Happy birthday to me......

......Happy birthday to me,
Happy birthday, happy birthday,
Happy birthday to meeeeeee!

Progress......and number 200

The project started at the weekend UFO workshop is coming along nicely, as you can see.

 The pieced arcs are all made and trimmed, the inner sections are pinned in place.  The rest of the cutting will be done soon, then it can all be assembled.  I am really pleased with my fabric choices!

Last week this block was finished......that makes 200.  This is my portable hand-pieced project which has been on the go for seven years now........

 ........and these are some of the finished blocks, you can see the layout I have in mind.  All floral prints; the effect I am after is of a garden, and like many gardens there are pastels and brights, quiet prints and loud ones too.

Only 25 blocks to go, then the joining can begin!

The road works between here and town are proceeding.  Most people are being sensible and staying on the lower speed limit, but why do people think the lower limit doesn't apply at night or on weekends when the workmen aren't there?  I am getting tired of being tailgated at night because I am driving at the correct speed and the idiot behind me (almost invariably in an SUV) thinks I should be going faster.  If the police were to sit there with a speed trap they would rake in a tidy fortune.

Now, you and I know that the English language is continually changing and evolving - that means changes that we may or may not like but can accept, because we are not old fuddy-duddies, are we?  We can accept that sporting 'matches' no longer take place because every game these days is considered a 'clash' by the media, but I will be darned if I will accept 'grab'.  "I'll just grab your details" says the chickybabe at the medical centre......what's wrong with "May I have your details?"  "Can I grab a coffee?" says a young bloke in a café.  "Grab", to me, is snatching at something rudely and abruptly.  If I choose to ignore such a request, does that make me rude in return?  We won't even go into the absence of "please".......

School holidays are now over, so both choirs and the uke group will be resuming this week.  While it's been nice to relax in the evenings and not have to rush dinner to go out afterward it will be good to be making music again, I do miss it.

Kevin's shoulder is proceeding nicely.  The only drawback is his lack of domestic assistance, because there are some things he cannot do; hanging out washing, for instance.  He can't yet drive either, so I am also the chauffeur.  This means I am busier than usual, which is one of the reasons this poor blog has been neglected recently.  But that, too, will pass.

"Flippancy.
In conversation, all provincialism, affectations of foreign accents, mannerisms, exaggerations and slang are detestable.  Equally to be avoided are inaccuracies of expression, hesitation, an undue use of foreign words, and anything approaching to flippancy, coarseness, triviality or provocation."

Does that also include "grab"?  We can only hope.......

Enjoy your days!

Winter has arrived!

Oh my.....we have had such lovely autumn weather lately, sunny clear days, cool (not cold) nights.....then late yesterday afternoon a cold change blew through.....and today, it's winter.  While the temperature is not specially low it feels much colder than the number would have you think, and last night's temperature was only 1 degree.  No wonder I couldn't quite get comfortable in bed......that's 1 deg C not F, by the way.  Even now at mid-afternoon which should be the warmest part of the day I'm wearing jeans, a long sleeved tee and a heavy hand-knitted sweater, and my hands are still cold.

Kevin had his shoulder operation and is recovering well, his biggest problem is boredom.  It's his right shoulder and he is right-handed, but he is managing to do soduku, and can look after himself as far as getting dressed and showered.  Before he went under the knife I suggested that pants with elastic in the waist would make getting dressed easier, and also shirts with buttons down the front rather than tee shirts.  He thought I was being over-cautious, but acquiesced........and sure enough, he is finding those clothes easier to manage.

Lately I seem to have been so busy that I don't seem to have time to turn around and scratch myself, and even allowing for the fact that I have to be chauffeur for a while there seem to be so many things to be done that there is no time to do things I enjoy, like playing music and sewing.  Even like updating this poor neglected blog......so I am trying to be more organised.  After lunch today the fabrics for next weekend's UFO weekend project were gathered, except that mine isn't a UFO, it's a USO - UnStarted Object.

Last year Karen very generously sent a package to my son's address and it it was waiting for me when we arrived in Canada.  This is one of the two patterns included, and during our Canadian visit some of the batik fabrics shown were purchased with it in mind - the two charm packs in blues, golds and browns, and the pack of brown and gold fabrics top left.  The two bright blue fabrics are from my stash and whichever one suits the finished project best will be used for the binding, a few more gold squares from the stash were added, and the mottled blue and cream fabric in the centre ( a lucky find at a local quilt shop) will be the background.  The name "Maritime Beauty" is lovely, so it will have a theme of sand, water, rocks and sky!  One place I would love to visit is the maritime provinces of Canada.  Thank you, Karen, for your generous gift and I hope you like what I make using this pattern - I am really looking forward to making it!  Have a look at Karen's blog to see her gorgeous Maritime Beauty made from rich metallic fabrics.

Next week my ankle is booked in for an ultrasound to find out why it still troubles me; the broken foot bones seem to have healed, but nice Emma the physiotherapist said that the ankle ligament was damaged, either stretched or torn, because of my limping for so long when my foot was sore.  In hindsight it should have been checked by a doctor when it was first damaged, on Halloween.......but how many of you have kicked a toe or foot and, apart from bruising and soreness, done no lasting damage?  I have, in the past....will probably do so again before I die.......just the same, that was one almighty whack.  I kept thinking it was only bruised, it would get better.....walked everywhere on it for a couple more weeks in Canada.....walked a lot since coming home.......and it was still sore and swollen.  Never mind, I kept telling myself (and anyone who asked), it's only bruised, it will get better soon.  And it will.  It will either get better, or fall off.  Meanwhile, I have been wearing an oh-so-lovely ankle brace for several weeks.

A couple of other health issues are being checked too.  I definitely picked the wrong parents.  Genes have a lot to answer for.

On a somewhat lighter note the rough road up and over a small hill between here and town is finally being repaired.  While one side is being worked on, the other side has two narrow lanes made so traffic can continue in both directions, albeit at a lower speed than usual.  This morning on our way into town traffic in the opposite lane was being led up the hill by a bloke on a bicycle.....he was followed by a huge truck and trailer, then a few cars, then another huge truck and trailer, then several more cars, all unable to pass because of the narrowness of the lane.....and, with the exception of the first truck, none of the line of traffic would have been able to see the bloke at the head of the line pedalling furiously.  No doubt they were all wondering why they were crawling up the hill at such a snail's pace.  He may not have been the most popular bloke in town today.

"Shouting.
Never speak to your acquaintance from one side of the street to the other.  Shouting is a certain sign of vulgarity.  First approach, and then make your communication to your acquaintance or friend in a moderately loud tone of voice."

Perhaps some of the drivers in that long line of traffic may have felt like shouting at the hapless cyclist, when they were finally able to pass him.....even, perhaps, to use a vulgar tone to him.  While we wouldn't condone that, we could certainly understand it.

Enjoy your days!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch........

What a great time we had at the festival this year!  For some years now the festival has been getting bigger and bigger - this year it was pulled back in size, and was so much friendlier and easier to get round.  It was more like the festival it used to be in years gone by, and much better for that.  Let's hope it continues that way.

I was so busy having a good time that no pics were taken, would you believe!  But this afternoon I did take a few of my beautiful new ukulele, which I present for your edification.

 Isn't this a pretty little thing?

 The back and sides are of Queensland Maple, the neck is ash, and the dark fret board is lacewood.

It was expensive but worth every penny, a dream to play and it sounds wonderful.  One of the features at the festival is a display of instruments, which I have always found fascinating......so this year I went shopping, and bought my ukulele from Doug Eaton.  It was admired all weekend by many people, and last night at uke group it was a hit too.  While I'm far from being the world's best player, it makes even me sound good.

On our trip home the autumn colours were coming along nicely; next year Easter will be three weeks later than this year - so that will mean more colour, yay!

It's been a quiet few days at the Chateau des Wombats, on Monday morning Kevin went to the Big Smoke for an operation on his shoulder and will return tomorrow.  I stayed here keeping the home fires burning (not literally, it isn't that cold yet) and looking after the cats - who, by the way, were thoroughly spoiled by our house sitters.  All has gone well with the operation but somehow I don't think he has realised what life will be like being able to use only his left arm for a while......and he is very right-handed.

A feature of the festival is the number of workshops, the one on bluegrass gospel harmony singing was fun......a hundred people in a small room, by gosh we sounded great.......and a forum for broadcasters, which I attended.  Several performers popped in to the forum and distributed copies of their latest CDs which were gratefully received, so this Sunday's radio program will feature music from this year's festival and from past festivals too.  We brought eight CDs home with us but only paid for two, thanks to the generosity of said performers.

On the way home we had an interesting experience:  we stopped at a camp ground in Cowra, and late in the afternoon the manager rounded up all the guests for a 'happy hour' chat in the barbecue shed.  One woman arrived late, looked at me.....recognised me, and when she introduced herself I recognised her too......we used to play music together years ago, so later that evening she, her husband and I had a great little musical session much to the entertainment (we hope!) of the other guests.  We certainly enjoyed ourselves!

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

The guests at the camp ground were very polite about our music, even singing along with us when they knew the songs we played, and were very courteous - which we appreciated.

Enjoy your days!

Back in a few weeks!

On Tuesday morning we head off in our little caravan to Canberra to catch up with our older son, and to attend the National Folk Festival.  We're both volunteering at the festival and nearly all my work will be done before it starts, hence the early arrival; and our son's birthday is next weekend, so we will be able to celebrate with him - something we aren't always able to do because of the distance between us.

A couple of years ago Easter was late in April so the big tree just inside the festival entrance was showing its autumn colour, but I don't think it will this year.  You can see coats and jackets being worn too, wonder how cool it will be this year?  I'm taking a coat because walking back to our caravan after a late (sometimes very late indeed) night singing session can be a little chilly......some years we have even had frost.

That big tree is the mark of the seasons, to me.  Every year it's different, this year I expect more green - but one never knows.

Tomorrow will be somewhat frantic, what with packing, and trying to fit in some last-minute house cleaning so our house sitters won't think we are total slobs, and a little baking so we have treats to take with us, and an appointment with the chiropractor......tomorrow has already taken on a life of its own, and it hasn't even happened yet.

Forgot to mention, a couple of weeks ago I won a giveaway on the Aurifil blog!  I have been using Aurifil threads for several years but some of the ones I received were some I haven't yet tried, so that will be interesting.  One spool is a fine 50wt thread in the ecru colour being used for my hand-pieced flower basket blocks - would you believe the original spool is still going strong, seven years and nearly 198 blocks later?  While it should be enough to make the remaining blocks (225 altogether) it may not be enough to join them together, so that smaller spool is very welcome.  It was originally started as a portable project and has served that purpose well, been on goodness how many caravan trips and also been overseas four times.  A well-travelled quilt.......and still in progress!

"Recognizing friends in the street.
No one, while walking the streets, should fail, through pre-occupation, or absent-mindedness, to recognize friends and acquaintances, either by a bow or some form of salutation.  If two gentlemen stop to talk, they should retire to one side of the walk.  If a stranger should be in company with one of the gentlemen, an introduction is not necessary.  If a gentleman meets another gentleman in company with a lady whom he does not know, he lifts his hat to salute them both.  If he knows the lady, he should salute her first.  The gentleman who accompanies a lady, always returns a salutation made to her."

Every year while walking round the folk festival our progress is slowed down by friends we meet, people we see only once a year, and it is so good to catch up with them and hear their news, and sit down for a drink or a meal together.  Makes for slow walking, but what does that matter when meeting friends?

Enjoy your days!

Oh, the indignity.........

All my ancestors, as far as I have been able to ascertain, came from the British Isles, England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland and like many of my family I have the complexion to prove it.....pale, freckled skin and auburn hair (what's not grey, that is).  Last week my body and I attended the doctor for a skin check, something I hadn't done for some years because it is such an undignified procedure; one has to strip down to one's undies while said doctor peers closely at one's skin.  A couple of spots need to go back for a return visit and biopsy but that doesn't need to be for a while, thank goodness.  When the doctor - young, male - asked me if I was happy to take off my clothes so he could look at my skin I replied, "no I am not happy about it, I find the whole procedure very humiliating but am prepared to do it".......he thought that was hilarious.  I was merely speaking the truth.  Stripping is humiliating and undignified and cringe-making, and there will be more cringing because one of the spots to be biopsied (is there such a word?) is on my back under my bra strap.  Erk.  Cringe.......

On a much happier note the radio program seems to be going along well, next Sunday's will be a little green because it will be St Patrick's Day.  All together now........diddle-e-i-diddle-e-o.......diddly diddly........

A busy week coming up what with volunteering at the local gallery; attending a pattern drafting workshop where the hard sell may be tried, but it doesn't work on me; Thursday quilt group; Friday household stuff; Saturday evening we have seats for a play by the local theatre group, Sunday and Monday cleaning and packing ready to drive off on Tuesday for a couple of weeks.  We will return the first weekend in April.

The sewing room has been calling, and yesterday one of the projects bought last year in Canada was pulled out of the cupboard and its gorgeous batik fabrics drooled over.  Then I took the rotary cutter to them......sliced and diced......not all cut yet but it won't take long.  The pattern is "Leaf peeking" although my fabrics are different to those shown, and it was purchased at the Creativ Festival in Toronto from the very helpful ladies at Country Concessions quilt shop.  The sewing mojo has been a little absent lately so a new project is just what it needs to kick start it again, yes?  Especially something small and easily finished.  As autumn colours are appearing round town it seems a good time to make an autumn project.

But our autumn colours, pretty as they are, are nothing like these:

Taken in Bayfield, Ontario, last October.  Much more glorious than anything we see here.....and some Canadians we met wondered why we travelled to their country in autumn, rather than summer.

"It is rude to interrupt friends whom you meet in a shop before they have finished making their purchases, or to ask their attention to your own purchases.  It is rude to offer your opinion unasked, upon their judgement or taste, in the selection of goods."

Indeed.

Now it's time for some ukulele practice, then perhaps a piece or two of fabric may be cut, then early dinner before heading out to choir......sometimes I wonder how I ever found time to work, keep house and raise a family for all those years before I retired.

Enjoy your days!

We've been and gone and come home again

The Big Smoke was big, but not very smokey - at least not where we were!  We stayed by the water and had a lovely view from the back verandah, looking left.........

 ........then straight ahead........

 .......then right.

A hibiscus in the rain, the flowers on that bush were bigger than my hand.

And before you ask, no, I did not go in that pool.  I don't appear in public in a swimsuit.

We had an good visit, catching up with friends for dinner, visiting my favourite music shop (a couple of new CDs came home with us) and a quilt shop, and seeing an exhibition at the State Library of NSW, a collection of photos taken in the gold rush days of the 1870s.  The detail in the photos is amazing and we found it particularly interesting as we know some of the towns where the pictures were taken; several of the buildings still exist.

But we could have done without the drive home in the rain on Friday........only 30-40 minutes was dry, out of what is usually a six hour drive.  It took much longer because traffic was slow, drivers were being cautious which isn't a bad thing in heavy rain.

Last week Karen was able to hear some of my radio program, isn't technology amazing?  People at the station were thrilled to know that we can be heard on the far side of the known universe - which Karen's town is, from here.  Thank you for listening, Karen, and for your kind words!  I still make the occasional mistake but I'm getting the hang of all that has to be done.......and tonight it was a solo effort, no one in the building but me.  Each week gets a little easier and a little less unnerving.

We've been seeing signs of autumn!  The vine on the fence of the football field we drive past on our way to or from town is starting to turn bronze and some trees are turning yellow already, while others have the faded look which often precedes changing.  We're not sure what the vine is, could be an ornamental grape, and it is pretty when all its leaves are bronze.  Signs that summer is on the way out have been noticeable for two or three weeks now; summer was record-breaking hot, the hottest for many years, and I for one will be glad when it's finally all over.  When we head south in a couple of weeks there should be even more signs of autumn to enjoy.

"To make lip salve.
Melt in a jar placed in a basin of boiling water a quarter of an ounce each of white wax and spermaceti, flour of benzoin fifteen grains, and half an ounce of the oil of almonds.  Stir until the mixture is cool.  Color red with alkanet root."

Oh my.......women have it easy these days, don't we?  We can buy a new lipstick whenever we need to, we don't have to make our own.  Alkanet and benzoin are from  plants, while spermaceti is from whales; obviously the writers of my 1885 book assumed their readers would be familiar with such items.

Enjoy your days!