Big Birthday

We are usually away from home for my birthday and it has been a non-event for some time so I decided to celebrate this year and I am so glad I did.  We had a bbq under the pergola with my mum, our daughters, friends and neighbours. And what a wonderful surprise when my sister from New Zealand arrived, uninvited, the evening before!

This is my sister and mum with me.

This is me with our two daughters. 

The weather was great and it didn't rain until after everyone had eaten - perfect timing!

My thanks to the bbq cooks, John and Luke. (Luke is so good we are going to let him marry our daughter, Rachel, next year.)

Seeing the grass grow . . .

... you really can see it!  We've had so much rain and while it has inconvenienced our family and caused disappointment, we are all grateful that we have been spared the devastation and heartbreak of the many thousands of people, particularly in central and southern Queensland, whose homes and businesses have been flooded.

Before Christmas were returned along the Newell Highway from three weeks down south. At that time huge tracts of land in central NSW were under water.  So very different from the same trip and the homecoming welcome we experienced twelve months ago!

Our trip to Wonboyn was a successful fishing trip but I didn't really enjoy myself as I was pretty housebound, due to the weather, and I got fed-up with being chief cook and bottle washer. I think we knew before we went that this would be the last trip there; it is such a long way to travel and John is now 87 so it is a huge responsibility to take him to a place so remote.  As he will tell anyone who cares to listen: it was 66 years since he first visited the lake for fishing - so it was a very significant trip for him.

While we were away I did read several novels and completed the hand-quilting on my "L" quilt so that was rewarding and I learned so much. Today I embroidered my quilt label and prepared the binding so it's almost finished!

The festive season has passed.  It was so good to have the girls here together plus our younger daughter got engaged shortly before Christmas.  All that's left is for me to take down the Christmas tree.  This time we really are going to dump it; a threat I have made for the last three years.  I feel quite sad because we've had it since the children were little and it's given us so many happy memories but it's starting to look its age (like a lot of things around here) and makes a lot more mess than it used to (also like a lot of things around here!)

I still haven't done much to sort my photos, and now we have a heap more!

Disruption to Plans

This week is not going to plan but is rewarding in a different way because I am having to rearrange my planned activities!

Last week was just lovely.  I caught the bus to Brisbane, went to the Valentino Garavani exhibition at the Gallery of Modern Art, had dinner with my daughters, slept over and spent the following day at the Craft & Quilt Fair before coming home. The facilites and infrastructure at Southbank are magnificent and I shall return to enjoy them some more.

Over the last couple of months we have been making an effort to walk each morning and we set off bright and early (5.30am!) on Sunday.  I was chattering happily about my trip to Brisbane and demonstrated the "Valentino model walk" - for a very short time only because I hurt my hip doing it!  I'm sure I looked funny but some sympathy would have been appreciated. So: no markets, no gardening, no yoga class, no walking for a few days. I'm sure rest is the best thing but it is hard to turn over in bed at night and I do confess to being grumpy when I don't sleep well.  However, I have been able to attend to a few things that were further down on my "to do list" including writing on my blog so I am feeling good about that. Plus the pain is lessening.

We've had some busy times. After some wonderful rain our block has sprung to life -  you can see the grass & weeds growing - so that has demanded some attention. We have appointed several new staff members and, somehow, that ended up being my job ( and I'm supposed to be retired!)  The QCAT case continues after numerous adjournments over the months although we don't get as upset as we did initially. During August we had a couple of wonderful weeks away at Wooli where the weather and fishing were so fantastic that my reading and sewing activities did not eventuate as planned.

Since then I have attended the Toowoomba Quilters annual retreat at Perservernce Dam and was delighted by the progress I made there.  My "stack & whack" quilt top is completed, although the quilting has yet to begin.  I found our 2010 exhibition (see previous link to blog) very inspiring and have taken advantage of the strong Aussie dollar to buy fabric from the USA with vague plans in mind.

I count my blessings. My poor sister has had her life thrown into turmoil by the earthquakes in Christchurch, NZ, where she lives.  It seems to have dropped off the news radar here but even in the past week they have experienced strong aftershocks.

My next sedentary activity (when it's my turn to use the computer) will be to organise the many photos I've have taken in recent times.  I may even get to load some to my blog. I should also change my profile picture: I have just noticed my red hair, and I've been blonde for over a year now!

End of Financial Year, and other things

Welcome to the beginning of a new financial year and the accompanying work. 1 July is our wedding anniversary and for the first time ever we celebrated by going out to lunch! I was sooooo surprised to receive the invitation although I chose our wedding date as I thought I was a good investment and R might remember the occasion because there was some association. We had a lovely lunch and I can hardly wait until next year!

Our posties of 20 years left us on 30 June because Australia Post decided not to renew their contract. Now they can take a well-earned holiday together but they will be missed by people in our area.

Another business that we will miss is Walsh's Nursery which closed down at the end of the financial year. A sign of the times I guess.  Where will I go for the sort of expert advice that they have given to me over the years?

Goodbye Trees, Hello Winter

It saddened me to have to get two of our big gums chopped down but one was dangerously decaying, as in likely to drop even more big branches and cause damage, and the other had put its more recent energy into lifting the pavers at the back of the house.  The result is not as horrendous as I anticipated and has, in fact, inspired me to establish another small garden bed when the weather warms up.

Winter is finally here after a magnificent autumn. I took this photo of our coral vine one sunny autumn day. It's a plant that comes up every year and never gets any attention.

Another plant that is continuing to please me is my tomatoberry.  Even at this time of year I am able to pick 12-20 small tomatoes every day although the bush is starting to look a bit sick.  It's a variety that I've never grown before but I will be looking for it next next summer.

And, the winter solstice has passed! It's a date I always seem to note.  The temperature may continue to drop but the days will start to get longer.  There never seem to be enough daylight hours for me and I've become 'not good' at getting up in the dark.

It's not often that I am there when our two daughters go out together. Rachel was a bridesmaid recently and Emily was at the wedding.  The other bridesmaid was the bride's sister and she was Emily's friend at primary school so I was delighted to get a photo of the four girls together.

Q: How do you eat an elephant?

Answer: Chew one mouthful at a time! ( Words of wisdom from a school teacher.)
This advice has served me well in recent months as there seem to have been many overwhelming times.

We travelled down south on a fishing trip, caught up with family, celebrated a few family birthdays and Christmas, worried about family health issues, immobilised myself for a week by falling over, enjoyed visitors from interstate and have just returned from New Zealand. Over this period I spent days working and arguing with my husband as we prepared information for solicitors for a pending court. Plus, on behalf of residents in our street, I have pursued an infrastructure issue with our regional council. While all this was happening we bought a new computer (we were waiting for Windows 7) and during the installation process an external hard drive, to which I had transferred heaps of data files, crashed.

It's weird that I am now looking forward to some routine in my life. I have for a few years viewed the random opportunities and challenges that presented themselves as manifestations of freedom after resigning from full-time paid employment. Right now, I want my life to be a bit more structured. (I might change my mind next week!)

It was depressing to return home shortly before Christmas as it had been so hot and dry that a number of plants had curled up their toes. I almost decided to stop trying to keep things alive but am so glad that I didn't because, more recently, we have had some great falls of rain and heaps of trees and shrubs have come back to life! I'm eagerly waiting for the mud to dry so that I can go "play outside".

...long time, no post.....

..and the longer I leave it the more daunting it becomes! I've done lots and lots has happened since February - and I've just read my previous post to refresh my memory.

I did visit my old school friend and she didn't appear to recognise me but I'm glad I made the effort. Then in April she died, as did Trish who had endured the ups and downs of cancer treatment for several years, and then a friend's husband died suddenly and unexpectedly from a heart attack. I suspect that these events contributed to a period of nightmares and bad sleeping (which is not normal for me) as my brain attempted to come to terms with what had happened. For some time I have believed that during sleep the brain attempts to "re-file" the information overload that ocurs during a typical day.

Good things have happened too! We made another trip to Wonboyn in February and have been out on another (unsuccesful) gold prospecting trip. During March I spent a few days in Sydney, went to a high school reunion dinner and visited some more old friends. My sister from NZ stayed with us last week which was wonderful especially for our mother who rarely gets to see her daughters together. And I know how happy it makes me to see our two daughters together!

Our elder daughter is currently touring around Europe. I'm so glad that she eventually made it. It was quite weird to get a text message from her saying "We're in the tube on our way to our London hotel." Decades ago when I travelled around Europe my parents were lucky to get a few postcards! I knew we were in a different world when she asked me what money I took overseas and my response was "travellers' cheques". (Like - what are they????)

I've done a couple of small contract jobs this year which pleases me as my superannuation funds continue to shrink.

My winter vegetable patch is looking good especially after some wonderful rainy days last week. Unfortunately little rain fell over the dam catchment areas so there has been no easement of water restrictions in town.

I have taken some nice photos in recent times. "A frog in my mesclun" is a good one. The discovery was most amusing!

Not a UFO and other things

I have finished one of my table runners - hand-quilted, machine quilted and bound it - and I don't like it! The colours suit my home and I think I have done some good work but the design is too structured and formal for me - and yes I should have thought about that ages ago! Never mind, I shall use use and not get upset if someone spills red wine on it. I guess everyone makes something that they end up not liking? I chose it originally because the pattern provided opportunity to do a "bit of everything" and it certainly did that. I reiterate my opinion that a table runner is a good beginner's project in terms of learning experiences, manageability and cost.....I have more to finish!

Talking about the formal style: my husband's comment was: "You've done a good job, it would look good on a communion table!" (Not sure that he knows what that is!) However it did remind me of our visit late last year to St John's Church at Gordon in Sydney where the pew cushions made a big impression on me. I hadn't seen anything like them since my early childhood and you have to be impressed by the work of the parishioners - so I'm going to share my photos.







My father-in-law who was with us has many forebears whose graves are in that church cemetery and that was the reason for our visit.

Last week I read "One Unknown" by Gill Hicks, an Australian survivor of the July 2005 London bombings. Easy to read, it was an emotional and inspiring book that reinforced my belief in the value of gratitude. It also motivated me to action one of the things on my "must do " list. (I have lots of lists!) Just before Christmas someone who went to the same high school in Sydney as I did during the 60s (and we've had no contact since then) traced me through the internet to tell me that a mutual old school friend was very unwell and that her husband who had recently relocated them to Brisbane would be grateful for some support. So I am off to Brisbane tomorrow to meet up with them; he is a complete stranger , I haven't seen her for over 20 years and there is every chance that she will not be able to recognise me. I am a bit nervous.

Spring!

My tomatoes are planted, my ponds are clean and lots of plants have been repotted! I have happy fish, croaking frogs, baby galahs, a baby possum and feeding magpies.

I've been busy this week trying to get things done before Ross has an arthroscopy on his knee tomorrow. He has been quite grumpy; partly due to the pain and reduced mobility and partly because I've been requesting help for jobs that have to be done at this time of year. (And now he is complaining about backache too! The joys of ageing!)

Previously we spent nearly a week with my sister in Airlie Beach and on their boat in the Whitsundays. How lucky are we to be able to spend time in that magical part of the world!?! We saw lots of dolphins which always adds to the magic for me and as the ocean was calm it was wonderful to fall asleep at night listening to the gentle lap of the waves.

I was home in time to attend the opening of the Toowoomba Quilters' Club exhibition on Saturday. What an inspiring occasion - but also somewhat intimidating for such a beginner patchwork/quilter. I'm surprised at how much my tastes have changed over the past year; possibly because I have a much better of idea of what is actually involved in producing the different types of finished quilts.

I didn't make it to the Carnival of Flowers parade this year and neither have I visited any of the gardens, despite having good intentions.

Back on Deck

I've just spent a couple of days in bed with a virus/cold thing. I was extravagantly kind to myself and reflected that in a previous life I would have drugged up and dragged myself off to work! Obviously I'm getting soft!

However, that is no excuse for my not blogging for ages. I know I've had trouble getting my fair share of access time to the computer in recent weeks. Well, personal time - I've learned a lot more than I intended about MYOB as my husband deviously involved me in the end of financial year work he was meant to do.

We did have a wonderful and unique trip to the Northern Territory, spending most of our time at Daly River. It's a beautiful spot - completely wasted on the many crocodiles that frequent it. This causeway near the Daly River pub was 4 metres under water during the last wet season and during the dry season it is favoured by sizeable crocs that wish to sun themselves.

This is a photo of our friend and neighbour with one of the barramundi caught last month. (My husband is shy!) We froze a few fillets to bring home with us.

We met some interesting people including some dental technicians who do the rounds of the indigenous communities helping the children to look after their teeth. They were a good source of information about the dynamics of the communities in that area and certainly prompted me to read a bit about the "NT Intervention" which has now been in place for just over a year. (The "Crikey" website is worth reading.)

Since we've been home I have caught up with friends and family, including some of the wonderful people at Toowoomba Quilters. I've also been to the Empire Theatre (Toowoomba) to see the Queensland Ballet's performance of "Carmen" which was simply wonderful and another example of Francois Klaus' brilliant choreography. Our daughters took me to see the "So You think You Can Dance" concert and my husband took me to see "Shine A Light" in Brisbane. (I'm a Stones fan from way back!)

Plans for the coming months are under discussion and now that I am no longer "unwell" I feel a lot more enthusiastic. A return to yoga classes and gym sessions is required!

Back from NZ

Back home to my Spartan lifestyle (for a short time anyway) to compensate for the extravagances and indulgences of my trip to New Zealand. I had a wonderful time and again extol the virtues of New Zealand as a holiday destination. I hadn't been to Queenstown for decades and it it a beautiful place although changing quickly, I'm told, as it attracts increasing numbers of international tourists.

My niece's wedding was beautiful and a delightfully extravagant affair. (She was heard to say "Just because Mum and Aunty Ruth had hippie weddings doesn't mean I had to !") I was sorry that our daughters were unable to attend the wedding but it may have been a good thing; the bar was set high! I can share the view from the hotel room and the delights of the autumn leaves on the balcony.

Back in Christchurch we enjoyed some old favourites: a visit to the Botanic Gardens (I'd never been there at this time of year) and a walk in Victoria Park. Lunch at the restaurant in the Gardens is highly recommended! As usual my sister also produced some wonderful culinary delights.


The weather was great while we were there: cold, but clear and sunny. We were lucky because it clouded over on the day we left and was actually raining as we flew out of Christchurch.

Table Runner

Last week I decided that a table runner would be a good project for me as a beginner patchworker and quilter and by accident, rather than design, I chose a pattern that required me to exercise a few new skills. Things didn't go well and I got angry with myself for being so stupid. (So stupid that I don't want to provide any details - but I cut wrongly, sewed wrongly, reacted wrongly...) After I cut out the pieces I seemed to have a lot of material left over, which was good because I had to recut some pieces! I consoled myself with the fact that this was intended as a learning exercise - and if I didn't make mistakes I wasn't going to learn , was I?

After directing my energies into other areas I returned to the project and have now completed three of the basic blocks. I am quite pleased with the results (finally) - and learned a few lessons!

Our younger daughter has decided to come to Toowoomba this weekend which is lovely. (Not sure why we're suddenly so popular.) She can come shoe shopping with me tomorrow and maybe I'll have more success than I did today.

I'm starting to look forward to my trip to New Zealand next week. Mum and I are the only ones going from Australia. My niece's wedding is in Queenstown on the Saturday and we will spend most of our time in Christchurch where my only sister and husband have recently moved into a new apartment. Mum looks remarkably well after her treatment for breast cancer last year and it will be great for the three of us to spend some fun time together. My sister is a gourmand and brilliant cook so I expect to be heavier on the return trip!

Magic Monday

I spent a couple of hours working outside this morning which is always good for the soul. I felt so lucky to be able to enjoy such a beautiful stress-free Monday morning. I also think it is very important to be able to experience and express gratitude - and I am very grateful for this morning. It's a lovely time of year - pleasant days and cool nights.

Friday's trip to Brisbane was successful although I came home exhausted. I vaguely recall that I used to regard shopping as a recreational activity! Anyway, I'm always happy to see our daughters and they were helpful and encouraging; it's hard to believe that they've both been in Brisbane for over four years now.

More good news! I finished my bag on Sunday and I'm so pleased with it. It has lots of inside pockets which hopefully will assist with management of the inevitable clutter.

I'm keen to start another "well-defined" project. (I think that means there will be instructions and a short-term outcome.)

Yoga classes start again tonight. It seems like ages since I've been to a class - what with school holidays and our trip away during March.

Not sure when our next trip will be: the 4WD is still under observation at the workshop in town! (A not so magical part of today.)

More car drama

Today was weird: the 4WD was again towed into town because it wouldn't go - after a "thorough" checkout on Monday! Nothing went to plan - or list - again! HE was pretty grumpy. I retreated to the room I have recently called my sewing room and worked on my Miranda bag. (Thanks to Caity who provided the promotional and inspirational motivation.) I'm actually quite pleased with my progress; although I am slow because this has to be a positive experience and outcome - so I am following the directions meticulously.

We had drinks on the verandah this evening so that put paid to any project work tonight. We all know that even after only one glass of wine it is not wise to work any projects! It was a lovely evening and the sunset was beautiful.

I'm going to Brisbane tomorrow and will spend the night with my daughters after what will hopefully be a successful shopping trip. Both of our daughters are creative and draw beautifully (not traits from my side of the gene pool.) I think it was meant as a compliment when No 1 daughter recently said: "Mum is really clever: she's good at maths and spelling and organising things but she's really not creative."