Post 323 Chasing patterns

First job this morning was the washing from my time away. 

I had just hung it out when I had a message from Brigid, who is still, with the rest of her family, at Carrickalinga, asking me if I would be able to buy this pattern from Spotlight as she and Niamh want to make a dress for a party when they get back to Adelaide on Monday.

My online check indicated there were copies at Trinity Gardens, Melrose Park and Alberton in 'limited numbers'.  Tomorrow my book club meets not far from Trinity Gardens but I decided I go today when I had the time. 

Spotlight pattern information online is often inaccurate. Customers serve themselves with patterns from the file drawers. I doubt they  stock take very often.

So I set off on a pattern quest.

I went first to Trinity Gardens, about 5km NE of me. It's closest, and also the largest and newest Spotlight. They didn't have the pattern.

I was quite close to Ecolateral, where I had seen a cookery book before Christmas that I nearly bought for Fionn, so I went there and bought it.It's a bit odd, but I think there are some recipes he will like.

I then drove to Melrose Park, South of the city, where Spotlight had one copy of the pattern. but in size 16-22, not the 8-14 I needed.

In for a penny, in for a pound, and by now I was not to be defeated, so off I went to Alberton, West of the city.

And Lo! they had the pattern. In the right size.

By now I was well aware that Spotlight has one of its regular pattern sales on. Until tomorrow, you can buy any 4 patterns (except Vogue) for $20. If you buy less than 4 you pay the regular price. which is $27. 

I didn't want 4 patterns. Spotlight were essentially paying me to take them. I spent half an hour trying to choose 3 more patterns. Using the pattern books was not very helpful, as so many were not in the cabinets.

I also have no idea of what Brigid and Niamh might like. In the end I chose these two for Niamh and Brigid

and this one for myself. These are all objects I could make without a pattern, but hey, now I have a pattern!

By the time I actually had the pattern it was after 2pm and I was hungry. I drove a few more kilometres to the beach but the Grange Cafe was bursting with people, so I kept going and headed home. I stopped at Findon on the way and found the Oreo cafe, very clean and well Covid organised so I ordered a fisherman's basket and a lime milkshake.

Back at home I needed a coffee and a sit down (yes, a Bex and a good lie down would not have been out of order!) but eventually moved myself to pay a bit of attention to my front balcony. This has no tap, so watering requires filling watering cans. It also gets dusty over time, especially the leaves of the Yukka. 

I wiped them down with the plant-cleaning glove.

I brought this quite large Yukka with me from the Hindmarsh House. It was in the garden in a pot. I have cut it back but left one tall branch that threatens to overbalance the pot. I knew it was time to remove it, but put it off because I liked the height. It was, however, drooping a bit. 

Today was the day. There is plenty of new growth lower down, so I took the plunge and cut 

I cut the branch into three and planted the pieces in this large empty container.

The  three pieces I planted in the identical container next to it last time I trimmed the Yukka are thriving. I will soon have a Yukka jungle on my balcony - which will be great.

I also found a temporary place on a frangipani to hang the chime that Fionn gave me for my birthday. I'd like to find a way to hang it on the inside of my balcony window. I have an idea, but need some help to do it.

After that I needed to rest a bit and crochet a square before bringing in the washing..                                                                                                                                                                                          I revived enough to complete the next hillock while watching Midsomer Murders on the ABC.

It was a tiring day -not as many boxes ticked as I once would have managed, but I'm pretty satisfied.. 

Post 322. Home again, home again

I got away from Lady Bay in good time this morning - right on the 10am checkout time. I didn't see my Magpie visitor, but there was evidence that at least one had been on my balcony. I declined to provide photographic evidence. I also tipped the barely tasted bottle of de-alcoholised wine down the sink.

It was a smooth trip back even though traffic picked up markedly from Noarlunga and was slow once I reached South Road. I peeled off at Cross Road and stopped at Unley Village for fruit  -and scones. 

The South Australian university offers were made this morning. Brigid had accepted, and deferred for one year, the offer of the course she wanted in the School of Mathematical Sciences at Adelaide Uni, before I was 15 minutes out of Normanville. So pleased for her - and full of admiration. 

My plants seem to have survived the days of heat in Adelaide while I was away. The petunias are looking a bit scruffy, but the poinsettia has thrived in its sink of water. There are new shoots and some lovely effects in the afternoon light.

Clearly the building work next door resumed this week while I've been away. I am disappointed to see reinforcing rods have been installed across the whole  building, indicating, I think, an imminent concrete pour. There are slate slabs underneath and I had begun to hope that this back section might be an outdoor area rather than part of the nine storey building. This looks like a floor for the whole walled site. No idea why you would put this over slate tiles. I'm not allowing myself to stress, but it's disappointing. Glad, however, that I missed out on a week of building activity.

There was another treat in store - a parcel in my letterbox proved to a birthday present from my friend Vivienne - a lovely embroidered bag with rolls of ribbon that will be perfect for my next batch of  drawstring bags. I really love the embroidery. The satin stitch is exquisite.

Having unpacked and restored my plants to their rightful places 

I felt inordinately tired, so had a coffee and couple of scones while reading  William Gore.

I really enjoyed it. It was fun - clever without taking itself too seriously.

There were no kangaroos or golfers in tonight's sunset, but the twin trees and the bat tree were well in evidence

and a fine crescent moon.

I finished yesterday's hillock, moved my hoop and began the next one.                                                   

Enough for today. 

Post 321 Magpie, Brownies, Yankalilla and Bee.

 As I carried my breakfast towards the balcony this morning, I could see I had a visitor.

The closer I got to the balcony door, the bigger  the visitor appeared.

By the time I got to the door, the magpie looked huge. 

I decided I would have my breakfast inside this morning. I'm not arguing with that beak.

I had invited family to morning tea at the hotel at 11am when the chef starts work. They don't do morning tea, but agreed we could use the dessert menu. Everyone chose the chocolate brownie, which came with warm chocolate sauce and icecream. It was pretty good.

Afterwards, I went into Yankalilla to have a look around, but mostly to call into the vintage/book shop that is owned and run by Emanda, an artist who has been, until fairly recently, a very  creative member of the Embroiderers' Guild of South Australia. As luck had it, she was in the shop this afternoon and we had a bit of a catch up. She has been so busy in the shop this last year, that she has done almost no art or craft work. Apparently many people have moved down here from Adelaide, either renting or buying, presumably because they can work from home as easily here as in Adelaide, or because they are retired and can't travel further. 

It explains the numbers of people around the towns, far more than previous years. It's not just the January holiday period. Amanda said it's been busy for months.

I found a pendant I really liked in her shop - there's always something worth having. If I don't get good use out of it someone in the family will.

I'm now reading Death in a Wheelbarrow, a recently reprinted Golden Age Crime mystery by William Gore, a pseudonym for Jan Gordon, who, with his wife Cora, wrote numerous Art and Travel books in the  1930s 40s and 50s.  They seem to have been a very interesting couple. Death in a Wheelbarrow is amusing as well as, so far, an interesting mystery.

I had an early dinner in the hotel this evening. Duck was off the menu, so I had the calamari, which was excellent.

The service from the kitchen was slow, but the affogato was good when it arrived, and I appreciated the extra scoop of icecream to compensate for the wait!

I struggled a bit with the wings of the bee in my crewel piece. The thread I was using was too dark. I undid it twice until I got the effect I wanted - 

and when I got there it was a lot paler than I had anticipated. I then moved my hoop and began the hillock. I'm pleased with this, even though I haven't finished it.

Tomorrow I go back to Adelaide. I'm a bit sorry to be going. I'm now used to being here, have a door that locks and know how to work the place.  On the other hand, I can pretty much do all the same things at home. 

It's been a nice break, and great to spend extended time with family.  

Post 320 Not much to show but a glow

 

I spent much of the day reading the latest of Bruce Beckham's Skelgill series set in Cumbria.  I discovered these in 2018, on my way to a retreat in the Lake District after searching for crime fiction set in the area. It turned out to be a great series to read while there, with a strong sense of place, engaging detection puzzles and characters you want to meet again. I was delighted therefore, when I discovered number 16 in the series, published only 4 days ago.

It was a great read. Beckham skilfully gives DS Jones a major role in this one, seemingly preparing for a series shift in emphasis. We follow her thought processes, including her doubts and insecurities. I really enjoyed it.

There was a cool breeze which did not deter the golfers. The pool was quiet in the morning but had plenty of activity in the afternoon.  I ventured out to move my car back to its allocated parking space, in which there was an alien car when I returned yesterday. 

If I were a painter I'd have a go at painting this bit of my view.  These houses are certainly nothing special in architectural terms but they have a very interesting geometric form in silhouette, that both echoes and contrasts with the shoreline, especially at dusk. Those strange points on the row of houses are in fact the windows on the gable rooves (yes, I know roofs has been standard since the 80s, but my habits were set long before that. It's archaic, but permissible!).

I eased myself out of Skelgill's Cumbria by crocheting another square. 

I quite like the effect of the two neutral colours.

I came across an eco-friendly suggestion for these  circles  as reusable make-up removal pads. Having reached an age when I have time to make them, I no longer use make-up, so I won't be taking up this idea.

I also added a couple of leaves and the rest of the stem under the Phoenix. It looks a little dark in the photo, less so in reality. It will balance out with the flower.

Tomorrow.

The sun sets over the headland which is on the very edge of the view from my balcony here, so there is not much chance of variation. It provides at least a lovely glow.

Post 319 A very happy birthday

These are my friend Deirdre's Queen of the Night flowers, currently blooming at her home in Lismore in northern NSW. It is an orchid cactus that, yes, only blooms at night.    They are native to Mexico. 

What a privilege to have one growing and see it bloom.

It was a day of privileges for me. I woke at 6.30 am, the time (so I was told) that I was born 74 years ago. My mother was just 21 and a great mother. She'd have loved to see these flowers.

I had phone calls this morning from a couple of friends and also my brother. and a long call from Alison late this afternoon. There were emails from other friends, including a lovely long newsy one from Christine in Watford, still keeping on keeping on. She received my Christmas card yesterday. It was posted on 13 December!

There were no less than 3 Jackie Lawson ecards - all different and cheery, as well as newsy text messages - and 20 or so FB messages.  

I don't remember receiving so much attention on my birthday. I am feeling very privileged and loved. It is  important to me, and to my identity, to have friends from all times of my life - from primary school, high school, university, my paid work life and my retirement and both immediate and extended family.  Thank you all for staying connected - whether on my birthday or other times.

. 

The event of the day was a birthday lunch at Normanville (photo courtesy of Caitlin on Katherine's phone!).  The most spectacular meal was Niamh's beef burger held together by a knife.

The kids chose, bought and/or made me really thoughtful presents. Veronica's earrings were made from brown sea glass- light shines through them in the sun. Niamh's annual pin cushion, to keep my chairs safe, was entirely designed and made by her this year without help. I love the birds.  Brigid's earrings were, amazingly, each two fused cowries, so they are reversible, Fionn's shell and bead chime is so elegant - perfect shape for my balcony

and the necklace, by Suzette Watkins of Australian Landscape Jewellery is one I had, unknown to Katherine and Anthony, actually looked at online to buy as a gift. It is really beautiful. 

Back at the Golf Hotel, I talked with Alison, took in the gifts, reread the wonderful cards 

and cracked open the bottle of de-alcoholised (yes, that's what the bottle says) wine I had bought at the local supermarket - the only kind they offered.  It doesn't, I think, have a lot to recommend it.

The birthday surprises were not over.  At 6pm, as a magpie made a lot of noise on the roof above the next balcony, the locksmith arrived to fix the lock on my door! It took 45 minutes, a lot of deconstruction, visits to the van, reconfiguring and testing, but my door now locks and my key opens it. 

I miss the gaffer tape that kept the malfunctioning lock from locking me either in or out, but it will be good not to take my computer, iPad, Kindle and Kobo with me every time I leave the room as a precaution because it doesn't lock.

The big red kangaroos put in another appearance at dusk. I really do wish I had bought my SLR - or upgraded my iPhone to either an 11 or 12 Pro with a 4x zoom. The 2x on my phone just won't do the job.

My stitching has been a bit limited today - two crocheted squares and half a stem to support the Phoenix.

Not bad, all things considered.

It's been a fabulous day.