This week's highlight was Niamh and Veronica's birthday, celebrated with a family lunch at Osteria Oggi. It was an amazing lunch but not half as wonderful as the young women they have become. I am so privileged to be part of their lives.
Their birthday this year fell on the Spring Equinox, with its harvest moon peeping through the clouds a few hours after their celebrations. My hasty photo, DSLR held in hand at 1am, created twin moons!
The week began with an early message from Di, my immediate neighbour, offering me some lemons. When she delivered them an hour or so later we had a bit of a catch up. Theo is slowly on the mend. After that I picked up We Solve Murders from Cumberland Park, then Seamless Embroidery from Burnside. This has some lovely patterns and ideas. I might even embroider a couple of Christmas crowns!
I had been unable to download the photos of the supermoon I took with the DSLR last Tuesday night. Although I had purchased new connectors to accommodate my updated laptop, neither of my card readers was working (even the new one seemed to have bent pins), nor was the direct camera-to-laptop connection. In addition, one battery wasn't charging at all.
So on Thursday I took the camera, the connectors, the charger, the batteries and my laptop to the market camera shop. Parking in the Market was a bit of a nightmare, cruising cars, tight corners, few spaces, but eventually I nabbed a spot. It was worth the effort to get their great professional help. 
I haven't kept up with camera technology. I didn't realise DSLRs have been superceded by mirrorless cameras. Nevertheless, I emerged with nothing more than a new battery and a lot of information. The card reader problem is from wear on the SD card and apparently almost always happens. Advice: don't use card readers with SD cards . The charger is fine, and the direct connector from laptop to camera works if the camera battery is well charged! I could upgrade the camera body but the lenses are excellent. At home I downloaded the supermoon photos and read a lot about mirrorless cameras and newer DSLR camera bodies. For now I'm staying with what I have. The twin harvest moon photo above was taken and downloaded subsequent to the advice.
As it was the girls' birthday weekend, I decided to shop on Friday for a smorgasbord of food for Monday, rather than cooking a single meal. I scoured the supermarket, deli, bakery and greengrocer for likely contributions, then called at the coffee shop to replenish my supply of coffee beans. I ended up getting the old suitcase wheel trolley out of the boot of my car to carry it all upstairs - three layers on the trolley and two to carry! Did the trick though.
After putting it all away I settled in to finish the Shetland hat. Details in my embroidery blog,
Wanting a knitting break, but still in a Shetland mindset, I dug out the Fair Isle Rope Basket kit I bought in March and took the plunge after dinner on Friday.
Outside the coral trees are shedding their flowers and donning their leaves, keeping a lovely symmetrical shape.
The council does a fine job of keeping them trimmed and both provide favoured spots for picnickers and walkers.
Still on a break from knitting, I took my Sashiko on Saturday night, finishing it when I got home. Now, with help from Vivienne, I have 6 panels finished and 4 to go before hopefully joining them into a tablecloth. These are a blend of Japanese and Indigenous Australian designs which I find particulary interesting and attractive.
Meanwhile, had been going through some of my many knitting books, looking for a pattern that would use up the remainder of the Uradale wool. It took quite a while. Along the way I found a pattern I think will use up the felted tweed I have left and also the British Breeds left from a couple of Marie Wallin projects.
Eventually I chose one from Mary Anne Mucklestone’s 200 Fair Isle Designs. It needed to be simple and narrow.. I settled on one, undid the first try and knitted it up again, keeping the basic concept of increases and lace bands.
I’m much happier with this, so proceeding. The plan at the moment is to change the background colour after four bands of pattern, (one in each of the four contrast colours) until the wool is used up. The lacy bands will become more open when blocked.
I had, of course, bought far too much of almost everything for last night's dinner, what I call 'bread and what you can get' and Brigid calls 'a feast'. Most of the left-over party pies and salami disappeared with my guests and I had salads, bread, cheese and mortadella meals today. With holidays coming up, holiday jobs, sport commitments and some parental travel, I don’t expect to see much of the family in the next couple of weeks. It is wonderful to see them spreading their wings.
This morning I did a dash out to Create in Stitch to pick up a copy of The Handpicked Collection 3. I resisted 1 and 2, but was captured by Di Kirshners Daisy Hussif, which I have come close to buying as a kit or doing as a class. I do like it - but also have at least two similar hussifs. Christine Bishop's Tessellations pushed me over the line for this volume - I think it is beautiful. There are two or three other projects I’d like to do…one day.
From there I gritted my teeth and braved KMart to buy some organisers for my linen cupboard. The ones I has seen online proved to be too big so I left with two smaller ones to try. Haven't taken them out of their package yet.
On the way home to prepare for cleaners I dropped in at the Guild to deliver some honey to a friend and chat with Tuesday stitchers. I came away with my square of pink silk for next year's anniversary challenge. No ideas yet, but they will come.
Much of the afternoon was spent trying to find a copy of the Advanced Care Directive I made in 2014. Medic Alert bracelets can now be engraved with a QR code to provide paramedics with access to that information, but to have it done I need an electronic copy of the directive. My files turned up only the cover page.
Today was pleasantly fine and warm (22C) with rain beginning around sunset. The Alamanda Blue that Cathy gave me several months ago has done really well throughout winter, partly because of rain. The main pot, from which I extracted three chunks to start new ones, has not only recovered but is now spilling over on its way to covering the pot. The doves are attracted to them, drinking out of the saucers, which are always full of water.
Unfortunately, the Wolemi pine is not looking as healthy. I knew it was a risk. 🤞🏼
I'm currently meandering my way through The Lost Flock about the Orkney Boreray sheep, which fits nicely with the Uradale wool knitting. I need, however, to stop knitting for long enough to read at least one book for Sunday's book club. Better get to it.
