Post 129: Edges

I spent much of the morning catching up with emails, ordering the Caterina kit (the one on the cover of the current magazine) from Inspirations and reading the book Junette loaned  me, Friends in Stitches about the making of the Australian Quaker Tapestry. I am finding it very interesting. I will hold my comments for another post.

After lunch I put some lamb shanks on to cook slowly and took my SLR, set with the macro lens, out to the front balcony and played at taking photos.



This is a selection of those I liked. I'm not sure yet if any of these will end up as embroidery but there is potential. With the exception of the spiderweb they are all close-up sections of leaves.

I had a lot of fun and thought taking these and editing them. I haven't done this in a while.

I had dinner at Katherine and Anthony's place - a very delicious pork roast. It was a most relaxing evening.







I went back this morning, and overlaid the double thread edge of the second Muncaster Orange with a single thread layer. It really helps (thanks Phillipa Turnbull). I find it very difficult to get a tidy, smooth effect with double thread. The purple circle marks the area I had worked with the single thread overlay. You can see the rest of the circle was a bit ragged. I have now been over the whole edge and it is much improved.
















As I had hoped, I finished the second Orange today.

On to that tricky ribbon and bow tomorrow.

Post 128: nature and nurture

Warrawong Sanctuary, at Mylor, in the Adelaide Hills, posted this photo to their Facebook page this morning. It is Jon Snow, their albino carpet python.

I really like the coiled shape and the markings. It seemed to me it would make an excellent embroidery pattern. Could it be turned into a hat? I'm going to have a play with it one day. The patterns would work well in counted thread - but it doesn't sit symmetrically on the fabric.

Jennifer called me this morning. She has seen a physician who has ordered numerous tests to check on all organs that are known to be possibly affected  by Covid - 11 tests in all. She is very pleased with this. Her well-being is going to affected by for quite a while and knowledge and expertise is going to be key to her long term recovery.
I had a message from another friend who is following Jessica Grimm's Imperial Goldwork course. She tells me that Jessica is about to publish an ebook and also that Natalie Dupuis is about to begin a course in goldwork couching.












Myrtle and Turtle paid me a visit this morning. The rain didn't deter them.

They drank and ate a bit, then took off.

I went to Pilates, which is not restored to it's old equipment configuration. There is still at least 1.5 metres space around each piece of equipment,  There were 9 of us there, including the instructors. We largely stay on the same piece of equipment.

Our sessions are ten minutes shorter, to allow the instructors to wipe down each piece of equipment.

I enjoyed the session.

After Pilates I went to a friend's place to stitch. I worked on my Muncaster Orange and she wound wool. She also provided a delicious lunch and coffee.

I had been notified of two parcels arriving today. One was my cloth face masks and books I had ordered.  It is a nuisance if they are delivered when I am out. If they don't fit in my letterbox they will be taken to the Post Office for me to pick up. I was watching my phone all afternoon for messages that they had been delivered. I was notified by email that one, the masks, had been left. Eventually I had a message that the Post Office had tried to deliver the books, but couldn't get access to leave them. Usually the message says where and when the package can be collected- usually the Halifax St PO after 4pm. This one had no such information.

I stopped at the PO on my way home. They did not have the parcel - told me to check for a card in my letterbox and try later. Sure enough there was a card in  my letterbox saying the parcel could be collected after 4pm from Halifax St PO. I went back to the PO with the card. Still no parcel. They think it is still in the van and will chase it up and ring me on Monday. Disappointing, but I imagine it will be sorted on Monday.

The masks look good. They are in case I need them in specific situations, so no plan to use them at the moment.






By the time I got home the sun was setting. I quite like these dour sunsets.

Garden of the Hōjō

I did more on the Muncaster Orange tonight while watching Monty Don's Japanese Gardens on TV.  There was much on the Japanese concept of Mu - nothing- and its manifestation as negative space. 

I also really  the Garden of the Hōjō, which is a Zen manifestation of  movement from ordered, predictable precision to space, growth, softening and nature. 

It might be a metaphor for our time.

This is where I am at the moment with the Oranges. 

Jennifer commented this morning on the lovely colours, especially the leaves. I agree. It is a most harmonious design. Somehow the colours are calming. It is lovely to work with, inducing relaxation and wholeness.

I should finish the second orange tomorrow. 

Post 127: Mostly birds and sky.

There was a news item in my inbox this morning about the research of Associate Professor Amanda Ridley of the University of Western Australia into the behaviour of Australian Magpies.  Amongst other things, she has established that the females make more noise than the males, and that they can sing up to 80 decibels, and for periods of 70 minutes at a time.

When I emerged from my dental appointment around 11.30 am, there were a couple of groups of Magpies feeding on the parkland in front of my parked car. They were not making a noise.

There was a very promising hole for a nest right in front of my car.  This is the beginning of their breeding season which peaks in August with nesting and swooping on intruders. I shall take care when I return to the dentist in September.

There was also a rainbow lorikeet keeping an eye on the Magpies from a nearby tree. It isn't that often that you see a single lorikeet. Perhaps this one was the sentry.

My dental appointment was for a small filling on the edge of a crown. The clinic has efficient, thorough and well-managed Covid precautions. Very reassuring. I went on to Unley shopping centre to post a parcel. I also bought some lamb cutlets, lamb shanks - and blueberry scones. 2 scones kept me going most of the day.

Yesterday I had notification from Beating Around The Bush that my refund had been processed. It hasn't arrived in my account yet, but I'm impressed with the efficiency of their processes once the decision to cancel was made. I look forward to seeing the offering for 2021 and 2022.

I was getting concerned about Myrtle and Turtle. I hadn't seen either of them for 3 days, so hadn't put out any seed. Around 1 pm Myrtle turned up, staying less than a minute. She is always nervous. I put out some seed. She returned a  couple of hours later, ate some seed and had a good drink.

I'm pleased to see her.






The moon had risen, long before the sun went down. It is a bit easier to capture a moon image in the daylight.


I have a backlog of books to read - for Book Club, but mostly for interest. I started Death in Transit, a Keith Moray murder mystery set on Uist. This is delaying my reading of a Robert Gott historical Australian crime on Overdrive and a pile of hardcopy embroidery books. The three books I ordered from the Old Girls Union newsletter are also on their way. My father used to say, when we put too much food on our plates "Your eyes are too big for your belly".  There must be a book equivalent.

I have, nevertheless, been focused on working on the Orange while watching the news of our Covid progress/regression unfold. 

I went one shade darker on the lower centre of the far right leaf and also kept the stitches a bit sparse.

I need to do a bit of repair on the rope stitch stems. These were the last thing I worked on tonight and my eyes are giving out.

Nevertheless, it's coming along nicely.

While working on the Orange have been using the chatelaine I bought in Stratford from Phillipa. It works well. However, if I bend down for any reason, the scissors are inclined to fall out. Last night, when I bent down to take my dinner out of the oven, the scissors fell into the oven. I couldn't see them and was worried they had fallen into the gap underneath the open door and into the space underneath the oven. This morning I pulled all the shelves and trays out of the oven and lo! the scissors were at the back of the bottom tray. While this was a relief. I like those scissors and didn't much like the idea of them lost under an oven. The downside was that I ended up scrubbing all the oven trays and racks!

Post 126 : If you've got friends and neighbours....

I had a good look at the Aeolium flower this morning. It still has some unopened buds but some of the early flowers are drooping a little. There was no sign today of either the Noisy Myna nor the doves.

This is the third day with no appearance of the doves. Maybe they have gone on winter break, or a bender, or perhaps they are just busy. My check on their habits indicates that they make nests and lay eggs all year round. So maybe they are sitting on eggs.










I spent four hours today visiting a neighbour down the road and helping her set up ScannerPro on her phone so she can scan all her photo albums and share with her family. It was a pleasant, sharing time.

It reminded me, however, that I intended, when I moved in, to scan my many photo albums and create photo books from them. It's time I got on with this.

It took me a while when I returned home to put together the Wednesday email to the World Embroidery Study Guild. Mary Jose, of Fabric of Life , who is a member of the group, had sent me a number of links to online textile events, which formed the basis of today's post. Balancing the amount of information in the emails is a challenge.
Readers may be interested in browsing some of the online offerings in the Selvedge Magazine Virtual Fair.

Also this afternoon Margaret Adams emailed me a photo of a Fair Isle beanie she has just knitted. I think it's lovely - and encourages me to use the wool left over from my scarf to make something similar.

Margaret has an Aeolium similar to mine which is also blooming. She has anemone and iris flowering at the moment, well out of season. Times are still, it seems, out of joint.



Last night I had an email from Genevieve who is reading a French translation of  Le Carre's Agent Running in the Field. I haven't read it yet but will add it to my long list of books I want to read. She is also doing Jessica Grimm's online Imperial Goldwork Course. All the lessons look fabulous, and Jessica is a remarkably talented teacher. It's tempting - but I have more than enough on my plate at this moment!

I really love having like-minded friends in so many places and being able to share our knowledge. It is such a privilege.

My copy of Inspirations was in my letterbox today. I haven't had time to do more than flick through. Two projects immediately grabbed my attention, a Renette Kumm thread painting of succulents (serendipity?) and the Maria Rita Falieri Catherine de Medici project which is featured on the cover. I still have a project I'd like to do from the last issue - but this issue looks as if it might also have things I want to do.







Two more leaves tonight on the Muncaster Orange. It's not fast, but it is enjoyable and forgiving - I don't really like the cream on the  middle leaf. I didn't like it on the original one I did either, but I will, once again, live with it, at least until I see the finished piece.

I'm on a roll now. I have a dental appointment tomorrow, but hopefully I can make some progress on some more leaves.

Post 125: It's all about the photos...

Yesterday I was preoccupied with preparing for a family meal, and largely forgot to take photos. Today I spent much of the day taking photos, not as part of a plan, but by opportunity - going with the flow.
It began with the arrival of the Noisy Myna. (Yes, I'm changing my spelling. This variant seems more suggestive of a bird than the more recently anglicised version).  The aeonium is clearly the attraction.










I had moved the fly screen so I could take photos through the glass from where I was sitting. I took a couple of quick photos with my phone, but managed to take up my SLR and take some decent photos through the glass.

rotation

It is interesting that the favourite position for accessing the nectar is upside down!




I rotated this photo to better show the markings on the head and wings.








The side of the aeonium facing the wall is now flat. I'm not clear if this is due to the Noisy Myna or from being away from the sun and weather. It is, however, flatter than it was when I first photographed it.

initial photo with phone.

I received information from Beating Around the Bush, that this year's convention has been cancelled. It is planned to run it at the same time next year, with many of the same tutors. This is in addition to the 2022 BATB which is also being prepared, and for which many of the tutors have signed on. Organisers are 2020 refunding deposits and taking new bookings when the 2021 program is releasing.  It is a good outcome - better than I had hoped for. It's a big thing to reorganise.



This is the photo I took with my phone.

There were a lot of bird noise and movement this morning and the clouds were spectacular and swift moving.

There was, however, no sign of the doves all day. This is the second day in a row.

I spent quite a bit of time paying accounts and organising subscriptions and purchases before the end of the financial year. I also ordered some reusable face masks. I've been checking them out over the last few days. I may never use them - but I feel prepared in case I find myself in crowded situations in the next few months. I now have reusable and disposable if needed.


I am reading Death in Transit, the fifth book in the Inspector Torquay McKinnon series by Keith Moray, set on West Uist. It was pleasant and warm reading on the front balcony this afternoon. I love the way the sun shines through the leaves - and can't resist trying to photograph it.



















My embroidery has been focused on the Muncaster Orange. It is not only enjoyable stitching, but progress really shows.















It was pleasant embroidering as the sun set over the city - but inside this time.

The rain is set to return tomorrow.

Post 124: Mostly dinner

Today's post is short. Although I had a fairly busy day, I didn't think to take photos.


Just as I finished my breakfast I caught the Noisy Miner out of the corner of my eye - back to sample the Aeonium flower. I managed to take a photo, but it was through the fly wire screen, so pretty terrible. It's a shame, because it was a clear view of the bird.

I didn't see the doves at all today, but then, I was busy shopping or in the kitchen.

The kids were coming here after school. Although I had bought the main ingredients for dinner yesterday, I had bread to get and some sort of savoury snack for after school. Frewville is the place for these and, inevitably I bought a number of other things.

I made eggplant parmigiana, potato and bacon and roasted chicken Marylands.

I had intended to take a photo, but forgot. It worked quite well.


In the evening I concentrated on the Muncaster Orange. I was falling asleep by the end so there is a bit of tidying to do tomorrow, as well as the centre.  I think this week I should be able to work consistently on this. It's lovely to work on.

South Australia had three cases of Corona Virus identified today after 28 days of no cases. The three are a family in hotel quarantine after returning to Adelaide from India - so not community transmission. Victoria is having a hard time with localised outbreaks and massive hotspot testing regime. They had 75 cases identified today.  They are doing a great job of testing and isolating. Mobile testing vans are parking at the ends of streets in hotspot suburbs and 800 testers are going door to door to ask people to take a test.  They are running short of contact tracers and South Australia has sent a team to help.  Here's hoping they
get on top of it. They should - it's a very concerted team effort.

Post 123 Oysters and Eider ducks

I wanted to go to North Adelaide this morning to get the ingredients for tomorrow night's family dinner. I was about to leave when the doves arrived so I stopped to provide their seed.


At North Adelaide Village, Romeo's had some fresh oysters, so I treated myself to half a dozen. It's the height of the oyster season and Streaky Bay oyster farmers have lost a lot of their usual market because restaurants have been closed or restricted in numbers.

They were delicious.


In her email to me a couple of days ago, Sandra, my embroidery friend in Manchester, England, told me that her brother, who lives in Norway, had recently visited an eider collecting island off the coast of Norway. From her description I think it might be Lanan.  It's a fascinating story. Norwegian eiderdown, unlike Icelandic eiderdown, is still collected and processed by hand.  A couple of families build and maintain nesting boxes on Lanan. The eider ducks arrive in Spring and build their nests. The families protect the ducks and their nests from predators and collect the eider down shed by the ducks. It takes three weeks to collect 1kg of down - enough for a quilt - which is then cleaned by hand. Hand-made quilts sell for $15, 000. The 2-3 families who live on Lanan during the Spring and Summer allow visitors on a very limited basis.  Pretty amazing.

It had started out pretty cold but warmed up during the day. I managed to spend an hour or so on the Western balcony catching the afternoon sun and embroidering.

The frangipani are losing their leaves, but all other plants are looking lush.












The sunset was gentle, but too beautiful not to take photos as it changed.

I made progress on the owl, and also on the Muncaster Orange. Small steps.