Not such a good way to end the year, but well......

 This afternoon I typed out the final post for the year but somehow my fingers hit more than one key at once......and my post disappeared into cyberspace.

Oh, well.  We'll try again.

Earlier in the week the top - so far - of the house quilt was finished.  The holiday break wasn't spent in idleness, you know.

It still needs borders.  I am thinking - perhaps two rows of 2-1/2 in random strips, and that should finish the edges nicely.

The purple house with orange roof was the first block made, nearly four years ago, so it has a place of honour on the bottom right hand corner.

A few years ago I was looking through some magazines ("free to good home") when a quilt in my beloved autumn tones caught my eye.  I took the magazine home - only to find out it was already in my collection!  It's a now-defunct Australian magazine published in 2007.

Fabrics were selected....an easy task, because I have quite a stash of autumn prints.....and all the cutting was done.  Using the 'leaders and enders' system all the half-square triangles were made, both small and larger.  The 15 autumn blocks required for the pattern were made.......

.....and there it sat.

It is coming out of hibernation to be taken to quilt group on Tuesday because there will be lots of mindless piecing, something easy to do when chatting is happening.  The original quilt had green leaves, yellow leaves, red leaves - but as you can see, I have mixed my fabrics around.  These four blocks (or perhaps a different four, yet to be decided) will form the centre of the medallion style quilt.  There are still borders to be cut as every round or two is bordered, but I will start the piecing and let the quilt tell me which of the border choices it would like as we go along.

How was everyone's Christmas?  Ours was quiet although we did lash out and cook a small turkey roll, enough for two with some leftovers.  A glass of bubbly with it, and we were happy.  We spoke to our Canberra son and enjoyed opening the package he sent which included a fun calendar of wombats doing - of all things - yoga, which will hang in my sewing room.  The wombat paintings are by Lenny Pelling, and you would have to be a sad sack indeed if those pictures didn't make you laugh, or at least smile.

Last day of 2023 today, or Hogmanay for those of us with Scottish blood in our veins.  Mine comes from my father through his mother (my Posh Melbourne Grandmother Florence), then her father, my great-grandfather, born in Australia in the early 1840s to Scottish immigrant parents.  Contact with that side of my family was severed by them in the early 1970s, and although it was later picked up by my brothers I have had none since then.

As usual I do not plan to make new year resolutions, although I do have hopes of accomplishing a few things.  We can always dream.....

Diamonds have been joined, and some cut.  Words have been read.  Seasonal hunting and gathering has happened in order that we may not starve, and so it goes.

Continuing with Etiquette of Public Places, Conduct in Church:

"Ladies always take the inside seats, and gentlemen the outside or head of the pew.  When a gentleman accompanies a lady, however, it is customary for him to sit by her side during church services."

Have you seen the fashions of the mid-1880s, when these words were written?  Although the wide crinoline was no longer worn the styles were quite elaborate (over-elaborate in many cases) which would have made it difficult, if not impossible, for two ladies to pass in narrow pews.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

No matter where you are.....

.....and no matter what you celebrate at this time - even if you don't celebrate anything at all - best wishes for a season of love and peace.

And chocolate.  Good quality dark chocolate.

And perhaps a glass or two of bubbly.

And music, and of course wombats!

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Well....it works!

How have you all been this week?  It is still quite warm here - one might even say it is hot, which it is - and today is hazy and smokey.  There are fires two or three hours west of here and smoke is drifting this way, so the air outside has a tinge of gold.  It's good weather to stay indoors, because being outside is probably unhealthy..

My idea about slicing and dicing the blocks shown in the last post actually works, which makes me happy!

The original block.  This pic will be added to the written instructions handed out to the quilt group next month.

When the blocks come back to me (doesn't matter if it takes a few months, there's no hurry) they will be cut on the diagonal and the colours mixed around.

Then two of those triangles will be joined with a one inch strip of black solid, and voila - we have a new block!

  This pic makes it look rectangular, but it isn't.  My ruler tells me it is definitely square.  Because there will be several seams coming together they will be sashed with plain black, and I am hoping the effect will be of stained glass.

Needs some green, doesn't it......

For the last sewing group meeting for this year one of our members showed us how to make an origami tree.  We had to take along a square of paper and our paper scissors....not the Good Scissors, no!......and we folded, cut, folded some more, snipped some more, and this is the result.  I used Christmas wrap which looks good when finished, although it was more fiddly to work with than a stiffer paper would be.

Should you wish to make your own, or perhaps need to entertain a younger person during the holiday break by making a tree with them, here are instructions and a video for you. 

The silly season is upon us.  A few nights ago we were watching something forgettable when an ad break came on, so of course the mute button was pressed.  (We don't enjoy having ads blasted at us.....they are always far too loud.)  An ad came on for a barbeque griller thingy, the well-known brand starting with W, they don't pay me to advertise so I won't name them. The grills come in different sizes, and this ad was for a 'baby' one. The young couple in the ad looked the part, he was smiling proudly at the new small grill while she, gazing adoringly at her man's prowess with the tongs, was holding a small child. Quite a young child. Just then the 'baby BBQ" writing flashed up on the screen, and I lost it completely. Nearly-fell-off-my-chair-laughing lost it.

Well.....what else would you cook on a baby BBQ?

Yesterday I put that on my facebook page and one person (who must have had a sense of humour bypass) took it seriously. "Oh no, they shouldn't imply that" she said.......truly......

A fun week this week with a couple of end-of-year functions. A 'thank you to our lovely volunteers' party at the gallery where I do my monthly shift; my last shift for the year will be coming up on Tuesday. My new-to-me recently op-shopped red bag made its first appearance, and looks like being very useful.

Thursday was lunch and a final play for the year with the U3A ukulele group. I was surprised and touched when both the leader and I were each presented with a lovely hand-made card signed by the members and a 'thank you for your help with the music' gift; it was totally unexpected but very appreciated, and the hand-written messages in the card are a delight to read.

Words have been read.  Diamonds have been joined, and (finally!) more have been cut.  Notes have been plinked and sung.  We have hunted and gathered, and so another week has passed.  Hi ho, and so we go.

Continuing with Etiquette of Public Places, Conduct in Church:

"It is ill-mannered to be late at church.  If one if unavoidably late, it is better to take a pew as near the door as possible."

Indeed.  In fact, it is ill-mannered to be late nearly anywhere, although we understand that traffic can be unpredictable.....especially at this time of year.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Melting moments

'Melting moments', for those of you who don't live in the wonderful land of Oz, are a favourite Aussie treat which have been around for a long time.  There are many recipes online, to make it easy I found one for you....Melting moments......not having tried it I can't vouch for it, but I'm sure they are yummy.

We've been having our own moments of melting this week.  It has been, and continues to be, very very hot with not much relief at night for sleeping....although the daytime heat is so tiring that the night time warmth certainly hasn't kept me awake.  In C degrees we have been nudging 40 for the past several days with those temps to continue for much of the coming week.  (That's over 100 deg F in old money)  We stay indoors as much as possible and drink plenty of water, we know that one day it will be cooler, and then we will feel better.

A few nights ago there was, as they say on the news, quite a bit of storm activity around.  Here on the northern edge of town we had a bit of wind, some lightning and thunder and about half a dozen drops of rain, while on the other side of the river there were blackouts, trees down, car accidents (because people don't know how to drive in anything other than bright sunny weather, do they) and teeming rain, even hail.  The official weather station at the airport on the south-west of town received - not one drop.  So, it didn't happen.

Unfortunately the heat fries my brain making it difficult to concentrate so not much has been achieved, but I did manage to get the three blocks made that I need for next month's BOM.

The two blocks on the right will be cut once diagonally.  There will be one intact block left to show the group what is expected (there will of course be a pic on the instructions which I will hand out); two of the cut blocks will be joined with black sashing, while the remaining two will be left so I can explain my idea.  I has also occurred to me earlier today that those blocks could be cut twice through the middle - up and down, and across, mixed around and sashed with black - but I like the diagonal idea better.  If you want to try it for yourself the centre square is cut 3-1/2 in, and the surrounding strips are all cut 2 inches.

It will not be long until the season is upon us, the musical wreath will be hung on the front door once more.....probably during the coming week.  Ding a ling.

Last night the ukulele group played for a Christmas carols evening at a small village 15 minutes out of town, and it was fun.  Despite the horrible heat we enjoyed ourselves, the audience seemed to as well, and we all had fun singing along with Christmas songs old and new.  The choir included one of the Australian Christmas carols......yes, there are some; in fact there are 15.....in their set, and we sang another.  My generation grew up singing them at school so of course are familiar with them, and they do reflect an Aussie Christmas more than carols from colder climes.  When there is a total fire ban (as there is again today) we would certainly not think of roasting our chestnuts on a fire, open or otherwise; in the words of 'The North Wind': "The north wind is tossing the leaves, the red dust is over the town....the sparrows are under the eaves, and the grass in the paddock is brown......" which is Australia in summer, and Australia at Christmas.

Some work was done on the neighbourhood at quilt group on Tuesday, then the bobbin thread ran out halfway through adding a setting triangle to the end of a house row.  It was nearly packing-up time anyway, so - when it's not quite so hot and when the social seasonal happenings let up for a while - it will be finished off at home.

Diamonds have been joined.  Words have been read.  Notes have been plinked and sung; choir has now finished for the year, and U3A ukulele group finishes next Thursday with lunch at the club where we hold our weekly meetings......first we will eat then we will play and sing, which sounds good to me.  Hunting and gathering, as usual, happened, and a birthday gift was posted off to The One And Only Grandkid who will soon turn nine.

Each year a 'Colour of the Year' is released by Pantone, and next year's colour was released this week.....'Peach Fuzz'.  Now I don't know about you but I would call it 'Blergh'.....or perhaps 'Bare Bum'.  I can't see it setting my world on fire, that's for sure.  When I posted about it on my online quilt group it reminded many members of sampler quilts they made in the 1980s-1990s which were peach/apricot with pale green or blue - a scheme they thought (hoped!) had gone forever.

Continuing on with Etiquette of Public Places, Conduct in Church:

"People should preserve the utmost silence and decorum in church, and avoid whispering, laughing, staring, or making a noise of any kind with the feet or hands."

Indeed.  Attending a church is not the same as attending a theatrical performance, although there is an element of theatre just the same.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Counting chickens and all that

Something it seems we must not do, seeing as how a couple of things which had been looked forward to had to be cancelled this week.

Last weekend one of the uke group folks had a positive test to the plague.  With someone else already away we were already down on voices, so the remainder of us made the reluctant decision to cancel Wednesday's performance.  While we really hated to disappoint those lovely folk at the seniors' residence, we just didn't have enough people to put on a good show.  However all is not lost; next month our town is taken over by a humumgous country music festival.  Many locals welcome it with open arms while many others pull up their drawbridge and stay home, only venturing out if they really must.....including, it seems, the lovely folk at the seniors' residence.  The manager and I had a nice little chat and I suggested bringing the festival to them which she heartily approved, so that will be fun.

Then on Thursday night at choir our director pointed out the lack of singers who were there that night, the fact that at least two folk - a married couple - have also come down with plague, and told us that last night's Christmas extravaganza was also being reluctantly cancelled. He has promised it will happen in the middle of next year; we will have Christmas in July instead of in December, and he still wants me to sing my Christmas ukulele song.  That gives me several more months of practice.....perhaps I may be able to play without looking at the music!  I know the words and just need to learn the sequence of chords, some of which is already in my brain.

Oh well.  C'est la vie, and all that.

The roster for next year's morning tea and BOM duties has been handed out, and I am down for late January.  Earlier this year an idea for a block popped into my brain, so I might just try it.  This is how it begins:

A 3-1/2 inch square, surrounded by two rows of strips cut two inches wide; it should measure 9-1/2 inches when finished.  Fabrics to make two more of these blocks are sitting on my sewing room table as we speak.  Once the blocks are done they will be cut once on the diagonal and joined with a black strip, probably one inch wide when finished.  All I am asking the group members to do is to make one of these blocks; I will do the diagonal cutting and rejoining, as I want the colours mixed up so it doesn't look too matchy-matchy.  I don't know if it will work, but thought it would be fun to try.

The diagonal of a 9-1/2 inch square is over 13 inches, which is a piece of mathematical trivia for you, and which will be how long my black sashing strips need to be cut.  

Words have been read.  Diamonds have been sewn.  Notes have been plinked and sing.  Hunting and gathering has happened, and so has passed another week.

It has rained, more very welcome rain, but the coming week is forecast to be hot, hot, hot......and dry.  Good weather for staying inside and sewing, perhaps.

Most of the books I read have been downloaded to my tablet, but sometimes I let my hair down and read a Real Book as I did this week.  The bookshop here is one of a chain which publishes a "reading guide" twice a year, so I have decided to use it as my reading guide too.  One book mentioned caught my interest, the library had it in their collection, so I reserved it and duly collected it on Friday.  It was finished last night (I'm a quick reader, always have been) and thoroughly enjoyed it.  It's by Ariel Lawhon and is called 'The Frozen River'.  I won't spoil it by leaking any of the plot, but it's a good read.  Most of the story takes place over a cold winter in Maine in 1789, a winter experience foreign to many Aussies, but it really makes you feel as though you were suffering in the cold along with the characters.  The central characters really lived, Martha the midwife certainly did - as her descendants still do today.

The mangos from a local school's annual fundraiser are now all peeled, sliced and in the freezer.  The kids next door have all attended the primary school not far away and, for the past few years, they have had a fundraising drive in which I have happily participated.  ("It's mango time again......")  Girl 1 has been in high school for a couple of years, Boy goes off to high school next year - but Girl 2 still has several years at that school, so there will be mangos for a while yet.  Yum yum.....

Continuing with Etiquette of Public Places, Conduct in Church:

"A gentleman may walk up the aisle either a little ahead of, or by the side of a lady, allowing the lady to first enter the pew.  There should be no haste in passing up the aisle."

Indeed, no.  There is no need to sprint.  No doubt there will seats for all.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Meet Rusty the wombat!

Rusty tried living in a pot with a succulent.....he was a bit too big to fit; he's longer nose-to-tail than he looks.  He tried another pot....there was room for either Rusty or a plant, but not both.  So he and I had a chat and we decided to move him to the back garden, where he now resides in his own little spot among some rocks.

There is a wombat friend behind him to make sure he doesn't get too lonely, although I don't think the friend is ever awake.  Rusty is made from metal, and has a spike stuck in the ground to make sure he doesn't go anywhere.  The post behind is one of the uprights for the wash line.

The Christmas occasions continue.

Yesterday the quilt group had its last Saturday meeting for the year, we waved around our challenge quilts (in my case still just a top but mine wasn't the only one unfinished, which made me feel better; the most popular two-colour theme was blue and white/cream), we had a cuppa, some small quilts and the bags I made were handed over to a representative of a charity, and we had a 'lucky dip' gift exchange....not a Secret Santa, as we weren't given names.  My gift is lovely!  A zipper bag with sewing notions stitched in silvery-grey on a yellow background which contained a spare cutter blade (always welcome); a pretty lacy hanky for when I feel like being a posh lady (I do sometimes, you know); a pair of 'Thangs' in a felt case; a pack of stationery notes and cards; and a gadget with a secret.

The back of the bag continues the yellow/grey theme, my two 'Thangs' show up against it - and the secret of the gadget is revealed!  The long silver end pulls out and is reversed, placed back in the holder, and it becomes a stitch ripper.

There was also a beautiful hand-made Christmas card with an Aussie bird, but it missed being in the pic.  The 'Thangs' case has the name "Sewmadic" so I looked it up and found that, through Kiva, they help women in developing countries to start and run their own businesses.....definitely a cause to support.

Next year's challenge was voted on, a few suggestions were tossed around, and the winning idea is to make a row by row quilt, something I have never done although they were all the rage several years ago.  I am feeling a bit lukewarm about it.....a regular commitment doesn't work for me, because if life is busy and I get behind it causes me stress, and I don't sew to be stressed.  I looked at ideas online, and none of them really floated my boat.  It's not compulsory to participate, so perhaps I won't.

After our meeting/cuppa/gift exchange/charity handover we adjourned to a pub on the other side of town for lunch.  It was a very wet drive; we've had quite a very welcome wet week, with more rain forecast.  Lunch was yummy, and you will be pleased to know that I stuck to alcohol-free as a 15-20 minute drive home in steady rain is easier with a clear head.  (Not that I indulge at lunch time, anyway)  There were several family groups in the pub and, because the rain was so heavy; all the little kiddie-widdies who would otherwise be running around in the outdoor playground were stuck noisily inside.  I was glad I hadn't worn my very bestest sandals as my feet did get very wet going to and from the car, both for the meeting and for lunch.  Splish splosh.

Diamonds have been sewn.  Words have been read.  Notes have been plinked and sung as the uke group is playing on Wednesday afternoon at a seniors' residence, and as I have a solo gig (!) next Saturday night at the choir Christmas party (which has been called an "extravaganza" by our director) so that will be fun.  The usual hunting and gathering, and that's pretty much it for this week, folks.

The U3A ukulele course leader and I have decide to divvy up the job.  She is quite happy to continue being the contact person and to do any admin Stuff, and I don't mind taking the group on Thursdays when she isn't available - although she said recently she thinks they do really well under me, better than under her!  (I don't know about that.....)  I did suggest that she add my name as official joint leader so the previous leader can't push his way back in, which she said she would do.  We aren't doing this to be nasty, you know; there are valid reasons for our thinking the way we do.

Continuing with Etiquette of Public Places.  The first two are quite short, so we will combine them.

"Conduct in church.

A gentleman should remove his hat upon entering the auditorium.

When visiting a strange church, you should wait in the vestibule until an attendant appears to show you to a seat."

The 'conduct in church' chapter is quite lengthy.  I suspect that, in days gone by, many folk did not go to church because they believed in the message being preached, but because it was a social activity - a case of seeing and being seen, particularly while wearing one's newest finery

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Very worthy Stuff

This week has seen very little action on the Getting Stuff Done front, but has seen quite a bit of running around.  The Christmas occasions have started; yesterday morning the Historical Society had theirs under the shady verandah, and today we attended a charity fair.  It was strange to just be at the fair without playing music as we have done in past years but at present the ukulele group's numbers are down, so there is no way we can do an outside performance.  We have two indoors gigs lined up in the next few weeks, we can manage those.

We did make a few purchases....Kevin bought himself a magnifying glass with a bone (deer antler) handle to help him decipher the family history information (the writing on some of those old hand-written certificates looks legible until you try to read it); we bought some meat pies, currently in the fridge, which will be frozen later and which look very yummy;  I bought a new wombat, made of rusty metal, for the garden (we have a large pot with a succulent growing in it, which will make a nice home for Rusty the wombat) and a couple more goodies with an eye to Christmas gifting.  I drooled over Annette the jewellery lady's lovely trinkets.....I already have some of her beautiful pieces.....I could quite happily have bought several pairs.  But I was strong, and I didn't.  The home-made lemonade we had was welcome on a warm sunny day, too.

So....let's see what we can find in the photo treasure vault, to liven up this post.

All 225 (!) of these basket blocks were sewn together some time ago.  It was the first time I had tried hand-piecing, and I found I enjoyed it......so much so that the original plan of 169 blocks, 13 rows by 13, was enlarged to 15 by 15.  They all face the same way.

The blocks were sewn into sets of nine, with alternating print and white corners.  The design looks better with matching corners, hence the number of blocks.

However, it is huge.....about 90 inches square unquilted......and I find myself wondering if those extra blocks were really necessary?  Why didn't I stop with the smaller size of 78 inches square when I had the chance?  Now a little voice in my brain is telling me to unpick two rows each way, and be happy with the smaller size.  Which I just may do.  It will still be a reasonable sized quilt, after all.

Some sewing of diamonds has happened, and more have been cut.  Words have been read.  Notes have been plinked and sung, some of the Christmas variety and some not.  The hunting, gathering and foraging essential for survival took place, and also a little op shopping; I am now the owner of a red bag, something needed to match the red straps on my red, black and cream sandals.  They entered my (not quite) sumptuous wardrobe a few years ago, a new purchase on an annual trip to Canberra, and have been asking for a co-ordinating bag ever since.

A link to this quote was posted earlier today on a vintage sewing machine social media page.  It certainly made me chuckle, and I'm sure you will laugh with me:

Advice to the ladies from Mr Rowley of the Sydney Sewing Machine Co:

"An hour's sewing with a good machine soothes a woman's nerves, and exerts the same calming influence that tobacco does with a man. She sews all her little irritations into the seams, imprisons her fancied wrongs into the double gussets, or stays them into the gores; every sensible woman will confess this."

The quote is, unfortunately, not dated. I don't know about the rest of you.....but I wouldn't feel comfortable wearing a garment with so many irritations and fancied wrongs in its seams, gussets and gores!

Continuing on with Etiquette of Public Places, following on last week's quote:

"They seem to know, as if by instinct, how to conduct themselves, wherever they may go, or in whatever society they may be thrown. They consider at all times the fitness of things, and their actions and speech are governed by feelings of gentleness and kindness towards everybody with whom they come into social relations, having a due consideration for the opinions and prejudices of others, and doing nothing to wound their feelings. Many people, however, either from ignorance, thoughtlessness or carelessness, are constantly violating some of the observances of etiquette pertaining to places of public assemblages. It is for this reason that rule are here given by which may be regulated the conduct of people in various public gatherings, where awkwardness and ostentatious display often call forth unfavorable criticism."

Perhaps some nations could also take note of this advice, then the world would not be in such a mess.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Even more streets in the neighbourhood

  It's up to seven streets, now.

Eventually they will meet in the middle....and I will soon need to find somewhere other than the spare bed to lay them out, as they will outgrow it!  It will be a fairly large quilt, and it has to be one of the funnest quilts - is there such a word as 'funnest'? because there should be - that I have ever made.  It's been a portable project for a while, going to the monthly first Tuesday quilt group with me, but after next month's streets have been added it will become a 'work at home' project; those seams are getting quite long, so it can stay here.  The only fabric bought is the wide backing, it's all from my stash.  The decision to make pieced setting triangles was a leap of faith, and I love the result.

How has everyone been this week?  We are doing well; we even had some welcome rain, although it came in the form of a storm.  My Thursday evening drive to choir was through barely sprinkling rain, the heavens opened while we were singing for a couple of hours (although we didn't hear it) and I barely made it home before it started up again; fortunately it's only a five minute drive, or six minutes if the one and only traffic light on the way is red.  However we aren't complaining, and our garden is smiling.

Stitches have been sewn on the musical hanging.  Some diamonds have been sewn and more cut.  Words have been read, notes have been plinked and sung.  The usual hunting and gathering has taken place, and heigh ho.....so passes another week.

It's been an anniversary week for our town.  Back in 1888 Tamworth was the first town in Australia - yes, even before much larger cities - to have a municipal street lighting scheme.  You can read all about it here and here.  In those days it was a town of only a few thousand people, so the town council of the day took quite a brave decision.  Don't you love the concern - from men, of course - that the new lights would make women look pale!  The large building in the first pic of the article is the post office, which is still there today.  Mrs Piper, wife of the Mayor - Madame Lady Mayoress - turned the lights on with a golden key which stayed in the family for a long time, and is now held in the Powerstation Museum.  While Tamworth was not the first town in Australia to have electric lighting many were run by private owners......but ours was the first municipally-owned scheme in the country.  

On 9th November every year those noisy old steam engines are fired up to celebrate the anniversary, and quite a sight (and sound!) they are too.  And of course - as is often the case - Hizzoner The Mayor Mr Piper has a street named after him and we hope also after his wife, although Elizabeth Street is not far away.

There is getting to be more and more Christmas Stuff appearing in shops......Chrissy food (I love mince pies)......decorations everywhere......the occasional piece of music on the radio......c'mon, folks, it's not for several weeks yet......the ukulele group is practising Christmas songs for a couple of gigs....all together, now...."I want a ukulele for Christmas, dear Santa please".......

We have come to the end of our Etiquette of the Street, so we move on to Etiquette of Public Places.

"All well-bred persons will conduct themselves at all times and in all places with perfect decorum.  Wherever they meet people they will be found polite, considerate of the comfort, convenience and wishes of others, and unobtrusive in their behaviour."

It seems to be fashionable to decry today's manners and standards.  I don't usually join in the decrying, but I must say that find decorum to be sadly lacking at times.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Finally....

....some quilting is happening on my little hanging.  Some is still to be done, and provided that he promised storms don't eventuate that may happen later; being slightly fiddly stop-start stuff it takes longer than one would think.

Using a computerised machine in a storm is not, apparently, a Good Thing.  So I don't.  The plug only goes in the wall socket when I am using the machine.

Incidentally, something we have learned while watching home renno shows on our visits to Canada  - what we call a socket, or a power point, over there is called a 'receptacle'.  We speak the same language, but sometimes you would never know it.

Because it is autumn over there in the Land of the Maple Leaf beautiful pics are appearing on social media, and I am sighing with longing.  These trees were taken on the same visit to Bayfield.

The colour difference from green to orange is striking.  Obviously this was trimmed by someone who went to the same school of tree lopping that some people attend here, with the same unfortunate result....but the leaves are a lovely colour.

Bayfield is a very pretty town and the trees make a beautiful display, even if the occasional specimen wasn't trimmed as well as it could have been.

Diamonds have been cut and sewn.  Words have been read.  Notes have been plinked and sung.  Words have been read.  The usual forays to shops for various items....and so passes another seven days, or sennight, as we apparently used to say in centuries gone by.  It means - obviously! - seven nights and days.  A week.

It is indeed storm season here, and we have had a few of late.  As we speak the wind is picking up and a check of the weather radar shows storms not far away.  We had some welcome rain last night, a change from the previous day which was quite miserable; we woke up to the smell of smoke - even inside the house - from fires a couple of hours north.  My eyes were miserable, my nose was miserable, and I had a miserable headache.  Fortunately yesterday was much clearer, the weather change is helping put fires out and the smoke is blowing somewhere else.

Last month was an anniversary, 15 years since I started blogging.....it just passed me by, I completely forgot about it.....that's a lot of waffle over a long time about not much, isn't it?

Christmas Stuff is starting to appear in shops, Christmas music is sneaking into the classical music station playlists.  It will be here before we know it, folks.  We have made no plans for anything special although I did point out that, if I still had to prepare and cook a fancy meal (even a fairly plain meal) it was just the same as any other day for me.  In years past we have gone to a restaurant for lunch, but they are pricing themselves out of our reach for just one meal.  Perhaps we could go to a Chinese restaurant instead.....I like honey chicken, I know it's not very authentic Chinese food but I don't care.  I just like it.

Our U3A ukulele course leader was back on Thursday, much to my relief.....however, she announced that she was stepping down next year.  I know she would like me to take over, but I am undecided; while she knows I already have other Stuff in my life as well - we both do - a previous male leader is making noises about coming back and taking over, and neither of us want that.  We are meeting up tomorrow for a cuppa and a chat so I can find out just what is involved; if she is prepared to back me up, it might be possible.  We'll see what our chat throws up.  Even if I give it a trial for a year.....I'm sure I can survive a year.....

Continuing on with Etiquette of the Street, Some General Suggestions:

"Do not quarrel with a cab driver about his fare, but pay him and dismiss him.  If you have a complaint to make against him, take his name and make it to the proper authorities.  It is rude to keep a lady waiting while you are disputing with a cabman."

Words just as relevant now as when they were first published in 1885, yes?

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

A little of this, not much of that

Pretty much sums up my week.  How was yours?

The decision was made to use the darker fabric to bind the blue and green quilt, so strips will be cut this week.  The bags shown recently have been handed over to the Worthy Cause, so they have left the sewing room.

Diamonds have been cut, and also sewn.....an easy mindless project in front of TV.  Words have been read.  Notes have been plinked and sung; once again I was the leader for the U3A ukulele group, and once again we managed without descending into total anarchy.  I have to admit to being floored when I mentioned making sure ukes were in tune....one woman said she never tuned hers, didn't own a tuner, in fact didn't think it made any difference!  Ohmygawd......if you have ever heard an out of tune instrument, doesn't matter which instrument it is, it's enough to set your teeth on edge.  (well, mine, anyway)  She has instructions to buy a tuner before next Thursday, and I will show her how to use it.

Many years ago we used to meet up at folk festivals with a lovely man and his wife who had a sticker on their car window which read "Love thy neighbour - tune thy piano".  Never a truer word spoken.  Or written.  He used to have a beautiful green parrot on his shoulder, and a permanent trail of bird poop down his back.....but his piano was always in tune.  Sadly, he is no longer with us.  I don't know about the parrot.

As not a great deal of note has been accomplished this week, we will trawl back through the vaults for some photographic inspiration.

When Kevin was putting the 1926 Singer treadle machine back together he noticed this piece of metal on the floor that he thought must have come from the machine.  I duly photographed it and asked the "what is it?" question on a social media vintage machine page.  It is the central piece of the tension assembly, I was told by Those Who Know.  Kevin checked - but it isn't from that machine!  So - it either came from the 1925 machine, or I have ended up with a spare.....and a mystery.

Pics are appearing on social media of autumn on the other side of the world, beautiful droolworthy pics of glorious fall colour.  These are a little different; they are fungus photographed on an autumn trip to MacMillan Provincial Park on Vancouver Island.

This looks like two birds, or perhaps two fish, doesn't it?  But no - it's fungi.

The park had lots of different fungi.

There are very tall straight trees in that park, too.  Vancouver Island is the Land of Tall Straight Trees.  We have tall trees in Australia too, but they aren't very straight.

The weather has gone from quite hot to rather cool, and hasn't yet swung back.  It's the time of year where the big decision as to what to wear is dependent on conditions, and will we be inside or outside, will it be sunny or windy......however, we know it probably won't be wet, although it rained a few nights ago.  We were woken at stupid dark early o'clock to very loud thunder and the garden enjoyed a drink, although it would like more.

Continuing on with Etiquette if the Street, Some General Suggestions:

"A gentleman will always precede a lady up a flight of stairs, and allow her to precede him in going down."

Of course he should.....and just think, this was written many years before the advent of mini skirts when some men tried to walk up stairs behind a lady!  Shame on them.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

A day for the wombats of the world

Because today is International Wombat Day!  It does seem a bit silly to have an 'international day' for an animal which lives in only one continent - Australia - unless we count the small number in zoos around the world, but wombats are wonderful and deserve a day of celebration.

The first wombat in my collection was bought in my home town (where we moved in 2010, and where we still live) while on a visit to my mother, back in the late 1990s.  There used to be an interesting shop which was part plant nursery/part café/part gift shop - gone for many years now - and we took ourselves there for a ladylike morning tea.  On a potted plant there was a cute little wombat which appealed to me, I bought it for not many dollars......and the rest, as they say, is history.

Here it is, posing on a daffodil fabric from my stash.  It is slightly creased, but wombats don't use irons.

It has since been joined by many many more.

My blue and green quilt has been booked in with a long arm quilter, and will be delivered a week from tomorrow.  It occurred to me the other day that no decision had been made on binding - woops!  These are a couple of options:

The green swirl used as backing, and a dark blue/green/edging toward purple Fossil Fern which has been in my stash for some time, and which is richer in real life.  The swirl would be interesting in a narrow strip but I am leaning to the dark fabric, which I think it would make a better 'frame' around the quilt.  Thoughts will be thought on the matter over the next few days, and the cutter will be taken to the chosen fabric.

Words have been read, diamonds have been cut and sewn.  Notes have been plinked and sung; our U3A ukulele group leader is away for a couple of weeks so I led the group on Thursday and will do so again next Thursday.  We blundered through without descending into total anarchy; I am not a trained teacher and many people (including, I suspect, the (now ex) DIL) (who is a proper musician herself) would consider that I'm not a proper musician either, but we managed.  I had the heeby jeebies on arrival and breathed a sigh of relief at the end, let me tell you.

The heat of summer is upon us, and it's not pleasant.  If we were to set foot outside this afternoon we would probably be blown to kingdom come, so apart from hanging out washing this morning and bringing it in at lunchtime, we are staying inside.  We are promised a few more hot days with cooler relief by the end of the week, which will be welcome......and rain would be even more welcome, as we are tumbling headlong into another drought.  However - that's Australia for you; if it's not flooding it's on fire, or it's in drought, or it's flooding again.

Despite all the weather throws at us, though, I can't imagine living anywhere else.  Except perhaps Canada, in autumn......but definitely not in winter.

On Friday I had a foray into a new-to-me op shop (although it's been open for some time, I just hadn't been before) and came away with two tops, one dark blue with orange/red flowers, brand new with tags, and another bright yellow with tropical flowers and an interesting double flouncy sleeve.  I have also removed a few shirts/tops from my sumptuous wardrobe; unfortunately I have inherited the thick neck that comes from my mother's family, and now prefer shirts without collars.  Both my brothers have/had it, until a few years ago I hoped I had escaped......but alas, no.  If I have another chance at a life after this one I will pick parents who have slender swan-like necks.

The term 'op shop' - short for 'opportunity shop' - is, it seems, unique to Australia.  It was coined in Melbourne by Lady Someone-or-Other to reduce the stigma that was around at the time for those who bought second-hand goods, but an opportunity shop....who can resist an opportunity?  My Posh Melbourne Grandmother used the term 'opportunity shop', but somehow I don't think she ever shopped in one.  These days, of course, we're all about recycling and being environmentally aware, so opping - or thrifting, or whatever you call it - has become quite popular.  So...someone else will like my collared shirts, and my neck will be more comfortable.

 Continuing on with Etiquette of the Street, Some General Suggestions:

"A young lady should, if possible, avoid walking alone in the street after dark.  If she passes the evening with a friend, provision should be made beforehand for an escort.  If this is not practicable, the person at whose house she is visiting should send a servant with her, or some proper person - a gentleman acquaintance present, or her own husband - to perform the duty.  A married lady may, however, disregard this rule, if circumstances prevent her being able to conveniently find an escort.

Funny how that little gold ring suddenly renders one safe on the street alone at night, isn't it?

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

All bagged up

Finally - the second bag which was started on my treadle machine last month is finished!

The blue and yellow floral bag was made on Spring Fair day at the house museum, and the tan and brick bag started.  (The solid fabric was called "Brick" on the cardboard roll, so "brick" it shall be.)  Today it was finally finished, so they can be ticked off the imaginary-in-my-head list of Stuff to do.  The tan fabric was a lucky door prize several years ago and, while it's nice enough, it's probably not something I would choose were I to go fabric shopping; those squares don't lend themselves to being cut into smaller pieces, but it's fine for a bag.  The blue and yellow floral has also been in my stash for *ahem* quite a while, and now there is a much smaller piece of it.

The lavender and pink bag was made yesterday on My Lovely New Bernina (24 years old and still going strong).  It too was already cut out and pressed; in my optimism I took three bags with me, but in the end managed to make one and a half.

The floral fabric is a blend, poly/cotton, possibly 65/35% - I have no recollection of when or why it came into my stash, but it was a very long time ago.  Some has been used for small projects in the meantime, but now it is all gone.  Used up.  Finis.  Done.  It was slightly sheer so a few different colours of solids were tried with it, and much as I don't really care all that much for pink I had to admit this particular shade of  pink suited it best......so, pink it is.  

These bags will go to a group which assists women in hospital, so it's a Worthy Cause.  I don't mind supporting the occasional Worthy Cause.

Words have been read.  Diamonds have been joined, and more cut.  Notes have been plinked and sung.  Hunting and gathering was indulged in so we may eat, which is probably a good thing.  My brain and the clock are once more in synch with each other, so life proceeds along.

Our weather is in the 'warm one day, cool the next' time of year; a lull before the more extreme heat of summer, and we have been warned by 'Those Who Know' that the coming summer will be hot and dry.  Oh well.....we have survived hot and dry in the past, and will no doubt do so again.  The children next door are already using their pool, to the usual accompaniment of squeaks and squeals.

When out and about a few days ago we stopped for coffee, and while sipping and watching the passing parade - always an entertaining activity, no matter where one is - I was taken by a woman wearing a bright orange tee shirt teamed with loose orange and purple pants and orange footwear.  Her tee shirt read:

                                        I don't want to

                                        I don't have to

                                        You can't make me

                                        I'm retired!

Isn't that the best ever?  I commented on it, and she told me it was a gift.  I don't usually stare at other women's chests, but that was definitely worth a look.

Continuing with Etiquette of the Street, Some General Suggestions:

"Never turn a corner at full speed or you may find yourself knocked down, or may knock down another, by the violent contact.  Always look in the way you are going or you may chance to meet some awkward collision.  People are very rude and vulgar who do not look they way they are going; it annoys others."

Words as true today as when they when they were written in 1885.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Not a stitch, not one street or laneway

No sewing was done on the house quilt.  The older I get, the more the first few days of daylight saving hit me; once it's been underway for a while it's easier to cope, but I'm pretty useless for those first few days.  That's my excuse for why I didn't get to quilt group on Tuesday.  It was still dark when I woke up, and I don't bounce out of bed when it's dark.  

Never mind.  There is no deadline....it's just a fun project.

Consequently it's been a(nother) lazy week, although the time change fog is lifting now.

The backing for the blue and green quilt has been pieced, although it needs to be cut down to size.

The fabric needed to be cut and re-joined to make a big enough piece.  There was no guarantee that the diagonal swirl (this is tilted) would match up when that was done and, if it didn't match, that would bug the bejabbers out of me every time I looked at it, so the blue stripe was added.  My brain can do random with no problems....it can do matched.......but it doesn't do mis-matched.  Mis-matched just looks.....untidy, doesn't it?  The blue stripe will be about one third of the way down going across the quilt, and the swirls will go top left to bottom right.  Or vice versa.

It is Thanksgiving weekend in Canada, so best wishes to my Canadian family and friends!

This was taken on Thanksgiving back in 2015.  We had celebrated Turkey Day with our son and his partner the previous day and, of course, being a holiday there wasn't a lot open on the actual day.  As it was a glorious day we took a bus to Rosetta Mcclain Gardens which we had passed several times by bus and car, but this was our first visit......and it was worth it, for sure; it was a beautiful place to while away a couple of hours with its early autumn colours.  While strolling around we heard a familiar sound - an Australian cockatiel!  It was sitting on its owner's shoulder chirping away, so of course being True Blue Ozzies we said in our best broad Strine "g'day, mate".  However, the bird being Canadian born and bred far from its native land didn't understand our accents, which we thought was funny.

Words have been read.  Notes have been sung but none plinked, but uke group resumes tomorrow so we will be plinking again.  Diamonds have been cut, and sewn.  Thoughts have been thought about many profound things.  Hunting and gathering has happened.  A little shifting of fabrics from one place to another has been done.

A major Aussie car race is taking place today which Kevin is watching, at times through his eyelids.  The sound is turned off because I cannot stand the screaming commentary, and the radio is playing instead; currently it's a program of instrumental music from movies.  I have tinnitus, and find having a radio playing in the background helps distract my brain from the endless annoying humming and buzzing in my ears.  My generation grew up without television, certainly those of us who grew up in country towns did (TV came to the Big Smoke several years earlier than it did to smaller towns) and to this day I am more than happy to leave it off, unless there is a program I really want to watch.  But - we had radio!  There was always music; in our house the 'wireless' was turned on first thing in the morning and turned off last thing at night.  The local station played a mix of the latest hits and music from earlier times so we grew up familiar with music from the 1950s, 40s, 30s.....even the 1920s, and those older songs were also played at the dances we attended so of course we sang along while tripping the light fantastic.

An unwelcome visitor popped in for a chat earlier this week - winter made a return!  It was so cool on Thursday evening that we even had a fire; we could have done with one last night too because this morning was distinctly chilly.  We'll see how this evening develops, it may even be lit again.  This is the latest we have had a fire, we are usually done with them by the end of September......but not this year; last week was very warm for so early in the season and this week has swung to the opposite extreme.

Etiquette of the Street, Some General Suggestions:

"If a gentleman is walking with two ladies in a rain storm, and there is but one umbrella, he should give it to his companions and walk outside.  Nothing can be more absurd than to see a gentleman walking between two ladies holding an umbrella which perfectly protects himself, but half deluges his companions with its dripping streams."

"Absurd" doesn't begin to describe it, does it?

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Hidden treasure!

When my 1926 treadle machine went for its recent visit to the house museum it was taken apart for transport, as it's far too heavy for two Olde Phartez to lift.  First the staple was unclipped from the leather belt join, and the belt removed.  Next two screws holding the machine were removed, and the machine head lifted from the wooden cabinet.  Finally - this is the tricky bit, although Kevin assured me it wasn't difficult, just fiddly - the four vertical screws holding the wooden cabinet to the metal base were removed, and the wooden cabinet lifted off.  When it returned home, the process was repeated in reverse.

To make re-assembly less fiddly Kevin laid the wooden cabinet on its back, first removing the six drawers so they wouldn't fall out and get damaged. (The floors in that part of the house are tile, anything dropped on it is likely to break.)  Imagine his surprise when he looked inside the cabinet and found some very old things which had obviously fallen out the back of one of the drawers, become wedged in and never found - possibly not since the 1920s!

There is a piece of floral fabric, possibly fine cotton or rayon (viscose); a large piece of pale blue fabric, also fine cotton or rayon; a piece of gold brocade; a length of narrow lace, and a piece of floral beaded trim - it appears to be unused - which could be used for an evening garment or bag, and which has a 1920s look to it.  There was also a bonus certificate from 1927 for the amount of 100 pounds, equal to $200 in today's money, with a 25 pound ($50) bonus.  Converted to today's money value it's worth several thousand dollars - but I can't cash it in; for one thing I am not the person whose name is on the certificate - and for another thing, the company no longer exists.

The machine was a freebie, back in 2001.  My brother rang me to say his neighbour had "an old machine like yours" (our grandmother's 1925 Singer machine, by then in my possession) so if I wanted it, get there quickly or the neighbour was going to take it to the tip.  We hot-footed it over to his place in peak hour traffic (peak hour traffic in the Big Smoke was not for the faint of heart then, it's probably much worse now) to find the neighbour had taken the machine apart but everything was still with it.  Some of the fancy feet - the manual - even the key to the cabinet! - a plastic bag of screws - all was there.  Nothing was missing, so putting it together again was just like doing a not-very-hard jigsaw.  We had, however, never looked behind the drawers before!

I wonder how that long-ago seamstress felt when she couldn't find the certificate, and her leftover pieces of fabric and trim?  "Oh dear, it was here somewhere......"

The neighbourhood is coming along well.

It has become my take-along project for the quilt group first Tuesday of the month meeting, as it's just pinning and straight sewing.  Lots of pinning is required, as those strips are only cut one inch wide and I don't want them to slip while being attached, but that does make for slower results.  Never mind; every painstaking pin will be worth it when it's done. 

The pas couple of days I have been helping Kevin with some of his family history research.  It's been interesting finding out about his paternal grandmother, Emily from the circus; he remembers her as a little old lady - but before she married she was a bareback rider who was regarded with awe because she could swing down and pick up a handkerchief while at full gallop!  She also danced the 'Highland fling' and 'sailor's hornpipe' in the ring, starting out as a child.  She retired from the circus in her mid-20s when she married and never, it seems, performed again.

Diamonds have been joined, and more have been cut.  A wooden hanger has had its old knitted nylon cover removed (remember them?) and replaced with a pretty floral one, following a helpful online tutorial.  Words have been read.  Notes have been sung but none plinked, as my aging fingers have been resting after the previous musically busy week.  Hunting and gathering has been done.  That was the week, that was.

Daylight saving started at stupid dark early o'clock this morning, at 3 a.m.  We set our clocks as we were going to bed so our brains could start to adjust from waking-up time, but just the same I expect to feel a bit lagged for a few days until my brain kicks into gear.  Which it will.  Just not immediately.  Our state has had daylight saving since 1971, but there are those who still whinge and complain about it every year at this time.  Just get over it.  Your moans won't make it change back.  I don't love it, but I certainly don't hate it either.....there's no point in hating something so trivial, is there?

"Keep to the right.

On meeting and passing people in the street, keep to your right hand, except when a gentleman is walking alone; then he must always turn aside to give the preferred side of the walk to a lady, to any one carrying a heavy load, to a clergyman, or to an old gentleman."

Well, yes....I understand sheltering a lady from mud and splashes of the street, and an old gentleman who perhaps couldn't nimbly leap out of the way himself......same with a heavily laden person....but a clergyman?  If a clergyman is walking with a lady he would walk on the outside, surely - clergyman or not?

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Sniffle sniff....

Wretched hayfever....it certainly is a bad season this year.  I don't usually succumb to spring sniffles, mine are more common in autumn due to tree pollen, but not this time.  The spring equinox was yesterday afternoon and, according to Those Who Know, it is a bad hayfever season.

Oh well.  This, too, will pass.  In the meantime, it just leaves me feeling miserable.  And sniffly.

Our quilt group's show was yesterday and this morning, packing up was done just after lunch today, and the quilts are now back in their respective homes.  We have learned a lot and the decision has been made to hold a show every two years, it was felt that is often enough; there is a lot of organising to be done, and as it was the first for this group we had a lot of learning to do.  We aren't a large group which is fortunate as the venue isn't large, either.

Because my brain just wasn't functioning (blame the sniffles) I forgot to take pics of the show, but my quilts were well received.  It was decided not to have a "viewer's choice" vote.  How do you single out just one quilt?  The makers all put their heart and soul into their quilts, and if they don't appeal to one person they will appeal to another anyway.  

Let's see what we can find in the picture vaults.  We are heading into our warm time, so some autumn pics from our last holiday in Canada will be just the thing to cool us down.

I have often taken a photo of just one fallen leaf on the ground.  This one appealed because of the contrast between the bright leaf and the granite pebbles - however it's not a big leaf and the pebbles are quite small, so it was a "squat down and hope I can get up again" pic!

Lake Huron on a windy day.  Even though it is landlocked, it can whip up some fearsome stormy weather.

There is a reason for the green.....it was a drizzly day when we visited.

Another "squat down." pic.  

Sometimes interesting Stuff is at ground level, isn't it?  So we just have to grit our teeth, and bend or squat and hope we don't get stuck, because without a fancy-nancy big camera with lots of whoopi-doo lenses it's only possible to zoom in a certain amount without losing clarity.

Unlike many of you, I don't take photos with my phone.  Correction - one photo has been taken of autumn leaves on the ground, which was made into the home screen.  That is it.  Many people have their lives documented on their phone; it is whipped out so the rest of us (whether we want to or not) can duly admire the latest grandchild, or a dish served in a restaurant, or a view from a recent holiday.  All well and good until the phone is lost or stolen, or dropped and run over by a car......it's all gone then.  We download our photos onto our computer and yes, I know computers can fail too.  When we had those two plumbing floods several years ago we lost some older photos, but we seldom looked at them anyway.  Perhaps one day we will go through them and just keep a few.

Words have been read.  Notes have been plinked and sung, we played for a birthday function on Wednesday for one of the local VIEW Clubs which was celebrating its 55th birthday - the ladies had fun singing along with us, some even jumped up and danced!  Diamonds have been joined, but the supply is quite low so more need to be cut.  

The next couple of weeks will not be as busy as usual.  No uke on Monday afternoons as it's school holidays and some members have grandparent duty, the same for our Thursday afternoon U3A uke group.  Choir continues, as it's an evening activity.  There are no pending appointments, although hunting and gathering will continue because we need to eat.

"Avoiding carriages.

For a lady to run across the street to avoid an approaching carriage is inelegant and also dangerous. To attempt to cross the street between the carriages of a funeral procession, is rude and disrespectful.  The foreign custom of removing the hat and standing in a respectful attitude until the melancholy train has passed, is a commendable one to be followed in this country."

This is good advice.  

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer