No matter where you are, and no matter what you celebrate.......

......best wishes for a season of peace, love, and good health.

And chocolate.  Lots and lots of good quality dark chocolate.

From the wombats and me......

Before today's storm hits.......

Of late it has been quite stormy, with more forecast for this afternoon and the next couple of days.  Every time there is a decent clap of thunder our internet goes off, thanks to the wonderful (not) system that the Ozzie government gave us some years ago.  Perhaps that's all they deem us worthy of.

Oh well.  Moving right along.

This week has been quite busy, so busy that I have barely set foot in the sewing room!  However two houses were made, taking the number of completed houses to 37......another 24 to go, as 61 are needed for the pattern.  No more are cut ready to be sewn, but that will be remedied in coming days.

A rainbow house, and a quiet house.  Not every house is a loud screamer, we need quiet neighbours too.

On the original quilt the outer setting triangles were made from lots and lots of red squares, but instructions are given in the book for cutting them from yardage.  I like the one-colour scrappy idea, so have decided to make mine from - of course! - green, so my houses will be surrounded by parkland.  The maths has been done; it will mean cutting lots and lots of 2-1/2 in green strips, then piecing and cross cutting and re-assembling, but it will be easy peasy sewing......and be worth the effort when done.  

Despite the busy week some stitches were made on the tumbler quilt, the centre panel of which is now two-thirds done.

Another end-of-year lunch on Wednesday, this time for my sewing group.  Two volunteer days, one at a gallery and one at a historical museum, an appointment or two......and the week sped by on wings.  The coming week looks to be a little calmer with a nice lunch to look forward to on Christmas Day, and another lunch with visiting friends next weekend.

Hard to believe that we are so close to the end of what has been a less-than-fabulous year, isn't it?  I don't think there will be many people who are sorry to bid farewell to 2020.

Kevin has been keeping himself amused of late by some family history research.  On his father's side there is a connection to a circus which toured Australia for over 100 years, Perry's Circus; his father's mother was Emily Perry, described as an "equestrienne" (she was a bare back rider), and his father's dad played in the circus band.  We took our boys to see the circus a couple of times when they were young, they were most impressed - imagine finding out, at about 6-8 years of age, that you were actually related to a lion trainer and being able to watch him in action!

Back in those days the house we lived in was not far from a park where the circus would set up, and the vet who treated our cat was nearby too.  One time when we mentioned our connection to the circus he told us that he had been contacted to ask about a 'home visit', to which he replied that he didn't do that, the animal would have to be brought to him.  "Ah - no, I think you had better come to us" was the reply.  One of the circus lions had an ingrown eyelash which needed treatment - he said he managed to get it sedated and treated, but also that it was a bit scary trying to sedate a lion while it glared at him balefully from the other side of the cage bars.

"Wines at dinner.

The menu of a dinner party is by some not regarded as complete, unless it includes one or more varieties of wine.  When used it is first served after soup, but any guest may, with propriety, decline being served.  This, however, must not be done ostentatiously.  Simply say to the waiter, or whoever pours it, "not any; thank you."  Wine, offered at a dinner party, should never be criticized, however poor it may be.  A person who has partaken of wine, may also decline to have the glass filled again."

Wise words to keep in mind during the party season, although I suspect that this year's party season will be tamer than in past years.
 

Enjoy your days!

It's beginning to look a bit like.......

.......hmmmmm..........

Because the ukulele group (the faithful remnants of it) are gathering here tomorrow for the last time this year I thought it would be timely to strew a bit of Chrissy cheer around to enhance the festive feeling.

First we have the Christmas wombats, a tree, and Flossy.  (and sundry other assorted Stuff on the table which has nothing to do with Christmas)

She is called 'Christmas Tree Angel', but I named her Flossy.

The Canadian tree, with ornaments bought or gifted in Canada......a bear, a loon, beavers, and maple leaves.

That's it so far.  More Stuff may or may not be put out, depending on how inspired I feel.  Everything put out has to be packed away eventually, and you know who gets that job, don't you?

This week's houses.  A party house with a fish on the roof - because, why not - and a flowery garden house.

Work has resumed on making these autumn blocks.  The pattern, with my changes, calls for over 300 of the little blighters.  Sewing is easy - lots of mindless feeding of fabrics through machine - trimming is tedious, but necessary.

These are 4-1/2 in, so 4 in finished.  I am hoping it will be gorgeous when done.

How has everyone's week been?  I hope you are all keeping well, and healthy.  I know poor Sally is recovering from surgery for a broken arm, we hope you are out and about soon, Sally - I think your doggo might have to walk himself in future!

A package is on its way to The One And Only Grandkid, who turns six next weekend.  There will be another package sent in a day or two so he has something under the tree from us to open on Christmas Day, because when you have just turned six it's all about the presents, isn't it?

Yesterday the quilt group met for our last lunch of the year, and fabulously festive it was too.  We always have a 'lucky dip gift exchange'; each person brings two 30cm cuts of fabric (beautifully wrapped, of course) and this year the fabrics I ended up with were a bright bubble print on black, and an orange tone on tone - both just my style!  

This is the time of year I start to look forward to my Annual Treat.  I really like fruit mince pies but Kevin doesn't care for them at all, so a little closer to The Day I buy myself two.....just two......and have one for afternoon tea on Christmas Eve, the other on Christmas Day.  With really really good thick cream.  Then I am happy until the next year.  It would be so easy to buy a whole box of six (or even more) but then I would scoff the lot and I would end up fatter than the fat bloke in the red suit, and that would never do.

"Expensive dinners not the most enjoyable.

It is a mistake to think that in giving a dinner, it is indispensable to have certain dishes and a variety of wines, because others serve them.  Those who entertain frequently often use their own discretion, and never feel obliged to do as others do, if they wish to do differently.  Some of the most enjoyable dinners given are those which are least expensive.  It is this mistaken feeling that people cannot entertain without committing all sorts of extravagances, which causes many persons, in every way well qualified to do incalculable good socially, to exclude themselves from all general society."

So......you do realise that if you are entertained here, it may not be an extravagant affair?  Just so you know before committing yourself......

Enjoy your days!

We survived the heatwave

It was a particularly nasty one, too.  However we have lived to tell the tale, even though I'm sure a few of my brain cells have fried in the process.

It is very difficult to settle to doing anything in such extreme heat in which records were broken, including the hottest December night recorded here since 1965.  Sewing seems too much effort because concentration is difficult, but some books were read......that's about all, really.  A certain amount of time that I will never get back was wasted online.  The forecast for the coming week is much more pleasant.

This week's houses were made today, because it is cool enough to sew..

Several houses are light/bright colours, so I thought a few darker ones should be made to balance it.  The sky print on the darker house with butterflies/moths it has been in my stash for goodness knows how long, and the yellow print on the other house is also from many years ago.  It's not the most fabulous photo ever, is it; perhaps having such extremes of dark and light side-by-side has confused the camera.

Or it could just be that the person pressing the button should have taken more care.  She will endeavour to do better next time.

Everywhere we go is now screaming 'Christmas', isn't it?  Very loudly, in some places.  Flashing displays have started to appear outside houses, some of which go on until quite late at night.  I wouldn't like to have any too close to us - I need my sleep!

There has, however been a certain amount of flashing lights and loud music this week because, after the hot start, it turned stormy with much thunder and lightning.  The hill behind us was looking dry and crackly brown, but is already starting to green up again.

How will you all be spending Christmas this year?  We have booked ourselves into a restaurant for lunch.  We started doing that in......oh, about 2005, when our Canaussian son was spending his first Christmas in Canada and our older son was playing music aboard a cruise ship somewhere in the Pacific Ocean.  Rather than just sit around and grin at each other I suggested going out for lunch; we did, and enjoyed it so much that we have done it every year since when it's been just the two of us.  The day seems more festive than just staying home as we have all done so much of that, this year......and besides, someone else gets to prepare and serve the meal and clear away afterward, which makes the occasion more special.

I have been looking through my sumptuous wardrobe, and what is contained therein will see me through the festive season.  There are a couple of end-of-year lunches happening but nothing new will be needed; this year has been so quiet that there are clothes from last summer which haven't yet been worn this season.  A few basic tee shirts could be handy as some of mine have been relegated to 'home' rather than 'out' clothes, so we might see what turns up in the sales in a few weeks.

Continuing on from last week's quote on returning hospitality:

"Some are deterred from accepting invitations by the feeling that they cannot return the hospitality in so magnificent a form.  It is not the costly preparations, nor the expensive repast offered which are the most agreeable features of any entertainment, but it is the kind and friendly feeling shown.  Those who are not deterred from accepting such invitations for this reason, and who enjoy the fruits of friendliness thus shown them, must possess narrow views of their duty, and very little self-respect, if, when an opportunity presents itself in any way to reciprocate the kind feeling manifested, they fail to avail themselves of it.  True hospitality, however, neither expects nor desires any return."

The last sentence particularly rings with me - "neither expects nor desires any return".  Just enjoy the company of friends without having to feel 'it was their turn last week, so it must be mine this week'.  

Enjoy your days!

Trust me.....you wouldn't want to be here today

It is hot, day two of a heatwave, but more than that - there is a nasty strong wind blowing.  We are staying inside.  It's days like this that workers in schools absolutely dread because children are much affected by wind, and is the sort of weather that makes us hope that no fires start because they would be very difficult to put out.

On Thursday night we had our end-of-year choir outing to a restaurant where we enjoyed a very nice meal, and were even allowed to sing some Christmas songs - much to the enjoyment of our fellow diners, it seems!  We had to stay seated, but we could sing.  Now we are on holidays until the first week in February, which seems a very long way away.

Not a whole heap of much at all has been done this week.  Stitches have been sewn, some have been knitted.  Books have been read.  A couple more houses were made.  Another cat house just because, and a house with flowers on the door and in the sky.

After these were made all the completed houses were counted, and there are 31 completed - only another 30 needed to make a fun quilt; considering that these were just a fun project to pass the time they have taken on a life of their own.

The burn on my wrist has healed and my Singer Featherweight now has a new bright LED light which will not get hot enough to burn.  My skin is pleased.

Yesterday at quilt group we showed our 'finished' quilts, some of which were not ~ quite ~ finished.  Mine is one which wasn't, so it wasn't shown.  This year's challenge was to finish a UFO and, while I did that, it wasn't the one I had hoped to finish.  Never mind.....there is always next year, isn't there?  Several members said they enjoyed the impetus to finish something which had been languishing unloved for a while so we may use the same idea next year.

We are now being assailed on all sides by everything Christmas, whether we are prepared for it or not.  Music on the radio - decorations in every store - being exhorted to shop for stuff we, and our nearest and dearest, may neither want or need.  Perhaps it's my imagination, but it all seems to have been even more intense this year. 

Hot weather, of course, brings out the worst in some people when it comes to public dressing.  When we were out hunting and gathering on Monady I was admiring an older woman and her friend who had taken the time to dress smartly, which was more than could be said for other people who were passing by.  They both wore 3/4 pants and floaty tops and were so much more attractive than the folk who show a lot of flesh.  Wearing less clothing doesn't necessarily make you cooler, you know - the right fabrics and loose styles will help, but stinky synthetics and tight pants will not.

Ah well.  The world would be a dull place if everyone was as gorgeous as we are, wouldn't it?

Returning hospitality.

Those who are in the habit of giving dinner parties, should return the invitation before another is extended to them.  Society is very severe upon those who do not return debts of hospitality, if they have the means to do so.  If they never entertain anyone because of limited means, or for other good reasons, it is so understood, and it is not expected that they should make exceptions; or if they are in the habit of giving other entertainments and not dinners, their debts of hospitality can be returned by invitations to whatever the entertainment might be."

While the current state of the world precludes much entertaining - we can still do some.

Enjoy your days!

We have found out more Stuff

During the week we have been checking the dates when Kevin's grandfather Adolphus sailed the ocean wide, and when he worked closer to home.  During his time working on the 'Sobraon/Tingira' she was moored in Sydney Harbour; Adolphus' ocean-going career was on other ships such as 'Hawkesbury', albeit for the same owners.  He was from Guernsey in the Channel Islands and he married a fellow Islander, Emma, in Sydney.  We don't know if they knew each other before he set out to see the world or if they met by design or chance in Sydney, but they married there.

They had one son who survived, and another son who died as a young baby.  Emma died a few years later, and Adolphus married wife number two, Margaret.  This seems to have been the end of his sailing career but not the end of his life on ships.  The marriage to Margaret lasted for over twenty years and produced one child, a girl.  A couple of years after Margaret's death Adolphus married Laura Evelyn - Kevin's grandmother.

So......my painting has a more distant connection with the 'Sobraon' than we first thought because Adolphus didn't sail under Captain Elmslie, but the connection is still there and is still interesting.

Two houses have been built.

One of these days I shall count how many have been made, and take a progress photo.  Sewing on my Singer Featherweight can, it seems, be dangerous as the back of my wrist was burned when I reached under the arm to snip a thread; the light gets very hot.  A new LED light has now been ordered which will give light without heat.

However - all is well, my wrist hasn't fallen off.

'Imprismed' has been started, one block is partly done.  When more progress is made it will be photographed too.

Progresss on the tumbler quilt continues; it won't be long until the current panel is done.  That will one third of the top panel, yay!

Summer with its hot weather is here, whether we like it or not.  It's also a bit stormy but we haven't had rain for a little while, although we keep living in hope.  Our long range forecaster tells us we could be in for a stormy rainy summer.

Back in the dark ages when I was at school we learned that the seasons change - poof! just like that - on the winter and summer solstices, and on the spring and autumn equinoxes.  European settlers from the northern hemisphere pushed their ideas of seasonal changes on Australia, while local Aborigines held their own views on changes which, of course, varies in different parts of the country.  Scientists are now realising that this makes more sense than the European model.

So......we suffer through the heat of summer, and enjoy the rest of the year.

"Accepting hospitality a sign of good-will.

As eating with another under his own roof is in all conditions of society regarded as a sign of good-will, those who partake of proffered hospitalities, only to gossip about and abuse their host and hostess, should remember, that in the opinion of all honorable persons, they injure themselves by so doing."

This is indeed so.  Don't say anything nasty about your host or hostess, or you may find youself never invited anywhere again.

Enjoy your days!

In which we find out all sorts of Stuff

It has rained, it is warming up.  Tomorrow is supposed to be the start of some unpleasantly hot weather, but never mind.  We are Ozzies.  We are tough.

Two more houses were made, a house of cats ('cathouse' has, I believe, unfortunate connotations) and a flower house with a lairy door.

And a lovely surprise - two houses were received from Sally, after flying all the way over the big ocean!  One even has an American flag displayed in the window, so we know where it was built.  

Thank you, Sally - how nice is that!  The darker house takes me to autumn, and the blue house is definitely spring.

Now - are you sitting comfortably, with a cuppa and perhaps a snack to hand?

This watercolour painting, bought many years ago (sometime in the 1990s from memory; I wish now that I could remember, but never mind) has quite a story.  The caption reads 'Mallee Parrot', and it is signed by 'E.W. Elmslie'.  I loved it at first sight but it was out of my budget at the time.  Occasionally I would check out the antique/junque shop to see if it was still there......and one day, it wasn't.  Oh well, I thought to myself, someone else obviously loved it too, and thought nothing of it.

Then one day I found it again stacked on the floor at the back of the shop with a considerably reduced price because the glass had cracked - so it came home with me.  After we moved here I had the uninspiring frame replaced but couldn't do anything about the brown mount, because the painting and mount were glued to a backing and removing them would have caused damage.  Deep teal and white boards were chosen to compliment the paint colours and cover the old mount, and the new frame resembles a smooth tree branch.

From time to time I looked up "E.W. Elmslie' but could only find out about a British Architect of that name, however that was before the wonder which is Trove, a repository of digitised media.  One day I found out that Miss E.W. Elmslie had won a prize for two watercolours of birds at the Dubbo Show in 1914 and, while this may be one of those, I have no proof that it is or isn't.

This morning I looked up Miss Elmslie again and found information that hadn't been there in earlier searches.  Her name was Edith Ward Elmslie and she remained 'Miss' all her life, which was from 1862 to 1921.

Miss Elmslie's father was Lt James Aberdour Elmslie, RNR (1827-1908) and for many years he was captain of the 'Sobraon', a famous clipper ship of the late 1800s, which made many voyages between England and Australia.  It was later acquired by the Australian Navy as a training ship and renamed 'Tingira' after which it became a floating school for boys at risk, until being broken up during WWII.

Now, this is where we cue the creepy music......

Kevin's grandfather Adolphus Peter Robilliard (1849-1933) was a merchant seaman who worked on the 'Sobraon/Tingira'.  What are the chances that, all those years later, I would buy a painting by the daughter of my husband's grandfather's captain?

"Table manners and etiquette.

It is of the highest importance that all persons should conduct themselves with the strictest regard to good breeding, even in the privacy of their own homes, when at table: a neglect of such observances will render one stiff and awkward in society.  There are so many little points to be observed, that unless a person is habitually accustomed to observe them, he unconsciously commits some error, or will appear awkward and constrained upon occasions when it is important to be fully at ease."

I concur.  Even if you aren't particularly 'well bred' there is nothing to stop you from acting as if you are.

Enjoy your days!

Days are getting longer

We've had a full month of daylight saving now, and days are starting way too early......for me, anyway.  Never mind.  In just five months we will change back.  I don't mind daylight saving time, I happen to like my mornings to be dark.

A couple more houses are finished.

An autumn house on the left and a summer house on the right, because - of course - flowers dance in the sky in summer.

Some time ago I decided I didn't like how my scarf was turning out, so pulled it undone and started a different pattern.  This is Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf, from Ravelry.

It's easy and fun to knit, and I like how the stripes fall.  The darkest colour isn't black, it's deep brown.

Our week has been pretty much the same as the one before it, and the one before that......some tumblers have been sewn, the second large panel is done but not yet photographed as it doesn't look much different to the first.  Once all three are joined there will be photographic proof.  Books have been read, some better than others.

While the world was shut down and we couldn't go anywhere except for food and drugs it was very easy to become lazy and now it's difficult to get un-lazied, but I'm working on it.  Having choir and ukulele group back has helped tremendously, and of course sewing and quilting groups too.

Our lives have changed slightly as we now have a new doctor, who - fortunately - seems quite nice.  The doctor we had both been seeing for several years moved to the Big Smoke earlier this year because his new wife wanted to go.  He was originally from Iran and really liked living in our town, we liked him too, but.....happy wife happy life, I suppose.  The staff at the medical centre told me they miss him.  However on Friday a pleasant young doctor named Genevieve and I bonded over our shared name, because Genevieve and Jennifer are variations on the same name.

I don't like doctors and medical stuff and things like that.  Sadly as one gets older some bits don't work as well as they used to so drugs are called for, and that means a visit every six months.  I just ignore any symptoms until bits fall off, and so far so good.  My mother was one of whom it could be said "she enjoyed ill health" and I vowed I would not be like that.  (When my brothers and I cleaned out her house after she died we filled a large plastic garbage bag three-quarters full of partly used medications; she was a great one for 'doctor shopping'.)  Probably gone a bit far the other way, but that's all right......although I am glad I had that eye surgery, because my new big wide vision is amazing.

The birds have been very entertaining lately.  Young galahs have been practising how to fly - they aren't too bad in the air, but the landings sometimes leave a bit to be desired and we have seen several face plant into the ground.  When I was a child my grandparents had a galah - 'Cocky' - it went to a large aviary in a nearby town after they died; galahs and other cockatoos can live to be over 100 years old, so frequently outlive their owners.

"Retiring from the table.

When the hostess sees that all have finished, she looks at the lady who is sitting beside the host, and the company rise, and withdraw in the order they are seated, without precedence.  After retiring to the drawing-room, the guests should intermingle in a social manner.  It is expected that the guests will remain from one to three hours after dinner."

Of course they will.  Meanwhile, the hostess is probably wondering "when, oh when, will they leave?"

Enjoy your days!

A couple of houses

Two houses were made yesterday, taking the total to 21.......only 40 more to go, but there is no hurry.

This is a long way from being a stash buster, some of those pieces of fabric are quite small, but it has used up some leftovers.

This is another piece of tatting by Aunty Laura - isn't it beautiful?  The removeable lining is pale green fabric, possibly rayon taffeta, with a plain front and back joined by a panel of ruching.  Inside that is a white padded cosy which would have kept a teapot warm. 

I don't know the date this was made, but am guessing perhaps in the 1930s......there's something about it that reminds me of Thirties clothes when ruching was a popular trim; you could imagine a set of pretty underthings in pale green (which was called 'Eau de Nil') with cream lace.  The green is similar to "30s green" quilt fabric, isn't it?  

The next panel of tumblers is more than half done.  There were nearly 100 pieces too many cut because I didn't check the dimensions of the tumbler in EQ7; the height was correct, but theirs was narrower than mine.  So, those leftovers will go on the back.  I prefer the proportions of mine......the EQ7 ones seem a bit skinny.  As I used to be.....sigh.......

Do advertisers really think that those of us of more mature years are fooled by TV ads for "younger looking skin" using Sweet Young Things who seem to be barely out of their teens?  I know they are selling an illusion more than a product, but really.......we're not stupid, you know.

Meanwhile on the larger screen today the world bids farewell to Sean Connery, the first and in many people's opinion the best James Bond.  Earlier this year (I think - time has a way of stopping and starting, these days) we watched some of the earlier James Bond movies made before they became all about special effects at the expense of the plot, and honestly.....some of the bedroom scenes are almost non-consensual by today's standards, aren't they?  It makes for slightly uncomfortable viewing now, when once we would have shaken it off.  The world has moved on.

"No matter what may go wrong, a hostess should never seem to notice it to the annoyance of her guests.  By passing it over herself, it will very frequently escape the attention of others.  If her guests arrive late, she should welcome them as cordially as if they had come early, but she will commit a rudeness to those who have arrived punctually, if she awaits dinner for tardy guests for more than the fifteen minutes of grace prescribed by custom."

In other words, don't be late without a very very good excuse.

Enjoy your days!

One done, two to go

One third of the centre panel of the tumbler quilt is finished.....each and every stitch hand-pieced.  It is 24 inches wide.

It is difficult to get a full picture when one is short.

One thing you notice about many of these repro fabrics from different decades of the 1800s is that stripes were very popular.  Nothing was fussy cut; as with the little houses, the fabrics were cut where they were cut.  Some fabrics are......I hesitate to call them 'ugly' but they are a long way from beautiful; however, once they are put together it doesn't matter.

Now the second panel is underway, and the feeling of achievement has to be felt to be believed.  It still doesn't, however, have a name but that will come.

There is a small amount of derision from a few members of my quilt group who would not ever dream of doing anything by hand ever never.  This is their problem.....not mine.

Despite my good intentions no houses were made this week.  This will be remedied.

It has rained again, indeed as we speak right now there is thunder rumbling and storms showing up on the weather radar.  We had really good rain yesterday and last night......our gardens, include the new plants purchased a few days ago, are beaming their little faces off.

Do you ever have one of those weeks where you don't feel like doing much?  That was me this week, hence the lack of houses.  Notes were plinked though, so that's something.

Had the world not been in the fix it currently is we would be in Dorrigo this weekend, enjoying catching up with friends and listening to (and playing) music at the folk festival......but alas it was not to be, as the festival had to cancel.  Who knows what will happen next year?

People are now looking forward to the occasion at the end of the year, a TV announcer said we have nine weeks left......I thought it was all being cancelled this year, like everything else?  That being so we have made our booking at a restaurant for a Nice Christmas Lunch, because when there are only two of you with no family near the alternative is to stay home and grin at each other.  The sewing group and the quilt group will each have a pre-Christmas party lunch, so that will be something to look forward to.

Continuing our quote from a couple of weeks ago:

"The host must aid the hostess in her efforts.  He should have ease and frankness of manner, a calmness of temper that nothing can ruffle, and a kindness of disposition that can never be exhausted.  He must encourage the timid, draw out the silent and direct conversation rather than sustain it himself."

Does that sound like your bloke?  Maybe......

Enjoy your days!

Wet stuff is falling from the sky!

Do we dare to hope that it's actually raining?  It has also cooled right down, so Kevin is a picture of sartorial splendour in the trakky daks.  I may be joining him soon as my bare tootsies are feeling a little chilly.

Two more houses have been made.

There's definitely an orange and purple vibe going with these two.  The aim is to make two houses a week; I'm not trying to bust a speed record with this, but they are fun and I enjoy making them.  I'm deliberately not matching patterns.......how they are cut is how they are sewn.

All the black and white fabrics for "Imprismed" are now cut, yay!  It will be foundation pieced, so lots of mindless sewing - my favourite kind - is involved.  Some thought is being given to how the edges will be finished, although that decision won't be needed for a while; I am leaning toward a narrow black and white stripe.  Perhaps.  Maybe.  On the other hand I had also thought of a facing sewn to the back, facings are often used on modern and art quilts......but I don't know if mine will be modern enough, or arty enough, or what.  (Probably or what, if truth be known.)  I'll let the quilt tell me what it needs when the time comes. 

Ukulele group met here on Monday afternoon, and we certainly had fun.  It was good to be getting together again after so long, and Clare arrived with these beautiful roses from her garden.  We have been enjoying them, they smell wonderful.

This beautiful tablecloth was made by my mother's Aunty Laura.  It was photographed to show to Karen - now you can all enjoy it.  The centre is linen, probably Irish, and measures 20-1/2 in square.

The tatting border is a bit over nine inches wide all round.

Aunty Laura's two children both died young, in sad circumstances.  She and her husband were left in their mid-forties with no children, so she seems to have turned her hand to making exquisite lace; I don't know whether she could already tat before then, but judging by the pieces she left she was no novice.  I also have several of her doilies (some with linen centres, some all lace) and a padded tea cosy of cream lace lined with pale green taffeta, possbly from the 1930s-early 1940s, as Aunty Laura died in 1948.

The question is, what's going to happen to all this beautiful lace when I die?  I very much doubt that either daughter-in-law will want it, and as I have no female descendants it will probably end up being thrown out or donated to an op shop.  I would prefer the op shop option, because hopefully then someone will see it and love it enough to want it.  

In the meantime, I shall enjoy owning and displaying it.

"Accepting hospitality a sign of good-will.

As eating with another under his own roof is in all conditions of society regarded as a sign of good-will, those who partake of proffered hospitalities, only to gossip about and abuse their host and hostess, should remember, that in the opinion of all honorable persons, they injure themselves by so doing."

This is true.  

Enjoy your days!

The village is growing

Two houses were made this week.

Bright pink spots - my stash is not entirely lacking in pink - and I don't know what you would call the house on the left, rust, perhaps?  Brick?  It's not quite brown, anyway.  My village will not be Dullsville, and there are a few more cut out ready to be sewn.

It needs a witty name, but that will come in time......probably in a blinding flash of brilliance when least expected.  In the shower, perhaps.

More black and white fabrics have been cut.  A new blade in one's rotary cutter makes a world of difference!  That one does have a name - 'Imprismed', because of the rainbow which will flow through it.

Stitches have been sewn on the tumbler quilt, and the panels are becoming larger; the first of three wide panels is now underway, each panel is eight tumblers wide.  

Blogger has been playing up a little of late - why are we not surprised?  A couple of comments didn't make it into my email inbox, they were dumped into my spam folder which I only check when I remember to, so if you leave a comment and I don't get back to you fairly soon don't worry.  It's in hand.

Our local birds have been active this week.  A male Crested Pigeon has been strutting his stuff to no avail; the object of his affection seems to be muttering "dirty devil" under her breath as she flutters away from him.  Doesn't stop him from pursuing her, though - they are quite funny.  A pair of magpies pop in regularly for some steak, a Grey Butcherbird is aso a regular visitor, a family of Magpie Larks - peewees - tells the larger magpies off, and a Red Wattlebird tells them all off.  Talk about the pecking order......they are very entertaining.

No special outings to report this week, just the usual hunting and gathering.  Quilt group met on Tuesday, choir was on Thursday night - suitably distanced with everyone sitting, as it has been since we resumed - and tomorrow afternoon the remnants of the ukulele group are coming here to play together for the first time in over six months.  If we meet at the golf club (as we did for quite a while) we have to abide by government regulations of sitting, no standing or walking around......most of us prefer to stand while playing......signing in, etc.  By coming here we can be more relaxed and informal.  Our town hasn't had a case of the covid plague since April so we feel confident to go ahead.  Most cases are happening in bigger cities with much larger populations, but everyone has to abide by the same regulations.

The thought of playing music with friends again has me all a-flutter with excitement, I can tell you - notes have even been plinked in preparation!

 "Duties of a hostess and host.

Tact and self-possession are demanded of the hostess, in order that she may perform her duties agreeably, which are not onerous.  She should instruct her servants not to remove her plate until her guests have finished.  If she speaks of any omission by which her servants have inconvenienced her guests, she must do it with dignity, not betraying any undue annoyance.  She must put her guests at their ease, and pay every possible attention to the requirement of each and all around her.  No accident must disturb her; no disappointments embarrass her.  If her precious china and her rare glass are broken before her eyes, she must seem to take but little or no notice of it."

I shall endeavour to be a gracious ukulele hostess tomorrow, but won't be using the precious china or rare glass.

Enjoy your days!

Been and gone and come back again

We've been out and about!

On Friday we took the Nice Sunday Drive that we have been promising ourselves, and oh - it did feel good.  We drove through beautiful country and saw amazing scenery, none of which was immortalised because I left my camera at home.  One would, however, need a very fancy-nancy camera to do it justice because it was a huge view especially when going over a mountain range looking out into the distance; I have no idea how far we could see, but it seemed to be a very very long way.

We started our trip an hour from home with morning tea, in which Kevin partook of a chocolate-y slice with his coffee and I, being very fond of apricots, had apricot and white chocolate slice with mine .  We ended up having lunch in our destination, a small town which was buzzing with folk passing through, but we managed to pick our times and places so we didn't feel crowded.

Just as well we didn't have the caravan with us!  The purpose of the trip was a trial run for future reference, and we have decided that while it's a beautiful trip the road is not a caravan road.  It used to be dirt for much of its length but last year it was upgraded and sealed all the way.  Problem was, however, that heavy rain earlier this year had washed some of that new road away - half a lane width had collapsed over the side of a mountain, not something you would want to be on when it happened!  Now there are repairs to be made at the cost of some squillions of dollars because it wasn't done properly in the first place.  You know what they say......do it once, and do it right.

Apart from our day trip not a whole heap has happened this week.  Stitches have been sewn in the tumbler quilt.  Black and white fabrics are still being cut, some fabrics which I had thought of using have been decided against, decisions are still being made.  Stitches were knitted.  Books have been read.

So - we will be revisiting the photo vault this week.

This was my quilt group's annual challenge, the year after we moved here.  We were given a design to copy which it didn't inspire me, but on looking closer I could see stars hidden among the lines.....and I like star quilts.  It was drawn out in EQ7, lines were erased (there were lots and lots of two inch finished squares and half-square triangles in the original), and I dipped into my stash for this fun stripe.  The black and white was purchased; I wanted all the background to be one fabric rather than scrappy.

Cutting instructions were printed out, and rotary cutter was taken in hand.

The finished quilt - all from stash, except for the background and binding.  Colours for the stars were taken from the stripe.

It was quilted by me too.

See those lavender triangles?  That's the size of the original squares.  

I like my design much better.

Not that there's anything wrong with making someone else's design.....I have done it before and will do so again......but making up one's own design is fun.

We seem to have left winter behind, and are descending headlong into summer - who could believe that, just a week ago, we needed a fire to keep us warm?  I have bared my arms in short sleeved tops, and my toes in sandals, but haven't yet flashed the legs.  That will come, no doubt very soon.

"Monopolizing conversation.

For one or two persons to monopolize a conversation which ought to be general, is exceedingly rude.  If the dinner party is a large one, you may converse with those near you, raising the voice only loud enough to be distinctly heard by the persons you are talking with."

Have you ever been near a group of people who are talking, and noticed that there is often one person who talks louder and more forcefully than anyone else in the group?  We have decided that these folk are the 'special people' of our world, so 'special' in fact that normal rules of polite behaviour don't apply to them.  They are related to the 'special' people who push themselves into a waiting line, or who push their car into a row of traffic.  'Special' people indeed......so special that we should consider ourselves lucky to be on the same earth as they.  As of course we do.  

Enjoy your days!

Brrr.......

Winter hasn't yet gone......this morning was frosty chilly, minus 2 deg C, and the past few days a nasty chilly wind has stopped us from frolicking among the dandelions in our bare feet.  We have even had a fire again, much to Bianca's delight.  Next weekend is supposed to be a different story.

Black and white fabrics have been getting cut out.  The last of this was used.  I'm not into collecting and re-using selvedges, but I will keep this one because......

......my middle name is Grace!

'Jennifer' was a very popular name for girls of my age, there were several other Jennifers in my year at school.  Most were Jennifer Ann/Anne, one was Jennifer Margaret, but I am Jennifer Grace.

My mother had a cousin, Dorothy Grace, who died in 1926 when she was only 15.  While I wasn't the first girl born in the family after her death I was, as far as I know, the first one to be named after Dorothy Grace, whose middle name seems to have been used in preference to her first name.  Thank goodness for that, I say; 'Jennifer Dorothy' would have been a bit of a mouthful.

We will be lying a little low for the next couple of weeks as school holidays may bring visitors (and their germs) to our town, now that the world is opening up a little.  The only outings will be for some hunting and gathering, although the thought of a road trip is taking shape in my mind.  One of the possible routes we take when going to Canberra has an alternative road which we were warned was not suitable for caravans, but it has apparently now been upgraded and sealed......so we might, one day soon, go for a Nice Sunday Drive on a weekday to a smaller town and try out said road sans caravan.  If we think it's a bit hairy for the return trip we can come home via the slightly longer way that we have previously used.

Perhaps one day we may be able to take the caravan away again, but who knows what may happen next year?  Already many events which would have taken place in 2021 are being cancelled.

Thursday night choir is back, although numbers are down.  The ukulele group is in talks, as they say in the media, about returning in a couple of weeks and it's looking positive.  Playing in a group again would be wonderful.

"The table appointments.

A snow-white cloth of the finest damask, beautiful china, glistening or finely-engraved glass, and polished plate are considered essential to a grand dinner.  Choice flowers, ferns and mosses tastefully arranged, add much to the beauty of the table.  A salt-cellar should be placed within the reach of every guest.  Napkins should be folded square and placed with a roll of bread upon each plate.  The dessert is placed on the table amidst the flowers.  An epergne, or a low dish of flowers, graces the centre; stands of bon-bons and confectionery are ranged on both sides of the table, which complete the decorations of the table.  The name of each guest, written upon a card and placed one on each plate, marks the seat assigned."

Oh my.....I wonder what the author of these words would think about the current habit (one in which, I'm afraid, Kevin and I do sometimes indulge, and I would bet some of you do too) of eating from a tray on one's lap while watching television?

Enjoy your days!

A week of firsts

Quite a few 'firsts' have happened this week.  On Tuesday my first volunteer shift happened at a local gallery - volunteers started back last month but I didn't want to appear before the public looking like Dr Frankenstein's monster, so held back for a month - it was good to be out and about again.

Friday afternoon was my first time volunteering at a history museum - that was also postponed for a month - but as no visitors came, there was no social distancing to worry about.  It was also warm enough to wear a short-sleeved top, and......sandals!  First time for both bare arms and bare toes for several months.

It has rained.  The forecast is for more rain.  That will be good.

Following some deep thinking, yesterday a box was taken out of the cupboard in my sewing room and now cutting has re-commenced......not the gorgeous orange batik, but these black and white prints and others not in the pic.

These were already cut; triangles now, they will become diamonds.  

The design was inspired by a workshop a few years ago with Jenny Bowker, whose work I have long admired.  Unfortunately that was also the year of our two floods when nearly everything in our lives was shelved until things returned to a semblance of normality.  The original plan was for light and dark black and white background prints, but a quilt seen on our last Canadian visit which only used light black and white prints turned my mind in a different direction - so, mine will be all light.  The darks will keep for another project.  Or two.  Or maybe more.

I like black and white quilts.....this will be my third.

These creamy iris are flowering again just outside our back fence, planted by the previous owner.  They flowered the first year we moved here but have seldom flowered since, probably due to being trampled and eaten by visiting cattle from the other side of the hill.  The cattle haven't been around for ages......but today I noticed there is one flower, with more to come!

Days are getting longer, those lovely dark winter mornings have ended.  One has never been a person who bounds out of bed at the first sign of light, to cheerfully greet the new day.  One likes dark mornings.  We will have a short reprieve soon when daylight saving starts in a couple of weeks, but that will be it for some months.

Sigh.......

"The success of a dinner.

A host and hostess generally judge of the success of a dinner by the manner in which conversation has been sustained.  It if has flagged often, it is considered proof that the guests have not been congenial; but if a steady stream of talk has been kept up, it shows that they have smoothly amalgamated, as a whole.  No one should monopolize conversation, unless he wishes to win for himself the appellation of a bore, and be avoided as such."

No mention of mobile phones disrupting conversation, you notice.

Enjoy your days!

In which we are still mooching along.......

It has been a week of not doing much.  Stitches have been sewn, none have been knitted.  Books have been read.  Notes have been plinked (yay!) and even sung (double yay!).

Stitching down the applique on the Canadian blocks has resumed.  Nunavut is done, New Brunswick isn't far from being done......in that order.  Nunavut had easier shapes for stitching, so it was done first.  

Pictures of these were shown earlier this year and they don't look much different now because the stitching is being done with see-through polyester thread.  If it wasn't, can't you imagine the squillions of thread colour changes?  Doesn't bear thinking about, does it?

We'll have some flowers instead, because it's spring.  These are all plants from our garden in the Big Smoke.

Love the new shoots on this bottle brush - Callistemon 'Taree Pink'.  It was an impulse buy as a very small plant from the local hardware shop, which had a small but excellent garden section.  I took it home, found a spot on the north-east corner of the front of the house, planted it - then stood back and watched while it grew.  I have never know a plant which grew so quickly.

A pink bottle brush poking its head in at the side, and creamy white Grevillea 'Moonlight'.

Another grevillea - I think this is 'Robyn Gordon'.

'Taree Pink' again.  If everything we planted grew as well as this did, I would be a happy woman!

The Big Smoke's climate is much more humid with milder winters than here, and these plants loved it.  We did plant a 'Taree Pink' here; it turned up its toes at the first sign of a proper winter.......but perhaps I might try again.

I really like our Aussie native plants.  They don't have the gorgeous autumn colour that trees from other countries do but their new growth in spring is often a glorious bronze, just as spectacular in its own way.  They are often rich in nectar which attracts a lot of birds, and of course watching them makes for great entertainment.

Speaking of birds......a few days ago I heard an odd tapping noise, and couldn't think what it could be.  It happened again yesterday morning, and turned out to be one of our resident peewees, more usually seen flying around looking for insects.  They are often seen pecking at the 'other' bird in a car mirror or window - this one was pecking at the bottom corner of the big floor-to-ceiling window; its beak tapping on the window was the odd noise.

Have I ever told you the details of my etiquette book, bought many years at a library cull for just a dollar or two?  It was originally published in 1885, probably in the U.S. judging by the spelling, with an Australian edition in 1886; mine is a 'facsimile edition' (meaning an exact copy, even down to typeface) published in 1980.  It's full title is "Australian etiquette, or the rules and usages of the best society in the Australasian colonies, together with their sports, pastimes, games and amusements.  Revised, illustrated and compiled expressly as a household treasure for Australian homes."  Several years ago bloggers were signing off with a quote from a book or poem, or sometimes a Bible verse or inspirational saying - I decided on advice from my book.  It was published at a time when some people moving into 'society' for the first time may have been unsure how to behave in social situations, but for all that is not too stiff - its advice is more about courtesy and making others, as well as one's self, feel at ease no matter what the occasion.

"Punctuality.

The hour generally selected in cities is after business hours, or from five to eight o'clock.  In the country or villages it may be an hour or two earlier.  To be punctual at the hour mentioned is obligatory.  If you are too early you are in the way; if too late you annoy the hostess, cause impatience among the assembled guests, and perhaps spoil the dinner.  Fifteen minutes is the longest time required to wait for a tardy guest."

Advice as true today as in 1885, yes?

Enjoy your days!