Post 88: Visits

The first thing I saw this morning when I opened the blind was this Black-faced cuckoo shrike. It flew to the flowering aloe and attempted to get nectar from it.  I wasn't fast enough to get a photo. There was another cuckoo shrike hovering nearby and they took off into the trees.

Before too long, Myrtle was there pecking away at the seed I had cast. It was the very last of the seed Katherine had given me when the doves first appeared while I was in self-isolation.  As she pecked, the pair of cuckoo shrikes reappeared and either enticed or intimidated her into flying away. They flew after her, without attempting to feed on the seed. She came back later for the seed.



The trees are looking very elegant as the red tips multiply.

I spent an hour or so making  Pastitsio Makaronia me Feta with Phyllo , or pasta pie as my grandchildren prefer to call it. This was to be the next meal at my place on Monday after my trip to England, but isolation and distancing took over. This is Veronica's favourite meal at my place, so I promised to make one and drop it in. Today I went to their place for afternoon coffee, so wanted to keep my promise. 

I forgot to take a photos. It was very good to see them all and hear what they have been doing. We have agreed to resume Monday dinner at my place for children only on 1 June. I can manage an appropriately distanced meal for 5 but not 7. If we eat early, I can package enough for their parents to take home for their dinner when they pick up the kids.


Back at home I had some cooked pasta left over from last night, so added a bottle of passata, sprinkled it with cheese and baked it. It was surprisingly good - and there is plenty for tomorrow as well.

I managed a couple of hours on my research/writing task this morning. It's still at an early stage, but is progressing.




I  finished the 7 remaining hexies while socialising and watching Julia Zamiro profiling Karl Kruszelnicki. 

This gives me 63. I calculate I need 12 more to finish the job. I will need to cut more fabric squares to achieve this.


Rather than start cutting this evening, I decided to put the first stitches into my first Nicola Jarvis bird. I used silk thread for the red and orange head, a red metallic in the circle around the eye, and a blue polyester thread. The beak is the wrong shape for a rosella, but I'm not going to get too literal. I haven't noticed any birds with feathers in the pattern of flowers.


Now, of course, I have projects going on everywhere.

Nothing like having choice.