My brain cells are melting

While the past week hasn't been horribly hot it has been more humid than usual, which makes us feel more uncomfortable than the temperature would indicate.  In summer's heat I do a passable imitation of a limp lettuce leaf so the only achievement this week has been quite a bit of hand-stitching in my flower basket quilt, although two log cabin blocks were made for the quilt group block of the month.  Fabric and pattern were supplied, so it was easy-peasy.

However - no pics were taken and it's not a proper post without pics, is it?  So here are a couple from our garden in the Big Smoke.

I love frangipanis but they don't grow here, they do better along the coast.  Like many white flowers they have a strong scent, but unlike many other white flowers it's not overpoweringly sweet and cloying.

Back in the day our house and garden survived The Great Sefton Hailstorm of 1990, although not without some damage.  Several windows and two skylights in the house were shattered (nothing like rain pouring in through large holes in the roof, is there?) but all was eventually put right.

The garden fared much worse - nearly every plant was shredded.  In time we managed to remove the damaged plants, but anything which had survived was left to fend for itself.  A few years later the secateurs were taken to the remaining plants and they were given haircuts.....including this one, Tibouchina, which had struggled since the storm.  Not being the world's best gardener I was astonished to notice that its drastic pruning - and, believe me, it was drastic - had done it the world of good, because it never looked back.  These pics were taken not long before we moved out, nearly 30 years after the storm.

It likes full sun, but full sun doesn't always make it easy to get a good pic without the bright colour being washed out.  The single flower here is closer to the true colour.

If you like purple then perhaps this is the plant for you.....it is very purple.

We have been entertained this week by some of the stories Kevin has been unearthing while researching his maternal grandmother Laura.  Because he was fairly young when she died he doesn't remember much about her, although he has said she always seemed to have a crochet hook and thread in hand....."she was always crocheting", he said.  Some of her beautiful work has come down to us.

Laura's mother Eliza Jane, though - now, there's a girl.  Born in a mining town during the gold rush (one which we have often driven through on our way to Canberra without knowing of the family connection) in 1863, married in 1878 - yes, that's right, she was 15 - had her first child, Laura, at 17.  Several more children followed, and she was widowed in her mid-30s.  Fast forward to 1910: Laura aged 30 trots down the aisle to marry a man of 60, and two days later Eliza Jane also trots down the aisle with Hubby No. 2, a toy boy, a mere stripling of 33......and Eliza's age on the marriage certificate is given as 35, although she was 47.  Later that year No. 2 Toy Boy is declared bankrupt, but the marriage lasted until she died in 1947.  

Eliza and her family lived at a house called 'Iolanthe', a Greek word meaning "violet flower", at a time when many houses had names instead of, or in addition to, a house number.  I wonder if she would have liked a Tibouchina?

"Duties of guests.

Some persons may be astonished to learn that any duties devolve upon the guests.  In fact there are circles where all such duties are ignored."

That seems rude, doesn't it?  I'm sure none of us would do that.

Enjoy your days!

Never be seen?

Back in those long-ago days when I was a Sweet Young Thing it was said that "blue and green should never be seen" - sometimes, "without another colour in between" was added.  Now I don't know about the rest of you but every day we look out onto the green hill behind us and the blue sky above, and I think to myself, I think......"whoever thought that one up?"

Early last month it was my turn to supply a block for the members of the quilt group to make or not, as they chose, and this was mine.  Yesterday I received some completed blocks and couldn't resist laying them out.

There are several blocks with green leaning toward khaki but brighter blocks will be made to balance that......there is quite a bit of green in my stash, you know.  Have I ever mentioned that I am quite fond of green?  It will be fun when done, but there is no hurry.  After all - it's not as though I lack for projects.

It needs a title.  Eventually my brain will think of something clever, but until then it will be referred to as 'the paving quilt'.

The batting borders have been cut for my Canadian quilt, and I have hopes that it will be prepped this week for the borders to be quilted.  I had hopes it would be done this week, but alas.....it was not to be.

Some people make resolutions at New Year - I have hopes, some of which eventuate and some of which are doomed to languish forever unfulfilled.

Well, this morning I took my courage in my hands and joined in Chookyblue's zoom......it was great fun, and lovely to see a familiar face, and to meet new ones......even if they couldn't see me!  The camera on our computer doesn't always like zoom so perhaps the time has come to trot off to the big office supply store and see what options are available.  We have had this camera for quite a long time; perhaps it hasn't kept up with the updates that the computer tells us need to be done from time to time.

I can't be beautiful and have a technical brain as well, you know......

The week started off with more storms; although we don't live in the tropics there are times when the weather touches on the tropical with hot days and afternoon storms.  The past couple of nights have even been cool enough to have on more than a sheet over us.  I suspect that Kevin would prefer to throw off the sheet on warm nights, but I like a layer of protection between my skin and Bianca's claws.  She might be geriatric, but her claws are still quite sharp.

It has been a very quiet week; had the country music festival not been cancelled the town would have been bustling with people and music and concerts.  We probably won't be here for the postponed April festival as our plan is to head south to spend time with family and to enjoy some autumn colours, provided the world is open by then.  We live in hope.....

The coming week brings a couple of celebrations, Australia Day on Wednesday and, to stir my Scottish blood, Burns Night the previous evening.  Many years ago in the Big Smoke I belonged to a Scottish country dancing group which was asked to dance at a Masonic Club Burns Night - and what an interesting evening that was!  When we arrived we joined the ladies downstairs while the men conducted their Secret Business upstairs, then they joined us.  After dancing we took our seats for the serious part of the evening; the haggis was piped in as was the whisky to be followed by Burns' 'Address to a Haggis', and for the first time in my life (and so far the only time) I tried haggis......it's a variation on meat loaf, served with 'neeps' and 'tatties', mashed turnips and potatoes, and was quite tasty.  The haggis was duly toasted with whisky - a Scottish variation on home brew made with whisky and oatmeal was served, and very potent it was - more toasts and replies, and we were asked to repeat our dance performance as our hosts had enjoyed it so much.  I do not recommend dancing reels after partaking of home brew, but somehow we managed to keep our equilibrium and our dignity intact.  As we all had to drive home afterward we certainly didn't chug it down!  You can read about Burns Night traditions here.

Many Australians have Scottish roots; my great-great-grandparents on my father's side came from Scotland, my great-grandfather Arthur was born in the 1840s after they arrived here, my Posh Melbourne Grandmother Florence was his daughter......so the roots are there, but they run deep.

"The number to invite.

Persons giving balls or dancing-parties should be careful not to invite more than their rooms will accommodate, so as to avoid a crush.  Invitations to crowded balls are not hospitalities, but inflictions.  A hostess is usually safe, however, in inviting one fourth more than her rooms will hold, as that proportion of invitations may be declined.  People who do not dance will not, as a rule, expect to be invited to a ball or dancing-party."

Scottish dances were popular at balls in the time these words were written; indeed, 'Professor Christison' (as he called himself) wrote a manual of Scottish dancing and etiquette after coming to Australia, morally dubious character though he seems to have been.

Enjoy your days!

Three times four is twelve

All three borders are now on my Canadian quilt - three borders, four sides, so that makes twelve.

One corner.....the narrow inner black border, then the slightly wider white one, then the outer maple leaf print border.  Which is gorgeous.  I absolutely lurve that fabric.  The red fabric showing behind is the backing.

The batting is on the table as we speak, being cut into wide strips for the borders.  When that's done they will be inserted between the front and the backing (why do we say backing but not fronting, I wonder?) following the method shown here.  I don't have the joining tape but have been assured that non-woven iron on interfacing will do just as well; there is some of that in my sewing Stuff.  I'll let you know how it goes.

I had thoughts of quilting a maple leaf design in the outer border, but have changed my mind.....it will be a squiggly stipple.

How have you all been?  We've been living the quiet life, staying as healthy as possible and keeping out of mischief.

You should have been here last night, we had quite the doozy of a storm!  First the petrichor - that indefinable smell of rain in the air on a hot day - followed by wind blowing hard and strong.  Next came the rain getting heavier and heavier, with 'plinks' on the metal verandah roof which could have been bits blown from trees or even hail, accompanied by lights and music......and eventually the rain stopped, the wind blew away, and all was quiet.  Until it was time for bed - when thunder started crashing and rolling around again; it was probably accompanied by lightning but my eyes were closed so I didn't see, and the rain started again.

This morning there were 25 mls in our rain gauge (that's one inch, for those of you who still use old money) which is impressive, but the weather station south-west of town at the airport only showed 6 mls, less than a quarter of our total, so that is what will be registered as the 'official' amount of rain received for a 24-hour period.  There have been mutterings for some time about getting a second official weather station closer to town, which would make sense.....however, as we all know, anything 'official' is easier said than done.

The country music festival which was to have started a few days ago, and which was cancelled just a week beforehand, would normally be in full swing right now.  There would be concerts to attend and buskers to listen to (some very talented, some.....well, at least they're giving it a go, aren't they), but last night's storms would have had audiences at outdoor concerts hurrying and scurrying for cover.  It has been postponed until April when the weather is kinder - January can be very hot and stormy.  Over the years suggestions to move the festival permanently until a milder time of year have been met with the cry "But you can't do that!  It's always been in January, it's traditional!"  Never mind that tents and belongings get swept away in floods because of January storms (yes, it has happened)......we can't tamper with tradition.

Continuing on with our ball supper, having left those oysters uneaten:

"When supper is announced, the host leads the way with the lady to whom he wishes to show special attention, who may be an elderly lady, or a stranger or a bride.  The hostess remains until the last, with the gentleman who takes her to supper, unless some distinguished guest is present, with whom she leads the way.  No gentleman should ever go into the supper-room alone, unless he has seen every lady enter before him.  When ladies are left unattended, gentlemen, although strangers, are at liberty to offer their services in waiting upon them, for the host and hostess are sufficient guarantees for the respectability of their guests."

In other words, boys.....look after the ladies first.  Don't worry, there will be plenty left for you.

Enjoy your days!

A whole nine days.......

Yes indeedy, the new year is passing.  We won't be able to say 'new' year for much longer, will we?

Progress has been made on the borders of my Canadian quilt, but some un-sewing will also have to happen......just a small amount, but un-sewing nevertheless.  The first idea worked out in my brain was changed, but it should have been left as it was.

Oh well.  Worse things happen at sea, and all that.

When the blocks shown in my last post were made they were laid out, and both my friend's and my brain picked for ideas.  We came to the separate conclusion that they needed a focal point, a centre block, so this was found in an early issue of a now-defunct Aussie magazine and duly made.....and there it has stayed.  The pencil markings for applique placement are still there but the (eventual) Cunning Plan is to add embroidery.  One day.

You know.....when I look at this piece made by me, a person who is a long way from doing beautiful appliqué, it doesn't look too bad.....but some embroidery will improve it.

Fiona has some cute little pinwheels made from leftovers.  We have been corresponding about suitable designs, and this was made several years ago from the leftovers of my blue and yellow quilt.  (It was said at the time that every quilter had at least one blue and yellow quilt in them......it seems I had two)

Those little half square triangles were stored in a shoe box, and every now and then the lid would be taken off and they would be looked at.  More than once they were nearly thrown out, but then I would remember that I paid good money for that fabric.....the lid would be put back on, and the box put back on the shelf.  Fast forward a few years:  a trip to Canada - literally a trip - which resulted in a broken arm and a halt to activities such as sewing and playing guitar, and lots of other Stuff.  Then - those little leftovers came to mind!  One-and-a-half hands could manage to feed them through my Featherweight and make the pinwheels.  EQ7 was pressed into action and this design decided on, fabric was bought, and then packed up for our move from the Big Smoke.  A couple of years later my quilt group challenge was 'to make a quilt from stash' - "aha", I thought, "this is my chance".  There are no pinwheels left; the last three were used on the back.

And, of course, there are still leftovers from the leftover quilt, as there always are.

The music festival which was to have started later this week has been cancelled, just a week before the first notes would have been twanged.  There is much sadness and some relief around town; sadness for the businesses who have lost custom again, and sadness for the musicians whose gigs have been cut off again, but relief that most of the promised hordes won't be descending upon us with their plague germs.  It was the right decision made at the wrong time; in fairness it should have been decided before Christmas to cancel, rather than let people hope the music could go ahead and make their plans.  Although there have been many accommodation cancellations some visitors have already arrived; R.V. and tent campers have started to set up.  Social media tells me that there will be a small number of gigs in a small number of venues, which will hopefully stop too many people being disgruntled.

We will probably continue to stay home as much as we can, and avoid the hysteria and paranoia around the current plague where possible, and live our quiet life.

"Supper.

The supper-room at a ball is thrown open generally at twelve o'clock.  The table is made as elegant as beautiful china, cut-glass and an abundance of flowers can make it.  The hot dishes are oysters, stewed, fried, broiled and scalloped, chicken, game, etc., and the cold dishes such as boned turkey, bœuf à la mode, chicken salad, lobster salad, and raw oysters."

I'm afraid I shall have to stop right there.  Raw oysters......no.  Just no.  In my life I have eaten oysters twice, and both times have been violently ill afterwards.  I cannot, for the life of me, imagine consuming oysters at supper during a ball then standing up for a dance - a waltz, perhaps, or a quadrille - which involves twirling and spinning round the dance floor.  I fear the result would not be pretty.

Enjoy your days!

Happy New Year!

We tell ourselves it will be better than the past two years, don't we.....because it's good to be optimistic, pessimism only drags us down.  Glass half full, and stuff like that.  

As usual no resolutions were made, but as usual there are hopes......

These Aussie-themed blocks have been in my stash forever, and one day they will be made into something.  I did get as far as cutting them out and bordering them with our national colours of green and gold, and have also made a hand-appliquéd block (which still needs embroidery details added) for a centrepiece.

One day......

The old year was finished by making the setting triangles for my house quilt.  First five squares were made, each seven rows of seven 2-1/2 inch squares.....

......then they were cut on the diagonal......

......then they were cut again......

......and, for fun, mixed around.

Each of these triangles, 20 in all, will be for the sides, top and bottom.  Some of the greens are greener than others, but they are all green even if the camera hasn't pick up their green-ness.  Green can be a difficult colour to photograph; many years ago I was a project editor for a quilt magazine and we were cautious about having green quilts submitted and chosen for publication, because photography never did them justice.

Did you all manage to stay awake long enough to farewell the old year?  We didn't, although we did send it on its way with some bubbles - and last night we welcomed in the new year with some more.  Someone somewhere was setting off fireworks on NYE; we could hear them as we lay in bed, but couldn't tell where they came from.  Could have been a very long way away, because sounds travels at night.

Our new year was off to a good start with friends popping in for a visit - so good to catch up, it's been several months!

My new calendars are hanging for us to enjoy.  A friend on Vancouver Island sends a scenic calendar each year with drool-worthy photos which sometimes show a place we have visited, always a bonus!  My sewing room has two calendars from wombat rescue organisations; the calendars are a way of fundraising for them, one I am always happy to support.  One was bought from Rocklily Wombats (I have bought a calendars from them for several years now, one for me and one for our son in Canada) and the other, a gift from our family down south, is from the Native Animal Rescue Group.  All the wombats are gorgeous.  I like wombats.

Our music festival gigs are off, sadly.  The craft market at which we were to perform has been cancelled and we have decided not to do the other concert even if it is held, which at this stage is very doubtful.  With plague numbers fairly high still I don't think the festival itself should go ahead, but the organiser bloke who pops up frequently on the news spruiking its value is adamant that it will.  There have been reports that many people have already cancelled their accommodation bookings and at least one good-sized venue has decided, while it will remain open, not to have any music......because the limited numbers of people currently forced on venues mean that, taking staff wages and other costs into account, they would not make enough money to make it worthwhile.  At the end of the day they are a business, not a charity, and have already lost a lot over the past couple of years.

Sigh.......

"An After-Call.

After a ball, an after-call is due the lady of the house at which you were entertained, and should be made as soon as convenient - within two weeks at the furthest.  The call loses its significance entirely, and passes into remissness, when a longer time is permitted to elapse.  If it is not possible to make a call, send your card or leave it at the door.  It has become customary of late for a lady who has no weekly reception day, in sending invitations to a ball, to inclose her card in each invitation for one or more receptions, in order that the after-calls due her may be made on that day."

Sounds very civilised, doesn't it?  I wonder, though, if those after-ball receptions were hot beds of gossip......"did you see what she was wearing, at her age?"....."that colour did nothing for her complexion, you know"....."did you notice that they danced together three times in a row - can we expect an engagement to be announced?"  

Enjoy your days!

As we wind down to the end of another year......

What a year it has been; some of it good, some not so good.  None of us have a crystal ball to know what's coming next year, do we?  Which, the way the world is now, is probably a Good Thing.

I hope all had a peaceful Christmas with some yummy munchies - we did, for sure.  There are munchies still to be eaten, a much better situation than running out!  My collection of Christmas wombats now has a few new additions too, thanks to our family down south.

Our hot summer weather has eased, for now at least.  A light shower of welcome rain is falling and the air smells clean and fresh.

I am happy with what I managed this year.  Probably more could have been done, but I suspect most of us can say that - yes?  My quilt 'Weeds of Grace' was finished which was quite an achievement, and significent progress made on my Canadian quilt which is ready for borders to be added and quilted.  

Today's messy sewing table.  The green fabrics will be the outer setting triangles for my house quilt; the box on the left holds the completed blocks and the yet-to-be-cut sashing fabric.  The red fabric will be the backing for the borders of my Canadian quilt, the pile of batting in the corner is also for the borders, and the light blue is a tee shirt which needs a sleeve hem restitched because the stitching came undone......don't you hate that?

Progress was also made on a quilt which has been in progress for quite a long time, a quilt of 225 six inch flower basket blocks.  It was started many years ago as a portable project; all 225 blocks were made, then joined into nines.

It has since hung around for a few years because.....just because.  My first thought was to quilt it in blocks then join them (each of those nine basket blocks measures 18 inches square) but I couldn't decide on a design, so it was shelved.  After finishing the hand work on my tumbler quilt I thought....."why not just go for it?"  So the top is being finished by hand, and it will be farmed out to be quilted.  The green backing fabric was bought early in the year; all the print fabrics are florals, many of them containing green, so the green back will tie them all together.  All those 25 blocks of nine have been joined into five rows; joining rows one and two is now my TV project because it's too big to be carted around and it will get even bigger before it's done.

Which is a roundabout way of saying, perhaps a new portable project is needed......a few thoughts are percolating around in my brain......

Music was played, the ukulele group even had two gigs!  We have learned several new songs and had high hopes of two gigs during next month's country music festival, but the mask rule is back in place as are other covid rules - and how can we sing in masks?  At this stage we don't know if our gigs can go ahead at all.

Sigh.......

"Receiving guests.

The custom of the host and hostess receiving together, is not now prevalent.  The receiving devolves upon the hostess, but it is the duty of the host to remain within sight until after the arrivals are principally over, that he may be easily found by any one seeking him.  The same duty devolves upon the sons, who that evening must share their attentions with all.  The daughters, as well as the sons, will look after partners for the young ladies who desire to dance, and they will try to see that no one is neglected before they join the dancers themselves."

Someone interested in social history (a passion of mine too) once remarked to me that back in the 1800s, in Australia at least, if you couldn't or didn't dance there was a very good chance you would not marry.  So much meeting and mingling took place at dances, there were opportunities for flirting and the chance to hold the hand of someone you might fancy without being frowned on, the possibility of fluttering your eyelashes at that nice young feller you fancied (and who you were pretty sure fancied you back) as he steered you around in a ladies' chain.....and if you didn't attend those dances, you would miss out on the chance to find your soul mate.

Enjoy your days!

Done done done!

The last three houses have their surrounds done, just in time for the Big Occasion next weekend.

A musical house......an autumn house.......and a very purple and pink house.  Plus a (quite small) tree with jingly bells, and one of the Christmas wombats.

The black and white fabrics can be packed away until another idea for them takes root in my brain, and the green setting triangles can be made.

The borders for the Canadian quilt have all been cut out, as is the border backing.  Now to see if my quilt-as-you-go idea works.

Just in time for Christmas, summer is here with a vengeance.  We have enjoyed a fairly mild spring because of rain, but Mother Nature is making up for lost time this week.  I am not a great fan of summer....it's something to be endured rather than enjoyed.

The fat bloke in the red suit is out and about - I feel sorry for him in this heat, I'm sure he would love to swap his fur-lined boots for sandals, and his pants and jacket for shorts and tee shirt.  To say nothing of the beard and hat; a wide-brimmed hat is far more practical in summer for keeping the sun off one's face.  If I was a reindeer I would go on strike in this heat.

Early in the week Kevin, Bianca the geriatric white cat, and yours truly were peacefully minding our own business when we heard a loud thud.....what could it be, we wondered?  The neighbouring kids had been in their pool earlier, but were quiet by then; Kevin took a trot outside, walked around, listened - nothing seemed amiss.  While checking a local weather page on social media a short while later I found out that the noise was caused by a gas explosion way over on the other side of town; a large cylinder of liquid nitrogen had exploded and been blown into the air, flying quite high until gravity took over and down it came.  One person had minor injuries, fortunately no one else was hurt.  The shockwave caused by the bang was heard over a wide area on this side of the river and was the cause of the 'thud' we heard.  The bloke who runs the weather page lives not far away from the site, and the soaring cylinder captured by his weather camera was shown on the evening news.

Just around the corner from there is a cemetery in which some of my family rests.....I wonder if any of them rolled over with the shock?

Sometimes the retired life is far too exciting......

Continuing our quote:

"Introductions at a ball.

Introductions take place in a ball-room in order to provide ladies with partners, or between persons residing in different cities.  In all other cases permission is asked before giving introductions.  But where a hostess is sufficiently discriminating in the selection of her guests, those assembled under her roof should remember that they are, in a certain sense, made known to one another, and ought, therefore, to be able to converse freely without introductions."

It's quite a long chapter, so is better broken up for our weekly quote.

Enjoy your days!