Post 330 Family

 I woke to find this photograph had been sent to me by a second cousin I had communicated with a couple of years ago through Ancestry.com. The photo is of my cousin's  grandfather, - my maternal grandmother's brother, Henry William Bearcroft. I have several photos of him, but none in his naval uniform. 

My maternal grandparents migrated to Australia in November 1929. Their son Albert was given a Brownie box camera for his 15th birthday in June 1929 and used it to take photos of all the family they were leaving behind. Albert worked in a factory when they arrived in Australia but eventually persuaded a Sydney street photographer to teach him how to develop photos. Albert went on to become a photographer with his own business. Photos, and letters were the only link my grandparents had to 'back home' as they were for many migrant families.

Receiving the photo reminded me of a family research mystery on which I had made a little progress at the end of 2019. 2020 pushed it right out of my mind. It's time, I think, to return to it.

The main event of the day was, of course, the arrival of Alison and Karl from Canberra today. There are no photographs of note. I was unsure whether visitors could meet planes at the airport, and the airport website was no help. In the end we decided on curbside pickup, which worked smoothly. Adelaide arrivals must have registered ahead of time for entry and are met on arrival but a customs-like arrangement where they are asked a series of questions about their health and recent locations before they are allowed in. This was, apparently, well staffed and efficient as well as thorough.

We had several hour to relax and catch up at my place before heading to Katherine and Anthony's for dinner. It was a joyous and animated evening with lots of stories told. Alison and Karl brought Christmas presents which were opened, discussed and displayed for all to see.

I was privileged with birthday present as well. These amazing eramic teapot earings cwere in an even more amazing Fair Isle bag that Alison had knitted. 

I'm not sure which I like best, the bag or the earrings (I'm still wearing the earrings!)

There is also a coat-dress from Magpie Goose in this fabulous fabric.

I'm a bit embarrassed about including photos of my own presents, but I was too engaged to take photos, so I'm going with what I have access to!

As predicted, I didn't get much stitching done. I did add a little blue silk to the Blue Wren.

I also managed to water the plants this morning (It was 38C in Adelaide today) and found a bloom on the tree begonia I took from Gawler to Hindmarsh in 1984 and then from Hindmarsh here. I like those continuities, however small. 

Post 329 Embroidery all the way; starts and finishes

 First thing this morning I checked the blocking. It was dry, but not wrinkle-free, so I tightened the pins and dampened it again.By midday it was dry and wrinkle-free,  so I removed the pins and added the bead eye. (Yes, I should have done this before I blocked it and the wrinkling around the head is the result).

I couldn't wait to try the two finished pieces on the chair. This is a rough pinning. The Phoenix and Flowers is in the exact position, Lady Ann's Flowers in more roughly placed. The space that is left is exactly the width of the Aesop Frame embroidery.

The two pieces are now rolled up safely in my embroidery roll.

 

Next week I will take the cover off and stitch these two pieces on. I had thought to wait, but the Aesop Frame is going to take a few weeks.

It was our Sit'nStitch afternoon - very relaxed but also productive. Susan finished her Anna Scott Mountain Oak. This is just out of the hoop. It's really lovely work, hugely detailed.

Jennifer is working on Sophie's Universe. This is the centre. The two outer colours were added this afternoon.       

I worked on these - or one and a half of them The rest I finished at home.

This morning I transferred the sketch I had made yesterday to linen using a light pad and a pencil. I haven't sketched in much of the fine detail but can do that as I go.  I fitted it to a hoop.

I also hooped up one of Nicola's bird linens. I'm planning to do this one in the colours of an Australian Blue Wren.

This evening I found some threads I want to use for both projects.

I began work on the easier of the two, using a deep blue Madeira metallic with quite a sparkle - which, of course. does not shop up in the photo. 

It's going to be fun doing this.

Tomorrow Alison and Karl arrive and I have a bit of preparation to do. Today's glut of needlework news is unlikely to be repeated.

Post 328 Pilates, Parcels and Printer Problems

 This morning's task was to get my spare room ready for my weekend visitors. The beds were made up 12 months ago, after my last visitors left, but it is also the room in which I store all my craft equipment and unfinished projects. They should be in the cupboard, but over the last year many have only made it to the luggage shelves at the end of the bed -or the end of the bed itself. This morning they all got put away and the trundle extracted from under the bed and set up. It was a bit of an effort, but it is done. I needed a coffee after that. 

I did manage to water the plants and put out some seeds.

I was rewarded by a visit from Black Tips later in the day.

On the way to Pilates I picked up my parcel from the Post Office - and another one from my letterbox.  The one in my letterbox was my copy of the Shetland Wool Week Annual.

My Watford friend Christine had put me on to this. It contains patterns and articles from the 2020 Virtual Shetland Wool Week - and they are fabulous.

The hats, in particular, are calling to me.  Katie's Kep, by Wilma Malcolmson, , made in different colour ways would both use up left-over wool and make fabulous gifts.

I also love Da Skaw Beret (right), by Angela Irvine. I'd like one of these myself. The Kirk Ness Toorie is also lovely.

There are fabulous socks - and leg warmers.

I'm so grateful to Christine for putting me on to this. It's not just eye candy - I will make some of these this year.

I worked fairly hard at Pilates. Martine, my usual instructor, was still on leave and Leanne, the studio owner, took the class. She always tries new things.

Afterwards, I drop some things off at the Salvos and went to Unley shopping centre to do the shopping I missed yesterday because of my shoe. To my amazement, the boarded-up green grocer that didn't open again after our first Covid lockdown early last year has been transformed and opened yesterday as a new business, incorporating another empty shop next door.

It's huge - a really big selection of fruit and veg (this is half of it) and another section, almost as big, with local eggs, pasta, sauces and similar produce.

I've missed a green grocer in this shopping centre, and this one promises to be terrific.

I bought nectarines, plums, potatoes, watermelon, cucumber, blueberries, strawberries and two bottles of my favourite passata. 

They also had a good range of flowers. I didn't buy any, but was intrigued by these ones called 'Green tricks'.

By now it was nearly 3pm and I hadn't had lunch. While I was taking these photos I noticed that The Lunch Club had lime milkshakes, so I indulged along with a sausage roll and a chocolate finger.It was an excellent sausage roll and I took the biscuit home to have with coffee.

After the coffee and biscuit, I finished the Phoenix!  I was so impressed with my effort that I even sorted and put away the left-over threads in my colour-coded containers.

I was feeling a bit tired after all this, but changed activity and got a second wind.

The Phoenix and Flowers is now blocked and drying. I'll take a closer photo tomorrow when it is dry, but I'm pleased with it.

I need to decide whether to add this and Lady Ann's Flowers to my chair now, or wait until I've finished the Aesop's Frame. 

I did not want to rush straight into Aesop, so I played around with my earlier idea of the image and text from Alan Garner's The Owl Service

I tried to print a photo of the plate that inspired Garner, but my printer played up again. I decided the full plate might be too complicated anyway, so I did a bit of a rough sketch . I think something like this might work. 

I'll sleep on it.

Post 327 Car and crewel

 

Well, so much for two hours of embroidery while my car was being serviced! I did take my hoop and wools (and my crochet) but also added this book to my bag. This is to be the basis of my presentation to the World Embroidery Study Group in April -the one I was reminded about when I sent out the program again yesterday.

When I was settled at CMI Toyota, I took it out to look at, then spent the whole two hours reading and taking notes.

Trudie Strobel is a remarkable woman who as a child was marched 800 miles with her mother to a ghetto, then a Nazi work camp. They were spared because her mother was a skilled needlewoman who could mend uniforms and clothes. When the war ended they spent 5 years in a Displacement Camp before being shipped to the USA. Trudie eventually found a way of dealing with her trauma through narrative embroidery.

When I got home I decided I should begin the PowerPoint while it was fresh in my mind, so spent the entire afternoon on it.

At least I now have the job done and copied to my WES group memory stick, ready for our April meeting.

There were no problems with the car. It was the 70,000km service and I have done 22 400 km so I didn't expect trouble and didn't get it.

This morning I was wearing blue jeans and a flowered faun top. For some reason I decided to change from the black sandals I wear most days and dig out a pair of brown sandals I haven't worn for several years. They work better with my old vinyl covered orthotics so I put those in. All good to the car service.

When I got up from the chair in which I’d been reading, to collect my car, my sandal was flopping around. I couldn't stop to examine it as the service assistant was ahead of me and I didn't want to hold him up.  Once in the car I decided to come straight home instead of going to the supermarket as I had intended. At home I discovered the sole had split clean in half! I couldn't think of any way to recycle these. The sole is rubber and not repairable. I do not want bits of leather for any project. 

In the bin.

It's been hot today - 34C and heading to 41C on Sunday. That’s not what I had hoped for with family coming from Canberra for the weekend.

I decided I could wait until tomorrow for the shopping. I had missed a parcel while out this morning. Tomorrow will do to pick that up too.                                                                                                                                                                                I didn’t finish the Phoenix piece, but made good progress. I finished the curled leaf edge which is now under the hoop. I forgot to photograph it before moving the hoop for the last time.Tomorrow should see this finished.

It doesn't seem like a lot from the photographs, but it has been a day of considerable achievement.

Post 326. Hair

 

I'm pleased to say that the petunias have largely recovered from their droop after my week away. There's more hot weather coming so I need to make sure I water them well each morning.

Today's main commitment was to a haircut. I let Talia have her head in terms of both the cut and the 'round brush dry'. I was, of course, happy with the result. I apologise for the startled rabbit look and failure to smile. There's only so much one can focus on when sneaking a photo in the hairdressing salon mirror.

I did a little bit of shopping in the Market afterwards - more fruit and some lovely young beans. I wanted some Black Russian tomatoes but didn't see any in the sections of the Markets I was in. I didn't have the energy or inclination to have a thorough look everywhere. I'll get some tomorrow at one of my usual suppliers - Frewville, Unley or North Adelaide. 

The latest Inspirations Magazine was in my letterbox when I got home. There are a few attractive projects - Arcadia, the crewel project by Brenda Sortwell, Mind Games, the hardanger mat by Kim Beamish, the gum nut segment of Jenny McWinney's Hello Possum and, the one I am tempted to do, Remembrance, by Philippa Todd.      

What attracts me particularly to this is its usefulness. It would be a gift people I know would appreciate, and would wear on Anzac Day, Remembrance Day and personal anniversaries. 

I just might get the kit.

Much of the rest of my day was spent reading The Dead Call, by J M Dalgliesh, a contemporary British crime writer living in the East Riding. I have read, and liked, one of his Dark Yorkshire series. This one is the 6th in his Hidden Norfolk series, and I am wanting to publish this post so I can finish the last 12%!

I did more than I expected on the Phoenix tonight. I had planned to move my hoop before doing the red flower, but changed my mind.  The flower wasn't so close to the hoop that my needle would catch the tape underneath, so I completed it.     

   

This is the new hoop position, all ready to start tomorrow. 

My car is booked in for service tomorrow, and I will wait the two hours for it to be done. My seated frame, hoop and threads are easy to take with me, so I might get quite a bit done. 

That, of course, is assuming I finish The Dead Call  tonight!

Post 325 Preparations

 I've done a bit of checking today. I began this blog on 25th February 2020. Given it's a leap year, if the blog is to run for one year, Blog 366 should fall on 24 February 2021. However,  my projection now says Blog 362 will fall on that day. Since the calendar can't be wrong, it must be me.  I knew that on March 11 I had rolled two days into one blog, and there is a missing day between leaving Australia on 25 Feb and arriving in Stratford on 27th Feb. My check established that I have two posts labelled 235, 251 and 291 respectively, and no number 284. I think it's too late to correct these, but at least I understand and can conclude the year on 24 February.

There are few photographs today. I had a nice long conversation with a Guild friend, hung out some washing then delivered the patterns to Brigid and Niamh and the book to Fionn. I managed to finish reading Miss Seeton Sings.

Heron Carvic is a stage and print name used by Geoffrey Rupert William Harris (1913-1980), an actor who provided the voice of Gandalf in the BBC Radio version of The Hobbit. He also had roles in The Avengers and Dr Who in the 1960s. The pseudonym derives from his grandmother's name and was used to spare his family from the disgrace of his chosen professions. 

His Miss Seeton series was seen as a parody of Miss Marple. I think of them as farce. Some were produced as BBC radio drama, and that seems to me to be a comfortable fit. This is the third I have read. I could see it as an Ealing Comedy, As written crime fiction I found it a bit tedious and overly complex in parts.  

It was a sunny, slightly windy day here today. I am pleased to see my pruned Yukka looking pukka. I'm very hopefully it will keep and develop these higher leaves. 

It's also great to be able to see Michael's Spanish Mackerel sculpture behind it.

My phone call this morning prompted me to send out a notice to the World Embroidery Study Group in preparation for our February meeting. The end of the holiday period is in sight. It's also a reminder to myself that I have promised to prepare a session on The Holocaust Embroidery of Judy Strobel for April. Better read it.

Sunsets continue in all their variety and similarity. As well as silhouetted trees, tonight there was an illuminated pathway on the grass. - 

A little progress on the crewel piece. One more leaf and I can move the hoop.

I have a haircut tomorrow, but there should be plenty of time to progress this afterwards. 

Post 324 Mainly Book Club

The Crime Book Club to which I belong met this morning at Uncle Albert's Coffee Shop in Norwood. There were five of us. The books under discussion were The Girl in Keller's Way and The Night Swim by Megan Goldin.  I had only read the first mentioned, and I expressed my view on 11 January. I was right, it did make for interesting discussion. The rest of the group were more enthusiastic than I was.

A lot of our time was spent catching up on what else we had read in the last month - which was a lot. Most of us used the Christmas break well. It was a 2 hour session today. 

Kerrie, the convenor of our Book Club, has a blog called Mysteries in Paradise, where she reviews the numerous crime fiction she reads. Any readers who share my addiction may find it a source of reading ideas.  

                                The Norwood arcade in which Uncle Albert's is located is being redeveloped.  Uncle Albert's is planning to stay open throughout but most other occupants have either moved out or are about to do so. 

Norwood is a thriving shopping precinct which has managed to keep operating thoughout the pandemic. Locals seem to have settled into social distancing, hand sanitising and outside eating and drinking.                                                

I had an hour or so at home before  visiting friends this afternoon. It was totally relaxing and rejuvenating.

It was a cool day in Adelaide. I couldn't capture the birds or bats at sunset. It was not a spectacular sunset, but I do like the palette.

The pub on the corner looked warm and welcoming, especially in contrast to Calvary Hospital behind.

I added one crocheted square and one stalk on my crewel.                  

More tomorrow.