Post613 Lots of Purple and Patience

It seems a bit early to me for Christmas decorations. I did put out the candelabra but the rest can wait for Advent. 

Wednesday began with my 4 monthly Optometrist appointment. My eyes are going well under the current treatment regime. They were checked, my steroid creme prescripion renewed  and my checkups moved to six monthly. We talked along the way about Christmas, so I came home and sorted out the presents in my wardrobe. I could only find one of the four sacks I made for grandchildren in 2019  (a replacement of the original felt ones that had worn out). Does this mean it’s time to abandon them now the users are all adults?

On Thursday morning I had an email from Snapfish asking me to order something, or lose the archive of my past projects. It’s a bit ironic. The reason I haven’t used them for several years is because the early photo books I had ordered from them had disappeared from their website and I found another service that provides an archive service and more flexible formats. 

I thought however, that responding to their email might give me leverage, so I examined their current offerings. Amongst them are a couple of printed bags and a cushion. Of course, I thought it would be worthwhile trying these as spin-offs from the Bishops Bag.🙄

Apart from my Pilates, I spent the entire day, and most of the evening. experimenting with photographs and Snapfish software. Like most companies, but unlike those I ordered last week, Snapfish bags are printable only on one side. In the end I combined individual photographs of the 14 embroidered faces into a Word document, which I then converted to a jpeg file using screenshot. I had to do this several times to get a high enough resolution to create merchandise and to get a size that uploaded without cropping out faces on the edge. I have finally ordered a tote bag, a library bag and a cushion. I have a feeling the cushion might prove to be an attractive choice.  

In the middle of all this I had a phone call to say my coffee machine was ready to pick up. I was happily drinking a cup of coffee from the insulated coffee pot  I had filled that morning , so delayed picking up the machine until Friday. The explanation for the problem is still a bit thin, but I am now operating it without a filter, and hoping the signals for descaling will now be clear to me. Danielle, who runs the shop and deals with customers, had taken the trouble to go through the processes with the technician and then again with me. So far so good, but I’m not counting my chickens yet. Danielle is great.

It's good to have espresso coffee when I want it, but I'm very pleased to have rediscovered the convenience of freshly ground coffee through a stainless steel drip filter into an insulated coffee pot. I've got choices!

On Saturday I paid a visit to Create in Stitch. It was raining heavily. On the way home I managed to find a place to stop on Halifax St to photograph the jacaranda trees. I love the mature trees with the contrasting black wood. 

Back at home, with another coffee,  the drip began again in my living room wall.  I took notes, timed it, and notified our Strata Rep. Another visit from Shane is now scheduled early this Friday.

It was, at least, good knitting weather. I managed, finally, to finish the left front of the cardigan. It looked (is) huge, and I was anxious to see if I had overdone the size shift. It appears, however, to be the right size.  Even though it had to be held in place, I didn't want to take it off. It would have been a good addition in Saturday's miserable weather.

I've now begun the right front.

Three of us ate well and,  in between intermittent checks on the Schoolies Week weather, managed the crosswords  with a bit of pooled knowledge - and an observer.

Sunday was BookClub and the only day this week when rain was not forecast. I managed to get my 2 weeks of accumualated washing done and hung out before I left at 9.45am. As I hung it out, the Jenny McWinney peg bag I made in 2012 finally fell apart. A shame, but it's had a good run. I used the pegs as they fell but couldn't stop to deal with it.

I had somehow missed the street closure notices for the Supercars Final which starts next Thursday. Roads are already closed, stands and bollards  erected. I had to go a very long way around to get to our meeting at Norwood. It was worth it,  The recommended books created animated discussion. 

As we shared our reading, I added another 48 books to my database of the crime books we have collectively read this year. I now have an 11 page table, in Word, containing 485 titles - the books we have individually read and shared with each other this year.. Another BookClub member has now transferred it into Excel format so it can be interrogated by category, not essential, but useful and handy. I'm hoping to recruit a granddaughter to help me manage the database,

It was also the day the cushion covers I'd made recently reached their destination. The account of their making is now in my embroidery blog.

There isn't a big choice of peg baskets in Adelaide. I found this wire mesh one at Bunnings and bought it on Monday. The old one, unfortunately, has gone to landfill. 

While at Bunnings I was seduced by a lemon scented pine, being marketed as a Christmas tree. It's very limey-greem which I rather like.  Let's see if I can keep this one alive beyond Christmas.

They also had the first poinsettia of the season. Not very big, but I do love them. While I eschew Christmas decorations before Advent, I don't count plants in the category!

My hairdresser doesn't wait for Advent. When I visited today she and her apprentice were engaged in wrapping the entrance door in a gigantic gold ribbon and bow. While Nikki cut my hair, the apprentice unpacked a box of frosted trees which she arranged , on instruction, in the window. The idea was to create a village in the window.

After some discussion, I came home, collected the box of santons, traditional pottery village nativity figures from Provence,  and took them back to the salon. 

Jim bought these some 15-20 years ago. I haven't  had space to display them here and Nikki was keen to borrow them. She has promised me photos when they are set up. I can't find any photos of the figures set up, so the box will have to do. They are tiny, and my guess is there would be 70-80 figures.

On my way home the second time I stopped at the Chemist, had a prescription made up, and returned the bathroom scales I bought 10 days ago. They have begun behaving like the last ones. 

This morning they gave me, within 5 minutes, a weight varying over a 3 kg range. The pharmacy was unsurprised, and very good about it,  refunding my money and will return them to the company. 

After discussion with pharmacy staff, I came home and checked out non-digital scales. I have, with some trepidation, ordered the one that is used in most doctor's surgeries. The reviews are mostly positive, and reliability seems high. There is no local supply and they are more expensive than those I've tried so far. I really need to get accurate and reliable weight measurements regularly, so here's hoping it's third time lucky.

This afternoon I've had the call scheduling Shane's visit to look for the leak early (sigh) on Friday morning. I also had a message to say by B&O TV is at the warehouse and can be delivered once I pay the balance! 

Also, all the printed bags I ordered, plus the cushion, are on their way to me. It looks as if I will be spending much of the coming week waiting for deliveries and services!

Post 612 Projects Galore.

It's jacaranda time again in Adelaide. The best views are driving along streets lined with purple trees, but I can't photograph while driving, and stopping is not usually possible. This is the tree visible from my back balcony. It's slightly to the left of me, behind Di and Theo's apartment.

The native frangipani directly behind me is still attracting a pair of rosellas.  I certainly have a lot  of photos!

Wednesday was another World Embroidery winner. Pat Grummet brought along a wealth of records and photos of an installation, Monday Blues that she and  Richard Brecknock performed as part of the Fibreworks Collective  in Gawler Place Adelaide, and again in Wellington, NZ, in the early 1980s, as an example of textiles as storytelling. They began by installing a clothes line on a vacant city lot, to which they pegged 7 white and 4 blue items - knickers and nappies. Over 10 days they constructed tents, dyed underwear, nappies and cloth (largely sourced from charity shops), adding both tents and clothes each week to show the growth of the family and the work involved.  They printed a leaflet explaining the project to hand out to the public. Pat did all the dyeing, on site. I remember the vacant block. I worked next to it in 1985 and 1986, but missed the installation. I borrowed the photo of the last days of the NZ installation from Pat's presentation. WES Group also provided me with advice on my female bishops bag -  and we have a draft program for next year.  

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As a result of the bag advice, I went to Spotlight after Pilates on Thursday and bought some plain purple quilting cotton and iron-on wadding, both for lining the bag. On a whim I continued to Grange Jetty for a late lunch. I haven't been for a few years, as it stopped taking bookings and is often crowded.  At 2.45pm on Thursday it was fine and the fritto misto was just what I wanted.

I worked solidly on the bishops bag on Friday and Saturday, finishing it. It has been a bit of a passionate experimental project, and I'm not quite finished with it yet, having ordered a photo-based spin-off print bag, that I may take further. Detail in my embroidery blog.

On Sunday I worked for a bit on Christmas cards before visiting my local Chemist to sort out a couple of prescriptions and buy a new set of simple bathroom scales. The old scales with which I have been persevering no longer give a consistent reading from second to second. It's a bit scary to start again. I had to wait until Monday morning at my usual weigh-in time to see the damage. It looks as if I am about half a kilo over what I've been guesstimating from the old scales - not too bad!

On Sunday afternoon the cold returned and rain set in. I had the heating on again. I returned to my knitting. I'm making progress on the left side of the cardigan. Looks like I was right to order the extra yarn.

Project Christmas Cards got a bit of a boost on Monday. Each year this becomes an exercise of mixed emotions. As well as the list getting shorter, there are checks on those I haven’t heard from, and dread at what I might learn. There are also warm memories. 

I calculated the stamps required and headed to the PO to buy them, as well as posting a parcel.

Back at home I extended the Christmas connection exercise by working through my gmail address book, which I have never culled. I found no new names to add to the card list, but I reduced the number of entries from around 1200 to 530. The vast majority were the contacts of the last 12 years of my paid work with a few old personal business and trades contacts. Most were also entered twice, automatically indexed by both first and second names. Again, it was a sobering exercise. So many people  I was once in regular contact with, and have lost track of, even forgotten. Jobs and organisations that no longer exist. A world that has gone.

Meanwhile, the Kangaroo Paw is blooming on the front balcony.

As Monday dinners at my place are currently off I've had projects spread everywhere. As a number have reached completion I had a bit of a tidy-up. That pile of hoops and frames on the spare bed is now packed. into bags or units and stowed away, left over threads distributed with others of their kind and cards in piles. 

I had also neglected my Book Club picks in my project frenzy, and we meet next Sunday, so I’ve got 2 books to read this week. I was already reading Daffodils and Deadly Deeds, so finished it yesterday and read Garry Disher's Mischance Creek  today, for Book Club. I'll try to get on to the other, Melaleuca, tomorrow. I am ignoring the piles waiting for my exploration of Anglo-Saxon Embroidery, and Women in the British Secret Service! 

The cushion backs arrived today and were all I hoped for: quality linen and easy to apply. The time taken to add the border paid off. The size is good. I had a spare plump filler, and the cushion now provides company for the Elsa Williams crewel bluebird I completed in 2014

Once the cushion was in place I took myself down to my Podiatrist to deliver her the last of my Voices of Women bags, following our recent conversation about life choices. When I got there, the place was closed. Curious, until I realised it was lunchtime. 

The Greek restaurant is a few doors away, so I treated myself to their lunch special - crisp barramundi on a fabulous salad of heritage tomatoes, capsicum and olives., after which the podiatry clinic was open and I delivered the bag.

Now that the Annual Christmas Pageant has brought Santa to Adelaide our Christmas box is back in the Square.

At the eastern end of the apartment, the silhouette of a rosella echoes the shape of the bluebirds.  

Post611 Creativity and Helpfulness.

 

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I was just getting out of the shower on Thursday morning when I caught a glimpse of colour and movement in the native frangipani tree outside. I grabbed a towel and my DSLR and managed to get quite a few shots of a single Adelaide Rosella feasting in the flower-laden native frangipani. 

They don’t come often, so I was in luck.

Early the same morning I woke to a brief pre-dawn glow which I also captured. 

Just before I left for Pilates I had another request for phone help from my neighbour. We caught up when I returned in the late afternoon. By then the problem, whatever it was, wasn’t evident. She thought she was missing phone calls. We spent a pleasant hour catching up without finding a problem. We did solve the problem of her fearing my personal files had somehow leaked into her email. She had clicked on the website link in my signature!

She had bought me a bunch of flowers for all my help. The look fabulous in the shell vase - such a vibrant colour! She has also bought herself a little counted Aida embroidery kit, so I don’t think this will be the last call for help, although she does seem to understand charts.

On Friday Simela called to say the slate frame I had enquired about had just arrived.

 I had planned to go grocery shopping but went straight to Create in Stitch and picked up a 60” slate frame, coming home to set it up and move the needlepoint on to it. I mounted it with the whole canvas visible as I was working a border. I spent most of the weekend working on it, blocking it around 6pm on Sunday. Detail in my embroidery blog.

It was wet on Monday. I began sorting out my Christmas cards, went looking for a glue stick, and ended up sorting out all my embroidery hoops and frames. I identified all the pieces  of the first stand I ever bought, a large oval one from Victoria House in Berrima. I haven’t used it in decades but it was a very good tool. On the pillow is another large wooden stand superseded by my Lowery. In addition to the slate frame, there are a couple of lap stands and a variety of frames and hoops. Some are now organised in bags and I'm looking for bags - which i intend to label - for the other piles. I had three roller frames, which will go to the Guild trading table tomorrow. a small reduction. It seems I need to do this exercise a bit more frequently to stay on top of my possessions. 

The apartment is looking like a messy studio. In addition to frames, hoops, stands and a blocking cushion, there are Christmas cards, a half-knitted cardigan front measuring against the finished back and a tote bag. One of the things about living alone is that the your lliving room is shared only when you have visitors. I have another week before I pack it all away. 

Today I dashed out to Create In Stitch to pick up a copy of Crewel Work Then and Now, but the copies weren't in. I've put in my order and can wait. From there I had a podiatrist appointment which resulted in a serious discussion about the pros and cons of political involvement and ambition. My feet have improved.

I have delayed posting this again tonight as I wanted to finish the names of the female bishops on the second side of the tote bag.  It's done. I have some unexpected questions about it. Do I add a row of mitres and crossiers? Are the faces too unhappy? Do I have copyright issues if I photograph and print from it? It's WES Group tomorrow. They'll help.

I received news this week that my last remaining uncle (aged 91) had died. It's good to be surrounded by creativity and helpfulness.

Post610 Feels like Progress

Still feeling chuffed with the result, I spent time on Wednesday writing up the account of my needlecase finish. On a roll, I tackled the remaining 40% of the needlepoint cushion cover, making good progress until interrupted by a phone call from Will, asking if he could call in to assess my rangehood cover request. He arrived half an hour later with his young daughter in tow. While he measured and muttered, his daughter and I explored boxes, display cabinets, puppets, earrings - anything that caught her eye. It was a joy to see such a lively mind.

Even more astounding was the phone call 24 hours later asking again if Will could call in. This time he was accompanied only by the box he had made. After a couple of trips to his van to make adjustment he left me with a finished cabinet and more useable storage! Before on the left, after on the right. Amazing.

My luck ran out with the Jura coffee machine on Sunday. On Saturday I called at my coffee supplier and bought three kilos of coffee beans. The machine has been telling me for several weeks to descale the watertank, but not allowing me to do it. Last week it told me to change the filter, which I did, three times, but it would not continue. Yesterday I once again returned it to the Jura service agent. The receptionist is hopeful, but who knows if I will ever see it again. 

After leaving it I took myself off to buy a coffee grinder and a metal drip filter. I need backup coffee making methods, and I might as well grind the 3 kilos of coffee. Yesterday I made my breakfast coffee with a Vietnamese Phin filter (above). I used to travel with this and have not used it in 15 years. The new larger filter (right, front) makes up to four  cups. The coffee pot has not seen use in years, but will keep several cups warm - a better proposition than using a plunger. Today I ground enough fresh coffee to fill the filter and poured enough water over it to half-fill the pot and give myself a couple of refills throughout the day. Getting the hang of it!

I’ve been working  on the bluebirds cushion through all this excitement, reaching, on the weekend, the point of filling in the remaining white background. On Thursday I got fed up with the roller frame continuously loosening and went searching for locally made slate frames. Create in Stitch are now contacting their local carpenter to order me one. It won’t help with Bluebirds, but I have two more in the queue. 

This evening I finished the white background. I have ordered 3 zipped cushion backs that are a 44cm square. The embroidery is 37x37cm. I therefore have to work a white border all around to cover the difference. It won't be interesting stitching.

The steady rhythm of half cross stitch in a single colour is conducive to thought and last Saturday as I stitched I began to plan my Christmas cards. Before heading to bed around 11pm on Saturday night I thought I’d just check out my photos in readiness. When I did go to bed at 1pm I had the design in my VistaPrint cart, along with some stickers and bookmarks. I did have the good sense not to press order so spent Sunday morning refining and adding to the order. Life has taken its toll  on Christmas cards in general. Mine are not exempt. The list is now down to those who don’t get my blog, live across the planet, or have  got them since childhood, This year’s front photo is of the flowering gum over Jim’s grave.

Sunday was All Souls Day, and friends and I went along to St Peter's Cathedral, where St Peter's Music Foundation sang Faure's Requiem as a Mass at Evensong. I love Faure's Requiem. Although I have sung it and heard it many times as a performance, I have never heard it in context as a Requiem Mass. It was a very remarkable, calming and thought-provoking experience. It surprised me. We had dinner after at A Prayer for the Wild at Heart. A very special evening.

Today it is cold again. I even have the heating on! We had a couple of  fairly warm days and it has  been raining for a couple of days. The new geranium  has benefitted, opening up and developing buds.

The technology surprises kept coming. On Friday I had a call from Internode Support, in response to an email I had sent enquiring about my modem. After answering many questions, and many holds, I was transferred to Customer Support (more questions and holds) who eventually informed me they were sending me a free WiFi6 modem in recognition of my long loyal service!  It was delivered today and installed this evening by Sean the Geek.  It took two hours and I was very pleased I hadn't tried to do it myself. It involved information and processes I did not know. A lot was different since I installed the last one some 8 years ago. I can't hope to keep up with the tech changes. The new TV, now predicted to arrive in two weeks time, will hopefully connect to and work smoothly on the updated network. 

I'm grateful to have access to friends and helpful experts. I'm feeling less anxious about it all - and grateful. 🙏

Post609: A bit all over the place

After dropping Alison in the city on Wednesday morning I returned home in time for a panicked phone call from my neighbour whose new phone had gone dark. I am not familiar with Android phones, but I managed to work out it had simply slipped into dark mode and how to switch it back. It was, in the end, a very happy encounter and a good chance to catch up.

The moon and the bats appeared together for the first time in a while.

I finished the trouser embroidery on one leg and decided to stop there. I wore them on Friday, managing to spill some salad dressing on them, To my joy the stain washed completely clean - so definitely a winner!

On Wednesday I did a little tidying up, but mostly advanced the bluebirds tapestry and my knitting while researching some fabric for a gift idea. On Thursday I detoured on the way to Pilates to Tricia’s Discount Fabrics, where I found a couple of promising fabrics. I figured there were only two places I was likely to find what I was looking for and Tricias was the best bet. The photo is from her Facebook page - a very accurate view. Her counter is buried behind the bolts of fabric in the top left hand corner. 

On my way home from Pilates I stopped at DK Fabrics, my only other likely source. They had nothing to show me, but I got the zips I needed.

By the time I got home the sun was out and most of the washing dry.  I sat for half an hour on the front balcony, where the kangaroo paw is getting closer to blooming. 

I spent time searching fabric online and ordered two pieces from Spoonflower, absolutely the only place it was available. 

I also opened the new printer box and decided to pay Geeks2U to set it up

Friday was the girls’ last day of school - ever, apart from exam attendance. The day was packed with assemblies, ceremonies and a Mass, as well as an after-party. I, fortunately, avoided all of it in favour of making cushion covers and paying bills. And Saturday night was an 18th birthday party, so I didn’t hear a lot about the last day. The three oldies left on Saturday night had a fine time eating and doing the crosswords. When I got home I realised I didn’t have my knitting, but assumed I’d left it in the car. Katherine found it in their driveway early Sunday morning! It was, fortunately, barely damp on the outside, and quite dry inside.when I picked it up.

Sunday was the second day of the Carol Mullan Canvas work class. I lasted until about 2.30 before my eyes gave out - which was pretty good. Quite a few were having similar problems. I had nearly finished the first side, but simply couldn’t see to finish the last square. It was a great class, no pressure, and lots of encouragement to innovate . I had an idea of how I want to proceed, but thought it would have to wait until I’ve finished a couple of other things.  

That plan changed this morning - more below.

I was the happy recipient of a geranium struck from a cutting by Margaret who brought it along to the class for me. I've planted it in a planter box on the balcony rail. I'm pretty confident it will eventually fill the box.

When I got home from the class I switched back to the needlepoint cushion cover and managed to finish the first section so I could wind on the canvas.

While that feels like a major milestone, there was a bit more than I had anticipated underneath. It will still take me a couple of weeks at least to finish it.

I was up early on Monday, ready for Geeks2U at 8.00am to install my printer. I had a phonecall at 8.05 to say the scheduled Geek was ill and arranging for a later appointment. Shehzada was fabulous when he arrived at 11.30. My printer is working from phone, iPads and computer and I have a lot more information than I had before. I'm now enquiring about updating my modem - which is where I started several weeks ago.

This morning Shane, from the company that does Strata maintenance work, arrived at 8.00am to follow up on the drip I heard last week. Again, he did a magnificent job. It took him three and a half hours, but he found a hole in the silicon sealing the joint around the top of the lift well, and repaired it.We have agreed to wait for the next heavy downpour before repairing my cieling - and also agreed to insert a manhole rather than plastering over the temporary access hole. 

While Shane was here I worked on the other cover of the needlebook from Sunday's class. I am late posting this because I kept going on it until about I finished it about half an hour ago. I haven't had time to write it up my embroidery blog. I'll try to do that tomorrow. For now this is the back cover. I couldn't bring myself to work the 20 squares over again on the back, so I improvised. It's been an interesting exercise - and I'm delighted to have finished it.

I did take a break long enough for a trip to Frewville for a few supplies, a quick Salt and Pepper Squid - and half a dozen Coffin Bay oysters.  I haven't had oysters for quite a while. They were excellent. It feels appropriate to be buying them now to support the SA seafood industry.

I doubt this post is very coherent. It's late, and I don't have time for a careful proofread and edit.

I began embroidering the leg of my pants, and ended flying by the seat of them!