Post 507 Adelaide Rosella calls

I had friends to lunch on Sunday, so spent much of Friday shopping and much of Saturday preparing. 

 

I cooked Peking Flavour Duck Breasts. I also planned to try a new potato dish for Monday night, and originally thought I'd use it for both meals, but realised Cheesy Potato Bake is hardly a fitting accompaniment to Peking Duck! 

I tried buying some fried rice from a takeaway in the Unley Shopping Centre, but it didn't appeal, so I gave in and made my own, boiling the rice on Saturday and leaving it spread out on a tray overnight in the fridge, then frying it all up the next day. It was, I'm happy to say, excellent. 

Over lunch I was bewailing the fact that while I had taken hundreds of bird photos, I hadn't seen a single Adelaide Rosella this year. Less than half an hour after my guests had left, I heard the telltale screech. I spent a long time holding my camera, unable to see the bird hidden in the leaves. When located,  it was a black shape against the sky. I snapped away, and was able to adjust the colour and light to triumphantly expose the rosella colour. I am grateful for the visitation, and regard it as a good omen for friendship and the journey my friends are about to take.

The jacarandas are still not as vibrant as other years, being a mixture of blossom, new growth and still-attached old leaves. It varies considerably across the city, but there is less full-purple impact this year. Happily, the young one the Council planted in the Square a couple of years ago are looking healthy.

As my friends were leaving on Sunday, a couple of men were searching a section of the Square with metal detectors, spring what they seemed to be digging up about a spade depth below the turf. Long lost items or buried treasure?  This morning I read a story of a family in Norway who found Viking burial items in their backyard, while searching for a lost earring.  I wonder what the men found in the Square.

We had a full complement on Monday night. The cheesy potato bake was a success alongside the honey soy chicken Maryland, but the left-over fried rice was too! Both will be on the rotation from now on. 

Last Wednesday I tripped getting out of the lift on my way back from collecting the mail. I'm still not sure whether the lift door was not level with the landing, or if I just stubbed my shoe, but the mail went flying and I fell heavily on my knees and left arm, across the foyer floor. I had trouble getting up, without putting all my weight on my knees. I managed to get myself across the floor to my door and use the handle as leverage to stand up. I could have called my neighbour, but was pleased to be able to manage myself. My knees and arm were bruised, but not enough to stop my doing Pilates the next day. I am paying more attention now as I exit the lift.

Honeyeaters dominate the balcony bird scene at the moment. Groups make swooping visits and zip around adjacent trees.

A couple of months ago, there was an appeal for buttons, to use on clothing being made for the Guild shop. 

This week my friend Vivienne sent me most of her significant button collection, some of which go back to at least the 1950s, probably earlier. I have saved a few for myself, including an addition to my Cat's Eye collection.  I also have buttons very similar to the white ones. I will deliver the remainder to the Guild next Thursday. It's so satisfying to be part of this continuity of recycling. Buttoned across time and place.

The cards I've had printed all arrived during the week. I won't reveal my Christmas card just yet.

The bookmarks  are everything I hoped for. The backs are blank so I can use them as gift cards.

Aquafit again today. Two safety pins largely tamed the floating skirt on my swimming costume. 

 

I have reached a milestone with the alpaca shawl. I am now knitting the lacy top border. only 14 rows to go, about 6,670 stitches. 

Not that I'm counting.