Slow and painful

That is me, typing on the computer.

I am trying to make the best of my enforced 'leisure', but oh.....it's boring; just imagine no sewing or knitting, no playing ukulele, no cooking or food prep or housework - well, that's a silver lining, isn't it.  So far my arm hasn't fallen off, my black eye is healing as are all the other bruises on my left wrist, right elbow, right ribs.....bruises in places I didn't know I had places.  The plaster on my right arm is heavy and cumbersome, but hopefully my broken bits are healing inside it.

On to happier things.

Another quilt I photographed at the antique quilt exhibition was this one, because I liked the fabrics.  

Some of the fabrics are similar to those in the Rajah quilt, not surprising given that they are nearly from the same era.

The backing fabric is very exuberant.

This, we were told, is 'Sir Loin' who stands proudly outside a pub just north of Canberra, where we ate a couple of times.

He's quite "incredi-bull", isn't he!  We admire people who make art pieces from old metal; I don't know what he's made from, but he is very well done.....and quite large.

One place we found to eat on our trip south from Canberra was a café in Gundagai, a small town with an interesting history.  I can remember, on trips to visit my Posh Melbourne Grandparents, calling into the Niagara Café....and it's still there!  Many Ozzie towns had cafés opened and run by Greek immigrants from the early 20th century onward, and this is one; although the original family no longer owns it it is still run by a Greek family, and still does good food and wonderful caramel milkshakes.  The decor has been restored to look as it would have done in the 1930s....talk about a trip down memory lane, and a slice of history.

There is not much to report this week.  Words have been read.  Medical visits have happened, more are to come.  That's about it, really.

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

"If it is a promenade concert or opera, the lady may be invited to promenade during the intermission.  If she declines, the gentleman must retain his position by her side."

Indeed.  She may be feeling like quietly pondering on the music she has been listening to, or she may be feeling poorly.  She may even have a broken arm.

Enjoy your days!

Jennifer

In which Stuff has happened

Another week draws to its close - or does it?  Depends on whether you regard Sunday or Monday as the start to the week, doesn't it?  Our week starts on Monday, so our weekend is Saturday and Sunday.

A momentous occasion during the week - we shouted ourselves lunch out, at a favourite Chinese restaurant.  Tables were spaced out and we were told where to sit; at no time did we feel concerned.  Yes, I could have made Chinese-style food at home, and indeed often have......but it was so good to sit down and order, and have my meal put in front  of me, and not to have to clear it away after.  Besides, I can't make honey chicken and fried rice as well as that restaurant can.

Even bought myself some new shoes, my older ones are getting somewhat tired so called in to the shoe shop near the Chinese restaurant.  Found some casual black slip-ons in my size; my feet like them, my eyes like them, and best of all......they were half price!  I really don't like shopping for shoes, but that's now done.

My Ontario runner is being quilted, there's not much more to go, it will be bound.......and then it will be done.  Tumblers are still being joined.  Stitches are occasionally knitted on the scarf.  Books are being read.  Some TV is watched.  That's about it for our week, really.

We need a picture, and I realised recently when pics were scrolling through our computer that this one has never before been shown on my blog.

Before I retired I worked in the library of a girls' school, and one of my colleagues was also a quilter.  When one of our librarians announced that she was having a baby we decided, of course, to make her a quilt.  She knew she was having a boy but swore us to secrecy - even her husband didn't know - so we kept away from a lot of pink without making it too boy-boofy; it would have worked for a boy or girl.  We both raided our stashes for I-spy prints, put it together, and I quilted and bound it.  When it was presented to its new owner's mummy she was delighted.

Earlier in the week I even braved the mirror at the hairdresser (they are always unflatteringly brightly lit, aren't they? and you have to keep looking at your reflection, which is a bit of a worry) for a trim.  Last trim was in mid-March just as our world was shutting down, but the joy of having long hair is not needing regular trims.  My hair is now the shortest it has been for goodness knows how long, it just clears my shoulders.  Takes a bit of getting used to after so many years, and I've decided I really do prefer it longer......however, it will grow again.

One can't avoid noticing that nearly every second person who sews seems to making masks for the current plague epidemic.  I will not be making any.  There is saturation coverage on news reports, in fact the bulletin is often more than half over before we get to find out what else is happening in the world - and then we are being told "look after your mental health while all this is happening"!  Yes, I know it's serious, but I refuse to dwell on it to the detriment of my well-being, which is why my sewing room will not be used for the making of masks.  I will buy them if we are told that we cannot stick our noses outside without one, but I will not make any.

Continuing on from last week's quote:
"The manner in which a favor is granted or a kindness done, often affects us more than the deed itself.  The deed may have been prompted by vanity, pride, or some selfish motive or interest; the warmth or coldness with which the person who has done it speaks to you, or grasps your hand, is less likely to deceive.  The manner of doing anything, it has been truly said, is that which stamps its life and character on any action.  A favor may be performed so grudgingly as to prevent any feeling of obligation, or it may be refused so courteously as to awaken more kindly feelings than if it had been ungraciously granted."

I am inclined to agree, having been on the receiving end of an ill-mannered act.

Enjoy your days!

We have had visitors!

Such a rare thing these days, except for the electricians who recently installed a couple of lights.  These were proper visitors, friends on their way home from visiting family.  It was so good to see them, and to sit and chat for a while, and to enjoy coffee and a nice slice together.  For the non-Aussies, a 'slice' is what you would call sweet bars or squares.  This recipe is very forgiving; so long as you use the correct weight of fruit it doesn't matter what the fruit is, you can even throw in some walnuts or pecans for variety.  This morning's was a mix of sultanas, chopped dates and dried cranberries and is very nice. 

Aren't these gorgeous mugs?  They came all the way from Canada - thank you, Rose Marie!  They are even sitting on Canadian fabric.

We certainly needed that coffee to warm us, this morning was freezy frosty chilly.  It was cooler than towns north of here which are usually much colder than we are!  We even had frost on the front lawn; I don't remember that happening for the past couple of years because there was so little moisture in the air thanks to the drought, but not so this year.  We have already had several frosts on the hill, and winter is a long way from being over.

The mindless feeding through of fabric continues in the sewing room.  More leaves have been made, only two left to go now, and lots of these blocks are done.  This is the start of over 300 required for the design.....all lovely autumn colours.

Once the leaves are done it will be put aside for a while as the blocks on my Canadian quilt are calling my name.  Lots and lots of applique stitching down to be done on those; to make it easy I will use poly thread, otherwise the thread colour changes would give me the heeby jeebies.

Some music notes have been plinked.  Playing by oneself is nowhere near as much fun as playing with others, but it's better than not playing at all, isn't it?  My finger callouses have softened so they need to be worked on to toughen them again.......which means playing more than I have been.

Our world is opening up.  During the height of the plague we had no trouble getting a parking spot right outside our pharmacy, but no longer.  However, we're still keeping cautious for a while yet.

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

Indeed.  It is still possible to be polite while maintaining the required social distance, as we need to currently do.

Enjoy your days!

Time for the autumn leaves

Now that the tree hanging is done, it's time for one of my favourite pastimes - mindlessly feeding fabric through the machine.

A couple of years ago while going through some 'free to good home' magazines at a local quilt shop a front-cover project caught my eye.....can't resist those autumn colours......so it came home with me.  All the fabrics have been cut for a while, some half square triangles sewn as leaders and enders then trimmed to size.  One hundred and twenty 2-1/2 inch squares are a wee bit fiddly-diddly to trim - not all at once, thank goodness - but they are now all done.  Then 15 stems had to be made, because there are 15 leaves.  This will be the first one, pieces are laid out ready to be joined.

The magazine design (an issue from 2007 of a now defunct Aussie magazine) had the leaves all in shades of one colour, all red, all green, etc., but I like my autumn leaves mixed, so mixed they shall be.  Just like leaves are in real life.  Lots of different backgrounds (but no white, the corner piece is actually a pale beige print) and lots and lots of leaf prints, many of which are souvenirs from Canadaian trips.

Then.....would you believe it?  While going through magazines recently to sort out what to keep and what to give to the Rotary Club book shed I found I already had that magazine!  The spare copy has now been donated along with other books and magazines, and a couple of books from the Rotary Club book shed came home with me in return.  We have all missed the Book Shed which has, of course, been closed for a few months but is now open again.

Every town needs a Book Shed.  It's a place for us to donate our unwanted books, magazines, CDs, DVDs, jigsaw puzzles.......and a place to buy more.  Yesterday my $5 bought me two good quilt books (each of which probably cost up to $40 new, and they are both only a few years old) and a CD, and the money raised goes to support various worthy causes.

Welcome to Frédérique from France, the first time I have had a French visitor to my blog!  

What do you think of the new Blogger?  Looks like it is being forced on us whether we want it or not, so I might as well give it a try.  No use postponing the inevitable, is there.  

Today is the winter solstice, the day of the year with the least amount of sunlight.  Pretty right too; it's been a cold grey day with a few showers, a good day to stay indoors and sew.  Or look at those two new books on scrappy quilts.  Or veg out on the computer.

"Always recognize acquaintances.

One should always recognize lady acquaintances in the street, either by bowing or words of greeting, a gentleman lifting his hat.  If they stop to speak, it is not obligatory to shake hands.  Shaking hands is not forbidden, but in most cases it is to be avoided in public."

Looks like that answers last week's question, doesn't it?  Of course, when that was written in 1885 people - most ladies and many gentlemen - would have worn gloves in public, so no touching of actual hands would have taken place.

Enjoy your days!

One thousand and eleven

That's how many pieces need to be cut for the elephant......er, the quilt......that is currently on the chopping board.  Out of curiosity I counted up the various labelled baggies; 120 of this, 90 of that, 333 of something else, etc.  I am really enjoying going through my Big Bin of autumn print fabrics, it brings back many memories; a lot have been bought on our trips to Canada while others have been in the stash for longer.

Never mind.  The cutting out will eventually get done, then I can have the fun of mindlessly feeding fabrics through the machine - definitely a favourite pastime.

Last Friday afternoon the uke group played for the 30th birthday of a support group for people who have suffered a stroke, and many nice things were said to us and about us.  One compliment we are often paid is "you look as though you are having fun" which we do - we are having a lot of fun!  Next Sunday we are back at a market day at a small church just out of town, then we can sit back and heave a sign of relief......but not for long.  We have several gigs coming up to Christmas, which will be upon us before we know it.

Proof that it has indeed rained since we came here - this was a few months after we moved in, a view of the hill behind us.  Those plants must have been knee to hip height, maybe even taller.

 Wet stuff!  Actual wet rain on the garden!

 Although this wasn't taken recently, the view hasn't changed.......it's still dry and brown now.

Sigh......it will eventually rain again.  We just don't know when.

Yesterday afternoon the boat was well and truly pushed out here - I baked a cake!  I used this recipe, but used an eight inch tin and gave it 45 minutes in the oven.  It also has a streusel topping of flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, walnuts and melted butter, but for some reason the topping soaked into the cake as it baked.  I may have overdone the amount of butter......but all is well, as usually that topping falls off instead of sitting nicely on top.  Instead of using the spices in the recipe I dipped into my little container of ready-made pumpkin pie spice mix bought last year in Canada.  There are many recipes online to make your own spice mix, but I thought I would try the real thing.  As we can't buy tine of pumpkin pie filling here I made my own by chopping a pumpkin (Japanese, from memory) into chunks and roasting it in the oven for half an hour or so with the skin still on.  No oil, no seasoning, nothing like that.  When it was done and had cooled the skin was peeled off and it was puréed in the food processor, then stored in self-seal bags - one cup per bag, most recipes seem to use one cup - in the freezer until the mood took me to use them.

Should you feel like joining me in the boat for a bite of something delicious I can recommend it.  Sometimes I make cupcakes with this recipe, but usually it's a bigger cake as it goes further......12 cupcakes is 12 cupcakes, but an eight inch cake can be cut into more than 12 slices.

"The beard.
Those who shave should be careful to do so every morning.  Nothing looks worse than a shabby beard.  Some persons whose beards are strong should shave twice a day, especially if they are going to a party in the evening."

A gentleman probably shouldn't eat cake while wearing a beard, as it would be a shame to waste even the tiniest crumb......which, of course, leaves more for the rest of us.

Enjoy your days!

Back to nearly normal

We arrived home a week ago but have been busy since then, and I have been reclining on my bed of pain and suffering.  However, the lurgy seems to be on its way out the door, the fractured foot which has come back to haunt me is being treated, and all is slowly getting better with the world.

We had a good time - and would you believe, slacko that I am, no photos were taken?   Not one?  Probably because we have been to Canberra so often, and to the towns en route, that it would need to be something special to make me get out the camera.

Never mind......here are some pics taken on previous trips of some of the towns we drove through or stayed at.  This is the Japanese Gardens at Cowra, in the late afternoon.

 A pale camellia against one of the big rocks in the garden.

 Bathurst, which has lovely parks and gorgeous historic buildings.....

 .......and Sofala, a former gold rush town.  This magnificent tree 'disappeared' one night, taken down by a couple of locals with a chainsaw because they didn't like it, and Sofala today is much emptier without its canopy.

 We had an extra day on the way south and stayed in Cowra for two nights instead of the usual one, to see a quilt exhibition at the local regional gallery.  This tells you a little about it - the exhibition has now finished, but you can see one of the quilts.  Something not seen at many quilt exhibitions was the number of men present, both accompanying their female partner and on their own; perhaps the idea of recuperating soldiers making quilts and military tailors sewing was of interest to them.  It was really amazing and we are so glad to have had the chance to see those quilts and read their stories.

The costume exhibition from "The Dressmaker" was not large, but wonderful.......oh, those frocks!  Most of them silk, either vintage or newly made from vintage fabrics.  Sigh.......

In past years we have stayed on in Canberra at Exhibition Park, the site of the folk festival, but this year we were told to clear out by lunchtime on the Tuesday straight after Easter.  Scram.  Vamoose.  Seems the site was booked for a rock festival the following weekend and we didn't want to be around for that anyway, so we moved to Yass for a further week and commuted to Canberra as we needed to.

A little retail therapy was indulged in.......

 ......the black and white prints are for the background of a quilt, and the orange batik was just because I loved it.

Aren't these gorgeous flowers?  They arrived yesterday while we were out at lunch, a birthday gift from Young Euan and his parents.  He is four now and is shooting up like a weed after rain, with an interest in super heroes and fantasy characters - his father's son all over again.

That's a little of what we have been up to over the past few weeks.

"How to have shoes made.

The great fault with modern shoes is that their soles are made too narrow.  If one would secure perfect healthfulness of the feet he should go to the shoemaker and step with his stockinged feet on a sheet of paper.  Let the shoemaker mark with a pencil upon the paper the exact size of his foot, and then make him a shoe whose sole shall be as broad as this outlined foot."

Not a word about having a rigid heavy moon boot - not the most comfy shoe I have ever worn - made for a fractured foot, you notice.

Enjoy your days!

It's 2019 - Happy New Year!

We made it to midnight last night, wished each other happy new year, then went to bed.  Not bad for two Olde Phartes who don't usually keep late hours.

Let's hope it's a good year full of great stuff like love and happiness and some excellent coffee and chocolate, because the world turns more smoothly when it's lubricated with chocolate.

Day one of the year, and I am looking at a quilt I designed 18 months ago (after the Lesser Flood, before the Great Flood) and which has now been changed slightly, being inspired by a quilt seen in Canada.  While I didn't go overboard with the fabric purchases on our travels a judicious amount was bought, some of it black and white with this quilt in mind.  Now the design has been refined on EQ7 and printed out, and I am gobsmacked by its amazingness.  Because it's foundation pieced it won't be a quick make, but it will be worked on from time to time during the year......and before we know, it will be finished.

Meanwhile, the charity challenge quilt mentioned last week will get done.  Pieces are all cut out, the gold/orange solid idea has been dropped in favour of the random orange spot, and it will be quite bright when complete. 

How about a chuckle from Canada.

 The slightly indistinct hand-written sign (it was a drizzly day) says "local squirrel carver"; it was a few days before Halloween, so houses and shops were decorated with pumpkins.  A local squirrel obviously thought it could do a better carving job than a human could, what do you think?

Here's Captain Harry.......

 ......and here's Captain Harry's sign.

 Here's Captain Harry in 2012.  He looks much happier in his new incarnation, but he was wonderfully weathered and lugubrious in those days.  I'm not so sure that I like his sanitised spick-and-span look as much as the old style!

He's not even hanging onto his wheel in the same way.....his new boat must steer differently to the old one.  I reckon Captain Harry has been slurping from the fountain of youth.

When the bloke who shares one's life likes to watch summer sports - mostly cricket and tennis - one realises just how much sport is shown on TV.  Far too much, in one's humble but very honest opinion.  It all becomes interminable, and it goes on forever too.  However one has an agreement with said bloke whereby he watches TV with the sound off, and I listen to a classical music station instead of the inane commentary and drivel which usually accompanies these sports, and we are both happy. 

Now that the rush and bustle of Christmas and new year is over it's time to knuckle down to some uke practice.  It's nearly three weeks until our gospel gig and, while the songs are all familiar, a little playing beforehand is probably a good idea.

"Requisites for a good talker.
To be a good talker then, one should be possessed of much general information, acquired by keen observation, attentive listening, a good memory, extensive reading and study, logical habits of thought, and have a correct knowledge of the use of language.  He should also aim at a clear intonation, well-chosen phraseology and correct accent.  These acquirements are within the reach of every person of ordinary ability, who has a determination to possess them, and the energy and perseverance to carry out that determination."

This is indeed so, and something that I wish the weekday morning announcer on the classical music station would take note.  I don't mind that he has an accent - Scottish, not too broad - I do mind that he mumbles, stumbles and fumbles every morning.  If I wasn't such a nice person I would reach into the radio and give him a severe whack around the back of his mumbling head.

Enjoy your days!

Meet the newest member of the Thursday night choir

This is Reggie.

 He's only a little feller, just a few months old, and his hopping skills aren't very well developed yet.

His mum was in a traffic accident and didn't survive, but Reggie was rescued and now lives with a member of the choir and her husband.  When he is bigger - another eight months or so - he will go a local marsupial park to be with other kangaroos.

The countdown is now on - just nine days until we drive to the Big Smoke, and ten days until we fly!  Now that the week is finally over (one of the busiest weeks we have had for a long time) we can concentrate on packing Stuff which has to be taken and Stuff which, if it's forgotten, won't stop the world turning.

My quilt pieces only weigh a smidgeon over 620 grams which is less than 23 ounces in old money, so they will be on the trip with me for sure!  When I quoted 840 pieces that was a miscount because I forgot to allow for the 48 half pieces for the sides.......so, 888 pieces.  Apparently the Chinese regard 8 as a lucky number so three eights must be extra extra extra lucky, yes?

Working on a project in the sewing room was very frustrating today, the top thread broke while free motion quilting; the assumption was that there was a bit of thread somewhere in the bobbin assembly, so it was duly taken apart, cleaned and put back together.  Snap - thread broke again.  Take bobbin apart again, clean again, put back together again.  Naughty words were on the brink of being said by this stage.  The top thread was removed because when all else fails you re-thread the machine - right?  This enabled the sewing genius here (hah) to see that the top thread was catching in the bottom of the spool and also wrapping around the base of the spool pin, thereby causing said thread to snap.  A naughty word was duly said......the thread spool was turned the other way, the machine re-threaded and quilting resumed.  It went like a dream, just the way it should.  Lesson learned.

At sewing guild on Wednesday I took along some yoga pants to shorten, plus my machine and overlocker (serger) to do it with.  Another member measured me for length, one leg was pinned up and they were tried on - perfect length.  The overlocker was used to trim off the excess before folding up a hem for sewing......but sewing genius here overlocked along the fold line, cutting off the entire hem, instead of a couple of cms down to allow for the fold......so now those pants have 1/4in hem which of course flares and frills out like you wouldn't believe.  Just as well they only cost $5 on sale, I would be spitting chips if I had paid real money for them and then buggered them.

I told you it was a busy week, goodness knows where my brain went.

This morning's gig went off well, a fun way to finish up before our holiday!  The uke group has been asked to do two definite and one possible gigs while I am away, shame to miss out but there will be others in future.

"There is nothing that tests the natural politeness of men and women so thoroughly as travelling.  We all desire as much comfort as possible, and as a rule are selfish.  In these days of railroad travel, when every railway is equipped with elegant carriages for the comfort and convenience of its passengers, and provided with conductors and servants, the longest journeys by railroad can be made with perfect safety and but little annoyance." 

Indeed.  These words of wisdom from 1885 could apply equally to flying today, couldn't they?

Enjoy your days!

They call me mellow yellow......

You'll be singing that song all day now, won't you? 

Our little wattle bush/shrub is flowering, just in time for Wattle Day!

 We planted it a couple of years ago, and it didn't do very well at all.  It had a couple of spindly branches which were discovered by Something Which Eats Leaves; Kevin was all for pulling it out but, as there were still some green leaves on the tip of one branch, I prevailed on him to leave it for the time being.  It must have picked itself up and given itself a good shake, because slowly it started to recover.  A few months ago I noticed tiny buds - and this week it has flowered for the first time.

Later this month it will be my turn to provide a BOM for the Saturday quilt group.  I don't mind complex blocks with triangles and unusual shapes, but you should hear the weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth by some group members at the mere thought of a triangle.  (well......not really, but you get the idea)  When it's my turn to provide a design I like to include the odd triangle or two.  I think of it as my revenge for the cutesy-poo applique so beloved by a few members which I duly make without (too much) grumbling.

 The block is called Double Aster and can be found here, should you feel inclined to make your own.  My Cunning Plan is for each member to make a 12in finished star block in any design (with as many or as few triangles as they wish) in different shades of yellow on a mid to dark blue background to be used in a star sampler quilt, something which has been simmering away in the back of my mind for several years.

More tumblers have been cut out, including some from these pretty repro fabrics.

No fussy cutting though, I don't want the quilt to look too carefully planned.  All 840 pieces will be cut out eventually.

Another big on Monday morning, this time we are playing for a Parkinsons Support Group.  We have a few cheerful songs and the odd waltz or two, so the audience can sway and sing along should the fancy take them.

We have had a little rain!  The drought is nowhere near broken, it would take more than that little amount, but it was enough to make gardens smile.  There is even a little green on the hill behind us, something we haven't seen there for quite a while.

On the subject of yellow, my 1885 etiquette book has a chapter titled "Harmony of colors in dress" which includes these thoughts on the subject:

"Material for dress.
The material for dress must be selected with reference to the purpose which it is to serve.  No one buys a yellow satin dress for the promenade, yet a yellow satin seen by gaslight is beautiful as an evening dress.  Neither would one buy a heavy serge of neutral tint for an opera dress."

Further to that, it suggests some colour combinations which are deemed to harmonise.  Yellow and white is considered a poor harmony, but yellow and purple is agreeable.  Yellow and violet is weak, yellow and blue is cold.  One which makes me wince is yellow, pink, maroon and light blue, as would blue, brown, crimson and yellow or gold, while the one which really sets my teeth on edge is purple, scarlet, blue, yellow and black.

Enjoy your days!

There ain't no cure for the summertime blues

There ain't, you know.

 All done!  Pattern was called "Gumballs" by the designer (been looking for the original post to link to, but it doesn't seem to exist any more).  However, due to my lack of love for summer heat I thought this was a more apt name.

 The backing fabric is brighter in real life but I was scrabbling to take these pictures early yesterday morning before it rained, so the light isn't what it would normally be.

 See that bright orange and blue triangle piece in the centre, next to the blue and green fish?  That was my inspiration for the colour scheme; the fabric was in my stash and came from I can't remember where, I don't remember how long ago.  There is still a small piece left. 

 A close-up of the quilting from a local LA quilter.....those long wavy lines are vertical, but I didn't want it dragging on the ground so it was hung sideways.

The obligatory artistique shot in the remains of the we-think-it-was-an-apricot-tree, in our back yard.

Sighing the happy sigh, because my quilt is finished and I love it.  Also because it rained yesterday, the best rain we have had for many months.  Nowhere near enough to break the drought - long-range forecasters are saying there is no hope of any decent rain until next February-March at least - but enough to give thirsty gardens a drink and put a smile on the face of many folk.

We have started unpacking our Stuff!  Right now the dining room table isn't usable because of what's spread out on it, but it will be again in a day or two.  You have no idea how good that feels.  18 months ago I had to buy some serving dishes from an op shop because we had company and ours were all packed......now those pretty dishes and plates can be used again. 

I know Stuff is only Stuff, people are more important than Stuff, but our possessions are part of our lives - the stories they tell, the memories they evoke.  Some of my possessions came to me from my mother, they were wedding presents when my parents married in 1946; the marriage didn't last, but those plates have.  The wedding presents we received when we married are part of that story too.

Best of all, I am looking forward to having my books again soon!

My sumptuous wardrobe has been increased by new jeans.  Or a new jean, if you prefer.  Yesterday I popped into a shop I had never thought to try before (have often bought tees and tops from them, but not bottoms) and, much to my surprise, found jeans which fitted beautifully and were the exact right length for my short self.  Even better - there was a 50% sale, so they were the right price.  Still need new trakkie daks, but I may end up making them.

"A knife should never, on any account, be put into the mouth.  Many people, even well-bred in other respects, seem to regard this as an unnecessary regulation; but when we consider that it is a rule of etiquette, and that its violation causes surprise and disgust to many people, it is wisest to observe it."

We have our decent knives and cutlery to use again, too.......no longer are we limited to just the everyday stuff.

Enjoy your days!

Not one, but two busy weeks!

However, life in the Chateau des Wombats has now returned to what passes for normal.

It has rained!  Wet stuff has fallen from the sky!!  Last night and this morning some very welcome rain fell.......nowhere enough to break what is turning out to be the worst drought for a century or more, but each and every drop and dribble is welcome.  Hearing magpies and kookaburras singing in the rain earlier today was a beautiful thing, and kangaroos have been on the hill munching away at damp dry grass.

Our moment of musical fame and glory went well last Sunday, and we have been invited back as often as we wish.  I'm all for playing every month, but every second month seems to be the choice of the rest of the group at this stage.

My back is now happy again, so my quilt is being bound!

It is bright.  Gorgeously bright.  I love it.  At this stage I don't know if there will be a recipient......it may just join other quilts in the cupboard, to be brought out and gloated over occasionally.

The meeting with our prospective house sitter went well, and we have no qualms about leaving the house and Bianca in her very capable hands when we go away.

You all know the old saying "A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing"?  Kevin was trying to download something onto our big computer which would never have worked, I have told him in the past that it wouldn't work, but being a bloke he couldn't help himself, he just had to try......goodness knows what he downloaded, possibly something quite nasty, so the computer made a trip to the repair shop for some much needed R and R early in the week.  It now runs quieter and much quicker than it did this time last week, and we are a little poorer.

Sigh......

I have been mentally going through my sumptuous wardrobe and deciding what, if anything, I need to buy for Canada.  Some more jeans, most of mine are getting elderly.....perhaps a nice new pair of trakkie daks, sweat pants for the non-Aussies.  "Daks" are long pants, "trakkies" are what used to be called track suits but are now leisure suits, sweat suits. yoga pants etc.  Doesn't trakkie daks sound nicer than sweat pants?  (anything sounds nicer than sweat pants, I reckon)  Perhaps I should say "a jean" instead of "jeans", I know it's only one garment but it is bifurcated; I crack up laughing at "a pant", "the jean", "the short" etc.

Some of us are easily amused, aren't we?

"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."

Not one word about comfortable trakkie daks, you notice.

Enjoy your days!

Busy week coming up

Every now and then the week ahead has something happening every day, and the coming week is one of those......all things I enjoy, just so many of them!  So while I was doing nothing much this afternoon, it's time to update the blog.

Have you noticed that blogging seems to have fallen in popularity?  Why is this, I wonder......is it because so many people are on other social media platforms, and have let their blogging lapse?  Perhaps keeping things updated became onerous for some folk......or perhaps they have just moved on.

There's not even much to report on because not much happened last week, apart from the fact that I buggered my back.  Last Monday morning I was rubbing moisturising cream into my legs (the current dry weather plays havoc with one's aging skin) - one at a time of course, that's all I can manage these days - one foot on the toilet seat creaming away, when I felt my back give a little like a piece of overstretched elastic, and that was that for the next few days.  According to the chiropractor it's a bulging disc; I've had it before, and no doubt will have it again before I die.  It is feeling much better now, thank you, I can move without pain, my back just feels tired sometimes but even that is easing.

Consequently very little was accomplished, although many books were read.  My quilt was collected from the quilter but hasn't yet been bound, the gorgeous orange binding hasn't been cut, but I have high hopes for later this afternoon.  The quilt has turned out beautifully, so I want to get it finished!

The most excitement we had was on Thursday night when I was coming home from choir.  Picture this:  a quiet street in a country town, ten past nine on a cold winter's night, a car being driven steadily because of wildlife sightings (kangaroos have been coming into town because of the drought, we have evidence on our front grass to prove it and we have seen kangaroos in the street) when I saw a very large kangaroo on the front garden two doors away from our house.  Because of the size I am guessing it was a male, it was huge.  It hopped slowly along to the next house......I followed equally slowly.  It then hopped onto our grass and sat near our mail box......I still crawled along behind.  Kangaroos are very unpredictable; they can hop along in a fairly straight line then suddenly veer to one side or another, which makes a collision hard to avoid.  So we have a stand off, the kangaroo sitting on the edge of our driveway and me waiting to turn into said driveway, not quite game to make the turn in case Mr Roo jumped into the side of the car door - yes, they do that.  Eventually it hopped on down the road, and your correspondent was able to make the turn safely.

Imagine one of these fellers jumping onto the side of your car......Mr Roo would have been over six feet tall with very powerful muscles.  Don't be fooled by their cute cuddly appearance.   This was taken from our back fence nearly a year ago.

Next Sunday the uke group is playing again for the monthly market at a small church just out of town, we have even learnt some new songs for the occasion as we don't want to bore our audience by repeating songs we sang a couple of months ago.  One favourite from many years ago is "Vaya Con Dios"......."now the hacienda's dark, the town is sleeping".......we like singing that, it has lovely harmonies.

"Rehearsals should be carefully attended to, no indulgence in personal whims or preferences should be allowed, but the directions of the stage-manager, who should be, if not a professional actor, at least competent for the work, should in all cases be rigidly attended.  There is no greater proof of good sense and sweet disposition than to pass the ordeal of taking part in amateur theatricals without a single quarrel."

Well......we don't quarrel, that's for sure, but then we don't have a stage-manager either.  Although - it must be said that I seem to be falling into the part of leader, simply because I have more performing experience than anyone else in the group.  Not sure if that's a good thing......

Enjoy your days!

Golden orange light

Last weekend the backing for a quilt was finally assembled, it was held up due to the Great Flood and associated packing up and unpacking of stuff.  A rather gorgeous orange batik fabric was chosen for binding and to feature on the back; strips were sitting on my sewing machine waiting to be joined for length when I noticed the sun and machine light shining onto the fabric, and couldn't resist taking a pic.

 Is that not scrumptious?  You could eat it, couldn't you?

These pics have been shown before but being too lazy to link back to the post, here they are again.  Backing uses the blue fabric with orange/yellow spots, the luscious orange, and a strip of 12 in blocks to bring it up to the correct size.

It has now gone off to be quilted and I forgot to take a photo of the back, work of genius as it is......but here is the front again, below.  Binding will also be orange.

Pattern is called "Gumballs" but I don't care for that name.  I am thinking along the lines of "There ain't no cure for the summertime blues" - because, let's face it, there ain't. 

Now I am trying to pick up enthusiasm to make a BOM, a very simple block.  I am promising myself that when it's done I can work on my own stuff, which is a great incentive.

The other day I was inspired by all things Canadian (because last Sunday was, after all, Canada Day) to bake something delicious using maple syrup, and chose to make Maple Butter Bars.  The pinging sound you heard was probably our arteries snapping but an occasional treat doesn't hurt, does it?  Should you feel inspired to try it yourself, we can definitely recommend it.  Yummy doesn't begin to describe it.

Our rainless state continues.  Nothing new to report there.

Tomorrow we plan to go for a Nice Sunday Drive on Saturday to Barraba, a small town an hour or so north for their annual art festival.  We haven't been out driving since our return from Canberra nigh on three months ago, so that will make a change from staying home and grinning at each other.

"Etiquette of the street.
The manners of a person are clearly shown by his treatment of the people he meets in the public streets of a city or village, in public conveyances and in travelling generally.  The true gentleman, at all times, in all places, and under all circumstances, is kind and courteous to all he meets, regards not only the rights, but the wishes and feelings of others, is deferential to women and to elderly men, and is ever ready to extend his aid to those who need it."

Words to keep in mind, yes?  Especially as, these days, civility seems to be dropping by the wayside.

Enjoy your days!

Finished is a great feeling!

Finally......autumn is here, and my autumn quilt is finished!

 Flapping happily in the back yard.

 A close-up of the oak leaf quilting.

Leftover fabrics were pieced to make a strip for the back; it has to hang sideways, because it's too long for the space between wash line and ground.

Finally - the artistically posed pic in the remains of the we-think-it-was-an-apricot tree. 

This was started in a class taught by Lyn Hewitt, from the book "Start with Squares" by Martha Thompson and taught with the author's permission .  It was published way back in 1996 but a good design never dates, does it?  It was very easy to make, and does start with just squares.

Another dry week.  You can see in the background of these pics that the hill is very dry, not a verdant skerrick, not one blade of green grass anywhere.  So far this year we have had less than one third of our average rainfall to date; there apparently "may" be a drop or two in the coming week, but we aren't holding our breath for it.  Farmers are having to go farther and farther afield to buy hay, because so much of the state is in the same position.  People are saying it's worse than the drought of the mid 1960s, which I can just remember......that drought eventually broke, and this one will too.  Eventually.  We just don't know when.

Our quilt group's annual challenge usually has its Big Reveal in late November but this year it's at the start of July, and the theme is to make a 50cm by 70cm hanging of "a local icon".  I would like to have a go but my brain doesn't do fancy-nancy applique designs.  It would have to be self-designed and thereby lies a problem......I just cannot draw.  Give me fabric to cut up and sew together, or an instrument to plink away at, and I'm happy - but am absolutely no good when it comes to artistically designed free hand stuff.  There is also the fact that so much sewing time was lost last year thanks to two floods; I would rather try to catch up with some of what didn't get done, than finagling around designing and making something I would then be stuck with because no one else would want it.  Madame President keeps saying "you don't have to do it, you know" but still, the pressure is there.

Perhaps I will get enthused during the coming week......thought I just saw a little piggy flying by, too......

More tumblers have been cut out lately, I would like to have them all done soon - only another 300 or so to go.  I find that more enjoyable than trying to draw a commemorative obelisk from 1938, believe me.

The cooler weather means spending more time in the kitchen.  Today's attempts will include an apple and pecan cake, and roast chook with all the trimmings for dinner.  The cake recipe is new to us, I found it online; should the fancy take any of you to give it a go you will need to scroll down on the link for the recipe.

"The love letter.
Of this it may only be said, that while it may be expressive of sincere esteem and affection, it should be of a dignified tone, and written in such a style, that if it should ever come under the eyes of others than the party to whom it was written, there may be found in it nothing of which the writer may be ashamed, either of silliness or of extravagant expression."

Just remember those words, next time you write a love letter.

Enjoy your days!