Post 533 Long Post for a Full On Week.

Wednesday turned out to be busy as I set about restoring order to my balcony after the re-grouting of the tiles. The tiles needed washing, the pots and furniture returning to position. The first discovery was that my squeegee, the only mop I own, was broken. The sponge squeezing mechanism had come apart, and was missing a connector. I could still operate it awkwardly, holding the disconnected rod. 

I took the opportunity to clean the runners on the door and insect screen of their accumulated grime. The two water dishes were slimy. One contains shells, which in turn were covered in slime. I soaked the shells in a mild solution of bleach, then scrubbed each one with a nail brush. They now look clean and the water clear. I've moved the dish out of the sun in the hope the algae won't form.

I deadheaded flowers, tidied a few plants, swept up petals and reconnected the hose. 

I noticed that the zygocactus is about to flower - so the honeyeaters will be competing with the noisy miner for access before too long.

By the time the balcony was restored and clean I was exhausted. I made a coffee and explored potential replacement of my squeegee. 

I keep a short broom with attached dustpan on the balcony. The broom has nylon bristles, now misshapen and sticking out at all angles. An online search revealed the Frewville Foodland had suitable replacements, so I set off and found what I wanted, a squeegee with a more robust mechanism and a small, handmade broom from Vietnam. 

I already have one of these with a stiff bristle. The new one is soft, and very good at finding fine dust. One on each balcony

When I got home I returned the shells to their dish and finished the job. I decided to replace the hose as well, with one that is tidier and takes up less room. (Yes, this really is tidier!)

Around 3pm, as I was having lunch, a courier delivered the four printed tote bags I had ordered - the Early Women of the Book.

I am delighted with them . Two are for friends in Sydney - fellow students of Early English Literature and Language in undergraduate days, who are as excited as I am.  One is destined for a charity auction and another for the Guild SALA Exhibition - along with the explanatory booklet. 

This has been a very productive exercise. As with the earlier bag, one side has printed the photo as uploaded and the other has somehow removed the white background. It is obviously how the printing process works. I'd like to understand it, but, as they are printed overseas, I doubt I will. 

There was a fabulous full moon that night and I managed to get a decent shot through the slats of my Vergola using my phone. It's the best moonshot I have managed.  A Proud Titania kind of night.

Thursday was ANZAC Day, a public holiday, with Dawn Services and marches of Veterans and service men and women all around the country. I don't attend. I do, however, acknowledge the service of family members and remember their sacrifices - including the mental health issues that followed throughout the lives of those who survived. They needed to forget, but we need to remember.

I had decided not to bake Anzac biscuits. It is school holidays, so no one but me to eat them and  I already had a few left from last month's batch. The point about Anzac biscuits is their keeping capacity. They were developed to last for months on sea voyages to France and Egypt in WWI.  However, when I received this email from a cheeky friend  Dont forget the ANZAC biscuits are in the oven and they burn quickly. WE DONT want them burnt again this year, I got on my high horse and immediately made a batch. That'll show him! No fool like an old fool! At least they will keep.

I had bought fresh prawns on Wednesday, intending to have them in a salad, but in view of the chilly weather, stir fried them with broccolini and peas. A good meal.

On Friday I met a friend in Stirling for coffee and scones. It was busy and crowded, but we did a lot of catching up. She brought me another Alamanda Blue, one that is ready to propagate. Mine is doing well, but isn't old enough to be divided, and I promised one to another keen gardener. Cathy seems to have the Alamanda magic  touch. She has several plants, all excelling themselves.

A balcony isn’t ideal for plant division on this scale, and it has taken me several days over this busy week, but I now have three new plants from this giant, which will grow back over the gap. This is quite a rare local swamp plant and would be best in a pond. It’s important to keep propagating them.

When I arrived home from Stirling there were two parcels in my letterbox. One was a metre of Spice linen - the lining for several bags I am working on. The other was a total surprise - a shawl knitted by an overseas friend as a gift. I was so warmed in every way. An unexpected, personal, perfect gift. It went perfectly with what I was wearing. I feel wrapped in friendship and heather.  

And speaking of heather, Marie Wallin’s new collection was released, and yes, against commonsense, I have ordered a kit. This one is simply too beautiful to pass up. And, from the sublime to the ridiculous,

Even worse,  I also ordered an Uradale (centre) colour way kit for the newly released 2024 Shetland Wool Week hat. 

My Saturday workshop on Glazig embroidery for the Certificate Course went really well. The 12 attendees were enthusiastic, diligent and creative working right up to 2pm. 

I captured 9 of their efforts, thanks to Lee who prompted me to photograph the results before it was too late! The one that looks messy is because I photographed it too close through the plastic bag after it was packed up. I really liked the edging but didn’t want to ask the student to unpack it.

Niamh arrived home from her school trip to Indonesia with stories and gifts. Mine is a pair of lovely filigree silver earrings in a batik box, accompanied by a berry for cleaning the silver. I’ve been to Indonesia a number of times but never encountered these. 

I might just try following the instructions.

On Sunday I had a 2.30 pm concert at Ukaria. It’s a 40 minute drive with my friend Lorraine, and this time also  another friend of hers, in time to secure a convenient car park and enjoy a platter lunch beforehand. The Dudok Quartet of Amsterdam played Mozart String Quartet No.23 in F,K.590, Grazyna Bacewicz String Quartet No4, Tchaikovsky String Quartet No3 in E flat minor. The Ukaria garden is at its very best, and the music was great.

Although school term has begun, yesterday was a pupil free day so no family dinner. I needed a day to shop and recover after a pretty full-on week. Much of the day was spent in a panic, trying to find an example of embroidery a student had given me on Saturday for the next WES Group meeting. I had been too busy and tired on Sunday to unpack my Glazig teaching bag and when I got to it yesterday the example was missing. I searched the car and house and phoned the organiser. I was working out how I was going to explain the loss to the student. Several hours later I worked out where I had tucked it, to keep it safe. Phew! 

Today I had lunch with Panayoula, catching up and sharing our opinions on world problems. At home I finished off making a pot of soup to keep me going for the rest of the week.

I have now reached the sleeve cast-off on the Andes cardigan. It’s looking good. I'm looking forward to seeing the impact of shaping.

It has been a busy, productive week - thanks for reading to the end!

Post 492 Silks and Sjaella

It has been another quiet week, as I recovered from my cold and stayed at home for the early part of the week. 

By Friday I ventured to Sit'nStitch, to Katherine & Anthony's on Saturday night and then to the Sjaella Concert at Ukaria on Sunday afternoon. They were really fabulous. 

I'm so glad I eventually got the date right - and was able to go. It was an appreciative audience, and a perfect venue for the music.

I spent time over several days beginning the preparation for the September meeting of the World Embroidery Study Group. A friend and I had agreed to do something in November on cruelty-free silk with the sheets of Madagascan silk I bought from Dale Rollerson. The September presenter isn't well and asked for more time, so we brought ours forward. I had thought to incorporate Indian Wild Silk using the book I bought recently.   I then remembered  Golden Orb spider silk....So the presentation has expanded a bit. 

That's OK. I think the group will be interested. I managed to source some Indian Wild Silk from Deidaa in Melbourne. My order resulted in a really interesting exchange with Samita, from the shop, and a resulting link to her You Tube channel post on the Victorian Embroiderers' Guild Exhibition on Recycling.

 

On Monday I made a double batch of Anzac biscuits, thinking it would last a couple of weeks. Unfortunately I didn't remove the second batch in time (distracted by silk), so the compost will benefit and I will need to make another batch next week.                                                                                                                                                                    

Another distraction on Monday was a very large magpie in the Square. I attempted to photograph it using my DSLR but it was too far away for a decent shot. The shots I did get were interesting for the shapes, which might, I think, come in handy for embroidering.                                                                                   In between burning biscuits and thinking about silk, I have progressed the Christine Bishop Pulled Work Mat and the shawl I am knitting in the round with a steek.  I won't post photos of the mat, as Christine does not want her work on the Internet. The shawl is looking very promising. I have another 93 rows to go - all, of course, getting longer, so hard to predict timeline. There is a border to add as well.

I am conscious that this blog is approaching its 500th post. It began as a travel blog and an expectation of 35-40 posts. When Covid hit and I shortened my travel, I continued the blog to share my experience of the unknown. The unknown has gone on for quite a long time. I don't yet have travel plans, which is what I had assumed would eventually bring  England2020 to an end. Should I stop at 500 posts? Keep going until there is England20?? Drop to posting fortnightly or monthly?  Opinion is always welcome.

Post 484 recipes, repairs, repertoire, and a rainbow

I had planned to begin this post with the doves who visited on Friday, but the rainbow that greeted me as I was preparing my breakfast on Sunday deserves that honour. 

I managed to snap a few photos before it faded away. It was a great way to start the day - which lived up to its promise.

The morning was spent at Book Club. The choices had been mine, Everyone in my family has killed someone, by Benjamin Stevenson, and Judgement Day by Mali Waugh. Both were well received and provided plenty to talk about. I'm grateful to Brigid for the Stevenson suggestion.

In the afternoon, Katherine and I went to the Adelaide Chamber Singers concert at St John's Halifax St, a well-planned program with two Byrd motets, the Vaughan Williams setting of Ben Jonson's Wedding Chorus, a couple of Ben Van Tiernen pieces and a fabulous rendering of Charles Hutchinson Gabriel's His Eye is on the Sparrow.

A pretty perfect Autumn Sunday in Adelaide.

The signs of Winter are appearing.  There has been a lot of rain this week, and day temperatures between 15C and 18C.     

   

The painters have finished, and on Thursday the doves huddled together on my balcony, looking neither for food nor water, just warmth. I was interested in an article in The Washington Post this week reported on the research indicating mental health benefits from watching or hearing birds.

On Wednesday, after a visit to the optometrist, shopping and cleaning, I made a batch of corn and zucchini muffins, using a recipe adapted from several I had compared, including one sent to me by Vivienne. 

It was remarkably successful. I had a couple for my dinner and, as Vivienne had promised me, they lasted several days, cold or warmed briefly in the microwave.

I will be making these regularly now. 

I was on standby for JEMS on Saturday, but not needed. Niamh has netball for the next couple of months so I spent Saturday shopping and cooking for Monday and progressing the St Brigid jumper.

On Wednesday I also had a message to say my Jacqueline Hick frame repair was ready, so called to pick it up, brought it home and hung it. I can't avoid reflections on the glass, but it hangs appropriately beside two of her paintings and is easily accessible. Jodie did a great job on the frame.

Early in the week I had trouble opening the drawer on one of the cabinets Nordic Design Furniture had made me.  Clearly there was something in the lower drawer  jamming the upper drawer's movement. All my efforts to free it failed and I could not work out how to remove the drawer. On Thursday, after Pilates, I called out at Nordic Design Furniture to ask them to show me how to open the drawer. Daniel, the owner, was there, and extraordinarily helpful. I went home and had the drawer open in about 3 minutes. Yes, of course, I had packed too much into it! It is such a joy to engage with sympathetic and kind people - and to solve problems. The young man who came on Monday morning to service my aircon unit was similarly helpful and professional.

I have also been eking out the Greek Easter biscuits that Panayoula gave me last week. I am putting back some of the weight I lost - due, I think, to the reintroduction of a modest amount of carbohydrates in my diet, including the pasta bake I made  for the first time in over a year for family dinner last night. I see the nephrologist on Thursday, and he will be unimpressed.  I'm going to need help to manage a sustainable diet that keeps my one kidney healthy, and have arranged to see a highly recommended nutritionist when she takes on new patients in September. Until then I need more exercise and fewer carbs. In the meantime, I fronted up for fasting blood and urine tests this morning, so fingers crossed.

It wasn't raining today so I spent the rest of the day doing washing, reading Christopher Fowler's The Waterhouse and making a big batch of Anzac biscuits. I seem to have cracked the recipe that family members (me included!) like. I ration myself - but they may be out of bounds after my visit to the nephrologist on Thursday!     

The St Brigid jumper is progressing slowly but steadily. I am now halfway up the front. Some Ink & Spindle linen remnants arrived today - I have some bag ideas for these when St Brigid is finished.

I wouldn't want to run out of projects!

Post 433 Rain, an anniversary, book club and stitching.

It's been raining in Adelaide for most of the week and set to continue for another. We  get most of our rain (such as it is in the driest State in the driest continent) in Winter and this is a little early - and a little more than we expect. Just north of the city there has been wind and rain damage in a tornado-like pathway. 

Here in the city traffic has been slow and tricky, the weather squally. The clouds are moving swiftly, making varied patterns and effects, especially around sunset.  I love the effects.

Saturday was the eighth anniversary of Jim's death. While I think the last year has been a transition of sorts for me in adjusting to life without him, the loss will always be profound. I remain grateful and increasingly amazed at our good fortune in meeting and living the life we had together for 45 years. 

It's quite a legacy.  

There were a few quiet achievements and pleasures that marked the week. 

I saw my renal specialist, who is delighted with my weight loss and improvement in test results. I see him again in a year's time. I need to keep on top of it. I want to stay well - and it would be a betrayal if I didn't take proper care of my remaining kidney.

My repaired blind has been returned and reinstalled by Mark, who took great care and explained the process. For the first time since I moved in, there are no knots in the cords and both heavy and light options work smoothly. I'm still waiting on Vergola repair and carpet cleaning.

I cooked lemon chicken on Monday night, and also tried a recipe for zucchini fritters which was a bit of a success. The fritters need to be eaten within an hour of being made - but they were good. 

I also made another batch of Anzac biscuits. I'm a glutton for punishment, as my mother would have said, but I was determined to produce a good batch. It worked. As usual I was too busy to photograph them when first made. This was what was left after the family went home on Monday.  No black edges, and quite a chewy texture - which I prefer.

It's good to have a bit of energy for cooking - but not so good for my weight program. No weight loss this week. 

Saturday was a Guild Certificate Workshop on Crewel Work Battlement Trellis, taken by Di Kirshner.  Di structured it to encourage experimentation and student design. I tried for a moon motif  using intersecting circles, aiming for a form of goddess symbol - waxing, full, waning imagery. It began well, but came adrift a bit in the middle. I ended up doing a lot of unpicking.

I was reasonably happy with the finished product, but I now need to work out some elements around it. It's proving to be a challenge to keep to my moon concept and stay within the Jacobean crewel tradition that was the basis of the workshop.  I'm playing with some ideas, but in the meantime, have moved on to Brigid's blanket.

While I can't photograph the whole blanket, which now has the words 'when you wake, you shall have, all the pretty little horses, dapples and greys, pintos and bays, all the pretty little horses" around the edges. I've printed the horses Brigid drew as a child on to Sulky Stick'nStitch Solvi and begun embroidering the horses. Here the first horses - dapples - are in place. I've removed the Solvi from two 'dapples' and begun on a 'grey' The dapple doesn't show up well in the photos. I will move into colour soon.

Our Crime Book Club met on Sunday morning. It was a very engaged and interesting meeting. My choice of three books with the title A Spoonful of Murder  worked a treat (whew!). We welcomed a new member and Kerrie's facilitation led to good sharing. 

I also had a post-election debrief meal with friends who go back a long way - and many elections, as well as a Friday Sit'n Stitch, Saturday night family dinner and quite a bit of texting and phone calls with family and friends. All strengthening.  

Tomorrow is officially the first day of Winter. It feels as if it is already here. Not a problem as far as I am concerned.

Post 428: Vaccination, vaccination, vaccination

On Wednesday I saw my doctor and had my flu shot and a pneumonia shot. I wasn't aware I was due for the pneumonia one, but my doctor keeps good records and is on the ball. I also got a referral to my ENT to have wax removed from my ear. Good job jobbed, and no reaction other than a sore arm from the pneumonia one.  My doctor does not do Covid vaccinations, so that had to wait a few days.                                                                                                                                                                                                         

On Thursday, as I was getting ready for Pilates, three honey eaters arrived on my balcony, attracted to the aloe. I was lucky enough to be able to grab my DSLR and get some shots, first through the glass, but then, very carefully opening the screen door, through the open door. I was pleased with a few of them. We used to get a lot of these in our garden at Hindmarsh, but its the first time I've seen them here on my balcony. A good sign, I think.                                  

On Friday my new pieces of furniture were delivered. I was worried about the delivery, as they are large pieces and our lift is small. They would be awkward to carry up the (fairly narrow) stairs. Parking outside is also at a premium. I needn't have worried. The deliverers were fantastic.  They found a parking place, checked out the apartment, disassembled the furniture in their van, carried the long top plank up the stairs, and the rest in batches in the lift, then reassembled them in situ.  They took such care and were so skilled and adaptive.

It took 2 1/2 hours, but they just kept on until done. 

Above is the bookcase in my living area. There are now probably twice as many books on it. Left is the cabinet in my sewing room. It is more cluttered, but absolutely fit for purpose. The open shelves at the end are for books. At the moment the books to go there are in the containers - aids for the Viking, Celtic/Anglo-Saxon and Bulgarian presentations I have yet to do this year at the Guild. Eventually they will be books rather than boxes.

It was a long weekend here, as Monday was Anzac Day. Top priority was getting my 4th Covid jab on Saturday, which went well. With my Australian Government sponsored bandaid on my arm I awaited signs of the aching joints and overwhelming tiredness that followed the 3rd jab, but none appeared. I stayed awake and entertained throughout the family dinner and slept well.

On Sunday I was up to making the Anzac biscuits and alert enough not to burn them!

I managed to get the bookshelves sorted between my now 3 bookshelves, so that I now have a very good idea of where I can find any book I want. A breakthrough!  This photo merges views of two sides of my small sewing room.  I can move around, find what I need and stitch something quickly on my machine. I've removed the rug that was on the floor. There are still files and containers to go through, label and reduce, but I can see and get to everything.

On Monday, Anzac Day, I got up at dawn to light a candle and remember those in my family who went to war, from the top of this photo, Ted Ray and James Haynes, my grandfathers serving in WWI, my father, Len Haynes on HMS Formidable in WWII and Lionel Dellit, my late husband's uncle who died when his plane was shot down over the Timor Sea in WWII.  It's more important than ever to remember what they did. And the cost.

My friend Susan called in on Monday afternoon to see my new furniture. It was lovely to be able to share it over an Anzac biscuit and coffee and also to discuss our current projects, hopes and fears. 

This is the progress I had to show on the next bag-from-jeans. I'm now working on the other side.

Now that my furniture is in place I have contacted a carpet cleaner who is coming in the morning to quote, and Artic Air who should have serviced my Aircon this month. I also applied a clove oil solution to mould on the hinges of my bathroom door. Seems I'm Spring Cleaning in Autumn.