Yee har!

Yep, the country music has come to town......however it is fun, and some of the sights - oh, my goodness.  We know it's been hot (very hot indeed, actually; the severe heatwave conditions this week have been making life difficult) but perhaps not so much bare flesh hanging out would have been nice.

We have attended a couple of concerts and spent quite a bit of time sitting chatting with our musical guest, putting the world to rights.  He leaves tomorrow, and he has presented us with some tasty Stuff for drinking - Baileys for me, Irish whiskey for Kevin - to remember him by.

Our Tuesday night gig went off better than we hoped, but I still don't like playing outdoors.  Over the years I have had my share of music stands blowing over in the wind, music blowing off stands, insects buzzing around, rain storms forcing the event to be cancelled even while performing, the one and only electrical plug for all the sound gear being accidentally pulled out of the socket, freezing cold winds, you name it, I have played in it.  It was windy on Tuesday so I suppose we were lucky that our stands didn't blow over, I managed to grab mine a few times just before it fell.  Oh well, the audience liked us.  If we sign up for that gig again I will be investing in a heavy duty music stand; I have folding stands one of which is heavier than the others, I nearly took it.....of course 20 minutes out of town it was breezier than here at home so I should have done so.....we'll know better next time.

Very few stitches have been taken this week, and most of them were on Tuesday during my regular volunteer shift at a gallery.  It's always interesting at the gallery during country music time because we gat a lot of visitors from other parts of Australia (and occasionally even overseas), and this week there has been music.  I was lucky enough to be able to listen to a wonderful gallery concert by some local performers I hadn't heard before, although I had heard of them.

With nothing to show for the week, let's see what we can find in the picture vaults.

On Friday we celebrated Australia Day.  While many people like the idea of having a national day there are also people who feel that it marks a day when the land now called Australia was invaded by Europeans to the detriment of the indigenous population, so there is a growing cry every year to "change the date".  Well......yes, and no; changing to another date will not erase the fact that invasion and its consequences happened, which seems to be the thinking of many people.  "If we celebrate on another date it won't be celebrating an invasion" they seem to think.  Ah....no, I don't think it works like that.....

Regardless of which date is celebrated, Australia is the best country in the world - because we have wombats!  This little feller was the first in my collection, over 25 years ago.

I was visiting my mother here in the Small Smoke a couple of years before she died (25 years this August, which is how I know the wombat's age) when we stopped for a cuppa at a long-gone café/gift shop/plant nursery, and this wombat called to me.  I succumbed to the call, and so began an interesting - still ongoing - collection.

Taken on an autumn day when we were paused for roadworks, while travelling the Mid Western Highway between Cowra and Bathurst.  We were on our way home from Canberra.

So peaceful......

Very few stitches were made, but plinking and singing was done.  Words were read.  Many words were spoken and listened to, many cuppas consumed, with our musical friend.  Out we go for the hunting and gathering, and so passes another week.

However, I do have hopes to achieve something - anything! - this coming week.

Continuing with Etiquette of Public Places, Conduct in Church.  We will combine two, as both are short.

"It is courteous to see that visitors are provided with books, and if the service is strange to them, the places for the day's reading should be indicated.

It is perfectly proper to offer to share the prayer-book or hymn-book with a stranger if there is no separate book for his use."

Yes, indeed.  It is easy to lose one's place during the service when one is unfamiliar with its form.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Melting moments again

Not the sweet treat, just the weather.  There is a severe heatwave forecast for the coming week which will be unpleasant, but hey.....it, too, will eventually pass.  At least we had some good rain a few days ago, although campers setting up tents and vans for the country music festival probably didn't enjoy it as much as the locals. 

This morning's gospel breakfast went off well, but could have been better organised.  Other performers took their sweet time getting ready......oh, perhaps I'll do this song.....oh no, I'll do that one instead.....come on, folks, you know you will be performing.  Is it too much to hope that you will be ready when it's your turn?  As for those two singers who had their karaoke machine and fancy microphones with them, the less said the better.  It is possible to sing in tune without spoiling a song, you know.

Oh well.  Onward and upward.

Next performance is on Tuesday evening, also out of town.  Being outside on what will probably be quite a warm night won't be too bad; we have already wised up to taking along insect repellant.  It should be much more lively than this morning's gig.  We have been told that we are tight performers - which is a compliment, as it means we don't dither around.  

No sewing has happened this week apart from a few stitches in some diamonds, but that will change again after Tuesday night.  Words have been read.  It has been a busy week with not much to show.  Many notes have been plinked and sung, but once they are done and sent out into the air they are gone forever with nothing to show for them.  The usual hunting and gathering has been indulged in.....although shopping for the necessities of life isn't really an indulgence, is it?

Recently I was thinking deep thoughts about finishing the house quilt once the outer green borders have been added.  Binding....well no, not green.  Not yellow, there is almost nothing left of the yellow and black sashing or I would use it.  Black and white.....yes!  In my stash is a goodly amount of a black and white plaid; it was used to bind another quilt a few years ago, and I think - I hope - it will make an excellent binding for this, too.

This is the extra wide backing fabric purchased some time ago, the uneven plaid will be cut on the bias for binding, and the multicoloured Valdani stranded floss will be used to embroider a fun label.  It couldn't be sourced locally so was purchased from a very helpful shop in another state, Sew Bright Alpine Quilting in Bright.  We haven't been to Bright for years, it's quite a pretty town.

During the week my so-far-borderless house quilt came with me to sewing group to be admired; not everyone in that group is a quilter, but everyone sews.  Our oldest member (in her mid-80s) remarked on how cheerful it was, she specially liked the black and white fabrics bordering the houses.  "I wouldn't have thought to do that", she said; "I would have probably used a neutral colour".  So I said......"and wouldn't that have been boring?"  "Oh, yes!" she said.

Continuing with Etiquette of Public Places, Conduct in Church:

"If books or fans are passed in church, let them be offered and accepted or refused with a silent gesture of the head."

One does not need to pass, accept or refuse a book or fan noisily, does one?  A nod of the head, with or without a smile, is sufficient.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

I can see clearly now!

That would make a good song title, wouldn't it?  Oh, wait......hmmmm.....

My new glasses were collected a few days ago, and now all is clear.  Deep teal and sort-of-bronze, with more of those details on the arms.  They are quite pretty, with a slight Art Deco styling.

Much to the interest of the staff I took along a needle, thread and fabric to try the new glasses before bringing them home, and yes - they worked!

With my spiffy new specs, I should be able to read a menu correctly too.

A couple of weeks ago we met up with a friend for lunch at a pub not far from here - when you live in a country town, an hour is considered "not far" - and when perusing the menu I thought is said "bananas and mash".  Well, no....it was "bangas and mash".  For the non-Ozzies "bangers" (the usual spelling) are sausages (definitely not hot dogs) grilled or broiled, and mash is of course mashed potato.  It is usually served with copious amounts of gravy, and sometimes "dead horse" - tomato sauce.  Not ketchup.  We don't do ketchup.  

The week hasn't entirely slipped by, some sewing has happened, and the quilting on my musical hanging is done.  Now the edges need to be stitched and trimmed, then it can be bound with the dark yellow fabric shown; it picks up the yellow in a couple of the music notes, and will add a bright touch to the edge.

Nothing fancy about the quilting, just some lines echoing the design.  Perhaps they are sound waves.  It's supposed to be a guitar - tenor guitars (and ukuleles!) have four strings, so we will say it's a tenor with slightly crooked strings.  Once it is bound and hanging on the wall it will look like a true work of genius.  I hope.

Diamonds have been sewn, and more cut.  Words have been read.  Notes have been plinked and sung in readiness for an annual gig next Sunday morning at silly early o'clock, for a gospel breakfast at a small church just out of town; the folk who run the church are all nice people, and they like our songs.  The usual foray for hunting and gathering has taken place, and that's it for another week.

Our next caravan trip away will be in March, so thoughts need to be thought about a knitting project to take along.  It's over 700 kms from here to Canberra by the most direct route - which we don't always take anyway - so that is a lot of knitting time.  There is some bewdiful new yarn waiting in my stash for inspiration to strike......cardy or jumper, jumper or cardy......

Recently while eating our way through (chocolate chip!) shortbread, part of a Christmas gift, I wondered why shortbread seems to be associated with New Year, so looked it up......and yes, it is, particularly in Scotland.  Shortbread was once considered quite a delicacy, and Hogmanay - New Year - used to be an important celebration in Scotland; indeed, it still is in many places.  Of course a celebratory occasion calls for celebratory food, and so the association between New Year and shortbread was started.

Last night we watched two parts of a documentary on railways of the world.  The first part was set in Scotland, but we weren't provided with subtitles or an interpreter.....those Highland Scottish accents were very thick and broad......just because we speak the same language (sort of, more or less) doesn't mean to say we can understand each other.  The scenery was pretty, so we just watched it roll by and picked up the occasional word as best we could.  Part two was in California, we had no trouble with that!

Once again the rain has passed us by, but we have hopes - which may be doomed to disappointment, but we can always hope - for the coming week.  We might be doing that rain dance yet.

Continuing with Etiquette of Public Places, Conduct in Church:

"Do not turn around in your seat to gaze at anyone, to watch the choir, to look over the congregation or to see the cause of any disturbing noise."

No, not at all.  Eyes front, and all that.  Not even if something untoward occurs.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

 

Happy New Year!

Here we are - a week into 2024 already.  Every time you write 2024 it gets easier, doesn't it?  Each year we have to retrain the old brain to change that end number, but it's doing well this year.

So....new year, new(ish) project.

Last Tuesday at quilt group the centre block of my quilt was made.

Lurve those autumn tones; my birthday is in early May, autumn in Australia, perhaps that's why I like them so much.

Some of the work for the next round was also done, these half-square triangle units were made.  A few are laid out here to show how it will go together.

The following round uses some leaf blocks and some half-square triangle blocks, and also uses four inch wide strips of.....

one of these two fabrics.  Much as I love the bright reds, golds and greens of the fabric on the left, I think I will use the softer gold/brown toned fabric for those strips.  Further into the quilt there is a 1/4 inch wide 'peeper' border, so those brighter colours will be ideal for that.

However, it needs a name.  The original quilt in the magazine is called 'Groundcover', but I'm not sure I love that enough to use it for my quilt.  'Leaf litter' isn't quite right, either.....'Leaf Mulch', noooo.......never mind.  No doubt something suitable will pop into my mind, one day.

My musical hanging has also been having some work done.  The applique pieces are stitched down and quilted in one step, so that has been happening....some of the narrow strips are a little fiddly-diddly to do, but once they are done there won't be much left to do.  It has been sitting on my working/cutting table for too long and other Stuff was starting to pile on top of it, so it's time it was done.

Diamonds have been joined, and more have been cut.  Words have been read.  Not one note has been plinked or sung, although that will change tomorrow when uke group resumes.  We have hunted and gathered, and so has passed the first week of the year.

It was also time for my annual eye exam, it happened earlier than usual this year because I have been noticing a deterioration in my vision.  So - off to the optometrist; the usual tests were performed and my eye health is good, for which I am thankful.  I have a slow-growing cataract on my left eye which has been noticeable for a few years but it's not to the stage of needing surgery, I was told it may not be for several years yet - but I did need a new prescription for reading glasses, so they are being made.  The dreaded shopping for frames was undertaken (all that trying on and looking in the mirror gives me the heeby jeebies) and new ones selected, not an easy task this year as the current style of thicker plastic frames does not appeal to me at all.  We wore those back in the 1990s because that's all there was, but I don't feel they suit my face at all.  This year's choice is a deep teal - almost nearly not quite green but close enough; I didn't really love any of the green frames on offer except for one which didn't fit my head, so they were out of the question - and hopefully in a week or so they should be ready, and my eyes will be pleased.

Storms have been hanging around us but no rain has fallen here on the hill, not a drop, not a dribble, not a spit.  We could do with some, so let's hope the coming week's forecast rain does, indeed, happen.  We might have to go outside and perform a rain dance, and the world is not yet ready for that.

Continuing with Etiquette of Public Places, Conduct in Church:

"A person should never leave church until the services are over, except in some case of emergency."

No, indeed.  You would be the cynosure of all eyes, and that is not necessarily a good thing in church.

Not such a good way to end the year, but well......

 This afternoon I typed out the final post for the year but somehow my fingers hit more than one key at once......and my post disappeared into cyberspace.

Oh, well.  We'll try again.

Earlier in the week the top - so far - of the house quilt was finished.  The holiday break wasn't spent in idleness, you know.

It still needs borders.  I am thinking - perhaps two rows of 2-1/2 in random strips, and that should finish the edges nicely.

The purple house with orange roof was the first block made, nearly four years ago, so it has a place of honour on the bottom right hand corner.

A few years ago I was looking through some magazines ("free to good home") when a quilt in my beloved autumn tones caught my eye.  I took the magazine home - only to find out it was already in my collection!  It's a now-defunct Australian magazine published in 2007.

Fabrics were selected....an easy task, because I have quite a stash of autumn prints.....and all the cutting was done.  Using the 'leaders and enders' system all the half-square triangles were made, both small and larger.  The 15 autumn blocks required for the pattern were made.......

.....and there it sat.

It is coming out of hibernation to be taken to quilt group on Tuesday because there will be lots of mindless piecing, something easy to do when chatting is happening.  The original quilt had green leaves, yellow leaves, red leaves - but as you can see, I have mixed my fabrics around.  These four blocks (or perhaps a different four, yet to be decided) will form the centre of the medallion style quilt.  There are still borders to be cut as every round or two is bordered, but I will start the piecing and let the quilt tell me which of the border choices it would like as we go along.

How was everyone's Christmas?  Ours was quiet although we did lash out and cook a small turkey roll, enough for two with some leftovers.  A glass of bubbly with it, and we were happy.  We spoke to our Canberra son and enjoyed opening the package he sent which included a fun calendar of wombats doing - of all things - yoga, which will hang in my sewing room.  The wombat paintings are by Lenny Pelling, and you would have to be a sad sack indeed if those pictures didn't make you laugh, or at least smile.

Last day of 2023 today, or Hogmanay for those of us with Scottish blood in our veins.  Mine comes from my father through his mother (my Posh Melbourne Grandmother Florence), then her father, my great-grandfather, born in Australia in the early 1840s to Scottish immigrant parents.  Contact with that side of my family was severed by them in the early 1970s, and although it was later picked up by my brothers I have had none since then.

As usual I do not plan to make new year resolutions, although I do have hopes of accomplishing a few things.  We can always dream.....

Diamonds have been joined, and some cut.  Words have been read.  Seasonal hunting and gathering has happened in order that we may not starve, and so it goes.

Continuing with Etiquette of Public Places, Conduct in Church:

"Ladies always take the inside seats, and gentlemen the outside or head of the pew.  When a gentleman accompanies a lady, however, it is customary for him to sit by her side during church services."

Have you seen the fashions of the mid-1880s, when these words were written?  Although the wide crinoline was no longer worn the styles were quite elaborate (over-elaborate in many cases) which would have made it difficult, if not impossible, for two ladies to pass in narrow pews.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

No matter where you are.....

.....and no matter what you celebrate at this time - even if you don't celebrate anything at all - best wishes for a season of love and peace.

And chocolate.  Good quality dark chocolate.

And perhaps a glass or two of bubbly.

And music, and of course wombats!

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

Well....it works!

How have you all been this week?  It is still quite warm here - one might even say it is hot, which it is - and today is hazy and smokey.  There are fires two or three hours west of here and smoke is drifting this way, so the air outside has a tinge of gold.  It's good weather to stay indoors, because being outside is probably unhealthy..

My idea about slicing and dicing the blocks shown in the last post actually works, which makes me happy!

The original block.  This pic will be added to the written instructions handed out to the quilt group next month.

When the blocks come back to me (doesn't matter if it takes a few months, there's no hurry) they will be cut on the diagonal and the colours mixed around.

Then two of those triangles will be joined with a one inch strip of black solid, and voila - we have a new block!

  This pic makes it look rectangular, but it isn't.  My ruler tells me it is definitely square.  Because there will be several seams coming together they will be sashed with plain black, and I am hoping the effect will be of stained glass.

Needs some green, doesn't it......

For the last sewing group meeting for this year one of our members showed us how to make an origami tree.  We had to take along a square of paper and our paper scissors....not the Good Scissors, no!......and we folded, cut, folded some more, snipped some more, and this is the result.  I used Christmas wrap which looks good when finished, although it was more fiddly to work with than a stiffer paper would be.

Should you wish to make your own, or perhaps need to entertain a younger person during the holiday break by making a tree with them, here are instructions and a video for you. 

The silly season is upon us.  A few nights ago we were watching something forgettable when an ad break came on, so of course the mute button was pressed.  (We don't enjoy having ads blasted at us.....they are always far too loud.)  An ad came on for a barbeque griller thingy, the well-known brand starting with W, they don't pay me to advertise so I won't name them. The grills come in different sizes, and this ad was for a 'baby' one. The young couple in the ad looked the part, he was smiling proudly at the new small grill while she, gazing adoringly at her man's prowess with the tongs, was holding a small child. Quite a young child. Just then the 'baby BBQ" writing flashed up on the screen, and I lost it completely. Nearly-fell-off-my-chair-laughing lost it.

Well.....what else would you cook on a baby BBQ?

Yesterday I put that on my facebook page and one person (who must have had a sense of humour bypass) took it seriously. "Oh no, they shouldn't imply that" she said.......truly......

A fun week this week with a couple of end-of-year functions. A 'thank you to our lovely volunteers' party at the gallery where I do my monthly shift; my last shift for the year will be coming up on Tuesday. My new-to-me recently op-shopped red bag made its first appearance, and looks like being very useful.

Thursday was lunch and a final play for the year with the U3A ukulele group. I was surprised and touched when both the leader and I were each presented with a lovely hand-made card signed by the members and a 'thank you for your help with the music' gift; it was totally unexpected but very appreciated, and the hand-written messages in the card are a delight to read.

Words have been read.  Diamonds have been joined, and (finally!) more have been cut.  Notes have been plinked and sung.  We have hunted and gathered, and so another week has passed.  Hi ho, and so we go.

Continuing with Etiquette of Public Places, Conduct in Church:

"It is ill-mannered to be late at church.  If one if unavoidably late, it is better to take a pew as near the door as possible."

Indeed.  In fact, it is ill-mannered to be late nearly anywhere, although we understand that traffic can be unpredictable.....especially at this time of year.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer