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.

January is half gone!

I had a very lazy day yesterday, sitting in a comfy chair finishing a novel, Katherine by Anya Seton. In recent times I've enjoyed reading a few historically-based novels and this one called upon the history I learned as a child at school in England. (So it wasn't all a waste of time!)

At least my body had a bit of a rest from outdoor labouring - which I do enjoy. Our block and my outdoor pot plants all look pretty good at present although the forecast of possible rain later this week is good news. My tomato production is beginning to fall off now but we have had another wonderful crop this year. Decades ago I made a batch of tomato relish and am going to do a repeat performance this week. It's an old recipe from my sister who makes those sorts of things regularly and frequently.

One of my favourite things about Christmas and birthdays is the exchange of greetings with old friends with whom I would otherwise lose contact. I have several friends in that category including Pat who now lives in Newhaven in England. Our mothers were friends when we were small children in Surrey and I guess we kept in contact through our mothers. Later, in the 1970s, we met up in London and have exchanged news and seasonal greetings ever since. The "credit crunch" as she calls it has impacted severely on them and she is waiting to hear about the possible termination of her job.

Our local economy appears fairly buoyant. However I do remember experiencing a completely different sentiment when I was in Sydney late last year. Try as I may to understand what's going on, along with most of the population I have to believe that our government knows what it is doing.

Time for a gripe! Why do we have to buy in multiples to get "special" prices? I don't want to have to buy two loaves of bread or six cans of tuna in order to get the good price. We don't eat any more of the discounted items and storage becomes a problem.

Such a glorious sunset . . .

(photo taken from our verandah last night) after such a dull grey day!

Today is dull too but pleasantly cooler. I'm not sure whether it has been the heat &/or the aftermath of Christmas but I have been totally lethargic and unmotivated for days now. Jokes about Ross River Fever by friends attempting to humour me were not well-received so I'm pleased to feel a bit better in body and mind today.

We had a lovely Christmas and were able to spend time with our parents and partners and with our children and partners. We all had a good year although lots of things didn't get done (because the lists are endless!) There are no New Year resolutions but there is a consensus feeling that we should be positive and hopeful of good things for 2009. And for anyone who happens to read this: I wish you a healthy, peaceful and happy year.

Another baby bird

How can it be so cold today after it was sooooo hot yesterday?!? Both extremes mean that not much outside work got done.

Last week we commented on the absence of the frogmouths who have nested on our block in recent years. However a day or two later a lone downy baby was sighted at the base of a tree on our neighbours' block; another nestling had hit the ground! We placed it on a nearby branch and the parents took up guard almost immediately. Interesting because we have have observed that they are normally most reluctant to move about in daylight hours. The baby is still in the same place and being well cared for by its parents. It may be some time before it can fly.

I actually took this photo with my phone and have finally sorted out the bluetooth thing to transfer the image to the computer.

I don't watch much television but in recent weeks have started to watch old re-runs of M.A.S.H. It still makes me laugh as much as it did decades ago - and I still think Alan Alda is lovely!

We organised our annual street bbq for last week and that was a huge success. A few houses have changed hands since last year and although we all tend to wave to each other as we drive up and down the street, it was great to have an opportunity for everyone to meet and talk to each other.

I am delighted to be able to report that I can buy Australian-grown tinned asparagus spears and commend Windsor Farm on this new initiative. It really annoys me that so many foodstuffs on our grocery shelves are imported when we should be able to grow them in Australia!

Lucky Bird

A week ago a baby galah dropped out of one of our nesting boxes and into our lives. After several messy feeding sessions in the laundry I placed him on our front verandah and eventually the parent birds came down to feed it. It slept in a box inside at night and I got up at dawn each day to put it out for the parents to feed, which they did regularly throughout the days. After several unsuccessful jumps off of the verandah, and encouraged by its parents, it flew away on Wednesday. I was relieved, and sad, to see it go.


Eight or nine years ago, prompted by sightings of squirrel gliders, "we" built a number of nesting boxes and paid someone to install them in our big trees. The unfortunate (or maybe fortunate?) galah fell/jumped about 40 feet from a box that its parents had used previously. This photo shows the prototype box that was hung about 4 feet off the ground, just outside the workshop door - and quickly occupied by a brushtail possum. Our boxes have been used by squirrel gliders, possums, galahs and pale headed rosellas.

As I was without nursing duties on Thursday I went to Brisbane Craft and Quilt Fair - a first for me. Again I was overwhelmed by the talent of so many people, not to mention the range of products available at the various stalls. I only bought a few small things but will attend next year (if it fits into my busy schedule) now that I have an idea of the nature of the Fair.

I stayed overnight in Brisbane with our daughters and was able to give lots of helpful gardening advice and assistance. I'm actually delighted that one daughter has developed an interest in gardening: roses in particular which are not quite my style but she obviously gets the same buzz as I do when a plant responds to care and bursts into flower!

Since my last blog we have been away on a couple of short camping trips. It's such a nice time of year; pleasant temperatures and no school holiday crowds. We had a lovely time at Cressbrook Dam once I forgot what it used to look like when it was full. We saw dozens of deer at dawn, were entertained by boxing kangaroos at dusk and visited by paddy melons when we sat outside with drinks in the evenings. The wildlife is an important part of my camping experiences!

On one of these trips I read Christopher Koch's "The Memory Room" which I really enjoyed. That's another thing I enjoy about camping; I can sit and read for hours at a time.

I've also made some progress with my patchwork and quilting and have actually done some hand quilting. I am now going to make another table runner as I have decided they are a manageable sized project for me, something that I use, and provide plenty of "learning opportunities" which assist with confidence building.

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.

Nambucca Heads

We've just returned from a trip to yet another beautiful place: Nambucca Heads in NSW. We are lucky to have so many of these beautiful estuaries along the east coast of Australia. The bird life here was impressive too.

The fishermen were disappointed with their catches but we did have a lovely view from our cabin. (They didn't regard that as compensation!) I want to share one of my dawn photos.

I did a little bit of work on my crazy patches - but nothing as meaningful as Di's work. I also did a fair bit of reading and walking - by myself because of Ross' bung knee! We see the specialist on Wednesday and we're hopeful that another arthroscopy will fix his problem.

There's nothing like a deadline for motivation! I finished another contract job before we went away. These small jobs are good for my brain - and enable me to indulge myself occasionally.

Spring is here - my favourite time of year! I've dug over and spread manure on a section of my old vegetable garden with the intention of growing a few things this summer. We are totally reliant on our rainwater tanks but I do not anticipate any problems. Since our daughters have left home the tanks have overflowed regularly when it has rained. I've also planted a small pot of pansies - so I am being extravagant with our water!