Post 554 Spring, a long weekend and daylight saving.

You know Spring is here when Waratahs appear in the florist. These had been picked on Friday morning, in the Adelaide Hills, a few hours before I bought them. They are not native to South Australia, but I am, after all, a native of NSW! 

Apart from people, I don't miss much from my first 24 years in Sydney - Southerly Busters, humidity and flowers native to the Sydney region - flannel flowers, Christmas bush, Christmas Bells and Waratahs, none of which are commonly seen in Adelaide. I still love them and if I see them for sale, I buy them. My English migrant parents and grandparents cherished them, gathered them and tried to grow them. Uplifting.

In front of our apartments, and at the Pilates Studio, the wild irises are at their best.  Gentler than the Waratahs, they are nevertheless intricate and cheerful.

The Agave has finished flowering at Pilates. I took a final photo. I can’t resist the shape, perfect for a bookmark, so accordingly ordered another set. Hopefully my Pilates classmates will find a use for them. Again.

I had a quiet day as desk hostess at the Embroiderers' Guild on Wednesday. The computer tech was there setting up the new admin computer with our office manager while a couple of the Museum team were doing a handover on the Museum database. When left in charge I failed once again to answer the phone! It’s a tricky handset, and doesn’t respond to my button pressing. I progressed my knitting and wrote a tribute to Lee for discussion with WES group next week.  

The Bottlebrush- which IS native to South Australia, is on display everywhere, including in the Guild garden.

I saw my GP on Friday, getting the results of last week’s blood test. I’m pretty happy. My kidney is in good condition and my weight very slowly coming down.  My blood sugar is lower than last time but ideally should be a little lower.  We’ve agreed our current regime is working so should continue. I’ve made an appointment in about 4 months time. I like this new GP.  He listens, checks records, explains his thinking and provides data. It feels like a conversation and a joint effort.

Afterwards, having completed and tidied up all last week's work on passwords, I took a sealed package to my solicitor to add to the deed package before shopping for the long weekend and buying the Waratahs. 

I also took more jewellery to Pink Carat for repair. An 80cm long gemstone necklace given to me by a work colleague some 15 years ago had broken. I often wear it.  The central stone is heavy and had worn through the wire. We decided to make up the necklace without it. Can I find a use for a 3.5cm stone? Clasp on a bag?  (It's much more brown than the photo indicates.)

I also took the glittery clip-on earrings to see if they could be converted. Removing the clips on the back was not possible but I convinced them to add hooks through the little picots on the edge. They hang nicely, clips hidden behind. I often wear the matching brooch so now I can be truly glam! The amber pair were originally hanging from smaller amber beads on posts. One had detached and was lost. I prefer hooks anyway so got them to simply hang the teardrops from silver hooks. I also took advice on cleaning the sterling silver brooch.   This result was just using a silver cleaning cloth.

This morning I dug out both the ultrasonic cleaners I own.and experimented using the tips provided by Pink Carat. The tank on the older white one is larger, so I tried a silver pin tray in it. In the green one I placed 3 pieces of trench art, a coin medallion, a ring and a WWI medallion on a chain.

After several sessions all came up reasonably clean and shiny. The ring is made from a 1947 coin from India, the chain holds a regimental medallion engraved Div 5 1920-21. Once the pin tray was clean (relatively) I was able to see a hallmark, and out of curiosity, looked it up. I have never done this before, and had to dig around for a bit to find it. However, I am now confident the tray was made by William Aiken, silversmith of Vyse St., Birmingham in 1904! It seems amazing to have been able to discover that.

I experimented with a couple of vases for the Waratahs before settling on the one above. The dark vase looks good here, but was a bit heavy and dominant. 

It was the Labour Day long weekend and the commencement of daylight saving. As forecast, there was some rain on Saturday. The dripping noise came back. As promised, I notified the tradie who came last week, who, as I expected, did not come. He did ask if water was leaking into the apartment (it's not). It seems that other apartments also have leaks, and the Strata Committee is taking it up with our management company, so I'm happy. A problem shared....  Fortunately, contrary to the forecast, the rest of the weekend was rain-free.

As three books I had ordered on Libby were suddenly available to me, I spent much of the long weekend reading. In the Blink of an Eye was an interesting fictional projection of the use of AI in policing. My review, for anyone interested, is on Goodreads.   The Ledge by Christian White, as I realised too late,  is a thriller (with echoes of Lord of the Flies). I don’t much like thrillers. 

The treescape behind my apartment has changed with recent pruning and rainfall. I have a better view of what turns out to be a Callery Pear (left). 

I can’t remember seeing the golden leafed tree (right) bloom, but it is now beginning to do so, declaring itself, I think, a jacaranda alba. The next month or so should confirm or disprove this theory. Either way, it’s a lovely outlook.

I finished and blocked the Uradale shawl over the weekend. Details in my embroidery blog. I'm pleased to say spreading it in the sun yesterday has removed the sheep smell, and the woolwash has made it wonderfully soft. (The red is from the geraniums below the shawl!)

I have begun the next shawl based on a Dathan Hap pattern in Kate Davies' Knitting Season book.  The pattern is simple and interesting, increasing at the centre as well as the edges in a four row sequence, a lovely encircling shape with plenty of scope to vary colour.  

It will use up a lot of the Rowan wool left from the coatigan and blanket. It's fun to knit and nice to try something other than an expanding triangle.

I've also worked another small section of my sashiko square, and prepared two pieces of Huckaback for the hand-towel pattern in The Handpicked Collection 3. It's been a long time since I did Huck weaving, So I had a quick try. It is marvellously relaxing and effective.

I confess that this morning I dashed out to Create in Stitch  and bought the Chaffinch  kit advertised in their weekend newsletter. A Chaffinch, I know, is not a Bluebird, but it is a blue bird,  and I'm partial. I also know what I am going to do with this when finished.

I seem to have achieved (and committed to!) a lot this week. It is a product of spending much of it on my own over a long weekend with family away and few outside commitments. I have had trouble remembering what day it is. Tomorrow, however, is WES Group, and I need to make a presentation. Better check that over and head to bed.

Post 537 Balancing Act

My post-covid cold symptoms began to weaken by Friday. I still get a bit tired, have a croaky voice and occasional congestion but my lay-low strategy seems to have borne fruit. I’ve postponed a periodontal appointment this week to be safe.

I did venture out on Thursday to an appointment with my nephrologist. Although it’s been a year, he remembered where we were up to in detail. Kidney readings are all good. Blood sugar, however, is not. I am back in the pre-diabetes range and he is concerned. As I did not take up his suggestion of injectables last year (when blood sugar was fine), he is now advocating oral diabetes meds. 

I am giving this much thought. Serendipitously, the GP I am currently seeing specialises in diabetes, so our appointment in 9 days time will be a long discussion as well as an injection. I like and respect my nephrologist who has a specialisation in kidney donor health. His concern is that my kidney will be in trouble in 5-10 years time if I don’t keep my blood sugar down now. Renal health and research discussions were once part of my daily life and it was strange to step back into that world after 10 years.  I have struggled with weight for three decades and I now need to concede that medication might be part of the answer, and essential to my kidney health. I'm fortunate to have the option. 

Saturday was my venture back into the world of theatre, for a 2pm State Theatre/Opera Company performance of Candide.  As parking is a bit of a mess around Her Majesty’s Theatre (recently refurbished and close to the busy Central Market) I took the city loop bus which only operates every 30 minutes on weekends. There was a mild panic when a couple at the bus stop  asked if I was also going to Her Majesty’s because Hutt St, from whence the bus comes, was, they said, closed to traffic. In my Dalee Ella pants and Zuri shirt, I must look like a proper opera-goer! Somehow the bus won through and we arrived in plenty of time.  The couple’s back-up plan was to get a taxi and invite me along!

It was a superb performance - set, orchestra, cast, acting, costume, staging. The refurbished theatre now holds over 1400 and was full. The updated stage is a marvel. The full orchestra and choir were on stage  with the action taking place on the skirt.

Seven rows from the front the view and engagement were great, but looking around, I suspect there are now few, if any, bad seats. The downside is no central aisle. There is just enough space between rows for people to pass in front of those already seated, but it is a long shuffle to the central seats, and no social distancing possible. While there are now numerous bars and food points, the foyers are small, very crowded and difficult to navigate. It may be a little easier at night, but, being a daytime performance, there was no shortage of walking frames and wheelchairs.

In spite of my organisation and intention, I forgot a mask.  Only attendants were wearing them. Although I enjoyed the performance I decided to leave at the interval. I get a little impatient with opera (just get on with the story!), was feeling a bit hemmed in, and delighted with my 80 minutes of  amusement. I concede that’s a bit odd, but I enjoyed putting my toe in the opera water. No photos can be taken during the performance, so the photo is dull.

It was great catching up with school and sport news on Saturday night and to collect my replacement jar of Anthony's honey. Monday dinner was another pleasure and privilege.

On Sunday I ventured to Mrs Harris's Shop, which has a new exhibition, this time a set of coloured lino prints of Local Icons  by Sally Heinrich, who has launched a book of the same for the exhibition. I was after the book, which I got. It is an initial short print run by the local Wakefield Press, for the exhibition. Sally was at the Gallery. I really liked both the exhibition and the book, which I came home and read in the sun. There will be another print run soon. The content is also available to view here. I would like to purchase a print of Roma to sit alongside my photo of Jim with Roma Mitchell while she was Governor. I haven't yet worked out how I could hang the two together. A bit of shuffling of scarce wall space is required.

It seems appropriate to be considering this, as well as my kidney health, today, which is the 10th anniversary of Jim's death. Katherine and I have been to lunch at the River Cafe after visiting his grave. 

The plants are thriving. In the five months since my last visit the plants have spread and the lavender is blooming. In Spring I will trim them and fill the space with cuttings. It is heartening  and joyful - a place of growth, serenity, beauty and birdsong.  

The month from the last week of May to Jim's birthday in the last week of June are inevitably tinged with sadness and reminders of a difficult time. Grief is less raw, memory less reliable, but the loss, sadness are no less. Nor is the gratitude and love.

It was  sustaining to visit with Katherine today in the Autumn sunshine,  to enjoy a relaxing lunch at the River Cafe, talk to Alison by phone and receive messages from friends and family.

Connection really helps. I'm also holding on to the memory and joy of Canberra in January. 

In terms of my craft output, apart from a little proof reading for my brother, I have spent all spare moments this week working on the coatigan - and today finished the first front.

It was challenging working the three colour pattern right up to the last 2 stitches at the shoulder. I had decided to knit a sleeve next, to see how it looked, but once I laid the pieces together I wanted to see the other side more - and to work the black edge! The second side won.

The birds seem as pleased with my balcony garden as I am. The doves (photo taken through fly screen) come every day and even a magpie paid a visit (above).

One of my Adelaide friends has recently been diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer. She has been waiting for an operating theatre to become vacant to have stents implanted before she sees an oncologist. The procedure is happening tomorrow and my thoughts are much with her. 

Sadness and loss have made themselves felt this week. So has love, growth, birdsong, art, creativity and kindness. Tonight it's holding together.

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 477 Home again, home again

These are the beach photos I couldn't upload last week.  I didn't venture on to the beach, but everyone else did. Several days were very hot, others windy and a little rainy. It was just lovely to be away, near the beach and with family - uplifting and renewing.

 

On my last day Katherine and I visited the Yankalilla Second Hand and Book Exchange hoping to see Emanda. She wasn't there, but we snagged a few bargains. 

That night we visited friends staying nearby in a house packed with mementos of the sea and an eclectic collection of art and oddities - a true beach shack. It was lovely to see the friends - and the house!

I came home on Friday. It took quite a while to unpack and to return plants to their places. The indoor ones had been sitting in the sink.  The weather had not been quite as hot as forecast and everything had survived - a couple only just. Oddly, my thriving pig-face on the balcony was covered in scale. It's about the toughest plant I own.

I took myself over to the pub on the corner for dinner - salt and pepper squid, of course.

The bats came out in force to welcome me home.      

                  

On Saturday morning I added the buttons to the baby cardigan I had finished at the beach. It's a little bigger than I envisaged, but I'm happy with it. I have another 200gm ball of cotton to make another. Once I've checked with Christine, I'll make that one smaller I think.

Sunday was Book Club. I had read 2 of our options - The Maid by Nita Prose and The Bleeding Heart Yard, by Ellie Griffiths, both good. Afterwards I detoured to pick up four summer uniforms to alter for the girls before school returns next Monday. They needed taking in at the waist and hems. That occupied Sunday and Monday (interrupted by Garry, the electrician replacing a light). 

Today I returned the uniforms - and they fit!

I'm now working on the apron for the Guild Exhibition - a bit mad, but interesting. I've also been playing with removing photos from their background - something my photo hints has been telling me to try for a while. I could remove the background - but not save it anywhere. I have now figured it out!  You can expect to see a lot more disembodied images! 

They will prove, I think, very useful.

These are the sunflowers I bought on Saturday. I love watching them open.

The coming week transitions out of summer holidays - Guild operating, school resuming, Monday dinners - and a public holiday.  Another adventure.