Welcome to 2026

The more often you write the date, the easier it is not to make a mistake and write last year's date instead.  We've all done that, haven't we?

We saw the new year in in bed, fast asleep - at one stage we heard fireworks which were probably being illegally set off in someone's backyard, otherwise it passed us by.  

The Boxing Day project has had its first round (can an octagon be considered round?) sewn in place, and fabrics pulled from the stash and cut into 1-1/2 in strips for a prospective second round.

There aren't enough Canadian-themed fabrics in my stash for all the required strips so fabrics from the autumn leaf and low volume stashes will be used; several of them were probably bought in Canada, anyway.  I'm trying not to be too precious as to placement, although the plan is to hopefully avoid putting similar fabrics together.  There will be trees and open spaces for dancing because those moose like to party with their headphones and flags and bottles of maple syrup.

How has everyone been this week?  We have been well, trying to keep cool - not always easy in summer - and out of trouble.  Appointments were attended, some hunting and foraging was done.  Stitches were sewn and knitted, words were read.  That voile top still isn't done but I have Hopes for it this week, as it's unable to be worn while it sits unfinished on my machine.  The decision about which song to sing at the mid-year Eisteddfod has been made; the words are firmly set in my brain but now the music needs to be learned.

Those Christmas quilt blocks which were shown here several weeks ago found a new home before Christmas.  Kate, a member of my quilt group, decided to take nine blocks to make a festive table topper, and the remaining two for a centrepiece; one block had already been snaffled by someone else, I know not who.  That's fine.  They have been moved out from my house.

Now that the holidays are over, life is getting back to what passes for normal.  On Friday we headed to an auto parts place to see if a CD player can be fitted in our car, new (even new-ish) cars don't have them, and as we are planning our annual trip down south in March we will need some music along with us.  We have....goodness knows how many, several hundred at least....CDs in our collection which we enjoy listening to; we are told that these days one is expected to download everything to one's phone or some such electronic gimcrackery, then plug it in and listen that way.  No.  Not happening.  I just cannot be bothered.  I have, I've decided, reached saturation point with all that electronic Stuff.

Speaking of electronic Stuff, what is it with blokes and remote controllers?  Why do they feel the need to hang onto it like a security blanket, and channel surf to their wife's annoyance without settling on anything to watch?  I check the online guide to see if there is something I wish to watch (we don't subscribe to any streaming service, in fact if the TV were to disappear overnight I probably wouldn't even miss it) because idly channel surfing is something I find irritating in the extreme.

Perhaps that's just me.....

"Unladylike conduct toward a suitor.

It is only the contemptible flirt that keeps an honorable man in suspense for the purpose of glorifying herself by his attentions in the eyes of friends.  Nor would any but a frivolous or vicious girl boast of the offer she had received and rejected.  Such an offer is a privileged communication.  The secret of it should be held sacred.  No true lady will ever divulge to anyone, unless it may be her mother, the fact of such an offer.  It is the severest breach of honour to do so.  A lady who has once been guilty of boasting of an offer should never have an opportunity for thus boasting."

Harsh words, but no doubt necessary. Such a lady would not be worthy of the attention of a good man.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Happy New Year!

Just think, that means we're a quarter of the way through the century......

Did you all have a peaceful New Year celebration?  We certainly did; we drove out of town to meet up with a friend for lunch, which was a lovely way to spend time at the end of the old year.  Consequently we ate very sparingly later, and of course we watched 'Dinner for One'.  If you have never seen it I would recommend watching it - it's quite funny, and we all need a chuckle at times, don't we.

The new year started with two new trees.  Not all trees will have foliage, some will be more impressionistic.

Something different was tried with the branches too - a branch growing off a branch, rather than all branches growing from the centre.  After all, trees have branches growing in different directions, yes?

I like this deep gold fabric.  The leaves are purple so some leftover binding from my autumn tree hanging makes good branches, as it, too, is deep purple.  (Wouldn't that make a good song title?  Oh wait......)

Side by side.  One of these days all the trees made so far will be lined up for a pic, to see how they look together.

Binding was cut for Autumn Rhapsody, and while doing that I couldn't resist a pic of the selvedge.

The Cunning Plan for the coming week, as well as to make two more trees, is to join the binding strips and maybe - just maybe - start sewing binding to the quilt.  The label is in progress as we speak; the information is being embroidered with one strand of DMC floss 3781, a warm brown, on a mottled light tan fabric which is one of the background fabrics used in the quilt.  3781 has been used for other projects, it's a very useful floss colour.....one of those projects now lives in northern Ontario, Canada.

How has everyone's last/first week of the year been?  

Words have been read here, stitches have been sewn.  No songs have been sung or plinked yet.  We hunted and gathered; in fact we took ourselves for a drive to a small town half an hour north to try a different butcher.  A few months ago we voted in local council elections at a small village 10 minutes north and, after casting our votes, bought a democracy sausage each to help the village school funds.....and what nice sausages they were, too.  Upon enquiring we were told they came from a butcher in the aforesaid small town, so on Friday off we went.  We harnessed up the trusty VW and drove up the road to Manilla where we went to both butcher shops, making purchases at each.  Well - what nice meat from both shops, and what pleasant staff!  We have tried some already, and more is waiting in the freezer.  We have decided to repeat the exercise from time to time; it's a pleasant drive, the meat from both shops is certainly good, and parking is very easy, something that can't always be said for our bigger busier town.

Summer's heat is well and truly upon us, but some rain would be nice.....our rainfall total last year was above average, but the last couple of months were not; December was well blow average.  It's easy to see who waters their lawn regularly, and who doesn't....we don't.  Our lawn will recover when it rains, and it will rain eventually; we had a couple of storms over the last few days, but not much rain to speak of.  So we won't.

"Reading when travelling.

If a gentleman in travelling, either on tram-cars, railway or steamboat, has provided himself with newspapers or other reading, he should offer them to his companions first.  If they are refused, he may with propriety read himself, leaving the others free to do the same if they wished."

One wonders what those travellers in 1885 would have thought of today's tablets, e-readers and indeed phones taken along on a journey for reading....would they offer theirs to their companions first?  Somehow, I don't think so.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

I can see clearly now!

That would make a good song title, wouldn't it?  Oh, wait......hmmmm.....

My new glasses were collected a few days ago, and now all is clear.  Deep teal and sort-of-bronze, with more of those details on the arms.  They are quite pretty, with a slight Art Deco styling.

Much to the interest of the staff I took along a needle, thread and fabric to try the new glasses before bringing them home, and yes - they worked!

With my spiffy new specs, I should be able to read a menu correctly too.

A couple of weeks ago we met up with a friend for lunch at a pub not far from here - when you live in a country town, an hour is considered "not far" - and when perusing the menu I thought is said "bananas and mash".  Well, no....it was "bangas and mash".  For the non-Ozzies "bangers" (the usual spelling) are sausages (definitely not hot dogs) grilled or broiled, and mash is of course mashed potato.  It is usually served with copious amounts of gravy, and sometimes "dead horse" - tomato sauce.  Not ketchup.  We don't do ketchup.  

The week hasn't entirely slipped by, some sewing has happened, and the quilting on my musical hanging is done.  Now the edges need to be stitched and trimmed, then it can be bound with the dark yellow fabric shown; it picks up the yellow in a couple of the music notes, and will add a bright touch to the edge.

Nothing fancy about the quilting, just some lines echoing the design.  Perhaps they are sound waves.  It's supposed to be a guitar - tenor guitars (and ukuleles!) have four strings, so we will say it's a tenor with slightly crooked strings.  Once it is bound and hanging on the wall it will look like a true work of genius.  I hope.

Diamonds have been sewn, and more cut.  Words have been read.  Notes have been plinked and sung in readiness for an annual gig next Sunday morning at silly early o'clock, for a gospel breakfast at a small church just out of town; the folk who run the church are all nice people, and they like our songs.  The usual foray for hunting and gathering has taken place, and that's it for another week.

Our next caravan trip away will be in March, so thoughts need to be thought about a knitting project to take along.  It's over 700 kms from here to Canberra by the most direct route - which we don't always take anyway - so that is a lot of knitting time.  There is some bewdiful new yarn waiting in my stash for inspiration to strike......cardy or jumper, jumper or cardy......

Recently while eating our way through (chocolate chip!) shortbread, part of a Christmas gift, I wondered why shortbread seems to be associated with New Year, so looked it up......and yes, it is, particularly in Scotland.  Shortbread was once considered quite a delicacy, and Hogmanay - New Year - used to be an important celebration in Scotland; indeed, it still is in many places.  Of course a celebratory occasion calls for celebratory food, and so the association between New Year and shortbread was started.

Last night we watched two parts of a documentary on railways of the world.  The first part was set in Scotland, but we weren't provided with subtitles or an interpreter.....those Highland Scottish accents were very thick and broad......just because we speak the same language (sort of, more or less) doesn't mean to say we can understand each other.  The scenery was pretty, so we just watched it roll by and picked up the occasional word as best we could.  Part two was in California, we had no trouble with that!

Once again the rain has passed us by, but we have hopes - which may be doomed to disappointment, but we can always hope - for the coming week.  We might be doing that rain dance yet.

Continuing with Etiquette of Public Places, Conduct in Church:

"Do not turn around in your seat to gaze at anyone, to watch the choir, to look over the congregation or to see the cause of any disturbing noise."

No, not at all.  Eyes front, and all that.  Not even if something untoward occurs.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

 

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.

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

Best wishes for 2023!

Well, we made it......another year done and dusted!  It will be interesting to see how it develops, won't it?

Did you all have a good Christmas?  Ours was very quiet, just the two of us this time.  Who knows what a year may bring?

As usual there will be no resolutions made in this house, but there will be hopes; hopes that a few projects will be closer to being finished by the end of the year than they currently are.  That will do me.

A new project has been started, a gift from a friend in Canada.

This was a block from a 'shop hop' back in 2018.  My music notes didn't fit on the lines without being too crowded, so one fell off.  Which sometimes happens, as many musicians will tell you.

Rather than using a dark brown or black for binding, this deep yellow from my stash will do nicely.  There may be just enough.

The applique is fused to the background; stitching it down will be done as it is quilted.  It will make a fun table topper.

Several diamonds have been cut, and quite a few joined.  It's about time that the finished blocks were counted, although there are nowhere near enough made for a quilt top.....even a small one.

Words have been read.  No stitches have been knitted as it's getting a bit warm to have wool on one's lap.  No notes have been plinked, although that will change tomorrow as the uke group has a rehearsal for a gig in a couple of weeks.

Recently a women's clothing shop, one of an Aussie chain, closed its doors here as a stand-alone shop and moved into a 'mega outlet' shared with other brands.  It's a brand I have been wearing for a long time as their clothes are suitable for those of us of the more mature years.  However, I don't think I will bother with them again; before Christmas I was able to find crop denim pants (the style worn by the older woman when she doesn't feel comfortable wearing shorts in public any more) in deep blue.  The same style in black - actually, a deep charcoal - would also be useful, I thought to myself, as my black pants are getting to the not-fit-to-wear-out-any-more stage....but alas, the black in my size was not to be had.  Any more out the back, I asked the assistant.....oh, I don't know, she said with a shrug.  A few days ago I called in again just on the off chance that luck might be on my side,  but once again drew a blank.  Blow it, I thought, so when we arrived home I ordered the very same black pants from their website.  Yes, I will have to pay postage, but that will be offset by the much-reduced sale price.  

I have never been much of an online shopper, but after being so disappointed by the alternative I can see the attraction.

Continuing on with Etiquette of the Street:

"Do not lack politeness.

Never hesitate in acts of politeness for fear they will not be recognized or returned.  One cannot be too polite so long as he conforms to rules, while it is easy to lack politeness by neglect, to them.  Besides, if courtesy is met by neglect or rebuff, it is not for the courteous person to feel mortification, but the boorish one; and so all lookers-on will regard the matter."

Politeness must be the oil with which the wheels of interraction with others are greased - yes?

Enjoy your days!

Happy New Year!

We tell ourselves it will be better than the past two years, don't we.....because it's good to be optimistic, pessimism only drags us down.  Glass half full, and stuff like that.  

As usual no resolutions were made, but as usual there are hopes......

These Aussie-themed blocks have been in my stash forever, and one day they will be made into something.  I did get as far as cutting them out and bordering them with our national colours of green and gold, and have also made a hand-appliquéd block (which still needs embroidery details added) for a centrepiece.

One day......

The old year was finished by making the setting triangles for my house quilt.  First five squares were made, each seven rows of seven 2-1/2 inch squares.....

......then they were cut on the diagonal......

......then they were cut again......

......and, for fun, mixed around.

Each of these triangles, 20 in all, will be for the sides, top and bottom.  Some of the greens are greener than others, but they are all green even if the camera hasn't pick up their green-ness.  Green can be a difficult colour to photograph; many years ago I was a project editor for a quilt magazine and we were cautious about having green quilts submitted and chosen for publication, because photography never did them justice.

Did you all manage to stay awake long enough to farewell the old year?  We didn't, although we did send it on its way with some bubbles - and last night we welcomed in the new year with some more.  Someone somewhere was setting off fireworks on NYE; we could hear them as we lay in bed, but couldn't tell where they came from.  Could have been a very long way away, because sounds travels at night.

Our new year was off to a good start with friends popping in for a visit - so good to catch up, it's been several months!

My new calendars are hanging for us to enjoy.  A friend on Vancouver Island sends a scenic calendar each year with drool-worthy photos which sometimes show a place we have visited, always a bonus!  My sewing room has two calendars from wombat rescue organisations; the calendars are a way of fundraising for them, one I am always happy to support.  One was bought from Rocklily Wombats (I have bought a calendars from them for several years now, one for me and one for our son in Canada) and the other, a gift from our family down south, is from the Native Animal Rescue Group.  All the wombats are gorgeous.  I like wombats.

Our music festival gigs are off, sadly.  The craft market at which we were to perform has been cancelled and we have decided not to do the other concert even if it is held, which at this stage is very doubtful.  With plague numbers fairly high still I don't think the festival itself should go ahead, but the organiser bloke who pops up frequently on the news spruiking its value is adamant that it will.  There have been reports that many people have already cancelled their accommodation bookings and at least one good-sized venue has decided, while it will remain open, not to have any music......because the limited numbers of people currently forced on venues mean that, taking staff wages and other costs into account, they would not make enough money to make it worthwhile.  At the end of the day they are a business, not a charity, and have already lost a lot over the past couple of years.

Sigh.......

"An After-Call.

After a ball, an after-call is due the lady of the house at which you were entertained, and should be made as soon as convenient - within two weeks at the furthest.  The call loses its significance entirely, and passes into remissness, when a longer time is permitted to elapse.  If it is not possible to make a call, send your card or leave it at the door.  It has become customary of late for a lady who has no weekly reception day, in sending invitations to a ball, to inclose her card in each invitation for one or more receptions, in order that the after-calls due her may be made on that day."

Sounds very civilised, doesn't it?  I wonder, though, if those after-ball receptions were hot beds of gossip......"did you see what she was wearing, at her age?"....."that colour did nothing for her complexion, you know"....."did you notice that they danced together three times in a row - can we expect an engagement to be announced?"  

Enjoy your days!

Well, here we are......

....we made it to another year.  At our age, another year is a bonus for sure!

Did you all go out and party hearty last night?  We didn't; we stayed in and didn't even make it to midnight before we went to bed.  Didn't even open the bubbly.......might do that tonight, to toast a new year.

The family came, The One And Only made it this far north.  They arrived early on Friday afternoon, whirled around like dervishes for a few days, and departed on Monday morning.  The One And Only was intrigued by Bianca The White Cat as they have a dog.  He patted her every chance he could, she hissed at him occasionally and spent quite a bit of time tucked away in our bedroom.  She is obviously not into small boys; having spent far too much of my life having to deal with them, I can sympathise.

The worst part of the new year is the devastating bushfires, fortunately nowhere near us but so many houses and businesses lost......and several lives lost too, the saddest part of all.  We are hoping for weather changes this year; some rain would be good, lots of rain would be even better.  Relief from the current heatwave would also be welcome.

We didn't watch last night's coverage of the fireworks in the Big Smoke.  Considering whole towns are burning up just a few hours south, it seemed insensitive and tasteless to spend millions of dollars sending sparks up into the air.

New year sewing has happened!  Three blocks, BOM obligations for my quilt group, were made today and will be handed in next week, one slightly late and two early.  Pieces for the new autumn leaf quilt made handy "leaders and enders", so a few pieces have already been joined.  First project for 2020 started - yay for me!

Spent a little time pairing up print triangles to background triangles, and wouldn't you know it - there are two background triangles over.  Either I cut two too many, or I cut two too few print triangles.  Either way is easily fixable and the world won't stop spinning on its axis.  It's only fabric.......

Have you all made your new year resolutions?  I decided many years ago to make none, and have kept to that.  Be good to each other, be kind to yourself.  Eat chocolate.

"Parties in the country.
Morning and afternoon parties in the country, or at watering-places, are of a less formal character than in cities.  The hostess introduces such of her guests as she thinks most likely to be mutually agreeable.  Music or some amusement is essential to the success of such parties."

We listened to a classical music radio station last night - that does that count?

Enjoy your days!