A bit of a fizzer

Is what my birthday was.  

The Hay Fever from Hades had moved in earlier in the week, and from then on it has been cough-cough-cough and more cough.  Sadly the anticipated birthday lunch had to be postponed, but it went ahead yesterday and was all the more appreciated for being delayed.

I can understand why sleep deprivation is used as an instrument of torture, sleeping is so difficult when one is continually cough-cough-coughing.  However the cough is more settled now and I have managed a few nights of nearly uninterrupted sleep, which certainly makes me feel better.  The rib muscles which had been so painful (because: cough) and made machine sewing difficult as a result, are also easing.

Consequently, much as I had hoped it would be, the top of Arboretum is not quite finished.

The section on the bottom right needs to be joined to the section above it - you can see my yellow pin marker top centre on the blue peacock tree - then that whole section will be joined to the much larger section to the left.

Then - it will be done!

I could manage an occasional stitch by hand or by knitting needle in between coughing, but much of my spare time was spent reading because it doesn't require much physical effort.  This was on the "take one, leave one" table when I went to the physio recently; I have read another of Jane Harper's books so this one came home with me.

I enjoyed it, although it's by no means a light-hearted read.  It centres around an annual memorial for Sam, a man who disappeared on his 21st birthday five years earlier, and we find out relationships are falling apart....buildings are falling apart....the town itself is falling apart as a nearby mine encroaches closer and closer.  Despite that it's not all gloom and doom, and there is much positivity.  The book has now gone back to whence it came, for someone else's enjoyment.

Words, as you can see, have been read.  Stitches have occasionally been sewn or knitted.  Not one word has been sung or plinked; I haven't been to choir because it's difficult to sing when one is coughing, but that also means that no practice has been done for the Eisteddfod competition in just two weeks (eek!).  Appointments were kept, something which seems to be happening more and more these days.  We managed to go out for food to keep starvation at bay, and that was our week.

When one is spending more time at home because one isn't well one's world shrinks, doesn't it?  Not sick enough to need medical attention or to take to one's bed like the heroine of a Victorian novel, just unwell enough to feel tired and listless and to occasionally spend time in one's comfy chair wrapped in a quilt.  Which, of course, one made some years ago.

For many years it was my caravan quilt, and now it's my comfy chair quilt because it matches my comfy green chair and because it's warm.

Early last week we had a small rain shower which was very welcome, and more is forecast over the next few days.....which will be even more welcome.  Our drive on Saturday for lunch was to Bendemeer and we drove through very dry brown country, so that rain is needed.

Here we are back at the altar.

"The bridesmaids and groomsmen.

Only relatives and the most intimate friends are asked to be bridesmaids - the sisters of the bride and of the bridegroom, where it is possible.  The bridegroom chooses his best man and the groomsmen from his circle of relatives and friends of his own age, and from the relatives of his fiancee of a suitable age.  The dresses of the bridesmaids are not given, unless their circumstances are such as to make it necessary."

You notice that small children are not mentioned.  For many years now small children - some quite small - have been part of a wedding party, and I must admit to not being a fan.  A retinue of cutesy-poo kiddie-widdies seems to de rigeur at royal weddings; I remember reading many years ago it started with Princess Margaret of the British Royal Family as she and her groom were short and didn't wish to have bridesmaids towering over them, so her attendants were all or nearly all pre-teens.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Well, that's February half done

Seems like the year is racing by, and Christmas will be upon us again before we know it.

Yesterday was Kevin's birthday, so off we went for a Nice Sunday Drive - yes, I know it was Saturday, but one can go for a Nice Sunday Drive on any day of the week - to a small town in the hills to the south-east.  Nundle is nearly an hour away; the road is not a multi-lane freeway by any stretch of the imagination, but is a really nice drive through the hills.  The pub has a reputation for being a place for a good feed, and it certainly didn't disappoint, my trout (from a local business) was delicious.  It's a place I have always enjoyed visiting as my family's history is tied up in the area, my maternal grandfather was born not far away, and his birth and the births of several of his siblings were all registered at the Nundle courthouse, a handsome building dating from 1880 which is now a museum.

Which is why the binding on my Canadian table topper isn't yet finished, as there wasn't much of yesterday left by the time we arrived home and I seldom use the machine at night.  Tired eyes, tired brain and machinery make for unhappy results, as I have found out in the past.

As you can see it has been cut, the strips joined and sewn to the topper, but the binding ends need to be joined then turned to the back and sewn down.  This red leafy fabric was in my stash - isn't it delicious?  As it has maple leaves and is red, it seemed just the Very Thing for the binding.

Over the past few days we have been planning our annual March trip down south.  We will be joining with our son to celebrate his 50th birthday - how can I have a 50 year old kid when I am only 29 and some months, I wonder? - and before that our 50th anniversary, which falls a few days earlier.  It didn't matter at the time, and 50 years later it matters even less, although my MIL was a bit shocked and scandalised that her only son would take up with a not-yet-divorced woman.  We are planning a few days in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains, basing ourselves in Tumut and using it as a base to do some exploring.  Then it will be off to Canberra for ten days, before heading off home.  We will be away for three weeks, and are looking forward to it.  We have stayed overnight in Tumut a couple of times, nigh on 30 years ago, and remember it as a very pretty town.

At least I was legally divorced when we married, unlike my grandmother who married my grandfather before her decree was absolute, making their marriage bigamous.....and my mother and her brother illegitimate.  My mother would have been mortified to the ends of the earth, had she known.  I enjoy watching genealogy programs, the scandals are often more interesting than boring everyday living, aren't they?

Words have been read.  Stitches have been sewn but not knitted.  Notes have, once more, been plinked and sung.  Appointments have been kept.  Hunting, gathering and foraging have been on the menu, and so passed another week.

Some rain would be nice....this weekend's forecast was for good rain, but not a drop has fallen from the sky.  Not a dribble, not a drip.  Oh well, no doubt rain will come when it comes.

"Position of an engaged man.

The same rules may be laid down in regard to the other party to the contract.  Neither should assume a masterful or jealous attitude toward the other.  They are neither of them to be shut up away from the rest of the world, but must mingle in society nearly the same as before, and take the same delight in friendship.  The fact that they have confessed their love for each other ought to be deemed a sufficient guarantee of faithfulness; for the rest let there be trust and confidence."

Very sensible words.

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

Green, green, it's green they say....

....on the far side of the hill.....

Anyone else remember that song?  It seems appropriate, considering that I've been cutting green fabrics for the outer border of the neighbourhood.  This is what's been cut so far.

But - there is still lots to go, because in my wisdom (not sure that it was very wise, but there you are) I have been cutting short pieces, and it's a fairly big quilt.  It might be a good idea to get cracking and cut some longer strips, those shorter pieces can be used between the longer ones.

This is Butchart Garden on Vancouver Island, Canada, in autumn.  That garden is famed world-wide for it's wonderful floral displays but when it's not flower season all the tones of green are highlighted, as they were back in November 2012 when this was taken.

Speaking of colour - no doubt you may have already heard that the Pantone colour of the year for 2026 has been released, and after so many colourful years it seems like a cop-out that white has been chosen.  It's been gussied up with a fancy name.....'Cloud Dancer'.....but white is still white.  I always thought that white was the absence of colour - yes?  If that's so, how can it be chosen as colour of the year?  I must admit to being somewhat....underwhelmed.

Here's a site I found which shows the colours of the year going back to 2000.  While I don't care for them all (although I do quite like 2017's colour) each and every one of them is more inspiring than boring white.

For many years now home renno shows have been showing white kitchens, which remind me of hospital laboratories.  Give me some colour any day.  Our kitchen (which came with the house but we like it, so it's been left) is light creamy-beige; it's not brown, it has warm yellow undertones with enough colour not to be boring but is still light enough to be practical.  There is also a fad on those shows to have dark kitchens with dark floors, dark cabinets, dark bench tops.....why, fergawdssake?  You would have to have the lights on all day, and even then you would need a magnifying glass to chop vegies so you didn't chop your fingers instead.

We have had more storms, and a few more small branches have fallen from our front yard tree.  They seem to recover, though, so we won't panic just yet.  Don't want to waste a good panic, do we.

The festive season is getting closer.  On Wednesday my sewing group had our Christmas lunch and jolly nice it was too, while the ukulele group finished for the year on Monday.  One of the members, Chris, gave me a jar of sweet onion chutney that she made herself (which is very nice too, it's already been opened and tried) together with a card, the hand-written message inside thanking me for, as Chris put it, "sharing your love of music with us".....isn't that sweet?  So, that's the end of music groups for the year...but I can always plink and sing away to myself, can't I.

Words have been read.  Stitches have been knitted and sewn but that summer top isn't yet repaired, as time just ran away from me; while the coming week also has some appointments, I live in hope that the top will be done by next weekend.  We hunted and foraged and will do some more this week because, even though there will just be the two of us for Christmas, we can still enjoy some festive foods.  The idea of going out to a restaurant for an indulgent Christmas lunch has been left in the dirt as these days it's way out of our budget, so we will just have to indulge at home.

When you are the person responsible for meal planning, and shopping, and preparation, though, Christmas is just like any other day.  Compared to a meal which someone else has prepared, served and cleaned up here's nothing special about a meal you have had to make yourself, is there?

The One And Only Grandkid has an upcoming birthday.  He will turn eleven next Friday.  We have deposited some money in his father's account so he can be taken shopping and choose what he would like; there is an excellent children's book shop in Canberra, and we are told there are also good toy shops.  We don't see him enough to know what he would like (although you can bet that fantasy/superheroes would feature somewhere, just like his father at that age) so it's better that he makes his own choice and has something he would like.

"How to treat a refusal.

As a woman is not bound to accept the first offer that is made to her, so no sensible man will think the worse of her, nor feel himself personally injured by a refusal.  That it will give him pain is most probable.  A scornful "no" or a simpering promise to "think about it" is the reverse of generous."

We certainly don't wish to be ungenerous, do we?

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Birthday trees

On Friday I completed another circuit around the sun.  I am not saying how old I am now, suffice it to say that I am probably older than dirt.  It was a pleasant day and I was taken out to lunch; I always enjoy a meal I haven't had to cook and I never cook on my birthday anyway, so it was doubly enjoyable.

And now I am a bigger number.

This week's trees, started on Friday and finished yesterday, so they can still be called birthday trees.

A geometric tree, just right for autumn.  The contrast was used for a tree several weeks ago, and it suits this print well.....I quite like the combination.

Another blue and green tree, because it's a pairing that always works.  The blue is leftover from 'Summertime Blues', and the green is a tone on tone from the Big Basket.  The contrast was originally going to be a different fabric but it was one which suffered from the flooding several years ago - the fabrics were dried off but not checked at the time for any problems as we had to put the house back together and replace ruined carpets, furniture, etc.  Damaged fabric was the least of my worries.

A pair of interesting trees.

We haven't seen the kangaroos on the hill behind us for some time because this herd of cattle roam around, and we are told that kangaroos don't like cattle and vice versa.  We think they belong to a bloke on the other side of the hill.

The breed is 'Speckle Park', or 'dalmatian cows' as our son called them when we told him.  They are apparently good eating.  When they visit, we notice that the air wafting around is definitely more.....rural.

How has everyone been this week?  Apart from Birthday Friday it was the usual uneventful week; stitches were sewn, words were read.  Songs were plinked and sung.  Hunting and gathering occurred, and that was about it.  It is now Mother's Day which we are spending quietly, with a welcome phone call from our Canberra son earlier.

During the week the previous U3A leader contacted me to say she would be absent for some time as she has shoulder problems, the message was very affable and friendly.  I have not replied, because I don't care.  She left me in the lurch last year without a word of warning or apology when I was still recovering from the broken arm and other injuries, so she can take a running jump.  I'm not usually nasty unless I consider I have been wronged, and in this case I do.  All sweetness and light, that's me, folks.

Moving right along.

It's been cool enough at night to have a fire burning, although we let it go out in the mornings.  This house cools down once the sun moves around by mid-afternoon, so it feels a little cooler than we like to be.  Having the fire burning on low all night means that the house warms up quickly when the sun hits it, rather than having to wait for the warmth of the sun to do so.  The first couple of winters after moving here we wondered why it was so cold in winter despite the fire, and closing doors to rooms not in use at the time etc., so we had the ceiling checked - only to find that there was absolutely no insulation in the ceiling at all.  Not a skerrick, as my Nana Davis used to say.  We soon had that remedied, and immediately noticed the difference.  There seem to have been budgetary short-cuts taken in many areas of this house when it was built; some we have had fixed, others we can live with.

"Driving.

The choicest seat in a double carriage is the one facing the horses, and gentlemen should always yield this seat to the ladies.  If only one gentleman and one lady are riding in a two-seated carriage, the gentleman must sit opposite the lady, unless she invites him to a seat by her side."

This week's quote is a wee bit long, so we will have the rest next week.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

There are quiet trees, and there are noisy trees

As you can see from this week's additions to the forest.

First, a quiet tree.....

Quiet trees wear quiet raiment, and enjoy quiet music, and they mix with quiet company.

Noisy trees never quite let go of their 1980s neon clothing, and there is nothing they like more than a disco party with their friends.

However - they still like to hang out together, having more in common they they realise.  Despite their differences, they are both still trees.

Last week's pics didn't do justice to the pretty colour of the butterfly wing print, this is much more accurate.

How have you all been this week?  We have mooched around, and done some Stuff, and continued to get the caravan ready to sell.  We have found a flat car park not far from home, so the photos will be taken early in the coming week.  A few days ago we dropped off a box of caravan Stuff to an op shop, items that we don't need; we already have enough Stuff in the house, so anything from the caravan is surplus to our current requirements.  All cutlery, cooking pots and pans, and plate and bowls will stay with it.  It's a small van, ideal for beginning caravanners (as we were ourselves, all those years ago) and beginners may not have everything they need to just hitch up and go.  We have, however, taken out pillows and linen; although some of it is many years old we can use it up ourselves - and anyway, who would want someone else's 27 year old pillows?  Far better for the new owners to use their own.

Words have been read, stitches have been sewn.  Autumn Rhapsody is - finally - finished, yay!  Pics will be taken when I work out how to photograph such a large quilt.  Sadly, I have given up on the idea of entering it in this year's show.  Even though the binding is done it still needs a hanging sleeve, and there just wasn't enough time to sew one on before entries have to be handed in on Wednesday.  Never mind.....there is always next year, isn't there.  Thoughts have turned again to hand-piecing diamonds, so more of them need to be cut.  They will make a good travel project when we go away next month.

Notes have been plinked, and sung.  We have a new lady at U3A ukulele, and fortunately she can already play.  My nemesis from last year has not returned, in fact she hasn't renewed her membership, and the previous leader hasn't turned up either.  She is not my favourite person anyway since she announced in the middle of last year "I'm not doing this any more"; we were co-leaders, but nothing was said to me before it was all suddenly dropped in my lap.  Actually, we're managing quite well without her.

On Valentine's Day we betook ourselves to a fairly new restaurant to celebrate Kevin's birthday, and jolly nice it was too.  He had grilled steak and I had chicken scallopini in creamy mustard sauce with mushrooms and capers, then we finished with chocolate and walnut brownie with vanilla gelato and chocolate sauce (for him) and honeycomb ice cream parfait with chocolate sauce (for me).  It was all jolly nice, and we would go again....I always enjoy a meal that someone else has cooked.  The only jarring note was the background music, vocal country music played a bit too loud.  Instrumental jazz is less obtrusive - I hope it was switched for something more mellow before all the young lovers went out for their Valentine's Day dinners in the evening, else the sweet nothings murmured in ears would be wasted.

"Discretion in forming acquaintances.

While an acquaintance formed in a railway carriage or on a steamboat continues only during the trip, discretion should be used in making acquaintances.  Ladies may, as has been stated, accept small courtesies and favors from strangers, but must check at once any attempt at familiarity.  On the other hand, no man who pretends to be a gentleman will attempt any familiarity."

Advice which could be heeded today, as much as when it was penned in 1885.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Plugging along

Still somewhat slowly and painfully, but as I keep telling myself - each day which passes is a day closer to having that heavy plaster removed from my arm.

There are no more pics from the antique quilt exhibition.  Some of the historic quilts have been published in books with much better photos than I could take, and a few just didn't appeal to me; for instance there was a large quilt in pastel pink, blue and cream which didn't really float my boat....although it had an interesting history.  It was made in a country town during the early 1930s and duly entered in the local show, where it won first prize.  No doubt flushed by her success the maker entered it again the following year, when it won first prize again....and again....each year for ten years it was entered, and each year for ten years it won first prize.  Can't you just imagine the conversations around the tea cups.....c'mon, Mildred, don't enter it this year, give someone else a go......

One place we usually call into on our annual trip down south is the Canberra Visitor Centre because they have all manner of interesting things for sale including honey from cold climate trees, which I really like; our local honey is different because our trees grow in a relatively mild climate, while those other honeys are darker in colour and richer in flavour.

On display is an exhibition about the National Carillon, which is currently closed for renovations.  This is a keyboard section.

This shows how it is played.

And this is the other side of the keyboard.

It was interesting to see, and would have been even more interesting if we could have heard a recording of the Carillon as we browsed.

Words have been read.  Medical appointments have taken place.  Songs have been sung.  Thoughts have been thought about how to play ukulele with a plastered arm; it was tried, but was not very successful.  More thoughts are being thought on the subject as we speak.

On Thursday Kevin took me out for lunch because it was my birthday, and I do not cook on my birthday.  Ever.  I managed my birthday meal one-handed; I'm getting better at that, but it's still not easy - although the pecan pie with butterscotch sauce was easier than the salad which preceded it.

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

"There is no obligation whatever upon a gentleman to give up his seat to a lady.  On the contrary, his duty is solely to the lady whom he accompanies.  He must remain beside her during the evening to converse with her between the acts, and to render the entertainment as agreeable to her as possible."

This is true.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Coming along splendiferously

'Autumn Splendour' is progressing nicely.....this is how it looks after a sewing session at quilt group on Tuesday.

It is now 32 inches square; the Maple Leaf blocks are eight inches finished.

This is how it will look with the next square round added.  Two opposite corners have three Maple Leaf blocks each, while the leaf print strips and some more HST blocks make up the sides......I couldn't resist trying it out.

It is looking browner than I had hoped, although some of those autumn prints are quite bright - but then, the lighting in the spare bedroom is a bit dull on this cloudy day and the background fabrics are light tan/beige rather than blinding white.

The original quilt, published in a magazine, used much brighter colours - red, yellow, green, orange - and brighter background fabrics too, but it said "spring" rather than "autumn" to me, despite the leaf blocks.  The colours in my quilt are much more the colours we have seen during our autumn visits to Canada with brighter colours popping out here and there among brown oak leaves, some yellow/green and orange leaves.....and, of course, red maple leaves.

How have you all been?  We are well, my recalcitrant knee is still firmly attached thanks, no doubt, to the exercises which are diligently done daily.  The usual hunting and gathering was done with an eye to "what do we need to take away with us" shopping as well, as it's only ten days until we leave.

Diamonds have been cut but none sewn, they are being saved for holiday sewing.  Stitches have been knitted and the ribbing on the back is now complete, so the next row will start the stocking stitch section.  Words have been read.  Notes have been plinked and sewn.

Our trip away needs some thinking as a few Occasions need to be organised.  The day after we arrive in Canberra will be our son's birthday - we don't get to celebrate with him in person very often, so a table has been booked for lunch at a pub which we like and where our son hasn't eaten.  The One And Only Grandkid will be joining us too.  

My performer ticket for the folk festival at Easter has been downloaded and printed; strolling around wearing a 'performer' wristband is a thrill I never tire of, I can tell you.  My entry for the Eisteddfod in June has gone in, so once again I will be making a fool of myself in public.

And - we have our (free) tickets organised for the National Gallery of Australia, where the Rajah Quilt will be on display!  I was lucky enough to see it many years ago when it was part of a touring exhibition; we were living in the Big Smoke and drove 90 minutes south to see it.  Each and every one of those 90 minutes was worthwhile.  I had trouble tearing myself away....there is so much to look at, so many fabrics (the backs of some fabrics are used, the conjecture is that lighting in the bowels of a convict ship wasn't very good), so much colour....some of the patches are bright yellow/gold.  There is a replica in Canada, held in the Elizabeth Fry Society in Ottawa; we learned at school about Elizabeth Fry and her organisation which helped convicts, women convicts in particular, on those long voyages to the other side of the world.

One of Kevin's ancestors, a Irish woman named Mary Heffernan, arrived in Tasmania in 1841 - but not on the 'Rajah'.  She seems to have been quite a woman who, even after her marriage, was often up before the court on charges of prostitution, drunkenness or fighting.....no quiet life for Mary, it seems, although she did eventually settle down to marriage and family.  Perhaps - sewing patchwork may not have been her thing?

Continuing with Etiquette of Public Places, Invitation to Opera or Concert:

"It is the gentleman's duty to secure good seats for the entertainment, or else he or his companion may be obliged to take up with seats where they can neither see nor hear."

If that is the case - there is no point attending, is there?  One may as well stay home and entertain one's self.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Answers

Answers are good things to have.  Some of my recent medical Stuff has an answer - one I wasn't expecting, but it's good to know that I'm not just a wuss!

A few weeks ago my left leg started being sore around the knee area....above, below, inside.  Well, darn, I thought, but didn't let it stop me from going out and about. One of those recent 'outs' was a trip down town and all was well although my leg was complaining mightily, something I was doing my best to ignore.  On the way back to the car we were crossing the road in the middle of the main drag when suddenly my knee collapsed and I could go no further; fortunately I managed to stay upright although by now in more than a certain amount of pain.  Well bugger, I thought.  (And probably said too.)  Eventually between us we managed to get me to a seat on the footpath....for my overseas friends, we don't have sidewalks in Australia, we have footpaths.....while Kevin brought the car closer.  With the aid of one of the helpful pharmacy assistants and the wheely walker she brought out, I made it into the car and we drove home.  The next day Kevin went to the op shop and bought a walking stick, something which has proven very handy, and an appointment with the physio a few days later has helped muchly too.  Turns out that the meniscus in my left knee was playing up so some treatment and daily exercises have made it easier, with a return visit in another week to check its progress.

Look after your meniscus, folks.  They really hurt if they aren't happy.  Still, all is good.....nothing has fallen off, my leg is still intact, and I can get around without the stick now although it comes with me when we go out.

Best of all - this week is slightly milder, and we welcome the cooler temps.  Some rain would be nice, though.  We're even noticing a few leaves beginning to turn and others losing their bright summer green, looking slightly tired and faded.  Days are getting noticeably shorter, too.  Roll on, autumn!

With the slightly cooler temps my thoughts have turned to knitting once more, so last night stitches were cast on for the back of the next.....probably jumper, although it might yet turn out to be a cardy.  Decision yet to be made.

This book is a good source of patterns; I have already three jumpers using their basic raglan sleeved jumper pattern, with my own touches added.  The bright green markers are placed every 20 stitches for the cast on because, if stitches need to be counted in that cast-on row, it is easier to count to 20 several times than to 139 once.

This is my bewdiful yarn, bought last year.  Every ball has the same colours, and the knitted examples on the Bendigo Woollen Mills website look very interesting.

Thirty years ago I worked for a time in a girls' school run by nuns, a couple of whom were inveterate knitters, and they told me about Bendigo yarn.  In those pre-internet days one had to ring the mill store (an interstate phone call!  how extravagant!!) and ask for a shade sample card which was duly sent, then one filled out the attached order form, returned it by post and eagerly awaited the arrival of one's lovely new yarn.  The balls are quite large, so there are very few joins to be dealt with during the finishing process.

We have an outing planned for Wednesday, Kevin's birthday, as we will be driving to a pub half an hour out of town for lunch.  It's a significant Big 0 birthday (mind you, at this age every birthday achieved is a significant milestone) so we would like to make it more special than a peanut butter sandwich at home.  The trip will be long enough for a few rows of knitting, then our trip down south next month will make opportunities for much more so the new knit will be progressing nicely by the time we return home.

Not much sewing has happened this week apart from a little hand piecing, and some more diamonds have been cut.  Words have been read.  Lots of notes have been plinked and sung as U3A ukulele returned on Thursday, and we have some new people too; we're quite a big group now.  No hunting and gathering was needed - I couldn't have walked around the shops anyway - but we had food, so we haven't starved.  We probably will if hunting and gathering isn't done within the next few days, but my leg should be fine by then.

Continuing with Etiquette of Public Places, Conduct in Church:

"When the services are concluded, there should be no haste in crowding up the aisle, but the departure should be conducted quietly and decorously.  When the vestibule is reached, it is allowable to change greetings with friends, but here there should be no loud talking or boisterous laughter.  Neither should gentlemen congregate in knots in the vestibule or upon the steps of the church and compel ladies to run the gauntlet of their eyes and tongues."

Yes, indeed.  There is no need to engage in unseemly sprinting to be the first out of the door after the service, and as for compelling ladies to run the gauntlet of eyes and tongues - well, shame on you for even thinking of it.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Green calm below, blue quietness above

Isn't that lovely?  It comes from the writings of John Greenleaf Whittier, an American writer.  It turned up when I looked for quotes about green and blue together, and could make a suitable name for my green and blue quilt.  Here are some finished blocks, some cut ready to be sewn, and lots more luscious fabrics waiting to be chopped up.

It has made me realise that more of my greens are on the yellow side of the spectrum than the blue side.  Several blocks have been made, and more will be cut - it is turning out to be quite a fun project!

This week has seen me turning a year older.  My birthday was on Tuesday so we went out to lunch - I always enjoy a meal I haven't had to cook - and we even let our hair down with a glass of bubbly too.  I am feeling more ancient with every passing year.....

When we had breakfast with our son while visiting Canberra he gave me an early birthday gift, a beautiful print of a sleeping baby wombat by Alison Dickin.  We have a couple of framing places here so it will soon be taken to get framed; I am thinking perhaps a narrow pale wood, but will see what choices are on offer,

A couple more pics from our visit to the National Rock Garden.  Don't you think a large slab of this limestone, cut and polished, would make a dramatic wall?

Such a shame that the explanatory plaques have been scratched by small-minded people who need to find a more suitable outlet for their so-called 'creativity'.

This Metasomatite was possibly my favourite.  Close up there are many colours in it, and they are more subtle than the limestone above.  

It's quite old, too.  It's even older than I am.

Words have been read, diamonds have been stitched.  Notes have been plinked and sung.  Knitting has been knitted and pulled undone again, because I didn't like how the cable was turning out.  Another cable was found in one of my stitch dictionaries, less ornate than my original choice, but I think it will serve well.  Eventually a final choice will be made, and there will be much rejoicing.

In the morning the choir will be singing at the funeral of one of our long-time members who died recently, aged 95.  A month before Christmas he went into palliative care, we thought that was the beginning of the end - but he rallied, and went home!  However, given his age we knew this day would inevitably come so at his wife's request (she is also a choir member) we have been rehearsing the 23rd Psalm, and tomorrow we will honour our old friend with our voices.

Our little taste of winter has been just that, a little taste, and now we are in the 'cool nights and mornings followed by lovely sunny days' part of autumn.  We know it won't last, but will enjoy it while it does.  Leaves are changing, our few frosty mornings have obviously given them the "it's time now" signal, and finally we can enjoy the beauty of autumn.

Continuing on with Etiquette of the Street:

"Fulfilling an engagement.

When on your way to fill an engagement, if a friend stops you on the street you may, without committing a breach of etiquette, tell him of your appointment, and release yourself from any delay that may be occasioned by a long talk; but do so in a courteous manner, expressing regret for the necessity."

It is good to be courteous.  How many of us, I wonder, have used the "sorry, can't stop, I have an appointment" excuse to get away from someone?  

Enjoy your days!

The last of the houses is done

All 61 houses are finished, the neighbourhood is complete.  Lots more cutting and sewing still to come until the quilt is done, but hey.....no hurry.

Two more autumn houses to reflect the season, both made from autumn fabrics bought in Canada.

Considering that, a year ago when the first house was made, there was absolutely no intention whatsoever of making a quilt - it is coming along nicely.  My houses were, in common with many other quilters around the world, a 'lockdown' project......but onlike many of those, mine is still unfinished.

Never mind.  There are no prizes for 'first past the post' in this.

Well, it has turned freezy frosty chilly!  This morning was quite cold, coldest morning of the year so far, and the 'feels like' was several degrees colder than the actual temperature.  (It felt like -6 C overnight, that's a wee bit cool)  We have been promised more of the same for the next week or so; it's just as well we had the chimney cleaned out last week, isn't it?  We can now have a fire to keep us warm without worrying about being smoked out of house and home, which is what happened when we first tried lighting it.

My birthday last weekend was, as it is these days, quiet.  The Annual Phone Call came from our son down south (he does ring more frequently than once a year, that's just my joke; "Oh! it's my Annual Phone Call!" I say when the phone rings on my birthday) and we went out to dinner.  We had thought of lunch but decided against it because most venues were offering 'Mother's Day Lunch' and we had visions of everywhere being full of happy family gatherings with unrestrained children.  The restaurant we chose was busy - and although it was in the evening there were still several small children, one or two per table.  Fortunately they were well behaved......and that's it done and dusted for another year, only another 51 weeks until the next one.

The slow cooker has made its first appearance for the year, yesterday it was used to make pumpkin soup, and jolly nice it was too when we had some at lunch today.....just the thing for a sunny but quite chilly day.  

Ten days ago the remnants of the ukulele group played for a seniors' concert, the first time we have played in public for over 14 months - and it felt so good.  The choir sang too, something we also hadn't been able to do.  Our audience enjoyed the music, we enjoyed performing, and hopefully it will lead on to better things.....and also hopefully, we hope we can get some new members.  

The mouse plague continues.  Earlier in the week Bianca caught one as it emerged from under the dishwasher but we took it away before she could bite into it; we have been spreading baits around, and while we don't mind poisoned mice we don't want a poisoned kitty.  We haven't seen any more signs of activity since - fingers crossed that they have moved on, although the current cold weather may drive them indoors.  They are doing a lot of damage to a widespread area, infesting crops, causing fires by eating electrical wiring both in houses and vehicles, and similar nastiness.  People are looking to buy baits and traps to get rid of the little buggers but they are in short supply everywhere, it seems.  

I'm all for loving the creatures with whom we share our lives on this planet, but I draw the line at letting mice live in the house.

"Do not leave the table before the rest of the family or guests, without asking the head, or host, to excuse you, except at a hotel or boarding house."

The mice don't need to ask to be excused, they can get up and go at any time.  We won't think them impolite if they do so.

Enjoy your days!

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!

Green, green, it's green they say, on the far side of the hill.......

You'll be singing that all day now, won't you?

We have lots of rain, and more is forecast.  These pics were taken a few days ago and since then the grass is even greener, if that's possible.  It's also quite a bit longer.

Yes, that's our wash line.  Most Australian houses use an outside line rather than a dryer; in all my (very many) years on this earth I have never owned a dryer.

The rise you can see in the far distance of this photo is now also bright green - a sight for sore eyes, if ever there was one.

There is, however, a slight drawback to so much moisture - the humidity, normally not something we need to worry about, is very unpleasant!

17 more HSTs made, plus their trimmings.  Trimming is quite tedious, but necessary.

Block number three in the Canadian mystery quilt, Alberta, is stuck down.

Last night the final stitch was taken on this panel, four tumblers deep by 35 (plus half-tumblers for the ends) wide.  There are another five of these to go.

It measures 75 inches long - I'm nowhere near that tall! - so had to be photographed in two sections.

My method to keep the rows in the order I want, is to write numbers with a fine marker on small pieces of scrap fabric and safety pin then to the left-hand edge. 

Row 1 is at the bottom; they were spread out on the spare bed and it was easy to start numbering from the bottom first.  Those tags will stay in place until it's all together.  The blocks for one row are held together by a tacking stitch in the top corner, one at a time is slipped off and joined to the right hand side until the row is done.

You have no idea how good cutting the thread on that final stitch felt last night, this is quite a mammoth undertaking!  It has given me the courage to dig out the flower basket blocks and finish them, too; it seemed a bit too big a mouthful at the time.  

We don't celebrate Valentine's Day in this household, when I was a Sweet Young Thing (and still slender......sigh) all the hearts and flowers stuff hadn't yet been invented.  We do, however, celebrate Kevin's birthday which is on the same day, so we took ourselves off to a restaurant for an excellent lunch.  We were so stuffed that we couldn't eat another thing until breakfast on Friday morning.

"Dining should be ranked among the fine arts.  A knowledge of dinner-table etiquette is all important in many respects; but chiefly in this: that it is regarded as one of the strong tests of good breeding.  Dinners are generally looked upon as entertainments for married people and the middle aged, but it is often desirable to have some young unmarried persons among the guests."  

Perhaps lunch would at a restaurant could also be considered among the fine arts?  The youngest unmarried person we could see was a young baby whose mum was lunching with a group of women.

Enjoy your days!

In which we find a big spiky bum

The neighbourhood echidna has been visiting our front garden lately.

 Now you see it......

 .......and now you don't.

We don't know if it's a boy or a girl echidna, and weren't going to look either.  We're not silly.  When it thought that I and the camera had gone it would turn round, poke out its snout into the garden and burrow for ants, but as soon as I or the camera hove into sight again it flipped around and buried its head - so I'm very sorry, but the only shots I could get are of its aforementioned big spiky bum.

It's all go go go up here on the hill, folks.

Did you all have a nice Mother's Day weekend?  The day before, Saturday was my annual 29th birthday so we went for a drive to Armidale, an hour or so north, to a cat show.  Lots of lovely kitties, we could have brought several home with us......we told Bianca that if she doesn't behave, we will trade her in on a new model.  That night we also went out to dinner at a - actually, the - local French restaurant and had a wonderful meal; engraved on the portals of this house (and just about any other house I have lived in) are the words "The Mother Does Not Cook On Her Birthday".  Kevin gave me an unexpected birthday present, a beautiful brooch in a Celtic design of entwined birds made by a silversmith we know.  I have a few other pieces of his work......earrings, a pendant......and wear them often.

So now I am a year older.  I don't like getting older.  Don't give me that guff about it being better than the alternative either.  And don't say tritely "it's only a number" because the number is getting larger every year.  Scary large.  I am not liking the stuff that goes along with getting older such as health problems, and losing any claim I may once have had to a nice slender figure, and my once-gorgeous auburn hair going grey and colourless.

Sigh.

The green top has been started, so let's hope it fits!  The next quilting project will be to finish a charity quilt, and the next sewing project will be some new pyjamas from fabric in my stash.  A quilt show is held annually here in spring, and I have it in mind to finish a couple of projects for this year's.  The jumper (sweater) which was being knitted is all done, and is now being sewn together.

None of which will get done if I sit here on the computer, will it?

Tonight we will be attending a performance by the local Musical Society of "Company", a musical we haven't seen before and of which we don't know the plot, but if it up to the usual high standard of the local society - and it has a very high standard - we will enjoy it.  On another musical note (hah) some of us in the uke group played last Thursday for a local women's organisation, and the feedback was positive, they loved us and will probably ask us back.

"Deference to elderly people.
A young lady should show the same deference to an elderly lady that a gentleman does to a lady.  It may also be said that a young man should show proper deference to elderly gentlemen."

We can always hope, can't we?

Enjoy your days!

Maritime Beauty top done!

And I am very pleased with it too, my aim was to capture sea, sand, rocks and sky and I think this comes close.  Now to decide on quilting designs, and to select which blue fabric will be used for the binding.  If you go to Karen's blog you can see other colours used for her design in a class last weekend - they all look so different. 

My batik fabrics, with the exception of the pale gold and blue background behind the spikes which was a lucky local find, were all bought in Bib n' Tucker, Victoria, B.C., on our trip to Canada last year; a pack of brown and gold fabrics, and two Timeless Treasure charm packs called Blueberry Pie and Coco-Berry.  Thanks to my friend Lois (who doesn't have a blog) for taking me shopping, that store has an amazing selection of batik fabrics the like of which I have never seen before!

Many thanks to everyone for their birthday wishes over the fast couple of days, they are greatly appreciated!  I had a very nice day and a lovely dinner that night at a local restaurant.

Last Tuesday, 7th May, was the third anniversary of our moving into this house.....time has flown!  It's been a good move, and we really like it here.  Not long after we moved in, one of the neighbours told us that echidnas lived on the hill behind us, but we didn't see any.  Last year the neighbour on the other side, who had moved in only a week earlier, told us he had seen an echidna; we had been living here for two years then, but still hadn't seen one.  Then last month we finally did!.....and have seen it (there are probably more than one, but they all look alike) a few times since.  When we went to investigate it had its snout poked in the ground, Kevin gave it a gentle prod and it responded with a noise somewhere between a grunt and a grumble.  We took the hint, and left it in peace.

A week ago the ukulele group had a public performance, we played at the opening of an exhibition at the local Regional Gallery.  We even had an audience, people gathered round to listen and sang along with us, so we weren't just musical wallpaper!  They liked us so much we have been invited back.

During the week the return visit to the skin doctor happened, he decided that the spot on my back didn't need to be biopsied (I was spared having to take off my clothes again, thank goodness), but the one on my face did, my gosh - having an injection in one's cheek, just off the side of one's nose, is excruciating.  Brought tears to one's eyes, it did.  Now we are waiting for the result, if it's not a skin cancer then there is nothing to worry about, but if it is it will mean removal.  Which will mean another injection.......what with some recent blood tests as well, I have had enough of being spiked for quite a while.

"Other discolorations.
There are various discolorations of the skin, proceeding frequently from derangement of the system.  The cause should always be discovered before attempting a remedy; otherwise you may aggravate the complaint rather than cure it."

Does having a skin cancer which is slightly discoloured mean that one is deranged?  Probably explains a lot......

Enjoy your days!

Just so you can see.....

.......how far we can see from our front verandah, on a clear day.  Judging by the weather radar when it's raining and how far away the showers are, we estimate that those hills in the far distance would be somewhere between 20 and 30 kilometres away.  That's approximately 12 to 18 miles, but it could be further.  Last week's rainy day pic is what we can see during heavy rain........not much really, except a white mist over the top of Rose-the-neighbour's house with its green striped blinds.

My parents' house here had a lovely view across the town to the hills in the south-east, and when we were looking for a house to buy the requirement at the top of my list was "a view of hills"......and I have it, even though this is looking south-west-ish rather than south-east.  And as we live part-way up a hill there is more hill behind us, so lots of hills here.  That makes me happy, because I need hills in my life.

Did you all have a lovely Valentine's Day?  We took ourselves out to dinner and had a fabulous meal because 14th February is my husband's birthday - yes, he's a Valentine's Day baby.  But his name is not Valentine, it's Kevin.  There was once a Saint Kevin, it seems, and his feast day is 3rd June.  Perhaps we should celebrate then, too.  I always enjoy a meal I haven't had to cook.  Don't get me wrong, I don't mind cooking.......but after more than 40 years of being a domestic goddess in one form or another, the novelty has worn off.

You should all be proud of me, because this week I put up my hand to be newsletter editor for the craft group at our local craft centre.    It will be a bit of a learning curve, but after having a blog for a few years hopefully it won't be too difficult.  As I said at the meeting, I can do a good line in bull dust.  Except I didn't say dust.  I said the other word that starts with sh and ends with it.

According to this morning's local paper we are having the coolest mildest summer since records began, over 100 years ago.  Today is warmer than it has been for a couple of weeks, but it's still not as hot as last summer was.  There is a large deciduous tree which we drive past on our way into town - and during the week I noticed that it's changing into its autumn clothes!  So is the it's-either-Virgina-creeper-or-ornamental-grape growing on the wire fence of the local football ground, and so is the we-think-it's-an-apricot-tree in our backyard.  Perhaps it's because we are in for an early autumn - it's certainly not for lack of rain.  Considering we should still have at least 6-8 weeks of summer left, those leaves are changing quite early.

Today is a day for cutting out fabric, there are a couple of monthly block obligations to be done and there are more Bears Paw blocks being cut out.  There's no scheme in mind for them so far, it's just the fun of playing with lovely leafy prints and my favourite autumn colours.  When that's done, the skirt from the fabric shown in the last post will be cut out.  I don't know about the rest of you but I find cutting out very tedious, wonder why that is?  I start with good intentions then drift off into doing something else.......meanwhile the fabric is still sitting partly cut.......my neck, shoulders and upper back give me problems sometimes, standing with bent head for long periods of time does them no favours so I keep having breaks.  Like this present blogging and coffee break.  Then I don't always get back to cutting.  But I have promised myself that I will, because I want to make that skirt.

"Trifling with a lady.
A man should never make a declaration in a jesting manner.  It is most unfair to a lady.  He has no right to trifle with her feelings for mere sport, nor has he a right to hide his own meaning under the guise of a jest."

Something to ponder on for Valentine's Day next year while accompanied by beautiful red roses such as those in my blog header, cut in our garden one day last summer when their flowers were bowed down by rain.

Enjoy your days!