It's well and truly autumn now

Leaves are changing, days are getting cooler, nights are getting much colder now.....down to single figures most nights.....and colours are getting more glorious.  This pic was taken last year in Bathurst, which gets colder than here so has quite impressive autumn colours.

This weekend a visiting tutor is giving a quilt workshop, and my fabrics are cut out ready to go.  Just need to pack the machine, thread and other requirements, pics will follow when my new quilt top is complete....and it may come as a surprise, but the top will be autumn-toned.

Have been reading some rumblings and grumblings about the new blogger interface, and while I didn't ask for it I have no problems using it....but then my blogging is pretty basic, I haven't tried any of the fancy-nancy stuff that some bloggers do.  One of these days I might get enthusiastic and carried away, but not yet.  I know one's blog is one's blog, and you are not doing it for other people (although some do, I'm sure) but black backgrounds are too hard on the reader's eyes.  And blingy backgrounds that keep moving and shaking and have things like snowflakes or flowers or bees or butterflies continually falling down the screen are just as bad.  Perhaps it's my imagination, but nearly every art quilter's blog that I have come across has a black background.  It's a bit like choosing what clothes to wear or how to decorate one's house - while you want to be comfortable with your own choice, others have to live with it too.  End of rant, thank you for listening, returning you to your regular station now.

Yesterday I went looking in local shops for some long pants to wear in winter.  I wear jeans quite a bit but sometimes one needs something slightly more adult - but the choice was somewhat underwhelming, falling between pull-on pants with no waistband and pull-on pants with elastic all round, with smart office wear somewhere in the middle.  There are still a few shops I haven't tried (they are in the shopping mall on the other side of the river which some locals don't like to cross, much to our amusement) I am not holding out any great hopes that something suitable will be found.  Or even exist......left over from my working days are some grey pants which have a plain front band and elastic across the back; they were loose when first bought and now the elastic has lost its stretch so much that it would be a very brave person who put them on.  But that's easily replaced, so it looks as though I have myself a little sewing task.

Back in the days when I was young and slender I used to make pants, but now that the middle-aged barrel shape has set in getting a good fit when sewing for one's self is quite difficult.  Oh dear.  It's all downhill from 25........

During our recent time at the folk festival a couple of people remarked - nicely, much to my surprise - on my rapidly whitening hair.  It's been two years now since it had any colour put in, so of course it is becoming greyer.  While I don't miss the maintenance of regular visits to the hairdresser (or the expense), and there is still quite a lot of the original darker hair left, I do miss my auburn hair.  Having no colour round the face is very unflattering, especially if one's hair is not fluffy and one's skin tone doesn't suit white.

You can tell that getting older is not something I am enjoying.  The only good thing is, it's better than the alternative.

Yesterday we girded up our loins, pulled on our walking shoes, and trotted off with the walking group.  Everyone but us has bought a shirt in red and white with the appropriate logo in the appropriate place, but when one has lots of bright coloured tee shirts why not wear them?  Especially when one does not look at all good in white.  Wearing those dazzlingly glaring white shoes is enough for me.  It was really hard work yesterday too, for some reason I didn't feel quite 100%.  Perhaps 85%.  After walking for 45 minutes it was more like 53%.  Back up to 99% today.  Walking is supposed to be very good exercise but I don't enjoy it.....all I can think of after we finish is "that's an hour of my life I can never get back"......it's like taking nasty-tasting medicine, we know it's probably doing us good but that doesn't mean we have to like it.  Once a week is more than enough for me.

"The Promenade Dress.
The dress for the promenade should be in perfect harmony with itself.  All the colors worn should harmonize if they are not strictly identical.  The bonnet should not be of one colour, and parasol of another, the dress of a third and the gloves of a fourth.  Now should one article be new and another shabby.  The collars and cuffs should be of lace; the kid gloves should be selected to harmonize with the color of the dress, a perfect fit.  The jewellery worn should be bracelets, cuff-buttons, plain gold ear-rings, a watch-chain and brooch."

The good ladies of 1885 would no doubt be horrified if they could see what the walking group wears, wouldn't they?  But on the other hand, perhaps they would be envious - it's probably easier to stride out in current clothing than in the skirts, petticoats and corsets of those times.

Enjoy your days!

What a difference the right colour makes!

Several years ago these wombat quilt blocks were made for me by my "Secret Angel" Cathy in an internet swap - Cathy sent me one block each month, for the six months duration of the swap.  She even sent a label  for the back of the quilt, with the final block!  Full of enthusiasm I decided to use Attic Windows as the setting, and was quite pleased with them......until the outer border was added.

 The dandelion print didn't work, because it was too pale and pretty for the strong dark colours used in the blocks and sashings.  Every now and then I would take it out of the cupboard and ponder deeply on a solution, which always seemed to evade me......then one day I decided to remove the offending border, went shopping for fabric, and replaced it with a dark brown subtly striped fabric.

Now the quilt is darker than it was, but looks so much better.  The fabric bought for the backing is a grassy print in green and brown.....the right brown.  It will be quilted this year using a dark brown variegated cotton Aurifil thread, which is also the right brown.  The wombat design is from a book by Australian quilter Margaret Rolfe.

You know, I never thought I would make a brown quilt.  In the 70s I had my fill (and many other people's fill too) of brown.  But this quilt looks just right with its brown fabrics.  And after all brown is the colour of chocolate....and coffee......

The following paragraph is a post I wrote a few years ago - rather than link to it I will post it again.


Today Australia and New Zealand are celebrating, if that is the right word, ANZAC Day. It's the day when we remember the sacrifices of those who fought in wars for our country. My father was stationed in Papua New Guinea in WWII (as we found out a few years ago, he was in the War Graves unit) and never, never, ever spoke of his experiences - he was only 25YO when the war ended and it affected him profoundly. Consequently it affected all of us; my mother, my brothers and me. He was not a happy man, he was a distant, sometimes abusive, father who walked out one day and never contacted any of us ever again; we found out he had died many years after it happened. War doesn't only take people's lives....it takes away their souls too.

On a less gloomy note, our new neighbour saw an echidna just outside his back fence the other day!  We have been hear just on two years now and not seen one yet.  The neighbour on the other side has seen them too.  They are cute little animals....so long as one keeps one's distance, because those spines are sharp.

If those echidnas have any sense they will find somewhere out of the wind today, because it is quite cold.  Sunny with a bright blue sky, but a cold cold wind.  Yesterday we bought two new cat beds to put in front of the fire during winter; both cats have tried out both beds, and they have been given the kitty seal of approval.  We can see the beds being popular when the fire is alight, which to judge by today's wind won't be long.

"Chapped hands.
As cold weather is the usual cause of chapped hands, so the winter season brings with it a cure for them.  A thorough washing in snow and soap will cure the worst case of chapped hands, and leave them beautifully soft."

Somehow washing chapped hands in snow doesn't seem the right remedy....does it?  Winters here are not cold enough for snow, so I won't be able to put it to the test.

Enjoy your days!

It's good to go away but......

it's even better to come home.

We had a lovely time at the folk festival - catching up with friends some of whom we haven't seen since last year, hearing some great music, and on my part joining in some good singing sessions.  Some of the overseas performers we saw were 'Dry Bones' from Manitoba, Canada, and Riley Baugaus and Kurt Sutphin from North Carolina, as well as local performers.  There were other great performers from overseas and within Australia too.....deciding which ones to see was a difficult decision!  Some pics were taken, but they won't be shown because I don't have the permission of the people in the pics to do so.

We enjoyed spending time with our older son, and with friends who also live in Canberra.  One of my favourite coffee roasters has a shop not far from the festival, so of course a visit there was part of the trip and some beans have come home with us.

A town where we stopped overnight is Cowra - one of its attractions is the Japanese Garden.  It was late afternoon, so shadows were getting longer.

 As you can see, it's on a hill.

 I like the juxtaposition of imported exotic plants in the foreground, and native eucalypt trees beyond.  Most of the plantings were exotics, although some natives were used.

We don't know if the smoke was from burning off surplus growth, or if it was a bushfire.  It was a long way off, but we had extensive views from that hill.

Because it's now autumn I was hoping for some colour in the garden from the many imported trees - Australian trees as a rule aren't deciduous and don't change colour - but most of the plantings are evergreens, with lots of conifers shaped to represent rocks.  However, it was still very pretty.

Having house sitters was a great success.  We came home to a home-cooked lunch, a spotlessly clean house, a tidy garden, and two very relaxed cats.  Because it was our first time using the service we were a bit apprehensive, but such a good experience has given us confidence to do it again.  It was worth it to have Binky happy - last time we went away for two weeks and had the cats in a boarding cattery, it took her a further week to adjust to being back home.  In that week she was very stressed and unhappy.  As were we.

So now we can get on with planning the trip to Canada in October!

Yesterday was raining and rather cool, so we did something we hadn't done for a long time - we went to a movie; we saw "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" and really enjoyed it.  It's about a group of people from England who, after retirement, decide to move to India to live.  Because it's about older folks there are a few sad moments, but overall it's a really hopeful movie.......such a change to see a movie that doesn't depend on action and special effects, but one that has a realistic story about believable people.  And with no sex scenes.  Am I alone in thinking that sex scenes, which seem to have become more prevalent in movies, aren't really all that interesting to watch?  All that heavy breathing and slobbering in soft focus........some activities are not spectator sports, are they?

"Public mention of private matters.
Do not parade merely private matters before a public or mixed assembly or to acquaintances.  If strangers really wish to become informed about you or your affairs, they will find the means to gratify their curiosity without your advising them gratuitously.  Besides, personal and family affairs, no matter how interesting they may be to the parties immediately concerned, are generally of little moment to outsiders.  Still less will the well-bred person inquire into or narrate the private affairs of any other family or individual."

Don't you think that should apply to sex scenes in movies too?  We can only hope.......

Enjoy your days!

We're heading off again!

That's right.....day after tomorrow we are hitching up the caravan and heading off to Canberra, to visit our older son and to spend Easter weekend at the National Folk Festival.  We've been going for many years now and always enjoy it; due to a misunderstanding last year I ended up working many more volunteer hours than were required and was in two minds whether to volunteer again.  It felt as though I only had half a festival, but that won't happen this year.

So you won't hear from me for a couple of weeks, because although we will be taking our Lovely New Laptop Computer I won't be sitting around surfing the net when I could be singing, or playing music, or listening to a great concert, or having a drink with friends.

These pictures were taken about 18 months ago when we visited a beautiful garden about 40 minutes south of here.  The picture above was the view from the garden looking north (I think), and below is a corner of the garden.

Can you spot the little blue wren?  He (boys are blue, girls are brown) is much brighter than the forget-me-nots behind him.  Lately we have been visited by a family of wrens, one blue male and several brown birds......although they may not all be female, as it says here.  They are very sweet little birds.  It's difficult to imagine how tiny their little toe bones must be, isn't it?

Last Saturday night we attended the theatre, the local amateur society is performing "The Mousetrap" by Agatha Christie - it was very well done, and very entertaining!  However I can't tell you the ending or who the villain is, because at the conclusion of the performance one of the actors stepped forward and enlisted the audience in the conspiracy not to tell.  Apparently that has been done at every performance of the play's 60-year run.  Agatha Christie thought it would only run for a limited time so she gave the royalties to her grandson as a gift.....he has done very well from it.

For the first time ever we are having house sitters come in to look after the house and the cats; poor old Binky doesn't like going to a boarding kennel so they can stay in their own house with their usual routine, and we will have someone keeping an eye on our house.  There is some opportunist crime in this town (as there seems to be everywhere these days) so we feel happier that the house won't be left empty for 16 days.  If it works out well then we will look at getting in a sitter for the Big Canadian Trip later in the year.

So there has been a flurry of dusting, and cleaning, and sweeping.  Don't want the sitters thinking that a sloppy housewife lives here, do we?  Still have some cleaning to do, but that's OK, we will manage.  Important things, like putting new strings on my guitar and learning a new song, and packing my knitting and the coffee grinder, have already been taken care of.  I have my priorities.

Signs of autumn are everywhere now, trees are definitely changing colour, and we know we will see even more signs as we head south.  We will be driving over mountains so can expect some cool weather - but that's all right, we have jackets, and sleeping bags and quilts for the caravan.  Easter is earlier this year than it was last year but we still expect cool weather.

"Treatment of inferiors.
Never affect superiority.  In the company of an inferior never let him feel his inferiority.  If you invite an inferior as your guest, treat him with all the politeness and consideration you would show an equal."

Remember that, next time you invite the gardener to tea.

Enjoy your days!

A glimpse of the start of the new jacket

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enjoy your days!

Been and gone and come home again

We had an uneventful trip away, and were very pleased to be home again.  Sydney turned on one of its downpours to remind us what it used to be like.....we don't get rain depressions like that here, thank goodness.  According to the financial bloke we can continue living for a while longer, and our visit with the travel agent was enlightening.  We're just finalising dates now, and later in the year will definitely be visiting Canada.

One of the places I wanted to visit was a shop which sold CDs and DVDs of classical music; having bought from them in the past I knew they had a great selection.  Kevin duly followed me where I led because I knew where it was.....but it had closed, gone forever it seems, and in its place was a women's clothing shop.  Oh dear, we said, never mind, we'll go to the map shop.  Guess what.  The map shop has moved........eventually we found our way to another shop (which I had been to previously, but had forgotten about) which specialises in classical music, and I was as happy as a pig in mud.  Bought the CD I wanted.  Much as I like living in the Small Smoke, unfortunately there is no shop here selling music written in 1610 by Claudio Monteverdi.  Plenty of the latest hits.  Plenty of country music and truckin' songs.  But no Monteverdi, for those of us who enjoy a good Vespers.

We took the opportunity to catch up with friends and spent a lovely evening in their company.  A surprise was bumping into one of Kevin's cousins in the shopping mall across the road from our hotel, so we were brought up-to-date with the latest family news.  

It was nice to go away, but much nicer to come home.  But the hours spent in the car weren't wasted, because the new knitted jacket is progressing very well.

It wouldn't be a post without a picture or two, so here is a pic taken late last year when we visited the coast.  This is an Aussie native, we think it's a Melaleuca - the flowers were very fluffy, it was quite pretty.  It was in someone's yard and I couldn't get a better picture without climbing the fence.

 This handsome bird is a pheasant.

There is a very funny song about pheasants......if you can sing it without getting the words mixed, you are doing very well.  Here it is.

My goodness, sewing black fabric can be hard on one's elderly eyes, can't it?  The top recently cut out is now being made and I am having a coffee break before sewing on the neckband.  I've sewn black in the past, but not black knit - it seems to be blacker than woven fabric, if that's possible.

In our travels we noticed that autumn is definitely on the way.  Some trees are starting to get the faded look that comes before the leaves turn, and many have already started changing colour.  A large tree that we pass on our way to town, which I mentioned previously, is becoming very bronze.  Why just that one tree, I don't know - it's not the only one of its species in town, in fact there are several in our street alone, but it's the only one whose leaves are changing.

"Certain local rules have been recognised in society at Sydney from the fact that a gentleman's social position is acquired by virtue of certain offices which he holds, and the social status of woman is also in a less degree determined by the official rank of her husband."

Supposing one's husband is an ordinary gentleman holding no particular office......does that mean one holds no social status whatsoever?  Ah well......I know my place.

Enjoy your days!

Off to the Big Smoke for a few days

Next week we will be leaving our peaceful house on the hill and heading off to the Big Smoke to take care of some business and to catch up with a friend.  It will be nice to visit the city again, but somehow I suspect we will be thankful to leave the traffic and noise behind when we come home.

 Here is a corner of our local botanic garden, with a little waterfall trickling over the garden.

And here is a Hardenbergia (Aussie native plant) growing in the same garden, just in front of the pond.

The flowers match the bruise on one of my toes, done a couple of days ago when I kicked the leg of a small stool while walking barefoot - as we do here most of the time in summer.  The toe is very swollen and sore, which makes wearing anything on that foot difficult.  But never mind, soon it will be all better again and I will be back to jumping out of my skin.  Just as well we won't be going for our long walk on Tuesday, because the new walking shoes might give that poor toe trouble - although they were worn successfully last Tuesday and will be worn again once the swelling and soreness goes down.  We will already be on our way south when the walking group steps out.

Finally the new skirt and top are cut out, and now I can get to work making them.  I made the decision to line the skirt - it's a soft floppy woven polyester fabric, so it will be less clingy with a lining.  The fabric is also slightly see-through with the light behind it, and I am past the age of showing my all to the world.  Our wedding anniversary is later this month and we usually celebrate by going out to dinner, so I will have a new outfit to wear.  The wardrobe has been increased by some new skirts and tops in the fast few months, and they should be photographed so you can see them.  I am quite pleased with them.

Oh dear, a thought has just hit me.....the sore toe is on my sewing machine pedal foot!  Bummer!!

Last year I bought some very gorgeous knitting yarn, a mohair blend in golden autumn tones, and a pattern to make a jacket.  As we are several hours' drive from the Big Smoke and I have no trouble knitting in the car, it just might get cast on tonight.......just think how much could be done by the time we come home again!  The cardigan started last year has been languishing because I am not feeling the love for it.  While I do love the yarn, a gorgeous deep teal with a fleck running through, the pattern isn't exciting me - so it's time to re-think the design, and today while browsing Ravelry a lovely cardigan pattern sprang out and tapped me on the shoulder.  That yarn has already made three false starts, so this had better be the last as it will be needed in winter.

One thing we will be doing while in the city will be visiting the helpful travel agent we have used in the past - because later this year we are off to Canada again!  Yay!  Dates and details to be confirmed, but definitely October - autumn in Canada is so beautiful.  Two autumns in one year, how lucky are we!  Have I ever mentioned that autumn is my very favourite season?

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

Fortunately my husband will carry shopping for me - but unfortunately I cannot say the same for all men.

Enjoy your days!