We have our books back!

I am a happy woman again.

Following the first flood in January 2017 our books were packed away for six months, then back on shelves for three months.  Packed up after the second flood at the end of October 2017 for over nine months.......it was like greeting old friends again as they were unpacked.  Right now they are on shelves but not in any order, so looking for one particular title can be a real adventure - but they will eventually be sorted, and the opportunity taken for a bit of a cull.  Right now, though, it's so good to be able to pick up a favourite book to enjoy again.

Not many stitches have been taken lately, but a lot of notes have been plinked.  That's something which can't be shown in a picture!  Take my word for it though......notes have been played, songs have been sung.

Now we are counting down the time until we flap our wings and fly - and it will be six weeks from tomorrow until we take off, up there in a tin box in the sky with hundreds of our new best friends and 97 crying babies over vast expanses of shark infested waters.  Sigh......I don't really mind flying (except for the horrendous ear pain on descent and landing) but really, it's just a glorified bus, isn't it?  Might be just dandy if one can afford to be up the pointy end with the other movers and shakers of the world, able to lie down and stretch out on a 15-16 hour flight, instead of sitting up with the plebs at the back.  Oh well.....I keep telling myself, this too shall pass and we will eventually be back on terra firma.  The firma, the better.

Looking forward to glorious sights like these again, though.

 One day we visited a local park we had often passed, and wandered around enjoying the gardens and the view.

 Colours were changing, of course - these are the colours that make my heart sing.

I like blue spruce, but they don't seem to grow here.

Sadly many of the conifers here are dying off in the drought; even our native eucalyptus trees are drying out and dying - something which seldom happens; they have developed over hundreds of years to live in a dry climate.  The nightly news bulletins are wallowing in gloom and doom because of the drought, and I can't help thinking - yes, we know that things are bad but talking about it won't make it go away, will it?  How about some more upbeat stories instead, to cheer people up?  So this blog will be a gloom-and-doom-free zone, as much as is possible.

"Be sympathetic and animated.
Do not go into society unless you make up your mind to be sympathetic, unselfish, animating, as well as animated.  Society does not require mirth, but it does demand cheerfulness and unselfishness, and you must help to make and sustain cheerful conversation.  The manner of conversation is as important as the matter."

Couldn't have put it better myself.  Some people (my mother was a prime example) mistake "how are you today" as a question, rather than the greeting it really is.....and a person's innards is not a topic for cheerful conversation, is it?

Enjoy your days!

There ain't no cure for the summertime blues

There ain't, you know.

 All done!  Pattern was called "Gumballs" by the designer (been looking for the original post to link to, but it doesn't seem to exist any more).  However, due to my lack of love for summer heat I thought this was a more apt name.

 The backing fabric is brighter in real life but I was scrabbling to take these pictures early yesterday morning before it rained, so the light isn't what it would normally be.

 See that bright orange and blue triangle piece in the centre, next to the blue and green fish?  That was my inspiration for the colour scheme; the fabric was in my stash and came from I can't remember where, I don't remember how long ago.  There is still a small piece left. 

 A close-up of the quilting from a local LA quilter.....those long wavy lines are vertical, but I didn't want it dragging on the ground so it was hung sideways.

The obligatory artistique shot in the remains of the we-think-it-was-an-apricot-tree, in our back yard.

Sighing the happy sigh, because my quilt is finished and I love it.  Also because it rained yesterday, the best rain we have had for many months.  Nowhere near enough to break the drought - long-range forecasters are saying there is no hope of any decent rain until next February-March at least - but enough to give thirsty gardens a drink and put a smile on the face of many folk.

We have started unpacking our Stuff!  Right now the dining room table isn't usable because of what's spread out on it, but it will be again in a day or two.  You have no idea how good that feels.  18 months ago I had to buy some serving dishes from an op shop because we had company and ours were all packed......now those pretty dishes and plates can be used again. 

I know Stuff is only Stuff, people are more important than Stuff, but our possessions are part of our lives - the stories they tell, the memories they evoke.  Some of my possessions came to me from my mother, they were wedding presents when my parents married in 1946; the marriage didn't last, but those plates have.  The wedding presents we received when we married are part of that story too.

Best of all, I am looking forward to having my books again soon!

My sumptuous wardrobe has been increased by new jeans.  Or a new jean, if you prefer.  Yesterday I popped into a shop I had never thought to try before (have often bought tees and tops from them, but not bottoms) and, much to my surprise, found jeans which fitted beautifully and were the exact right length for my short self.  Even better - there was a 50% sale, so they were the right price.  Still need new trakkie daks, but I may end up making them.

"A knife should never, on any account, be put into the mouth.  Many people, even well-bred in other respects, seem to regard this as an unnecessary regulation; but when we consider that it is a rule of etiquette, and that its violation causes surprise and disgust to many people, it is wisest to observe it."

We have our decent knives and cutlery to use again, too.......no longer are we limited to just the everyday stuff.

Enjoy your days!