Happy New Year!

Here we are - a week into 2024 already.  Every time you write 2024 it gets easier, doesn't it?  Each year we have to retrain the old brain to change that end number, but it's doing well this year.

So....new year, new(ish) project.

Last Tuesday at quilt group the centre block of my quilt was made.

Lurve those autumn tones; my birthday is in early May, autumn in Australia, perhaps that's why I like them so much.

Some of the work for the next round was also done, these half-square triangle units were made.  A few are laid out here to show how it will go together.

The following round uses some leaf blocks and some half-square triangle blocks, and also uses four inch wide strips of.....

one of these two fabrics.  Much as I love the bright reds, golds and greens of the fabric on the left, I think I will use the softer gold/brown toned fabric for those strips.  Further into the quilt there is a 1/4 inch wide 'peeper' border, so those brighter colours will be ideal for that.

However, it needs a name.  The original quilt in the magazine is called 'Groundcover', but I'm not sure I love that enough to use it for my quilt.  'Leaf litter' isn't quite right, either.....'Leaf Mulch', noooo.......never mind.  No doubt something suitable will pop into my mind, one day.

My musical hanging has also been having some work done.  The applique pieces are stitched down and quilted in one step, so that has been happening....some of the narrow strips are a little fiddly-diddly to do, but once they are done there won't be much left to do.  It has been sitting on my working/cutting table for too long and other Stuff was starting to pile on top of it, so it's time it was done.

Diamonds have been joined, and more have been cut.  Words have been read.  Not one note has been plinked or sung, although that will change tomorrow when uke group resumes.  We have hunted and gathered, and so has passed the first week of the year.

It was also time for my annual eye exam, it happened earlier than usual this year because I have been noticing a deterioration in my vision.  So - off to the optometrist; the usual tests were performed and my eye health is good, for which I am thankful.  I have a slow-growing cataract on my left eye which has been noticeable for a few years but it's not to the stage of needing surgery, I was told it may not be for several years yet - but I did need a new prescription for reading glasses, so they are being made.  The dreaded shopping for frames was undertaken (all that trying on and looking in the mirror gives me the heeby jeebies) and new ones selected, not an easy task this year as the current style of thicker plastic frames does not appeal to me at all.  We wore those back in the 1990s because that's all there was, but I don't feel they suit my face at all.  This year's choice is a deep teal - almost nearly not quite green but close enough; I didn't really love any of the green frames on offer except for one which didn't fit my head, so they were out of the question - and hopefully in a week or so they should be ready, and my eyes will be pleased.

Storms have been hanging around us but no rain has fallen here on the hill, not a drop, not a dribble, not a spit.  We could do with some, so let's hope the coming week's forecast rain does, indeed, happen.  We might have to go outside and perform a rain dance, and the world is not yet ready for that.

Continuing with Etiquette of Public Places, Conduct in Church:

"A person should never leave church until the services are over, except in some case of emergency."

No, indeed.  You would be the cynosure of all eyes, and that is not necessarily a good thing in church.