Berry berry good

These are Australian berries whose name is not known to me, photographed in the garden of the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra a few years ago.  They are dark blue in colour.

These are purple berries in Butchart Gardens, Canada.  On checking their list of plants I found out that this is Callicarpa Americana, and its berries can be used to make jelly.  The colour was very vivid against the more muted autumn colours in the gardens.

 My friend Lois held a spray of berries so I could take a close-up,  I have never seen those berries before.

Some plants have bright red berries in autumn, we saw those too in our wanderings in Canada.  We often tend to focus on flowers for garden colour, but berries can be just as pretty.  The berries on this bush were quite small, oval shaped, and very red.

The leaves were also very red - I think it is called Burning Bush because of its autumn colour.

Winter has well and truly arrived here at the Chateau des Wombats, yesterday and today have been quite cold.  Today has been overcast, chilly and dull with no sign of the sun until it finally peeked out from the clouds after 3pm.  Don't know why it bothered at all, there is no warmth in it.

A small project is being worked on in the sewing room as we speak, one bought last year in Canada.  Pics will be taken when it's done so you can all admire it.  After that, the black skirt will be made.

Uke group is on holidays for a few weeks, the local music school follows school terms for its teaching terms.  You will be pleased to know that 'Hotel California' is proceeding well, the fiendish chord changes are becoming easier, and my fingers are still firmly attached to my hands.  One of the teachers, Sam, has an interesting program on his electronic gadget pad thing that lets him slow music down, but it doesn't change the pitch at all.  Usually when you slow music down the pitch alters too, it becomes lower, but this doesn't happen with Sam's gadget.  It is much easier to play difficult chords at 80 % speed than at full speed.  It would be a very handy gadget to have, perhaps there could be one in my far-distant future.  On the other hand I have managed without it all my life, do I really need it now?

Probably not.

A few weeks ago I didn't use a mitt when taking a bowl which had been used for melting butter out of the microwave, because they usually don't get terribly hot - but this one did.  Burnt the side of the middle finger on my right hand and oh my, it hurt.  It was still hurting a few hours later, even though I held it under cold water for a while.  A blister came up and I was being super-dooper extra careful not to break it, but unfortunately a few days later it tangled in my wet hair in the shower and broke by itself.  I kept it covered for another week or so until it had dried out and new skin had grown; there is new pink skin there now but it still hurts if bumped.  It must have been quite a deep burn for its size.  The things we do to ourselves.......

"Burned eyebrows.
Five grains sulphate of quinine dissolved in an ounce of alcohol, will cause eyebrows to grow when burned off by the fire."

I suspect one would have to stand very close to a fire or do something very silly to burn off one's eyebrows.

Enjoy your days!

Back in the Small Smoke again

No doubt about it, travel is good, one gets to see interesting places and meet fascinating people.....but to be back in one's own bed with one's own pillow under one's cheek is bliss.

Had fun last week in the Big Smoke, at the craft show and associated quilt show......oh my, the standard of quilts this year was very high.  Quite a lot of repro quilts so that style is still hanging round, not so many of the shabby chic style so perhaps that's on the way out?  Not even a lot of bright quilts this year, many colours were quiet and muted and the country colours from several years ago seem to be making a comeback.  Should you so desire you can view the winners here; this page shows the Special Awards, if you click on the headings "Professional", "Amateur", "Open" and "Junior" you can see all other winners.  The quilt which won Best of Show is really exquisite, and I can honestly say in all my years of attending quilt shows......over 25 years, now.........I have never seen one quilt win so many awards.

This is the usual view looking up the hill behind our house, our back fence is in the foreground.

 A few times this week it has been replaced by a very different view.

Foggy and frosty mornings are here to stay for a while now.  Fog can be quite eerie, can't it?

Progress is being made on a new skirt.  The Monday night choir's performing outfit for women is black pants or long black skirt, and a white shirt.  I have always worn pants as I don't own a long black skirt, but recently decided that a long skirt could be handy for times when the musical director decrees that all the women in the front row should wear skirts, because "it makes a nice line"........as she did with just a few day's notice for last year's Christmas concert, which I didn't take part in because I missed too many rehearsals while we were in Canada.  Because I am short I sometimes sing in the front line - we are arranged by height - I have been keeping an eye out in the local op shops (thrift shops) but so far haven't found a long black skirt in my size.  Never mind, thought I, I shall make one.  So a pattern has been duly bought, and some black fabric, and the pattern is currently being tweaked to take four inches (10 cm) off the length before the fabric is cut.  Yes, I am that short.  Extra wide black fabric is in short supply here but a black damask found in the curtain/upholstery section will do nicely; the skirt is flared and the front is seamless, hence the need for wide fabric.  It's not because I am huge.  Even though I am not the slender little thing I used to be.......sigh.

Road works between here and town are proceeding well.  Like most of the locals we have been taking the "short term pain for long term gain" point of view but we will be so glad when it's all done.  I feel sorry for the people living along that road, the dust from the various digging and scraping machines must be awful at times.

The uke group is getting brave, our latest piece is "Hotel California" which has some fiendish chord changes. Never mind, either they will get easier with practice or my fingers will fall off, which is more likely.

"Evening dress for ladies.
Evening dress for ladies may be as rich, elegant and gay as one chooses to make it.  It is everywhere the custom to wear full evening dress in brilliant evening assemblages.  It may be cut either high or low at the neck, yet no lady should wear her dress so low as to make it quite noticeable or a special subject of remark. Evening dress is what is commonly  known as "full dress," and will serve for a large evening party, ball or dinner.  No directions will be laid down with reference to it, as fashion devises how it is to be made and what material used."

No low necks for the choir ladies, our dress is so modest as to be a teensy bit boring.  There is also a long scarf knotted in front with the ends hanging down......as I said, boring.  At least it's not beige.

Enjoy your days!

Falling out of fall.........

....and into winter.Winter has arrived, frosty mornings, fog and cold nights.  Warm clothing, and cats spending their time by the fire.

Although these pics were taken on our visit to North Bay, Canada, last fall they could have been taken here today......even the Queensland Blue pumpkins, which are available here now!

 I love the idea of decorating for different seasons, Australians don't do much of that except for Christmas.  I haven't seen these interesting shapes and colours of squash here either.

 It was a very tempting pile of orange goodies!  But you will be pleased to know that we obeyed the signs and did not grimpez sur les citrouilles.

The walking continues.  There are several dogs hereabouts who also trot round on their morning walk, one little terrier drags his hapless owner along as though he has the world to organise and needs to get home quickly to do it.  One nods one's head and mumbles "morning" to other walkers, who smile and cheerily reply.  One does not wave and smile a cheery smile back at them.  They should consider themselves lucky to get a mumble, really.  I am not doing it to improve my social life.

Those autumn leaf blocks were won by someone else, which was a shame as I quite liked them.  But as the fiddle factor involved in making them is more than I can be bothered with, it's probably just as well; I shall stick to my Bear's Paw blocks made using my gorgeous autumn leaf prints, which are a leisurely leader and ender project.  No hurry to get them done and made into a quilt, because I still haven't decided on a setting for them.......although ideas are percolating in my little brain.  Ideas involving lots of small squares.......

There will be no blog post next week as I will be visiting the Big Smoke, staying with my friend Nola and attending a quilt and craft show.  One of the few things about living here in the Small Smoke is the lack of local quilt shows, although there will be one in a month in a small town an hour north of here.  Most of big city life I don't miss at all.  Certainly don't miss the traffic, which by the time we moved out was horrendous.  Here, if there is a line of six or eight cars during what passes for peak hour.......that is considered really bad by the locals.  We laugh.  Ha ha, we say.  These people do not know heavy traffic.

Meanwhile the road construction between here and town continues, and sometimes can be rather exciting.   We had some good rain last weekend and the potholes which it opened up in the little strip of road we have to drive on made for interesting driving, especially with a large truck or semi coming the other way.  Did I mention that little strip of road is quite narrow in parts and carries two lanes of traffic, one each way?  During the day the lanes can also swap and change, which makes for even more excitement when the lane we drove on going into town has changed completely by the time we come home an hour later.  If only the road could be closed completely it would probably have been finished some time ago, but as it is the main (almost the only) way into town for many locals, and is also a minor highway leading north, it has to be kept open.

Life is never dull here, folks.

"Never turn a corner at full speed or you may find yourself knocked down, or may knock down another, by the violent contact.  Always look in the way you are going or you may chance to meet some awkward collision.  People are very rude and vulgar who do not look the way they are going; it annoys others.

Although this advice was meant for pedestrians it can also apply to some of the drivers with whom we are sharing our de-constructed road.

Enjoy your days!

Wouldn't an alpaca make a nice pet?

A few weeks ago local alpaca breeders joined together to hold an open day.  

 This boy was very handsome, and didn't he know it too!  His colouring was quite unusual.

 This young cria (baby alpacas are called crias) was a bit shy, but was very cute just the same.

This was at Duri, a small village not far south of here.  You can see how dry the local sports ground is, and it's just the same here.  One could even try alpaca meat, which we did.....alpaca sausage is quite nice, with a slightly sweet taste.  I also bought some alpaca yarn with a pattern for a beanie and scarf, the beanie is already partly knitted and will be handy in winter on my morning walk.

Yes folks, walking has started again on doctor's orders.  It has taken a while to reach (because of my foot and ankle problems, and my general state of unfitness) but I am now up to 30 minutes, the last part of which - the most difficult part - is uphill coming home.  Much as we like living here on the hill, it does have its disadvantages.  I spend most of my walk watching my feet to make sure I don't stumble or trip as I don't want to break any more bones.  It's something I do because I know I have to (wouldn't even be so bad if I thought it would make me lose weight but that's a lost cause given my age, hormones and genetics) and not something I enjoy.  According to what one reads, exercise is supposed to release endorphins in the body which make one feel invigorated and happy afterwards.........I think they're missing in me, because that doesn't happen at all.  When I get home I don't feel elated, just tired and out of breath from walking back up the hill.  And hungry, because this is before breakfast.

End of moan, thank you for listening.

Kevin is now driving the car again!  That's good, because I don't need to dry him anywhere he needs to go......and not so good, because we are back to sharing the car.  Oh, well - at least he can now hang washing out again too.  No doubt about it, having someone to share the domestic chores makes life easier.

Not much action to report in the sewing room, block obligations are now down to one block being finished off (which will be done tomorrow) and two more to be made.  My quilt group - the one I will stay with - has a block each month which members take turns at making, and it's my turn next Monday to have a sample block made (that's done) and instructions written out (also done).  Meanwhile the block from this month's meeting still hasn't been started.....but it will be, never fear.  It's a leaf design and I quite like it.  Whoever "wins" the blocks each month has the option of keeping them, or using them to make a quilt which is donated to the local Ronald Macdonald House.  I have my eye on the leaf blocks and if I win them next Monday, they will be mine.  Not Ronnie Mac's.  I'll make him something else.  The remaining block is for the annual quilt which we make and donate to a local charity to use as a fundraiser, and it's a very easy design.....or would be, if I kept a stock of 2-1/2 inch squares ready cut, which I don't.  Sometimes it's almost as fiddly to cut pieces for just one block and to make it as it is to make a full-sized quilt, don't you think?

Ukulele group is proceeding well, and we are having fun.  The new uke is so beautiful to play.......I love it.  It is worth every cent it cost.  Also, the radio program has been getting good feedback.  Much of what I play comes from our own CD collection, although I do play selections from the station computer too.

Leaves on the we-think-it's-an-apricot tree in the back yard are turning lemon-yellow and falling, much to Bianca's amusement.  When you are an inside cat I suppose you have to take your entertainment where you can find it, and watching the occasional pretty leaf drift to the ground or skitter along the path on a windy day is obviously worth spending time doing.

"After you have visited a friend at her country seat, or after receiving an invitation to visit her, a call is due her upon her return to her town residence.  This is one of the occasions when a call should be made promptly and in person, unless you have a reason for wishing to discontinue the acquaintance; even then it would be more civil to take another opportunity for dropping a friend who wished to show a civility, unless her character has been irretrievably lost in the meantime."

I suppose you could say we called on the alpacas at their country seat?

The sewing room is calling.......

Enjoy your days!

Progress

On my first visit to the local library after we returned from our Easter trip to Canberra I was shocked, horrified and flabbergasted to find out that the library staff don't check one's books out for one any more, it is strictly self-service!  While I'm not frightened of doing so (over 30 years of my working life was spent in libraries) I don't like the idea of doing away with the friendly faces of the staff at the desk.  This morning I was lamenting that fact yet again to the solitary librarian who was hovering - there is usually one hovering - round the book checking computer, and he did agree.

That's progress.  We can accept it's here, but we don't have to like it.  All the local supermarkets have done away with several cashiers and replaced them with self-service checkouts too.  Even if I am buying only a few items I will wait in line and deal with a real person rather than a machine - because if shops and libraries decide that machines can do that job, there will be no real people left to deal with at all.

Last Sunday the local historical society held their annual history walk, taking in some of the area I remember as a child.  It was very interesting!  We found out snippets of very early history, and checked out the exteriors of some lovely old homes.  In the late 1800s-early 1900s there was a tannery, a skin buying business, and a soap factory all in fairly close proximity.......can you just imagine the smell?  On second thoughts, perhaps it's best not to......

Today is cool with a little drizzling rain; looking at the rain radar there is heavy rain to the north of us, and to the south of us, and there is a little clear patch over us.  So the mingy drizzle we are getting now may be all we are going to get, and we need rain quite badly  too.

 It was raining the day we visited Kincardine last October, too.

Overcast days make for photos with clear colours and no shadows, so the fall colours glow.

Kevin is now not wearing the sling for his shoulder and is steadily able to do more things, but hanging out washing is not one of them.  Neither is driving the car, although he can park it in the garage and bring it out on the driveway again.  So I let him do just that.  He can prepare vegetables and grill chops.  I let him do that, too.

After much pondering recently, I decided to resign from the post of newsletter editor for the Thursday quilt group and did so last week.  I have also decided not to renew my membership for that group when it comes due next month.  They are nice ladies, but I have realised it's not the group for me.  I go to quilt group to do just that, quilt, not to listen to a continuous litany about various members' (and their family's) ailments, illnesses and woes. It's quite depressing, and as one who has a tendency to gloominess anyway it's something I can do without.  After all, it's not as though I lack for something to do......there is still another quilt group, two choirs, ukulele group, the Sunday night radio program, and two volunteer 'jobs'.  And when I really feel the need for something to do, there is usually a floor waiting to be swept.......

"Be sympathetic and animated.
Do not go into society unless you make up your mind to be sympathetic, unselfish, animating, as well as animated.  Society does not require mirth, but it does demand cheerfulness and unselfishness, and you must help to make and sustain cheerful conversation.  The manner of conversation is as important as the matter."

Couldn't have put it better myself.

Now I shall take myself off to my sewing room and make a start on one of the many block obligations hanging over my head at present.

Enjoy your days!

Maritime Beauty top done!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enjoy your days!

Happy birthday to me......

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