and a little 'finger' which wraps the fabric round, to make the rolled hem.  One has had an overlocker since 1992 so of course one didn't look at the manual to go back to a regular stitch, did one?  Nooooo, one didn't.........I couldn't work out why the stitch was so odd, I had moved the cutting blade back but had forgotten about the little 'finger', which was still happily rolling fabric round.  Now it has been rectified  with the help of the lovely woman at the aforesaid shop, it is back to stitching like a dream.  The older Elna machine changed sole plates to make a rolled hem, this Bernina doesn't - different method, same result.

I do not ever never recommend unpicking a four-thread stitch on four-way stretch fabric ever but it was done without snipping holes in the fabric, which is a great relief.  The top is now proceeding along quite nicely and should be finished before too long.

On our visit last month to an open garden I was very taken with one of the plants for sale, an Australian native called Correa 'Dusky Bells', but didn't buy it as we weren't leaving for home for several days yet and home was a two-day drive away, quite a trek for a little plant.  After arriving home we ordered two plants from a local nursery and will collect them tomorrow.  I'm not a great lover of pink but this plant is pretty and delicate and native birds love it , so I am making an exception for it.

We already have two different correas - a white one, 'Alba', and a light red and cream one, 'Canberra Bells' - in the garden and both are growing really well, so we are going with the principle "if it works, stick to it".

One will be planted by the front steps replacing a banksia which has turned up its toes, and the other will probably go in the garden where our big tree was.  I miss that tree.  The roses don't miss it, ever since it was removed they have been growing like weeds; one of them was beheaded when the tree came down but you would not know it today.  Truly, I would rather have the tree than the roses - but when the blokes were removing its sad remains the boss said to me "lucky your roses didn't go, eh!"  Little did he know......the tree gave us welcome summer afternoon shade, the roses don't do anything useful.

Because of the current drought conditions we are only allowed to water our gardens with a hose for two hours a day, between 5 and 7pm.  It's getting quite cool now by 5 o'clock and is quite dark by 5.30pm so it's not great to be outside, but we do keep the bird baths in the back yard topped up as the birds enjoy the water and we enjoy watching the birds.  The front yard is having to fend for itself, although I am watering our lilli pilli every few days as it's still fairly new and needs water while it's getting established.  Once it's a little more mature it will be able to cope with dry weather.  There is rain forecast for this coming weekend and it will be very welcome, as our total rainfall for the year is way down on the usual average.  Local rivers and storage dams are quite low.

"Boating.
Where there is a sufficiently large body or stream of water to admit of it, boating is a very enjoyable recreation which may be pursued by ladies and gentlemen.  There is much danger in sailing, and the proper management of a sail-boat requires considerable tact and experience.  Rowing is safer, but caution should be observed in not overloading the boat.  A gentleman should not invite ladies to sail on the water unless he is thoroughly capable of managing the oat.  Rowing is a healthful and delightful recreation, and many ladies become expert and skilful at it.  Every gentleman should have some knowledge of rowing, as it is easily acquired.  If a gentleman who is inexperienced in rowing, goes out with another gentleman in a boat, he should refrain from any attempt to row, as he will only display his awkwardness, and render the row uncomfortable to his companions."

Not much chance of enough water in the local river to enjoy a pleasant sail these days, sadly.

Enjoy your days!