In all its autumn rhapsodic beauty

The centre of Autumn Rhapsody is done.

It now measures 48 inches square.  This pic was taken against the back fence (the sheet is to protect the quilt from our wire fence) on a slightly breezy day, it co-operated and didn't blow around too much.

I love it!

However - that is as far as it can go until I am able to cut fabric for the next round, a 'peeper' flange finishing at one quarter-inch.  The choice is between these two fabrics; the top fabric is a brighter golden brown than it appears here, but the bottom fabric speaks to me louder anyway......so, the bottom fabric it shall be.  I like the flashes of different colours.

The peeper strips are cut one inch wide, so are slightly fiddly-diddly to cut.  During the coming week I'll see how my hand can....er....handle the cutting!  I have been hemming and hawing about whether to include the peeper, but have now decided to do so.  This quilt will eventually go off to a long-armer for quilting but before that is done the peeper flange will be stitched down by hand, so it won't get in the way of the needle.

Thoughts have been thought on the size of the finished quilt, too.  The original magazine quilt is large, 85 by 97 inches; it's made rectangular by extra borders on top and bottom, a design feature that I have never liked.  Some quilters don't like square quilts, I do, and I like some rectangular quilts - but I don't care for designs which look as though the quilter thought "oh, I'll just add a bit to the top and bottom to make it big enough".  I think my quilt will end up being about 85 inches square, more or less, and the surplus HSTs already made can go on the back.  Waste not, want not, and all that stuff.

How has everyone's week been?  Ours has drifted along, as usual.  Another session with Emma physio on Tuesday, she is pleased with the progress of my hand and wrist.  There are now exercises to help my fingers too; all those weeks ago my fingers curled under as I fell onto my hand and wrist, so the swelling and bruising in my fingers was quite bad.  I still can't make a fist, but can now touch my thumb with the fingers one at a time and......progress!  I can also now hold a pen (although anything written with it is still not very neat) so I can now sign my name for my various activities.

Words have been read.  Some stitches have been sewn by hand, and by machine.  No knitting, yet.  No crossword puzzles either.....but plenty of exercises.  Songs have been sung, and a few plinked.  Some hunting and gathering, and that's about it for the week.  Perhaps one of these days something more exciting may happen.  We can but live in hope, can't we.

Another picture of my quilt, just because I can.

"Conduct in picture-galleries.

In visiting picture-galleries one should always maintain the deportment of a gentleman or lady.  Make no loud comments and do not seek to show superior knowledge in art matters by gratuitous criticism.  If you have not an art education you will probably only be giving publicity to our own ignorance.  Do not stand in conversation before a picture, and thus obstruct the view of others who wish to see rather than talk.  If you wish to converse with anyone on general subjects, draw to one side, out of the way of those who wish to look at the picture."  

Yes.  To which I would add, keep your phone in your pocket.  You don't need to obstruct the view of others by taking pictures of yourself or members of your family in front of famous works of art, as was done at an exhibition we attended a few years ago.  Just enjoy the moment, and the painting. 

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

On to the next step

The strips shown on the last post have had their next pieces joined.

Pinning with one and a half hands was....interesting, but manageable.

Here is the centre laid out on the design bed, and the sections for the next round in place but not yet pinned.  The colours are richer than in this pic.

Must admit that I hesitated about the leaf fabric as part of this round but it was already in the stash, and it works.  I think it does, anyway.  It certainly adds to the autumn theme.  Sewing these pieces together will keep me entertained for a while, yes?

The next round needs fabric to be cut, but I don't yet know how my hand will go using a rotary cutter.  There is only one way to find out, isn't there?

Words have been read.  Stitches have been sewn by machine and by hand; another three diamonds were joined in a process which can only be described as slow, steady and at times painful, but it can be done.  Songs have been sung and plinked.  Another achievement of the last few days is, I can now tie my own shoelaces again!  The usual hunting and gathering rounded out the week, and here we are again.

The exercises prescribed by the physio have been duly daily done, but I am now realising that my fingers, hand and arm were more damaged than first thought.  My stiff sore fingers still don't make a fist - they can't close tightly enough, but hopefully that will come.  There could also be some nerve damage; the nerve which runs from the original bone fractures goes toward the thumb and into the palm, and parts of that thumb and palm are numb.  On Friday my chiropractor told me wearing that heavy plaster for six weeks has also caused problems for my elbow and shoulder, so there are more exercises to help there too.

Never mind.  I have high hopes that by year's end all will be well again......not sure which year, though......

The woman who has been course leader for our U3A ukulele group has decided to pull out due to health reasons, and I don't feel musically confident enough to be The Leader Of The Pack.  I am quite willing to continue to be the contact person, to take along the weekly roll, to help players who need assistance, but as for standing up there and telling people what to do - no.  No more.  I have very little formal music training but many years of experience, and up to now have blundered along.  However, one of the group also plays piano and makes no secret of the fact that she considers ukuleles to be somewhat inferior, as well as showing in different ways how much more she knows than the rest of us do.  Well, goody for her.  I am over it.

This is the last week of the term as we don't meet in school holidays (several members have grandparent duty) so perhaps a couple of weeks off will be a Good Thing.  My hand and wrist are not yet up to playing much anyway, so I play for a song or two then sit out the next couple of songs.  Time away from the piano player seems like a good idea, too.  

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

"Remain until the performance closes.

At a theatrical or operatic performance, you should remain seated until the performance is concluded and the curtain falls.  It is exceedingly rude and ill-bred to rise and leave the hall while the play is drawing to a close, yet this severely exasperating practice has of late been followed by many well-meaning people, who, if they are aware of the extent to which they outraged the feelings of many of the audience, and unwittingly offered an insult to the actors on the stage, would shrink from repeating such flagrantly rude conduct."

While we understand that sometimes time is of the essence in leaving a performance - to relieve a baby sitter, perhaps - leaving early is to be avoided when at all possible.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

More achievements!

The machine sewing shown in the last post has been joined by a few more strips.

There are now four strips ready to be joined to the next pieces but that may require pinning, for accuracy - and I'm not yet sure if I can manage pins.  I did get these strips pressed using my left hand, a slightly awkward process, but at least it's done

And....some hand sewing!

These three pieces were sewn by hand - slowly and shakily, it is true, but they are done.  It will join the rest of the completed blocks when it, and the blocks made during our holiday before The Big Fall, are pressed.

No knitting will happen until my hand has full use again because of tension issues; the knitting done so far will need to match up anything done from now on.  I am still having trouble holding a pen or pencil, but that is something else which will become easier with time.  I hope.

Apart from the first session of physio on Tuesday the week has been blessedly free of medical appointments, something for which we are thankful.  Some use is coming back to my hand but my fingers are still sore and swollen;  they were underneath when I fell so were badly bruised and have not yet recovered.  Never mind, though, all is good.....nothing has yet fallen off.  The bruise on my cheek is still evident and has not yet faded enough to be hidden by make up.

So....words have been read, some sewing has happened, yay!  Songs have been sung, and some ukulele chords were plinked.  The usual hunting and gathering, and so passed another week.

Earlier today we joined with members of the choir for lunch to wish Bill, our fearless leader, a happy birthday....a significant Big 0 birthday, so we all joined in serenading him.  We went to one of the many Chinese restaurants in town but I have to say I found the food disappointing; I had my favourite honey chicken but didn't enjoy it as much as the version served by a restaurant on the main drag....and it cooled down much too quickly, something we don't want on a fairly cool wintery day.  We hadn't eaten at that restaurant before, and I don't think we will be in a hurry to do so again.

Yesterday afternoon I finally made it to quilt group where some of the hand-sewing happened.  We were greeted by the news that our meeting fees are rising, something which doesn't thrill me; in the absence of our own space we meet in a community craft centre.  While we don't have to be a member of the craft centre to use the space non-members have been paying $6 each time they come (members only pay $4) but I have no interest in joining, having been a member several years ago before letting my membership lapse for various reasons.  Now the fees are rising to $10 for non-members (!) and $5 for members.  I think the incentive is to get us to join and pay the annual membership fee of $70, I probably will as the alternative is more expensive, but I am not happy about it.  I certainly have no intention of getting involved with the craft centre in any way again.

Oh well.

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

"The gentleman should ask permission to call upon the lady the following day, which permission she should grant; and if she be a person of delicacy and tact, she will make him feel that he has conferred a real pleasure upon her by his invitation.  Even if she finds occasion for criticism in the performance, she should be lenient in this respect, and seek for points to praise instead, that he may not feel regret at taking her to an entertainment which has proved unworthy."

Yes, indeed.  Even if one wasn't thrilled by the performance, one could still find something praiseworthy about it.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Doesn't look like much, does it?

However - it is an achievement, the first stitches I have been able to make since breaking my arm.  I even managed to put in a new needle and to thread the machine before starting to sew, how about that?

Seams are not yet pressed, but just to be able to sew at all is progress!  My quilt was to be called 'Autumn Splendour', but I have changed it to 'Autumn Rhapsody'.  Because I like it.

There are a few renno TV shows made in Canada that we enjoy watching, occasionally they are filmed somewhere we have visited, and it's nice to look back and remember our trips.  Because renovations can take several months we go through different seasons, and when those autumn colours come on screen I sigh.....love those colours......that orange tree in the background, those red and gold leaves....sigh again......many of these fabrics came home with me from Canada.

Use of my hand and arm is coming along slowly.  The brace irritates my skin so I wear it to bed and take it off during the day, unless support is needed.  I am still taking things easy, not forcing my hand, wrist or arm to do anything they feel uncomfortable doing, and resting often.  Hopefully the physio will give it a good report on Tuesday.

Tomorrow I plan to plink a few chords on my ukulele so see how it goes - slowly and painstakingly, I suspect.  Another thing I want to try this week is hand-piecing; my thumb and fingers can now touch (except for my little pinky finger) but don't have much strength for gripping, and that needle is thin.  With a bit of luck I will soon be able to knit again, at the same tension as before.

Words have been read.  Songs have been sung......and I can now say, stitches have been sewn!  Hunting and gathering happened.  One medical appointment for a scan to check up on some internal bruising (possibly done when I fell, and hopefully now healed) and that's been my quiet week.  I did manage to get to an art exhibition on Friday, which I enjoyed.  I'm not yet driving; Kevin is my much-appreciated driver as I can't yet hold the steering wheel firmly enough not to be a danger to myself and everyone else sharing the road with me, but that too will come.  I can't hold a pen or pencil very well either, so doing a crossword is still not possible.

One thing these past weeks have made me realise is, how often we need two useful hands - one is just not enough.  Opening a container, for instance......one hand to hold the container, the other to unscrew or pop the lid.  Opening cartons and boxes is a tricky one-handed exercise, too.  Getting dressed and undressed is more difficult with only hand.  I can now shower and dress myself again but cannot do up my bra, as the hooks and eyes are on the wrong side for a right hand that doesn't yet work properly; when I broke my left arm many years ago I could manage more easily.  Putting a decent-sized log on the fire is still out of the question, and it has been cold enough that the fire is appreciated.

Oh well.  Hopefully we are on the homeward stretch to full recovery and use of my hand and arm again, and I try not to whinge and complain too much.....but it has, at times, been frustrating.

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

"If the means of the gentleman warrant him in so doing, he should call for his companion in a carriage.  This is especially necessary if the evening is stormy.  He should call sufficiently early to allow them to reach their destination before the performance commences.  It is unjust to the whole audience to come in late and make a disturbance in obtaining seats."

Sometimes it would be interesting to go back in time to when these words were written, wouldn't it?  However, those carriages did not have air conditioning or heated seats, luxuries that we have grown accustomed to nowadays.

Now - I am off to sew, words I haven't been able to write for many weeks.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Frustration and annoyance

Is what I am feeling right now.  The physio treatment for my arm, hand and wrist, which was to have started on Tuesday, has been postponed by two weeks due to staff being absent.  Hopefully when it does eventually get under way it will help with the stiffness; there is still quite a lot of bruising anyway, so I am telling myself the delay is a good thing.  Even though myself is not convinced.

Ah well.  Onward and upward.

These are the last of the pics taken during our holiday, from Mount Ainslie.  Canberra is ringed by hills, many of which can be ascended to admire the view.  Looking over the city....

Looking away from the city.....

Some of the Ozzie native plants, many of which are not lush and green like those in other parts of the world.

I love the muted colours.....makes me think of an impressionist painting.

Words have been read.  No medical appointments have happened.  Hunting and gathering did, however, and songs were sung.

The bruise under my eye has not yet gone, I have forgotten what my face looked like before the fall nearly eight weeks ago.  One day it won't be bruised any more, and then - oh, how happy I will be!

The coming week may - hopefully will - bring a chance to sew on a machine.  Pinning may still be beyond my right hand but one never knows, does one?  The fine motor skills required may not be there yet, but will return one day.

Some of the sights seen around town make one chuckle.....recently there was a young bloke who was wearing shorts, tee shirt and thongs.  (That is thongs for the feet, called flip flops by some people, but 'thongs' by Ozzies)  It was a mild day, hence the bare legs and arms......and.....he was wearing a knitted beanie.  That is somewhat akin to the young chickies we sometimes see in mid-winter who wear. shorts and a skimpy top with fleecy boots and a chunky scarf wrapped round the neck.  When I was a Sweet Young Thing we wore mini skirts, yes - but we wore a slip or lining under it, and thickish tights, and a warm jumper.  Never did we wear a top with spaghetti straps in winter, makes me shiver just to think about it.

I am waiting until the day when the brace can come off my arm so I can wear a warm jumper without the velcro fastening on the brace catching on the knitted fabric.  Several years ago I made a warm mohair cardy jacket which has been Very Useful these past weeks, and which fitted over (first) the plaster and (now) the brace on my arm without snagging.  Eye make up remover pads are helpful where the brace presses on my bruised wrist and hand; they provide just enough softness to cushion the pressure without being bulky, a tip passed on several years by a nurse.

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

"In passing out at the close of the performance the gentleman should precede the lady, and there should be no crowding or pushing."

Indeed.  There is no need to crowd or push.  Everyone will make it outside eventually.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Well - that was fun!

Yesterday afternoon's performance went well....such a mix of performers, an old-style variety concert.  My poem was very well received and the audience loved my funny song; another performer said to me "Jennifer - you always do the best songs!" I really treasure such feedback, even more than winning.  And....I managed to play my three chords without my arm or fingers falling off.

Well, that's that for another year.....next year's pieces have already been chosen, there is a whole twelve months to practice......should be good to go by then......

The plaster was removed on Tuesday, my arm is free again!  The brace is much lighter than plaster but still supports my arm and stops my wrist from being floppy.  It's not doing much yet as it is quite stiff and tender, and I am surprised by how much it is still colourfully bruised after so many weeks.  Physio starts tomorrow, so no doubt it will be moving better soon.  The bruising on my eye is still evident, so much so that even yesterday's make up didn't quite cover it.

No progress to show for this week, but this is what I managed to get done while we were away before The Great Fall and Break.

Only eight completed, but then I did spend quite some holiday time playing music and socialising and attending exhibitions.  Another piece was started and will be finished in due course  Fabrics are mostly repros from years ago.

My snazzy new jumper (or perhaps a cardy....yet to be decided).  Love the yarn, love the colours, not so rapt in the way it is striping.  More or less stitches on the needle would change that, but that's the number needed for my size.  It also has more blue and less green than I had hoped it would.  Thoughts may yet be thought on it.

Words have been read.  Songs have been sung.  Hunting and gathering has been done.  Add in some medical visits, yet more X-rays, and that's been my week once more.

Winter has arrived with a vengeance, thank goodness for the fire!  Today's 'feels like' hasn't reached double figures, and it is 3.30p.m. so we are staying inside.

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

"The gentleman should see that the lady is provided with a programme, and with libretto also if they are attending opera."

Wise words.  However I have attended opera performances and never used a libretto to follow the plot; I keep my eyes on the stage, not on a book on my lap, even if the singing is in another language.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Two more days....only two more days

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

On to much happier things.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer