Yay! Double yay and triple yay!!

Yay even unto the nth degree yay!!!

It is done!

I am very happy with it, too.  When I can I'll get a better pic, but it is done.  The hanging split sleeve still needs to be sewn down on the back, but that doesn't count towards done, does it?

During its making I earned a lot....I learned how to quilt as you go; I learned how to do raw edge applique, something I had done very little of before this.  On our last trip to Canada our DIL and I went to a quilt show which had one of these hanging, but I didn't take a pic - because I wanted to photograph my own when it was done.

However, the most impotant thing I learned was - don't ever do anything like this again!

Now things can be moved around again in the sewing room.  The house blocks have been brought back into daylight and will now be worked on, likewise a foundation pieced project which needs its turn in the sun.  Each project has its own box; for some time now the biggest box has had fabrics and patterns for the Canadian quilt because it was large enough that the blocks could stay flat, but now it will be used for another project.

A few diamonds were cut but none joined.  No stitches were knitted; it's getting a bit warm for knitting.  Words have been read.

A few nights ago Kevin was standing over the barbecue on the back verandah (which we call the beer garden although we seldom drink beer in it) and a few of the neighbours popped by for a visit.  I think the one on the right should be wearing a "baby on board" sign.

There's always one who likes to be Nigel or Noreen No-friends on its own....

The year is slowly winding down.  A few nights ago the choir had its end of year dinner at a restaurant for a very nice meal and in a week or so the sewing group is doing lunch.  The quilt group had theirs last Saturday but I didn't go as it clashed with the choir concert, and as it was probably our very last performance ever there was no choice, was there?  Choir won't stop meeting, but we won't do concerts.

Ads are starting to appear for so-called 'talent' programs starting back on TV next year (nothing like getting in early, is there) and one young feller shown was singing, head back, eyes closed, throat tight, face contorted in agony.....if you don't enjoy it, mate, don't do it.  Simple.

Houses in our street are putting up fancy lights, the neighbours two doors down at no. 72 have a large display with just about every light flashing merrily.  When we came home from our dinner on Thursday night we passed several houses with their flashing displays and it was already 9.30 p.m......if we lived near one of those displays I would be asking (nicely, of course) (at first, anyway) if they could be turned off no later than 9 p.m.  Or preferably earlier when it just starts to get dark, because flashing lights annoy the bejabbers out of me.  Bah humbug.

This year will be just the two of us so the house will be quiet, but there will be a few decorations put out.  My Canadian tree - a small tree with decorations from Canada, some bought by me and some gifted - will go up, and the Chrissie wombats will of course make an appearance.  Even Flossie, the Jim Shore Christmas angel, might pop in for a visit.  She can keep an eye on the wombats, because Santa Paws doesn't come to naughty wombats, you know.  Even Christmas decoration wombats.

Continuing on with Etiquette of the Street:

"The first to bow.

In England strict etiquette requires that a lady, meeting upon the street a gentleman with whom she has acquaintance, shall give the first bow of recognition.  In Australia, however, good sense does not insist upon an imperative following of this rule.  A well-bred man bows and raises his hat to every lady of his acquaintance whom he meets, without waiting for her to take the iniative.  If she is well-bred, she will certainly respond to his salutation.  As politeness requires that each salute the other, their salutations should thus be simultaneous."

I remember being out with my maternal grandfather, Pop Davis, when I was a child, and he would always raise his hat if he saw someone he knew - particularly a lady.  I don't, however, remember if their mutual salutations were simultaneous.

Enjoy your days!

Alas....it was not to be

The Cunning Plan to have all the binding sewn down on my Canadian quilt didn't happen in time for show and tell yesterday....but that's all right.  It can be shown at the meeting at the end of January so I don't have to rush.  It is more than half done, anyway.

So now my thoughts have turned to houses.  To be specific, the box of house blocks and sashing strips and setting triangles.  And backing fabric.  And Stuff like that.

Very merry and cheerful and bright, yes?  It's going to be a fun quilt.

Gorgeous fallen leaves in the car park at Butchart Gardens in autumn, taken just because the ruby and garnet colours were so lovely.....a good reason to visit Canada in fall.

The cone is one of the lights found throughout the garden.  We have been lucky enough to visit in summer when the roses and other flowers were in bloom, and also in autumn with foliage colours.  On our last visit the annual display featuring the twelve days of Christmas was being set up, which was fun to see.

What a busy week, I'm glad to draw a line under it!  Two ukulele gigs and a choir concert, all of which went well, plus the usual weekly rehearsals, and hunting and gathering, and socialising.....next week is looking (slightly!) less hectic, thank goodness.  An end-of-year dinner with the choir on Thursday night will be the highlight; I always enjoy a meal I haven't had to think about, prepare, cook and clean up afterward.

Words have been read.  No stitches have been knitted, no diamonds have been cut or sewn.  More had better be cut soon, the waiting-to-be-joined stack is perilously low.  Notes have been plinked and songs sung.  That's about it.

Here in Australia the concept of 'Black Friday sales' has never been big but over the past couple of years its popularity has, as they say in the media, soared to new heights.  Our traditional big sale day is Boxing Day but if one is shopping for Christmas pressies it makes more sense to shop a few weeks earlier, doesn't it?  To that end we betook ourselves out a few days ago and I was able to find some cropped navy pants to replace a pair which are still fine for wearing at home, but less so for wearing out.  That's probably my not-very-major purchase for the year done.

Last of the big time spenders, me.

It has not rained all week!  Today is quite warm and sunny, a foretaste of summer.  A couple of days ago Kevin rolled the outside blinds down to shade the windows on the north side - our sunny side - if the sun doesn't hit the windows so fiercely, the rooms inside stay cooler.  They were a purchase several years ago, and we are so pleased we did it.  It won't be so hot after tomorrow so we will enjoy the cooler weather before summer really hits hard.

Continuing on with Etiquette of the Street:

"Intrusive Inquiries.

If you meet or join or are visited by a person who has any article whatever, under his arm or in his hand, and he does not offer to show it to you, you should not, even if it be your most intimate friend, take it from him and look at it.  That intrusive curiosity is very inconsistent with the delicacy of a well-bred man, and always offends in some degree."

In other words, don't be nosy.  If your friend wants to show you the article, she/he will do so.  If she/he doesn't wish to do so then, in the immortal words of Kath and Kim, "mind your own beeswax".

Enjoy your days!

A corner has been turned!

A cause for much rejoicing, let me tell you.

The binding was re-joined correctly, and all is good.  Even the final join (often a bit tricky) was done without incident, although I noticed when pinning the binding to the quilt that there could be, just might be, a very small tuck where there shouldn't be one.....but I won't tell if you don't.

The binding is now being sewn down on the back with tidgy widgy little stitches, and more than a quarter is done.  I always start a little way down from a corner so, by the time the fourth corner is turned, there isn't much binding left to be sewn.  The Cunning Plan is to have it finished for show and tell next Saturday morning....not sure if it will be, but I'll give it a go.  I sew until my fingers get tired, have a break, sew some more....

Last week was very busy, this week is quieter.  There is still one ukulele gig on Wednesday evening, and that's it for the month.  Four gigs - I don't think we have ever had that many in the space of just a few weeks!

This morning we played for a fundraiser fair and it was fun, although it's always hard work being outside.  We were under cover which is better than being in the open - at least we could be heard - but by the time we finished I just wanted to go home to peace and quiet.  The local pipe band played and, much as I love the sounds of the pipes, they are definitely an outdoor instrument!  Another band played in the same space as we did before and after us, and they were good; a bit jazzy, a bit boppy, and they played songs that we knew so we sang along.

One thing our town is famous for is its beautiful jacaranda trees and this year they have been late to flower, probably due to the cool wet start to the season.  However they have caught up, our trips towards town are now brightened by the beautiful trees in full bloom along the way.

Here we are - we made number 5!  This pic though was taken in our back yard in the Big Smoke where we had a self-seeded jacaranda; it appeared as a small seedling twenty years before we moved out, and we enjoyed its beauty every year.  Looking at maps and satellite pics, though, that lovely tree has now gone.  It wasn't a large yard and by the time we left the tree took up most of it, but we enjoyed it for its shade and its flowers.

The forthcoming season is now making its presence felt more and more.  Shop displays....ads on TV......people out and about today in seasonal clothes.....goodness, I don't even think of getting out my Christmas earrings until at least the first of December!  Our younger son's birthday is 2nd December and we always celebrated his birthday before starting the family Christmas, and even though he has been in Canada for nearly 18 years and had moved out of home before going there, we still keep the same tradition.  He was born early, he wasn't due until 20th December; The One And Only Grandkid's birthday is 19th December, which is even closer to the big day.  

Continuing on with Etiquette of the Street:

"A crowded street.

When a gentleman and lady are walking in the street, if at any place, by reason of the crowd, or from other cause, they are compelled to proceed singly, the gentleman should always precede his companion."

One thing which I notice in old street scene photographs is the number of people out walking.  There would have been few distractions such as movies, television, even radio, so if you wanted a social life you went out.  One could stroll along showing off one's new outfit and admiring - or not! - others' new outfits, too....and of course one would definitely need an escort to precede one, through such a crowd.

Enjoy your days!

There's the right way, and there's the wrong way

A few days ago the binding for my Canadian quilt was cut, diagonal seam lines marked - because if seam lines are marked the strips are sewn together correctly, right? - and the strips joined.  The wrong way.  Thse seams have now been fixed, and there is one long strip instead of strips going off at strange angles to each other.

My calculations were correct; the seven strips called for in the pattern were much too long so I cut five strips and measured them after joining, but it wasn't quite long enough for that final join and for corner allowances.  Another strip has now been joined on, making it (hopefully) long enough.  It just needs to be pressed....then it can be pinned to the quilt, yay!  The second label is also done.

Aren't these cute little flowers?  Over the years we have taken some interesting pictures, so every now and then the photo vault will be dug into and something retrieved.  This was taken at Mount Annan Botanical Garden the year before we left the Big Smoke behind.....these are paper daisies or everlastings, and are popular for dried arrangements.

It is raining again....another flood warning is in place.....we'll all be rooned, said Hanrahan, if this 'ere rain don't stop.....a line from a poem by John O'Brien, the pen name of Father Patrick Joseph Hartigan.  Patrick Hartigan was born in 1878 to Irish immigrant parents in Yass and grew up with a great love of country Australia and its people, serving as parish priest in small towns before moving to Sydney many years later.  'Said Hanrahan' is well known, many Aussies recall studying it at school, and the line "we'll all be rooned, said Hanrahan" has become a byword for lighthearted pessimism.

Now that both labels are finished, other projects can be resumed.  A few diamonds have lately been joined but more need to be cut for the Tumbling Blocks quilt; not long ago I calculated how many would be needed to make a smallish quilt, and the answer was - 449 hexagons each made of three diamonds, making a total of 1347 diamonds.  There are already nigh on 70 hexagons made....they go together very quickly, and are fun to make.

Not one stitch has been knitted.  Words have been read.  Notes have been plinked, indeed two gigs in just a few days has kept us busy!  Our midweek performance at the seniors' village was well received, and afternoon tea was indeed as delicious as was promised.  We'll be back there in a few months, by request.  Yesterday's fun day also went successfully; the acoustics in that club were bad, but we soldiered personfully on.  Now we have a week's rest, then another gig at a charity fundraising market next Sunday.  We have played for them a few times, the organisers are lovely people and very appreciative that we give our time.

Thoughts are turning to the occasion late next month which is now starting to make its presence felt.  For many years we have gone out to lunch or dinner to make the day more festive, otherwise we would just sit around and grin at each other.....but not this year.  Prices are so steep that we could buy food for a few weeks with what that one meal would cost, so we will stay home.  We realise that restaurants have to pay staff higher holiday rates, and food costs are increasing everywhere, but two Olde Phartes are not going to eat $300 worth of food at one meal.

Oh well......so long as I can have a couple of mince pies with good quality cream and don't have to do much cooking, I'm happy.....

Continuing on with Etiquette of the Street:

"Recognizing friends in the street.

No one, while walking the streets, should fail, through pre-occupation, or absent-mindedness, to recognize friends and acquaintances. either by a bow or some form of salutation.  If two gentlemen stop to talk, they should retire to one side of the walk.  If a stranger should be in company with one of the gentlemen, an introduction is not necessary.  If a gentleman meets another gentleman in company with a lady whom he does not know, he lifts his hat to salute them both.  If he knows the lady, he should salute her first.  The gentleman who accompanies a lady, should always return a salutation made to her."

Interesting, isn't it, that "walking the streets" has come to have a different meaning these days.

Enjoy your days!

Just hanging around

The hanging sleeve - actually two shorter sleeves, to spread the weight more evenly - for my Canadian quilt has been prepared, and the next step is to cut the binding.  Sleeves are on the right, matching the solid red back.

The instructions have been good, but I think cutting instructions for the binding may be a little extravagant; pattern says to cut 7, 2-1/4 in strips, but by my calculations I should only need five or perhaps six.  So......five can be cut, joined and measured, then more can be cut if needed as there is ample fabric.  I really lurve that border/binding fabric, it's so gorgeous.

The second label is not far off being done, a couple of evenings' work should see it finished.  The quilt edges also need to be trimmed, but that's a quick job.  It's getting closer to being finally completed, and believe me - much rejoicing will happen when it is.

The coming week is really busy with two rehearsals and two gigs.  Rehearsal tomorrow afternoon, performance on Wednesday afternoon at a seniors' village - we have been told not to eat much lunch beforehand because the home-made afternoon tea will fill us up, cream horns were mentioned, yummo - rehearsal again on Thursday afternoon, performance on Saturday afternoon for a fundraising fun day at a lawn bowls club.  A big sigh of relief will be heaved on Sunday, I can assure you.  A week to recuperate, then two more gigs the following week.

The last Saturday in November will be a sad day too, because it will be our last choir concert.  We won't stop getting together each week to sing, but our director/piano player Bill said, being in his late 70s, he feels he doesn't play as well as he used to and some members are getting past performing although they enjoy singing.  We used to have more members, but all the shutdowns over the past couple of years has meant that several folk have dropped out.  I enjoy the buzz of performing for an audience and feel that having a concert to aim for keeps us to a higher standard than just singing for fun, but I also understand Bill's point of view.  Especially having sat in front of the men a couple of weeks ago.....

Of course there was yet another flood earlier in the week, two of the three river crossings were closed and the main bridge through the centre of town came perilously close to also being closed as the river was so high.  One crossing is mostly across the flood plain and goes under water easily; another has side by side bridges which are above the river but the approach road on the western side is quite low so it doesn't take much for it to also close, meaning the one bridge remaining open gets very busy.

I really feel for those who have had flood damage to their homes and businesses.  Back in 2017 we had two floods just nine months apart caused by plumbing issues (one in a bathroom, one in the kitchen) which meant having to re-carpet twice, throw out three-month-old furniture, live away from home for seven weeks after the second flood while the house was dried out and repaired - but it was clean water.  River floods are not clean, the water can contain sewage, dead animals, all manner of things you wouldn't want floating through your house.

To say nothing of the smell.

My etiquette book was bought at a library surplus sale several years ago back when we lived in the Big Smoke, and from memory only cost a few dollars.  It was first published in 1885, with a facsimile edition - my copy is one of those - published in 1980.  Facsimile editions are exact copies of the original text of an older book, usually photographic  copies; these days it would be easier to scan the text, but back in 1980 that technology hadn't yet been invented.  This book (which may have been first published, I think, in the U.S.A. or Canada) when compared to another etiquette book on my bookshelf is quite relaxed - the newer book, published in Great Britain, is much more stiff and formal.

Continuing on with Etiquette of the Street:

"Forming street acquaintances.

A lady never forms an acquaintance upon the street, or seeks to attract the attention or admiration of persons of the other sex.  To do so would render false her claims to ladyhood, if it did not make her liable to far graver charges."

 Indeed. 

Enjoy your days!

Spring is sprung

It's been a slow starter this year, but is now creeping in.  This morning we trotted off to the monthly main street markets (which we hadn't been to for years, what with plague shutdowns and all), and it was very pleasant strolling in the sun.  We treated ourselves to breakfast - eggs Benny with smoked salmon for me, yummo - and collected a plant that our friendly horticulturist had for us....I had forgotten that we had ordered it!  It's a red flowering bottlebrush, Callistemon "Four Seasons", and we have just the spot for it when the weeds are cleared out.

It was even sunny enough to need a hat, just as well the hair and I went to the hairdresser the other day for the six-monthly trim.  Since having eye surgery a couple of years ago I need to wear a broad-brimmed hat on a sunny day, and that's easier with shorter hair.  Not short, though.  It's still shoulder length.  I am not yet ready for the Olde Ladye Choppe.

I hope I never am.

After we came home I looked at the partly-finished bag which was started at my treadle machine demo last month and it looked back at me as it has been doing for several weeks.....and I thought, hmmm, I thought.....so now it's done.  

The green bag was made during the demo, the red bag finished today.  They aren't huge bags, but.....a big bag holds a lot of Stuff so you fill it up, then you can't lift it and your ageing body complains and says "why did you do that, you shouldn't have put so much in it, take something out".....so, a smaller bag is better.

Slow progress on the first label for my Canadian quilt.  The initials for the provinces and territories will be done in one strand of floss, the sashing and border have been done in two strands.

Yes, I know it needs pressing - it will be, once it's completed.  The second label is now on the light box waiting to be traced.

No stitches have been knitted, no diamonds cut or sewn.  Words have been read, many notes have been plinked.  The coming week looks to be quite busy with something happening every day, but I do have hopes that something worthwhile may be accomplished.

Now I don't know what the rest of you think, and I realise that language is constantly shifting and changing, but poor grammar - or what I perceive to be poor grammar - seems to be more and more prevalent.  On the window of a women's clothing store this morning I saw "Fantastic starts here".  Fantastic - what?  Fantastic women?  Fantastic stupidity?  It's as bad as the sign on another business wall that reads "Great happens here"; we pass it occasionally, and I shudder every time.

It's not a place I shop at anyway, because so much of their stock is synthetic - even their summer clothes.  Australian summers can be quite warm, so natural fibres such as cotton and linen are most comfortable; even away from the humidity of the coast polyester is not a good choice.  Over the past couple of years our town has lost several women's clothes shops, I can think of at least five or six which have closed....one only yesterday.  I visited it on Friday but there was nothing I loved enough to buy, even at 40% off.  I think a lot of shopping has moved to online now but I am cautious about buying clothes when I can't feel the fabric first, then if it doesn't fit there is the hassle of returning and ordering another size.  Time for my trusty sewing machine, if only I can get patterns which fit.  When I was young and slender that was never a problem....sigh.....

Continuing on with Etiquette of the Street.

"The street manners of a lady.

The true lady walks the street, wrapped in a mantle of proper reserve, so impenetrable that insult and coarse familiarity shrink from her, while she, at the same time, carries with her a congenial atmosphere which attracts all, and puts all at their ease."

Does that sound like you?  I'm not quite sure that it's me, either.

Enjoy your days!

A week of something!

Finally.....the quilting on the border of my Canadian quilt is done, so it's itme to think about a sleeve and a label.  Labels, because there will be two; one saying who designed it, who made it, and who it's for, while the other will have a key to the blocks.  If I had been thinking at the time the back of each block could have been identified as they were made, but better late than not at all, yes?

The blue is painter's tape holding it to my light box so it didn't slip.  Because the fabric is red to match the back, rather than white or cream, I used a fine Pigma pen which will be covered by hand embroidery in black floss. 

Early this year my quilt group's (non-compulsory, thank goodness) annual challenge was handed out.  Now I don't know about the rest of you but I have enough partly done projects that I don't wish to take on any more, so I put it to the back of my mind.....until a few days ago, when this quilt popped into my head. We were given two choices, both of which were quite similar; one was to take the initial letters of our first name, middle name and surname and use them for blocks, colour, and quilting design.

Well......

This unfinished design was done several years ago, and it fits the bill nicely.  First name Jennifer, so Jacob's Ladder blocks will work.  Second name Grace, and I am (as I may have mentioned once or twice) quite fond of green.  Many of the blocks were made when I belonged to another group; we took it in turns to choose a block which would be made for us by other members, and my choice was Jacob's Ladder in greens and creams.

Switching the placement of the colours around makes an interesting design, although I see the block on the left will need to be corrected.  Some seam allowances are downright.....creative, to the point where the blocks are so inaccurate that they are well nigh unusable.  I am not going to fluff around taking blocks apart and remaking them, so they will be tossed.  Some blocks used just two fabrics while others - the more interesting ones - used a mix of greens.

There is a very good chance that it will still be an unquilted top when the time comes for the Big Reveal, but I don't care.  It's been sitting in its box for long enough, so moving it up a step or two is a Good Thing.

More diamonds have been cut and joined.  Not many stitches have been knitted.  Words have been read.  Notes have been plinked.  Another week has passed.

Daylight saving started in this state at stupid dark o'clock early this morning, and will continue for six months.  I can cope with either time, standard or daylight; it's the changeover time that does me (and a lot of other people) in, consequently I'm feeling a bit jet lagged today.  Never mind, an early-ish night tonight, a couple of good sleeps and by next weekend the old body and brain will be adjusted to different time.

Not everyone likes daylight saving time, when it rolls around every spring long and loud are the moaners and whingers but it started back in 1971, so like it or not I think it's here to stay.

One thing which does start in October is storm season - something to look forward to, for sure!  Compared to how some folk on the other side of he world are faring at present we're not doing too badly, but of course that can (and indeed, may) change.

The final rule, from General Rules for Balls.

"In a private dance, a lady cannot well refuse to dance with any gentleman who invites her unless she has a previous engagement.  If she declines from weariness, the gentleman will show her a compliment by abstaining from dancing himself, and remaining with her while the dance progresses."

Supposing the reason a lady declined a gentleman's dance invitation was just because she didn't wish to dance with him?  If that is the case she may not want to be stuck with a bloke she doesn't care for, while others are whirling around the dance floor enjoying themselves with their partner of choice.

Enjoy your days!

Plans are one thing, reality is another

There I was stitching away on the first line of the border quilting on my Canadian quilt when I thought to myself, I thought, "that doesn't look like one and a half inches from the white border, does it" I thought.....so I measured it.....and sure enough, it wasn't.  It was one inch.  I had set the seam guide incorrectly.  Bugger.

The seam guide is now set at 1-1/4 inches, which will be the spacing for the second row of stitching.  The last line will be 1-1/2 in from the second row.  It's either that, or lots of unpicking.....

It will progress slowly, because it's hard work and I have other Stuff needing to be done.  The treadle machine is oiled and my brain remembers how to treadle, yay!  So - some practice time between now and the spring fair display, and I will be good to go.  Also need to practice the songs for the ukulele group, who are playing at the same function.  What a busy day that will be, for sure.....but it will be fun.

No pics have been taken this week, so we are diggin in the photo vault.  These shots were taken last time we visited the coast.

A peaceful boardwalk along the river.

Angourie is a very sleepy little place, but I am told that board riders love it.

There are coast people, and there are inland/mountain people.  I'm definitely an inland person; the occasional dose of coastal humidity is enough to remind me why I prefer life inland.  

Some diamonds have been joined, more have been cut.  Stitches have been knitted; it is too late for this year, but I will have a nice new jumper for next winter.  Words have been read.  The usual hunting and gathering, and ukulele playing and choir singing, and a day at quilt group yesterday, and that's another week of my life gone while I watched it flash by.

I know I am an Olde Pharte so perhaps my thoughts are out of step with the rest of the world, but honestly - what's with the nose ring?  It makes the wearer look as they have a drippy nose that needs wiping, and that's not a good look.  Your body is your body, you can do whatever you like with it, within reason, of course; I have pierced ears, just one hole in each ear lobe, although it did take me until I was 30YO and had already given birth to pluck up the courage to have it done.  Piercings anywhere else....I don't think so, ditto for tattoos.  I am as decorated as I wish to be, thank you, even if some folk might (indeed, probably do) consider me boring.

This week has gone from freezy frosty chilly to fairly warm and sunny, but the weather folk have promised (threatened?) some cooler weather later in the week, after the forecast rain.  We're heading into the time of year when making the decision on what to wear can be tricky.  It's warm enough for some folk to let their bare arms and legs hang out, but not quite the time for the barefoot frolic - for me, anyway.  Layers, layers...

Continuing on with General Rules for Balls:

"Young ladies must be careful how they refuse to dance, for unless a good reason is given, a gentleman is apt to take it as evidence of personal dislike.  After a lady refuses, the gentleman should not urge her to dance, nor should the lady accept another invitation for the same dance.  The members of the household should see that those guests who wish to dance are provided with partners."

What if the young lady does indeed dislike the gentleman?  Politeness is everything, it seems.

Enjoy your days!

Progress is....progressing

Quilting the border on my Canadian quilt has been started.

To help decide on the spacing of the lines, earlier in the week I made a mock-up on paper by measuring out the finished width (4-1/2 inches) then ruling lines 1-1/2 in apart.  The paper was then flipped over and the exercise repeated, this time with lines one inch apart.  The one inch spacing didn't work because of the half inch left on one side, so 1-1/2 in spacing it is.

If I have learned something during the making of this quilt - and, believe me, I have learned a lot - it's to never ever never again make a quilt with so much fusible applique.  It is very stiff, inflexible and heavy to work with, especially with the whole quilt to wiggle under the needle.

But......and yes, I know one should never start a sentence with but, but I did.....it looks so good!

Our wattle bush is blooming its little heart out and looking gorgeous in the process.  The leaves look sharp and spikey, but the pointed tips are actually quite soft.  Not all the blooms have blossomed, as you can see, but they will.

We planted it several years ago, and when it was very young something - we know not what - nibbled nearly all of those tiny tender leaves.  There were just three little leaves left, and Kevin was going to pull it out....don't you dare, I said to him, it's not dead yet, it has green leaves.....so he left it, we just trimmed off the obviously dead stems, and it eventually grew.  And grew.  Now it is glorious, and we can smell it whenever we go outside.

The past week has been busy with ukulele on two days, sewing group, a monthly volunteer day, etc.  Truly, I don't know how I ever found the time to work.  One of my treadle machines has also been raised in its cabinet and practice on it will start this week, as I'm demonstrating at a historical museum in a few weeks and I haven't treadled for some time.

The first sleeve on my jumper is finished, and the second one started.  It's a good mindless in-front-of-TV project - as is joining diamonds to make hexagons, more of which have been made.  Words have also been read, some more interesting than others.

Thoughts need to be thought for when the front of the jumper is knitted.  I am using a basic pattern raglan-sleeved pattern and have found an interesting cable design that I want to use on the front.  I'm not sure whether to do one repeat up the centre front, or one repeat on one side of the front.  Two repeats - maybe, but not spaced to make it look as though I'm wearing braces to hold my pants up.  Perhaps I could even push the boat out, and have three repeats marching up the centre front.

However, that's a decision which doesn't have to made for a while yet.

Continuing on with General Rules for Balls:

"In leaving a ball-room before the music has ceased, if no members of the family are in sight, it is not necessary to find them before taking your departure.  If, however, the invitation is a first one, endeavour not to make your exit until you have thanked your hostess for the entertainment.  You can speak of the pleasure it has afforded you, but it not necessary that you should say "it has been a grand success"."

In other words, don't go overboard with the effusive thanks.  

Enjoy your days!

Moving onto Plan B....

....because Plan A is not going to work.  Yesterday I started the free motion quilting on the border of my Canadian quilt and made a complete hash of it, so it was unpicked.  I do not recommend having to unpick free motion quilting as a fun activity, but it can be done while completely sober without too many naughty words.  

Plan B is straight line quilting to match that already done in the sashing and inner border.  The quilt is quite stiff due to the fusible appliqué, so straight lines will make it easier to control under the needle.

Sigh of relief, now that the decision is made.  Now just need to find the time....the coming week has several things already happening, next weekend is looking possible.....

My quilt group was issued with a challenge earlier this year but I can't raise the enthusiasm for it, so I might let it pass.  I already have enough projects on the go that I would rather expend my time and energy on.  Since joining the group I haven't always participated in the annual challenge because some just haven't appealed to me....and after all, it's my time and energy, isn't it?  So I get to decide how it's allotted.

We need pics.  None were taken this week, so we'll dig into the picture vault.

On a hill behind our town we have a grandly-named Botanic Garden, and one day we went for a stroll to enjoy the flowers......this is a Grevillea with spiky leaves.

Hardenbergia, with its purple pea flowers.

A view looking over the town from under the awning of the open-air Bush Chapel, where marriages and other celebrations are held.

A peaceful corner with its little waterfall.

It's a pleasant place, but we won't go there today because it's going to rain - again - we've had a bit lately, but memories of the drought are still fresh so we are thankful for any rain that falls.

Some diamonds have been cut, and some have been joined.  Stitches have been knitted - the first sleeve is nearly finished.  Words have been read.  Time has drifted on.

The gig during the week went well, my jacket garnered several compliments, and my songs were enjoyed to judge by the comments I received afterward.  I already knew several of the women present so we enjoyed catching up; it was a fun evening.

I am trying to work out how to change some of the things on my blog, font colours and things like that....I used to know, but over the years Blogger has made several changes and now I can't find out where to do it.  Perhaps my brain is getting old....

Continuing on with General Rules for Balls:

"The sooner that we recover from the effects of the Puritanical idea that the clergyman should never be seen at balls, the better for all those who attend them.  Where it is wrong for a clergyman to go, it is wrong for any member of his church to be seen."

Well, yes.  This is true.  A clergyman should be able to kick up his (or in these enlightened times, her) heels in a ball-room without being censured for it.

Enjoy your days!

Woe is me, shame and scandal in the family......

Anyone else remember that old song?  It was around when I was a Sweet Young Thing, and never failed to raise a chuckle.  I was reminded of it earlier in the week while watching one of those genealogical programs, which - even if we don't know of the person concerned - are usually interesting.  

My maternal grandmother Edith married twice, we grew up knowing that our mother and uncle had a much older step-sister.  Given that it was the early 1920s we always assumed - even my mother assumed - that Edith's first husband Albert had died, but no.  Edith took their daughter and left, and Albert sued for divorce on the grounds of desertion.  The decree nisi was granted in March 1923; I have a copy of the court proceedings (and very interesting reading it is too) which states bluntly "If you marry again before this decree is absolute you will be committing bigamy".  The decree absolute period was five years, probably standard for the time, which would mean that Edith and Albert were free to marry again in 1928.  Albert remarried in 1930 but - Edith and my grandfather Frank were married in September 1923, possibly because my mother was on the way.  I have long wondered if it was really a legal marriage so recently joined a social media genealogy group and asked the question.  The general opinion was, no, it was a bigamous marriage.  That would have made my mother and her brother illegitimate, something which would have cause great mortification and embarrassment to my mother had she known.  Finding out in her 60s that she was born just six months after her parents' marriage was bad enough for her.

It was nigh on 100 years ago and these days it doesn't matter, but it's still interesting to know, isn't it?  These are my grandparents Edith and Frank - Francis David - with my mother Mavis in 1924.  It's behind glass, hence the flash.

It's time for the annual wattle pic!  Our wattle is starting to bloom, we love its glorious golden gorgeousness.

Some shopping was done and a suitable top purchased for next week's gig, bought new on sale ($55 reduced to $20, not bad eh?) to be worn under this jacket.  The appliqué reminds me of the lotus design on my Singer treadle machines, both from the mid-1920s, which is very apt as the evening has a 'Roaring Twenties' theme.

This was bought a very long time ago at a quilt show in Canberra, the flowers are cut from a stripe while the foliage is an irridescent olive green, and the machine appliqué is exquisitely done.  The lining is a very deep dark olive green, the main fabric a black cotton blend.  It was a little pricey but I liked it, it was different and unique, beautifully made.....and twenty years later I still wear it, so it was money well spent.  Some sparkly jewellery, a flower for my hair, and I will be good to go.  

The quilting between the white and outer leafy print border on my Canadian quilt has been completed, now I am waiting for a decent block of time to free motion quilt the outer border.  Later in the week is looking hopeful, fingers crossed......diamonds have been pieced, more diamonds have been cut.  Stitches have been knitted, words have been read.  Shopping has been shopped.  Food has been cooked.  General running around has been run.  All the things that make the daily grind exciting, in other words, have been done.

Continuing on with General Rules for Balls:

"Though not customary for a married couple to dance together in society, those men who wish to show their wives the compliment of such unusual attention, if they possess any independence, will not be deterred from doing so by their fear of any comments from Mrs. Grundy."

'Mrs Grundy' was not a real person, but concern about offending her seems to have been strong in past times.  Many years ago Reg Grundy was a TV entrepeneur, and his name is now used as an Aussie rhyming term for underwear.....'Reg Grundies' for 'undies'.  I don't know what Mrs Grundy would have thought about that.

Enjoy your days!

Finally getting around to it

More quilting on the border of my Canadian quilt has been done.  The black inner border is now finished; it was quilted with two parallel rows to match the quilting in the black sashing between the blocks, then a row in the ditch between the black and white borders.  (Occasionally the needle jumped out of the ditch, which is why I am not a great fan of stitching in the ditch.....but it passes the ten feet away rule, so that's all right.)

You can see the black and white borders here.  Next will be a row of stitching - once more into the ditch, dear friends, once more, to paraphrase William Shakespeare - on the edge between the white border and the outer red and black leaf print border.  Although it's only straight stitching it's quite a physical workout because the quilt is heavy and stiff, as there are three or four layers of fusible appliqué in some pictures.

And - I now have my own round tuit!  So there is no excuse for procrastination, is there?  I can no longer say "when I get around to it".

A surprise package from a friend in the Big Smoke - thank you, Sandra! - with a 'round tuit', and a wombat coaster made from Silky Oak, both shown on the red back of my Canadian quilt.

Silky Oak - Grevillea Robusta - is not an oak tree at all, but its sleek grain resembles that of European oak.  It makes beautiful furniture, and I remember a building in the Big Smoke whose entrance hall was lined with wall display cases made from Silky Oak.  Way back before my memory starts our town made the decision to plant Silky Oaks as street trees - many still survive; they are now quite large and provide good summer shade but woe betide anyone who parks underneath when they flowering, as the flowers drip their sticky sap onto cars.

The house is quiet without a cat......but we suspect we will be finding white cat hairs on clothing and furniture for some time yet, and a few were even spotted earlier while quilting.

Yesterday the ukulele group's gig went well, people said nice things to us and about us.  There is another gig coming up soon but - guess what! - this time I have been asked to do it solo on my own by myself, how about that?  The theme is 'Roaring Twenties'; I can do the songs easily enough, but clothes.....not so much.  Perhaps I need to hit the op shops and see what's available.  A sparkly or lacy top could be The Very Thing, something I do not currently own as I really don't do sparkly or lacy clothes.  Plain black pants will be the bottom.

As usual, this week some stitches have been knitted, some diamonds have been pieced, words have been read.  The first sleeve on my whatever-it-becomes (either a jumper [probably] or a cardigan [possibly]) is proceeding along well, the armhole decrease is well under way so the further along it is the quicker it goes.  

Continuing on with General Rules for Balls:

"Never be seen without gloves in a ball-room, or with those of any other color than white, unless they are of the most delicate hue."

For women gloves would probably also be long, as the rule 'the shorter the sleeve, the longer the glove' applied.  Gentlemen also wore gloves to a ball so as not to leave oily marks on their partners' skin or clothing while dancing.  Indeed, some folk in these times of plague might wish the custom of wearing gloves would return, and not just for wearing at balls.

Enjoy your days!

Back to vertical

Which is something I most definitely was not, last weekend; the reaction to the booster was every bit as bad as I had feared, in fact it was worse than last time.  As usual Kevin had no reaction at all, which doesn't seem fair.

It has been a sad week, though - on Thursday we had to say goodbye to Bianca, after more than 19 years.

This is my favourite pic of her, taken not long after we moved here.  Our house in the Big Smoke didn't have a Big Black Blob in the corner, a thing which, after some magic words were said and arcane deeds done, could be made to emit warmth.  (We still have a Blob, of a more modern design)  The magic words had been said, the arcane deeds done, a small fire started......and she jumped up!  She didn't stay long, but I couldn't resist a photo.

Back in the Big Smoke, helping to sort and pack.

Just to show what a pretty cat she was.....and yes, she did have eyes of different colours, but she wasn't deaf.

When she was very young she had just a few grey/black hairs on top of her head, something our vet told us could cancel out the gene which often makes odd-eyed white cats deaf.

And now we are catless.  We have always had at least one cat in our 48 years together.  The house is very quiet.

Before succumbing to the booster reaction I did manage to start the quilting on the border of my Canadian quilt, and have high hopes of being able to do more during the coming week.  Enough was done that the layers are now held firmly together, I don't need to worry about it falling apart every time it is picked up.

Some stitches have been knitted.  Some diamonds have been pieced.  Some words have been read.  That is about all I have been capable of doing.  I am seriously thinking about not having any more boosters; I suspect the government and the medical people will try to cajole/bribe/coerce/threaten us with one every six months, but I don't want to be that ill every six months.

The ukulele group has a gig next Saturday afternoon, a 'musical afternoon' we have played at in the past, before the covid plague.  (Our lives seem to be divided into BC and AC, don't they?)  We even have a couple of extra songs in reserve in case we are needed to fill in for someone who may have to cancel at short notice, always a possibility these days; when I spoke to one of the organisers yesterday she was pleased to hear it.

The new dishwasher works, for which we are thankful.  We also now have a light in our walk-in pantry, something which makes our lives easier.  It's set up with a sensor, comes on when the door is opened and goes off when it's closed, so it is not left on when it shouldn't be.

Continuing on with General Rules for Balls:

"It is necessary for a gentleman to bow to his partner before a quadrille; after, it is enough that he offers his arm and walks at least half way round the room with her.  He is not obliged to remain beside her unless he wishes to do so, but may leave her with any lady whom she knows, or conduct her to a seat."

So, gentlemen, don't just dump your quadrille partner like a hot potato.  The bow before beginning the quadrille is performed while the opening chords of the music are being played.  Gentlemen bow - ladies drop a curtsey - to one's partner, then turn and repeat to one's corner person.  Then....begin the first movement of the quadrille.  I used to enjoy dancing quadrilles, whether slow and stately or more enthusiastic.

Enjoy your days!

Pinning progress

The border on my Canadian quilt is pinned, ready to be machine quilted.

The white border won't be quilted, the narrow black inner border and the outer print border will be.  That's the block for Newfoundland and Labrador peeking in the corner.  There are a few things happening this week but - hopefully! - next weekend is free for quilting; I say "hopefully" because we are booked in to have our second covid boosters on Friday, and if I have a reaction to it like I did to the first booster back in February I won't be stirring from my bed for a few days.  Kevin had no reaction at all, but I more than made up for both of us.  

Some folk have expressed surprise that I'm not using English paper piecing to make my diamond hexagon blocks.....well, that's because I find it to be quite unutterably tedious.  This is how I make my diamonds:

First, a piece of fabric is cut four inches by two and a half inches, then the diamond template laid on the wrong side and traced around with a very fine point pencil.  Dark fabrics are done with a silver pencil.  Using a square ruler to add 1/4 in seam outside the pencil lines and a rotary cutter, four cuts later - zip zip zip zip - we have a diamond ready for sewing on the line.  It's a very quick process.

You can see how beautifully they fit together....and then they're done.  No trying to fit the old arthritic hands around paper shapes, just a straight seam from corner to corner.  More diamonds needed to be cut so this project can come with me on Tuesday, for my monthly day volunteering at a gallery.  A surprising amount of stitching can be done if there are not a lot of visitors, and if there are visitors it's often a talking point.

I love the colours in this pic....autumn leaves in the car park at Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island.

We're back in winter, our spell of milder weather (and even a little rain!) has ended again, for now at least.  This morning was very very cold; minus 2 deg C, but the 'feels like' dipped to minus 6 C.  The hill behind us was covered in a white layer of frost; even the weeds looked pretty and lacey, but it wasn't pretty enough to make me want to go outside to frolic barefoot among the dandelions, let me tell you.

The sage of the broken dishwasher continues.  Last weekend we ordered a new one....it'll take at least two to three weeks to get from the warehouse, we were told....but no!  A call came on Friday to tell us it was already in, so arrangements need to be made to have it collected, delivered and installed.  Hopefully those arrangements are already under way.

Wilson, the big black boofy overgrown teenage dog next door, is barking again.....when his owners are away he takes it on himself to bark for the whole neighbourhood......we wouldn't mind the odd bout of laryngitis now and then.  Each and every dog which is walked past his house is greeted; the neighbourhood has become noisier than it used to be as more people now have dogs, so of course there are more greetings.  He's a big softie ('big' being the word, he's a boxer/lab mix) who looks fierce and has a loud voice.  A very loud voice.  Which he uses often...there he goes again.....

Oh well.  Wilson certainly keeps burglars away from their house, and probably from ours too.  

Continuing on with General Rules for Balls:

"Never forget ball-room engagements, nor confuse them, nor promise two dances to one person.  If a lady has forgotten an engagement, the gentleman she has thus slighted must pleasantly accept her apology.  Good breeding and the appearance of good temper are inseparable."

That last sentence holds true for many circumstances, doesn't it?  Not just when forgetting that one has engaged one's self to a dance partner the fact of which has then slipped one's mind, but in other parts of our life.

Enjoy your days!