Post 453 Birds, bougainvillea and 'broidery.

On Thursday morning around 7am two lorikeets were busy on what I think is a native frangipani tree the near my balcony.  They had a fine time. They are supple contortionists, hanging and bending to extract the nectar.

The two worked independently, in different parts of the tree, but stayed in touch by sound and left together. I now have quite a collection of lorikeet photos. I just click away, then edit for an hour or so  afterwards. 

Later in the day, while balancing near the window at Pilates, I noticed bees moving around on the lemon blossom, so detoured past the tree on my way out to get a couple of photos.

Better still, however, was the Bougainvillea - nothing quite like that colour.

On Friday an electrician came,  checked my outdoor powerpoint (all good) and put the powerpoint I wanted on the wall near my sewing machine. I've wanted that for so long - no more extension cord across the room!

He finished in time for me to have lunch at the Grange Hotel and a short walk before Sit'nStitch. We covered a lot of (mostly knitting related) ground and I got a whole cable done.  

           

The Gymea continues to fascinate. The bees have been at work, and the lily has expanded to fill the pot it sits in . You can now see the seed pods that will emerge under the pollen.

It is an extraordinary plant. This is one single flower head!  

On Saturday I got home from the Guild Certificate Course Workshop to find two Noisy Miners feeding on the nearby tree. They are harder to spot than the lorikeets but my patience was rewarded with a couple of shots. 

           

The workshop was on Needle Weaving on Perforated Fabric with Di Kirshner. She is a great teacher, and the session was relaxed, informative, friendly and engaging. Most of the time was spent setting up our piece ready for the weaving but I did get to begin before I left. 

I finished off the first motif when I got home. It is an inspired design that I look forward to finishing. I'm afraid there is a bit of a queue forming! I have finished the piece, but will write a bit more in my embroidery blog when it's constructed.  It has also given me an idea of my Christmas projects - there's a bit of a queue for those too!

The painting of Para Wirra from last weekend's auction is hanging now at Katherine and Anthony's place - and looks splendid. As Katherine says, it is exactly as Para Wirra looked in the 70s. I haven't been there for decades, but I imagine it is more bushlanded now.

Our Book Club met on Sunday and as usual, talked a lot. As well as the nominated books, there was much discussion of Marple: Twelve Stories  and the latest Ellie Griffiths.

My picks for our November discussion are  All That's Left Unsaid  by Tracey Lien, Better the Blood by Michael Bennett and Black River by Matthew Spencer. The first and last are set in Sydney and the middle one in NZ.

The doves have been visiting a lot - especially when I am out on the balcony. One, in particular comes to keep me company. 

Yesterday's family meal was very pleasant. I heard a lot about school dynamics and got some advice on the construction of my Saturday embroidery project. My brother also called with a request for some information - which occupied much of the evening and this afternoon. I had a lovely relaxed morning with Panayoula hearing all about her recent trip to the UK. I so enjoyed sharing experiences. 

When I got home, I had missed a parcel delivery. When I picked it up late this afternoon it turned out to be Genevieve's gift kit of Glazig embroidery. These are the contents.What I haven't captured in the photo is the wool felt that goes under the linen. I am really excited about this. I've got a couple of small projects to finish before I begin this - and a bit of preparation - but it's coming!

Many, many thanks, Genevieve.

I also, of course, have knitting on the go. I've got another 2" (about 2 cables)  to go before the arm decrease. My car is being serviced tomorrow, so I might get quite a lot done while waiting.

I had a bit of drama over the weekend, when, during the Guild workshop, someone found a tub with my name on it, and an attached note, in the office. It was the container of embroidery belonging to my friend Nelly which I had left for the Museum team to see if they would like any items to add to the Museum collection. The note on the tub simply said "Not accepted". I was shocked and upset but kept my reaction to myself. I won't go into all the details, but it turns out that 6 items have been accepted and accessioned based on the note and documentation I had provided (as opposed to the forms I was expecting to provide to Nelly once the team had decided). 

The team is impressed with the items. It is a large acquisition for a space-challenged Museum. Only the remaining items were in the tub. I had taken the note at face value without checking the contents! The letter of thanks to Nelly has been written, but not sent because the volunteer who wrote is has crashed her computer!. This was made clear to me by Monday night, but not before I had mis-informed Nelly and been through a lot of angst!. It is ultimately a very good news story Hopefully, all's well that ends well! Photos of the items will soon be on the Museum website.      

Post 451 Birds, Blooms and Baby Boomers.

Just before I posted this, I made a cup of coffee in the cup I repaired last week. As I carried it to my chair, the handle parted company with the cup and upended the coffee on the carpet.  I seem to be failing at mending! Looks like I have another succulent pot!

On Friday  I went early to Grange again before Sit'n Stitch, walked the jetty and had lunch at the Hotel. 

I think the birds fishing from the jetty were pied cormorants, but I'm not certain.  Elegant.

Jennifer got to our Sit'nStitch.  She had had car trouble when she first set out last week, and changed her plans to fly on Saturday. Hopefully all is now going smoothly..

The Gymea is now fully open and spectacular.

On Wednesday I had the appointment with my optometrist. We put in place a plan for managing my eye, with another appointment in two months time.  Afterwards I zipped out to the Guild to talk to the Library team about Maureen's document collection. There is a copyright issue with the hard copy which I'm trying to sort out with the Copyright Council. Our database, however, is coming along nicely.

My Pilates class was cancelled at the last minute on Thursday - instructor ill.  At the same time I got a promo in my letterbox for one of Elders' Sunday Art auctions.  The viewing was Thursday to Saturday, so I took the opportunity to go. I was surprised when I arrived to find Jim and Helen Elder on the floor, surrounded by paintings. They were quite welcoming, but I soon realised I was a week ahead of myself - the auction is next weekend!  It's not only my mending skills that need more care.

I retreated quickly, and took myself to The General Havelock on Hutt St for lunch to recover.

It was very pleasant - sunny and fairly quiet.

It's a nice time of year in Adelaide. 

Later that afternoon, the lorikeets arrived on the tree behind my back balcony. I heard them in time to grab my DSLR and take photos.

Spring really has arrived!

I've done a bit of walking in the Square where pine cones are attracting other birds. I think the tree is a casuarina.

I spent the weekend at a class at the Guild - Christine Bishop's Rococo Stitch Purse , Pincushion and Scissor fob. We worked the scissor fob, now to work the rest of it. I'm planning to turn the pincushion into a name tag - but that's a story for another time!

It was pleasant stitching and I got to talk to Christine about the Glazig project. She, of course, had some of the silk perle thread, which I now own! Also, the kit Genevieve bought for me is on its way from Belgium. Now that's exciting!

 

The Guild garden is also looking good. The bottlebrush is at its best. and there are a couple of magnificent irises - such vibrant colour.   

Today I was the speaker at the Retired Secondary Principals' Association lunch at the Blackwood RSL, talking about Conversations with Baby Boomer Teachers.  Speaking doesn't stress me. I had headings for what I wanted to say but did feel the need to take more care with what I wore than I do on most days!  In spite of the meal being served while I spoke, the audience was really engaged and the response animated. There were a lot of stories told, a few books sold - some even insisted on my signing theirs. It was a really pleasant gathering - shared values and interests.  

I got an email today from Maureen, whose folders of documents we are cataloguing to a database, telling me she only gave me half her folders! She has more! More negotiation and problem solving I fear!  

This cloud formation on Sunday night reminded me to remain nimble,  like the whispy bird making its way around a huge sky beast. Before too long the clouds disperse, reform, or disappear - so carpe diem!

Post 448 Knitting, plants and plenty to learn

 

This week's major achievement was the completion of the Carbon Vest I had been knitting from Rowan Magazine No90. I'm pleased with the result and have written about it at length in my Stitching Blog. (I know I usually refer to this as my embroidery blog, but am being more accurate in light of the topic!). 

While on the topic of knitting, a couple of discussions at our recent Sit'n Stitch sessions might be of interest. The first involves stitch markers. Both Susan and I have been on the hunt for stitch markers that are simple, flat circles. 

I once had a supply of these, but  gradually lost them, leaving a mixture of safety clip, split ring and  solid circles. While I get by with these, all have their drawbacks, and none sit flat on the needle without distorting the space between stitches.   Susan ordered some from overseas. I eventually found some at Spotlight Online and they were delivered from Geelong as no local Spotlight stores had a supply. Fussy, I know, but flat works more smoothly.       

The second knitting discussion arose from a discovery at our Sit'nStitch, where, as you can see, the Gymea Lily continues to open. 

Both Susan and I have been knitting in our current manner for decades and discovered that we put the yarn around the needle in opposite directions for a knit stitch. I was taught by my grandmother nearly 70 years ago, but I have no idea if I have deviated from the way she showed me. I'm not even sure that I knit the same way on every project. I suspect I vary from project to project as the yarn, needle size and tension changes. 

Since our discovery last Friday I have been doing bits of research, and have begun to work a series of samples showing the effect of variations in the direction of yarn wrapping. 

It's proving interesting.  I found a blog that explores the 16 different combinations of placing yarn either clockwise or anticlockwise around the needle, using  the back or the front of the stitch.  I've worked samples of the first two, left is yarn anticlockwise around the needle in all stitches and right is clockwise. I plan to work samples of all 16.  Will it change my practice? I don't know - but I can see differences in the samples already.

I've been a bit into plants this week. There were some pots of Boronia  at the Supermarket on Sunday. I love Boronia, especially this strongly scented brown variety, and bought a pot for my living room. The flowers are not yet fully open so you have to get close to smell it. No doubt that will change as they open.

Today I dashed off to Adairs on the last day of their current sale, to buy yet another plant stand for my living room. They had a few appealing ones, but only one with a circular base. As my floor is carpeted, circular bases leave less of a mark. This isn't the plant I have in mind for it, but it will do the job until I get a fuller one.  It looks gigantic here, but is about 90cm high with the plant. The wooden pot is separate, but  fits, and I like being able to put the philodendron below and emerging.

The rest of my Glazig purchases arrived and I am hooked. I had also not registered that the kit my Belgian friend Genevieve had bought for me last year on holiday in France, was  a Glazig kit! Sending was delayed because of the Covid postage situation - but Genevieve has reminded me - and it will soon be on its way. This is now a double excitement. One of my books has a page of small samples that will work well, I think, for Guild members interested to try. I have begun to translate the stitch names and might order some of the cards used to explain the stitches.

Last night we had everyone present for dinner - despite Parent Teacher interviews, after-school jobs, and tutoring commitments. The food worked (I've learned to bake broccoli!), the company and conversation vibrant.  So satisfying.

Today I had my post-Xray appointment with the surgeon about my right index finger joint. There are two distinct bone spurs. The swelling has not yet formed a cyst. We decided to leave it alone for the time being. If and when it develops a cyst and there is fluid present, I will return to have the spurs removed. An operation will put my right hand out of action for weeks so I don't want to do it prematurely. The danger is from infection if a cyst forms and the skin is broken. I've added it to the list of things to monitor!

Also today, my new sheets arrived. I recently split yet another sheet. I will mend it, but it means I now only have one unpatched sheet for my bed. Even in my mend-and-make-do mindset, I know it's time to buy a new set. 

I was curious to try The Lad Collective, a rural Australian company making 40% cotton, 60% bamboo sheets which they market as foolproof for young men (and manufacture off-shore). The fitted sheets come with cloth tags on each corner to help orient the sheet - BR for bottom right. While I remain sceptical about this marketing rationale, I admire the inventiveness - and I am into bamboo, so we shall see. The sheets certainly feel good to the touch. I'll report back.

Finally, I should mention the death of Queen Elizabeth that has dominated this week's news coverage. I do remember her Coronation, and, as I blogged in May, still have the plastic Coronation mug we were given at school in 1953. Hers was a remarkable life and era. 

I was also saddened today to hear of the death of the Australian actor, Uncle Jack Charles. I remember his first film performance in The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith. Another remarkable life and sad loss.

Post 446 Evidence of Spring, and I win a raffle

The highlight of my week was the Certificate Course Workshop on Bulgarian Embroidery on Saturday. I have written about it in my embroidery blog, so won't go over it. It was however, a lovely, relaxed and shared time. Maybe the Great Goddess was present in more than the embroideries we studied.  

What I didn't say in the blog post, was that during the workshop I was presented with a basket of goodies, which came my way as the winner of the Guild's SALA raffle!

I was blown away. The last raffle I won was a set of Tupperware jelly moulds in about 1977. While I bought tickets, I didn't even examine the prizes, assuming I had no hope of winning. I saved the packaged prize to open at our family dinner on Saturday night. 

It turned out to be a basket containing a biscornu, a scissor fob, a cutting tool holder, a linen bag and lavender pillow, a really fabulous hexagon tote and four reversible placemats and serviettes.  

I was blown away.  I will get a lot of pleasure from it.

On Thursday morning I had an Xray on my right index finger, I have a follow-up appointment in 3 weeks with the surgeon who might operate on it to remove a couple of spurs. I'm hoping this can wait. It aches infrequently, and will be very inconvenient when healing.

I had the Xray at Wakefield Hospital, on South Terrace, and took these photos of the trees in front of my parked car. I love the contrast between the elegance of the trunks of some and the messiness of the leaves and seed pods. 

Susan's Gymea survived the wind. It seems to be getting even taller as the lily is slowly opening to reveal the inner leaves.

The potted gazania I bought last week is doing really well, producing some fabulous blooms at eye level as I go out to the balcony.

On the back balcony the pot of euphorbia I bought back in March has turned into a riot of bloom - Spring must be just about here, although it's still chilly, overcast and still raining a lot for Adelaide. 

Not too much, I hope, in the Flinders Ranges, where Niamh is on her Year 9 Camp.

I am progressing the Calico vest. On Wednesday night I ordered an extra ball of the pale colour and emailed Morris & Sons to say I thought the yarn requirements were wrong in the pattern. I can't see how this colour could only require one ball when all other colours have 2 or 3. Morris were, as usual, terrific. They refunded my postage and have contacted Rowan with a query. The yarn arrived on Friday. I have started the steeks. 

So far, so good. The moment of truth will, of course, come when I take to them with scissors!

Finally, a shout out to my friend Robin, in a Rehab hospital in Sydney. Hope your recovery is steady and smooth.