Post 432 It's all about the photographs

While it has been a busy week on several fronts - an election, blood tests, visit to a friend, cooking up a storm, two projects finished and a new one started as well as household tasks, I couldn't resist getting out my camera and snapping up some Autumn colour and opportunity.

My pick of the week is this cobweb on my front balcony.  

I'm also pretty happy with this photo of a ladybird on one of my plants - the only one I've seen in my garden of pots three storeys off the ground.

  

There have been a few pleasant discoveries. Usually, when the doves leave my balcony, they seem to fly straight down and disappear. On Sunday I managed to see where they landed in one of the trees in the apartment's nature strip - and to get a photo. I think it is just a resting place, not a nest, but I am very pleased with myself for finding them somewhere other than my balcony.

I've been trying to capture the black trunks of the trees in Carrington Street as they lose their leaves. I love the sight of their stark trunks emerging. I am usually driving when I think of it, but can't risk trying to drive and photograph. On Saturday I pulled over and took some photos.  

I've also tried to capture the light through the leaves as I've spent some time in the warmth of late afternoon sun on my western balcony, or the morning light on the aloe flower - before the honey eaters get to it. 

 

Maybe these will translate into embroidery one day.                

Today I visited the Adelaide City Library to see Sandy Lepore's monumental crocheted 100 Year Climate Yarn Project. It is so interesting, with several different ways of looking at the temperature in Adelaide over the last 100 years. The stripes on the left show yearly temperature averages over 100 years, with 1920 at the lower edge and clear movement to higher temperatures as it reaches the top.

There's a lot more displayed. I had planned to include more about my visit here, but it would have made this post too long, so I have posted in more detail on my stitching blog.

Turning to my embroidery this week, I finished the Arabian bag, which is a nifty little hold-all for embroidery necessities. Again, detail is in my stitching blog.

My other finish involves some fabulous tapestry fabric a Guild friend gave me this week. We spent an afternoon at her place talking, eating, planning and tossing around ideas. I didn’t want to add the fabric to my stash, so got stuck into it the next day. It has made four bags of varying sizes, one(top) to hold my laptop. I have a couple of finishing touches before I write it up in detail. 

I’ve now launched into a blanket I conceived about 15 years ago. The blanketing and drawings have been waiting and are now being turned into the article. More on this soon.

 

A friend gave me 4 persimmons recently. In the past I’ve made granita or eaten them raw, but as I’m trying to restrict my fruit intake I thought I’d try something I can share so made a batch of persimmon biscuits. They are slightly cakey in texture and contain  walnuts and raisins as well as persimmons. Quite a contrast to Anzac biscuits.

Last night I cooked lamb shanks and 2 potato rösti cakes - something I’ve been wanting to try for a while. I was too focused for photos☹️ as I made them.  This is a left-over. The meal was enjoyable and well received but I’d like to experiment a bit. The potato rösti were made in springform tins, crisp on top and bottom,  but smooth in between. I might try a shallow baking tin next time to try it more crispy. 

It’s a busy time of year for my sporty grandchildren - netball, football, umpiring, coaching, injuries to be managed and timetabling challenges.  They are amazingly skilled, persistent and resilient. Above all, however, they are thoughtful, perceptive and engaged in the world around them. It has been so interesting watching election results with them and listening to their questions and analysis. 

I am constantly grateful for the privilege of knowing them.