Now for the next 50 years!

Here we are, home again after a fun three weeks.  It is said that travel broadens the mind....it certainly broadens the behind, because we sit a lot when travelling, don't we?

Anyway.....

We had a good time revisiting places from years past, and it's interesting to see changes since then.  The weather was mostly kind (we did have quite a cold change in Canberra but that's nothing new; fortunately we had warm jumpers with us) and there are photos to share.

Seen on the wall of a café in Tumut while sitting under cover out of light rain, a sentiment with which I heartily concur in these days of doom and gloom:

The coffee was good, and the munchies were excellent too; we took a couple of slices back to our accommodation to share later in the day.

The bathroom floor of our apartment in a beautifully renovated old house - the same design as my tumbling blocks currently being sewn, but with only three colours instead of many:

And yes, those are my feet in my gorgeous green sandals - which, believe it or not, started life as boring beige.  Green is much prettier than boring beige....just about anything is better than boring beige, actually.

Not the best pic ever taken, but there we were at the end of summer and there were still flowers on the wisteria shading the verandah - even though they were hiding behind leaves.  I'm not sure if they were late bloomers from last spring, or getting an early start for later in the year.

One day we drove from Tumut to Batlow where this interesting sculpture was on a park at the entrance to the town.  You can't see here - but it moves!  The whole 'leafy' top section swivels back and forth, while the individual 'branches' also twist and turn at the same time.

It's part of a sculpture trail; I was a little annoyed to find no information on the sculpture without having to scan a code and visit a website.  What's wrong with an information board near the sculpture itself?

Perhaps I'm just old......

We celebrated our anniversary with a very nice lunch at a Tumut pub.  When our server found out about our special occasion she insisted on gifting us our drinks, and also brought a special dessert for us to share.  Dark chocolate dipped strawberries, yummo.....cheesecake too.....the strawberries were beautifully ripe and very delicious.  It was a pleasantly warm day, fortunately nowhere near as hot as the day on which we were married 50 years earlier.

There are some more pics to show, which will make their way onto the blog in due course.

How have you all been over the past few weeks?  I hope to catch up with blogs over the next few days; we arrived home three days ago and have been busy unpacking, and sorting, and washing clothes, and putting Stuff away, etc.  You all know what happens at the end of a holiday, don't you.  Well, that's what we've been doing.  However, I think we are just about caught up, so normal life can resume next week.

While we were away stitches were knitted and sewn, and words read.  Some shopping was indulged in, and my supply of home-made jams should last for quite some time.  My wardrobe has been expanded by some op shop purchases including a brand-new-with-tags top from a well-known retailer, which will be quite useful.  A couple of fabrics shops were visited and a small - quite small - amount of shopping done in them.  Best of all, though, was time spent with family and friends.....The One And Only Grandkid is now a foofteenth of a smidgin taller than I am, and he's still only 11.

Today's quote will be continued next week, as it's fairly long.

"Breaking an engagement.

Sometimes it is necessary to break off an engagement.  Many circumstances will justify this.  Indeed, anything which may occur or be discovered which shall promise to render the marriage an unsuitable or unhappy one is, and should be, accepted as justification for such rupture.  Still, breaking an engagement is always a serious and distressing thing, and ought not to be contemplated without absolute and just reasons."

This is true.  I was told about events which, had I been given more notice, would have led to the engagement with the first husband being broken off....but just ten days before a wedding is not much notice, is it?  Especially when one is the only girl in the family, whose parents (particularly whose mother) had been looking to seeing their one and only daughter safely married off.  So the wedding continued, but the marriage did not.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Around the octagon

All four rows of strips have been added to the moose fabric centre, which makes the top complete.

As there aren't enough Canadian themed fabrics in the stash, some of my favourite autumn prints have also been added.  The top measures a smidgeon over 20-1/2 in across....

....but the stripe fabric chosen for the backing isn't quite that wide, it only measures a smidgeon over 20 in across.....

It's long enough in the other direction being the full width of fabric selvedge to selvedge, but when it was purchased this project wasn't in mind.  Never mind; it's an opportunity to be creative, isn't it.

Sewing has been a good pastime in the heat; today is a wee bit nasty hot although not as bad as many other areas are getting.  With the fires down south, and cyclones up north, it's definitely summer in Australia, folks.  

How has everyone been?  We've been staying inside, and keeping as cool as possible.  I'm ready for autumn to arrive as summer is for enduring rather than enjoying, in my book.  Just a few months to go.....we are making plans for our annual trip down south for our older son's Major Milestone Big 0 birthday in March, and we hope it may be a bit cooler by then.

Words have been read....many many words, as staying inside and reading doesn't use much energy in hot weather.  Stitches have been sewn by hand and machine, although that voile top still isn't done....My Lovely New Bernina is set up with the right colour thread, and the right presser foot, and the right throat plate to do so.  However, that machine will be needed for quilting the moose table centre as my 1950 Singer Featherweight doesn't have a walking foot, so that top had better get done first then thread, foot and plate can be changed for quilting.  No stitches have been knitted this week as it's been a bit warm for having wool on one's lap.  

A few days ago was my annual eye exam, and they received a very good report - so good, in fact, that my glasses prescription doesn't need to be changed, which is not bad for a decrepit Olde Pharte of my advanced years.  Besides which, I like my pretty green glasses and will be sorry when the time comes to say goodbye to them; new lenses were put in the same frames last year, but that's not always possible as the frames get older.  The slow-growing cataract on my left eye which has been hanging around for a few years hasn't advanced which is probably a Good Thing, despite the fact that many folk in my age group have already had surgery for theirs.

We will just have to see what the future holds, won't we....eye eye, sir....

People are gearing up for the big country musical festival, which starts next Friday.  Camping areas are filling, and buskers have started appearing in the main drag.  Many locals loathe it, many leave town to avoid it, while others can't get enough of it.  We're somewhere in the middle although we tend to avoid crowded loud venues - I would rather stay home than have my senses assaulted by sound.  It is said "if it's too loud you're too old", but I beg to differ; back when I was young (and slender....sigh....) sound gear wasn't what it is now, and certainly wasn't cranked up to the same volume as it is these days.  There will be ukulele sessions, something which hasn't been done before - not in our time living here, anyway - so I might trot along to the first one to suss it out and decide if I wish to continue.

Who knows, perhaps fame is just around the corner!

"No true-hearted woman can entertain any other feeling than that of commiseration for the man over whose happiness she has been compelled to throw a cloud, while the idea of triumphing in his distress, or abusing his confidence, must be inexpressibly painful to her."

Perhaps the true-hearted woman's name is Tess?

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Reverse trees

The fabrics used for this week's trees have also been used for past trees, but in reverse - which makes for interesting results.

A tree using fabric from my prize bundle, and contrast that was a bright tree several months ago.

A tree which puts me in mind of light shining through foliage.

Both blue and green, but both very different......that makes 72 trees.

The view from just outside our kitchen window of sunlight filtered through the wattle bush, with trees on the hill beyond.

It's a noisy bush, as there are many bees a-buzzin' in it.

How has everyone been this week?  We have hunted and we have gathered, and we have been hither and yon for appointments and meetings.  Words have been read, stitches have been sewn and knitted; the first sleeve is now well up in the raglan armhole decrease so every second row is shorter by two stitches, which makes for quicker rows.  Songs have been plinked and sung.

As of next term, starting in mid-October, I am moving the U3A ukulele group to Monday afternoons so I can once more attend choir on Thursday afternoons.  The email announcing this was duly sent around and garnered several replies, some of which made the writers sound like chooks with their feathers ruffled, but I am adamant.  I am moving to Monday afternoons.  Those who cannot do Mondays are welcome to have their own strumming group on Thursdays (which I suspect they will) and I wish them well.  I am by far the most experienced musician in the group, so we'll see how it goes. 

Early in the week I received a call from one of the workers at the gallery where I used to volunteer - I decided at the start of this year that, as I was nearly 15 years older than when I started, it was a good time to gracefully bow out - during our many hours there together our past work history occasionally came up and we realised that we had both, at one time, worked for the library which is downstairs in the same building.  I started there as a 15YO school leaver (that's right, folks, I was a high school dropout, but that's a story for another day) in January 1963 and left when I moved to the Big Smoke in October 1970, nearly eight years later.  The library service is celebrating its 75th birthday tomorrow with a morning tea, and as an employee from so many years ago, possibly one of very few left from those days, I am officially invited.  Hizzoner Mr Mayor will be there.  I would not be surprised if there were cameras, so better make sure I wear a good bra and some lippy, yes?  As it's a daytime occasion the tiara will probably be left at home.....and how does one address the mayor?  Mr Last Name? Mr Mayor? or 'Russ', which is the short form of his first name but which might be regarded as just a teeny bit disrespectful for an Official Occasion?

I'll let you know next week.

Winter has been reminding us that whoever said, way back in late autumn, that we would be in for a warm mild winter was wrong.  This morning was a minus temperature which, of course, felt much colder and which equalled the previous cold temperature back in mid-June; the fire is very welcome as the wind has been biting.  Blossom trees all around town are blooming, however, so we know spring is on its way, and before we know it we will once more be complaining of the heat.  Days are getting longer, mornings are too bright too early - I am not an early riser by choice, you know - and evenings are hanging on for longer before the curtain of night falls once more.

Our parents are still keeping an eye on their girls.

"A watchful care required by parents.

Parents, especially mothers, should also watch with a jealous care the tendencies of their daughter's affections; and if they see them turning toward unworthy or undesirable objects, influence of some sort should be brought to bear to counteract this.  Great delicacy and tact are required to manage matters rightly.  A more suitable person may, if available, be brought forward, in the hope of attracting the young girl's attention.  The objectionable traits of the undesirable suitor should be made apparent to her without the act seeming to be intentional; and if all this fails, let change of scene and surroundings by travel or visiting accomplish the desired result.  The latter course will generally do it, if matters have not been allowed to progress too far and the young girl is not informed why she is temporarily banished from home."

I suspect that these remarks pertain to those folk of a certain social level and above.  Ordinary working class folk could not afford to be so choosy.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Things which grow on trees

This week's trees has some...interesting...things growing on, or in, them.

Does this remind you of fireworks - or 'crackers', as we used to call them?  Because it certainly reminds me of those bursts of colour when they explode in the sky and everyone looks up and says "....aaaahhhh....."

Or perhaps they are spiky plant seeds which catch in clothing and irritate one's skin.  Nasty things they are, too.

On second thoughts, I prefer fireworks.

Some large flowers growing in this tree.  The bright lemon/lime at the top appeals to me, it certainly contrasts with the rest of the fabrics.

They look quite good together, but I prefer the fireworks tree.

Back in my childhood we used to have an annual "cracker night"; we would save our pennies and buy ourselves some crackers which we would light - under parental supervision, of course.  In those far-off days 'Empire Day' was celebrated on 24th May, Queen Victoria's birthday, and we had a half-day off from school.  Since then the sale of crackers for home consumption has been banned, the half-holiday is no more, and we're apparently all about the Commonwealth rather than the Empire.

How has everyone been this week?  We have drifted along on our merry way; a visit to the hairdresser on Monday for me....there are few things worse than having to look at one's reflection for what seems like far too long, in my book.  A mirrorless trim would be ideal.  Still, it won't need trimming again for several months, so that's something, I suppose.  My hair was long for many years and I still miss it - mainly because it meant fewer meetings with that dreaded mirror.  It's shorter now because the eye surgery of a few years ago - good heavens, it will be five years in August - means that my vision is now so big and broad that my eyes need protection from the sun making a hat necessary, and shorter hair is easier for wearing a hat.

Words were read.  Stitches were sewn, and more diamonds to add to the travelling stash were cut.  Songs were plinked and sung, choir is still in recess but the ukulele group warbles along.  We hunted and we gathered, and that was about it.  No more nibbles from anyone interested in buying our caravan, but we are forever hopeful.

Next weekend looks like being a bit busy:  a trip for a quilt show an hour north on Saturday, and a visit to the theatre on Sunday to attend the play written and directed by our choir leader.  The following week will be short as we head off for our trip south on Thursday 20th March, and a day before that we will take ourselves out for a (hopefully) nice lunch to celebrate our 49th anniversary. 

Best of all, it is starting to lightly rain!  Our forecast indicates that we should get more worthwhile rain in the next two days that we have had for several months.  The tropical cyclone which was hanging around before being downgraded is responsible for that, even though we are further inland and further south from the main areas of rain and damage.  I, for one, would not have liked to have been in one of those high (very high) rise buildings when the storm was raging, I reckon it would have been swaying enough to cause sea sickness.

We have now moved on from travel in railway carriages, tram cars and steamers.

"Riding and driving.

One of the most exhilarating and enjoyable amusements that can be indulged in by either ladies or gentlemen is that of riding on horseback, and it is participated to a very great extent in Australia.  The etiquette of riding, though meagre, is exact and important."

Well, yes - it probably is. Don't want to frighten the horse by inexact etiquette, do we?

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Two more days....only two more days

The appointment to have the plaster taken off my arm is at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, and you can bet anything you like that I won't be late for it.  It will be such a relief to be plaster-free again.

On to much happier things.

The last pic taken on our holiday was in Holbrook, a small town now bypassed by the highway.

This was mid-afternoon, early in autumn....I loved the golden trees against a clear blue autumn sky..

A few days after our return home (when we should still have been away....sigh) we celebrated fifty years since setting up house together, although we didn't marry for another two years.  Fifty year anniversary is gold, and Kevin cheered me up with these scrumptious - gold, of course! - citrine earrings, aren't they bewdiful?  I love them.

They were worn when we went out for an anniversary lunch at a posh restaurant.

While in Canberra I managed a visit to a quilt shop, and found these prints to add to the batik stash.

The next quilt to be started will be this one, Arboretum, which I really like; the original quilt was made in Kaffe Fassett prints, but mine will be in batiks.  The pale green print is lighter than I would usually buy, but will make a good contrast to the darker richly coloured fabrics in my batik stash. First, I want to finish one of the quilts currently in progress....but oh, those trees are calling.....

Next Sunday my big trophy will be handed back and will go to the performer judged to be the Most Entertaining, at the Mature Performers section of the Eisteddfod.  I have enjoyed having it for a year, and as it's a perpetual trophy it will pass to the next winner.  You can read about my triumph here.

The glass disc on the right, however, is mine to keep; it is engraved with my name, the date and details of my win last year.  It's difficult to photograph glass without reflection but you can make out the number '75'; it was the 75th anniversary of the competition.

So, you see why I am so keen to be able to play ukulele next Sunday....I have a reputation to uphold!  

Words  have been read.  Songs have been sung.  It has been a rare week without medical appointments, something which can't be said for the coming week.  Physio on Tuesday for plaster removal and exercises to get the arm moving again.....X-ray on Wednesday....specialist on Friday.....it's all go-go-go here, folks......the black eye hasn't completely gone but the bruise is much smaller and paler than it has been, thank goodness.

Continuing on with Conduct in Opera, Theatre or Public Hall:

"It is proper and desirable that the actors be applauded when they deserve it.  It is their only means of knowing whether they are giving satisfaction"

Believe me, it takes a whole heap of courage to get up in public and perform (especially solo) but that applause makes all the nerves worthwhile.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Only a few days until we leave

Or three more sleeps, if you count nights.

More diamonds have been cut, but once again none have been sewn as they are being saved for holiday sewing.  Recently it occurred to me that a pattern bought several years ago on one of our Canadian trips could also come along......after all, we'll be gone for over five weeks and one needs something to do, doesn't one.

The pattern came with the small skein of overdyed thread, the others are from my collection and are the correct colours used.  My fabric - there's not a whole heap of embroidery fabric choices here in the Small Smoke, you know - is greyer than on the sample picture, but it is bluer than it looks.

I haven't done any cross stitch for ages, it will be interesting to get back to some again.  The fabric needs to be cut as it's much too big, and overlocked around the edges....a little task for later today.

Yesterday was, I believe, International Quilting Day, so I marked it by attending a quilt show in a town north of here.  The group has an annual show - never huge, but always interesting - and yesterday's was no exception.  This year marks their 40th anniversary so there were several red quilts, as 40th anniversary is ruby.  It was a pleasant day for a Nice Sunday Drive; we shouted ourselves lunch at a club, and I enjoyed seeing the quilts.  Yes, I know it wasn't Sunday.  A Nice Sunday Drive can be taken any day of the week, you know.

This weekend there has been a craft show here.  Before we moved here, so I have been told, it used to be held annually then stopped, but started up again several years ago.  After a few years it stopped again; this weekend's show was the first since well before the plague, and I have to say it was disappointing.  My one and only purchase on Friday was a portable table light.  There were a few quilt shops selling their wares, but nothing tempting.  One of Helen Godden's quilts was on display....her huge Australian quilt, which was amazing......she was doing a 2-hour class on a painted design, but that's not something I do.  I just sew fabric together.

It's not the largest quilt I have ever seen, though.  On one of our Canadian visits I was fortunate to see the "Quilt of Belonging", which is incredible - and 120 feet long.

This was taken on one of our trips to Canberra.  The closer those swans came to us, the more menacing they looked!

Swans are quite large birds.  I could have gone closer for a better pic, but no.  Not me.

Stitches have been knitted, yesterday's drive provided an opportunity to get several rows done.  The yarn is knitting up very interestingly, more so than a single colour would.  Words have been read,  Notes have been plinked and sung, and of course a ukulele will be going away with me too.  A little - very little - hunting and gathering today for a few things which will be needed on the trip, and that's it.

Even though we will be busy packing and organising we plan to take some time out on Tuesday to celebrate our wedding anniversary - 48 years!  And neither of us has yet committed murder!!

We will back at the end of April.  Until then, I leave you with some words of wisdom about Etiquette in Public Places, Conduct in Opera, Theatre or Public Hall:

"On entering the hall, theatre or opera house the gentleman should walk side by side with his companion unless the aisle is too narrow, in which case he should precede her.  Upon reaching the seats, he should allow her to take the inner one, assuming the outer one himself."

Of course he should.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Forty seven years and counting......

Yesterday was the 47th anniversary of the day we stood up in front of family and friends, and said nice words to each other.  47 years!  My gawd, that's a long time!

To mark the occasion we harnessed up the trusty steed and drove up the hill to a town an hour north, because their annual quilt show was being held.  I entertained myself at the show for a while, and Kevin strolled around enjoying the architecture and streets of Armidale.  Once again I met up with my Armidale namesake - another Jennifer Richards, how cool is that?  Her quilts on show were lovely, and her hand quilting beautiful.  I have been to that show before; it's not a large one as the hall isn't big, the group isn't huge, and because they have an annual exhibition there is usually only one year's worth of quilts to be shown.  I was impressed by the standard, however, especially the quilts of this young feller.....he is very talented and has great colour sense, while his quilting is superb.

It was International Quilting Day on Saturday, so a show on that weekend is very appropriate!  Here's a few of my quilts, even though they weren't done at the weekend.

Every quilter, it is said, has a blue and yellow quilt.  This is one of mine.

This was made from the leftover star triangles of the quilt above - same blue and yellow fabrics, different borders.

Love this one, just a study in black and white.  It was started in a class back in the Big Smoke and finished here.

Autumn - my favourite season!  Started in another class with the same tutor, after moving here here to the Small Smoke.

A soft pretty quilt made for a friend undergoing some health issues.

If I was asked which of all my quilts is my favourite - and of course there more than these shown - this one would be very close to the top of the list.  I love its exuberance, how could you not?

Words have been read this week, stitches have been knitted.  No diamonds have been joined - indeed, more need to be cut so as to have enough to take away for a few weeks in the caravan; it is only two weeks now until we leave so I had better get cracking with the cutting.  More music has been sorted, in fact I can almost - almost! - see the bottom of those piles.  Songs have been plinked and sung.

It's going to be a busy couple of weeks with shopping, a musical gig, and various appointments for both of us.  Once we are in the car heading off down the road, I suspect there will be a big collective sigh of relief.  We are going down south to catch up with the family, and for me to attend the big folk festival.  Kevin will probably spend time with our son while I am off making music, they can do Boy Stuff together and perhaps The One And Only Grandkid will join them for some of it.  There has been a marriage split so the aforementioned Grandkid now lives with his mother, although of course he spends time with his father.

We will just keep out of the way as much as we can, and smile sweetly while offering no opinion on anything or anybody.

Continuing on with Etiquette of the Street:

"Carrying packages.

A gentleman will never permit a lady with whom he is walking to carry a package of any kind, but will insist on relieving her of it.  He may even accost a lady when he sees her overburdened and offer his assistance, if their ways lie in the same direction."

Not sure about the use of the word "accost"?  These days it has cme to mean "to approach someone boldly or aggressively", something I hope a proper gentleman would not do to a lady of his acquaintance.

Enjoy your days!

Success!

Have you all had a good week?  We have, although it was busy busy busy....we were out nearly every day, now that activities are cranking up again.  Never mind; it's good to be among people again, and to catch up with folks we haven't seen for what seems like a very long time.

During the week the decision was made to trace around a few possible template sizes for tumbling blocks so some were chosen, traced around in threes to get an idea of size, and a choice made to go with size E as a finished size.  Best of all - the diamonds already cut fit inside this shape, so they can be recut rather than wasted.  

This will be a good size when more are made and joined; the lightest colour will be at the top of the box while the darker fabrics will form the 'sides'.  The fabrics were more or less sorted into lightest - darkest - everything else.  More or less.  These are fabrics used in my tumbler quilt and as with that there is no fussy cutting here either; the fabric designs just fall where they are cut.  I can do random.  Some people have trouble with random - I have no trouble with it at all.

Not sure what that says about my brain, you know......

This template pack has nine different sizes, the smallest is half inch finished.....it that fiddly-diddly, or what?  This one is marked "3 inch hex".

Yesterday, it seems, was International Quilting Day, always held on the third Saturday in March rather than a fixed date, so it's appropriate that my little block was made on that day.  Another block was also finished by machine.

It was also our anniversary.....yes indeedy folks, 46 years of wedded bliss and so far neither of us has yet committed murder!  We took ourselves out to lunch, and a very nice lunch it was too.  

All the house blocks are trimmed.  This is a cause for rejoicing.  Now the sashing strips will be cut; the directions in the book aren't very specific as to number of strips, but I can count the strips in the picture.  Then it will be sew-sew-sew.  And sew on.

Our long-awaited choir concert now has a fixed date after two on-again off-again years.  It will be on 30th April, so we have delayed our trip south until after that.  The ukulele group has been asked to be a 'guest artist' and I have also been asked to repeat my performance from last year's Eisteddfod, how nice is that.....fame at last, at my advanced age!

Tomorrow is the autumn equinox, the official start of autumn, as we were taught at school.  For some of you it will be spring with bunnies and blossoms, while for us it's cooler nights (this morning was a little chilly) and rich colours.

The last of our "Duties of guests":

"While the hostess is receiving, no person should remain beside her except members of her family who receive with her, or such friends as she has designated to assist her.  All persons entering should pass on to make room for others."

Yes.  Once you have greeted your hostess move into the room.  Don't stand in the doorway or block up the hall, as Bob Dylan said.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

One whole decade!

This weeks marks a milestone.  On Thursday it was ten years - one whole decade - since we shook the dust of the Big Smoke off our heels and moved into this house.  It has gone very quickly; I find myself saying "just a few years ago" when describing something which happened after our move - but it's much longer than a few years, now.

It's been a good move.  While the Small Smoke has some drawbacks (mostly people who should have seen more of the world than they have, to open their minds a little) the slower pace suits us.  We have nearly everything we need here and we don't miss the traffic, construction, noise, too many people etc. in the Big Smoke.

Another milestone was my birthday yesterday, while not a Big Nought Number birthday I suppose every birthday is significant when one gets to my rapidly advancing age!  We had a very nice lunch delivered from the restaurant where we celebrated our anniversary in March, accompanied by the bubbly which was gifted to us on leaving that day - a gesture not asked for, but much appreciated.  It was very nice bubbly too.  Kevin mentioned that we were celebrating my birthday so with yesterday's lunch came another bottle of wine; how nice is that?  We don't have another Significant Occasion coming up - perhaps we should turn an ordinary day into one, and open our wine.

On Tuesday, if he was still alive, my maternal grandfather Pop Davis would have celebrated his 135th birthday.  Needless to say, he's not still around.  He was quite disappointed when I didn't arrive on his birthday (I was his first grandchild; my grandmother already had grandchildren from her first marriage but I was the first of Pop's five) but perhaps I wanted my own day.  Taureans can be a bit stubborn, you know.

Lucky last block of my Canadian mystery quilt!  Saskatchewan is done.

The applique in those 13 blocks needs to be stitched down, I am wondering about using a clear thread rather than changing colours every five minutes.  Some blocks also need a few embroidered details - animal/bird eyes, noses, etc - to finish them off.

Another block for Birdland (aka There Goes The Neighbourhood) is done. 

Two down......oh, maybe about another 98 something or so to go......I haven't decided how big it will be, but they are fun little blocks to make.  There will be trees too.

"A home.
After marriage one of the first requirements for happiness is a home.  It will best be found in a house or even a cottage apart from the immediate association of relatives or friends, acquaintances or strangers, and here husband and wife may begin in reality that new life of which they have had fond dreams, and upon their own actions must depend their future welfare."

Indeed.....it sounds quite idyllic, doesn't it?

Enjoy your days!

We have had precipitation!

Some rain has fallen from the sky this week, enough to put a little - very little - green on the hill behind us, such a change from the dry dead brown it has been for a few months.  Forecasts are a bit optimistic so hopefully there will be more to come.  Fingers, toes and everything else which can be crossed are crossed.

A little cutting out (easily my least favourite part of sewing) has happened.

 The rainbow fabrics will be part of a kaleidoscope quilt, the idea of which was born at a workshop a couple of years ago.  Like many projects, it has been languishing because of having to put the house back together after two floods in 2017.......but it is getting closer.  Now to cut several hundred pieces (!) of black and white prints.

A while ago I laid out some of the tumblers to see how they looked.  Not bad, I thought to myself, fan-freakin'-tastic actually, whether sideways......

 or upsie-downsies.  They were first sewn together in pairs, a lighter fabric to a darker fabric, taking no notice whatsoever at all of colours, except to not join two greens, two reds, etc.  Currently the pairs are being joined into fours, each and every stitch by hand.

Several of the fabrics are stripes or directional prints so they were cut both horizontally and vertically for variety, and absolutely none - not one fabric - was fussy cut.  If the cut went through a flower bouquet that didn't matter, I didn't want it to look planned to within an inch of its life.  Some folk just can't do random......I have no problem with it.  (not sure what that says about me......)  Some of these prints have been in my stash for nigh on 20 years or so, some are much newer, while just a few light gold fabrics were specially bought for this project to add variety.

Those tumblers had a lovely time traipsing around Canada with us last year, and in a few weeks they will be heading south to Canberra to enjoy a folk festival and some autumn colours.  This is going to be a well-travelled quilt by the time it's done.  Perhaps it should be called Travelling Tumbleweeds.

This morning's uke gig at a local monthly church market went very well.  We enjoy playing for them, they are really nice folk, and they love having us.  We will play again in late May as not everyone in the group can commit to a monthly gig; we were missing a few people this morning, but it's amazing how good just five people can sound when they put their minds to it.

Last weekend we took a Nice Sunday Drive - on Sunday! - so I could take in a quilt show at a town north of here.  Their show is annual, never huge but with some really nice quilts, and although I don't get every year I enjoy it when I do.

Big day during the week, our anniversary on Tuesday......43 years......that is a long time, you know.  Here's a chuckle for you; Kevin was wondering what the traditional gift is for 45 years (I like a bloke who is organised and thinks ahead, don't you?) so I just looked it up, and the answer is sapphire.  The list also says the traditional gift for 90 years married is engraved marble or granite.  Well yes, I suppose it would be......

"Courtship and marriage.
The correct behavior of young men toward young ladies, and of young ladies toward young men during that portion of their lives when they are respectively paying attention to, and receiving attention from, one another, is a matter which requires consideration in a work of this nature."

The book then goes on to give points of etiquette in various aspects of behaviour during one's courtship, engagement and marriage, useful knowledge for most of us, I would imagine.

Enjoy your days!

Choofing along with the binding......

This is quite a large quilt, each side is two metres long so that makes eight metres of binding to be sewn down with tiny stitches.  Perhaps they don't need to be as teeny as they are; taking teensy stitches just comes naturally and I actually have trouble taking big ones.  It's looking quite good, if I do say so meself (she says modestly).

A minor conniption was had, however, when piecing the back as the fabric had a row of holes across the width!  The correct size pieces had already been cut and partly pieced, but fortunately there was enough left to be able to cut off the holey piece (possibly caused by machinery when it was wrapped round its cardboard core) and add a new pieced piece, so there are a few more seams on the back than I had originally planned.  At least there was enough fabric......the conniption would have been major had there not been, let me tell you.

A little corner of the not-quite-finished quilt bundled up on my sewing room table out of Bianca's way, as cats do love a nice soft quilt to snuggle into.  The binding is more than half done, and the Cunning Plan is to wave it around at quilt group on Saturday for show and tell.  Which will still happen, even if it's not quite finished.  Tonight is choir practice so it will be staying home for a couple of hours, it would be difficult to sing while bearing the weight of what has turned out to be a fairly heavy quilt on one's lap.  A few wrong notes might just be hit.......even wronger than usual.

Nothing to report on the house repairs, although we expect to be told very soon which builder the insurance company has selected to do the fixing.  As we are going away in less than two weeks it will have to wait until we come home in mid-May.

My toe is still attached.  It is tender and sore, but it hasn't fallen off.  The bursitis is still hanging around in my hip and driving me demented at times.  Older age is not for sissies.

Ms 64 has gone, and no one here is grieving. Her roaming cats have gone with her, for which the neighbourhood is thankful

Last Sunday we went for a Nice Sunday Drive (on a Sunday, something we seldom do!) to a small village an hour north-east of here for lunch at the local pub for our 41st anniversary.  Walcha Road Pub (it's pronounced wolka) is over 100 years old and bounced back from a major fire several years ago - the charred edges of the bar are evidence of that.  The food is excellent, unexpectedly so in a settlement of about 20 people, and it's a popular place for a weekend lunch.  We have been before but haven't visited in mid-winter, perhaps one day we will brave the snow and go there!

We have also had some excellent rain, after our dry February it has been very welcome.  Our garden is now smiling again, and the weeds are shooting up like you wouldn't believe.

"Proposals of marriage.

Rules in regard to proposals of marriage cannot be laid down, for they are and should be as different as people.  The best way is to apply to the lady in person, and receive the answer from her own lips.  If courage should fail a man in this, he can resort to writing, by which he can clearly and boldly express his feelings.  A spoken declaration should be bold, manly and earnest, and so plain in its meaning that there can be no misunderstanding.  As to the exact words used, there can be no set formula; each proposer must be governed by his own ideas and sense of propriety in the matter."

Well....I can't remember the exact words, but I'm sure they were indeed bold, manly and earnest.

Enjoy your days!

Pretty things, and things with wings

Pretty flowers growing wild in The Grampians:

A Banksia, but I don't know which one - there are many different species;

 A red correa, the flowers glowed like little red flames against all the greens;

 Probably a melaleuca or ti tree;

 I haven't seen this shrub before, it doesn't grow up here;

 The floral emblem of Victoria, the pink Common Heath, which I had never seen.

Now for the creepy-crawlies.

There were several of these things with wings the morning we left Narrandera......and they were huge!  This would easily be the length of an adult's palm, but I wasn't going to pick it up to find out.  It was well disguised against the roadway, wasn't it?

While we were away we celebrated our 40th anniversary.  Forty years......it doesn't sound like such a long time when you say it quickly......the traditional 40th anniversary gem is ruby, or garnet for those of us with more modern tastes.  I don't care for rubies because they are closer to pink than red and my trinket box already contains garnet earrings, so my anniversary gift was a pair of gorgeous silver-set black onyx and cubic zirconia earrings.

Work has started on making up the bag brought back from Canada.  It was a kit from Flare Fabrics, and the batik fabrics will hopefully complement my autumn/winter wardrobe.  Quite a bit of cutting of fabrics and linings and fusing of interfacing happens before one stitch is sewn, that's done and now it's up to the stitching stage.

Uke group has started back, and we have a bloke!  A token bloke!  We have had men in the group before but for some reason they don't stay long......perhaps we frighten them away.  One thing is for sure, this bloke will have to learn not to race ahead when we are playing - for instance, "Walking after midnight" should be walking, not running at full pelt.

Things here in the Small Smoke are looking up, because last weekend we had good rain!  Since the rain in January almost no moisture has fallen from the sky, and all the way to and from south-western Victoria (nigh on 1400 kms south of here) there was very little green to be seen.  However, the grass on the hill behind us is getting greener each day now and more rain is forecast for early next week to help it even further.  Local farmers are cautious about being too optimistic, but the feeling is of hope where, until recently, there was despair.

"Bring one of the commonest field flowers into a room, place it on a table, or chimney-piece, and you seem to have brought a ray of sunshine into the place.  There is a cheerfulness about flowers.  What a delight are they to the drooping invalid!  They are a sweet enjoyment, coming as messengers from the country, and seeming to say, "Come and see the place where we grow, and let your heart be glad in our presence."

We were lucky enough to see a place where wild flowers grow, glowing bright against the duller colours of the surrounding bush.

Enjoy your days!

How cute are these wombats?

Last week I came across this mug and matching tray, and even though it's pink it had to come home with me to join the wombats already living here.

Shame they are not green, but one can't have everything one's little heart desires in this life, can one?  Coffee is being drunk from it as we speak.

It's been a very busy week here at the Chateau des Wombats.  Yesterday I loaded up the car with my gorgeous tenor uke and some music books (365 songs makes for one very heavy book, and I had three) and drove 60kms south to Quirindi for a ukulele meet-up with the local group and another group who had come from a town an hour west, and a great time was had by all of us - so much so that it looks set to become regular, held every couple of months and rotated round the three towns.  If more groups from other towns join in, as we hope, we can extend it.

The previous evening we attended the theatre to see our local Dramatic Society's current production of 'The Lion in Winter', and very well done it was too.  Bianca's vet Robyn played the part of Queen Eleanor, that's something about living in the Small Smoke.......doesn't matter where we go, we come across people we know!

On Thursday we celebrated our wedding anniversary, 39 years since we tied the knot.  One more year and I qualify for that ruby......so long as it's a red red, and not a pink red.  I have my standards when it comes to trinkets, you know.

Today and tomorrow we are cleaning house and putting aside things we wish to take to Canberra, tomorrow clothes will be washed and packed, on Wednesday morning the caravan will be hitched up and off we will go.  Euan's quilt will go with us, the binding is now being hand-sewn down on the back but it will be finished in time to be handed to its new little owner.  Pics will, no doubt, be taken.

"Forbearance with children.
A guest should not notice nor find fault with the bad behavior of the children in the household where visiting, and should put up with any of their faults, and overlook any ill-bred or disagreeable actions on their part."

We won't be staying in the household where the child resides, but let's face it......how ill-bred or disagreeable can a three month old baby be?

While we are away I won't be spending much time on the computer, so until we meet again......

Enjoy your days!

A glimpse of the start of the new jacket

So far the back is finished, and one front is coming along very well.  This picture was taken yesterday when the left front had only been cast on and had one row done, since then it has grown by several inches.  It's a very quick knit; fluffy mohair blend yarn on big needles.  Hopefully the pic shows the colours, it is very autumn-y....black, gold, green, purple, yellow, even a touch of coral pink, all blend together beautifully.

Later this month we will be heading off to Canberra for our annual visit so that means more car travel, which means more knitting time.  The National Folk Festival is held in Canberra at Easter and has become a fixture on our calendar, and as our older son moved there a year ago it will be lovely to also spend a little time with him.  We have other friends living there so we can catch up with them too.  For quite a  few years Canberra was at the top of our list when we were deciding where we wanted to retire but as it grows bigger it is becoming less affordable, and it is getting more of a big city feel - we wanted to live in a country town.  If Sydney is the Big Smoke, and this town is the Small Smoke, then Canberra is the Medium Smoke becoming more smokey with every passing year.

The plans for the trip to Canada later in the year are progressing nicely.  We have our flights sorted.....my gosh it's such a long way from here, but then it's a long way from Australia to just about anywhere, really.....now we are looking at travel insurance.  Some people think it's all right to travel without it, nothing will happen to them they think, it's expensive they say, but realistically - if you can't afford travel insurance, then you can't afford to travel.  On our last visit to Canada I had the misfortune to fall and break my arm and we were not one cent out of pocket; all our expenses were covered.  Unfortunately there's no payment for pain and suffering, to say nothing of inconvenience....but all was well, in the end.  Eventually.  It was just a bit boring for a while, being unable to do much; we really need our hands, don't we?

The new skirt is finally being made.  Because it is lined that means making two skirts, the lining is done, hemmed and all, now the outer skirt is being hemmed then they can be joined at the band.  It is much easier to hem one layer at a time than wrestle with two layers.  Over the years I have made enough garments to be able to use my initiative when it comes to assembly, and just because the instructions say the hem is the final step doesn't mean that is the way it has to be.  My first garment (not counting the ones reluctantly made at school) was made when I was 18; self-taught though I was I enjoyed the process, and that was the first of goodness knows how many things I have made over the years.  I make quilts as well as garments and don't describe myself as a  "sewer" (heaven forbid) or "sewist" (which is a clumsy word), but have decided the old term "sempster" is a good one.  So I shall call myself a sempster.  One who sews seams.

The Plan is that the skirt will be worn to dinner tomorrow night, it's our anniversary.....36 years with the same bloke......if we can stick it out for another four years I can get a ruby.  Nice.  So far the odds are looking good.

"The wedding ring.
All churches at present use the ring, and vary the sentiment of its adoption to suit the customs and ideas of their own rites.  A jewelled ring has been for many years the sign and symbol of betrothal, but at present a plain gold circlet, with the date of the engagement inscribed within, is generally preferred.  The wedding ring, a plain hoop of gold, is used at the church.  A jewelled ring is placed upon her hand by the groom on the way home from the church, or as soon after the service as is convenient.  It stands guard over its precious fellow, and is a confirmation of the first promise."

Rings have great symbolism, don't they?  Apparently the circle signifies something unending, which is why a ring has become such an important part of the wedding ceremony.

Enjoy your days!

Green lusciousness

Are these not truly beautiful and gorgeous and green? Yesterday was our 35th wedding anniversary, and Kevin surprised me with these lovely jade earrings. It seems that coral and jade are the symbols for 35 years of wedded bliss, and he knows me well enough by now to know that I would much prefer green jade to pink/red coral. It was a complete surprise as I had no idea he had anything planned, let alone ordered these to be specially made! So I wore them last night when we went out to a restaurant to celebrate.

Yes folks, our small town has a French restaurant, and very good it is too. Home made bread......roast chicken with scallops in an interesting sauce (me).......lamb done three ways (Kevin).........a trio of different fruit desserts, all small but perfectly formed, rhubarb cream brulee, poached tiny pear on chocolate (yum) and passionfruit marshmallow (me)......butterscotch pudding with honeycomb ice cream (Kevin). Add wines and coffee, and you can see we really enjoyed our meal.

Now back to home cooking Chez Jennifer. Tonight's meal won't be anywhere near as interesting as last night's, I can tell you. Or served as beautifully.

Today I have been busy preparing notes to teach a technique at one of my quilt groups next Saturday, the notes and illustrations are ready, now to make a few demonstration pieces showing the various steps. It's not as though I have no fabric with which to do that.........who knows, perhaps it might even be the start of another new quilt.....now that is a scary thought.

We have had rain over the past few days and more is forecast. The garden is probably very thankful as things have been a bit dry lately. Using a hose doesn't have the same effect, does it? Rain washes everything sparkling clean and fresh again.

Apparently today, 20th March 2011, is the autumn equinox so summer has now ended. That means shorter days (especially when daylight saving finishes in a couple of weeks thank goodness, it's been very dark in the mornings lately) and cooler nights, so much better for sleeping. Have noticed leaves definitely changing and dropping, although it will be a while until trees are bare. Some people see autumn as an ending but I see it as a time for rest.

The news from Japan about the earthquake and tsunami last week is very sad, so many lives lost, so many families disrupted, and now there are problems with nuclear power stations as a result. Whose idea was it to have nuclear power plants on earthquake faults? Did it not occur to someone that perhaps that was not the best idea the world has ever seen? It's been known for a long time that Japan is somewhat prone to earthquakes. We'll all be glowing in the dark soon.

"If 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."

An umbrella wouldn't be much use in a tsunami, would it?

Now I am going to cut fabric.

Enjoy your days!