It isn't easy being green.....

.....having to spend each day the colour of the leaves......to quote Kermit the Frog.

Four border strips are being made, and the second piece from the top on the second strip from the right has - frogs!  Perhaps one of them is Kermit.  Pieces are cut three inches wide but different lengths as you can see, and they are not exclusively green; some have orange, purple, white, yellow....because gardens are never just one shade of green, are they?

Four more pairs are pinned ready to be sewn on my 1950 Singer Featherweight.  Each and every stitch on this quilt has been made on this machine, but the binding will have to be sewn on My Lovely New Bernina because the Featherweight doesn't have a walking foot.

 Pieces are being randomly picked from the mess on the sewing room table in no particular order as to length or colour, and two are joined; four of these sets are made.  Then a third piece is added to the four sets, then a fourth, so the four sets are four pieces long - but, of course, they are different lengths, because the pieces are selected at random.  However - the four strips hanging in front of the cupboard are almost exactly the same length, how about that!  There is only an inch difference between the shortest and longest strips.  The two side pieces need to be 79-1/2 inches long so there is a little way to go yet, and the top and bottom strips will be about five inches longer again.

That has been the highlight of my week.  How about everyone else?

Words have been read.  Stitches have been sewn by hand and by machine, and stitches have also been knitted because there were a couple of appointments.  Songs were sung, but I have been a bit lazy and not picked up uke or guitar because U3A groups are on holidays.  I decided that I would not continue as leader next year; sadly the response to trying more complex songs (rather than just songs with two or three easy chords) has been disappointingly underwhelming.  I would like to persist but have enough balls in the air at present, so that will be dropped.....but only that, and my friend will come here instead so we can play music together.  I plan to keep on with choir, and with my quilting group and sewing group, because I need those breaks from my duties as reluctant carer.

Yesterday afternoon we were out and about and I pointed out to Kevin that, as he knows that I dislike driving but am just trying to just get on with it to the best of my ability, a word or two of encouragement rather than criticism would go a long way.  All he said was "well, you're not driving as fast as you were".  Well - thank you for nothing.

My brain has pretty much adjusted to daylight saving.  The joy of being retired is not having to adhere to a strict morning timetable (although someone who shall be nameless has booked the car in for 8 a.m. next Friday, my gawd that's way heaps too early for me) but to ease into most days gradually.  I have said that if I have to be out and about at such an ungodly hour, I expect to have breakfast somewhere nice where I am seated and someone waits on me, to compensate for such an early start.  I am thinking eggs Benny might be suitable recompense.  Just.

When we retired we coped quite well with the change from two cars to one; Kevin had a car with his job so I used 'our' car.  However, going from two drivers to one has turned out to be much more challenging.  No more can he go to the fruit/vegie shop (which, by the way, sells very nice gelato) or take the car to its servicing, or take himself to his own appointments, leaving me at home in peace.  One benefit is, I suspect that we are now using less fuel than before because I refuse to go out for just one thing, whereas he used to go out at the drop of a hat.  Or a car key.

Now we can look forward to getting some bridal loot.

"Bridal presents.

When bridal presents are given, they are sent to the bride previous to the day of the marriage ceremony.  At the universal bridal present has fallen into disuse, this custom is not now considered obligatory, and if immediate friends and relatives desire to make presents, it should be spontaneous, and in no sense considered obligatory.  These presents are still put on exhibition as formerly, and are acknowledged by the bride in a private note to the donor.  It is not now, however, considered in good form to talk about these contributions."

Tamworth Historical Society has, in their museum, some of the wedding clothing worn by a woman who was married in the 1890s.  (Such tiny feets and narrow shoulders and teeny waists......)  The display also includes copies of pages from the local paper of the time describing the wedding - which includes a list of gifts, all laid out for anyone and everyone to read and compare.  Tactfully, the monetary amounts of cheques are not published, just the fact that 'Mr and Mrs So-and-So presented the bride and groom with a cheque'.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Quilted trees

Arboretum is back from its visit to Margaret quilter, and I couldn't be happier with it.

The quilting design shows more in the light blocks, as dark green thread was used.  The quilting pattern is, so Margaret tells me, called 'ebb tide' - but it evokes wind blowing through trees, to me.  The back is quilted with dark brown thread which blends so well with the fabric that it's difficult to photograph, so I didn't....but perhaps will when it's bound and finished.

Embroidery is continuing on the label, several lines have been done but there are still a few to go.  It's been my TV project for a few nights, however last night's program choice was so dreary that the TV stayed off and my book came out instead.  Goodness gracious, there is a lot of sport on free TV....far too much, for a non-sporty like me.  Kevin usually drops off to sleep so he doesn't notice if it's on or off anyway; watching through one's closed eyelids is a bit tricky.

Yesterday afternoon's choir concert went off very well, nice things were said to us and about us, and our audience seemed to really enjoy it.  Afternoon tea was excellent (much of it was provided by choir members) and was so generous that the organisers from the cancer charity plated up the leftovers and sold them off for the traditional 'gold coin donation' - i.e. a $1 or $2 coin per plate, each containing several pieces of something yummy.  I had some coins with me, so left a few behind and brought home a couple of plates of goodies.  My contribution was lemon squares, a recipe found many years ago on the web site of a now-closed quilt store in Ontario, Canada, which has become a favourite of ours.  

It tastes as good as it looks, too.

A phrase which has long puzzled newcomers to Australia is 'bring a plate'.  It is, of course, understood that the plate will contain a contribution to afternoon tea (or morning tea or lunch, depending on the time of day) but many a newcomer has turned up with an empty plate, expecting to have it filled!  At the last couple of Thursday rehearsals we were reminded "don't forget to bring a plate" to which some wag usually added "with something on it".  In days gone by it was usually "ladies bring a plate and gents bring a bottle".....which, back then, meant a bottle of beer.

Words have been read, songs have been sung.  Stitches have been sewn, but I don't think many were knitted as we had - for once - no appointments to attend.  We hunted and foraged, so we won't starve....although I have no idea what we are going to eat tonight.....no doubt something will come to my brain.  I just wish a food idea would come to Kevin's brain, for a change, but unfortunately there is little chance of that.

"The groomsmen's duties.

The groomsmen at the door of the reception room offer themselves as escorts to parties, who arrive slowly from the church, conducting them to the bridal party, and there presenting them by name.  This announcement becomes necessary when two families and two sets of friends are brought together for the first time.  If ladies are present without gentlemen, they accompany them to the breakfast or refreshment room, or provide them with attendants."

For many years a wedding reception was known as a 'wedding breakfast', because weddings often took place in the early morning.  Breakfast was then served before the happy couple set off on their wedding journey, with many daylight hours for travelling.  Even when most weddings moved to the afternoon, the wedding meal continued to be known as 'the wedding breakfast'.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

It's not ~quite~ warm here today

It is far from being freezing cold, it's quite nice when the sun peeks out from the clouds....but then it goes into hiding again and it gets cooler for a while.....still, July is the coldest month and we aren't even halfway through.

Never mind; it won't be long and we will be complaining about the heat again.....

Some diamond trios have been joined into strips.

Three strips, two of five trios and one of four, seams not yet pressed (which won't get done until I know which way they have to lie) but enough for a preview of the finished product.  The maths have been worked out; there need to be 11 strips of four trios and all the rest, however many that is, will be joined into strips of five.  First and every other row is 20 across, rows in between have 19, and the holes along all the sides will be filled with partial blocks continuing the pattern.  It's very therapeutic sewing, something much needed at present.

These days there are many phone calls to be made and some forms to be filled in on Kevin's behalf.  I have never liked filling in forms for any purpose....it makes me feel like I'm back at school doing a test, something I always dreaded, and I freeze up.  Ditto on the phone calls.  No good asking Kevin to make them, he gets confoozalated and difficult to understand, so it falls to me.  I find it quite stressful and I'm sure he has no idea that I do, because I can't seem to make him comprehend.  Come to that we don't really have many conversations about anything much, any more.

On to happier Stuff.

The choir has been practising for our winter concert to be held next Saturday afternoon, with proceeds going to a charity which supports cancer sufferers.  A few years ago our director Bill announced that we would no longer do concerts, and there was quite a bit of mumbling about that; just going along each week to sing is one thing but practising for a performance really gives us incentive to strive to do better, so we were all pleased when he eventually decided that yes, we would still perform after all.

Stitches have been sewn and knitted.  The label for Arboretum has been printed and traced onto fabric, a floss colour has been chosen (a warm brown DMC colour, a favourite for labels) and the non-woven interfacing has to be ironed onto the back before stitching can start.  It will take but a moment to do - the trouble is finding the moment!

Songs have been sung but not plinked this week as I've been too busy to pick up an instrument, and I miss it.

The new white kettle works very well.  The pretty green one would have worked equally well too, but would it make my coffee and Kevin's tea taste any better?  Well, that's the question, isn't it.....

Our musician friend has already booked his bed with us for next January's music festival, and we are looking forward to spending time with him again.  He, too, will be able to try out the new white kettle.  I'm sure he will be impressed.

Many folk during the past week have had phone problems, myself included.  I could send and receive text messages but couldn't make or receive calls.  That was somewhat of a nuisance so I had resigned myself to some time spent getting frustrated in the telecommunications shop trying to make young folk understand, but this morning I had a brainwave.  I turned the phone completely off then charged it fully.  Turned it back on, tried ringing Kevin's number - it worked, yay!  Tried ringing my phone from his and once again, it worked.  Fingers crossed that it stays working.

We are still finding out about the latest ceremonials.

"While the bride and bridegroom are passing out of the church, the bridesmaids follow slowly, each upon the arms of the groomsman, and they afterward hasten on as speedily as possible to welcome the bride at her own door, and to arrange themselves about the bride and groom in the reception room, half of the ladies on her side and half upon his - the first bridesmaid retaining the place of honour."

How many bridesmaids and groomsmen were in a wedding party, one wonders?  Sounds like rather a lot.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Midwinter sunshine

Today is the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year...and the longest night.  The sun is shining brightly, but the warmth isn't ~quite~ there.  It's definitely not the day to be prancing around in shorts and bare feet, that's for sure.

This is today's view looking over the back gate.

Not so long ago there was no lush green grass, everything was dead and brown....but we have had good rain in recent weeks, and this is the result.

Looking to the left below we can see one of the cows from the other side of the hill, who roam freely from time to time.

Lots of lovely shades of green!

During World War II all this land was occupied by the Australian Army, and many soldiers spent time in camp here - my father included.  When I was a child, some of the old wooden huts which had been used to house soldiers were still in use as social housing; there was a great shortage of houses for all those returning servicemen (in those days they were nearly all men) and their young families.  In the early days of their marriage my parents lived with my maternal grandparents, certainly until after I was born....and, I think, until my brother was born just 13 months later.

When we decided to buy this house I had forgotten all about that connection, it only came to mind when I was looking at the photographic history of the town on my bookshelf.

How has everyone been this week?  We have been drifting along; the backing pieces for Arboretum have not yet been joined, but that's on the list.  Stitches have been sewn and knitted.  Words have been read, many words (probably the reason why those backing pieces haven't been joined, if truth be known).  Songs have been sung and plinked.  My troublesome foot spent time with a physio but is feeling better every time it goes, so we are spreading the appointments further and further apart.  We hunted, foraged and gathered.

Much time has been spent on the phone trying to make the appointments that Kevin needs.  It's frustrating to be left on hold until a call drops out - especially as the hold 'music' is not something to which I voluntarily listen - or being told, "no, we're not the people he needs to see, you need to talk to so-and-so else".  No doubt there will much more time in future spent in the same manner, time in which I could be sewing, or knitting, or reading.  

Many years ago I spent six months working in the city - the heart of the Big Smoke - I was the telephonist, and one day had occasion to hear their 'on hold' music.  Much to my surprise it wasn't the latest hits, or even a spiel for the company (which supplied legal stationery and software), it was music of the Baroque era, early to mid 1700s, which is music I really like.  When I mentioned it to one of my colleagues he said that studies had shown that, when people have to spend time on hold, the music which puts them in the best frame of mind is Baroque music - who knew that?  Not me!

All I can say is, it doesn't happen these days......

Continuing on with our bridesmaids-less wedding.

"The bride leaves the altar, taking the bridegroom's right arm, and they pass down the aisle without looking to the right or left.  It is considered very bad form to recognize acquaintances by bows and smiles while in church.

The bride and bridegroom drive away in their own carriage, the rest following in their carriages."

These days it is smiles all around as the happy couple leave the church.....and oh, how perfectly spiffing it would be to have one's own carriage.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Only twelve months to go

My performance this afternoon went well considering I was feeling slightly less than fabulous, thanks to the hay fever which has turned out to be the gift that keeps on giving.  Never mind; I made it through both a poem and a song without disgracing myself, and had fun.

Now to think of next year's pieces....there is still twelve months, that should be enough time to decide....

Not much has happened on the sewing front so there are no pics to share, but let's see what's lurking in the photo vault.

Oh my, here's an oldie!  The doll is one I have had since childhood, a hard plastic doll with "Patsy" moulded onto the back of her neck - so, of course, she is called Patsy.

The little bed was bought from a now-defunct chain which sold all manner of  'decorator' items.  They sold a line of dressed dolls (nothing like Patsy, though, she is much older) and this little metal bed fitted her nicely.

This was one of the first quilts I made, machine pieced but - gasp - hand quilted!

I don't usually go for the pink and blue colour scheme but, as Patsy is a 1950s doll, she needed a colour scheme from that era.

Sadly I had no daughters, and no granddaughters.  I have a couple of other dolls, so perhaps I'll just sell them or even give them away.  Do children even play with dolls these days?  I used to enjoy making clothes for mine, rather than playing "mummy" with them.

How has everyone been this week?  We have had a fairly quiet week; words have been read, stitches have been sewn but not knitted.  The coming week, though, sees various appointments for both of us so knitting is a good way to spend waiting time, particularly as I now have to go along with Kevin to his various appointments.  Songs were sung (croaked would perhaps be a better word) and played.  We hunted and we foraged.

Fortunately next week doesn't look like being so busy, so a trip to a town an hour away for Arboretum's backing fabric is on the cards.

Best of all, we have had a lot of rain!  Not enough to break the drought which some say is already upon us, but good rain nevertheless.  It's amazing how little rain it takes for gardens and grass to suddenly look healthy and green, instead of dry and brown.  It's been chilly enough that the fire has, at times, been welcome, in fact there is one burning as we speak.

"Costumes of the bridegroom and groomsman.

The bridegroom and groomsman, at a morning wedding, wear full morning dress, dark blue or black frock coats, or cut-aways, light neckties, and light trousers.  The bridegroom wears white gloves.  The groomsmen wear gloves of some delicate colour."

Just as I chose not to wear a traditional white wedding dress, Kevin chose not to dress formally for our wedding.  His shirt was gold-coloured and he wore brown trousers....well, it was the 1970s, the decade of brown, brown and more brown.  His necktie and gloves were non-existent.

We were both happy with that.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

A bit of a "ta-da" moment

Arboretum is now a finished top.

It was a bit too big for my regular holder-upper's help, so yesterday it came along to quilt group with me where some obliging arms helped hold it.  It was even a bit large for those arms, but never mind.  It's done.....and I am thrilled with it!

Now to join some wadding pieces together, and go shopping for backing fabric, and have it quilted.  And of course, not to forget to make a label.

The thought has even occurred to me that four more trees could be made and turned into a seasonal hanging....now, that would be fun.....

How has everyone been?  The Hay Fever from Hades is (mostly) moving back to from whence it came, thank goodness, although every now and then it makes an unwelcome return to tap me on the shoulder as a reminder of its presence.  We had some rain earlier in the week and more is forecast for the coming week, so perhaps that will wash away some dust.  The hill behind us was dry, dead and brown, but now it has a little coating of green.

Words have been read.  Stitches have been sewn, but not knitted.  Much practicing of next Sunday's poem and song competition pieces have been taking place, and those errant chords are now firmly fixed in my brain along with the words; a little fine tuning, and it will be even better.  I made it to choir on Thursday afternoon after two weeks' absence and managed most of the notes, although there were a few which defeated me.  We hunted and foraged, our regular social activity - there's usually someone we know to chat to as we wend our way around the shops, so it's quite a sociable pastime for a couple of Olde Phartes.

There are still trees with autumn colour, but those leaves are rapidly dropping; a tree not far from our place will soon have bare branches as its glorious red/bronze leaves will be a thing of the past - but also of the future, because next year it will happen all over again. 

"The bridal costume.

The most approved bridal costume for young brides is of white silk, high corsage, a long wide veil of white tulle, reaching to the feet, and a wreath of maiden-blush roses with orange blossoms.  The roses she can continue to wear, but the orange blossoms are only suitable for the ceremony."  

I am assuming that the maiden-blush roses are artificial, as real roses could be used for one occasion only.  The "white wedding dress" with its accompaniments is a relative modern idea, started by Queen Victoria back in 1840; before then a wedding dress was not necessarily new (a bride would probably wear her best dress, no matter what the colour) or even white.  A white dress was not a practical idea in those days before modern washing machines, so only wealthy families could afford such an unsuitable dress for a daughter's wedding.  The 'virginal purity' symbolism of a white dress is, likewise, not such a very old idea either, just something which has become attached to the colour white over the years.

Besides which, white doesn't suit everyone, does it?

When Kevin and I married, my dress was a very 1970s long floral dress with a deep double frill around the hem, much in style for the time.  It was certainly not white.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Some days....

....I swear some of the rubber bands holding my brain together just snap....

Yesterday afternoon quilting was started on the Canadian table centre.  When this pattern was made several years ago the quilting was a few parallel rows of stitching inside the borders; the first row was 1/4 in inside the border then another row 1/2 in inside that row.  A gap of a couple of inches then two more rows half an inch apart finished the quilting for the centre section.  It was easy and looked good, so the idea was to quilt the Canadian centre the same way.

Fast forward to yesterday afternoon:  first the bobbin thread ran out - my own fault for not checking before I started, that was the first rubber band snapping.  The bobbin was filled so off we went again; the first row was stitched 1/4 in inside the border with no problems, then the second row started 1/2 in inside that.  Somehow, though, when the first corner was turned the second row became 1/4 in inside the first instead of 1/2 in, and that was kept up until the last corner was turned.  When it was realised that those two rows of stitching were not going to line up the decision had to be made - lots of unpicking to sew the second line 1/2 inch away from the first, or a very small amount to continue with 1/4 inch away.  Not much choice, really.....

So the first two rows are now 1/4 inch apart, and will stay that way.

Subsequent lines will be stitched 1/4 in apart, to finish off quilting the centre.  The borders will be quilted in the ditch (not my favourite method of finishing a project, but all that this simple design needs) and it will be bound in a red maple leaf print.

This pic was taken at Mount Tomah Botanic Garden the same day as last week's waratah pics, this is how they grow in the wild.

A flowering waratah bush is quite a sight.  Sadly they don't grow around here as the soil is wrong - they grow on sandy ridges, something we don't have - and being in a valley, our summers are too hot.

How has everyone been?  Fortunately it has cooled here - not a lot, but still better than the extreme heat of late January - a little rain fell last weekend, with more forecast tomorrow.  Just in time, because the garden is getting crispy from the heat.  I had plans earlier in the week but a severe (fortunately only occasional, and not usually this bad) flare up of bursitis and sciatica laid me low for several days.  Never mind; all is much better, I can move again without agonising pain on every step, and my energy is back.

Words have been read, many words, because when one is feeling poorly and in severe pain one finds it difficult to be energetic so sitting in one's supportive chair reading is a good way to pass the time.  Stitches have been knitted, stitches have been sewn, more diamonds have been cut for my tumbling blocks quilt; the design requires 449 hexagons, each made of three diamonds, which by my calculations makes 1347 diamonds in total.  There are three bags each containing 100 completed hexagons, and that fourth hundred is also proceeding nicely.  We hunted and foraged.  That was the week, that was.

Monday afternoon ukulele is back, yay!  We seem to have lost a couple of people but have gained two newies who want to progress beyond easy chords, so that's good.  Choir also started back last Thursday afternoon, so my musical life has resumed once more.  It is very much missed when in recess.

While out and about recently we have become aware that several trees seem to be preparing for their autumn change, something I have noticed happens here in late summer.  Either that, or they are just stressed by the heat the same as humans are.  First the green leaves lose some of their brightness then they begin to look washed-out and faded, even though it's still a couple of months until autumn.  I don't remember seeing these changes when we lived in the Big Smoke, but then the climate is very different down there; autumn passed by in a flash, winter likewise, and before we knew it it was back to summer's never-ending humidity.

The winter sports carnival is on again overseas.  I am not, and never have been, one for sport; at school I managed to get out of most sporting activities, not that it was a difficult decision to do so.  In those days it was all about winning rather than taking part - I suspect it still is - and as I was never going to be a world-beater in any physical activity I had no interest in it at all.  Didn't then, don't now.  For many years my chosen activity was dancing, international dance - Irish and Scottish, dances from Australia's past, just about any form of social (as opposed to theatrical) dance, and great fun it was too, but sadly that twice-broken foot means that my dancing days are done.

Sigh.....

"The position of an engaged woman.

An engaged woman should eschew all flirtations, though it does not follow that she is to cut herself off from all association with the other sex because she has chosen her future husband.  She may still have friends and acquaintances, but she must try to conduct herself in such a manner as to give no offence."

This is so.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

My halo is all polished and shiny!

The top which has been languishing in my sewing room for far too long is done, and you can probably see the gleam of my halo from wherever you are right now.  Big pat on the back for me!

The decision has been made on the backing for my table centre.

My stash includes some of the scattered cream maple leaves on red which was my original thought, but then the red leaves on cream came to the fore, jumped up and down and said "what about me?"  So, that's what it will be; a strip will be cut, the printed stripe will be sliced down the middle and the lighter strip inserted, then it can be layered and quilted.  I am even thinking of turning one of the two striped pieces to face the other direction so that the stripes don't have to match across the inserted strip.  Binding still to be decided, but possibly might be red.

The original plan was to have it done for show and tell at quilt group next Saturday but that probably may not happen, as there are concerts to be attended, and music to be played, and musical friends to be seen.  Never mind; if it's not done for next weekend it will do nicely for February's meeting.

Our annual challenge for this year is to finish a UFO - now, which one shall I choose, I wonder?  Decisions, decisions....the idea is that we take it along next Saturday where it will be duly photographed and recorded, then we flash the finished quilt around at the final meeting of the year.  I am thinking that my house quilt will be Just The Very Thing, as I am determined to finish it this year anyway.

Our musical friends arrived yesterday, and we have spent some time catching up over a cuppa and a piece of fruit slice.  We spent money - a whole $10 (!) and bought an official program, something I don't usually bother doing, but finding out what's on and who is where is much easier that way.  Feedback from our friend's time spent strolling the main drag yesterday afternoon checking out the many buskers was - don't bother.  It was far too loud for comfort, he said.  My ears thank him for his research on our behalf, so we will keep away.  Buskers have always been a major part of the festival and are spaced close enough that, if one player turns up their sound to be heard over a player nearby, everyone else around them turns up theirs too....and so it goes on.....

Fortunately, too, the weather is kinder than usual.  Some rain during the week and again early this morning has cooled temperatures down to make getting out and about much more pleasant than usual, too.  Higher temps aren't supposed to arrive until much later in the week, and even then not as hot as most years have been.  Those folk camping in their tents may have been somewhat nervous during this morning's thunder, though.

My doctor visit during the week was supposed to be for one thing but I ended up being called in by the nurse first....our records show that you are due for two immunisations, she said....I expressed some slight scepticism (not fond of injections, me) and she pointed out that the five yearly pneumonia vaccination was one, so I reluctantly said oh all right, go for it.....and she did.....not kindly, either.  So roughly, in fact, that I pulled away and apparently ended up with only half a dose and a scratch wound on my upper arm.  I have dealt with her in the past too, and she isn't as gentle as other nurses at the practice; she has a way of making a question sound like an accusation.

Another grumble:  the annual package of goodies for our son and his partner way over there in Canada was packed and wrapped using copious quantities of tape, taken to the post office, the customs form was filled in and taken to the counter.  Oh no, said the post office woman, you haven't put the weight of each individual package on the customs label....it's apparently a new thing, it used to be just the total weight of the whole parcel....so now it has to be taken apart, some items weighed because they don't have the weight printed on them and the label re-written (I was so annoyed that I tore it in half) and taken back to the post office to go through the whole procedure again.  Sigh.....

Words have been read.  Stitches have been sewn and knitted, the second sleeve on my jumper is coming along well and is an ideal project to pass the time while waiting at appointments.  Songs have been plinked and sung.  We hunted and foraged, and visited the post office - see above - and that's another week gone.

"The rejected suitor.

The duty of the rejected suitor is quite clear.  Etiquette demands that he shall accept the lady's decision as final and retire from the field.  He has no right to demand the reason of her refusal.  If she assign it, he is bound to respect her secret, if it is one, and to hold it inviolable.  To persist in urging his suit or to follow up the lady with marked attentions would be in the worst possible taste.  The proper course is to withdraw, as much as possible, from the circles in which she moves, so that she may be spared reminiscences which cannot be otherwise than painful."

We don't want our rejected suitor to be tasteless, that's for sure.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Welcome to 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Perhaps that's just me.....

"Unladylike conduct toward a suitor.

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

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

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

97......98......99!

Done done done!!!

97 is bright orange, purple and green, a very cheerful tree....

98 is another Aussie print, pale creamy yellow eucalypt blossoms with an interesting contrast....

....and 99, last last lucky last, is blue and green.

Here they are together, in all their glory.

What a great feeling it is to have those trees finished!  Now they can be laid out, and shuffled around, and shuffled again....and again....and, eventually, sewn together to make a top.

To show you that eucalypt blossoms come in many colours, here is a scrumptious orange one I photographed several years ago.

A large department store in the Big Smoke has an annual spring display of flowers which I kept meaning to visit but never did, something always seemed to intervene - until the year before we moved away.  That year's display focussed on Aussie native plants and was very colourful indeed; I had only ever seen this variety in photos until I saw it featured in that display.  The foliage is more grey than green (eucalypt foliage often has a grey tinge) which sets off the bright blossoms very well.

It's been stormy again, and we even had a blackout early in the week; not the wibby little 90-second blackout of last weekend but one which lasted four hours almost to the minute, from 4.30 until 8.30 p.m.  At first it wasn't a problem, we were able to grill our sausages on the BBQ outside so we didn't starve but as daylight faded some candles were lit, torches were placed where they could easily be reached, and we settled in to read by the light on our tablets; fortunately we both had books downloaded, because with no internet that couldn't be done either.  It was with great relief that we greeted the resumption of power once more before our batteries ran down too far.

Never a dull moment here in the Small Smoke, folks....

Yesterday's choir concert went well, audience members said nice things to us and about us, and hopefully we raised a goodly amount of money for the charity that we support.  CanAssist gives people  practical assistance in covering transport costs, etc., and the best part is that money raised locally stays local.  Some years ago our musical director was diagnosed with cancer and almost before he could turn around and scratch himself (his words) he had been contacted by a member of the local committee who asked simply "what do you need?"  While he didn't need practical help the emotional support was gratefully received and, as several choir members are also on the fund raising committee, we like to support them with our music.

Apart from a blackout and a concert it's been a fairly normal week.  The odd appointment (some of them are a bit odd, but there you go), notes being plinked and sung, a stitch or two being knitted and sewn, the usual foraging and gathering, and so ended another seven days.

"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."

No indeed, that would be very cruel.  A trifle is not just something yummy to eat, it can also mean to play fast and loose with another's feelings.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Stormy trees

This week has lived up its reputation as being the time of years for storms......thunder, probably lightning too (I wasn't getting out of my warm bed to find out), and quite a bit of rain for which the garden is thankful.  The tree in our front garden is now missing several branches, too.

Never mind.  The trees in my sewing room are safe.

A blue-grey print of eucalyptus buds and blossoms, with a bright contrast.  Eucalyptus flowers come in many colours, even this bright pink/red.

A gold tree, just because I like the colour.

Two contrasting trees this week, taking the total up to - 94!  Five more to go.

Gold trees really do exist - taken in Bayfield, Canada, on an overcast autumn day.

This is the pink apron which is no longer in our house.  Melissa likes it, and it suits her vintage style.

The cross stitch design would have been easy, and quick to work up with just three colours, pink, green and deep dark blue; the trim on the pocket is nylon lace.  It is pretty but being pink it's just not "me", so it has gone to a more appreciative home.

A visitor has been lured back by the recent rain and storms.  Monsieur le Frog is back in the drainpipe and the garden croaking his little heart out, as he lives in hope of finding an inamorata with whom to share his life.  He was fairly quiet during the storm last night and this morning, though, so perhaps he has already found a nice Mademoiselle la Frogette to warm his clammy bed at night.....or perhaps he wants more than one, as he's just started croaking again.

You might be familiar with at least one version of the song 'Frog went a-courting', but did you know that the first printed version was published in Scotland in 1549?  That's getting on for nearly 500 years ago; it may have been sung for many years before that, but without printed proof we don't know.  Nevertheless it's a much older song than many people realise, and you could spend much time researching it should you wish.  Or you could take my word for it.

How has everyone been this week?  We've been busy here; stitches have been sewn, but not many knitted.  Words have been read.  Songs have been plinked and sung.  Another visit to the physio for some ongoing treatment for my troublesome right foot....it's been broken twice in recent years, has a bunion and now is suffering from plantar fasciitis which is not much fun, but the physio is helping so I will keep going.  At least all the problems are in one foot - the other foot is amazingly fine.  A veritable princess of a foot, one which deserves its own tiara.

Something about the rain has brought out the somewhat *rural* aroma emanating from the hill behind us, thanks to the herd of cattle which roam freely.  We wouldn't mind if they buggered off to from whence they came and stayed there, taking their smelly deposits with them.

Our hopeful suitor is still waiting.

"No lady worthy of any gentleman's regard will say "no" twice to a suit which she intends ultimately to receive with favor.  A lady should be allowed all the time she requires before making up her mind; and if the gentleman grows impatient at the delay, he is always at liberty to insist on an immediate answer and abide by the consequences of his impatience."

I wonder if that also applies to green tree frogs?

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Double prosperity trees

In China the number 8 is believed to bring prosperity.  Its pronunciation "ba" in Mandarin sounds similar to "fa" - which means "to make fortune" - so this week's trees must be very lucky.

Number 87, a tree in a landscape....

....and number 88, the luckiest one of all, which I quite like.

These are made from fabric bought earlier this month, while the contrasts are from fabrics which were used for trees some time ago.

Only 11 trees to go, so just five more weeks.

A house with the street number "8" or even "6" is also regarded as lucky, and many Chinese buyers will accept or reject a house if the number is not considered to be fortunate.  Our house number here is "68", but we haven't struck it rich yet!  "4" is considered to quite unlucky so if you are trying to sell a house numbered "4" - or even worse, "44" - it might take a while to unload it.

On Wednesday 22nd October it was International Wombat Day.  How the world can have a day to celebrate an animal which is found wild only in Australia I don't know, although there are wombats in zoos all over the world.  Nevertheless, it is the day for the wombats so here are a few from my collection, gifts from our son in Canberra.

I love the coasters featuring illustrations from a calendar in my sewing room, also a gift from our Canberra son.  Even though it's from two years ago the picture is still changed monthly because they are such fun.  They are the work of Lenny Pelling, whose humorous illustrations make me smile - but the affection she has for all those wild creatures certainly comes through.  I was lucky enough to meet her on one of our Canberra trips, and to let her know how much I enjoy her work.

How has everyone been this week?  We hunted, foraged and gathered, so we can eat.  Words have been read, stitches have been sewn and knitted.  Fabrics have been cut for more diamonds....that new rotary cutter blade is wonderful....songs have been plinked and sung.

The Monday ukulele group is quite small, just a few compared to the much larger Thursday group, but I don't mind.  Last week we tried some new-to-us songs and no one complained, in fact they seemed to enjoy the challenge - which is such a nice change from previous reactions.  The U3A annual end of year/Christmas lunch clashes with that of my sewing guild lunch, which I will be going to; if there is to be a musical performance at the U3A lunch they will have to manage without me, but that's all right.  There are only so many weeks in a year, after all, and they compress into a small time frame as the year draws down....so there will always be clashes.

During the week we had a preview of the coming summer, and quite unpleasant it was too.  It is currently windy, and we are even getting a few drops of rain, before we have a quick return to winter (!) in a couple of days, then we go back to spring....hopefully for longer this time, before summer arrives once more.

These days 'to press a suit' means getting out the iron, but back in 1885 it meant 'to become a suitor' - as in, to have matrimony in mind.

"Do not press an unwelcome suit.

A gentleman should evince a sincere and unselfish affection for his beloved, and he will show as well as feel that her happiness must be considered before his own.  Consequently he should not press an welcome suit upon a young lady.  If she has no affection for him, and does not conceive it possible even to entertain any, it is cruel to urge her to give her person without her love.  Th eager love may believe, for the time being, that such possession would satisfy him, but the day will surely come when he will reproach his wife that she had no love for him, and he will possibly make that an excuse for all manner of unkindness."

Well, yes.  All of that.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Have you ever heard of a Jumble Berry tree?

They must exist because earlier this year I bought a jar of Jumble Berry jam - a mix of blackberries, raspberries and strawberries - in our travels, and very nice it is too.  One of this week's trees could, therefore, be a Jumble Berry tree.

A blue fabric which was used in Summertime Blues, with a contrast of even more fruit - it is printed with olive fruits and leaves, so this must indeed be a very fruity tree.

The final fabric from the Big Basket, a warm brown which puts me in mind of oak leaves in autumn.  The contrast was used to make the first tree in the Arboretum, several months ago.

Numbers 85 and 86.  All trees from now will be made from newly purchased fabric; unfortunately some of the older batiks turned out to be unusable due to colour run damage from the flood several years ago, so the recently bought fabrics will make up for them.

Only 13 to go which is six more weeks of trees; the last week will see three trees made instead of the usual two.

How has everyone been this week?  It's been a fairly musical week here; yesterday the U3A ukulele group played for the local branch of Legacy and nice things were said to us and about us and about our choice of songs.  It is never easy to play outside, especially on what turned out to be a fairly warm day, but we managed.  We played on a low stage which fortunately had a roof over us to keep the sun directly off, but the sports ground where the day was held had absolutely no shade at that time of day.  Never mind; we performed, and we eventually recovered.

I really don't like playing outside, you know......remind me of that before I ever say that I will do it again......

Earlier in the week the U3A sign-on day was held, a day at the start of each term where members can put their names down for any of the courses or activities which interest them.  As I have done in the past I took along one of my ukes just for background music, something people have enjoyed in the past, and ended up giving a surprise impromptu concert for a visiting group of residents from a nursing home!

The new Monday group starts tomorrow.  I am planning to get away from the easy songs which the Thursday group love so much, and branch out into more interesting music; a few of us want to, so we will.  As group leader (which is my title) it gets frustrating when, on trying to bring more complex songs and music into the mix, one hears "oh, I can't do that....it's too hard....my fingers hurt...I can't play that chord....." so to have people who are enthusiastic about 'new and different' is a refreshing change.

Words have been read.  Stitches have been sewn and knitted.  Blades on both my rotary cutters were changed - why was it put off for so long?  Cutting fabric now is like slicing butter with a hot knife, it's effortless, so the inner borders for the house quilt are cut.  Songs were, of course, played and sung....and choir was back!  Yippee!!  Our poor leader has been struggling with a bad respiratory infection for a few weeks so couldn't sing (he could barely talk) but the rest of us made up for him.  We foraged and hunted to avert starvation, so that was about the week that was.

Now, let us think of matrimony.

"Proposals of marriage.

Roles 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 to be used, there can be no set formula; each proposer must be governed by his own ideas and sense of propriety in the matter."

A man with a sense of propriety is a Good Thing.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Finally....unstressed trees!

Things are proceeding well on the injured hand.  It can now be left uncovered to enjoy the fresh air, and is enjoying its freedom - as is its owner, and as am I.

Consequently the stress has pretty much disappeared, so this week's trees are stress-free.

First, a lime tree with what could be berries.....

....I'm not sure if one can grow blue, red and purple berries on one tree, but this tree does.

This puts me in mind of a creeper growing against a rusty metal fence, so perhaps it's not ~quite~ a tree.

Although I still like it.

Numbers 79 and 80, how good is that?  Only 19 to go; at two a week, and three in the last week, that makes nine weeks' worth of trees left.

This fabric will be used for binding.  It was bought on our last trip to Canada and is from the same range as the border fabric on my Canadian quilt.  It was made in red and black (the border fabric is red and black), red and red (which I liked, but the black/red contrast appealed more for the border), blue and black, and gold and black.  As it was well into autumn by then, the gold had to come home with me.

I couldn't remember how much had been purchased - turned out to be half a metre, more than enough for binding.  Decisions still need to be made on backing, but as there also need to be more fabrics bought - eight or nine or so, not many - an eye can be run over the batik choices in the local quilt shop.  If she doesn't have anything which appeals to me, there is another shop in a town an hour north.

Today is an early taste of summer warmth.  The bluebells (which we didn't plant) have joined with the snowdrops (which we also didn't plant) flowering in the back yard, and their (mostly) annual flowering is a delight.  The huge port wine magnolia in the front yard is flowering this year because we have had good rain; it doesn't flower at all in dry years, and the flowers are fairly undistinguished anyway, but oh - their scent is wonderful.

How has everyone been this week?  We spent time at the medical centre having Kevin's hand checked - thank goodness those visits have now ceased, although I achieved quite a lot of waiting-time knitting - and we managed the usual hunting and foraging.  Words were read, stitches were sewn and knitted.  Sighs of relief have been heaved at the thought of no more medical Stuff for some time.  

Songs were plinked and sung, and my tenure as leader of the Thursday U3A ukulele is now over.  In a few weeks I will taking up my new position as leader of the new Monday group instead, and best of all....next Thursday I can go back to choir after having to miss two long months, something I am really looking forward to.

We are, I hope, nearing the last of the annual footy season, although these days it seems to go on for most of the year.  Time was when cricket was the main summer sport, and various styles of footy were played in the cooler months, but not so much now.  I find myself wishing that they would disappear from our screens forever, I don't watch them; boofy blokes kicking/throwing/hitting a ball around doesn't appeal to me in the slightest.  Kevin is welcome to watch with the sound turned off, as we can't stand the commentary either.  As for motor racing....well, you can see what's happening, you don't need the screaming of the cars, the spectators and the commentators, do you?

We find ourselves turning the TV off more than it's on.  We don't do streaming as we can't see the point in paying for things we wouldn't watch; both of us grew up in the era before television took over everyone's lives, so we don't mind just having music instead.  Let's face it, when one considers the dross available on the screen these days, it's no great loss.

"Another condition of domestic happiness is intellectual sympathy.  Man requires a woman who can make his home a place of rest for him, and woman requires a man of domestic tastes.  While a woman who seeks to find happiness in a married life will never consent to be wedded to an idler or a pleasure-seeker, so a man of intelligence will wed none but a woman of intelligence and good sense.  Neither beauty, physical characteristics nor other external qualifications will compensate for the absence of intellectual thought and clear and quick comprehensions.  An absurd idea is held by some that intelligence and domestic virtues cannot go together; that an intellectual woman will never be content to stay at home to look after the interests of her household and children.  A more unreasonable idea has never been suggested, for as the intellect is strengthened and cultured, it has a greater capacity of affection, of domesticity and of self-sacrifice for others."

Times have changed, haven't they?

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer